25 Days of Christmas - Day 14

Day 14

Have your kiddo's sit down and write their letters to Santa, it's a little early still so you can save this for another day...but I know mine have already started spewing off all their wants!  Ha.  This letter is adorable, it's sold on Etsy and a bit pricey...so you could totally make your own version if you have an editing program.

Santa Letter



Make it a Handmade Kind of Christmas {Amazing Gift Idea}

This year why not make some handmade gifts for your friends and loved ones!  Budgets are already stretched thin enough, this is the perfect way to make something for those you care about without breaking the bank and most people love something handmade!

Below are some ideas of both food and non-food handmade gifts that would be perfect this holiday season.

Smores Gift Box


No source: But Throw some Graham Crackers, Marshmallows, & Chocolate Bars in the box and put a pretty bow on it!

Salted Carmel's

Blue Eyed Bakers

25 Days of Christmas - Day 13

Day 13

Make someone you love or maybe some new neighbors a sweet gift today.  How about this Peppermint Stick Hot Cocoa!  And it looks so pretty too!  I know I have friends who LOVE Peppermint flavored coffee's & cocoa's!  You can find the recipe for the one pictured HERE at My Recipes.



Tuesday Top 10 - Christmas Printables

Since we are all decorating or finishing up our Holiday decorating this week, how about some awesome free Christmas printables?  I think...YES!

And since I love printables...I created some Christmas Subway Art for you to print free.  Just click the link below each color option (yes I made it in different colors to match your decor!) and print.  Hope you like it.

Red, Black & Gray

Black & White

Red, Green & Blue

Red, Turquoise & Gray

Red, Green & Gray

Now on to the rest of the Top 10 Printables! 

25 Days of Christmas - Day 12

#12

Make an ornament this week as a gift for a friend, family member, co-worker, pastor, neighbor, or who ever you think would like a sweet little hand made gift.  This first tutorial is the ornament I made. 

You will need:

*Felt

*  Scissors

*  Glue gun

*  Beads (optional)

*  Old plastic round ornament (I used a small one)

*  Ribbon

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{Make It Monday} - JOY Christmas Canvas's

So I've had these three long narrow 10 x 30 canvas's that someone had painted me something on.   Since neither the friendship lasted and the colors of the painting didn't coordinate with anything in my house I chose to coat them with a fresh coat of white primer to create a base for my fireplace Christmas display this year.  I needed something with height so these were perfect.  I purchased some paper mache' letters from Joann's to spell "JOY", and painted them turquoise to match this years theme.  Originally I wanted them hanging with ribbon by the tops over the canvas's but I chose to purchase the letters that were very straight and the "J" didn't have a top to hang something behind so it looked kinda odd.  So instead I pulled out some old wide velvet Christmas ribbon I had and decided to go horizontal instead and to center the letters on the ribbon.  I love how this turned out with the white and pop of colors against my mocha fireplace.  With all the turquoise, blue, and red in the garland in front of it...I couldn't be more pleased!  Almost done with the mantle, still have to make stockings, and possibly paint the holders silver.  I took this picture at night it's almost just always prettier with the night glow of the lights. 



Party Time!

I hope you all had an amazing Thanksgiving holiday!  And hopefully most of you have recovered from your Black Friday shopping trips.  I know I was exhausted yesterday.  Didn't have anything big to get at the stores, but had never been before and though I should make a girls night of it with some friends.  We had fun.  Today hopefully I will be able to find some nice deals.  Now...it's time for Parties!  I am dedicating the next month to Christmas parties, & Holiday parties.  I may throw in an occasional party that I just couldn't resist posting.  Hope you enjoy and get some amazing, fun, & festive ideas for your upcoming parties.

Santa's Sweet Shoppe

Polar Express Birthday

Snowman Fun

Candyland Christmas



25 Days of Christmas - Day 11

#11

While most of you are probably exhausted from shopping all night like I am, and the rest of you are beginning your Christmas decorating today....what about the kiddo's?  They could probably use a fun and festive craft today.  Something free perhaps?  How about letting them make paper snowflakes?  This tutorial has very pretty ones, and the kids could use all the paper snowflakes to decorate their rooms! 

