Getting Ready

I used the tutorial for this wreath here. . .

. . .to make some holiday cheer for my previously naked front door. I used fatter strips and went with a more traditional color palette, and while my version isn't as cool as the original, I still like it. And it's just made with a paper bag, so yay for free! (I actually used 2 bags, and had so many strips left over that I made a paper chain too.)

I used the bag handles to fashion a bow. 

Almost ready for the jolly guy's visit.

Time Off

The last of the orders will go out today, and then we'll officially be on vacation! I've been collecting tutorials here and there in anticipation of having a little time to play. 

Today I'll be making a wreath for my naked front door like this one here. . .

And I'm pretty sure I need to raid my scrap bin in order 

to make some reusable bows for presents, like these. . .

And this is just too darn clever not to make. . .

And some eyeball juggling balls for stocking stuffers? Yes please!

So I don't exactly need more ornaments, but who could resits the cuteness of this?

And cuteness that inspires extra kissing?? Oh yes.

I actually already made these. . .

I hung mine all snowball-like in a neglected corner.

And they weren't terribly hard to figure out.

Right now I'm cutting paper snowflakes for the front windows. I got it in my head that if I covered them front and back with clear contact paper I could use them year after year, and after much trial and even more error I seem to have it figured out. (Apparently, sticking two really long sheets of contact paper together in an attempt to be efficient only results in frustration, torn snowflakes, and curse words.)

Whee!

Last Day. Today.

Our shop will be open for one last day, today,

and then we'll be taking a break until after Christmas.

We're already not taking on any more made-to-order stuff, but there are still lots of ornaments, paper dolls, garlands, patterns, and a handful of hand-painted things left too.

I seriously cannot remember when I had more than 2 days off in a row. It has been years. Years! And as much as I enjoy my work (and I really really do), I'm doing silly little time-off dances in between filling the last of the orders. Oh yes, there is much shaking of the booty.

Our shop will close today at Midnight (EST). 

Get 'em while the gettin's good!

*tick tock*