Simple Gift Wrap Plan

Dear Reader,

With the timing of Thanksgiving, I think Christmas may sneak up on me this year.  I enjoy buying gifts and wrapping them, and so I have started on both - perhaps a bit on the early side.  This year I decided on a simple plan: craft polka dot gift wrap (which I found at Target for $1 per roll), red and white baker's twine (a dollar bin find also at Target) and hand-stamped names directly on the wrapping paper.

Here's how this plan came together:

Fun, right?!  I am hoping that these next weeks will be a time for joy and wonder and a time to enjoy Christmastime moments with our family and friends.  And may that be true for you as well, friends!

Thanksgiving Tree

Dear Reader,

It has been too long!  I hope you all have enjoyed the season of falling leaves, football games, and warm cider.  We are gearing up for Thanksgiving and looking forward to the opportunity to celebrate with my parents and my husband's parents.

Last year my husband and I put together a Thanksgiving tree with my son.  Nothing fancy about this project, but worth mentioning as a great activity to enjoy together.  I took a small branch from our yard and placed it in a vase.  We cut out colored construction paper leaves, punched them and added a piece of yarn to tie the leaves to the branch.  On the leaves we wrote about people for whom we are grateful and other gifts in our lives.

This could also be an enjoyable activity to complete with Thanksgiving guests.  I am grateful for you, dear readers and friends, and I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Shim Sunburst Mirror

Dear Reader,

I was late to the party in spending much time on Pinterest.  Reason: I knew that I would be very tempted to attempt many (maybe too many!) DIYs.  This past spring I came across a shim mirror tutorial (one of many great sunburst tutorials) which looked feasible, and I showed it to my husband.  He thought that he would enjoy creating a mirror like this.  We gathered the supplies together: shims, plywood circle, wood glue, clear varnish, mirror, liquid nails, and picture hanging wire and hooks.  My husband took it from there.

Drum roll, please...

LOVE the mirror, and thankful to my husband for taking on this DIY.

Have a great weekend, friends!

DIY Burlap Fall Wreath

Dear Reader,

Happy Friday!  I am glad to report that our first grader is having a great first week of school after our family enjoyed a really refreshing Labor Day weekend.  Fun!  I took a few minutes this week to craft a fall wreath for our front door.  This is a quick project for a classic fall look.

Here is what I used: a straw wreath, burlap ribbon, orange raffia, and white pumpkin decorations. My hot glue gun got plenty of use with this project!

Step 1: Wrap the wreath with the burlap ribbon, securing it to the straw wreath with hot glue.

Step 2: Tie or glue raffia to a section of the wreath.

Step 3: Glue pumpkins to the raffia section.

Easy, right?!  I really like the simplicity of this wreath though.  And now to add some mums by the front door, and we'll be set to welcome fall!

I am linking up with Tatertots and Jello and the Link Party Palooza and hoping that you all have a wonderful weekend!