Merry (almost) Christmas, Fanciful Flock!
Love,
Jen
Jen
xoxo
Tuesday, December 23, 2014
Friday, December 12, 2014
Have Yourself a Coastal Little Christmas
Sea-Suns Greetings, everyone! If your December is going anything like mine, it feels like just yesterday it was Halloween. I looked at my Christmas countdown yesterday and was incredulous that it is less than 2 weeks until Christmas! So much to do, so many places to go and people to see... the month is just flying by.
A lot has happened since we last met. I took a huge step towards becoming a healthier me and quit smoking. My original motivation was being able to go to Sanibel for the lighted boat parade on Captiva this weekend. A few things came up and it turned out we'd be unable to go, but I stuck with my goal and saw it through. It's now been almost 6 weeks, and I already feel better.
I discovered I had a lot more free time now that I wasn't smoking, so I decided to do something positive with that time. I opened a vintage boutique on Instagram, The Vintage Flamingo. It's been a fun trip so far and the IG sellers community is so open and welcoming. If you're looking for vintage Pyrex or adorable chotchkies, swing on by!
I LOVE giving gifts. I love finding that perfect item and seeing the person's face light up when they receive it. But I think that the presentation is just as important as what's inside. When I was growing up, my mom and I would decorate our own wrapping paper. We'd spend hours sponge painting and stamping and embossing gifts for our friends and family. It was a fun activity to do together, and it really added a personalized touch. I think that needs to be brought back. In a world where nothing is personal anymore and everyone's in a rush, it's nice to know someone spent time crafting the perfect presentation for the gift they picked out especially for you. I know, I know; you're thinking "Who has the time and money for that?!" And it's true, not everyone does. But you don't have to be Martha Stewart to make someone feel like you've invested a little extra time in them. Add a short message on the tag, hang a small personalized ornament from the ribbon, or add a few of their favorite candies inside the gift. You don't have to spend a million to make someone else feel like a million.
This year, I decided to bring back the art of handmade packaging. Naturally I chose a coastal theme. Most of the supplies I was able to find at Dollar Tree, making this an inexpensive but glamorous endeavor.
I designed the gift tags myself, and printed them on card stock and cut them out. If you're not artfully inclined, there are tons of free printables that can be found by doing a quick Google search. Or you can use mine! Download my Coastal Christmas tags HERE!
I chose shades of blue, white and tan for the decorative ribbons, and used some jute I had. I always have jute on hand, it's great for so many projects! I picked up some brown craft paper at the Dollar Tree too. Is there anything they don't have?
On some of the packages, I drew starfish and other small coastal embellishments. For some of the smaller gifts, I used a vintage Florida map I found online, tinted it different colors in Photoshop, and printed it on glossy cover weight 11 x 17 paper. (NOTE: I am not the owner of this image. PC:Digital History) I intend to add some seashells to the rest of the packages I have to wrap, but here is a sampling of some of them I have done already.
It took quite some time just to wrap a few presents, but they look so beautiful under the tree. I have lots more to wrap still, but I think the end result will be truly rewarding. Just think how excited your gift recipients will be to receive a package that is as exciting on the outside as it is on the inside!
No matter what holiday you celebrate or where you celebrate it, family and friends should be at the heart of it. May your holiday season be filled with love and laughter, and your coming year be even better than this year.
Happy holidays, my Fanciful Flock! See you in the New Year!
A lot has happened since we last met. I took a huge step towards becoming a healthier me and quit smoking. My original motivation was being able to go to Sanibel for the lighted boat parade on Captiva this weekend. A few things came up and it turned out we'd be unable to go, but I stuck with my goal and saw it through. It's now been almost 6 weeks, and I already feel better.
I discovered I had a lot more free time now that I wasn't smoking, so I decided to do something positive with that time. I opened a vintage boutique on Instagram, The Vintage Flamingo. It's been a fun trip so far and the IG sellers community is so open and welcoming. If you're looking for vintage Pyrex or adorable chotchkies, swing on by!
I LOVE giving gifts. I love finding that perfect item and seeing the person's face light up when they receive it. But I think that the presentation is just as important as what's inside. When I was growing up, my mom and I would decorate our own wrapping paper. We'd spend hours sponge painting and stamping and embossing gifts for our friends and family. It was a fun activity to do together, and it really added a personalized touch. I think that needs to be brought back. In a world where nothing is personal anymore and everyone's in a rush, it's nice to know someone spent time crafting the perfect presentation for the gift they picked out especially for you. I know, I know; you're thinking "Who has the time and money for that?!" And it's true, not everyone does. But you don't have to be Martha Stewart to make someone feel like you've invested a little extra time in them. Add a short message on the tag, hang a small personalized ornament from the ribbon, or add a few of their favorite candies inside the gift. You don't have to spend a million to make someone else feel like a million.
This year, I decided to bring back the art of handmade packaging. Naturally I chose a coastal theme. Most of the supplies I was able to find at Dollar Tree, making this an inexpensive but glamorous endeavor.
I designed the gift tags myself, and printed them on card stock and cut them out. If you're not artfully inclined, there are tons of free printables that can be found by doing a quick Google search. Or you can use mine! Download my Coastal Christmas tags HERE!
I chose shades of blue, white and tan for the decorative ribbons, and used some jute I had. I always have jute on hand, it's great for so many projects! I picked up some brown craft paper at the Dollar Tree too. Is there anything they don't have?
On some of the packages, I drew starfish and other small coastal embellishments. For some of the smaller gifts, I used a vintage Florida map I found online, tinted it different colors in Photoshop, and printed it on glossy cover weight 11 x 17 paper. (NOTE: I am not the owner of this image. PC:Digital History) I intend to add some seashells to the rest of the packages I have to wrap, but here is a sampling of some of them I have done already.
 |
| Merry Coastal Christmas! |
 |
| Love the jute and the vintage Florida map. P.S.- Bubba is my nickname for my mom. :) |
 |
| I tried ribbon weaving and coastal puns on my Dad's gift. |
 |
| The same Florida map, tinted a peachy shade. |
 |
| Craft paper, bright blue ribbons and jute go so well together! |
 |
| Well worth the time investment! |
It took quite some time just to wrap a few presents, but they look so beautiful under the tree. I have lots more to wrap still, but I think the end result will be truly rewarding. Just think how excited your gift recipients will be to receive a package that is as exciting on the outside as it is on the inside!
No matter what holiday you celebrate or where you celebrate it, family and friends should be at the heart of it. May your holiday season be filled with love and laughter, and your coming year be even better than this year.
Happy holidays, my Fanciful Flock! See you in the New Year!
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