The paper collection is from Teresa Collins and it is called Christmas Home. I still have quite a few scraps left that I think would be perfect for some crafts or maybe cards next year.

The recipe cards that I am going to put in the box with the presents. I used those cute $1 bin recipe cards from Michael’s and just printed each recipe on them.

The recipes are from: Peppermint hot cocoa, Oatmeal raising cookies, and Apple butter.

What do you say, do you love home made gifts or hate them?

First thing is first. We’re going to need a few things.

• Sheet of Newspaper/tissue paper or anything you can use as a pattern
• Burlap fabric – I would suggest about 1/2 a yard. I found mine at Walmart for $2.49/yard
• Trim or ribbon for stocking cuff
• Decorative elements (I used a metal letter covered in jingle bells that I picked up at Michaels for $1.99)
• A sewing machine or needle and thread

Now that we have all the supplies we need lets make a pattern for thestocking. Get out your newspaper and a sharpie and start drawing. Keep in mind that you will need about a half an inch on each side for the seam. I wanted my stockings to be a little bit thicker so I made my pattern pretty wide and chunky. After you have a pattern you like, cut it out and pin it to your burlap fabric. You want to cut two of these, one for the front of the stocking and one for the back.

Next you’re going to want to ruffle your ribbon. My ribbon had wire in it which I like because it makes it a lot easier to mold the way I want it. The easiest way I have found to ruffle fabric is to run it through a sewing machine. Use the longest straight stitch available on your machine and set it to the tightest tension. Depending on the type of fabric you use it should ruffle automatically. If it doesn’t. Simply pull your strings gently until you get a nice ruffle. If you are using a needle and thread just run a really long (basting) stitch across the top and pull the strings. This should make the fabric ruffle fairly easy. I usually leave about half an inch at the top to get a nice ruffle at the top as well.

Alright, we have the stocking cuff done. Now to assemble the stocking. This part is easy, just sew your two pieces of burlap together and turn them inside out. Be careful not to use to small of a seam. Burlap has a tendency to unravel even if you put fray check on it. Be careful when turning your stocking inside out as this can cause a tear.

All that is left now is to attach your stocking band. You’re going to sew the wrong side of the band to the right side of the fabric. It should be easy enough to just follow the basting stitch you did earlier to ruffle the fabric.

All I did to attach my decorative letters was push the ribbon through one of the holes in the burlap and used a very small stitch to secure it to the front of the stocking. Ta da! Brand new, cheap, DIY stockings to decorate your fireplace with.

I got a chance to sit down and write out my Christmas cards today. I made these over the past couple of weeks, most of them with my cousin and I’m glad I can finally get them off of my desk. Here are a few of this year’s Christmas cards.

Fun tea-length vintage card with masking.

Embossed card with fabric.

Cute, fun post card style greeting card.

My ‘modern’ card.

The first was a piece of framed art. The person I made this for absolutely adores the Beatles so I wanted to make a very classy piece. The frame itself only cost me about $6 on sale at Michaels and the pictures were found on the internet by googling ‘Beatles Wallpaper’. I printed each one out on premium photo paper and taped them to the guide. This is the result. I left it black and white just because I thought that would look the most modern. Simple, simple, simple. The frame could be altered but because I was making this for a male I figured it would be best to keep it simple.

The second gift I made was for the same person. In addition to being a Beatles fan he loves chocolate (who doesn’t!). I picked up these stackable boxes at Michaels for around $3.50. I also picked up some individually wrapped chocolate and filled each box with different flavors. Ta da! A very easy gift box of chocolate that didn’t cost $30.

More Christmas crafts to come. I am currently working on a desk calendar and a recipe book. Stay tuned!

Newspaper Wrapped Presents for Christmas

Afterwards, when I looked at all I had accomplished, I felt good about recycling and making something semi-creative. I’m quite certain that they aren’t the loveliest of gifts and that at least one person in my family will scoff at them but I’m pleased. It should be the gift that matters right? Or is it supposed to be the thought… Either way, I’m happy with the result. I added ribbons, cord and hand-made tags to each gift to give them that extra sparkle.

I didn’t get everything I waanted for Christmas so today I drove myself to Best Buy and picked up a few ‘post-Christmas goodies’. One of which was this lovely little beast of a mouse. Before I was blessed with this darling thing I was using the mouse for my graphics tablet because my previous one died on me.

It's mouse-alicious

Good stuff indeed. Now to go prepare for the New Years Eve party.

Photos and video after the jump

And now for a few visual aids. Just a few random photos from the stack of photos we took. I also have some on MySpace and Flickr but there are just too many. Christmas is so much fun. I love it.