A gathering of cool Christmas stuff on the 'net:

It is my unfortunate addiction that brings you this post today... I just can't stop looking at all the cool stuff that is out there on the internet, especially during this season! It's easy to get caught up in all this stuff- believe me- it's SO easy for me, and I'm really trying to keep this in mind:



As part of my effort to change things for us this year, I have said "no" to a LOT... trying to keep things simpler; even if it sounds fun, it's not always the best choice for our family.

I'm also trying to do a lot of handmade giving. Shocker, huh?

I've made an effort to look for ideas and gather away things that might be helpful... and then some of it's just plain frivolous and fun!

Below is a smattering of some of the coolest, prettiest, fun ideas for this time of year!

Gift ideas:
Vinyl wall decals- inexpensive, unique, and supports the handmade community! I want to get some of these birds for Em & Sabriel's room in a bright red.

(Image from Dana McCauley)

Cupcakes in a Jar

Another type of cupcakes in a jar

Free printable bookplates from (Inside the Black Apple)- click here for printable .pdf

Tutorial for handmade paper basket (VERY easy) to hold votives or other small giftables.

Tutorial to make a children's hooded towel (looks simple enough for an inexperienced sewer like myself to do!)

Camera Strap Cover tutorial (another easy looking one that I want to try as a gift for myself! hehe)

Quick & easy personalized soap dispensers

Yummy recipes:

Chocolate fudge (looks ever so yummy- but kind of complicated!)

Chocolate Cheesecake Candy Cane Bars

How to make a Cookie House Village

18 Luscious Chocolate Cookie Recipes from BHG (I made the Peanut Butter Crunchies and they are gooooooooood.)

Decor:(Image from Ranjini)

Free Christmas vintage images for printing from Scrapologie (just scroll through her posts and right click & save the ones you want!) ** she's got a GREAT Christmas playlist!**

(Image from Erin)

Tutorial for Book trees

(Image from Martha Stewart)

Tutorial here for paper evergreens- can't you just see these in a variety of patterned papers?

While you're at Martha, check out these cute tree place card holders here.

Tutorial for Christmas Card holder box, sent to me from Greta!

(Image from Elise Blaha)

Love this simple but ingenious idea for displaying cards!

Stars made from twigs (did this with the kids and it was kind of crazy, but fun! I think my kids need to be older...)

Pink Paislee 12 Days of Christmas handmade ornaments- pure eye candy.

Reinventing what you have for seasonal decor

(Image from Hostess with the Mostess)

Santa Baby Party Decor

Michelle & I have been drooling over these coffee filter paper garlands and pom poms. Oh yeah, baby, I'll be making those soon! These would be so cute year round!

Wrapping the presents:
Tags from (Inside the Black Apple)- click here for a free printable .pdf

Buy a set of vintage gift wrap, or use it as inspiration to come up with your own!

Here's some more great inspiration for cool wrapping ideas:

Heather Bullard's vintage wrap series- part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4

3-D Snowmen & Christmas Trees

Making it meaningful/memory keeping:

Tia Bennet's Holiday Journal

The concept of a December Daily Album

Jesse Tree ideas

Wilna's free digi downloads for Christmas

Misc:

ABC's 25 Days of Christmas Movie Specials - schedule

Amazon's 25 days of FREE- Christmas music mp3 downloads


There's more... much, much more... but those are some of my favorites I've seen!

Now- don't look at all that and get overwhelmed and think you need to do it all. Sometimes it's fun to just see it, and then go onto simplicity. Actually- it's probably good to do that a LOT of the time.

I hope you have a restful and peaceful holiday weekend, full of meaning and reflection of the Light that came into our darkness.