Use Cardboard Rolls for Wrapping Gifts

I made a lot of jewelry for gifts this year and instead of buying jewelry boxes, I used cardboard tubes. Toilet paper tubes are the perfect size and paper towel tubes would work well too.


Wrap your small gift in tissue paper and place inside cardboard roll. (A magazine rolled inside a long tube would be great!)


Place roll on wrapping paper and tape in place.


Roll up, tape, and leave ends open. Use curling ribbon to tie off each end.


Add lots more curling ribbon! I think this is so cute - it looks like a huge wrapped candy! :)

DIY Baking Mix Gift

Here is a super cute, last minute gift that you can make yourself with supplies you likely have in your pantry and gift wrapping room. (What? No gift wrapping room? Me neither. Next house, I guess!)

What you need:
Dry ingredients
Cellophane bags (I used cone-shaped)
Curling ribbon
Card stock

Optional:
Gift bag
Tissue paper

Instructions:
1. Find a favourite recipe, mix dry ingredients, and pour into cellophane bag. Use a twist tie to close bag tightly. Use lots of curling ribbon!
2. Type out baking instructions and print on card stock.
3. Attach recipe to curling ribbon. Ta-da! Great gift for all!
4. Optional: place in gift bag and cover with tissue paper. Good idea for those traveling so nothing in the car pierces the bag!


My recipe is my go-to favourite shortbread recipe from here. I printed four recipes to one sheet of card stock. Practically zero cost, very thoughtful, and definitely something the receiver will enjoy!

One Garland, Five Ways

I have used a swath of fabric instead of a traditional garland for three Christmases now, and I love it so much that it stays up year round (minus the decorations)!

All Season Style
Here she is, in all her wonderful splendor! The fabric is a dark ivory crushed sheer satin, and I originally used it as a super long curtain swag. I used little bits of ribbon to tie it to the staircase.

Vintage Christmas Style
This wreath is a dark ivory bottlebrush-style base with small penny-sized red bulbs. Add a ribbon for a touch of flair and to match your Christmas style. Gingham is perfectly vintage-y!

Classic Christmas Style
Nothing says classic Christmas like snowmen and stockings with giant stitching! This is my son's stocking and it looks super cute hanging with the fabric. Some dark red satin ribbon ties it up on the staircase. So festive!

Transitional Christmas Style
I bought these 3D stars several years ago at Pier 1 Imports. These stars get used in a different way every Christmas - this year, I have a gold star as a tree topper! I love that they can be used so many ways and match so many styles. Use a bit of ribbon to tie them to the staircase and add some punchy ribbon behind to match your colour palette.
Contemporary Christmas Style
I absolutely adore these fluffy feather balls! I bought them last Christmas and they have been living in a large vase ever since. I had just enough to go on each swag! I love it!! This one may be getting a repeat performance next year!

DIY: What's Old Is New Again: Crepe Paper Party Decor

I am pretty sure that the last time I had crepe paper at a party was when I was about 3. I have never really used it for anything but my friend begged me on her hands and knees asked me to help her do a 65th birthday party for her mother. On zero budget.

So out came the crepe paper from the dollar store and here is what I came up with. I am calling it my "Crepe Paper Installation" since that sounds so artsy and fun!! Ha!

Here is a close up. All you have to do is cut matching lengths of crepe paper and tape them side-by-side. The wood is actually doors to a white board behind it - the crepe paper on the left door is all twisted one way, and the paper on the right is twisted opposite. I love how it turned out!

I am linking up with these parties!

DIY Custom Bling Card

Supplies:
1 package plain cards (mine came in an 8-pack for $1)
1 package adhesive rhinestones ($1)

Time:
20 minutes

Directions:
Just attach rhinestones to your card in a decorative pattern!

I made a crazy-looking 'M' on the envelope for the recipient's initial, and a '65' on the card for her age. Add a sweet, personalized note inside and you have a gorgeous, one-of-a-kind card!

I am linking up with these parties!

Last Room Painted!

We bought our home from plans. The colour palette from which to choose left us more than a little discouraged, but for the bargain price of $200 extra PER room, we could have any colour we wanted.

Ummmm, no thanks. I can paint myself, thankyouverymuch.

And last week, we finished our last room!! Our bathroom! Here is my very fabulous hubby cutting in all the corners and edges.


I painted the first coat after he finished, with some assistance from my handsome helper!


And the after!


All I have to do now is decorate it! And buy new towels...

Nemo/Panda/Polar Bear Orange Bedroom

Nemo and pandas generally don't go together. Never mind about polar bears added to the mix as well! But my friend's 9 year old daughter loves them all equally so I was determined to pull the 3 all together into a gorgeous bedroom.

This bedroom was much harder to initially begin than the other one. We started with an underwater idea (because of Nemo). Then that idea was tossed out to sea (knee-slapping jokester here, I know!) and we turned to a wildlife/jungle/bamboo idea. Again, no go.

As I was trying to get these animals together in my head, I thought that we should perhaps take a different approach. Bright creamsicle orange for the room with black and white accents everywhere, and somehow the 3 creatures will fit in. I hope. All together. Errgggghh.

Luckily, her daughter went for the idea and is madly in love with orange. Her last bedroom was orange as well.

Here is the paint:

And here you can see an inspiration pillow that will give you a clue as to the remainder of the room:

More reveal coming!