how-to make a yarn ball and ornament wreath

HOW-TO MAKE A YARN BALL & ORNAMENT WREATH
by Kristi of Life Through the Lens

I have loved making these yarn ball & ornament wreaths...they make great gifts!  Here's the tutorial if you'd like to hang one in your own home or give it to someone special this holiday season.  
They're super easy...



Here's what you need:
all supplies were found at a craft store, Wal-Mart, and Target
• Wire Wreath Form {I used a 18 inch form}
• Ornaments
• Yarn
• Glue Gun
• Styrofoam Balls


To make the yarn balls:
I used a variety of sizes of styrofoam balls.
The sizes I used are: 2 1/2 inch, 2 inch, 1 1/2 inch
Wrap the yarn around the styrofoam ball in various and alternating directions {just like making a real yarn ball} until all of the white styrofoam is covered.  When you're finished just tuck the end of the string underneath the yarn to secure it.


Making the wreath:
There are a couple of  ways to do this.. you can evenly space out your large yarn balls onto your wreath form and glue them one at a time.  And then you can glue your smaller yarn balls and ornaments around your large yarn balls.  I have done this on a few of my wreaths.



Or you can build the wreath one section at a time building upon each section as you go.  I found that this leaves less 'holes' and hides the wreath wire form from view.  This method works better for me and I like the way it looks.  I added the larger yarn balls and ornaments around the base of the wreath form and then I filled the 'holes' with smaller yarn balls and smaller ornaments.  Securing each by gluing them to one another and to the wreath form.  While gluing the pieces together you'll want to hold them for 15-20 seconds to make sure they are secure before moving on.  I also made sure that I alternated the colors.

I found that holding the wreath upright or hanging it on my door let me have a good look at it and find the places where I needed extra pieces added to ensure a festive and finishing touch.


What do you think?  Are you going to give it a try?

thank you, kristi! this is a beauty of a DIY project. see her bright version yarn ball wreath from last year. lots more wreath inspiration from my wreath round-up post.


view the entire how-to series archives for tons of tutorials from readers like you.
"Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do." - John Wooden

currently playing: Sleigh Ride (instrumental) / Sam Bush

a load of love

we are home sweet home! i am reminding myself that the pain and process of unpacking and putting away is a small price to pay for a winter weekend getaway. thanksgiving was fantastic. how was yours? we snuggled up in a cozy cabin in sun valley, idaho all weekend. a tradition i gladly adopted when marrying into dan's family. this trip there was tons of fresh snow for sledding and tromping through. the twinkle lights on the pine trees made the town look so festive.

i must admit, it is pretty awesome to be sequestered away and completely unplugged for awhile. (i have a billion blogs to catch up on. of course, i am thinking i need to whittle down my google reader for a calmer christmas season. over the weekend we had a light discussion about social networking; the good, the bad, the ugly. decided to have a closer look at which blogs i read and why.)

we did crafts together (mini m&m dipped caramel chocolate apples!), played fox and geese in a sparkling field, went shopping with the girls (ornaments and scarves were the big thing this season), watched movies, played apples to apples and learned a crazy fun card game called nertz (which i'm really bad at). i took a hundred photos and made a load of memories. life is so good. i truly have so much to be thankful for.

am feeling almost ready to officially prepare for the magical christmas season. am promising myself to get all unpacked and cleaned up before any decorations go up. it will be good motivation to get things rolling around here this week. happy november wrap-up to you, too.

p.s. thank you to those of you who enjoyed my thanksgiving download! i was shocked to see more than 300 downloads. hooray. i plan on whipping up a dollar december download soon.

p.p.s. tuesday a crafty wreath tutorial will debut, you won't want to miss it.

p.p.s.s. another topic of discussion: bangs. am highly considering them. please advise.

currently playing: Oak Ridge Boys / It Is His Birthday

holiday inspiration no. 03 & a new favorite christmas cd

• charming wellies and mini spruce perched upon a mantel
• sweet little mittens mid-wreath.
• wreath hung mid-bookshelf.
• shiny ornament icicles along the staircase.
follow this link for more pages from my christmas binder.  

ideas from real simple, freshhomemag.com and pottery barn

happy black friday. i hope your thanksgiving was incredibly memorable and happy (and delicious!). perhaps some of you are out and about shopping up a storm or maybe staying inside and hauling out the holly to decorate your holiday home! we're still on the road and will be back next week. enjoy those leftovers! i must say i am loving the christmas tunes on A Family Christmas (Putumayo Presents). it is a cheery collection of new-to-me renditions of ol' favorites. more favorite holiday mix picks here. i'm always looking for new holiday tunes, so do tell me what's playing on your ipod.

snapshot: i am thankful

i love these boys. i love that they look like twins in this picture. just look at those expressions! i love that every day is an adventure with these two. i also love that benji's green train, percy snuck into our photo op. (i don't know where we'd take pictures without this couch. i'm surprised it didn't make our christmas card.) i am ever thankful for b and d, they are my little family and love me through thick and thin, dawn to dusk. to the moon and back. how amazing it is to me that i indeed have a little household with a little family to care for. my life is so rich and full and shimmery with them in it. even amidst the emptying of the dishwasher, the picking up of the toys, the disaster areas in the kitchen, the constant rumply quilts on our trampoline bed, i still know we are living the days–the golden days–which we'll remember with fondness. when i step back, i truly realize how important this role is. what a glorious gift it is to be alive. i say that with all the zeal i can muster. i love that i am a wife and a mom. i also love that i'm a daughter, a daughter-in-law and a sister too.

