{fab finds} advent calendars

Hello Friends! Yes, I am still alive! I've been busier than busy, and have also had a few things going on in my personal life. I love LOVE love my blog and I am more than ready to be back! I have some fun & crafty things that I need to share with you all!

Since it's December, it is time to bust out your advent calendars!
Here are a few of my favorites from the web:



Emily @ 52 Mantels use of treat boxes and cups create an inexpensive & cute advent calendar! Another perk to her project & tutorial, she is offering her printables as a FREE download, woot woot!



Another FREEBIE! Jordan @ Polkadot Prints has a goodie, but an oldie from last year that is cute to boot and available as a FREE printable. Oh, how I love aqua and red together :).



Is it obvious yet that I enjoy red & aqua?

This darling envelope advent bunting is by Jenny @ All Sorts. She is amazing to provide not only the template for the banner but also the template for those cute elf shoes!

Enjoy these great finds!

Amanda

{fab finds} wrought iron tree

You never know what you'll find just "strolling" along on the internet! I was looking at decor at Overstock.com, and found this tree:

Isn't it great? It is a 7' wrought iron Christmas tree. Definitely love it! Whipperberry has featured a 10% discount to Overstock.com---go there and get the discount!

Enjoy!

Amanda

{notions and notes} merry christmas!

I hope everyone is having a MERRY CHRISTMAS! I look forward to the new year of all things crafty & party-ful in the new year! I just wanted to share my Christmas cookies with y'all.

Merry Christmas & Enjoy!

Amanda

{fab finds} burlap & sating stockings

Aren't those gorgeous? I really like them alot! I am posting these up here so that they are a reminder for me to make for next year! I found these beauties at Make it and Love it!

Enjoy!

Amanda

{fab finds} over 35 FREE christmas printables

Christmas is almost upon us! Can you believe it?!? Here's a round up I found on Sassy Sites of over 35 Christmas Printables for those last minute gifts & decor.

Enjoy!

Amanda

{martha monday} centerpiece ideas

Have I been lazy lately? Why yes I have.... Sorry to all! Now on to Martha Monday!

Do you remember these?!? I remember doing these in kindergarden. My thumbs would hurt from putting all the cloves in. Needless to say mine didn't look as chic!

Aren't these darling?!? I found these a few weeks ago & have loved them everytime I see them! It's so simple to make, but such a cute touch! Find the details here!

I definitely could make this work for my theme. I would probably would use a glitter (gulp) sage leaf instead of evergreen, but I do like the twigs!

Don't you see these feather trees everywhere?!? Thank you Martha for providing a tutorial! An easy and inexpensive way to create them. Take that pier one! ;)

Enjoy!

Amanda

{instant love} advent calendar adventure!

I know it its too late to do an advent calendar, but this is the one I want to create for next year. Geez, I feel as if I should start searching out things for Valentine's day so I have to time to craft! Anywho... I found an advent calendar that I absolutely LOVE, and I tried to re-find it. It was definitely a quest--let me tell ya! My blog reading hops from blog-to-blog so much I should leave behind breadcrumbs to find my way back! How can I help it?!? There is so much INSPIRATION out there! My only regret is that it took me this long in life to discover just some of it!


I turned to my top 2 blogs that post all kinds of crafty goodness: Tatertots & Jello and Someday Crafts. I was hoping they lead me to my dream calendar. No luck! Next up, GOOGLE. I got pretty inventive in my search criteria. The one that finally put me on the right trail:

From there, I saw the picture! It led me to A Little Tipsy which in turn led me to my final destination! The Painter Family's Advent Calendar.

Isn't she a beaut?

Mission completed ;)

Enjoy!

Amanda

{FREEday} packaged oh-so-pretty!

Oh! the weather outside is frightful, but wrapping presents is so delightful!

I LOVE wrapped presents--definitely way better than gift bags! I do fully understand that in some cases a gift bag is necessary, but who doesn't enjoy the eye candy of a beautifully wrapped gift? This week's theme of free printables is goodies to make your gift-ies look fabulous!

