DIY Advent or Countdown Boxes

Over the summer I did a serious purge in my craft room.  The result of the big clean out was creating these advent boxes.  I found these little jewelry boxes at a thrift store about three or four years ago with intentions of creating this project.  This is one of those "when I have kids" ideas.  But I finally bit the bullet and decided that I should just make them now even if they do not get used right away.  Plus it was one less thing taking up space unfinished.  Now it just takes up space finished!  I suppose I could store it in my Christmas storage bins but I like the idea of using them to countdown a birthday or special event enough to leave them easily available all year long.  We will see.  Until then...here is what I did:

You will need:

-Small earring jewelry boxes (can be found online or at the craft store if you don't luck out like I did)
-Mod Podge and foam brush
-Scrapbook paper
-Number stickers
-Scissors

I traced the top side of the jewelry box lid as a template and then mass cut my scrapbook paper.  I then added the number stickers.  Though advent is 25 days, I made 31 boxes to be able to countdown a whole month.

Look how messy my desk was.  Wow.  I have quite improved since then.  And I have stopped eating candy at my desk as well!

Using Mod Podge, glue down the scrapbook paper to the box and then paint a coat on top of the paper to finish it off.

If you are looking for ideas of what to fill your advent boxes with, here are a few suggestions:

Daily activity and scripture reading -- The Mom Digity
Lots of family activity ideas -- The Mad House
Printable activities that focus on doing something nice for others -- One Little Minute
Free Bible verse printables (this one is really cute and simple) -- Happy Home Fairy

DIY Canning Jar Candles Tutorial + Gift Label Printables + Giveaway

I am currently compiling a variety of homemade gifts for this holiday season.  A pack of unopened canning jars and a brick of wax from a candle project from years ago, made for an easy, inexpensive, and fun project.  Add in a cute homemade label and you have yourself set for Christmas gifts, hostess gifts, or even just a treat for yourself. 

Here's how you make it:

I had this coffee can full of wax from my previous project.  Create a double boiler to melt the wax.  Once I used up the can of wax, I melted the rest of the brick in a pyrex measuring bowl.  The spout made it easier to pour the hot wax without becoming a hot mess!

The supplies you will need include waxed candle wicks, long tooth picks, and candle scent if you wish.  I chose vanilla.  It is yummy.  Wick and scent was purchased at Michael's.

To keep the wick in place, tape the toothpicks together to hold it up.

Add your scent after you take it out of the double boiler and then pour into jars.  You can smell as you go to determine how fragrant you want it.

 After the wax has cooled, cut the remaining wick off where it meets with the toothpicks. 

After the wax cooled, I did notice that a hole formed down the center of the candles.  If this happens, have some extra wax on hand to fill it in.

I made twelve candles which ended up taking about a day and a half to complete with doing other things around the house while the batches of wax melted.  But they were definitely worth it.  Next time I would melt the wax in bigger batches in a larger bowl.  But twelve pint size candles is a lot of wax.  This would be a much quicker project if you did not make as many.

To finish off the candles, I created some holiday and gift inspired Avery labels to place on a paper band.

If you are giving these out other times throughout the year, I created a few generic gift labels as well.

While I was in the label making mood I created a few labels for the blog, for our photography business, plus a fancy monogram.  These make our professional work so much more...professional...and the monograms make getting a card in the mail that much more special.

Labels make a great addition to the branding of your own business or even just to your homemade gifts or hand written cards. 

Here are the four labels I made that you can download for free.  Simply print on the corresponding Avery labels.  Great for homemade candles or for gift wrapping in general.  Also check out this post for some free printable labels for homemade food gifts.


Avery Round Labels 22807:

Download Holiday Gift Labels PDF here

Download Joy Labels PDF here

Download Vanilla Candle Labels PDF here

Avery Oval Labels 22804:

Download Oval Wreath Labels PDF here

Avery has created an "I am my business" campaign that is helping businesses build their brand and market to their audience using their free online design and print templates (which I used to make these labels).

// As part of the campaign, one lucky reader is going to win their own set of oval and round labels from Avery!  Enter below to win.


a Rafflecopter giveaway



Labels and giveaway courtesy of Avery.  All opinions are mine. 

What Makes My Life Sweet?

I am answering the question, "What makes me life sweet?" as well as sharing how I started blogging and what a typical day in my life looks like over at Sage Grayson today.

Head over to Sage Grayson to read more >>>

Neutral and Calm Bedroom

The last I left you with our bedroom, I was looking for something different.  I was wanting a neutral background with just a pop of color but my "in-between" bedroom decor just was not cutting it for the look I wanted.  When I go in and out of our bedroom during the day, I want it to be one room free of chaos.  I want it to feel calm and welcoming when we put our head down for the night.  I often use hotel rooms as my inspiration for bedrooms.  I desire a place that feels like a retreat that is simple and uncluttered but still plenty of chicness to the room.  I think I have finally found my happy medium.

It started when I moved one of our chairs into our bedroom to make room for a shelf in our living room.  I moved the desk that was in here into our guest bedroom and suddenly there was a whole new feel to our bedroom.

I played off the blue of the chair with the pillows and added just a few pops of tan, brown, and gold.  I am pretty sure this is the look I was trying to accomplish long ago, but with white I do not always think of adding cream colors.  It ended up being the solution to my color problems.

A touch of pink and blue in bold black frames give the room just a little contrast and keep it from feeling too uniform. 

One of my favorite aspects of the room is that you can see the chair from down the hallway.  It adds some style to an otherwise boring hallway and welcomes you into the room.

Two decorative pillows to throw on the ground come bed time is much more bearable than five.  I made the bed feel more lush by adding more pillows that we sleep on (versus decorative ones).  I also took the duvet cover off of the comforter.  It surprisingly makes the room look more streamlined.  And was the cheapest way to create a whole new look without buying a new duvet!

I say this every time but we still sleep on a futon.  I just want to give proof that you can have a beautiful bedroom using what you have.  It does have two mattresses making it higher and more comfortable.  Our room is pretty small so buying a new and bigger bed would just crowd the space.  I imagine we will wait down the line if we ever remodel to a bigger bedroom or one of us starts having a bad back to get a new bed...whichever comes first!

Curtains and shears are from Ikea.  The rest is random odds and ends including our thrifted chandelier.

Painted monogram is from Southern Nest.

Simple, calm, but still luxurious...the goal of my entire home...one room at a time. 

// What inspires how you style your bedroom?