i am grateful to live in a free country; to act as i please, to work as i may, to tend my little lamb and have a fabulous side job. i am ever thankful for good health and amazing relatives who inspire me. i am happy i wake up with a roof over my head, am free of aches and pains, and have the ability to see my alarm clock with my own eyes! i feel lucky in life. i know i am fortunate. i love having supportive people surround me; online and off. i love friends who are my constants. i am thankful that i can read and write. am happy i can forever be a student of life and learn the lessons that teach me to be courageous and strong and mighty. how glad i am for empathy and the feeling of heartache, even for another's pain. letting my heart breathe a bit for them. so grateful for prayer. i would be nothing without God and the paths He has led me to. i am thankful that the sculpting of one's character does not require a diploma or a classroom even. i appreciate that we can control the heights we attain. am forever glad my parents have always been (and may always be) my biggest fans. my mom was at every community play i was ever in (and i was never the lead role). my dad was the one who helped me figure out how to earn enough money for a high school trip to new york city. he knew it would be the chance of a lifetime. (he was right.) i am grateful for the ever-motivating voice inside that pushes me to be all that i can be; to follow through with ideas, to be bold, to try a new recipe, to write a kind note, to be more today than i was yesterday.

seize the day. happy thanksgiving.

p.s. am also thankful for the non-stop incredible creative talent found online. my favorite calligrapher, mara is offering a stunning (free!) pattern for a gratitude apron or other gratitude project. yay. just in time! read more here.

thanksgiving plans & rolo turtle sweets

i am guest posting on simply modern mom today with my favorite new sweet recipe that literally takes seconds to assemble. rolo turtle candies. in fact, i'm taking the supplies on the road for my edition of show and tell with dan's family this weekend. enjoy.

thank you, tiffany for including these tasty treats on your blog!

wishing you a safe and happy thanksgiving! even though we are a bit snowed in, we plan to brave the storm and head to sun valley. we might be ice skating there. the high temperature there is currently 2 degrees!! i plan on living in my darn tough socks and cozying up to the fireplace. it will be fun to have the perfect excuse to stay inside all weekend. of course i know dan will bring up the grand plan for going on our traditional thanksgiving day mini hike. we do this every thanksgiving and christmas, no matter what the weather! it's always so fun to stretch our legs a bit for the upcoming feast. later, i will totally make dan's family watch the taylor swift special with me on thanksgiving night! 

am fondly remembering our own thanksgiving meal from last year. i love mixing it up with holiday traditions, last year was intimate and low key. what a fun experience it was to make a turkey ourselves. wishing you first-time-turkey cooks lots of luck in your kitchen. wear an apron and turn on the tunes! i swear by brining the bird, just like my dad does. it makes the juiciest turkey. i have answered a few questions (along with some turkey bird tips) on formspring, so click over if you want to know the skinny.

one more thing. if you are driving this weekend, refer to this how-to post to create a car survival kit! furthermore, my goal this weekend is to take some time and write my grateful list in a journal. i have been lacking in real writing and think it's the least i can do to celebrate this heartfelt holiday. posts are scheduled until i return next week with a snowy holiday recap! 

p.s. don't forget the cranberry sauce or olives, like i did last year.

now for my big news

i'm going to ALT! are you?

alt design summit is a social media design conference held in salt lake city, utah. truth be told, this incredible conference event has been on my wish list since i missed the opportunity last january! from the reviews and recaps from bloggers far and wide, it was the conference to attend. fantastic advice and more from respectable blogging business entrepreneurs. all of my blogging idols were there (design mom, jordan ferney, grace bonney from design sponge, kelly from design crush and joy, just to name a few). i am delighted these ladies will each be returning to ALT in 2011, and then some! it will be so awesome to meet these bloggers live in person.

the current superstar speaker list is being updated daily and i am honored (and thrilled) to be among them. it gets even better. i am speaking on a panel with the darling karey mackin from mackin ink and blogspot's sweetheart, stephanie nielson, also known as nie nie! our topic of discussion will be: blogging personal stories. perfect, right?! i can hardly wait.

you're invited to join the party too! sign up now.
ALT design summit. january 19 - 22.
who, when, where and why.

how-to create a gift wrap station

HOW-TO CREATE A GIFT WRAP STATION
by holly of the southern scrapper

with the holiday season upon us, most folks are wrapping more gifts than normal. whether you are mostly done with your shopping or don’t get started until December 24th, consider getting yourself organized for wrapping up those presents. the best part is that having a system in place will help with year-round gift giving, as well!



creating a gift wrap center does not have to be costly, nor does it require a large amount of space. though there are a multitude of fantastically fun wrapping organizers available for purchase, this can easily be done with supplies (and space) you already have! i have often dreamed of a delightful gift wrapping room stocked with the perfect papers and ribbons and bags…all neatly organized on beautiful shelving with matching containers and tidy labels. but let’s be realistic here! so, what do you need to create a practical wrapping area?