Snowflakes

I'm Blank Because....

This post is inspired by:

Little Miss Momma

I'm weird because...

I can't stand to be touched while sleeping, not by anyone!

I hate blow drying my hair.

I love eating lightly salted chips with kraft cheese singles.

I can't sleep with my feet under the blanket or sheet.

I refuse to wear normal shoes, only a special occasion causes me to wear flats or moccasins.

I love other people's feet (their always cute) but hate my own (their always dirty from flip flops).

I can't stand to look in a closet that isn't organized by color and type of clothing!

I pick my hubby's clothes out ALL the time for him.

I have never hired a babysitter.

I love onions drenched in lime juice, salt & pepper.

I'm terrified of fish in oceans & lakes, it creeps me out if they touch me.

I'm addicted to twilight!!!

I create better artwork and projects late at night.

I change Christmas themes like most people change their underwear never mind that would be disgusting if they only changed it once a year!

I can't stand the smell of rubbing alcohol anymore since my husband has this strange obsession of rubbing it all over his body at bedtime and suffocating me with it's smell.

I LOVE the smell of a man smoking a pipe or cigar (not cigarettes!)

I hate folding laundry and putting it away.

I would rather clean someone else's house than my own!

I'm a bad friend because... 

I don't think before I speak sometimes.

I tell the truth.

I am super sarcastic.

Happy Thanksgiving

Wishing you all a ...

Thanksgiving!

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I'm thankful for an incredible family!

I'm thankful that we are able to celebrate today together.

I'm thankful for beautiful children, and a wonderful husband.

I'm thankful for God's provision in our lives.

I'm thankful for the blessings in our lives that don't seem to ever end.

I'm thankful for friends who make me laugh so hard I want to pee!

I'm so thankful for each breath I have.

I'm thankful I get to eat turkey (with the skin), and PIE today!

I'm thankful that no one really watches football at our holiday get togethers (except my mom & Corbyn).

Have a wonderfully blessed day!  I pray that God brings you and your families a little closer today.  And that you spend the day reflecting on all of God's blessings to you and take a minute to thank him.



Christmas wreath for my Sis-In-Law

Just thought I'd share quickly a picture of the Christmas wreath I made my Sister Heather for her birthday this week.  It's the first Christmas in their new house.  I hope she likes it.  She likes more traditional Christmas stuff, so I chose to use the good old trusty pine looking wreath and adorn it with poinsettia and sparkly goodness.  And why not just roll with the colors I've chosen for my house this year, red & turquoise!  I hope she likes it!



25 Days of Christmas - Day 10

#10

This year I decided very last minute recently that I would make a new tree skirt.  So I stood in my kitchen with my glue gun, old tree skirt, and fabric in hand and got to work.  4 hours later and a bazillion glue sticks used I have a magnificent tree skirt!!!  I love how it turned out.  And yes, you can make it too!  It's no sew so it's super simple.  Some of the fabric I had on hand (the white flannel, and red & white polka dot) the turquoise felt, and red & white floral I bought at Hobby Lobby. 

Christmas Wreaths, a style for everyone!

Need some Christmas wreath ideas!  Well here you go! 
No seriously, check these wreaths out.  Definitely not the normal same old blah blah blah wreaths!  I love them all.  Watch over the next few days for my Christmas wreath I'm making my Sis-in-Law. 



Initial Wreath


Burlap Wreath


Felt Roses Wreath

25 Days of Christmas - Day 9



Day #9

DIY Stockings Via Martha

DIY Felt Stockings

How about making custom stockings this year!  This is one of the easiest sewing projects.  You can use anything from fabric, burlap, felt, old sweaters.  Above are two sites that offer a pattern and some ideas.   I really like this project, I've wanted new stockings and don't want to spend the $$$ to buy them...especially since my colors always change at Christmas.  This year I can make new ones on the cheap.  I'm thinking felt, but I want to find a great color!

