Metal Magic

I love the look of sparkling lanterns... especially when they adorn the walkway up to a home.

And these metal luminarias illuminate a path brightly and beautifully...
Give empty cans a new life by making lanterns... adds a touch of warmth, modern country, and a magical glow to any space!

Make unique metal luminarias by piercing designs in the sides of juice or soup cans and standing pillar candles of an appropriate size inside.

An easy DIY craft to make from BHG. It involves different sizes and shapes of recycled metal cans, paper for designs, punch style can opener, 16-penny square nail, a hammer, and wire for hanging (coat hanger?)... click here for full instructions for the hanging tins.

Gloriously shiny... bright and beautiful.... I simply adore any time of year!

(Now if only it will stop raining outside...)

Send Me With a Blonde Bowl Cut...

Send a more intimate and personal holiday card this year. Sometimes those cards you buy in bulk at your local card store just doesn't have the flavour you are looking for to send to those you care about way, way far away!

I love this idea by Penny People Design based out of Toronto...

You can personalize your own stationery! Simply pick a design on the site and choose what to write on the card. The card turns out looking not only professional, but super sweet and charming... like you took the extra time to send that extra something!

On the above Snowflake card, for example, you get to decide what you would like written beneath the snowflake. *Write anything*.... that is sooooo cool!

And there are other fun cards that involve "dressing up" characters to look like you, and/or other people...

On the 2 Snowbunnies in Love card below, you can customize the Penny People Characters to look like you, and your loved one. That means you can pick out physical details right down to your skin tone, hair colour and hair style... (I can have fun with that!)

You have the option to also add text to the inside of your greeting cards for that extra special touch.
This would be a real standout from the rest of those holiday cards.
Joyfully meaningful... this card will definately be a keeper to anyone who receives it!





A super delightful idea from the Penny People... makes a lot of cents, er sense!

From GiftWrap to PlaceMat

So, the fa-la-la festivities are practically around the corner... are you ready for the yuletide season? I was digging through my "holiday hutch" to try and locate my cute green and red placements... but disappointingly they are MIA! I came upon this creative idea and image from Cityline... tis a placemat made out of wrapping paper!
I think I am going to try and make my own. Seems simple enough...
Here's how it goes:

Get an 18x14 art board and spray or rub with adhesive. Place wrapping paper piece on top (make sure the cut is a bit bigger than the board), and smooth out so there are no bubbles or waves. Turn over and fold down and stick excess wallpaper at corners just like wrapping a gift.
Optional: spray with one or two coats of lacquer, allowing board to dry between coats -- makes it super glossy and cleanable!

I figure one could also try wallpaper on this DIY project...
A great idea on how to recycle and re-use that pretty gift wrap you receive at holidays!
Ah, creative cleverness... I love thee!

Jackie's Peanut Brittle

Nothing like receiving a beautifully wrapped box full of goodies from a close one...

My wonderful friend and ex-neighbour, Jackie, makes the best holiday brittle.
Here is her delicious, and very simple recipe for Peanut Brittle...

1 c. sugar
1/2 c. light corn syrup
1 c. raw peanuts
dash of salt
1 tbsp. butter
1 tsp. pure vanilla
1 tsp. baking soda

Combine first 4 ingredients in 2-quart size glass bowl or measuring cup. Mix together and microwave on high for about 5 minutes, stirring after 3 minutes. Add vanilla and butter. Microwave on high for about 2 minutes. Mixture should not get too brown, so be sure to watch carefully.
Add baking soda and stir quickly (important to move fast so doesn't harden to soon). Spread on lightly greased baking sheet as thinly as possible. Spread as much as you can. Let cool. Break into pieces.

Optional: dip pieces in melted chocolate and place on wax paper to cool. Mmmm...

Makes a great gift wrapped in parchment and tissue paper in a pretty box with satin ribbon... easy to transport too!

(packaging images courtesy of Martha)

Twiggy Dee, Twiggy Done

Twiggy dee, twiggy *done*... and the look is ~simply~ divine. Twig garland frames around window from BHG. Another easy way to decorate your precious abode for the holidays... make it effortlessly elegant!

Smorgasbord of Settings

A veritable smorgasbord of special holiday place settings from CityLine....

And the Gucci of all settings... Oh, Bon Appetit!

Blissen Blissful Holiday Cards

The Plaid Holiday Pine notecard by jill bliss

Some cool off-the-beaten track unique holiday cards found at Blissen, and a limited selection at Victoria's Plenty Epicurean Pantry.

The Lime Holiday Pine notecard from jill bliss, made from paper scraps sewn on to recyclable paper.
The Holiday Garland set of hand screen-printed cards by *toast

Can't you see... To You, From Me!

A great Martha idea to add a personal touch to any holiday gift. Print or copy a photo or picture of your choice, and then attach with tape to a ribbon wrapped around a gift. Use an image that is special to you for all the gifts, or have fun with it and use the photos to identify who is giving or receiving the gift. No need for cards or tags!
To You, from Me....

Oh, Roger.. I love thee

Tis that time of year again when many will soon be dreaming of dancing sugar plums and bouncing bonbons. I am experiencing those lush Christmas visions myself, except mine has no sugar plums...

I dream of chocolate... oh, sweet chocolate... dear dear deliciously decadent chocolate. But not just any ordinary chocolate. I dream of Roger's Chocolate, a local business in BC. Mmmmm.... so irresistibly lush and succulent.

But if I *must* share... they have exquisite chocolates beautifully wrapped and ready for giving. A great gift idea at http://www.rogerschocolates.com/

Branches of Elegance

A charming dinner setting from Pottery Barn. Love the use of stark slim branches, decorated with silver drop ornaments and glitter ribbon, as an elegant centerpiece. Simple but oh so sophisticated.

Greenery and the Holidays

The beauty of bringing the outdoors into your warm home... greenery adds a natural, organic look to any setting, especially the fireplace mantel. Go outside and forage what you can find... but be sure to practice proper nature etiquette and don't strip trees bare of their limbs! They need those!

Go pink or go home...

Design by Kimberley Seldon... a creation that is feminine, fun and whimsical, all at once. The pink flocked tree, feathered wreath, and glitter sprinkles are all completely glamorous and retro. I love the idea of placing a combination of matte and shiny Christmas balls in a glass vase as a sophisticated display. Vintage photos polish the look, and make the vingette look oh so chic. Pretty in pink, indeed!

Stamp it up!

Use your favorite stamp, such as this snowflake design on Cityline, to decorate your gift wrap and cards. Easy and oh so extragavant...