It's a wrap

Sure, I enjoy wrapping gifts but have learned the kids destroy paper so quickly that a thoughtful choice of coordinating paper and pretty ribbon warrants no notice so I now place small items in brown paper bags.


And by now, you realize I am a ribbon whore but there's no reason to use for the brat gifts so simply wrote their name on box with silver Sharpie pen.

Managed to wrap sister's gift with a small kitty print remnant. See underlay of contrasting paper. I know it looks like a parsimonious paper miser at work but she likes feline print paper.

And I just couldn't "waste" this Burberry brief box so simply tied on a ribbon and gave it to the 20 year old niece. She approved.

Liquor bottles - the new thing to collect

That is, the little bottles.
This miniature liquor bottle photo snow globe idea makes me wish I had more frequent traveler points. Dag-nab-it-all!
Check out Photojojo's instruction page HERE.

Come to think of it, how cute would a small bar Christmas tree look with "baby" bottles of liquor? Aw, HELLS to the yeah!

Plaid balls

No, not what you think . . . but it IS a cute make-it-yourself ornament idea by media whore Eddie Ross.
LOVING me some plaid!

Christmas decor on the cheap

Tree branches painted white.

Tree bases made from plaster of Paris set in plastic bucket with PVC pipe in middle.

Branches stuck into pipe.

Inexpensive white lights strung on branches.

Gold spray painted Chinese lanterns hung from the ceiling.

Glass crystals hung from ribbon.

Cross stitch Christmas ornaments

Made a heap of cross stitch Christmas ornaments, some with pinked edges, some frayed.


And after second consideration, decided I kinda liked the pristine white wide flange and left those as is.

Christmas crack, it's a good thing

This craftster chick posted her recipe for Christmas Crack and dang, it is some good!

Here is my version:
Strange thing, I had less than a full bag of chocolate chips, how does that happen? So I melted some white chocolate bark and poured that atop the melted chocolate chips and swirled it around. Worried that it might then be TOO sweet, I sprinkled some coarse kosher salt on top. LOVE me some sweet and salt combo snacks!
Oh WAIT! I forgot the moment of Zen:
press your nose against the glass window of your oven and watch the saltine crackers rise and fall with bubbling of molten sugar through the cracker holes. It is mesmerizing, I tell ya!



Here is my post to the Christmas Crack enabler:
Hey, why don't you post your recipe for methamphetamine next year because it would be LESS addictive than this stuff!! Thanks for making me a Christmas crackhead!

Looks a lot like Christmas 7

I keep forgetting, remind me,

who is the reason for the season?

Love this tree

with religious icon canvases.

Looks a lot like Christmas 6

Non-traditional holiday colors on a tree: why not?

Looks a lot like Christmas 5

The 11 year old girl in me

LOVES this fluffy pink tree.

Looks a lot like Christmas 4

Got a case of red balls

this holiday season?

Hang 'em up, hang 'em up high!

Let your balls dangle and spin.

Christmas card

Here are my home-made Christmas cards for 2008. Tree card idea was inspired by ribbon tree cards by Martha Stewart. Just looked it up online and am amazed this stuck in my head for 10 years! Holy guacamole, I cannot remember what I ate yesterday but I remember machine sewn Christmas cards? My head is a crafty head!!
Anywho, I have a considerable problem tossing fabric scraps and this card idea helped with the tiny bits left over from the necktie flowers. Those necktie flowers were supposed to help with the bits remaining from the necktie wreath!

Please help me.

Crazy lady ironing tiny pieces of silk,
I am,
SkitzoLeezra

Looks a lot like Christmas 3

Can you put too much on a tree?

Not really.

Looks a lot like Christmas 2

Hey lady, there's a cock

on your Christmas tree!

A peacock, that is.

Elizabeth displays wreath made by me

So, last year when I made a couple vintage ornament wreaths, I gave one to Elizabeth, mind you AFTER Christmas. Then she moved. Yesterday she e-mailed me a photo of said wreath layered atop her dining room mirror. DANG, that is some pretty. And I am so gonna copy her idea and hang mine in the same way. Love her ribbon!

This is what my friends do so well: display my stuff so much better than I could and make me want the very thing I gave them. It is the curse of good taste, I tell ya.

