get wrappin! Ideas for Merry Christmas wrap:

pardon the boring brown walls.

these havent made their way out of my room yet....

alas the tree isn't ready. yet. ugh....

I think I'll concentrate on the fact that I have wrapping done instead!

Here are just a few ideas for different wrappings this year.

I had everything you see already at home, 

that could be considered resourceful, but I think I just buy things for projects...and not get to them. 

using ribbons, all kinds

yarn

letters

 this type of wrapping is especially good if your transporting it! 

as in stuffing back of the car.

or into a box to ship. 

because it doesn't matter if a yarn ball feels smooshed. It behaves after nicely. 

 I found the coolest things this year, if you use scallop scissors in wrong way, meaning the left over fabric has the scallop- the opposite looks like the pointy leafs of holly! how great is that. 

no more maneuvering scissors to give little points. 

also, don't be shy about staples! 

they work. 

they're silver. 

they hold lost of things to lots of things!

 I had found these silver letters forever ago at dollar bin Target. Thought about jazzing up couple titles in my Project Life pages. 

I love how simple an initial looks on tag or package. 

 a little washi tape. :-) so love this stuff. 

 here's a couple more that can be transported flat-

Don'tcha love the red white bakers twine. I bought a spool off ebay. Also have them at sweet shop lulu. 

It works on anything! 

But for big packages, I'd suggest wrapping it a couple times so its not dainty. 

so there ya go. 

got some wrapping done over here....now I just gotta get that darn tree done. 

Finals week-encourage your students!

my freshman in her first week of finals came home with this on Tuesday

 how cute is that! I love this....and I think a little treat for sitting for 2 1/2 hours doing a 20 page Physics test deserves a bit of sweet! 

darling & so many ways to use this for other grades too. 

had to share!

birthday streak. done!

this precious girl is.....10! Yup, its a double digit birthday.

And she's something special...

As I am celebrating my middle child turning the big 10.

I am also celebrating because I have a hit the end of my birthday streaks!! 

which means. October December January March April May I have birthdays in my house to plan. 

dats a LOT.

but...

from May 28-Oct 15. nope. 

ahhh....I made it. 

{don't read that as I don't like a good party, all of it. BUT when you hit home stretch, and like I'd said about May....well. I'm glad they are behind me}

ON to the CRAFTing!

So I took the cute invite 

[see last post]

and ran with the colors. 

No "theme" because we did movie with few friends & out to dinner. 

Colors rule at 10 anyway. Right?

 cut cute little pennants for a flag/banner

 sewn on to good ol string. 

made a few flags of fun patterns & colors...just for the table at dinner. And the token "theme" element. Popcorn box for them!

sweet girl is honestly, easy to please. she loves everything!

and was happy-surprised at her table. 

 movie was great! Kung Fu Panda 2! then they walked while I drove to the other end of the mall to set the table. Some balloons, on either end. 

 she's a keeper. Love you Abbie-snail!

 some fun straws...out with the white! in with the festive pink ribbon-y one! 

 friends, brothers, sisters=LOVE

 little spot for her invite and it acted as a banner holder for the table. 

between the flags..

 her pals

 they make dessert. done.

after all this wasn't her birthday day....

 thinking of a wish.... 

 I know all her wishes will come true. She's precious.

 oh that Hollister smell. they love it :[

and then that wrapped up the party. Abbie gave her thank you's, a pair of purple sunglasses & panda bear necklace. ha! [thanks 4ever21!]

next came class celebration: low key teacher. just bring a snack. 

chocolate chip cookies with sprinkles. still warm, YUMMM.

 another wish...

first dibs to teachers...

ON her actual birthday we had morning routine of lessons & driving...

and then quick bite at chipotle. 

THEN off to get her birthday present! 

her very own bike. 

she has been hoping for for a while!!!!

and just the right one..

LOVE IT.

 when she got home, her sister had wrapped a present! And it was Huge & heavy!

 well. with bricks inside!

 and another bag

 and a box

 and a bag

and tissue.... was a charm bracelet her sweet sister made for her. 

I love my kids.

THEN off to dinner. 

 Daddy cooked :)

and all her favorite things flew out of the kitchen....

and then came

 the biggest warm chocolate chip cookie in a skillet with gobs of ice cream on top! 

that's my girl!!

 and a call from her BFF that was MIA for the festivities. 

she was happy. celebrated. loved. and 10.

we love you to the moon & back.

tissue. WHO KNEW!?

I realized the other day that part of my blehhh mood was because I hadn't spend a single minute being creative. 

Now, that may be up for debate as things have been crazy busy around these parts and accomplishments have been made, however this is a different thing all together. 

Somehow, baking or crafting or [new to me] sewing are very much mood enhancers when done without necessity. Not required baking, just because baking. Or not to mend something but....fabric in hand & just create something. This makes me: calm. er.

anyway..

I decided to try something new. 

Tissue. 

As in tissue paper. 

Oh lala it made a ruffle!!!

Here's the "slide show"

of how to..

I think the possibilities are endless in application

and surprisingly simple to make

 simple silver tissue paper.{left over from a pack of Christmas tissue from Costco}

 so about 4 inches folded into 2 inch

 put just the tip under the foot so you can pinch a little fold and scoot it thru the foot. 

 after this first fold, its much much easier to pull the paper from behind the foot instead of feed it thru the front. 

 keep her coming!! and next thing you know, you've got a ruffle!! 

 made a couple, then sewed them together to make it longer, easily hidden in the pleats

then I just sewed a strip of ribbon along the line of stitches, this made it much more "structured" 

and Oh lalal I love it!!