{To Cricut or Not to Cricut, That is the Question}

So........... I'm tossing around the idea of getting a Cricut for Christmas. I've only heard about them but have never used one or even seen one in action. They seem to be pretty pricey so I want to make sure if I buy it that I'll get a lot of use out of it. The cartridges seem expensive too...........

What do you think? I'd LOVE to hear from those of you who have one or have used one. The pros, cons, etc. Help a sista out. :)

{The Stockings Were Hung}

This past year we did a few projects around the house which required us to rent a dumpster or 2. During that time we cleaned out and organized our basement. I didn't have many Christmas decorations to begin with but I was pretty sure they did not make it into the "toss" pile. Well, when I was digging out our decorations I noticed that our stockings were missing. So, being a little bold and brave with my sewing machine, I decided to "try" and whip some up for us. I heard felt was pretty easy to sew with (and it was), so I picked some up at Hobby Lobby and used some fabric from my stash and this is what I got.

Mine and the Mister's. His cuff should have been the same size as mine but when I was sewing the "loop" on for hanging, it got caught and I couldn't get it out was too lazy to try.
I gave Emilee the first choice of fabric and she chose the camouflage so hers is on the left and by default Gracie (who is so easy when it comes to this stuff) has the stocking on the right.

I'm participating in linky parties at A Soft Place to Land and Today's Creative Blog.

{Just Something I Whipped Up}

Tired of linky parties yet?? I sure hope not! Thanks so much to everyone for participating in Creating Christmas. It was a lot of fun reading everyone's posts.

It's time for "Just Something I Whipped Up". Remember, anything goes with this blog party. You can link up to a recipe, scrapbook project, "before & after", crafts, sewing, you name it.

Don't forget to link up to a specific post and not just to your blog and if you would edit your post to add a link to our party via text or button, that would be awesome.

Happy Monday Everyone!

{Creating Christmas Blog Fest - Day FIVE: Show Off Your Tree}

Today is the final day of the Creating Christmas Blog Fest. I hope that you've enjoyed everyone's contributions as much as I have. Today you are going to be SHOWING OFF YOUR TREE (and other decorations).I know everyone loves to brag about their homes during the holidays and now's your chance! Links from the previous days are still opened so if you missed any, please go back and enter them now. We don't want anyone to miss out on the fun.

I feel like I should be wearing a sign that says "My Camera Stinks" because my pictures are usually pretty horrible but just know that if I don't actually come out and say it in every post, it's always implied. lol

So, here goes!

I made these Christmas Countdown blocks which I thought the girls would be super excited about. Turns out they're not, but I am so that works. ;)


Here is our tree. Not a great picture because after almost 6 years I still have not figured out how to use my camera properly!

And the newest edition to our living room is this little shelf that I got super cheap at Hobby Lobby as well as the tall candle holders.

Now, I know my stuff is nothing to write home about but it actually does look much better in person. I do have some more decorations but forgot to take pictures and my battery is dead at the moment, so this will have to do.

How did you deck your halls?

{Creating Christmas Blog Fest Day FOUR - Creative Gift Wrapping}

Hi, everyone! It's Mandy from Moody Girl Projects.
Today's Creating Christmas link-fest is all about Creative Gift Wrapping!
I'm so excited to see these ones...really hoping that someone will show me how to tie some fabulous bows...because I could really use some help with that!

I love, love, love a pretty package.
I love thick, expensive, handmade wrapping papers.
I love big, beautiful bows.
I love a wrapping job that's so pretty I don't want to tear the paper.

The problem is, I really DON'T want to tear the paper.
I'm a little OCD about some things. Wrapping paper is one of them.
I'm a bit of a hoarder, too. I have a pretty impressive supply of beautiful wrappings in my basement...but I rarely use them. My husband, my kids and my close friends all know that when I DO present them with a gorgeous gift, they're to unwrap it carefully so I can keep and re-use my supplies.
Seriously - how big of a freak am I???
I debating deleting all that and starting over, just so no one is frightened away. But I'll leave it. Maybe my sickness will make you feel good about yourself ;)

ANYWAY - I've learned that for me, the most ideal wrapping is wrapping that's actually PART of the gift.
Last year I was the room parent for my daughters 1st grade class. At Christmas, I solicited donations from the other parents in the class so that we could give the teacher a group gift - she asked for a spa gift certificate when I asked her what she wanted.
So I bought the gift certificate and a few extra little things to go with it, and I was looking for a basket to wrap it all up in when I saw some darling stockings in the Pier1 Holiday book. They were gorgeous, and $30 each...not a terrible price, but more than I had to spend. So I set out to make my own.

