printable christmas gift tags.

i'm a habitual christmas procrastinator. not when it comes to things like decking the halls, or making cookies, or drinking hot cocoa by the fire, or watching elf fifteen times, but definitely when it comes to buying and wrapping presents.

so here i am, several days (i'm not even going to count) before christmas, just starting my wrapping and with several gifts still yet to buy. i would hereby resolve to do better next year, but really, that's just a ridiculous notion. so rather, i will share with you, my fellow procrastinators, some fun and free gift tag printables.

because this seems to be the year of printing things off.

if you checked out my advent calendar, these patterns may seem familiar. and this probably isn't the last you'll see of them...the black and white patterns are just so fun. i also added some hand lettering to the mix. because there are far too few opportunities in life to practice your cursive.

you can get the file here. just print it off (landscape style), cut them out, punch some holes and use them to bring a little cheer to your holiday packages.

i think they're pretty swell. especially paired with bakers twine, black and white ribbon or some chunky yarn. and if you're not a holiday procrastinator (lucky), you can use them for whatever your next gift giving occasion is, since they're pretty neutral. if you do use them, post a link in the comments. i'd love to see them!

christmas crafts.

i've been a bit of a slacker posting lately. however, that does not mean that i have been without making things. no worries.

this was the only bit of holiday decoration the front of my house got this year. next year i promise to try harder, but at least it's a start.


i took one of those twig wreaths and spray painted it white. then i used some of those garland branches made up of metallic colored balls and cut them apart and wove them amongst the twigs. it took me awhile to like it, but it has definitely grown on me.


and holiday tags! why buy them when you have label paper and a printer.


the detail on the red one was bit small so i reworked it. i'm much happier with the new version, but i didn't need any more for this year, so i didn't print any more out. if you want some, let me know and i'll email you a pdf!

christmas trees.

i have dragged jon to hobby lobby twice in this weekend and i went by myself once. yes, it is an addiction. during one visit i saw these cardboard christmas tree forms, simple pyramid shapes that were a blank slate for decorating creativity. the price tag, however, was six dollars, for cardboard! thus me being libby thought, i can make that.

enter in geometry, some recycled cardboard and paper mache (geometry seems to be a theme of the season).


the larger one is made from the lid to a pizza box (a surprisinlgy clean box no less) and the smaller one is made from a peanut butter captain crunch box. i paper mached them for added stability, even though the pizza box one probably didn't need it. note how both trees are the same aspect ratio...mmmmm engineering.

next i spray painted them white and then covered them. for the larger one i used wired ribbon that i got at big lots and for the smaller i used two different shades of off white paper (yes, i already owned two different shades of off white paper) that i cut with scalloped scissors.


maneuvering the corners was trixy with the paper and the corners are a bit sloppy, but all in all i like the way the turned out. they now live on my mantel and i am debating making an entire forest worth.

more ornaments.

hooray. the size of the smaller ones is much more ornament-esq. the one in the middle has rhinos. christmas rhinos.

ornament.

i'm getting pretty excited about christmas. and about christmas trees. and about making exciting things for said christmas tree.

this was my first attempt today. i used instructions i found online and found a free .svg floral-esq design that i tessellated in inkscape and printed on some leftover cardstock to make pretty paper.


i used 2.5 inch circles, which resulted in a pretty large ornament. so for my next try i'm going to use probably about an inch and a quarter.


it's a pretty great project. i've decided i like mindless, repetitive tasks. and it even involved a little geometry.