(1) a large flat surface – large rolls of wrapping paper can be cumbersome and hard to handle if you don’t have a large, smooth surface. this can be a kitchen table, countertop or even the floor. (for the record…i use the floor.)

(2) storage area near your working surface – to keep the concept of wrapping easy, i recommend storing all of your supplies close to your work surface. if you are using your kitchen table, maybe you can spare some real estate in your pantry, a hall closet, etc. if you are using a spot in a specific room, try carving out space in that room’s closet or maximize hidden areas, such as under the bed. if it’s entirely impossible to have these nearby, be sure that your storage containers are portable.

(3) wrapping supplies – this is a bit obvious, but you need the basics of wrapping: wrapping paper, ribbon, gift bags, tissue paper, boxes, bows, and gift tags. everyone wraps uniquely and on different levels. just be sure to gather the supplies you use most often.

(4) tools – at a minimum, you should have a pair of good scissors, transparent tape and a nice pen (i recommend something permanent that won’t smear). if you find that you are “hunting” other items as you wrap, these are things that need to be included here. it’s worth a little bit of money to purchase a few extras to keep for gift wrapping purposes only.

(5) storage containers – it doesn’t matter what you use to store your items, but wrapping supplies and tools need to be somewhat organized. you can have all items stored together, or multiple containers can be used. the object is simply to have everything where you can get to it quickly and easily when it’s time to wrap up a gift.

now that you have the five key things to wrapping, here are a few useful tips to keep in mind for
the holiday season and beyond:

• do not wait to buy wrapping supplies only when you need them. some of these things can be pricey so keep your eyes open for cute & fun things all the time. by watching clearance sales, you can save a bundle on basics such as solid-colored wrapping paper, curling ribbon, tissue paper, etc.

• think outside the box when purchasing wrapping supplies, particularly when holiday related. Don’t hesitate to purchase that pack of valentine’s day themed tissue paper at 70% off. the solid pink will work great for your niece’s birthday. red can work for christmas (and a myriad of other things). the hearts will make your hubby swoon on your anniversary. you get the point.

• for holiday-specific wrapping items that are not flexible, consider packing them away with your seasonal decorations to save space the rest of the year. and always shop the post-holiday sales to stock up for next year!

• in contradiction to a point i made above, you may want to consider not packing your christmas wrapping supplies away with your decorations. the usefulness of this tip may depend on when you start your shopping (do you shop before you unpack your decorations?). one of my favorite holiday season efficiency tips is to wrap as you go. instead of letting gifts pile up, creating the need for an all-night wrapping session, try wrapping as soon as you buy something. this is even better if you are an early shopper! did you find the perfect gift in july for your sister? go ahead and wrap it, then stuff it in the “gift closet”.

• if you happen to enjoy any type of paper crafting, consider keeping a small container of scraps near your wrapping station. these can easily be punched or cut into quick gift tags.

• when choosing an area for your wrapping station, consider privacy. will it be difficult to wrap gifts for immediate family members?

• as an extension of gift-giving, i recommend being prepared with cards on hand, as well. whether you make your own or purchase them, try to stock up on everyday themes such as birthday, thank you, sympathy, get well, etc. consider stashing a book of stamps with your wrapping “tools”.

• if you find yourself mailing a lot of gifts to out-of-town family and friends, you may want to consider adding some basic shipping supplies to your area as well.

be sure to follow this link to take a peek into holly's own wrapping station.

do you have any tips to make holiday wrapping easy and fun?

image via kate spade. 

view the entire how-to series archives for tons of tutorials from readers like you.
"Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do." - John Wooden

hostess gift ideas

a short guide to a happy life by anna quindlen

i picked this book up at a used bookstore last week. yes, i am obsessed with pre-loved books these days. i tossed it in my purse for a future moment when i could sit and read it. you know those times when you wonder why you don't have a book, a notepad, or a pen in your purse?! this happens to me constantly. i always say to myself, you are not the type of person to not have a pen handy.

anyway, as it happened, i found myself waiting in the hair salon and read the entire book cover to cover (it's a short one) before i even sat in the heavenly hair chair. if i'd had a pen with me at the moment, i likely would have underlined the entire text. i highly recommend it.

it is a perfect book to read and re-read and keep on your shelf for moments that you need a little pick me up. it is the perfect book to lend a friend, ship across the seas, or give to a next door neighbor. it would be a lovely thing to take along to a thanksgiving feast.

more holiday hostess gift ideas right here.
other little luxuries i love can be found here and here.

tune in tomorrow for a fabulous holiday how-to and previously mentioned super exciting news.

winter wonderland

snow season has begun. is it snowing in your town yet? when your car door is frozen shut, you know that special time of year is finally here. saturday it snowed and snowed and snowed; big, fat, fluffy flakes. i've never seen snowflakes so huge. it was so beautiful. we pulled on boots and trudged around in it with our puffy coats on. (the complaints of the cold are a lot less frequent wearing a sleeping bag around your torso.) the boy loved his little dollar mittens with bear faces on them (thank you, Target) and dan was, of course, in heaven. i have about a million photos of benji looking over dad's shoulder. they're just asking for a montage.