Looks a lot like Christmas 1

Shimmery stuff on a rusted metal column, at Bella Cose.

Go shopping for Christmas tree skirts

So you can make a super easy cute skirt! Last year I posted a small cotton tree skirt that I repurposed to a small little girl skirt. Link, here.
1 seam + elastic = done.
Bigger skirt for bigger girls.
Practically every girl likes a swirly skirt!

Men's necktie wreath

Was trawling Craftster, my favorite craft site when I spied this cool holiday wreath idea from a Christmas catalog, perhaps J.Crew.

And true to my inner crafter self, I thought "I can MAKE that!" My super secret tie source hooked me up with some cool ties and requested a wreath for his ownself.

But the first thing this anal-retentive girl did was to separate the tie stash by color. Organization makes me soooo happy. Anywho, I did a dry run layout and figured out that a 18" diameter straw wreath would take 18 medium width neckties. Wrapped the wreath with alternating green and red neckties.

And here is my version of the wrapped necktie wreath.

Unable to stop myself, I whipped up another wreath in a more freeform style.

Christmas Decor, according to SkitzoLeezra

You gotta know the rules to break the rules.

White lights everywhere for Christmas decor - it is nice, it is tasteful. And kinda dull. Sometimes good taste can be boring.

• Big retro color bulbs - good.


• New pastel twinkle lights - a nice change.


• Chaser lights - HORRORS! Stop that! Don't you know those things can send some folks into an epileptic seizure? For shame!


• Inflatable yard decorations - yuck. They look like giant discarded condoms when not inflated.


• Snowman themed decor in the South - just plain ol' stoopid.



YUCK


• Wired ribbon cascading down the tree - unless placed by a gay man, don't even bother because you will never get it right. Instead drape ribbon around the tree, tucking ribbon in tree branches for less rigid look. Nah, call your gay man friend for that too.


• Light projected Christmas images - rarely look good.


• Green garland - always a yes. Even better when placed in an unexpected area, like tree houses, dog houses, etc.


• Red pre-tied velvet bows sold at Walgreen's, WalMart - so cheap looking.


• Smocked clothing on a boy older than 6 months - sissified.


• Fiber optic - why?


• Your collection of Santas or Christmas tree figurines or nutcrackers or ONE theme - neat.


• Your collection of every damn holiday thing ever on every surface - disturbed.

Here are some break-the-rules ideas. Just make sure you ask a trusted friend if your version works or if you should just stick to tasteful and safe. OR send in your photos! The Skitzo community will tell ya what we think.

• One strand of color lights wrapped around the trunk of the tree with white lights on branches.


• Shiny stuff hanging from your outdoor trees.


• Updated color combination. Red and green is just so predictable. How about bright pink and lime green? Copper and verdigris? Red and orange?


• Funny holiday clothing on your dog(s).


• Themed ornaments hanging from your chandelier.


• Cookie cutters on garland/wreath in the kitchen.



• Little trees in the children's bedrooms.


• Black Christmas tree - why not?


• Tinsel tree - shiny stuff!! Caw caw!! Me like-y!


• Your decor should represent you.


• More is more!

Shabby Chic Ornament Wreath

Y'know those nasty scratched up ornaments that folks toss when they purchase new ones? Well, I love 'em! And I have been collecting them for the last 7 years.
Here is my wreath made of vintage ornaments on a straw wreath wrapped in silver tinsel garland.

Pointers to make your own:

• purchase sharp end metal floral pins
• wrap straw wreath with silver tinsel garland and secure ends
• for hanger, wrap wire around wreath several times and twist to bind strands together
• begin at top and work around
• place larger ornaments first and fill in with smaller
• you may work on a flat surface to complete the bulk of the wreath but for completion, transfer to a sturdy nail on the wall. You will want to see empty spots and how ornaments dangle.
• place a rug, mat or folded towel below wreath while it is hanging on wall because some ornaments will fall and break
• reserve several ornaments for replacement
• wreath is not recommended for a door. hang in stationary area.
• store wreath in sturdy box

Don't throw that away!

Baby clothing that is just too cute to toss?

Baby clothing that might be stained?

Nursery bedding fabric remnant?

Don't toss that fabric!

Sew a cute Christmas tree ornament instead! And create a special keepsake.

"When you were a baby . . ."