Father Christmas Please Stop Here

Now then, have you been very good? No naughtiness all year? Then someone might just buy one of these for you to hang on your door come Christmas time. My Father Christmas Please Stop Here sign is already proving to be a hit with notonthehighstreet customers and although I thought everyone would want it in festive red or green it seems that I will be doing every colour available before the Christmas season is over {although I've not done an orange one ... yet}. 

I haven't decided whether my children will be having one of these hung outside their doors yet, still plenty of time to threaten that Father Christmas won't be coming unless they start behaving.

Christmas Wrapping Ideas - Part Three

All you need to do is cut some washi tape and bend it over the bakers twine and simply cut the end in the shape of upside down V.


Top it off with a personalised gift tag of course!

Christmas Wrapping Ideas - Part Two

All you need to do is thread the bakers twine through the leaves and it creates a gorgeous smelling decoration. I wonder how long this would last? 

If you didn't fancy using bakers twine, although why anyone wouldn't I can't imagine ;-), then I think this would look just as good with leaves stuck down with double-sided sticky tape. And because you're using sticky tape you'd also get to pretend to be Valerie Singleton or whoever your Blue Peter idol is.

Top it off with a personalised gift tag of course!

Christmas Wrapping Idea

I discovered that you can use a normal stamp pad and stamp to make your own customised ribbon. I bought the cotton tape from Hobbycraft ages ago so can't remember how much it cost but I don't think it is expensive.

I used a long stamp for this but I've also done this with a small flower one too which looked really good. If you happen to have a snowflake or star you could make lovely christmassy ribbon.

Top it off with a personalised gift tag of course!

If you like this post please leave a comment and I'll do some more wrapping ideas. Thank you.

Christmas Advent Calendar

Busy busy busy.

My personalised boxed advent calendar bunting is in the Notonthehighstreet winter catalogue which came out at the end of last week. I wonder if you've seen the catalogue? There are some lovely things in it. If you'd like to see the virtual catalogue click here - page 32 bottom left!

Have this awful feeling that by the time 25th December comes I'll be Christmassed out. Hope it won't happen though because I do rather like Christmas ....

Christmas in May ... ?

I've been thinking about Christmas ... yes Christmas. Apparently those in retail {I should make that sound a little more like that includes me} have to think about Christmas in May! 

When I think of Christmas I think of red so it's all a bit weird when the only red thing I see around me is in the garden - hence my red montage to get me in the Christmas red mood!

I now need to do a green version so better start thinking of Christmas trees. What a good job I read the Great Slamseys Farm blog.

Happy Christmas

Christmassy inside ...

and outside!

* * HAPPY CHRISTMAS * *

Happy Christmas to Me

When I was supposed to be Christmas shopping for other people’s presents I just may have, by accident, bought a couple of things for me!

I had to buy this wonderful Orla Kiely box from John Lewis although I don’t really know what I’m going to do with it.

And this Fossil bag just begged me to buy it, well it is Christmas after all.

Oh no you're not ... Oh yes we are

We are off to the panto tonight and The Essex Young Farmers "Puss in Boots" production will, no doubt, be full of corny jokes, loads of appalling (and brilliant) acting and plenty of giggles and groans (from the cast and audience). We can't wait, my boys wouldn't dream of going to any other panto, and we are all very excited.

Starting to feel Christmassy ….

Now that every time I walk through the front door I look at my Christmas wreath ...

and as I spent all morning yesterday wrapping presents …

and all the teacher presents are done ...

I got this recipe from www.taste.com.au/recipes/22549/abbys+cookies+in+a+jar which is really, really good. We thought we should try them out and they are simply yummy!

Christmas Tree Farm

On Friday I went to visit Slamseys Farm where they have very kindly added my Christmas in a Box to their selective range of Christmas goods.

They have an enormous range of trees so have a look at their website http://www.greatslamseys.co.uk/christmas-trees.php to find out more and have a look at their blog http://greatslamseys.blogspot.com/

Advent Calendars

We have two different advent calendars this year. Our usual chocolate one strung up in the kitchen with TWO chocolates this year … yes I do learn from my mistakes and remember the trauma and arguments last year!

We also have this fantastic Lego one, sent from lovely Auntie in Australia, which the boys are really enjoying.

Christmas Decorations

Maybe green decorations this year ....

1. http://homeandgarden.craftgossip.com/pyramid-tree-advent-calendar/

2. http://www.flickr.com/photos/stefanier/4532127670/

3. http://www.flickr.com/photos/emmakat/2113455613/in/photostream/

4. http://designmuseumshop.com/

Christmas Fayre

Today is our Christmas Fayre at school. I will be on the gift basket stall whilst the boys will be on their own stalls selling gift bags and candle holders (at least I THINK that is what they have made). Should be a fun afternoon.

December is here ...

Time to think about Christmas.

Dove http://domestikgoddess.com/love-dove-christmas-card-ornaments/

Red button wreath from http://tinywhitedaisies.tumblr.com/archive#

Berries in our garden.

My red shoes!

Christmas in a Box

Christmas in a Box ... red, jingle bells, sweets, snow, balloons? I couldn't fit in the Christmas tree and turkey but what else have I missed out - what would you put in?