am really looking forward to thanksgiving and the week ahead. i am hoping to make this week one of conscious thankfulness. i heard in church today that being grateful is a step ahead of being thankful. gratefulness is thankfulness in action. i hope to do small things to show my gratitude; to be more thoughtful, kind-hearted and patient. i am even attempting to comment on blogs a bit more than i usually do. it's such a small thing that can make someone feel so good.

happy sunday evening.

p.s. i made stuffing for supper tonight. don't you love a little preliminary taste of thanksgiving? i added italian sausage, chopped apple, craisins, and pecan bits to my favorite recipe. mmm. mm. where have pecans been all my life?

thankful jar.

i spied this real life project thankful jar on the mama's who know blog.
pretty cool to see my handiwork in action (in real life)!

i am thankful to you for submitting your constant comments of gratitude.
here are just a few of my favorite entries for this year's project thankful.

thankful for sunshine /  thankful for a home where I can raise my little munchkins / thankful for yoga / thankful for cherry twizzlers / thankful to stay at home with my kids / thankful to have health and energy this holiday season / thankful for all the growth of this past year/ thankful for skirts/ thankful for color / thankful for my cozy bed / thankful for family  - anna

am thankful the homecoming countdown is almost over. am thankful that skype works even in afghanistan. thankful for my two amazing kids. thankful that i get to stay home with them every day. thankful for fresh clean water with icecubs from the fridge door. thankful for a sewing machine keeping me busy through my can't-wait-for-homecoming insomnia. thankful for a family who is always always there for us. and thankful for this blog that always brings me joy and inspiration! 
- tales of a hummingbird

I am thankful my daughter's snow suit still fits after being in the closet for a year. And I'm thankful for a husband who loves playing in the snow with his daughter. - Miranda

I am grateful that my son loves kindergarten! - Cat

I'm thankful for a surprise warm spell this week and sunny mornings. And that I have a job where I can wear jeans, tennis shoes, and a cozy sweater on days when I wake up feeling a little under the weather (like today). And for starting my morning at work with a big mug of hot chai tea while checking google reader!  - eileen

thank you for reminding me to be thankful for the good things in life.

holiday inspiration no. 02

• pinecones in pretty vases and footed bowls (great for thanksgiving too).
• shiny ornaments hanging in the middle of a christmas wreath.
• a giant holly wreath hung over the kitchen sink!
• a family-photo-card-devoted mini christmas tree.
follow this link for more pages from my christmas binder. 

ideas from real simple and pottery barn catalogue
 
p.s. don't miss the special deal at starbucks today and tomorrow. between 2 - 5 o'clock, you can buy one holiday drink and get the second drink free! peppermint hot cocoa, here i come!

i wanna curl up in a cozy bed of cocoa cups

i have high hopes that someday i can justify splurging on seasonal bedding. perhaps i'll even have a guest room by then! snow & graham, one of my favorite stationery companies, whipped up this steamy dreamy design. i imagine the cocoa cup sheets would be the perfect thing for a long winter's nap! do tell, how do you deck the halls in the bedrooms of your home?

cocoa cups flannel bedding at garnet hill.
it's even cuter up close.

leaves on my wall and something awesome this way comes.

i pressed these leaves in a book and taped them to my wall for a cheap fall display. nothing says november more than giant crinkly leaves and striped masking tape.

wishing you all a very happy thanksgiving preparedness weekend. we're gearing up for one of our favorite road trips of the year. (if you'll be traveling this holiday, brush up on my tried and true road trip tips!) i'll be hunting down a good book on tape, packing craisins and pretzels into little baggies with a cooler full of clementines and peppermint crunch jr. mints (i am a sucker for holidayish candy). i am hoping to grab a fun glossy magazine, a cozy sweatshirt, and a nap on the drive. i also intend to bring along the official christmas cards, postage stamps and address list. we'll see if i get to them.

i've scheduled posts throughout next week (including hostess gift ideas and a super simple sweet recipe to whip up while the bird is cooking), so be sure to pop in if you're interested.

most importantly, i have some super exciting news to share. i am thrilled about an explosively awesome opportunity coming up. i was going to announce it after thanksgiving, but i simply can't keep hush hush about this. stay tuned. my not-so-secret secret will be revealed next week!

seasonal storybooks

thanks for thanksgiving by julie markes / illustrated by doris barrette.

i couldn't keep this charming find to myself (i had to share a few pages)! i love the warm illustrations, the rhyming words of gratitude and the sweet glimpse into a household busy with family togetherness (note the jump rope swung around the rungs of the banister in photo four).

i found this fall favorite while browsing the bookshelves for gently used books. (this was 75% off its price and doesn't look one bit tattered. yay.) i was originally browsing with hopes to find a few more christmas books to complete our december storybook advent. my blogger friend, melissa deakin introduced me to the idea of wrapping books to open each night before christmas. i think benji will be delighted to unwrap a story each night! i will be using my advent number tags to keep them all in order (saving the night before christmas for christmas eve). i also love that this special book collection can keep on giving, year after year. just pack them up with your ornaments and hollyberries! if you have a favorite festive storybook, please do let me know the title and author. i'd love to add it to my wish list.

