Monthly Archives: December 2011

Happy New Year from Copenhagen !

2012 has almost arrived in Denmark, wishing you a very Happy New Year wherever you are in the world and hoping you end 2011 surrounded by loved ones and laughter!

make/do: holiday _2011 neon 'wrap + number system

As you can tell we went full force with the bright & neon-y colors here at H&H for the Holidays... just check out the Gifts Page and Catalog! We started working on the H&H Holiday concept & colorways back in August and it has totally inspired me in my own Christmas decorating & gift wrapping....festive! Happy Neon Holiday _2011!

Gift Wrap & Accouterments:
I have three small boys who are more interested in ripping wrapping paper than fancy bows and such. So this year I had more fun with bold color and skipped the extras. I bought a few rolls of wrap at Ikea -- a very Nordic black & white patterned paper as well as the subtly striped kraft paper. In addition I used neon yellow & black tissue paper to wrap with.

For adornments I used colored feathers found at the craft store, washi tape (hot pink!) neon yellow strips of poster board/paper for gift tags...(cheap! the huge sheet cost $.50) as well as a bit of grosgrain ribbon in black, grey, neon yellow & hot pink.

The Numbering System:
As I mentioned in my Give & Tell interview in November... this year I decided to follow in my Mom's footsteps and  number the gifts as she did years ago -- number all the gifts instead of assigning names, brilliant & simple! As each gift is wrapped, simply write a number on the gift tag. Then write that number along with the recipient's name (and even what the gift is) on the "master list". On Christmas morning it's great fun to shake a gift, call out "Number 12! Who is number 12 for?!" .. whoever has the "master list" will call out the name.  This makes gift opening take forever (the madness of everyone opening gifts all at once makes me cringe!) and adds an element of suspense pre-Christmas morning. No peaking!!

(I did add 1 exception: we will be having Grandparents with us Christmas morning & did not number their gifts which explains the "gMA" in the image above!)

& that's a wrap!

Happy Holidays _2011!!

Inspired: the Neon & Feather-y Christmas

OH Neon & Feathers, how I have loved you this 2011 Christmas season! I've already posted about the homemade Bird Ornaments, Gift Wrapping & Advent Calendar ... Here's a final peek at our 'Neon tree & stockings.

Notes & Such:
1. Birdhouses & feathers were purchased at a craft supply store & gussied up to fit the neon-ish occasion! Super inexpensive & quick.
2. Dipped popsicle sticks: wood popsicle sticks dipped in glue, dusted with glitter. Then a hole was drilled & twine threaded to create a hanger.
3. Neon yellow garland: florescent tag board cut into garlands using this method.
4. Stockings: budget grey knee high socks from the big box store with hand sewn neon ribbon hanging loops.

Merry Christmas from all of us at House & Hold!

make/do: gift bag from Hello Sandwich

Get your pretty wrapping/paper & washi tape out ... it's time to make a homemade Paper Gift Bag on the blog Hello Sandwich!

For the amazing & simple tutorial, click here!

All images via Hello Sandwich.

Happy Hanukkah !

Wishing you a Happy Hanukkah from all of us at House&Hold!

Josh Owen Menorah

inspired: online holiday mags

Even though Christmas is just a few days away (!) you have plenty of time to be inspired, get crafty and bake! Here are a few of my favorite online Holiday mags that I've turned to this year.

Rue
Gifted
Sweet Paul
Anthology Winter Gift Guide
La Petite

Happy making!

Make/Do: Salt Dough Bird Ornaments

It's project week here on the H&H blog! Today's project: simple salt-dough ornaments.

Making salt dough is about as simple as it gets, I followed the instructions, here. My only pointers are not to roll the dough too thin & be sure to use a drinking straw to cut a hole so you can hang the ornaments later (as shown above on the swan).

My kids & I cut out a flock of various birds using a set of small bird cookie cutters. After the dough is rolled, cut & ornaments are placed on a baking sheet to bake at a low temp until they are dry, it's glitter time!

First, apply a medium layer of white glue. Work fast! The baked salt dough absorbs the glue rather quickly. Then dump a big coating of glitter on the ornament -- I used a couple different white course glitters I had on hand. After you knock the excess glitter off, set the ornaments aside on a piece of parchment paper to dry.

Once dry, time to hang on the tree..or wherever else! I used cotton string but a metal hanger would also work.

Making a collection of Bird Salt Dough Ornaments was a quick & inexpensive project the kids & I both worked on and enjoyed -- fun!

Giftable: Ferm Living Mr. Snake Pillow _Holiday 2011 Gift Guide

Need a little something for Baby... and beyond? 1 idea: the Mr. Snake Pillow by Ferm Living. You are just that cool!

Take a look -- Mr. Snake is oversized & cozy! And though a bit spendy ($146) you will most definetly win the best present ever award. And as my #10 gift pick, I perhaps saved the best for last?!

Check out Mr. Snake & be sure to oogle at the rest of the Ferm Living Collection.

And if you need 9 more ideas, look here.

Giftable: Cubebots by David Weeks _Holiday 2011 Gift Guide

Toys! The last of my Holiday 2011 gift picks: Toys for young & old.

Top 3 reasons why the Cubebots by David Weeks are great:
1. Cubebots are made of wood. Everyone likes toys that are made of wood.
2. Anyone can fiddle with a Cubebot & have fun.
3. Acceptable to leave out on the coffee table!

Which makes the Cubebots & other wood toys by David Weeks my #7 pick! Shop here!

Also! Need other ideas? See our top 10 on the H&H Gift Guide.

Giftable: Nuance Dual Grinder Tree _Holiday 2011 Gift Guide

To round out my kitchen picks is #6 on my list: the Nuance Dual Grinder Tree.

The Dual Grinder Tree not only looks amazing but does just what it says: grind both salt & pepper in 1 'tree! And what makes this pick ultra giftable? It's budget $39.95 price tag.

Shop the entire Nuance collection and be sure to browse our top 10 Gift Guide Picks!