Over the years, I’ve discovered that setting up a dedicated wrapping center in November can be a real game-changer during the holiday season. By organizing everything you need in one place, you can quickly wrap gifts as you buy them. This prevents a massive pile-up right before Christmas, when things tend to get the busiest.
Key Items for Your Wrapping Center:
Make sure you have plenty of the essentials ready to go:
Wrapping paper
Tissue paper
Boxes
Gift bags
Tape
Ribbon
Gift tags
If you followed our October inventory checklist, you should have already stocked up on these items. And if you’re making your own gift tags, now is the perfect time to check that off your list! If you missed my previous post, I shared how I made my own custom gift tags.
Other Must-Have Items:
Scissors: I recommend keeping a couple of pairs handy—I always seem to misplace them!
Package toppers: I love adding a personal touch by making something that doubles as an ornament for each gift. If you’re looking for ideas, Stampin’ Up! offers a great kit for making package toppers. You can check out my post about it here.
By setting up your wrapping center early and keeping it well-stocked, you’ll be able to breeze through your holiday wrapping and avoid the last-minute rush. Happy wrapping!
In this year’s Mini Catalog, Stampin’ Up! introduced Mix and Match Ephemera Packs. These are so great for the busy person that still wants to make some Christmas cards or gift tags. I like them because I always find I need one more card or I run out of tags. These let me create quick and easy!
Using just these 4 Ephemera Packs, White Bakers Twine, and adhesives, I was able to make 52 gift tags and 9 cards. I didn’t even have to create from scratch; I just used the layouts and designs included in the catalog. Check out my video to see the products a little closer and all that I made with them!
Each of the three Ephemera Packs comes with 8 sheets of precut images: 2 each of 4 designs.
Tags for the Season Mix & Match Ephemera Pack
Joyful Images Mix & Match Ephemera Pack
Joyful Sayings Mix & Match Ephemera Pack
The fourth Mix & Match product is Gold Dipped Cards & Envelopes. You get 9 card bases and 9 envelopes.
Video Show and Tell
Stampin’ Up! products used to create this project:
Are you hosting turkey day this year? If so, it’s time to kick off your planning. You’ll want to secure your turkey before they fly off the shelves and get a headcount so you can choose the right size bird for your gathering. Are you considering trying something new this year? Make sure you have all the necessary tools to pull off your culinary vision!
At our house, Thanksgiving is a cherished tradition that can include not just immediate family, but friends and neighbors. We love to extend our invitation to those who might be spending the holiday away from their own families.
We enjoy mixing things up each year, especially when it comes to cooking the turkey. Our approach varies from year to year, allowing us to keep the celebration fresh and exciting. One of my all-time favorites is the Best Thanksgiving Turkey recipe from Our Best Bites. Last year, we took a bold step and prepared our turkey Porchetta-Style (you can find the recipe here) – it was a hit!
To stay organized, be sure to start your Holiday Menu Planner in the Celebrations section of your Christmas Planner. This tool will help you keep track of who’s coming, what activities you have planned, and, of course, your menu. Don’t forget to delegate dishes to your guests! Opting for a potluck-style dinner can significantly ease your workload.
I also want to share a fun twist we tried last year. Instead of serving cranberries as a side dish, I made a Cranberry Cobbler with Brown Sugar Pecan Crustfor dessert. It was a delicious change, though we still had the traditional cranberry sauce on the table (I was gently outvoted!). This easy recipe has quickly become a staple in our holiday menu, and I can’t wait to make it again.
So, as you gear up for Thanksgiving, remember that planning ahead will make all the difference. Embrace the traditions, but don’t hesitate to add your unique flair to the festivities. Happy planning!
Every year, Nathan and I find ways to give back during the holiday season, whether it’s sponsoring a family, donating Christmas dinners, supporting animal shelters, or performing random acts of kindness. This has become a cherished tradition of ours.
Last year, I decided to put a unique spin on the Christmas Countdown Kit released by Stampin’ Up! Instead of using it to treat myself, I filled each compartment with a note of kindness and a little gift. Each day, I found someone who had done something kind for another person(or me) and I gifted them an envelope.
The smiles I witnessed strangers received these small tokens of appreciation where heartwarming. It reminded me that even the simplest gestures can have a profound impact on someone’s day.
This year, I encourage you to take on a similar challenge. The Stampin’ Up! Christmas Countdown Kit is still available, and you can easily adapt it to spread joy in your community. Your envelopes don’t have to be elaborate—a kind note can go a long way. The true gift lies in the act of giving.
Here’s a glimpse of how I’ve revamped my kit this year so the numbers are hidden. I supplemented with a little Country Woods Designer Series Paper and Crumb Cake cardstock, however, you can probably do it without using anything extra.
