More Madewell Goodness

I'm here to beat the Madewell drum again today... This isn't even a product spotlight so much as a virtual happy dance for their gorgeous holiday gift guide layouts.

Eep! I just love it all too much for words (except for maybe the stuffed bear head - that part I could do without). Pop on over to check it out and then we can do a merry happy dance together.

Stone & Honey Rings

I love jewelry, but even though I ogle it to no end I don't actually own many pieces. These gorgeous Crystal Point Rings by Stone & Honey make such a statement I'm starting to realize that I really need to reevaluate my serious void in the jewelry department pronto. Just gorgeous! See more of Stone & Honey's fabulous jewelry line right here.

Inspiration Daily: 11. 17. 10

1. Hung by the Doorway with Care by Amanda Johnson, 2. Dear me, Merry Christmas! Love, me xx by Krisatomic.

DIY 5 Minute Tinsel Garland Wreath

A few Winters ago I was staring at a bland paper bag full of old embroidery hoops that I had picked up at the thrift store months before for a few quarters, when it occurred to me that they would make perfect wreath frames. I quickly nixed the idea of wiring greenery to them (too lengthy of a project and they would only last for a short while) and then thought of the tinsel garland I had wound up the stair banister the previous day. Perfect! What I didn't know then, was just how simple this project would turn out to be. With literally just a few minutes of your day and two supplies (tinsel garland and an old embroidery hoop or wreath frame) you can have your entire home hung with merry wreaths in no time (and you'll get to bring them out to enjoy again year after year). Have fun! xo Ez

1.  Gather your supplies. You will need embroidery hoops in various sizes or a floral wreath ring (from craft stores), store-bought tinsel garland (a 6” embroidery hoop uses approximately 12’ of garland), and a pair of scissors. Tip: you can use both the inside and outside of an embroidery hoop separately to create two wreaths.

2. Begin by tucking one end of the garland under the metal latch at the top of your embroidery hoop. If you are using the inner hoop or form with no latch you may wish to secure the end with a piece of tape or hot glue (optional). 

3. Scrunch up the loose side of your tinsel garland (there will be a lot of it) into a messy ball so that it is easier to work with. Begin wrapping the tinsel garland around the embroidery hoop making sure to keep the garland taught as you go. Every few passes you will want to push the newly wrapped section up towards the completed portion so that it fills in nicely and does not look sparse. Continue this process until your entire embroidery hoop is covered and you've used the full length of garland. Secure the loose end by tying it to another segment of garland along the back. Tip: if you happen to run out of garland along the way you can easily tie on additional segments and continue wrapping.

4. If you'd like to add a Waxed Paper Pom Pom to your wreath like I did here you can find my tutorial for creating your own over on our Nice Package blog. Hang your wreath and enjoy!

And finally, here are a few additional images of some of the original 5-minute Tinsel Garland Wreaths I made a few years ago:

One Good Thing: Charley Harper Memory Game

Two years ago I shared a couple fun DIY projects that I'd dreamed up using some Charley Harper games that I'd found at my local Old Navy store (DIY Puzzle Gift Tags and DIY Gift Tags/Ornaments). Once they stopped carrying the games in Old Navy stores I heard from several of you who were hoping to find a source to purchase a set (unfortunately I didn't have one then).

So I thought it would be nice to update today with a link for the now available Charley Harper Memory Game and Charley Harper Wooden Puzzle. These are the exact same sets that I used in my projects (woohoo). So if you've been wanting to try your hand the gift toppers or ornament DIYs, now is your moment. Enjoy!