Christmas Gift Wrapping Ideas

   WOW!  I cannot believe Christmas is less than a week away.  This year has gone by so fast and Christmas just came out of nowhere!  I'm sure I'm not the only one out there that feels this way, so for all of you last minute shoppers and wrappers here are some more cute wrapping ideas:

{ image and free printables at For Chic Sake blog }

{ use paint strips as gift tags!  image from Stampin' Pretty blog }

{ use initials instead of name tags!  image from http://meggielynne.tumblr.com/  This is very similar to my blog post on Cute Christmas Wrapping}

{ stamp their name on the paper!  very simple and easy! image from http://www.thehaystackneedleonline.com/2009/12/simple-gift-wrap.html }

{ add lace or green/red/gold ribbon to duck tape and tape it on the presents, the finished product could be very cute!  Got this idea from an etsy shop : http://www.etsy.com/listing/65782532/lvictorian-lace-deco-tape-deco-sticker }

{  have any tiny presents you need wrapped?  recycle some toilet paper rolls and make a cute gift box at the same time!  image from Her Beautiful Mess Blog }

{ make a paper snowflake and stick it under some string or ribbon!  image from http://beautyspot.livejournal.com/49167.html }

{ print out Christmas carols in cool fonts and use that as wrapping paper!  image from Aunt Peaches Blog }

{ image from 33 Shades of Green Blog }

   Hope these ideas help with your gift wrapping!  Merry Christmas!

Life-Changing Gifts

   Christmas season is here, and with wish lists and gift ideas fast approaching I want to encourage everyone to look into giving to charities in place of the usual gifts.  Maybe there is a co-worker or neighbor you have no idea what to get for Christmas, or you have a close friend or family member that already has everything they could ever want- whatever the situation- donations to charities go a long way!  My favorite organization to give to for Christmas is World Vision.  They have a wonderful gift catalog that makes gift giving so easy!  You will be able to pick a gift, whether it be "a goat and 2 chickens" to a needy family or  a "share of a deep well" to a thirsty community, and make the donation in someone else's name.  World Vision will send you a physical card that you will be able to wrap up and hand to the person you bought it for.
   Technology now-adays makes it so easy and simple to research organizations that are close to your heart and then donating to the cause.  I implore you this holiday season be generous with your money, be generous with your gifts.  Ask for and give away these life-changing gifts and I promise you you won't regret it!

{ photo from www.worldvision.org }

Paper Flowers

   It seems as though Cancer is effecting everyone now a days.  It seems to be widespread and doesn't show any signs of dwindling.  That means that there are a lot of people out there looking for ways to encourage a loved one and let them know you're thinking about them.  I was in this situation recently.  I have a very dear friend who was diagnosed with classical lymphoma.  Of course I am crying out to the Lord for her healing, but I was also looking for a way to lift her spirits and let her know she was in my thoughts.  She loves flowers, but because of her chemo treatments she can't be around them.  Well, I thought this will just not do- so I decided to make her a bouquet of paper flowers.

{sorry for the bad picture and not the finished product, but I didn't get a chance to take a picture of the finished product. You get the idea though.}

   I tried a bunch of different ways to make paper flowers using a couple of different tutorials.  These are the ones that worked the best for me:

For this pretty white peonie I used coffee filters and got the tutorial from Michella Marie's Blog.  THEN, I ran out of coffee filters.  Typical.  So I thought I would take a stab at using colored tissue paper instead.  After I found a tutorial on Folding Tree's Website to make carnations, there was no stopping me.

   Making the paper flowers is a little time consuming, but totally worth it.  I loved being able to give my friend some flowers to lighten up her day.  I definitely recommend trying these tutorials out, either to give some flowers away or to make some for yourself.  You can make a beautiful bouquet of flowers that look real but will never die.   Good Luck!

P.S. Some other gift ideas for loved ones going through cancer:

books- especially books on tape (Cracker Barrel has a great program for books on tape)

mints or gum- the treatment gives them bad tastes in their mouth

pictures to put up and surround themselves with

Edible Arrangements- as long as the fruit is cut up

a good cd

magazines

comfy cozy blankets/clothes or houseshoes

housecleaning/cooking/dog walking (even if you can't be there to do it yourself you could pay to hire someone)

gift cards to a favorite restaurant/store/spa for the gloomy days that they need a lift

peppermint or chamomile tea

I'd love to hear any other gift ideas.....