July 24, 2012

go back to where you came from, scrooges

Folks, this is a post about Christmas. In July. If you get mad at the homies at Kohl's and Hallmark who have already put out their holiday decorations, you may want to back away now before you throw something at your monitor.

You're welcome.

For the rest of us...

Folks, this is a post about Christmas in Juuuuuuuuuuuly!!! Can you handle it?! :) I love the holiday season. L-O-V-E, love it! Mid-September through the first of January just seems so effing magical to me. I love the change of seasons, I love watching the leaves on the trees outside my windows burst into different colors and when they fall, I love crunching through them while wearing jeans and a hoodie. I love pumpkin pies and making green bean cassarole and watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (my sister even taped it the year I was studying in Spain over the big day). And... I love Christmas. Love it like a hillbilly loves Mountain Dew.
Brady opening up presents last year as Bua (my mom) watched.
Last year I was in the firey inferno delicate balance that is working full time and being a full time graduate student and didn't have a whole lot of time to spend on making holiday gifts for my peeps (though I did get two quilts pieced that Kimbo so graciously quilted for me. oh! I almost forgot- I made a table runner too!). This year, I'm still in graduate school but I'm working on my thesis and not going to classes so I feel confident in saying that this girl is going to be making some handmade gifts. :)

I've been pinning oodles of holiday crafts on Pinterest (don't you love that site?!) and am pretty excited to work on these guys for Christmas gifts (click on the links below the pictures to take you to where I've saved them on my Pinterest board, Holiday Madness):
Quilted stockings! Aneela Hoey shared the tutorial for this stocking and I love it. I think I will use everything from her idea except for the shape of the stocking and make mine this shape instead:
Wouldn't that be fun?! I think it'd also add a lot of dimension if you made a quilted stocking and also added the little flip over thing on the top (cuff?) but don't quilt that part.

And since we're talking about stockings, aren't these ornaments the cutest?!
Great way to use scraps, no? These would be great co-worker gifts, especially with the initial of someone's first name appliqued on the stocking.

Speaking of gifts for co-workers, I LOVE this idea!

Pampering in a jar! Fill any kind of jar or basket with little goodies that we all love using- lip gloss, lotion, a pumice stone, fuzzy socks- tie a ribbon around it and you've got a lovely personalized gift. Co-workers reading this post, please erase this from your brain so that you're pleasantly surprised should you get one of these in December. You're welcome. :)

And. last but not least, wouldn't this wreath be a fun alternative to the typical greenery we all put on our doors during the holidays?


I think it's darlilng! Though I think I'm going to try to think up a way to make a wreath out of yarn that looks like candy cane stripes. Oy, I'm getting excited already. :)

Whatcha think? Feeling inspired to get your crafty craft on this holiday season? I'll come back and share what I made from these ideas but you better too. Also, if we're not friends on Pinterest yet it's about time! Can't wait to see you there. :)
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xo,
Kara

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