hey guys! i’m so excited to welcome back the most lovely abigail page as a contributor for going home to roost! after taking a short hiatus to get hitched (you should see their wedding website!) abigail is back and will be popping in each month with a pretty printable for you. i hope you’ll enjoy these and join me in saying, welcome back abigail! we’ve missed you. :) xo, bonnie

Handmade gifts can be some of the best – especially when they’re edible! However, there just seems to be something wrong with loads of gorgeous holiday cookies that represent hours and hours of baking… on a plain paper plate with green plastic wrap. These festive cookie envelopes are the perfect way to present just the right amount of sweet to your favorite recipients.

These can be printed on any lighter color of card stock, and the liner can be made ideally from wax paper (more detailed instructions are on the printables themselves). The closure is where it can get really fun – buttons, ribbons, and washi tape are what I used but I would love to do some with yarn pom-poms, big stickers… it’s really endless. One tip – flat cookies that are less than three inches in diameter work best with these envelopes. If you try to put a very round cookie in there it might not close all the way. Four tiny cookies would also be a really cute option.

I used this recipe for red velvet crinkle cookies that you can find on my blog here.

Have a fantastic Christmas with your families and friends! -abigail

Abigail runs her freelance business with her husband, and when she’s not designing they love to go camping, listen to good music, and go on foodie adventures together!

wrap up: {christams} {cookie} {envelope} {favor} {free} {holiday} {jolly} {party} {printable} {recipe} {sugar and spice}

with shiny ornaments, strings of light and holiday parties in full swing, i can’t help but be drawn to all things golden. it’s winter’s way of shining through these dark and chilly evenings. it makes the season feel special, glittery and unforgettable, don’t you think?

1) gold scallop garland – $16 | 2) golden twig pencils – $13 | 3) faux gold deer – $99.99 | 4) double band brass ring – $62 | 5) large gold paper bowl – $68 | 6) vintage cube necklace – $24 | 7) gold porcelain mugs – $120 | 8) you make me happy when skies are grey – $40 | 9) gold leather mousepad – $35 | 10) gold leather clutch – $73

wrap up: {christmas} {gift guide} {glittery} {gold} {golden} {holiday} {metaillic} {metal} {new years}

as i mentioned earlier, one of my favorite things to do each year is choose a gift wrapping theme. one year it was recycled newspaper, the next was huge glittered initials for each package. last year i used kraft paper and made pretty bows, and this year i’m making ‘chalkboard’ packages! with a little black kraft paper and a few white paint markers, i think they’ve turned out to be really cute. here’s how i did it:

the first thing you’ll need is some black craft paper. i got mine right here and though i’m super happy with it, you should be warned: it’s a HUGE roll! i was so surprised when it came in the mail, i guess i didn’t take care to check out the dimensions! so anyways, we might be doing this next year, too. ;)

next you’ll need a white paint marker that will show up well on black paper. after some trial and error and visiting my local scrapbooking store, this is what i came home with:

1. tim holtz distress marker in ‘picket fence’. this one looks very ‘chalky’. it goes on clear, but quickly dries in white.

2. sakura pen-touch white. this is the one i used for almost all of the packages. it’s easy to work with and still hasn’t run dry, so one is probably plenty!

3. crayola white colored pencil. not the greatest option, but it does show up if it’s all you have.

4. painters opaque paint marker. this is another good option. the point is a bit finer than what i wanted, but would work great for detail work!

the next thing you’ll need is some good ideas! i took some time to sit down and jot down a few ideas before i got started so that i would have something to reference. really anything goes! just in case you would like to use some of the same motifs, i’ve made this a download for you to reference. just click on the image above and print!

so there you have it. my ‘chalkboard’ packages that have been so fun to make! they are simple, affordable and really cute all bundled together.

what are your packaging plans this year?

wrap up: {chalkboard} {christmas} {holiday} {packages} {paint} {paper} {pen} {white} {wrapping}

pelipecas is the shop full of positivity! handmade in costa rica, tati makes each piece with a lot of love and hopes to spread happiness around the world through her beautiful jewelry. each piece has a positive meaning, just waiting to be shared!

wrap up: {handmade} {holiday showcase} {jewelry} {message} {pelipecas} {positive}

hello friends! i’m sure many (if not all of you) are familiar with MOO, the digital printing company. particularly popular in the handmade community, they make stunning business cards, greeting cards, stickers and accessories! from personal experience, my favorites are the MOO MiniCards (but you know that, because i told you in 2009!). they are half the size of regular business cards, which make them unique and super memorable.

today i am beyond excited that MOO has offered a giveaway for not one, but three lucky winners! thanks, MOO!

about the cards:

MOO MiniCards: MiniCards are half the size of business cards but ‘twice as nice’! upload your own images or personalize their designs. use up to 100 different designs in each pack, with a different image on each card. show off your portfolio, your products, your business or yourself. plus, when it comes to the jolliest season, they make great gift tags and place holders too!

MOO holiday cards: send a festive greeting this season, it’ll impress clients of course, but to friends or family it’ll mean a lot more. easily upload your own photos or designs, or personalize with a selection from MOO. customize with a logo and message to create individual cards or even have a different image on each card!

wrap up: {business} {giveaway} {holiday cards} {minicards} {moo} {printing} {winners}

these patterned paint rollers have successfully made my mind run wild. think of all the possibilities! i just want to walk around with one rolling things as i go. walls, fabric, floors, curtains..  oh my! visit their site and etsy shop to see more selections.

i hope you each have a wonderful weekend! i have so enjoyed meeting here with you all this week. in case you’re just catching up, here’s a recap of what’s been happening here:

- stay organized with my printable christmas gift list

- read the story of our christmas tree

- gift the roost tribe to give a whole year of creativity

- be sure to check out these amazing recipes

- download december’s desktop calendar

- shop ghtr’s gift guides for creatives

see you next week! xx

wrap up: {bird} {decor} {deer} {paint} {patterned} {rollers} {walls}

starshaped press is a chicago based printing company that is one of the very few shops left in the country that still prints entirely like it’s 1929. no computers, no plastic, just antique metal and wood. this old fashioned shop has stayed true to the original craft of letterpress and the results are nothing less than breathtaking. step back in time as your browse their shop and studio to get a glimpse of this truly beautiful and unique craftsmanship!

wrap up: {antique} {letterpress} {metal} {old fashioned} {starshaped press} {wood}

with chilly nights in full swing, we’ve been craving warm dishes that soothe the soul. that means most of our meals this week were served in a bowl!

monday: healing cabbage, potato, carrot, & tomato curry stew
tuesday: we had rising moon organics frozen butternut squash ravioli this night, it was so yummy! (photo credit)
wednesday: no chicken noodle soup
thursday: butternut squash and walnut pasta (i used brown rice pasta this time)
friday: vegan mutter panner

what was on your plate this week? any favorite recipes you’d like to share?

we follow a whole foods, plant based diet. the dinner ideas posts are a way for me to log our dinners, how we make eating this way easy, and hopefully inspire you to try some new things as well. they are always meat free, dairy free and often gluten free. you can follow the posts here, and i encourage you to share your favorite recipes with us as well!

wrap up: {dinner} {gluten free} {ideas} {plant based} {seasonal} {vegan} {vegetarian} {whole foods}