Printable gift tags and such

In case you still need gift tags and packaging ideas, you can find a mother lode of options over here at Tipnut, including a link to these from Sugarloop, shown above.

This is my last blog post before the holidays. I'm on vacation! I hope you all enjoy yourselves, too, whatever you'll be doing. Back soon...
You have read this article christmas / downloads with the title December 2008. You can bookmark this page URL http://jenkrebs.blogspot.com/2008/12/printable-gift-tags-and-such.html. Thanks!

Online memory game

Play this little memory matching game online at Sodapix, a Swiss stock photo company. (Via Swiss Miss.)
You have read this article games / time-wasters with the title December 2008. You can bookmark this page URL http://jenkrebs.blogspot.com/2008/12/online-memory-game.html. Thanks!

Download some animal stickers

Get a PDF of these cute animals from the talented Lotta Bruhn. Print them on sticky label paper or decoupage them onto something. Thank you, Lotta, and thanks for the tip, Babalisme.
You have read this article baby / downloads / printable with the title December 2008. You can bookmark this page URL http://jenkrebs.blogspot.com/2008/12/download-some-animal-stickers.html. Thanks!

It seemed like a good idea

We have an aluminum tree this year, but weren't sure how to light it. Idea one: use a string of Christmas lights like normal people do on Christmas trees. The problem: the cords only come in dark green or white, and both stick out like a sore thumb on this tree. Idea two: get one of those color wheel things that people used decades ago. The problem: It doesn't light up your tree whatsoever, and the gizmo is, to quote my husband, "a piece of crap."

So we went with idea three: silver metallic spray paint. (We taped the bulbs so they wouldn't be painted, in case they get too hot and burst into flames or something.) The result is awesome. Just one small problem: it's been 3 days and the paint is still sticky. Hmmm. It's perfectly dry on the plug and lightbulb sockets. But the cord is still tacky to the touch. Why??? Maybe by mid-January it will be dry enough to pack up and store for next year, if it hasn't glued itself to the tree permanently by then. But hey, the lights look great and you can't see the cord at all!

Here's a bad photo for you. The tree is about six feet tall and rather skinny. It's like me in high school. I had silver metal braces, too.

Update: The paint was still tacky when we packed up the lights for storage in January. When we took them out again in December one year later, the paint was finally dry. Also, thanks for considering my safety, friends. I'm pleased to report that after using the lights on the tree for three years, we have not been electrocuted.
You have read this article christmas with the title December 2008. You can bookmark this page URL http://jenkrebs.blogspot.com/2008/12/it-seemed-like-good-idea.html. Thanks!

Downloadable gift tags

Last night I printed some of these from Martha Stewart to stick on presents. Get them here.
You have read this article christmas / downloads / printable with the title December 2008. You can bookmark this page URL http://jenkrebs.blogspot.com/2008/12/downloadable-gift-tags.html. Thanks!

Shop announcement

Get 50% off all mousepads and postcard sets in my shop this Saturday and Sunday, 12/13-14.
You have read this article with the title December 2008. You can bookmark this page URL http://jenkrebs.blogspot.com/2008/12/shop-announcement.html. Thanks!

More ornaments to make

If you are not yet sick to death of making Christmas decorations, here are more projects with instructions:

Paper evergreens at Martha Stewart (shown above)
Styrofoam ornaments by Kathleen George
Flying felt birds at Disney Family
Very time-consuming garland at Craft Stylish
Fabric Christmas trees at The Small Object
A paper wreath from Real Living magazine
Clay ornaments at Living Creatively
Snowflake ornaments at Domino Magazine
Papercraft elves at macula TV
Paper bag gingerbread towns for kids at Family Fun

(Image from marthastewart.com)
You have read this article christmas / tutorials with the title December 2008. You can bookmark this page URL http://jenkrebs.blogspot.com/2008/12/more-ornaments-to-make.html. Thanks!

Good news: no serial killers.

Last night was the little gathering of blog readers at my house. There were nine guests, and each person turned out to be very, very wonderful. A large knife was brandished at one point, but it was only used for cutting cake. Whew. We all managed to fit at my long dining room table and ate desserts, made some paper ornaments, and compared thumb flexibility. One person had heard a theory that the further your thumb bends backwards, the more artistic you are. I'm not sure we arrived at any conclusions, but we had a good time. Guys, thanks so much for coming over!
You have read this article with the title December 2008. You can bookmark this page URL http://jenkrebs.blogspot.com/2008/12/good-news-no-serial-killers.html. Thanks!

Vector snowflakes

Free snowflakes for all you Illustrator users. Get an .ai and .pdf file here, compliments of Jeni-cek.
You have read this article downloads / graphic design with the title December 2008. You can bookmark this page URL http://jenkrebs.blogspot.com/2008/12/vector-snowflakes.html. Thanks!

Paper flower ornaments

I was trying to think of other ways to make easy ornaments from paper and created these last night while watching CSI reruns. They're made from cheap computer paper. How to:

1. Cut one piece of 8 1/2" x 11" paper into 1" strips (oriented landscape so you end up with 11 strips).

2. Stack them and staple them once in the center, then fold the stack in half to form a little book. (If the strips are too long for your stapler to reach the center, either trim them a bit shorter or swing your stapler open and staple the stack on a magazine or cutting mat. Then bend the staple closed.)

3. Put a little piece of double-stick tape at the tip of the first "page." Then bend it inward toward the center and stick it down. Repeat for every "page" until you have a circular flower shape.

