A very belated Merry Cheer

Where did December go I hear you ask? It has 11 months before it to warn me it's coming but somehow December always takes me by surprise. With Christmas, a few birthdays, end of year parties, concerts, cooking, shopping and decorating it seems to whir by me and dump me in January in a daze.

With the arrival of a little one of our own in our house this year Christmas was a little more low key than last years neon Christmas effort but I still thought it was bright and cheerful.

It all started when I found a garland of owls - 4 to be precise - and as we became a family of 4 this year it was perfect; daddy, mummy and 2 little baby owls. What's more it was red, my favourite colour and spots and gingham - it was made for me right?

And here is what they sparked off - I found some red and white spot and red and white star ribbons in my op shop stash, I threw up a crochet tablecover over the bookcase as a bback drop, found more red and white decorations at a bargain store, some spotted paper chain at a party supply store, pulled out my santa cross stitches and old red and green tins and voila xmas was a red and white spot, stripe and gingham affair at ours this year.

 

When all was done we realised the tree was still a little bare and we decided to make some himmel style decorations using paper straws and this tutorial From Nalle's House discovered on pinterest. I need to work on technique a little to be neater and more efficient but it wasn't too hard - I may get more elaborate with them next year?

All that was left to do was wrap the presents

And start the festivities. I am hoping December doesn't catch me out this year, I think maybe I will pretend November is the start of the silly season and maybe it will feel a little less silly come December. I hope you had a colourful, bright and fun filled Christmas with your loved ones.

Paper - Presents

It is only fitting that I finish with presents because I started with parties and presents are one of the bestest things about parties - but not just what's inside.

For me wrapping and packaging are so much part of the gift - it says, on the outside, that you have spent time on this and treated it with care and that is what giving is all about.

Brown paper packages tied up with string, these are are few of my favourite things.

And if like me you just can't get enough of seeing beautiful little packages wrapped with care a lot of the images above originated from the blog Oh, hello friend: you are loved which features a lot of beautiful things but particularly amazing original packaging ideas and a focus on all things pretty presenty packaging.

You can also see more via my Pinterest board where these come from - It's a wrap

And it is indeed a wrap! (for paper posts for now anyway)