The Lopez Family at it's finest! Family Photo Shoot 2011.



Head over to Raw Canvas Photography's Facebook page and check out our sneak peak! 

The pictures she has posted already are amazing!  I love every single one.  And all I have to say is Gonzalo & I make some pretty darn good looking boys!  Rhiannon did such an amazing job capturing memories for us!  Thanks Rhi, I love you so much and I'm so blessed to have you as a great friend!

Raw Canvas Photography

Tuesday Top 10 - Alternative Christmas Tree Ideas ( +2 bonus ideas, so that's 12 ideas people!)

Okay this week's Tuesday Top 10 is linked up with Miss Mommy.
Maybe your someone who lives in an apartment or very small house and you don't have room for a traditional Christmas tree. Or you just want something a little less common as your tree this year.  Well have no fear, I've found some cute and clever ways to have a tree without the actual tree. 

  How about a wall tree made out of lights with paper ornaments!

Moms By Heart

A tree out of a ladder is quite the modern take on a traditional tree.

Inspire Bohemia

I thought this one was awesome, a hanging tree with ornaments & fishing line like a mobile.

Not Martha

25 Days of Christmas - Day 8



Day #8

Today's project is an easy and affordable ornament idea. 

It's a bit of a take on a snowflake, sort of. 

You will need:

*  Felt (if you can find stiffer stuff that would probably make it easier to make)

*  Glue gun

*  Scissors

*  Razor blade

*  Fishing line or thick thread

*  Optional:  Pom Poms

Another great Silhouette Giveaway from Tatertots & Jello!



Head over to Tatertots & Jello today to enter for your chance to win a Silhouette Cameo machine! 

I know I say it every time I enter a giveaway for this....but I desperately want to win one!  You have no idea how many projects I want to make!  Eeek!

Make It Monday: Old Cheese Tray Turned Super Cute Glass Display Case

This weeks "Make it Monday" was a total thrift shop find at Goodwill.  Nothing fancy, but it's serving a purpose and is a really easy project.  I found this great round glass covered board.  If I'm correct this is originally a cheese tray.  Now it's a super cute accessory in my house for numerous things.  Today it's been transformed into a Christmas centerpiece for my counter top in the kitchen.  Who knows what I'll use it for next.  So get to your local thrift shop and start hunting for one of these totally outdated things, I see them all the time.  Luckily this one cost me $2.99, although a few days later at the same store I saw another one for $6.99 (I'm thinking the Goodwill people really need to become a little more familiar with fair pricing!). 

(sorry the photo is poor, it was 10pm and my lighting stinks)

Here's what I did:

Basically I washed the whole thing!  Then I used some left over Kilz paint & primer in one, it's a satin black that was on clearance once that I picked up.  I painted mine black only because it has the primer mixed in, and I wasn't positive what colors I was using for Christmas yet.  It will go with anything.  I may repaint it white later.  I also then sprayed mine with an additional coat of valspar's satin clear spray just for some extra protection.  Then I took some pinecones I've been stashing away and quickly carefully & lovingly painted with acrylic paint to match this years colors.  Spray paint would have been better, but I didn't have any.  Pinecones weren't my first thought for the inside of this display, ornaments and cute little trees were...but the stinkin' trees didn't fit under the dome.  Bah!  So all I had in the house was pinecones.  You'll only need a few to put in under the dome.  You can put anything you want under the dome:  little trees & figures, ornaments, birds, pinecone's, candles (un-lit)...etc...  The other thing I will probably do and didn't have time to look for is some sort of pedestal for the bottom.  For now it's fine, but I think I'd like it to have some height.  And that can just be glued on with E6000. 



25 Days of Christmas - Day 7

Day #7



DIY Snow Globes

Who doesn't love a cool snow globe!?!  Make these on a cold snowy or rainy day with the kids, they'll love it!  You could use plastic jars too if your worried about breakage!
So get shakin' and make some super fun snow globes.  By the way I found super cute little trees and the Dollar Tree & Walmart in the Christmas stuff!  Were definitely doing this in our house.