Monday 22 October 2012

DIY Christmas Napkin Holders


Hi all, the article below is written by a guest author & I hope you all enjoy it :)

Lily

DIY Christmas Napkin Holders




It doesn’t take a whole lot of money to create a beautifully set table for the holidays, just a small amount of time, a little creativity, and some common household items. There are not very many of us who can afford to buy a special set of Christmas china and linens that will only be used one day out of the year, but there are ways to dress up your ordinary table cloth and everyday dishes in order to make an elegant and festive presentation for your dinner guests. The easiest way is with Christmas Napkin holders you make yourself from common items that are already lying around, like Christmas cards and decorations. Put these around a plain cloth napkin to set on top of each plate, and you instantly have a festive table. The best part is that children can help with this project so that you are creating memories at the same time.

To begin making a Christmas napkin holder you will first need something to use as the ring itself. Plastic napkin rings can be found in the discount stores at a fair price, but you really don’t need to invest even that much into this project. Using the plain card stock from the back of a Christmas card, you can cut it into one inch strips that can be rolled and glued into a circle. Want to make it even easier? Cut empty wrapping paper rolls, paper towel rolls, or toilet paper rolls into one-inch pieces. These can be painted in a holiday color such as red, green, or even gold and silver.

Now that you have an actual napkin ring to work with, it is time for the fun part, decorating it. Here is where you can let your imagination be your guide. Decide on the type of look you want to achieve. Depending on the decorations you use, you can make them whimsical or elegant. An ideal place to start is with old Christmas cards or any extras you still have after sending them to friends and family. This is a great way to recycle the special Christmas cards you get. Cut out the main pictures from the front of the Christmas cards and glue them to the ring. Keep your theme in mind so that they look nicely coordinated on the table. If you start by cutting out religious scenes, continue to do so with each napkin holder. Same holds true if you begin with a cartoonish Santa picture. Make one for each place setting at the holiday table.

The final touch is to embellish the napkin holders. This can be done by outlining the edge of the pictures from the
Christmas cards with glitter. You could also add ribbons. Curly ribbon, such as used on wrapped gifts, can add to a whimsical look. Small red velvet ribbons tied in bows are perfect for a more elegant feel. Glue on items from around the home. This could be small jingle bells, little pinecones, and sprigs of evergreen. Experiment with the first napkin holder until you achieve the exact look you are after. Continue to make the rest look similar. Keep in mind that the slight differences in anything handmade will simply add to the charm. Most of all…have fun!

Erin Levine is a contributor on behalf of PaperStyle Company, an online retailer of invitations, greeting cards, and more. She loves to write about holiday crafts and has been a guest author on a variety of Christmas-themed blogs and websites.

Thursday 4 October 2012

Thank you :)

I logged in the other day and saw that I have 60 followers!!! Wow.
Just wanted to say a big welcome to the new followers and a big thank you to each and everyone of you for following.  I am trying to blog more often now that my baby boy is a little older, he is 6 months old next week! How fast the time has gone. I am trying to get prepared for Halloween & will try to keep you all posted.  

Hope you all are having a great week,

Lily 



Thanks to google images.

Thursday 27 September 2012

Andy Williams Tribute

I am so very sad to read that Andy Williams has passed away....there are no words.  Lets watch this video in tribute to this wonderful singer Andy Williams Christmas Specials.  

Thanks for the fantastic music.

Lily

Thanks to Google Images

Treesntrends!

Can you believe that September is nearly over?!   I have found a fantastic new youtube channel about decorating.  I loved one THIS video in particular about a teardrop Christmas wreath so decided to share it with you all (I do have their permission).  I found their work very inspiring & hope you guys like it too :)
http://www.youtube.com/user/treesntrends?feature=watch

If you haven't read my post about deco poly mesh, please do, I'd appreciate some advice.  Hope you all are having a great week?

Lily

Sunday 23 September 2012

Deco Poly Mesh!!!

I have been desperately looking to buy some Deco Poly Mesh to decorate with for this Halloween & Christmas and have come to the conclusion that I can't get hold of any in this country!!!  Can you believe that?  I can easily purchase some online from the States but the postage is so beyond expensive (guess as it is heavy).  Do any of you know how/where I might get some in the UK please? Maybe over here we have a different name for it?

