Archive for November, 2010

Every year the grapes we pick at Mamaw’s in October are put up into jelly to give as Christmas gifts.

I love to give a small jar of jelly with a loaf of homemade bread.

In a season deluged with sweet treats of every kind (treats I love and give too!) a gift as fresh and wholesome as homemade bread is always appreciated.

This year I’ve made little tags to go with the jelly… and since I’m a sucker for a double entendre, my tags read:

“Spread Christmas Cheer”

If you are interested, I’m sharing my simple template I used for my tags.  I used a 2″ Circle Punch to cut them out and a hole punch at the top.  You could also adhere the tag to the jar with double stick tape like a label.

Click here if you would like to use my template.

To cut out a fabric top for my jars, I cut a 6″ square of cotton fabric using my Pinking Olfa Blade.  I love any chance to use this blade.  It’s what I used on the top of the pocket for my advent calendar.

Here’s a quick tip for tying the ribbon around the fabric.  First put a rubber band around the fabric, below where you will tie the 3/8″ ribbon, to hold the fabric in place.  Then tie on the ribbon.  I used a hole punch on my tag and slipped it onto the ribbon before tying the bow. “The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.”

Thanks Buddy!  I think I’ll spread a little jelly on my bread too.

Land of Nod Tree Skirt

I meant to get started over the weekend on my list of holiday projects.  I really meant to.

But instead I ate too much pie.  I played too many games.  I watched too many movies.  I generally laid about.

I don’t regret it for a single second.

But now that its Monday, here’s a few of the projects I am hoping will get done:

See that adorable Land of Nod Lotsa Dots Tree Skirt?   Well I don’t need a tree skirt, but I was thinking it’s the perfect look for a runner for my kitchen table.  My table is an oval… so I would make the runner in an oval shape too.  I’m wishing I had an AccuQuilt for all those circles… but I’ve cut circles before with a trusty cup for a template, freezer paper, and a good pair of scissors…  I’ve done it before and I’ll do it again.

Land of Nod Holiday Work of Art Clips

Land of Nod for inspiration again…  I have been looking for a fun way to display our holiday cards.  So when I saw the Holiday Work of Art Clips in my LON catalog, it seemed like it could be just the ticket.  The Land of Nod version isn’t terribly expensive… but I think I can have a lot of fun making one and for less $$ too.

This week I am hoping to finish up some of my Christmas gifts.  I am also hoping to get on the stick and get my Christmas cards done.  I was a slacker and never even sent them last year.

I am wishing I had time to make the Hour Glass Quilt from Amy Smart at Diary of a Quilter.  I would love to make it all in reds, tans, and white, just like she did.  Somehow I don’t think a quilt will get done this week… but a girl can dream.

I’ve also been working on putting together our annual Christmas calendar.  The actual calendar isn’t too fancy, but it’s a great way to keep track of all the fun activities for our family during the month.  I put everything on the calendar from watching the Grinch, to going to a live Nativity, to building our gingerbread houses….

and speaking of fun activities….  we are kicking off our holiday calendar fun tonight with:

We are going with my husband’s whole family and I can hardly wait.  It won’t be Radio City Music Hall… but it will hopefully still be amazing.