Funny Christmas Gift Inspiration

I'm terrible at thinking of things to buy people for Christmas. I try to be crafty, but that really only works well for gifts for women. So I've gathered some cheap quirky gift ideas that would put a smile on the face of anyone, no matter their gender or age. Fredflare has tons of great ideas.




< - Mouse Salt and Pepper Shakers - $20 -  These are just plain random. Who wouldn't want a pair of cute little mice gracing their dinner table?

Mini Robot Vacuum - $26 - This desktop buddy scoops up all your annoying debris and dust.  He comes in three colors! - >

< - Squirrel Paper Clips - $7.99 - I'm pretty sure the name of this item explains itself. Why bind your papers with a boring loopy shape when your report could stand out with a cute little squirrel?

Scented Gummi Bear Earbuds - $18 - Not only can you look super cool by wearing these earbuds, but you will also smell delicious. Double win! - >





< - Tea Sub - $18 - Know someone who loves tea? This witty tea infuser is the perfect gift for them!

Rubick's Cube iPod Speaker - $29.99 - This is a fun alternative to those boring black speakers. - >









< - Gin and Titonic Ice Cube Tray - $9.99 - For the over-21 crowd, this fun ice cube tray produces ice cubes shaped like ships and icerbergs that will "sink" in your drink. How funny!

Mason Jar Magnificence

Lately, I've come across many photos of blue mason jars used in creative ways. I've seen the mason jar trend happening for awhile, but I'm very partial to the blue ones!  They are great for everyday use or for styling at weddings and events.  Here are some of my favorite photos:

Mason Jars as Vases

Flowers are pretty however you use them, but make them even prettier with blue vintage mason jars!

Mason Jar Luminaries

If you want your room or event to have a nice blue glow, put some candles in mason jars and set them on your tables. Or, stuff some white Christmas lights into the jar for a cool effect.

Photos in a Jar

This is such a unique way to display your pictures - you guessed it - in a jar!

Necklush Infinity Scarf DIY

It's almost Christmas!!

I'm therefore on the prowl for some good gift ideas. And since I'm a poor college student, I am always looking for good crafty, cheap, DIY projects that can be given as gifts.

I got this idea from a friend whose scarf I loved, and she told me she made it out of an old t-shirt! I then found out that the original idea came from a company called Necklush, and according to their Etsy account, they are selling these scarves for upwards of $30! But there is a really simple way to make them out of old t-shirts, so I will give you the instructions here. You can use old t-shirts or go buy cheap ones in large sizes. I haven't actually had time to try it yet, but I'm planning on doing a few for Christmas.

Basic Instructions:

Supplies:

• any t-shirt, old  or purchased (extra large sizes work best if you're going to triple up the scarf around your neck)
• scissors or fabric cutter
• optional decorations (paint, dyes, etc.)

Steps:

1. Choose a t-shirt from your give-away collection or buy a cheap new one in whatever color you like.
2. Cut off the top neck and sleeve part of the t-shirt, so you're left with the torso section. It will just be a large loop of fabric.
3. Cut off the bottom hem of the shirt.
4. Now is the time if you want to decorate your fabric using paint or dyes. Preferably, you should wash it or at least wet it afterward so the fabric isn't stiff. Figure out which way the fabric rolls up so you can decorate the outside part that will be showing once it rolls up.
5. Cut strips across the shirt horizontally about an inch wide. Now you will have a bunch of loops.
6. Stretch out each loop individually. They stretch a lot. You want them to end up skinny and rolled however they naturally do it. Gather the loops together
7. Cut a section from the sleeve and tie it around one part of the gathered loops to hold them all together. Or you can use a small section of one of the stretched out loops.
8. Voila! Figure out all the fun ways to wear your new scarf!

This instructional video is from blogger Brittney Gray. It's super simple!

Here are some variations that I'm thinking about trying:

• tie-dying or painting the fabric
• braiding or fishtailing some of the loops together
• experimenting with knotting and twisting the strands

A Thankful Heart and Home

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is a time to celebrate all of our blessings with family and friends. It's also a beautiful celebration of the prettiness of the fall season. I've compiled some photos of fun and unique Thanksgiving decorations.

Fall- colored Flowers:
Use oranges, reds, and deep yellows for an autumn flair!

Leaves:
What says fall like orange and rusty-colored leaves? Feature them in your centerpieces instead of flowers!

Pumpkins and Gourds:
It reminds us of Halloween and the harvest, two fall staples.

Fruits, Berries and Nuts:
It's harvest time and these are yummy autumn treats, so use them in your decorations as well!  Cranberries get bonus points!

Grasses and Wheats:
Big tall grasses and wheats make me think of the prairie, and therefore barns, and therefore farms, and therefore pilgrims, and therefore Thanksgiving. It's an obvious leap.

Candles:
Candlelight makes any occasion more romantic and homey! Use fall items as candleholders.

Combination Decorations:
Make the gourd a vase for your flowers. Poke your flowers into a pumpkin. So on and so forth - get creative!

Fill Your Plate With Style

It's almost Thanksgiving - the holiday that is synonymous with "Eat your heart out in honor of all your blessings."

So I thought it would be fitting to show you some of my favorite, most cheery, beautiful plates! Why not celebrate your Thanksgiving meal on some creative plates and tableware?

I found all of these examples at Anthropologie, and they also have some amazing other home decor items!

Plates:
I love how bold and bright these patterns are! But while being eye-catching, they still keep a natural feel with the birds, flowers, and lace pattern.

Mugs:
These mugs are so cool, especially the monogrammed ones!

Bowls:

I would love to sip some soup from one of these beautiful bowls! They all have a hand-painted vibe that makes them feel homey.

We Invite You...

...To feast your eyes on some fantastically unique wedding invitations!

Most people go with classic script fonts and muted colors, but these definitely have a different personality! I love paper goods and the creative design behind invitations, so I thought I would throw some out here for you to peruse.

These examples show styles and designs that can be used for any type of invitation, whether that is for a wedding, birthday party, or even a family reunion.

Completely Covered in Color!
These examples of invitations are busy in a good way, graphically bold, and use a variety of fonts and visual elements. They are colorful, playful, and scream fun.

Old-School Circus
These invitations include bold stripes and have that old-timey country fair vibe. They really call attention to the "main attraction."

Block O' Words

These cards are simple and to the point. They are visually strong and suggest stability. The white space gives your eye a break and the use of different font sizes is effective in communicating the most important words or dates.

Cartoony
These invites use illustrations and pictures to say "We're a quirky couple, and our wedding is going to be a blast. We don't take ourselves too seriously."

Rustic
These examples are for the couple who is having their wedding in a barn. They most likely have started stockpiling twine for all the ways they are going to use it to decorate their special day. These cards show that they love nature and don't want to overly style their wedding to look uptight.