Homemade Christmas :: A Box of Warm Wishes

 

 

Hello :)

 

Today's homemade Christmas gift was created for our son's teacher and bus driver. I'm really happy with how it turned out. Once again, my main goal was to make a homemade gift, but make it look special. {and of course, pretty!!}

 

 

This first part to this gift, was the pocket warmers. I made two smaller versions of the comfort rice packs in a 4" x4" size. This time I found a cute, little baby's outfit from the thrift store that I knew would be perfect:

 

I loved the white color and texture - perfect for winter :) I also found a soft, cotton turtleneck in the adult section that I used for the back of these packs {I also used it as a backing to the baby fabric since I wasn't sure if the rice would stay in the knitted parts}.

 

I created a personalized, hand-stamped tag again and wrapped them both up with twine and created a small tag with directions:

 

The second part to this 'warm wishes' box was hot chocolate and marshmallows. I made small little bags for the marshmallows out of sandwich bags {taping them on the back to keep closed} and cut out heart shaped pieces from red fabric.

 

Since I wanted this gift to seem more luxurious, we bought specialty hot chocolate {Starbucks Dark}. The bags are actually folded in half - they are really long. I cut out some burlap fabric I had and wrapped around some red and white baker's twine.

 

And that was it :)

 

I created a little bunting banner to display our message on the inside of the box:

 

I decided not to wrap these; just a stamp and some washi tape. {Thanks Kristen for the idea!}

 

Here's the tag on the pocket warmers if you want to copy it and make your own:

 

Agh! Can you believe it's almost Christmas???

 

 

xo,

Rachel



Christmas Cookie Decorating

We have a tradition in our house that every Christmas Eve we bake and decorate cookies for Santa. I try to make even the small traditions special, so last year I made each of our children personalized aprons that they received the evening of our decorating.

 

 

I rolled each one up and tied it with a new cookie cutter that I backed with scrapbook paper and a sticker with their initial on it.

 

I cut out place mats from red vellum paper that I had on hand and used letters I cut out with my Cricut machine to personalize those as well.

 

Since right about this time last year I was just becoming obsessed with Pinterest, I couldn't resist creating the snowman glasses you see everywhere.

 

Adorable, right??

 

{and loved by all!}

 

 

Next up the kids made and cut out the cookies. Honestly, this year I am going to take my own advice and do this part the day before {or maybe even without them!} since the kids reeeeeeally lack the patience it takes to wait for them to bake and cool.

 

 

Besides, all they really care about is the decorating part :)

 

Now for a little bit of fun, here's a peak into our world. All I wanted was a picture of all three kids wearing the aprons their poor mother made BY HAND. {and by hand, I mean with a sewing machine :) }

 

This two minute ordeal was literally so painful to our oldest he couldn't even stand up... that's him melting away on the left ;)

 

This is what I am dealing with on a daily basis, folks :)

 

What kind of traditions do you do?

 

xo,

Rachel