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At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

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December 16, 2013

Easy DIY Gift Wrapping Ideas

 

It’s one of the best parts of Christmas. Waiting until they all leave the house.  Grabbing a cup of coffee (with peppermint mocha creamer of course) or maybe a cup of hot chocolate.

Putting on the Christmas tunes…

Easy DIY gift wrapping ideas

and wrapping the gifts.  The gifts that have been sitting on lists (or laptops) all year.  The ones they are hoping for but don’t think they’ll be getting.

The fun gifts for nieces and nephews, the kind that are no longer asked for in our home anymore, the kind that come in bright colors and lots of blinking lights.

The lovingly hand picked gifts for parents and siblings.  Because after this many years, we know each other so well that gift giving becomes a special treat.

What’s almost as much fun as choosing gifts for the ones we love, is wrapping this gifts with a little extra “something.”    Here’s three fun and easy DIY gift wrapping ideas that can be made using items you find around your home during the holiday season!

DIY Christmas Decorating Ideas

SPARKLY STAR WREATH

Supplies:

Star Hole Punch
Glitter Scrapbook Paper
Glue
Sparkly Ribbon
Springs of Evergreen

Directions:

Punch out several stars from scrapbook paper.  Glue together to form wreath.  Allow to Dry.  Attach with ribbon and tuck in evergreen sprigs.

DIY Christmas Gift Wrapping Ideas 3
RUSTIC FRESH EVERGREEN STAR

Supplies:

Springs of  fresh evergreen
Florist wire
Wire cutters
Wide Ribbon
Craft Paper
Chalkboard Tag

Directions:
Wire sprigs of evergreen together, creating a star form. Weave wide ribbon thorough start.  Attach chalkboard tag

DIY Christmas Gift Wrapping Ideas

MODERN RIBBON AND STICKER WRAPPING

Supplies: 
Colorful Yarn
Large Sparkly Stickers
Tape

Directions:

Tape one end of yarn to back of package. Wrap yarn around package several times, tape end to back.  Spell out Christmas words with large stickers.  Example: NOEL, JOY, MERRY, HOLLY etc.

As we countdown to Christmas day, let’s remember to take a few moments to breathe, enjoy a favorite family Christmas movie (our’s is A Christmas Story), put aside the hustle and bustle and stress and remember what is important!

DIY Christmas gift wrapping ideas

I’m excited to be joining four more fabulous bloggers for our “wrapping and rolling” party! Be sure to check out their beautiful DIY Gift Wrapping ideas as well!

Rachael, of  Maison de Pax is sharing her Simple and Stunning Gift Wrap Ideas

gift wrap thumbnail

Tauni, of SNAP!, is sharing how to make these Paper Feather Embellishments

Paper Feather Embellishments

Laura, of Finding Home, created these beautiful DIY Gift Bags

and KariAnne, of Thistlewood Farm created these darling Monogram Jingle Bells!

See you back here soon…At The Picket Fence!

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10 Comments Filed Under: Christmas, Crafts, Holidays

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Comments

  1. Yvonne @ StoneGable says

    December 16, 2013 at 6:04 AM

    What great wrapping ideas! I really love a well wrapped present… not bags!!!! Your star made from greens is lovely. I’m just starting to wrap now.I usually have it all done… but I’m just a little bit late this year! Thanks for the inspiration! xo

    Reply
    • Heather says

      December 16, 2013 at 9:14 AM

      Thank you Yvonne! I will confess most of the boxes under there were empty..lol I still have quite a bit of shopping to do, let alone wrapping. Merry Christmas to you! Heather

      Reply
  2. Laura @ Finding Home says

    December 16, 2013 at 6:25 AM

    Love all the ideas – especially the stickers with the fabulous yarn. So well done!

    Reply
    • Heather says

      December 16, 2013 at 9:15 AM

      Thanks Laura! I think that’s my favorite one too. 🙂

      Heather

      Reply
  3. Doreen@HymnsandVerses says

    December 16, 2013 at 7:22 AM

    Can I just say again how much I love the bright colors you used this year! So new and fresh – you are setting the trends! The packages are just beautiful!