4. Hang with invisible thread. (Yeah, there is such a thing! You can buy clear thread at a fabric store.)

Of course I had to do an orange one.
You have read this article christmas / paper / tutorials with the title December 2008. You can bookmark this page URL http://jenkrebs.blogspot.com/2008/12/paper-flower-ornaments.html. Thanks!

Orange and purple

Didn't I just get done saying I don't like orange and purple together very much? Yeah, then I go and buy this planner. $2.99, CVS Pharmacy. I always keep a "month at a glance" version around, but usually this cheap kind has some dumb photos of puppies or palm trees on them. I'll take orange and purple, thank you.
You have read this article with the title December 2008. You can bookmark this page URL http://jenkrebs.blogspot.com/2008/12/orange-and-purple.html. Thanks!

Felt stockings galore

These are the stockings my mom and I made last Christmas for our family for hanging at her house. The production sort of spilled over into after Christmas, due to a miscalculation on how long they would take, so I didn't post them here last year. (Click the photo to view larger.) Guess which one is mine!
You have read this article christmas / felt with the title December 2008. You can bookmark this page URL http://jenkrebs.blogspot.com/2008/12/felt-stockings-galore.html. Thanks!

Free printable 2009 calendar

The folks at Mibo are offering a printable 2009 calendar PDF and a chance to win a lovely tea towel (giveaway is every three months) to those who join their mailing list. Click here to sign up for your calendar.
You have read this article downloads with the title December 2008. You can bookmark this page URL http://jenkrebs.blogspot.com/2008/12/free-printable-2009-calendar.html. Thanks!

Some Christmas decorating

For the first year ever, we didn't get a real Christmas tree. I bought this aluminum one on eBay after Christmas last year. I love real trees, but I also like to change things up. And I think if you're going to have a fake tree, it shouldn't even pretend to look like a real tree. So we have this. I made a tree skirt for it out of the Fireworks fabric. (Hey, shipping at JCaroline is only $5 on all domestic orders through Dec. 20, I just discovered.)

And what is that creepy looking garden gnome doing under the tree, you ask? You may remember this post, where I explained that he is Alex's childhood Christmas friend. And that Alex believes he's an elf. So the, um, elf has to stay, he and his little present, which Alex allowed me to rewrap this year. I'd always wondered what was in that box.

I made some vase slip covers, too. You can read my easy tutorial at Modish this week or find it in my archives if you want to make some.

And I had some fabric scraps left so I was going to make a whole bunch of these stuffed ornaments and do a garland or something. Except I lost interest after making just one. And I was so lazy I couldn't even stitch the opening shut after I stuffed it. I used a glue gun. Maybe next time I will try to do a whole sewing project with a glue gun. Yes.
You have read this article christmas / decorating with the title December 2008. You can bookmark this page URL http://jenkrebs.blogspot.com/2008/12/some-christmas-decorating.html. Thanks!

Orange printable holiday gift tags

Download a free Word template from Microsoft that works with Avery paper products. You can customize the message and print 'em out. I like.
You have read this article christmas / downloads / printable with the title December 2008. You can bookmark this page URL http://jenkrebs.blogspot.com/2008/12/orange-printable-holiday-gift-tags.html. Thanks!

I sewed.

I was dying to use my fabric to make a pair of non-traditional, retro-looking stockings for Alex and me. And then, despite repeated pin injuries, because I loved them so much, I kept going and made a few extra to stick in the shop. They're lined with fuzzy fleece and I wish I could wear them on my feet. Of course I'd have to make them about 10 times bigger. Because I have big feet, not because they are mini stockings.

You have read this article shop with the title December 2008. You can bookmark this page URL http://jenkrebs.blogspot.com/2008/12/i-sewed.html. Thanks!

Devrah's wall art project

HAO reader Devrah emailed me a picture of the fabric wall art she made. I love it! She wanted a 6' x 2' piece of art, so to save money, she bought two 2' x 3' frames and screwed them together, then stretched black and white IKEA fabric over the whole thing. And the best part: she used orange fabric paint to fill in some of the shapes in the print to coordinate with her bookshelves, shown below. Genius!

It looks like IKEA is no longer selling the exact print Devrah used, but you could add your own color to one of these black and white prints. For instructions for stretching fabric over frames, see here.
You have read this article decorating / fabric with the title December 2008. You can bookmark this page URL http://jenkrebs.blogspot.com/2008/12/devrah-wall-art-project.html. Thanks!

Wanna come to my house?

I'm always wishing I could meet you guys. This seems difficult since right now there are about 6,000 of you clicking over here on week days, plus another 7,600 subscribing to the feed. I can't fly you all here and fit you into my condo! Here's the best I can do:

I'm going to host a little holiday get-together for women (sorry, gents) at my place* on Thursday evening, Dec. 11, 7:30-10:00 PM.

I can fit 6 ladies in addition to a few friends I've invited (whom I'm going to recruit to make some yummy treats for us; they just don't know that yet :) It will be festive and fun, and we'll drink hot cocoa and eat lots of sugar and chat and make a bunch of these because they're easy and pretty.

So if you live in the Chicago area and you're not a serial killer and you don't mind making a trek to Evanston (I'm close to an L stop), email me and put PARTY in the subject line.

The first 6 people to RSVP are in. I'll send you directions and more details. When the 6 seats are filled up, I'll put a notice here.

*Note that the house will not be as clean as in the photo above, so please keep your expectations low.

UPDATE: The 6 spots are now filled. But if this turns out to be as fun I as expect, I'll likely host another one sometime. (Assuming no serial killers sneak in and ruin it for everyone.)
You have read this article with the title December 2008. You can bookmark this page URL http://jenkrebs.blogspot.com/2008/12/wanna-come-to-my-house.html. Thanks!