wrapping with nature

Every year I select a theme for all of my holiday wrapping and try to push myself to get  creative within that theme. With our move to the Oregon Coast and a home surrounded by forest and sea, this year I was inspired to wrap with nature! 

Twigs and branches can easily be altered and used in gift wrapping-

1. Use embroidery floss and wrap it around a branch. 2. Wrap driftwood with colorful twine. 3. Pair sticks and branches with feathers and wrap together with thread or ribbon. 4. Paint twigs with stripes and dots. 5. Paint branches an unexpected color.

Use treasures found on the beach in simple ways- like gluing them to gift tags.

or creating unique present toppers.

1. Use tiny pieces of greenery to top gifts or glue to tags. 2. Use small pine cones to add to the surface of tags or cards. 3. Paint pine cones. 4. Use leaves and colorful berries on the surface of a tag or card. 5. Acorns are great to use as a present topper. 6. Moss makes a pretty embellishment for the top of a gift. 7. Use thread wrapped greenery for a gift tag. 8. Select aromatic greenery to top gifts.

1. Use leaves to create a flower- I used a felt flower in the middle of leaves. 2. Paint leaves and use then as a gift tag. 3. Paint dried leaves with gold or metallic paint. 4. Use painted leaves on the surface of a tag. 5. Dip leaves in bright colored paint. 6. Use permanent ink and stamp the surface of leaves.

Check out more wrapping ideas!

1. holiday crafting with book pages 2. stitched gift wrap 3. gift wrap with paper bags

cranberry inspiration

In my world, I often find that one idea or a spark of inspiration can often lead me down a path of exploration, more ideas and inspiration. This is what recently happened to me while grocery shopping- I couldn't resist buying a $2.00 bag of fresh cranberries. I decided right there in the produce aisle that they would make the perfect subject for some photos I was taking for handmade holiday cards.

While taking my photos I was so inspired by the color and shape

that I couldn't resist doing a little sketching and cranberry study in my sketchbook.

While sketching it struck me that I have never tried stringing cranberries into a garland and I wanted to give it a try!

Since we have some holiday entertaining coming up, I thought the garland would be pretty to use in the tablescape.

While stringing the garland I got curious about how a cranberry looks on the inside- believe it or not I am not too familiar with fresh cranberries. I cut one open and was excited to see that is was beautiful. Even prettier on the inside if I may say so!

I immediately knew that it would make a PERFECT stamp. So I pulled out some acrylic paint and a brush and tried it out. Homemade wrapping paper anyone?

As I was getting ready to pack up the extra berries into the fridge and throw out the bag they came in, I noticed a recipe for cranberry nut bread on the back of the bag (Ocean Spray) and again I just couldn't resist making it!

To make:

2 cups flour

1 cup sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

3/4 cup orange juice

2 tablespoons of vegetable oil

1 tablespoon grated orange peel

1 egg, well beaten

1 1/2 cups of fresh or frozen cranberries, coarsely chopped

1/2 cup of chopped nuts

Spread batter into a well greased loaf pan or even fill muffin tins.

Bake at 350 degrees for about 50 minutes

Let cool.

Quickly consume on a cozy weekend morning :)

And there you have it- me and my crazy brain! A trip to the grocery store and a $2.00 bag of cranberries to spark all kinds of creative ideas!

Felt Holiday Cookie Tutorial

I have a family FULL of foodies - myself and husband included- so on my list of things to make this holiday is food out of fabric to use as present toppers. This project is so easy and the end result might just be the cutest project I have made so far!!!

Start with pieces of felt in colors that represent the food your are making. I decided to start with making cookies but you could make just about anything!!

If you do not have access to felt, a few alternatives are paper, fabric scraps or even painted fabric.

Cut out cookie shapes.

Add embellishments - chocolate chips out of felt, sprinkles from beads, icing from different colors- get creative with "decorating" your cookies!)

Once satisfied with the cookie, sew the top and bottom together and then stuff with just a little stuffing-this is optional- you may not want fluffy cookies :)

Have fun with color and contrast....

Tiny beaded embellishments that look like sprinkles...

Pretty designs with stitching...

Get creative "decorating" your cookies.

Use them on the tree- I am thinking next year a tree full of cookie ornaments!!

Use them in your gift wrapping.

Stack them on a plate as a fun and unexpected holiday party favor and let party guests each take one.

Or just keep them around to make you smile!

Recycled Tag Tutorial

I have never EVER purchased gift tags- once again why buy when you can create! I have been recycling clothing and merchandise tags for a while now and the holidays are the perfect time for this simple project.

I keep a stash of recycled tags on hand in my studio ( I always save tags in fun shapes and unique sizes!)

Simply paint over tags- I painted mine with simple white acrylic paint for a clean slate and then started creating!

I stitched...

I beaded....

I dripped....

I collaged.... my way to an entire collection of unique tags for all of my holiday gifts!