Let’s make this holiday season a little brighter for those around us. Who’s ready to spread some kindness?
Stampin’ Up! products used to create this project:
Can you believe it’s November already? This month, we’re breaking down the checklist by week, and I’ll be sharing the checklist in two-week increments. If you want the entire checklist, just check back to my August Post.
November is all about wrapping up our crafting and planning, so when Thanksgiving arrives, we can focus on celebrating! Its the month were we truly start to enjoy the fruits of our labor.
Plan Your Christmas Dinner
I previously discussed our Christmas Eve Dinner tradition in my Christmas Celebration Ideas and Traditions post. This year, we’re going with a French theme. Nathan is diving into menu ideas while I research French Christmas traditions. I can’t wait to share the details with you in an upcoming post!
If you’re hosting a Christmas event, now is the perfect time to start planning. Consider what will make your gathering special and jot down what you’ll need. Remember, some meats and specialty items require advanced ordering, so it’s essential to know what to get and when to secure everything so it is on time.
Indoor Decorating
You wont be surprised to hear that I start decorating for Christmas on November 1st! I’ve organized my decorations by room and have pictures from last year to guide me. If you haven’t established a routine yet, dont worry – I’ll share my “pack up” tips at the start of January to help you get ready for next year!
When I decorate, I tackle one room at a time. I pack away the everyday decorations, spring clean, and then bring out the Christmas décor. I take my time to enjoy the process, replacing all knickknacks and pictures with festive items. My goal is to have the main tree and outside decorations be the last times to go up by the weekend after Thanksgiving, allowing December to be all about celebration!
I’ll share photos of my decorating journey as I transform the house. Fun Fact: I have a Christmas tree in every room – some even have more than one!
Inventory Décor and Buying Decorations
As you decorate, take stock of what you have and identify anything you need to replace. Making a list while decorating will make shopping much easier later on. I often start my list when packing up decorations in January, so I’m ready to shop when stores begin rolling out their Christmas items. Trust me—if I don’t grab what I need from Costco right away, it often sells out by Thanksgiving!
Review Recipes
While we’ve already begun our make-ahead cookies, it’s time to think about the other treats! Each year, we make five different types of cookies, and we usually switch up one or two. This month, I’ll test a couple of new recipes to see if they hold up well and taste delicious.
Cutout Sugar Cookies – I will be making these this month. I use Our Best Bites for this recipe too – https://ourbestbites.com/sugar-cookies/ and I use the glace icing of theirs too. It sets up firmly and still tastes amazing!
Baklava Sugar Cookies – This is a new one this year. I will be making this ahead as well. We tested it and was able to make it up completely and freeze it and it still held up well and tasted great when it thawed. This is a little bit more work so I am glad I can do it in advance. https://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/baklava-cookie-recipe
Christmas Kiss Cookies – We usually have a type of kiss cookie. For many years it was the traditional peanut butter kiss cookie, but we started to mix it up. This one is fun; however, uses a LOT of sprinkles! https://www.sprinklebakes.com/2019/12/christmas-kiss-cookies.html
Italian Lemon Drop Cookies – The lemon cookie is a nice refreshing change for the palate. For the icing, we use the Glaze icing from Our Best Bites. We already have it made to decorate the Cutouts, so it made it easier. https://cakescottage.com/2017/11/29/italian-lemon-drop-cookies/
You might notice I listed six cookies when we typically make five. That’s all part of the planning process! We can decide which one to cut later. This year, since I found I could make four of these ahead of time, we’re going for all six!
Don’t forget, cookies aren’t the only baking to plan for. What will you be making for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner? You will also want to start planning what you will be making for any parties you are hosting or attending. Planning ahead will help you identify what you can prep in advance, ensuring a smoother holiday season.
Last week, we had the pleasure of hosting my cousin, Michelle, and her family, Chris and Molly, from South Bend, Indiana, for an exciting visit centered around a trip to see Mickey Mouse. We always cherish our time together, and this visit was no exception. It was an action-packed few days filled with laughter, fun, and unforgettable memories!
They flew in to Orlando and we met up with them there on Friday evening. Saturday was a relaxing day of college football and Disney Springs.
They arrived in Orlando on Friday evening, and we met them at the hotel, eagerly anticipating the adventures ahead. Saturday was a laid-back day, perfect for catching up while enjoying college football and exploring Disney Springs. The vibrant atmosphere, delicious food, and unique shops made it a great way to kick off our weekend.
On Sunday, we dove headfirst into the magic of Hollywood Studios. We had an ambitious agenda and managed to experience nearly everything on our list—except for Rise of the Resistance. Unfortunately, after waiting in line for two hours, the ride broke down! Though disappointing, we didn’t let it dampen our spirits. We found plenty of joy in the day, exploring other attractions and making the most of our time together. Tip: the Cantina is a must do experience!
