Getting Organised for Christmas - June 10 and 11

Back today with another gift wrapping idea to get you organised for Christmas.

Chasing around on the Fiskars site again for gift wrapping ideas and came across this really cute idea.

Love how the ordinary brown paper bag can be made to look so good so easily with a little help from Fiskars.

These Fiskars tools were used to create such a great project.


Time to get creative. Head over to the Fiskars blog to find out more.

TFL, M xx

Getting Organised for Christmas - June 8 and 9

Hello Everyone.

Today I want to firstly do a quick recap.

So far we have covered ideas for:

- various gift wrapping ideas
- quick party snack ideas
- christmas photo tips
- gift ideas
- stationery gift box instructions
- homemade gift list
- christmas card list ideas

So for today I would like to leave you with a few quick card instructions from two cards that I made for last years Christmas.

Joy


Blue Trees


Head over to the Fiskars Blog to grab the instructions.

Happy Organising.

TFL, M x

Getting Organised for Christmas - June 6 and 7

Hello again all.

Will all the goings on on the blog I thought I would leave the posting to cover two days till today.

Today I thought I would give you a little food for thought in regards to wrapping ideas.

Hand cut snowflakes on brown paper

from The Happy Home Blog

Beautiful paper holly leaves

from Marcella Treybig Photography

Some great homemade wrapping ideas for the kids to make


from The Kleenex Mums

Absolute must do gift bag

from Scrapbook.com

As you can see the possibilities are endless IF you give yourself enough time. This is one of the reasons I start now so there is now mad rush at the end of the year.

What ideas do you have for wrapping presents to give away to others as gifts?

TFL, M x

LOTW - June 6th 2011

Good Morning Everyone.

Have been taking a look around The Scrappers Outlet gallery this morning over my morning coffee. There are so many yummy layout and card there to choose from for inspiration thats for sure.

This week however I have chosen a layout by Wendy to be the Layout of the week.

I love what she has done with the colours and the photo really is gorgeous.

I also love how she has clustered the embellishments too.

So Congratulations Wendy for being LOTW winner this week for your layout - A Sister's Kiss.
.


Happy Scrapping, Michelle xx

Getting Organised for Christmas - June 5

Hello all.

Just a quick post today as Sunday IS suppose to be the day of relaxation (hahahaha.. not in this house for those that know me well enough...lol).

Today while preparing food for a school party that is coming up in a few days I started thinking. Every year my children's classes hold a small party for the kids for Christmas. It seems though that the parties are always planned for the last week of school, which is only a couple of weeks for Christmas.

As most you you know I do baking and what not for Christmas gifts, so this time of the year before school is out can be EXTREMELY busy for me (last year we had to make 60 gingerbread trees and 60 gingerbread stars and that was just for school gifts and that was only with 2 children at school!!!!).

This year we have already decided on a few gifts.. though after making these little cookies today I have made the decision that these would make a great little gift or party food when the Christmas parties start this year.

I must admit I cannot take the credit for the idea. But I can give the makers at White Wings a HUGE kiss!! Sometimes it really pays to read their packaging for fun things to make with their products.

They are just a packet of White Wings Home style Splits. You then break them into four squares add a dollop of melted chocolate on top and decorate with a smartie. NOTHING could be simpler. The kids love them and they look good too. PLUS the kids can do them themselves too to give to their friends. AND there is no excess baking in December when the weather warms up too.

What quick and easy ideas do you have that you do for Christmas parties?

TFL, M x

Getting Organised for Christmas - June 4

Hello again.

With the build up to Christmas being so busy taking family photos for the Christmas cards can be a nightmare.

For the past few years I have tried to get nice photos of the children all together to send off to all the family so they can see how much the kids have grown. Now this can be an absolute nightmare with four kids that's for sure. This year how ever I think I will try things a little differently. Rather that trying to get a photo of all the kids together (have you tried to get four kids looking the same way, let alone smiling!!), I thought I would just take my favourite photo of the kids throughout the year and then use that as the Christmas photo.

I find that sometimes the more natural and spare of the minute snap shot is so much nicer that trying so hard to get the perfect shot.

This is what I mean...

This was our Christmas photo from a few years ago.


It is unedited.. and it took a lot of editing in the end to get it to be usable.. however I just had to use it as firstly this was the third day we had tried to take it, secondly the kids were over it and lastly I had taken soooo many I was over it...lol.

Now these are photos I took on Christmas day last year.




I only found them about a month ago. They were all caught all on the hop. I am soooo happy with them and after seeing them made me rethink how I take the Christmas photos this year. Yes .. I will kinda plan the photo process but let the kids be kids and take it from there.

Do you take a family photo for Christmas ???

Have you got any tips you might want to share ??

TFL, M x

Getting Organised for Christmas - June 3

Good Morning Everyone...

Another day of fun filled Christmas ideas...

Last year I made some super cute gifts that I wanted to revisit this year. I found them so easy to make and my kids could get involved too which made the task super easy. Plus the cost of creating the gifts was extremely low.

This was what we created for my children's closest friends to give out as a small gift.

Goodie Boxes


The other gift I gave last year was actually for a friends wedding... however I loved making it so much and they were so easy that my eldest daughter has asked to make them this year for her best friends.

Simple Lollies Jar

To find out more head over to the Fiskars Blog.

Get organised now as Christmas is creeping up FAST!

TFL, M x