p.s. another terrific picture book is titled the night before thanksgiving by natasha wing. the pages also rhyme with clever illustrations featuring the chaos and excitement of thanksgiving day!

and then there is my night job.

this is the scanning project i'll be tackling tonight.

we're at it again. my dad has written another book and i am currently working on the design for it. the book is about a man who married his high school sweetheart and then made all his dreams happen (with hard work and a lot of teamwork). it's a history of an entrepreneur who made it big, thus there are plenty of images to fit it with his inspiring story.

among other things, i have their high school yearbooks (gotta love the seventies) and the album of his life (pictured). it is bigger than my scanner! (i removed the top of my scanner for easy access. the maneuvering of these precious memories is a bit of an adventure.) however i'm in love with this giant scrapbook. it is full of fifty years of life and memories. (the mrs. made it for the mr.'s fiftieth birthday!) i can't wait to get this book layout done and give you a glimpse. after flipping through this mammoth masterpiece, i am motivated to start a cut and paste sketch book again. i have a windstorm of new ideas brewing in my head at the moment, i can barely keep them all straight. lists are flying.

at the moment i'm concentrating on the deadline ahead.

tuna melts tonight.
a bear snoozing.
a man reading.
me at my desk.

you are little and yet so big.

hello my sunshine.

here you are hanging out before church, all tucked and polished. you in your plaid tie makes me smile. if only your shirt could stay tucked in for longer than a few minutes. at church you play with your cars and books and when it's time to sing a hymn, you perk up and sing a few notes with the congregation. same goes for the rascal flatts song on cars. (i hope you always want me for a dance partner.) you love music and jump up to dance at any jingle you hear. this is why i am justifying christmas tunes early. we checked out raffi's christmas cd from the library and have been bopping carols ever since. i can't wait to rock around the christmas tree together.

you are such an animated boy and continue to make me laugh and make my life a happy occasion. the other day i found you in your room, sprawled out with books open and your plastic red fireman's hat on, backwards. i laughed and you looked up and smiled like we were sharing a joke and then grabbed another book, careful not to lose the hat in the process. you were addicted to that hat for two days. i love this stage because you are noticing everything around you; the airplane in the sky, the dog barking across the street, the robots printed on your jammies, the shape of your animal cookie. and you always remember where the choo choo tracks are located in our small town.

you are quite concerned with doing things your way. you like to get into your chair, hop into the car, close the doors (all the doors), carry the milk, unzip your coat, take off your shoes and socks, turn off the faucets, turn out the lights and more. we now know that you don't want or need any help in these areas. i am learning to leave the house fifteen minutes earlier than usual to keep from hurrying you and your little rituals. you continue to be a big help to me, like insisting on rolling the vacuum back into the closet when i'm done. you even hold the cord up while i vacuum the house. while jumping and saying ribbit. i get a kick out of you pushing the power buttons on the dishwasher, tv, dryer, and more. i never knew what a little assistant i could have in a two year old. you love putting mail into the slot for me. the usps workers know you and your constant enthusiastic greetings. hi, hi, hi. (and i was once worried that you were bashful! funny how these things come and go.)

i'm amazed at how you are learning (and wanting) to talk and express yourself. you are trying hard and surprise me daily with something new! (you suddenly know your numbers and sing most of twinkle, twinkle.) you delight in talking to papa on the phone. we chat and leave messages at least once a day. i love the way you cool off your oatmeal by blowing on it like mama does, how you say booka-booka when you want a story and again, again when we tickle you. 

you are most happy rolling trucks back and forth, kicking a ball around the floor, playing catch me if you can and standing on your step stool to add ingredients into my mixing bowl. your big sparkly eyes have a way of reminding me to slow down and pay attention, to stop multi-tasking and set things aside. lists can wait, growing up does not. i love you, my little big boy.

(i can't wait to celebrate thanksgiving and christmas with you this year. the coolest thing about being a mama is that every thing is new again. every little thing is a big thing.)

give oh give.

hop over to miranda's blog and enter to win a giveaway from the mini mart shop. (i'm giving a set of happy homemade holiday cards and the ever popular jolly old st. nick stickers.) stop and stay awhile; miranda is featuring loads of great handmade holiday gift ideas. she not only talks the talk, but walks the walk too! i love these adorable embroidery hoops and these simple and sweet magnetic pin plates. even i could attempt those! makes me want to get out my hot glue gun.

how-to shop and save with coupons

HOW-TO SHOP AND SAVE WITH COUPONS
by kendra of key lime digital designs

I am certain we have all had times in our life when there is that extra push to save money. As full-time college students and parents, my husband and I are in that season of our life. Christmas and the holidays are around the corner {in my family that means: 2 birthdays, christmas, and an anniversary all within a week}, not to mention the costly affair of applying to pharmacy school.

That is what brought me to the conclusion that I needed to start tackling the project of couponing. I am going to be honest, when I see a lady walking around the store with a binder of coupons I think, "aren't you embarrassed?" But, what is there to be embarrassed about saving $37 a shopping trip? Or spending 50% - 60% less on groceries a month? Not a single thing. I am a binder lady now and you can be one too.