(these are this years stockings at Pier1 - they're not nearly as cute as last years were!)

As I often do, I under-estimated the amount of work these would take to make, still...
I think they turned out beautifully, and they looked even better with her gift certificates poking out the top (along with some homemade hot chocolate and peppermint bark!)

And, since I made 5 of them for less than $20 in materials and still had fabric leftover, I think it was a good investment!
Plus, in a way (you know that "this-super-tedious-and-difficult-project-almost-killed-me-but-now-that-it's-done-I'm-quite-proud-of-myself" way) it was really fun, too :)

If you're interested in a tutorial (I slaved over another one of these this year - just so I could post about it!) you can click over to my blog, Moody Girl Projects.

In the meantime, I just wanted to encourage you all to think outside the bag while wrapping your gifts this Christmas! And consider making the wrapping part of the gift!

{Creating Christmas Blog Fest Day THREE - Handmade Gift Ideas}

Whew! We made it through the first 2 days of Creating Christmas. I hope everyone is enjoying the posts that are being linked up. I know I am! If you missed Day 1 - Favorite Christmas Recipe or Day 2 - Christmas Traditions, it's not too late to link up. I'll be keeping all of the Creating Christmas posts open all week!

Today is Day THREE -Handmade Gift Ideas. I'm really excited to see what everyone links to today. I have been working on a bunch of stuff like Cookie Jars and Stockings but I have yet to take pictures and post. :( But in the meantime, skip on over to Skip to my Lou. She has a ton of wonderful Handmade Gift Ideas. :)

When you link up please add a link to this party so that more people can participate and join in the fun and link to a specific post, not just your blog. If you'd like, grab that fancy "Creating Christmas" button to your right and add that as well. If you're on Twitter or Facebook, feel free to "tweet" about it. The more the merrier............especially at Christmastime. :)

Looking SO forward to see what you all have cooked up!

{Creating Christmas Blog Fest Day TWO - Christmas Traditions}

Hi Everyone, It is me Amy from Unforgettable Childhood. Last night my family stood in a circle around our advent wreath and talked about the Joy of the Christmas season. This is one of the many traditions that we celebrate as a family at Christmastime.



Today's Creating Christmas Blog Fest Topic is Family Christmas Traditions. We can't wait for you to link up and tell us all about the traditions you celebrate as a family.

We are always traveling right before and after Christmas so many of our traditions are celebrated before the actual day arrives. We wanted to make sure that our girls had traditions that were tied to our immediate family since we don't ever wake up in our own home on Christmas morning.

I have a few of our favorite traditions to share with you today.

Like I mentioned above we celebrate advent. Once a week leading up to Christmas we light a candle and talk about the true meaning of Christmas. It is so much fun to stand around the candles after they are lit. We hold hands and sing Christmas songs. Before we blow out the candles my husband prays.

If we asked our girls about the gifts they received last year, they probably couldn't list a single one, but they always remember lighting the candles.

Another Christmas tradition that we started when our first daughter was born is a gift of new pajamas on Christmas Eve. We travel about one hour in the car from one grandparents house to the other grandparents house on Christmas Eve at bedtime. Before we leave the first house the girls open pajamas to wear on the drive. The hope is to slip them into the second house ready for bed after they have fallen asleep in the car.

Unfortunately they usually wake up and have a second wind when we arrive at the second house. :-) On Christmas Morning they are always dressed so cute in the pictures of them digging into their stockings.

This year we are going to add one more new tradition to our holiday season. A few weeks ago I won an Elf from Elfing Around. For the last 12 days leading up to Christmas the girls will have visits from their elf. On Christmas Eve the Elf leaves with Santa on his sleigh until the next year. I am excited to try this out and see how the girls like it.

Link up below and share with us your Christmas Traditions.