A perfect way to theme your gifts to your Holiday party! Tip Junkie kindly posted that West Elm has created FREE printables for gift tags, place cards, and menus in 4 fun themes. A lot of the elements could be used past Christmas. This is definitely a printable to keep for future use!

Bag it & tag it--with these printable labels from Amy @ Living Locurto! Use decorative scissors to add fun edges or print them on sticker paper to apply them (mess free!) your packages!

These are more fitting for my Christmas theme. I love all the colors & accessories that go with "fun" Christmas, but my colors are more muted with a nature vibe. My Mom likes snowmen and my Aunt does Santa--I need my niche! I have decided that I will do reindeer. These tags by Kellie @ 74 Lime Lane would be a great touch to my gifts!

I cannot tell you how much I love the aqua & red color combo (which is huge in print design this year)! Paper Crave has created labels in fuschia/lime green & light blue/dark blue in case those colors don't strike your fancy!

Enjoy!

Amanda

{party envy} christmas cookie party

One of my good friends is hosting a Christmas Cookie swap soon, and that is what is on my brain lately! Sigh...How much do I love aqua & red together?!? I wish I was brave enough to make it my Christmas decor---maybe one year! I found this printable collection through Save the Date for Cupcakes. It is made by the wonderful Paula over at Frog Prince Paperie.

Do you see that gingerbread house?!? She made it herself! Hats off to you Paula! I have been debating on doing a gingerbread house this year (not from a kit mind you!) and Paula gives a rather comical set of tips in her blog.

Too cute!

How fabulous is baker's twine right now?!? A definite must have accessory to your holiday baked goods.

Do you see the cute envelope wraps for the invites. I have envelope wrap love! :) I guess I can quit gushing on how she stylized her printable set up & mention details of the printable collection available in her shop!

The“Gingerbread Christmas Cookie” set includes:

•Invitation *
•Address wrapper*
•Cupcake Toppers/2 inch circles/Gift tags
•Cupcake Wrappers
•Water bottle wrappers
•Box labels *
•“Christmas Cookie Love” Milk carton box
•Snack box
•“Sweet” Straw flags
•Tent labels *
•“Be Merry” banner, 5×7 panels
•“Merry Christmas” banner, 5×7 panels
•Placemat, 8.5×11
•Scrapbook papers in 4 patterns
*These items are customizable!

All of those delicious bits are available in Frog Prince Paperie store!

{fab finds} advent calendar

I wanted to share this with y'all last Friday, but I didn't have my FREEday post last week. Busy Busy Busy shopping! I want to get this out there so you have time to make it prior to the first of the month!

How darling are those printables?!? Beth @ It is what it is made these great printables with a fun twist on the normal advent calendar tradition. Check out her blog for many more fabulous printables!

Missy @ How Does She also took a fun spin to the advent calendar and used these printables to do it! Take a look!

Enjoy!

Amanda

{martha monday} gift wrap

Happy Monday!

After walking around stores this past week and looking at the Christmas decor being put out. I started thinking about how I wanted to wrap my presents. I want them to coordinate with my decor --that is currently sitting in boxes! I see so many fun & different kinds of wrapping paper that I want to do all kinds of themes. I especially love aqua and red. I love to use real ribbon on gifts and make them all fancy.

Growing up we were lucky to get bows on our gifts. I guess the need to be "pretty" goes away when you have 4 kids to wrap for! My parents wouldn't put names on our gifts since we would figure out what they were. Instead, they would number them 1-? What cruelty! lol.

I decided the theme for Martha Monday will be gift wrap! The queen of crafty will always have some great ideas!

Love this wrapping paper! What a great way to personalize each gift! Blueprint did a great job designing it!

How innovative! What a great way to package a gift! The yule logs are tres chic!

What a sweet touch to a gift. The doilies would be great touch especially if your Christmas decor is victorian or snowflake inspired.

Ok, definitely on a wood grain kick! I love this wrapping paper! "Wood" I be insane to attempt to do this? It would definetly go with my christmas decor! ---Which is browns, golds, naturesque decor. Sorry about the corny joke hehe!

Enjoy!

Amanda