:: Use your Resources to obtain coupons.
Printable Internet coupons:
Once a day or every few days I browse through the 3 coupon sites below. If I see a post with a printable coupon for an item I typically buy say, save $.55 on Cheerios, then I print it.

The Krazy Coupon Lady
Hip 2 Save
Utah Deal Diva

Local newspaper: A lot of coupon ladies get the multiple copies of the weekend newspaper for the coupons. This is great if you plan on stock-piling. {Buying a lot of something when it is a screamin’ deal.} My family lives in a small-ish house and we don't have a lot of stock-piling room so I stick with the printable internet coupons.

:: Get organized.
It doesn’t matter how you organize your coupons. You can use a binder, folder, etc. You can put them in alphabetically, buy expiration date, or by sections at the grocery store. Just make sure it works for you.

:: Choose where to shop.
When you are just starting out only focus on one or two stores. The 3 coupon sites above post several times a day with multiple couple deal scenarios. Don't stress yourself trying to get them all. I choose to do my main shopping at my local Smith's. I used to think Smith's was an expensive store, and it can be if you don't buy the items on sale. It is the same way at every store. Just pick the store you like most and that is close to your house.

:: Match up.
I read through the Weekly Smith's Ad that comes in the mail. Look at the things that are on sale. Try and match the manufacture coupons to the things that are already on sale. For example, last week at Smith's they had mac & cheese on sale for .49 then I used a coupon for $.75 off two boxes. That made each box of mac & cheese only .23. That is a good deal!

:: Write a list.
Once you have figured out the best deals and what you plan on buying write a shopping list. That way you don’t forget anything. I also pull out the coupons for the things on my list and move them to the front of my binder. That way you aren't trying to gather your coupons while the cashier is waiting for you to pay.

::Another tip.
Just take all your coupons to the store even if you don't plan on using them. {hence the giant binders} The first couple weeks I was trying to coupon I just carried in the stack of coupons I planned on using. But, every time I got to the store I would find something in a clearance bin, or that wasn't advertised in the ad on sale. I would kick myself for not having the coupon to make it an even better deal.

Trust me, I know it is a little intimidating getting started. I am not an expert by any means. I am learning new tricks to the couponing game every week. And, that is what it has become to me. A game. I love to see how much money I can save or the look on the cashiers face when my bill goes from $72 to $35.

Don't feel like you have to jump head first into couponing. Even using a few coupons here and there is great. Every dollar counts, right?

Do you have any other couponing tips?

image via flickr.

thanksgiving snack mix and printable

find me at no biggie today guest posting with a dollar download and thanksgiving snack mix recipe. watch your friends gobble it up this holiday. thank you, kami for letting me crash your blog!



on a tangent.
in spite of my giddiness for pulling out a roll of tiffany blue snowflake wrapping paper this weekend, i am still very much looking forward to thanksgiving and all the festivities, downtime, and eating that goes along with it.

i am not one to say that getting pumped for christmas means i'm doing thanksgiving a disservice. no way. i am feeling in the spirit of things for all the holidays from here on out. even the ones i don't take part in celebrating, i'm just happy about this time of year. there is this bubbling buzz happening, i love it. i even did some wrapping and movie watching. i love wrapping gifts early enough so that even i am a little surprised when they are opened.

saturday i got out and about and crossed a few big things off my list. this is totally not-typically me. there i was, at toys-r-us browsing the aisles, wondering what santa might bring. i avoid that store like the plague all year long but it felt almost merry-like seeing all the shoppers, their loot, and frenzy of coupons clipped together. i saw four women with heaping carts discussing what typical six year olds like and then, after agreeing, loading up on buzz lightyears and cupcake makers. they were obviously donating the toys and it made me smile. i scored the last set of play pots and pans, in red. which also made me smile. even though they are mini sized, they look nicer than the real set in my kitchen.

i also met a blog pal at target. (thank you for saying hello, lauren.) yay for bumping into bloggers in real life! and hip hip for plastic produce in the dollar aisle. i fell back into childhood eyeing the plastic lemons, hot dogs, bunches of purple grapes and tiny boxes of make-believe cereal. i'm seriously excited about filling up his stocking with this stuff!

happy snack-making and holiday prepping.

coming up...
• i have a big deadline soon, wish me luck (and lots of productivity).
•  a giveaway from the mini mart shop.
• a thanksgiving storybook and favorite advent tradition.
• another informative & fun how-to post goes live tomorrow.
• more holiday inspiration from my christmas binder.
• your thankful thoughts featured right here with project: thankful.

holiday inspiration no. 01

a few pages from my christmas binder. i'll be sharing favorites all season long.

presents on a string garland & paperback page wreaths via pottery barn,  
tootsie roll & lindor ball wreath by freshhomemag.com,
and pepperminty cookies by martha stewart 

p.s. create your own inspiration binder with my simple tutorial.

christmas advent round up.

canvas advent calendar at kikki k. 
embroidered felt advent calendar by the purl bee.


buckets of joy advent calendar (on sale now!) by garnet hill.
matryoshka advent calendar by thymbyidesigns.
candy cane u-fill magnetic advent calendar by polka stripe studio.


