While attending Craftcation earlier this year, I met the creative ladies behind Embellished Living. After telling me about their handmade goods, they generously gifted me a fabulous felt flower and a little wooden sign. (The sign says “create” and it sits on my desk here at the North Pole.) Embellished Living makes all kinds of home decor, such as jute monograms, personalized signs, and wreaths like the lovely one below. Perfect for a covered front door or any interior door, this charming rustic wreath feels so cozy with its earthy tones of red, green, tan, and cream. It’s comprised of yarn and jute balls in varying sizes, giving this wreath depth and texture.
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There’s no need to worry if you haven’t gotten an Advent calendar yet because I’ve rounded up 10 fabulous Advent calendars that you can print from home TODAY. Even if all you have is a black and white printer, you’re in luck! Keep reading to find a calendar you like, then get out your scissors and glue stick and make one (or more) of these amazing Advent calendars.
1. Modern Cityscape Advent Calendar
Build a cityscape with the various boxes in this printable Advent calendar. Monochromatic and modern, this calendar has a Scandinavian feel to it. The calendar contains three cars, three different trees, a Christmas tree, seven houses, a skyscraper, and numbered stars. Customize your Advent calendar by printing multiples of your favorite boxes. Personalize it by adding hand drawn elements, such as stick figures of your family members in the car windows.
2. Santa’s Sleigh Advent Calendar
This festive Advent calendar bursts with Christmas goodness! The printable PDF comes with two reindeer, a sleigh, thirteen different sized boxes, name tags, and number tags. Simply print as many reindeer and gift boxes as you like to complete your Advent calendar. Now the question is, will your sleigh be drawn by two or eight reindeer?
3. Igloo Advent Calendar
Impress your family and friends with an igloo Advent calendar! The igloo itself is the calendar, comprised of 26 little boxes. Also included in the PDF download are penguins and trees, which will complete your winter scene. When you’re done assembling your calendar, put it on display for all to see!
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Years ago I used to tease Mary and Maggie, telling them they were addicted to washi tape. But then something happened… Mary bought me a few rolls, and I too became hooked! Washi tape is both cute and functional, so if you love arts & crafts supplies, it would be hard to not love the stuff. One of my favourite Etsy shops for washi tape is Simply Gilded, as they produce such beautiful designs—most of which have lovely foil accents. If you too adore washi, you could use this festive red washi with gold foil bows when wrapping gifts, on the back of the envelopes for your holiday cards, or in your planner during December. For another Christmassy washi, check out this forest green washi with gold foil bows.
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Aren’t traditions one of the key things that makes Christmas so special? Growing up, one of my favorite days each year was when we would set up the Christmas tree. My family would visit the nearby tree farm and trudge the snowy fields, looking for the freshest, healthiest tree we could find. (It had to be a white pine.) Once we got back to the house, decorating ensued, accompanied by cookies and hot chocolate. Ah, the memories! These days, my childhood is far behind me, and I’m beginning to establish traditions of my own.
One Christmas tradition that I’ve been wanting to implement is for my husband and me to wear matching Christmas pajamas! Over the last few years, I’ve seen more and more families in their matching duds, be it in a picture shared on social media or on a holiday card. If you (like me) are pining for some matching jammies this Christmas, here are a few festive sets.
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Made from stretchy fabric, these Christmas Stripes Pajamas have red and green striped bottoms and your choice of a red or green top. You can even get a matching bandana for your dog or cat!
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This two-piece Red Stripes Pajama Set is comfy and perfect for lounging around the house. You can choose from either a striped top or a solid red top.
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Made from fleece, these Red Snowflake Pajamas are available in two styles: the children’s pajamas are a one-piece, and the adult pajamas come with a hood and removable feet.
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Plaid Thermal Pajamas are available with either a button-up flannel shirt or a red thermal knit top. There’s even a matching nightgown for little girls and dolls!
Are matching Christmas pajamas a tradition in your family? Let us know in the comments below!
Since we elves enjoy making things at work and in our spare time, we love creative projects from other folks as well—be it yummy food, lovely music, or cute crafts. So, it’s time once again this year to highlight some fabulous festive projects that are currently seeking funding on Kickstarter, a website whose mission is “to help bring creative projects to life.”
Wear your love for Christmas on your lapel with one of these ugly Christmas sweater pins. Made from soft enamel, choose between Santa’s reindeer, Frosty the snowman, Christmas tree, party lights, candy cane, North Pole penguin, North Pole bunny, or Gingerbread. [Although, as a North Pole resident, I have to point out that that should be South Pole penguin!]
Back this campaign here and receive one or more pins. Campaign ends on Tuesday, 5 December.
A fun, wintery tale, Snow Day! A Story Told in 24 Poem Forms features 24 different, classic forms of poetry along with custom, hand drawn illustrations. Children will enjoy the amusing story, while parents and teachers will appreciate the variety of poetry. The book even includes an index of all the poem forms, should kiddos want to try their hand at writing a poem.
Back Snow Day! on Kickstarter here. Campaign ends this Friday, 1 December.
Cacao Review creates ethical, micro-batch chocolate treats, and by backing their campaign, you can try their limited edition craft chocolate. They offer a variety of rewards, such as hazelnut butter cups, s’mores bars, drinking chocolate, and vanilla raspberry bars, as well as some goodies for true chocoholics, like a cacao pod pin and chocolate tasting book.
If you love chocolate as much as we elves do, back this campaign today! Campaign ends this Friday, 1 December.
Add to your holiday music collection with Hark! A Walking Roots Band Christmas, a new album from the folk band. This album features some classic songs, along with some original tunes.
Back this campaign to get your hands on a digital download, physical CD, or box set. Campaign ends this Friday, 1 December.
Based in Brooklyn, Woodward Extract Co. produces and bottles small-batch flavour extracts, and for the holiday season, they are offering a Winter Cocktail Kit that contains four festive flavours: cardamom, clove, star anise, and sage. With these tinctures, you will be able to mix interesting cocktails using the included recipe cards—or come up with recipes all your own.
Up your mixology game by backing this campaign. Rewards include the Winter Cocktail Kit, Cardamom Mulling Kit, cocktail class for two, and more. Campaign ends on Thursday, 14 December.
Not surprisingly, all of us up here at the North Pole adore the film Elf, so of course I love these Elf-inspired enamel pins. All four pins have the Christmas spirit, and three include some fun details: Mr. Narwal’s tusk and “Son of a nutcracker” are glittery and the World’s Best Cup of Coffee sign glows in the dark.
If you want these pins, back this campaign today, as it ends this Thursday, 30 November.
