Christmas Card Hanger - Tutorial

I LOVE getting Christmas cards!

I love seeing how everyone's families are growing and how everyone is doing.

But every year, I run into the problem of "where to put them..."

They take over my counter, my fridge, and my whole kitchen.

This year I decided to make a Christmas Card Hanger:

1.   We started with a piece of leftover wood that we had that was 3 1/4 X 22 inches.

2.   I painted it brown first, then green.

3.   Then we distressed it.

4.  Then I used my silhouette to cut out the letters for "We BELIEVE".  I also found this cute Christmas tree on the silhouette images and decided to use it.

5.  Next I stenciled on the letters and the tree.  If you don't have a silhouette, or a cricut, you can just use stencil letters from the craft store.  Easier yet, try vinyl lettering :)  I was making this project at 1 a.m. and was wishing for vinyl lettering because it's so fast and easy. LOL.

6.  My husband drilled 3 tiny holes in the bottom corner of the board, and 3 more on the side corner.  He did this on each side.  

7.  Next we wrapped the wire through the bottom holes, and out the side holes.  Then we just folded it back behind the sign so the ends didn't stick out.  This way we don't have to worry about our wire falling out.  Then we attached a sawtooth hanger to the back.

8.  We draped the wire in 3 different levels so that we could hang as many Christmas cards as we want.

9.  I used little tiny clothes pins from Wal-mart to hang my Christmas cards up.

10.  Last, I just sit back and enjoy looking at all of my Christmas cards without having them take over my house.

What do you do with all of your Christmas cards?

I have a friend who hangs them on her Christmas tree...I thought that was pretty creative too :)

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

It's starting to feel like Christmas around here...

We let the kids talk us into going and getting a tree last night :)

They were so excited!

Even Dalton was prancing around the house dragging a string of beads.

Here are some of my favorite Christmas decorations:

Hand carved Nativity that I brought back from Brazil:

I don't know what to call these, but I love them!

My mom bought them for me, and we hang one on each side of our stockings.

Santa's Key:

This is new this year.

Brittany bought it for the kids.

Since we live in a small townhouse, without a fireplace, my kids were concerned that Santa wouldn't be able to get in.  Brittany bought them this "magic Santa key" so that Santa can find a way in.

Believe in the Magic.

Everything about Christmas feels like magic.

I love it and I can't help but feel happy.

I ordered this stained glass star for Dalton last year for his "first Christmas ornament."

I am so in love with it.

I'm tempted to order a whole set and make it the theme of my tree.

But I'm a little torn because then Dalton's ornament wouldn't be "special".

I can't decide what to do...

Each of the kids get to hang up their own ornaments every year.

They love it!

Sometimes I wish I had a pretty tree, but it makes my kids so happy to decorate the tree themselves that I don't mind.  So, it looks a little messy, a little bottom-heavy (they can't reach very high), and a little homemade, but I love it.  Each ornament is a little memory and I love watching my kids relive each memory as they hang

My house smells like a mix of pine, scentsy, and boys.

I love when it starts to feel like Christmas! 

What makes is start feeling like Christmas for you?

Early Christmas at the Riverwoods

Last week I had a girls day with some fellow bloggers at the Riverwoods.

It was so much fun, and I now have some great Christmas gift ideas!

First stop...Blickenstaff's.

If you haven't been there, you have to make the trip.

It's magical!

Vintage toys and games, candy and soda, etc.

Here's my early Christmas recommendations:

-Rody Pony.  It's llike the old hippity hops, but animal shaped.  We have one and LOVE it!)

-Wiggle car.  Once again, we have one and my kids love it!  Even the baby can scoot around on it until he learns to wiggle it.

-World Floor Map Puzzle (got it on my Christmas list for Saxon)

-Vintage Games (for Saxon and Bridger...my boys LOVE games!)

-Faber-Castell art supplies.  I used to use them in Brazil and they are the best!  I've never seen them in the US before and was so excited to find them at Blickenstaff's.

If you live in Utah, stop by in Blickenstaff's in December because they are doing a 12 days of Christmas event where they are giving out gifts to random customers.  If you don't live it Utah, you can still visit them online. 

Next we headed over to Ike's Ice Cream at Provo Beach Resort:

It's Utah's best homemade ice cream!

They serve Bluebell ice cream.

Have you ever heard of it?

I had not, but I tried the Pralines and Cream and it was yummy!

After ice cream, we wandered over to Zion's Mercantile.

I think I could have spent all day in this store!

It's full of art, history, some replicas and some originals...all inspired by Mormon Church history and the pioneers.  The photography and art work were breathtaking.

My favorite piece...the Nauvoo Stained Glass Star.

I'm adding it to my Christmas List.

I want one for myself, and will probably get one for several family members as well.

Loved it!

Last stop...lunch at La Jolla Groves.

I felt like I was having lunch in a lemon grove in Tuscany.

The food was divine and healthy.  A bonus.

We started the meal with a fruit and gourmet cheese platter.

I felt like I was back in Europe.

My favorite dessert was the lemon bundt cake with a caramelized sugar dome.

They even do cooking demonstrations...which I am planning to sign up for.

Photography by Bryce Olsen Photography.

 Have any of you been to the Riverwoods lately?

Anything special on your Christmas list yet?

Point of View

THEME: gifts

I'm SO EXCITED to have the chance to guest post with POV this month!!!

Here's a list of everyone involved.

Just click on each link to see a tutorial of their project.

Amy     http://amerooniedesigns.blogspot.com/     Ameroonie Designs

Gwen    http://www.gwennypenny.com     Gwenny Penny

Jonie     http://easyascutandpaste.blogspot.com/     Just Between Friends

Leanne     http://organizeyourstuffnow.com/     Organize and Decorate Everything

Michelle     http://www.alittletipsy.com/     A Little Tipsy

Caitlin (Guest)     http://caitcreate.blogspot.com/     Cait Create

Debra (Guest)     http://www.housewifeeclectic.com/     Housewife Eclectic

Do you have a project that you would like to share?
Join the linky party over on Leanne's blog: http://organizeyourstuffnow.com/

For the theme "gift" I decided to do something that would make a great neighbor or co-worker gift.  I seem to always need last minute gifts for people that I didn't plan on when I did my shopping.  I also don't have a lot of extra money, so it needed to be affordable.  

The kind of gift that says 

"I just wanted you to know that I was thinking of you."

I started with JUMBO marshmallows, melted chocolate chips, and sprinkles.

I melted the chocolate chips in the microwave and then dipped half of the marshmallow.

I sprinkled it with Christmas sprinkles while the chocolate was still warm.

Then I set it aside to let the chocolate harden.

I bought a white and a mocha colored dish towel at the dollar store.

Then I cut a piece of tan burlap, and a piece of white burlap.

I stenciled "Believe" on "Joy" on the other in red paint.

You can use your own creativity and style here and stencil whatever you would like.

It would also look cute with an image instead of a word.

Next I sewed the edges of the burlap onto the towel.

I didn't sew too close to the edge because I wanted to fray the burlap around the edges after I was done.

Last, I arranged the towel, marshmallow and a single packet of hot chocolate on a holiday charger (also from the dollar store).  All it needs is a cute Christmas card and it's ready to drop off to a neighbor or friend.

And while you're here...

Don't forget to enter the giveaway from CioCo Photography!