Monday was extra special as we celebrated Molly’s 20th birthday at Epcot. We kicked off the day with the must-ride attractions and then leisurely made our way around the World Showcase. The Food and Wine Festival was a highlight, with its incredible culinary offerings. Sampling dishes from different countries while shopping up a storm was the perfect way to celebrate her milestone birthday.
We wrapped up our trip with a visit to Magic Kingdom on Tuesday. Although Nathan and I had to leave a bit early to head home, we still enjoyed the enchanting atmosphere and some classic rides before we departed.
Reflecting on our time together, I can confidently say it was a fantastic trip filled with family bonding and Disney magic. We’re already looking forward to our next adventure together!
This Kit by Stampin’ Up! creates beautiful ornaments. Every year, I love to create small ornaments to adorn my gifts. The receiver can then add them to their Christmas Tree. This year, Stampin’ Up! has taken the effort out of ornament-making with their new kit, which includes everything you need to craft nine beautiful package toppers. This kit comes with metal rings, precut paper greenery, pinecones, bright berries, and festive details.
Video from Stampin’ Up!
Stampin’ Up! products used to create this project:
Another hurricane for Florida! Just two weeks after the last hurricane, we were bracing for another round. We were lucky and sustained no damage again. I utilized my extra time to complete my fourth and final make-ahead cookie: Baklava Sugar Cookies!
Nathan describes these cookies as a Snickerdoodle with a yummy Baklava center. Intrigued? You can find the recipe here: Baklava Sugar Cookies.
A Few Tips and Lessons Learned
Wile I followed the recipe closely, I discovered a few tweaks that made the process smoother:
Chilling the Baklava Center: After preparing the Baklava filling, I chilled it in the refrigerator for a couple of hours before forming it into balls. This extra chilling time helped the mixture firm up nicely.
Freezing for Later: I also decided to freeze the Baklava centers overnight. This way, they were perfectly ready to go when it was time to bake.
Size Matters: I made my cookies a bit smaller than the recipe suggested. This adjustment gave them a more traditional cookie size, making them perfect for sharing (or sneaking a few for myself!).
Batch Management: Since I was making multiple batches, I couldn’t bake them all at once. I wrapped each Baklava center immediately after preparing it, ensuring they didn’t thaw before getting enveloped in dough.
While these cookies do require a bit more effort than your average batch, trust me—they’re absolutely worth it! The combination of the soft, sweet cookie and the rich, nutty Baklava filling is simply divine.
So, if you’re looking for a fun baking project, give these Baklava Sugar Cookies a try. Stay safe out there, and happy baking!
I’ve previously shared several cards featuring the Season of Elegance Suite, and my enthusiasm for this collection hasn’t waned. I was so inspired by the beautiful samples in the Stampin’ Up! catalog and online that I couldn’t resist creating more. This particular card involved a fun technique that I thoroughly enjoyed, despite a small mistake I made when I first tried it.
To create this card, follow these steps:
Background: First, emboss the Basic Beige panel with the Painted Trees Embossing Folder. Then, using a Blending Brush, lightly go over the raised image with Mossy Meadow. I originally started with the Sponge Dauber; however, I kept getting blotches (see the top of the tallest tree?) I found a little brushing with the Blending Brushes worked much better.
Stamping: Stamp the saying “love from our home to yours” and then use your Stampin’ Trimmer to cut it out.
Heat Embossing: Heat emboss the word “Happy” with gold embossing powder on Pretty Peacock cardstock. Fussy cut it out with your Paper Snips.
Die Cut: Die cut Christmas out of Cherry Cobbler and the Christmas outline out of Basic White.
Assembly: Attach each of the word pieces to the front of the card using Mini Dimensionals for a bit of lift.
Finishing Touch: Add a touch of sparkle with Gold Textured Adhesive-Backed Dots for a bit of festive bling.
Here’s how I decorated the inside of the card: I stamped on the bottom with Pretty Peacock and added a coordinating design on the envelope. I stamped the sentiment in Cherry Cobbler.
Cardstock Cuts for this project:
Pretty Peacock – 11″ x 4-1/4″ card base scored at 5-1/2″, scrap for the word “Happy”
Basic Beige – 5-1/4″ x 4″ panel (inside card), 5-1/2″ x 4″ panel
Basic White – 4″ x 1″ for Christmas shadow die, scrap for words
Cherry Cobbler – 4″ x 1″ for Christmas die
Stampin’ Up! products used to create this project:
I am a project manager by day and a crafter by night. I love Christmas and want to do it all every year. I will share with you how I do it and enjoy it too!