    Reply
    • Heather says

      December 16, 2013 at 9:15 AM

      Thank you Doreen, you are so sweet! I’m loving the bright colors too. It’s fun to change it up every once and awhile. Heather

      Reply
  4. Thistle says

    December 16, 2013 at 11:31 AM

    You know I am totally loving your blue decor this year! You go girl! Thanks so much for making me smile. Every. Single. Day. 🙂

    me

    Reply
  5. Rachel Paxton says

    December 16, 2013 at 12:39 PM

    All fabulous ideas, Heather! And I’m so glad to see that you confessed to Yvonne that you had some empty boxes… My pasta and graham crackers sitting under the tree were feeling lonely! 😉

    Thanks so much for sharing with us today,
    Rachel

    Reply
  6. Tauni says

    December 16, 2013 at 2:02 PM

    Oh my goodness. What a pretty bunch of packages. I am especially loving that sweet Noel bag. So fun! Great ideas for easy wrap! xoxo

    Reply
  7. Jennifer says

    December 17, 2013 at 6:14 AM

    WHat fun and pretty wrappings! I do think dressing up the package is such a delightful touch to add, and everyone appreciates it so much!

    Reply

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Happy first day of Autumn!! 🍂 Here’s a super Happy first day of Autumn!! 🍂 Here’s a super simple centerpiece that you can make in five minutes (or less) with just a few pumpkins and extra faux greenery. Let’s spend less time decorating and more time enjoying this season. It’s my favorite!! 🧡

#fallcenterpiece #falldecor #centerpiece #fiveminutedecorating
"Define your day", she told me as I held my newbor "Define your day", she told me as I held my newborn son. My mom and I were talking about how blurred my days and nights had become and how easy it would be to just stay in my pajamas 24/7. She encouraged me to make an attempt to put on 'real' clothes in the morning even if they were just nice sweatpants (bonus if they were clean!) and to throw a little bit of makeup on. That simple advice helped chart a course for my years of motherhood that continues today. And recently I began thinking about how critical it is that we not only seek wisdom from those ahead of us in our stage of life but that we are willing to apply it as well.

So, I asked this question on my personal Facebook page; "What is something you feel you've done well to create a peaceful/meaningful home for yourself and your family?" The catch was that the question was geared towards women in the 40+ age range. The responses came flooding in and were so wonderful and insightful. So, I'm going to be starting a new series where I share this wisdom with you and will include the first name of the woman who offered it. 

Today we start with Alison who said "I learned to set my alarm early to get up and moving before my kids woke up. I showered, got dressed and did my devotions while the house was quiet. It set my heart and perspective for each day.”

Is this something you do in your life too? What wisdom would you offer to a mom of young children?

I truly think our culture would greatly benefit from more women in different seasons of life being willing to invest in each other. 🍂

#wearthehomemakers #homemaking #motherhood #parentingwisdom
If bread pudding is on the dessert menu at a resta If bread pudding is on the dessert menu at a restaurant I’m definitely ordering it! It’s one of my all time favorite treats. So I decided to try my hand at making some here at home with a little fall twist and it was SO delicious!! 🍎

Ingredients:

6 slices of day old bread (french, sourdough or even brioche works great)
2 cups of heavy cream
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon bourbon (optional)
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
For the apples:
3 peeled and chopped apples of a tart variety
1 cup brown sugar
3 tablespoons flour (or corn starch)

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350
Cut bread into cubes and place in a greased 8 1/2 x 11 baking dish
Whisk together in a bowl the eggs, cream, vanilla, rum, cinnamon and nutmeg and then pour it over the bread cubes. In a separate bowl, mix together the apples, brown sugar and flour/corn starch. Pour the apple mixture on top of the bread mixture making sure to spread the apples evenly across every part of the bread mixture.
Bake for 45 minutes. 
Enjoy!

#falldesserts #breadpudding #fallrecipes #desserts
When one kiddo wakes up not feeling well after onl When one kiddo wakes up not feeling well after only a week of school, you take the opportunity to make Saturday a truly restful day. Pancakes on the griddle, puttering around the yard admiring the way the limelights have begun their autumn journey from white to green to pink. Sprinkling touches of fall around the house a little bit at a time. Savoring the slowness of it all and taking care of my people in this place that provides us all with a respite from the world even if just for a day.

Hope you’re weekend is off to a great start and that you make it a priority to slow down for a bit and soak up the beauty around you. 🍂

#wearethehomemakers #homemaking #falldecorating
As summer slips into fall, I can’t help but thin As summer slips into fall, I can’t help but think about how grateful I am for the reminders all around me of God’s Sovereignty over everything including the seasons. It can be challenging in our world today to trust that there isn’t a single thing happening that surprises Him.

In a way, decorating my home to reflect the changing season serves as a tangible reminder of this trust. Even something as simple as seeing a pumpkin on my mantel or a basket of mums on the coffee table fill me with peace because they represent the things that remain constant and true.

