Adventures in a Pretty Dress: 2011

12/24/11

Christmas Presents 2011

DIY Glass ornaments with sparkly twigs and red birds! Scrabble magnets! Chocolate dipped oreos! Marshmallow reindeer!

My husband's side of the family is very large, so Christmas is extremely daunting to me. For the past few years we didn't do any presents at all because we just couldn't afford it. But for 2011 I really didn't want to show up empty handed so last minute I powered through my morning... make that 24/7.... sickness and did some DIY Christmas gifts. Here's how they turned out!

For each family I made an ornament using this PIN for inspiration:

Source: countryliving.com via Michelle on Pinterest

Then I printed out scrabble tiles onto card stock and stuck each letter to magnet backing. I spelled out the last name of each family! This was a little time consuming, but turned out super cute!

For each adult I made chocolate dipped Oreos and packaged them up cute:

And for the kids I made the chocolate dipped marshmallow reindeer I saw on Pinterest:

Source: adventuresofabettycrockerwannabe.blogspot.com via Krystal on Pinterest

Everyone loved the gifts and all in all they didn't really cost that much. All the ornament supplies I found at Michaels and I had a lot of the other supplies on hand. I found the Scrabble tile print out on Google and I made the tags using Microsoft WORD.

11/28/11

Christmas Quotes Chain Link Advent Calendar!

I wanted to make a chain link advent calendar with my little boy today, but I wanted to make it extra special, SO, on each link I wrote down a fun Christmas quote!

Here are the 25 quotes I used:

Dec. 1 It is Christmas in the heart that puts Christmas in the air! – Alexander Smith

Dec. 2 I love you! I miss you! (I will be gone this day)

Dec. 3 I will honor Christmas in my heart and try to keep it all the year. –Charles Dickins

Dec. 4 Ho! Ho! Ho!

Dec. 5 Silent Night, Holy Night

Dec. 6 In life’s winter, find your invincible summer!

Dec. 7 ‘tis the season

Dec. 8 And she will bear a Son and you shall call His name Jesus, for it is He who will save His people from their sins.

Dec. 9 BELIEVE

Dec. 10 Fa La La La Laaa La La La Laaa

Dec. 11 God love the world that he gave his only son that those who believe on him shall be saved.

Dec. 12 It’s a peaceful Christmas time.

Dec. 13 Christmas is the day that holds all time together.

Dec. 14 ☮ + ♥ + Joy

Dec. 15 Be Merry! Be Bright!

Dec. 16 Jingle Bells! Jingle Bells! Jingle All The Way!

Dec. 17 Christmas waves its magic wand, and behold everything is softer and more beautiful!

Dec. 18 Let Your Love Flow!

Dec. 19 Celebrate the season!

Dec. 20 Wish upon a star!

Dec. 21 It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Dec. 22 Brrrrrr….

Dec. 23 Rockin’ around the Christmas tree!

Dec. 24 ‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house. Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

Dec. 25 Merry Christmas!

11/25/11

Thanksgiving Dinner Party!

The decor turned out perfect! and so did the meal! It was a Thanksgiving to be thankful for!

11/23/11

Thanksgiving Dinner Party Drink Tags!

These little drink tags were so easy to make and they turned out so dainty and pretty. I really can't wait to set the table!

11/22/11

Oh Ally!

Ally has a dream.

She dreams of meeting a man at the grocery store.

Too bad her last trip to the grocery store was to get a plunger.

Poor Ally.

Nathan Rohlander!

I ~~want~~ need this painting by Nathan Rohlander! It's called "Junk Food"! What's not to love?!

Source: rohlander.com via Michelle on Pinterest

Bonjour! Map Cut Out Card!

Bonjour!

I made this special greeting card with an old map! I loooove old maps and I have a pile of them, but this is the first time I've actually used one!

Reindeer Napkin Holders!

I used the same reindeer from the place cards for my paper 'napkin rings'. I just used 'nice' paper napkins and added some feathers that I cut off of a feather boa I had in my closet! (who doesn't have a feather boa in the closet??)

Ornament Place Card Holders and Post Card Place Cards!

I found some ornament place card holders at Goodwill that were red and green - not the color scheme I wanted - but I bought them anyways and spray painted them white and then covered them with spray adhesive and glitter! Here's how they turned out! Very pretty I think!

Thanks to the spray adhesive and glitter I started to turn into a mermaid! Awesome indeed!

I used one of these vintage post cards to create place cards.

And Voila!

Now if only the turkey can turn out as perfect!!

11/10/11

Thanksgiving Dinner Party Inspiration

Double Take Event Styling put together an amazing "Woodland Christmas Dinner Party" that is so absolutely gorgeous! I am going to try to emulate it for my family's Thanksgiving dinner this year. Here are a few inspiration pictures.