today’s holiday gift guide is a little different- it’s the weekend diy edition!  since i know all of you are really craftsters at heart- each of the pictures below represent the step by step instructions you can find by clicking on their link below.  have fun and let us know if you get crafty this weekend!

also, please share links or your own experiences and ideas about what you’re making 30this holiday season!

row 1 :: amy butler’s fabric leaves :: chocolate truffles :: free holiday crochet patterns ::

row 2 :: recipe booklet how-to :: placemats w/ chopsticks pocket :: amy butler’s snow mum pillow ::

row 3 :: cabled scarf pattern :: silhouette diy project ::  paper butterflies ::

row 4 :: dime store games :: drafty door diy :: stuffed pig ::

row 5 :: pin cushion :: my poppet pencil case :: wine glass charms :: make your own calendar! ::

wrap up: {christmas} {craft} {diy} {gifts} {guide} {holidays} {presents} {weekend}

hello dearies!  happy december!  can you believe it’s here already?  i’m going to jump start the day with our new daily post- the holiday gift guides!  each day until christmas i’ll be posting a new holiday gift guide designed for a different loved one in your life!  take note of the *new page* at the top- i’ll be logging each of them there for you to easily refer to.  and, if you have the perfect gift- please submit them by emailing me!

today’s post is all about the hostess in your life.  it’s time to begin attending all those holiday parties!

row 1 :: cupcakes make people happy :: winter beverages towel set :: magnetic spice storage ::

row 2 :: ceramic egg cup :: tire bouchon corkscrew :: three spoon set ::

row 3 :: wood coasters :: porcelain measuring spoons :: apple lunch dot kit ::

row 4 :: tea set studs :: fancy a brew? :: tiny teapot studs ::

wrap up: {christmas} {holiday gift guide} {holidays} {presents}

happy december!  i found this post over at scoutie girl this morning- and fell in love!  i try to come up with a different, cheap and hopefully eco friendly way to wrap gifts each year- and baker’s twine is going to be it this year!

present for jenny (flickr)

perfect for brown paper kraft.  also, our local newspaper printer gives the end of their rolls away b/c the get to0 small to use (though there’s still SO much on them!).  i used that last year- it’s just unprinted newspaper on a roll- it’s free and so easy to dress up!

faux bois tags (flickr)

swoon…

so where can you find this??

swann and smerlin (etsy supplier)

green apple divine twine

obviously, i’m in love!

wrap up: {baker's twine} {christmas} {gift wrapping} {handmade} {holiday} {holidays} {presents}

hi lovelies!  i thought i would take a moment to share with you why thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.  i’m a foodie kinda gal.  i appreciate good, home-cooked, whole foods.  if you think about it, the united states doesn’t have that many ‘original’ holidays that don’t center around hamburgers and hot dogs- so a hearty thanksgiving meal makes me happy.  i also don’t think that the u.s. has a really strong cuisine.  countries that have been around for centuries and centuries have formed a specific taste for different foods (think thai, mexican and italian food!)- and i refuse to believe that ours is french fries and corn syrup.  to me, thanksgiving represents our ‘cuisine’ at its best.  i love being able to bring in the homegrown harvest to share with family and friends.  i know many people don’t do thanksgiving like this any more- but there’s something really special about being able to grow your own food and share it with it others.  it’s like digging in the dirt for the past few months has really paid off- and it feels so good.  so that’s why i love thanksgiving- and i love digging in the dirt!

i hope everyone has a wonderful thanksgiving- and even if you don’t celebrate thanksgiving where you are- it’s fun to think about all the things we’re thankful for.  i’ll be taking tomorrow off and be back on friday to share some special black friday/cyber monday deals with you! don’t miss the post below to learn how to share your sales with me- and get a little extra publicity!

wrap up: {food} {holidays} {thanksgiving}

a country winter

this is how i *HOPE hope hope our christmas will be this year.  does it snow where you are?  even though we’re in the mountains of north carolina, these last 5 or 6 years haven’t been so wintry.  it makes me so sad!  we’re still hitting high 60′s low 70′s this week which just doesn’t make thanksgiving feel right.  to me, thanksgiving means sweaters, good books and hot cider.  for the past few years, it’s even been relatively warm on christmas.  we used to get lots of snow by decemeber but now i can’t really remember the last good snow we got.  what’s the weather like where you are?  is it warm? are you already getting drifts of snow?  to all you snowy people out there- send your good vibes our way!  all i’m wishing for is some sweater wearing weather by christmas!

wrap up: {christmas} {farm girl} {holidays} {snow}

hello dearies!  i’m really excited to kick off a new series today called ‘holidays the handmade way’!  i’ll be featuring holiday themed handmade items over the next 6 weeks to gear up for the holidays.  my mission is to help you beat the big box stores and go handmade with you holidays this year! feel free to sumbit your items or others- your suggestions and all the ways you been able to beat the big box stores!

all of today’s items come from papernstitch- a lovely site to promote your shop through!

1 :: wee ornament ($7)

2 :: deck the halls ($5)

3 :: wellesley and winslow ($19)

4 :: holiday mix gift tags (8 for $6)

5 :: snowflakes wall decal ($39)

6 :: reindeer silhouette (4 for $16)

7 :: holiday spirit animal ($28)

8 :: happy winter magnets (4 for $6)

9 :: pink peppermint ornament ($35)

i know we’re a little off this week- check back in tomorrow for this week’s etsy savoir faire – ‘gearing up for the holidays!’

xoxo, bonnie

wrap up: {christmas} {holidays} {promote}