Pretty. Quirky. » Holidays

Please direct me to the nearest Wrapping Paper Anonymous meeting. Thanks!

Lara Jo — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 00:41:32 +0000

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That’s right, despite my steadfast resolution, I ended up shopping for wrapping paper and ribbon on December 26th. My SIL and I hit Target, K-Mart, and the Container Store — these three stores very conveniently staggered their opening times (Target at 7, K-Mart at 8, and Container Store at 9) so that we could be amongst the first people at each of them. Target was VERY disappointing — Michelle was really looking forward to picking up some ornaments for a project she wanted to do for next Christmas, but they had next-to-nothing left — and we were one of the first in the store. Martha Stewart’s stuff at K-Mart was AWESOME, and I picked up some ribbon (that I did not need) there.

Here’s a few of the ribbons I got — from Target and/or Wal Mart. Just look at that Scotty Dog ribbon. How could I possibly resist, I ask you?

So I kept telling Michelle that the Container Store would make up for the two other lackluster stores but even that was disappointing, despite the bounty of last Christmas — the sales lady said that, last Christmas, because it was a new store, they weren’t sure how much Christmas stuff to stock, and they ended up shipping way too much — and that’s why the after-Christmas sale last year was so, so, SO good. This year, they didn’t have that much left over. I felt pretty bad for building it up so much to Michelle.

This is my wrapping paper TUB. Should someone with a wrapping paper TUB really be out shopping for wrapping paper on December 26th? PROBABLY not. Check out my ribbon TUB.

So, yeah, the after looks much better, but seriously? What am I doing? In thirty Christmases I could never use up all of this crap. I have an idea for next year: a wrapping party. We can have cookies and (spiked) hot chocolate and people can bring their presents over to my house and our goal can be to use up ALL of my wrapping paper and ribbon.

So that on December 26th, 2010, I can buy MORE without guilt.

Merry Christmas, Y’all!

Lara Jo — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 03:51:12 +0000

Presents are wrapped, bags are packed, car is loaded. I am heading off to the warmer climes of Arkansas.

Can I just say that I am deeply, madly, and completely in love with The Container Store Christmas wrap and ribbons? But let me just say, I would NEVER pay full price for it. I can’t believe how much they get away with charging. Even 50% off after Christmas makes me gulp a little.

My mom and I hit their sale on December 26th last year, at the store in Little Rock. I thought it would be a madhouse, but we were the first people to walk through the door and even after that, it was a very muted, low-key crowd. I know it would have been a different story had we been in Chicago. We had our pick of the supplies and DUDE did I have to police myself. I had to edit the basket about fifteen times before we made it to check-out. And though I tried to use a lot of it up this year, I still have a ridiculous amount of Christmas wrapping paper. So I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY shouldn’t be shopping for wrapping paper on the 26th. REALLY.

I’ll be posting photos of the booth soon! Yay! In the meantime, hope everyone has a lovely holiday and New Year.

More Fun With Ornaments.

Lara Jo — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 01:04:24 +0000

I was trying to desperately whip some semblance of the Christmas spirit into my apartment yesterday because some friends were coming over to have a holiday photo taken — and I wanted SOMETHING that called to mind the holiday spirit in the photo! — and I ended up threading a bunch of my ornaments onto a ribbon.

For such a quick project, it turned out really well! And unlike the wreath project in the last post, this is non-permanent — I can easily take them off the ribbon if I decide to use them for something else. Oh, I don’t know, like, for a TREE. I guess that’s what they’re really made for, right?

We don’t get a tree in Chicago, because we ultimately end up spending Christmas down south with my family. But my parents stopped getting a real tree — something that would have been sacrilege when I was growing up but became necessary due to allergies.

I just realized it’s been a long time since I’ve smelled a genuine, real, live Christmas tree. We might have to go get a little Charlie Brown Christmas tree to satisfy my sudden Christmas Tree Fragrance craving.

ANYWAY, this project could not have been easier. Grab a length of ribbon (thin enough to go through the ornament hooks but strong enough to hold the weight of a bunch of ornaments) and string a variety of ornaments onto it. Move them around so that you get a nice, full, chunky look to the garland. I did three shorter lengths to make arranging them a little easier. They get a little unwieldy once you’ve gotten a bunch of ornaments on — I probably used about 40-50 ornaments per three-foot length.

Fun, Fast, and Pretty! What more could you ask for?

Shiny Brite Love.

Lara Jo — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 03:03:35 +0000

I am such a huge Shiny Brite fan. You would not believe how many vintage ornaments I have accumulated over the years. Wait, here, let me show you a photo to help you understand.

That’s right, people, I have no shame in my hoarding practices. I put it all out there. A few years ago I started making wreaths out of the vintage ornaments I was finding, and decided to make a few this year to put in the booth. I’ve already sold one (the one in the first photo) and may have sold more — I haven’t gotten my weekly stock report from The Best Sister-in-Law in the World yet.

The secret to these wreaths is to use plain, not-so-old ornaments as the base — and only use your extra-special Shiny Brites as the finishing touch, the last layer. For the next one, I didn’t even use any super-special Shiny Brites and it still turned out pretty cute.

Step-by-Step instructions can be found on the awesome BackGarage.