Handmade Gift - Mini Ribbon Paperclips

Last year for my handmade Christmas gift, I decided to make these gorgeous little mini ribbon paperclips.  I thought they looked so cute, and by following this tutorial I found online, I was able to create these little masterpieces!  The only thing that I did differently to the instructions listed, was to hot glue the back of the bow, so that it sat straight on top of the paper clip (otherwise, they tended to spin around).

I mounted the paperclips on a piece of card, with a ribbon wrapped around the middle, just to provide a bit of an added embellishment.

The pink were definitely my favourite...

Two Cute Little Christmas Presents

Pinterest is such a great place to get ideas for presents.  I find it shows ways to turn a gift into something that is thoughtful and much more meaningful.  I am sure that lots of you have already seen either one or both of these little gift ideas, like those floating around on Pinterest, but I just had to share them, as I received both of them from a very special friend this Christmas, and I knew you would love them both!

'Merry Kissmas' Lip Gloss

Candy Cane Christmas Piniata

I shared with you earlier this month our family tradition of having a piniata on Christmas day.

This year, I decided to make the piniata in the shape of a candy cane...

My Christmas Cards 2012

This year, I was rather behind with my Christmas preparations, due to the 16 weeks of sickness that I felt at the start of my pregnancy.  Every spare moment was spent resting, so being super-organised for Christmas this year was just not going to happen!

Last year, I put in lots of hours making these handmade Christmas cards.  I loved making them, and I loved giving them.  But this year I needed a solution that was a little less time consuming.  That is when I came up with the idea of a digital Christmas print of my baby bump!

My Christmas Gift Wrapping 2012 (Red and Gold)

I hope everyone had a beautiful Christmas with their loved ones.  I am so blessed to have such an amazing family to share such a special time of year with.

I thought I would share today my gift wrapping from this year.  I obviously chose red and gold to match my 2012 Christmas theme, which I shared earlier this week here.  I always try to keep the wrapping simple, as I always have lots of presents to wrap!  And like last year (you can see that wrapping here), I kept the embellishments flat - so much easier for stacking under the tree and it also means it doesn't get squashed during transporting the gifts...

My Red and Gold Christmas Theme - 2012

Here is a little peek at how things are looking around here this Christmas!

We love our new Christmas tree...

Christmas Baking Treat - Star Cinnamon Cookies

I decided to bake cookies as a Christmas treat for my staff at work.  I found these adorable square pink baking cups at a variety store, and made a simple little label to stick onto the front, which I cut out with my scalloped punch.

Christmas in the Kitchen - 2012

This is how I have brought the festive spirit into my kitchen this year...

Secret Santa - Guess Who? Game

Do you need a creative way to get your Secret Santa to guess who you are?!  At my work, in December we play the game of Secret Santa.  Each day for a week (or two) we provide our Secret Santa buddy with clues (and little presents), so that they can guess who you are.  It is a really fun way to end a busy working year!

I heard about this Secret Santa idea many years ago, and last year, I put it to the test...

How to Make a Christmas Bauble Piniata

For many years, we have had a family tradition of having a giggle with a Christmas pinata!  I have made many different sorts of pinatas over the years, but the one I made last year was definitely the most beautiful one that I have ever made!  And it was really easy too.  After looking for some pinspiration, I found a design for a simple bauble pinata, that used tinsel to pretty it up.  

Here is my finished product:

Christmas Wrapping Paper - 2012

I took the plunge today and bought my Christmas wrapping paper for this year!  It is such a big decision - well for me it is anyway!  I like to have all matching paper, and since I am not that great coordinating patterns, I like to stick with one style of paper for all of our Christmas presents.

The last 5 or so years, our Christmas colours have been Brown and Gold.  You can see where I have posted about this here and here.  This year I decided to shake things up a bit, and I am adding Red to the mix.  At the after-Christmas sales last year I bought up big - lots of red baubles and tinsel, which cost next to nothing!  I am ready for my new-look Christmas in 2012!

So, when it came to the wrapping paper, I knew I wanted red, to help to bring out the new colour I am adding to my colour theme - as I won't have half as many red decorations as I do brown and gold.  This is my cheap and easy way of making our tree burst with the new colour!

Here it is....

Snowman Soup - Christmas Gift Idea

Last year I had a great time making 'Snowman Soup' for lots of colleagues, friends and family!  I first found this idea here on the Organised Christmas website (also where I found all of the printables for my Christmas planner). 

It was really easy to source the bits and pieces I needed to put together my twist on this cute Christmas novelty gift idea.... A little bag of all of the ingredients for hot chocolate, along with this cute little poem to make Snowman Soup:

I heard that you've been good this year,

You've done everything just right.

So here is some Snowman Soup

For you to enjoy one Christmas night.

First, pour the packet into a mug,

Then add water - boiling hot.

Next stir with the peppermint stick,

Then, one last thing that I almost forgot!

That's right, you must add the secret ingredient

To make the perfect Snowman Soup,

It's super-sweet and oh-so tasty...

Drop in the Snowman Poop!

All you need is hot chocolate sachets, candy canes, marshmallows and snap lock bags.

My Christmas Planner

It is only four months until Christmas!!  About this time last year, I decided to make myself a Christmas Planner to help me stay organised in the lead-up to and during the Christmas season.

Christmas Gift with Handmade Touch - Joy Frames

I first saw this awesome idea on the Eighteen 25 blog, here.  I loved the simplicity of the idea, and I also love that it can be something that is switched out on a different holidays and celebrations throughout the year.  So, I decided that this would be my handmade gift for 2011. 

My Brown and Gold Christmas Theme - 2011

Today I am going to share my brown and gold Christmas theme for 2011! 

I love to surround us with the spirit of Christmas, so that we cherish each and every day of this special time of year.  Whether is be the flashing lights, a sparkly tree or a simple decoration that holds a special memory, the essence of Christmas is truly held in your heart, and all of these decorations that adorn our home are just a reminder of how lucky we are to be blessed with health, hope and happiness.

My Homemade Christmas Cards - 2011

This year I decided to make my own Christmas cards.  I have never done card-making before, so I started planning really early, to ensure that it didn't turn into a massive project that was more of a headache than a pleasure!

Cafe Cassadiva - Mini Quiches

This is one of our family's favourite recipes.  I think back to many parties, picnics and moving days where these Mini Quiches have really hit the spot!  It is also a great way to get rid of your excess Christmas ham, or if it isn't Christmas time, I always keep some diced bacon in the freezer so that I can make these without having to leave the house...

My Brown & Gold Christmas Theme - 2007

I have had requests to share my Christmas decorating with you, but I haven't had a chance to take the photos yet.  So, I found these photos from Christmas 2007, and thought I would share them with you in the meantime!

I had the brown and gold theme back then too, which has definitely made me realise that next year I need to try something new!  But it looks so pretty, that I thought I would share....

The Tree

A Little After Dinner Christmas Treat

When I am having a party, or even sometimes if I am having a few people for dinner, I try to organise the after-dinner coffee/tea prior to the event. 

Christmas Cooking - Tiny Teddy Sleighs

This is a really fun cooking activity to do with the kiddies!  I do not take credit for thinking of this idea - as per usual, I have just copied an idea that I have seen elsewhere :)