Christmas Crafting

 With the move this year, we're trying to gift as inexpensively as possible.  So that means handmade!  Especially for teachers, since I think they tend to appreciate handmade gifts more than storebought anyway.

 

A couple months ago, I saw this decoration at HomeGoods, so I thought it would be the perfect project for the kids!

 

 We gathered a bunch of sticks, distressed some wood, and Ta-dah!  Really cute wall hangings for their teachers!

 

They're so cute, I wish we had made one for ourselves at the same time!

 

Then, for my sisters, I decided to make this reclaimed wood snowflakes.  These photos are from before I'd glued them together, but they turned out so nicely!

This time, I was smart, and did make one for myself at the same time!  Unfortunately, it will have to wait until next year to be hung though!

 

Hope you're all having a wonderful season!

 

A Little Christmas Corner

As you know, we're moving and trying to sell our house (it is for sale as of today!), so we decided it would be best not to decorate for Christmas, since my style of decorating can tend to feel a bit, ummm, cluttered, shall we say?

 

We take possession of our new house in two weeks, so will quickly put up the tree and stockings there for a little more festivity, and may even decide to spend Christmas morning there!  (We won't be moving in officially until early next year though.)

 

But  I wanted to have at least a little bit of Christmas here for the kids for the next month.

 

 So, in my studio, I set up a little Advent tablescape for them!

 

We've got our Advent calendar (with treats each morning), as well as the Advent tree I made last year.

 

 I purchased this old printer's drawer a couple weeks ago (I know- what am I doing buying new things when I'm trying to pack up a house??), and it was sitting, waiting to be packed.  So I thought, hey, that would work for the ornaments that go onto the Advent tree!

 

 The ones that didn't fit in the little cubbies went into this basket (another new purchase- what am I thinking?).

 

 Here's the candy Advent calendar, with our Elf-on-the-Shelf (Silly Pinnochio) hanging out up on top!

 

I have to admit that even though I did it for the kids, it makes me happy as well every time I peek in and see it!  Not decorating for Christmas is HARD when I see so much cuteness everywhere I look!!

 

We've also been a little crafty this Christmas around here- trying not to spend too much for obvious reasons!  In a couple days, I'll show you what we've made!