Vanity for Christmas

This year, Natalie's Christmas wish was for a "pink" vanity, mirror and bench. So of course, my hubby did everything he could to give her the gift. We found a 1920's vanity that had been primed and was a little bit beat up. We bought it on Wednesday before Christmas from a local antique shop and had the vanity and bench sanded down and painted by Christmas Eve. The edges were sprayed silver and then top coated pink, then sanded. That night we made a cushion for the bench and moved it into the house for the morning reveal. As a finishing touch, a spray of silver sparkle was added. Thank goodness my husband is a painter by profession and has the shop to do these kind of projects.

It was a huge hit in the morning when she spotted the bench under the tree. So fun to give homemade gifts!

Christmas morning!

The photos don't really do it justice, but I still wanted to share the finished project!

Homemade Christmas-We Whisk You A Merry Kiss-mas!

 

I found some cute ideas and sayings and decided this one from Shawna's Stampin Spot went well with my grocery bags. They were fun for the kids to help identify the letters we needed for the tag. They also enjoyed filling the whisk with Hershey kisses! I put them in the bags or tied them on the outside of the bag. I found the best prices at Walmart for the whisks.I sure find good uses for my Cricket!

Homemade Christmas-Grocery Bags

I decided to make some grocery bags for Christmas gifts. I used left over cherry fabric from Natalie's dress along with other food related fabric. The bag itself is duck cloth or twill type fabric and I used webbing for the straps. They went together quite quickly and I had fun finding items to put in them.

Homemade Christmas-Baby Block Toys

These baby blocks from Happy Together were so much fun to make. They flew together too. My son helped stuff the blocks. He is excited to give these to his cousin!

What fun this Christmas will be to give all these homemade gifts!

Homemade Christmas-Clutch

It is a DIY, homemade kind of Christmas this year. I loved this project from Happy Together and couldn't wait to try it out. I really want to try one with the flower look on the front. I also think little pockets inside would be awesome for my phone and lip gloss. I am anxious to come across the perfect placemat to make another one.

I do believe that the stiffer placemat work the best. I may still add a few buttons for decorative touch on the bright colored one.

Homemade Christmas-Wine Glass Identifiers

This project came about because I couldn't keep track of my own wine glass. I know you'd think this would be easy, but all of my glasses look alike too. So I made wine glass identifiers with beads and dangles. I had a few dangles from trips that I found a use for too.

They were easy to make and I attached them to a card with ribbon to display them and give as gifts. I made a set for keeps too, just in case I have company over to enjoy wine with again.

Tin Can Pin Cushions-Saturday DIY

With Christmas just around the corner, I am a busy little elf. I needed a new pin cushion and when I found this project on Design Sponge, I decided they would make good gifts too. It was so quick and easy, honest. I did a version of the Design Sponge project and these ones. I also found this site that has the "cutest pincushion" ideas ever. I hope to make the wrist pin cushion sometime. It seems so handy.

I can't wait to make more!

Countdown to Christmas

Time to Countdown to Christmas! 

This year a friend, Shannon J., gave me an alternative idea to the traditional advent calendar. This is one that really promotes literacy too, which is right up my alley. I wrapped 25 books, many of which I owned, and checked out the rest from the school library. I wrapped and numbered the borrowed ones so they'd be the first to be opened and went from there.

 

 

I saved my favorite book to be opened last, You are Special by Max Lucado. So far, the kids seem excited by the process and are excited to see what book will be next.