amsterdam advent calendar by nouveau designs (i have a soft spot for amsterdam & this advent).
she also has another advent design featuring brooklyn under a moonlit sky (just dreamy).


one of a kind natural advent calendar by dear adam
diy white advent boxes by a million ideas
numbered advent boxes by ali edwards



here is a look at my december bookshelf from last year. it was a simple advent to put together and can really be adapted to any space in your home. for two dollars you can download my pdf. here and create your own designer labels or tags for a custom christmas countdown year after year.

happy weekend, everyone!
p.s. i haven't forgotten about thanksgiving... tune in monday.

true life story: mealtime rescue mission

this is used to be the typical scene in our house when benji helps with dinner. yikes. (i love that innocent little face, as if he were just a spectator of this kitchen disaster area. do you see that he's standing on top of the griddle?!) he empties his 'unbreakables cupboard' with gusto while i hurry and fix something for supper. this particular day he wildly emptied out our collection of cookie cutters too. most days i roll with it because i'm attempting to frost sugar cookies, shape sticky bread dough, deal with raw meats or chop vegetables. we sing some tunes and make our messes simultneously. he's happily entertained and i'm providing a meal for the family. it's a survival technique.

i was chatting with another young mom the other day and we both agreed that our husbands are either greeted with a clean house or a hot meal at the end of the day; never both.

then i got to thinking, there must be a better way. (a better way that doesn't involve sitting benji in front of the tv.) i browsed some blogs and found this article by the sister's cafe. that's when i decided to take a whole new lease on my meal making, to take most of the work out of my five o'clock hour. there are so many wonderful foodie websites, i don't know why i haven't been doing this all along!

i made a list of completely new and fun recipes to try (most of them freezer friendly) and marched to the grocery store for the ingredients. a lot of freezer meals are heavy on cheese, sour cream and pasta, so i loaded up on fresh produce for salads, soups and smoothies to help balance out our months's entrees (and calorie intake)! i purchased a handful of extra square pans for freezing meals too. the next two days while my little boy had his nap, i devoted my time to prepping meals. it took some effort, but was well worth it. i got a whole slew of delicious dinners made for the weeks ahead!

a few freezer friendly recipes 
chicken enchiladas
spinach stuffed pasta shells
buttermilk whole wheat bread
creamy chicken noodle soup
pioneer woman's baked mac & cheese
pancakes / baked french toast
breadsticks and lasagna
spinach quiche

here are a few tips i learned while preparing freezer meals
start with a clean kitchen; plenty of space, an empty sink and dishwasher.
pull your hair up, put on an apron and some music and make it fun!
unload your freezer and make sure you have plenty of space.
stock your fridge beforehand with all the ingredients you'll need.
choose meals with similar ingredients, so you can get the most out of your mozarella.
start boiling your water for lasagna noodles while you unload the groceries.
(if you're making lasagna for square pans, break noodles in half before boiling!)
make sure your spice rack is stocked and ready for use. benji recently helped me re-organize mine!
have a wooden spoon, cutting boards, knives, a can opener and garbage can readily available.
have two towels handy; one for wiping hands and one for wiping up spills.
make sure you have a sharpie pen, tinfoil, ziplock freezer bags, labels and pans on hand.
chop all the vegetables for your recipes at once to save time.

these days i simply let the meal thaw and toss it in the oven. when five o'clock hits, benji and i put our aprons on and toss a salad or slice some fruit. i know this is not a revolutionary idea by any means, but it has helped me feed my family and keep a cheerful attitude and a somewhat tidy house. nowadays i can read him stories before dad comes home and we usually have leftovers for lunches too. hip hooray for planning ahead and ending disaster-cleanup-kitchen efforts at mealtime! i hope i can keep this up.

what are your favorite prep-ahead meals? crockpot favorites?

tag team tompkins letterpress prints

these four prints are making me happy today.

i am one to hold onto frame-able pretties because framing can be terribly expensive. i store them somewhere safe and forget all about them, however this bare wall was just hoping for something lovely and letterpressed. so i unearthed my stash of happiness. and i scored some frames on sale last weekend. dan helped me hang them just right. he is a pro.

the tag team tompkins prints caught my eye on miranda's blog awhile back and i scooped them up while they were hot. i love them for at least five reasons: they are beautifully hand-lettered and then letterpressed by a mother / daughter team (cute, right!?). the featured quotes are taken from revered writers that i love. their etsy shop has a plethora to choose from (all quotes that make me smile), it is hard picking favorites. the quirky drawings have old fashioned charm and a twist of modern flair. the silhouettes are simple and sweet and a style all their own. the letterpress prints are excellently priced. no one else i know has them hanging on their walls.  thank you tag team tompkins (their business cards are cute too)! 

browse their etsy print shop.

p.s. readers usually ask about these pillows, so for the record, the paisley pillow is from alice lane home and the ruffly one is by susan from freshly picked.

p.p.s read more about making a house a home with unique artwork over on michelle's blog today. thank you for featuring one of my ideas!

