December Already?!

Wow, can you believe that it is December already? I really dont know where the time went. The last thing I knew, it was September and fall was just beginning. Ellie and Seth were starting school. And now - wow - Christmas is coming! This past week I have been very busy with Christmas preparations because I know it will be here before we know it. I need to be ready even before most of you because I have a wedding (and several parties) that are occupying the weekend of the 13th. And the next weekend we will be going away to Key West, to return in the evening on Christmas eve! So, this past week I wrapped all my presents and delivered them to my parents house (because that is where we spend Christmas Eve and day). Then I made gift tags which I will have to add on Christmas Eve. (My gifts are labeled now with sharpie marker on the backs) I also got my Christmas tree up and filled out all my christmas cards. (I still have to make one or two and a couple Hanukkah cards) So, yes I think I am under control.

Here is a little tutorial on making gift tags. Maybe I am the only one who didnt find this intuitive, but it works SO much better to make them all on one sheet and THEN cut them apart!

To make these tags, I started by choosing a stamp. I like this Christmas tree one and it sort of matches my wrapping paper, but you could use any stamp. I measured the stamp and decided that 3x3 inch tags would work perfectly. so I marked the grey cardstock with pencil lines at 3in intervals. Then I stamped a tree with staz on ink (just because it seems to be the darkest black - you could use any ink really) into each square. Next I embellished the trees with stickles. I chose raspberry for the ornaments on the trees and silver for the stars on top because the colors match my wrapping paper. After that was dry, I used a martha stewart glue pen to put little dots for more shine, and then sprinkled green martha stewart glitter on top. (I did one row of trees at a time and then after the glitter was on, I did the next row before shaking the glitter down the paper onto the next row - so I didnt have to keep shaking out more glitter)


Here is an up close view of one. I was working very quickly so I missed a line here. But I figure, once it is on the present, no one will notice.

Next I cut them apart and inked the edges with a coordinating ink color. I couldnt decide which I liked better so I did some green and some raspberry.

and ta-da! filled out with coordinating marker!


there are a lot of steps and the drying time made it take a while, but really, I made two sheets of 16 tags each and it seemed like it took no time at all! They dont have to be perfect because no one is going to examine the gift tags. But I really like the extra touch that the glitter gives.

and I will leave you with a pic of ellie on santa's lap - she sure looks happy doesnt she?!

She would not smile for anything. And we didnt really plan the visit to santa, he just happened to be there and she was interested. So that is why she isnt dressed up. Oh well, you take what you can get right?! If she was interested then I was going to go for it dressed up or not!