“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.” Isaiah 40:8

#wearthehomemakers #homemaking #club31women
I’m never.going.back to stressful, time-consumin I’m never.going.back to stressful, time-consuming seasonal decorating. When I think back on the years where I would feel all of the pressure to come up with something fresh and creative I’m seriously embarrassed. Truly. Because it was such a waste. A waste of my time, my energy, my resources. Something clicked with me a few years ago. I was just done. I needed to simplify. I needed to not spend an obscene amount of time looking at fireplace mantels on Pinterest and trying to figure out how to make mine look amazing. I needed to put it all in the proper place in my heart and my mind. Which meant, it had to go waaaaayyyy down on the priority list. So far down it almost wasn’t on it. And I needed to confess to the Lord that I had allowed it to become an idol. 

Yes, I want to have a home that I enjoy. Yes, I love pretty things. But something really amazing happened when I finally released it all. When I decided to not give into the pressure and panic I would feel when I would scroll through my Instagram feed. When I just laid it all down and said…enough. There was this incredible irony in it. Because, the less time I took to decorate my home for each season, the more I found myself loving the results. I think that all along I had just been getting in my own way. It’s really taken a lot of time and prayer for me to finally be at a place where even though I still struggle with insecurities and I still have doubts from time to time, I’m becoming increasingly more confident in who God created me to be. And, just like my home, I’m finding that as I relax into myself, letting go of the comparisons and the pressure, the more I can actually lean into the calling He has placed on my life. 🍂

Leave a comment if you can relate! 

#wearethehomemakers #homemaking
“As the alluring song of September begins to whi “As the alluring song of September begins to whisper in my ear, my passionate spirit yearns for the splendor of its promise.” (Peggy Toney Horton)

Happy September dear friends! While I’m not quite ready to let go of summer and I plan to make the most out of the lingering, warm days, I’ll admit to starting to think about my fall decor this year. And one way to get inspired is to take a look back at previous years. Here’s just a glimpse at some of the ways I’ve welcomed Autumn to my home! 🍂

#september #falldecorating #falldecor #falldecoratingideas #wearethehomemakers
Labor Day weekend might mean that we’re turning Labor Day weekend might mean that we’re turning the corner and getting closer to fall but I’m not quite ready to let summer go. So I’ll just be over here continuing to whip up some super simple summer meals for my family that frankly can be enjoyed in any season. These shrimp rolls I made the other night were definitely a hit and would be great for any of your upcoming holiday weekend gatherings!

Shrimp Rolls 🍤

Ingredients
1-2 lbs of shrimp that is peeled, deveined and tail off (If using frozen make sure it’s thawed completely)
1/3 cup mayonnaise 
1/2 of a lemon
2 Tbsps chopped scallions
1 Tbsp chopped dill
1 Tbsp chopped Italian parsley
1 Tsp of Old Bay seasoning (more if you like!)
pinch of sea salt and pinch of black pepper
Hoagie Rolls
Softened butter

Directions: Gently pat the shrimp with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture. Roughly chop the shrimp and place in a bowl. Add mayonnaise, squeeze half of lemon and stir to combine before adding in the scallions, dill and parsley. Stir to combine and then add the additional seasonings. Spread butter on hoagie rolls and toast in the oven until lightly browned. Pile on the shrimp mixture and enjoy! 

#shrimproll #foodie #weeknightdinner #easydinner #seafoodlover
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I think about how often we try to do right by people, to be respectful and courteous. To be thoughtful and considerate. And it’s not reciprocated. How its starting to seem more and more like people have just given up on those seemingly small niceties. And my soul just feels heavy. Because I feel like so much of what used to be common courtesy is not so common anymore. Drivers on the roads are angrier and more reckless than ever before. Red lights being run are an everyday occurrence around town. On our recent family vacation, I heard more people using the F word out in public than ever before even while around children. Where are manners? Where is kindness? I'm finding myself being surprised when someone is thoughtful because it seems like a rarity. And that's just all on a micro, local level. Don't even get me started on the insanity in our world/culture. After I returned from grocery shopping (which can also be soul crushing), I found myself desperate for a reminder of the truth. 

*Part 2 continued in the comments.*
How often is it in our lives that we don’t fully How often is it in our lives that we don’t fully grasp our strengths or our weaknesses until we are put to the test? Little did I know how much I would love my role as a wife, mother and homemaker until I became one. And that in my endeavor to do those roles to the best of my ability, it would bring to the forefront gifts and talents and blessings that I use outside of these walls.

As I water others, I’m watered too because it brings such joy to care for those around me. But it can also make me see more clearly the areas in which I’m lacking and be a very humbling reminder of how much I still need to grow and learn.

Proverbs 11:25 says, “Whoever brings blessing will be enriched and one who waters will himself be watered.”

Have you done any ‘watering’ of others this week? How has it blessed and ‘watered’ you in return?
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