how-to survive christmas: create your own organizer

HOW-TO CREATE A CHRISTMAS ORGANIZER
by marta dansie

i'm super excited about this how-to. (maybe because the snowfall is non-stop outside while i write this! a blanket of fresh snow is perfect for pre-holiday projects.) i hope you'll find this one useful for your upcoming festivities. now you'll know what to do with all those pretty christmas catalogues that keep arriving in your mailbox! in just eight simple steps, you can create a super handy custom christmas binder.


i've mentioned in a previous post that i have a simple method for saving favorite articles and magazine eye-candy in inspiration binders. i started out with a holiday binder dedicated to year round holiday happenings, and soon discovered i needed to set aside christmas for its very own binder. duh. thank goodness i did. i've been using this same christmas binder for a few years now, adding to it every year. my binder is titled, christmas is coming and i crack it open every autumntime to gear up for the big holidays ahead. this really is my christmas survival kit! it's not only full of great inspiration, but now it has happy memories inside too. i sing a little hallelujah chorus whenever i break it out.

amber from giverslog has created a wonderful free printable for weekly to-do lists leading up to christmas too. i like keeping a copy in my binder for a quick go-to resource.



step one. get yourself a sturdy standard 3-ring binder at your local office supply store. be sure to pick up plenty of clear page protectors while you're there. you could go fancy with this christmas book, but i like that it's a grab and go workbook without too much frou frou. which is why i get the standard 3-ring binder, i don't imagine it going out of style anytime soon. don't bother with the classic tab dividers, they get lost between the sheets. i'll give you my solution to making tabs in a moment.

step two. gather up all of your archived holiday magazines. this time of year is the best time for magazine madness. browse the magazine racks for your favorites. if you'd rather not spend money on magazines, you can print out good ideas online or, better yet, rip out pages from free catalogues that come in the mail. my favorite resources for holiday ideas are Martha Stewart magazines, Real Simple, Pottery Barn, Williams-Sonoma, InStyle, Garnet Hill, and Anthropologie. once you start looking, you can find holiday inspiration everywhere, including food catalogues (fabulous party, centerpiece and table setting ideas) and printed advertisements too!



step three. start tearing out (or, in some cases, printing out) your favorite articles, holiday decorating ideas, craft ideas, gift guides, wrapping ideas, festive recipes and whatever else you would like to hold onto and remember! i love collecting tips about december traditions, living christmas tree advice and other ways to solve the season's problems that are bound to creep up.

step four. group your tear-sheets into sections for easy breezy browsing. specific sections will make your binder that much more awesome and dependable. i have a large collection of holiday home ideas (some not even suitable for our place now, but ideas i want to remember when i decorate my dream house)! i love unique wreaths and i've put all the wreathy inspiration back to back in my binder (abundant ideas for hanging wreaths in the Pottery Barn catalogue). now slip your picks into the clear protectors and place them into your 3-ring binder. you're halfway there. 


step five. this year i finally created tabs for my binder, as it is becoming a mammoth resource for me to flip through. i admit, there is likely a better / nicer / more martha way to do this, but this worked for me. i simply cut out 3.5" x 2" cards, wrote the category titles on them and attached them directly to the clear page protectors with clear packaging tape (taping securely over the front and back of each tab). works like a charm. voila, sturdy homemade divider tabs!

your section categories will differ from mine, but here are my tab titles to inspire you: Holiday Planning & Prep (our december schedule and family ideas), Christmas Traditions & Tips (helpful articles and more), Gift Guide & Wrap Ideas (gift giving inspiration and pretty packaging), Christmas Cards (online resources, my own christmas card list, ours from years past and display ideas), Holiday Home Decor (wreaths, trees and more), The Christmas Kitchen (festive foods).


step six. this may be the most important step of all. don't forget to include your own ideas too! remember that this binder is a custom organizer, not just a boat load of pretty pictures. be sure to include items like new traditions and activities (ice skating, sledding on new year's, the nutcracker ballet, a girls' night cookie exchange!), your family's christmas cards from years past, lists of gifts you gave and what you received, brainstorming for family gifts, your go-to christmas card list, DIY tutorials for homemade crafts, or step-by-step guide to making your grandma's caramels.

dan and i dip chocolate pretzel rods every year and i definitely take notes on what works and what doesn't. this is the section that makes me smile because it has a snippet of seasonal memories which i love. it also reminds me how i never followed through on that brilliant gift idea of '07, maybe i can do it this year!


step seven. keep a few blank pages at the ready and out of page protectors so you can easily jot down ideas or check off your lists for christmas 2010. i also utilize a cheery red envelope for a master receipt collector, in case i need to make a return before or after december 25th.


step eight. slide in custom christmas covers for your binder and you'll be happy every time you pick it up. now you're ready for the season to start!

more favorite pages from my christmas binder to come...

p.s. thanks to you for filling my comment box yesterday with wonderful and thoughtful words of thanksgiving. i appreciate it! all day long i felt so full and grateful for your sentiments. please, carry on with your goodness.

images by marta

the how-to series is here to encourage confidence in the creativity and skills you have to offer. i am excited to showcase your talents and unique ideas. if you have a specialty (and i know you do), please submit your holiday how-to guest post by emailing me: marta at martawrites dot com. i will be delighted to feature your how-to in the future.

"Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do." - John Wooden