Crocheted Ribbon Gift Packaging

I've been a crocheting fool lately, making scarves and cowls for Christmas gifts.  Being a jewelry designer and a family of mostly girls and women, I give quite a few pieces of jewelry during the holidays too.  For my smaller gifts I've been crocheting 'ribbons' to embellish printed craft paper.  (The craft paper is a dollar store find!) 

 This is a simple single chain crochet using a sparkly silver cotton thread and a small hook.  (size b)

 The larger present I used a larger hook (size f)

The tags are stamped with a few of my favorite themes and a holiday messages.  A little sprig from our evergreen tree adds a festive touch.  (Wait the day of the gift-giving to add the greens.) 

My assistant Antoinette and I have been putting together the mother of all Holiday Pinterest Boards.  It's amazing and you should go check it out right now!!!  I will be posting round ups of my favorite holiday ideas all week. 

Gift Tags from the Graphics Fairy 

These are a beautiful alternative to stamped tags and ones I plan on using too.

Ornament Party

We hosted an ornament making party at the new house today.  We gathered together supplies to make felted ornaments with cookie cutter shapes.  These are the ones I finished.  It took me half the day, I not quite sure why I was so slow.  I guess it was the good company, great laughs and yummy treats that made it hard to work quicker!

 Here they are on my beaded tree.

I have been enjoying nesting in the new house.  Today we added a few holiday touches to put everyone in a festive mood.

 We were stocked up on chocolate - the crafter's fuel.

 Happy crafters!

My sister made her ornament into a mitten pin to wear on her sweater, she is such a clever girl.

 A few of our finished and not quite finished ornaments.

 Had to share a cute picture of my aunt's pup, Finton - he is always a welcomed guest!

Jess was happy to create his paper ornaments again, spending the day hunting unusual and interesting images from harvested Martha Stewart Living magazines.

 Here are the stacks waiting to become the ornaments below.

From the time I get up in the morning until the moment my head hits the pillow at night I am completely and thoroughly happy here in our new home.  It's all put together and the nesting has began.  We are looking forward to decorating for Christmas next weekend and have been working on some crafty projects for the house thanks to Pinterest! 

The Ghost of Christmas Presents

Wrapping presents - now that is something that can haunt you this time of year!  Sure you need to get it done, but you can have the package as awesome as the gift with just a little bit of effort.  Don't worry, I'm here to help.  First check out my Wrap It Up treasury, pictured above.  Second, take a gander at my packaging post from the Art Bead Scene a few weeks ago.  And thirdly, because I really do love ya - here are two sets of free gift tags to download and print out.  Print them out on card stock or sticker paper, cut them out, punch a hole and add them to your gifts with twine, raffia or ribbon.

Click here to download.

Click here to download.

Hmm, do they look familiar?  Yes, the gift tags were inspired by my beads!