Thanks to those of you who have been asking after my baby boy.  He is doing great & is really trying to crawl & enjoying being weaned.  We think he will be crawling by Christmas which will completely change/challenge decorating the house this year. Although very exciting at the same time.  That was also one of the reasons I wanted poly mesh, to make the bottom of the tree "baby proof". 

Can't believe there are less than a 100 days until Christmas. Are you all as excited as I am?
Thank you for reading & hope this post finds you well :)

Lily 

Image from Google Images :) 

Monday 20 August 2012

A weekend full of calories...!

I would like to say a big massive welcome to all of new followers :) Thanks for following.

Last weekend, was the first free weekend that we had since the birth of my baby boy.  We have been blessed with family and friends visiting but this weekend I actually had time to cook & bake a little. So I made my favourite roast veg, alongside of chicken pie in white wine sauce plus chips. The next day I baked blueberry muffins for breakfast. A weekend full of calories....which I might add I enjoyed, lol ;) So I thought I'll share some photos with you. Also added a couple of photos of my Cody. In the first photo, Cody is modelling the lovely outfit that my sweet friend Mandie, from http://whisperingchristmasdreams.blogspot.co.uk/ sent along with many many other lovely gifts. Thank you again Mandie :)

My Cody is growing up fast and well, thank you for those of you asking.  I really miss blogging but doesn't time fly when you have a little one?! I'm trying to get a bit more organised, specially as it isn't long before all the festivities are upon us.  I'm so excited this year specially since we have a little one now. 
Hope all is well with you all, wherever you are. 

Merry Christmas in this warm August...,

Lily 









 


Tuesday 5 June 2012

Her Majesty's Diamond Jubilee

This weekend it was Queen Elizabeth 2nd's diamond jubilee.  It has been 60 years since she became the queen of this country.  The celebrations have been incredibly nice.  The BBC has Pictures of the celebrations & a short video of Prince Charles paying a tribute to her majesty.  There is also a main article on the entire weekend if you are interested.  Monday & Tuesday were public holiday & we have really enjoyed the time off with family visiting us. My gorgeous baby boy is also 8 weeks old today.  Time is flying by fast & I'm looking forward to starting some baby friendly Christmas preparations soon.
I have taken various photos of merchandise in shops to share with you & hope you enjoy them.

Merry Christmas in June!

Lily
Queen Elizabeth II, photo courtesy of Google Images.










Cupcakes :)






Monday 23 April 2012

My Baby Boy

We welcomed our beautiful baby boy, Cody Pasha, on the 10th of April weighing 7lbs and 9oz.  I had an emergency c section after a 30 hour labour but gradually getting better.  Special thanks to my amazing and wonderful hubby for looking after me & Cody in every possible way.  Thank you all for your prayers :)  I will try to keep up with the blog as much as possible.  Hope you all are ok.

Lily




Monday 2 April 2012

Bob Ross style paintings

Hi all

Hope you have all been doing ok.  I have been so incredibly busy lately that haven't been able to blog much.  I do miss it so much.  Baby hasn't arrived yet & I can't wait to meet him. If you also believe in the power of prayers, please pray that all goes smoothly for all of us.  

I have been having painting lessons to learn to paint like Bob Ross. I am huge Bob Ross fan (both his work and his attitude towards life) but had never dared to try to paint like him.  I have had 4 lessons & here are the pictures.  Obviously I have a long way to go & so much more to learn but have really enjoyed painting so far :)

Hope you all have a really great Easter if I don't get to blog again until then :)

Lily

1st lesson

2nd lesson

3rd lesson

4th lesson

Wednesday 29 February 2012

Leap Year

As you all know, today was leap day & I spent most of the day making a Thomas Kinkade jigsaw puzzle. Confusing, isn't it?!  Every time leap day is here, I say to myself I should make a little more effort & start a mini family tradition of some type but this time around (since I have a huge bump) all I wanted to do was sit still.  The only thing that hubby & I did, which was remotely related to leap day was to watch the movie Leap Year.  It is such a sweet romantic comedy & has an old fashioned feel to it. Some modern romantic comedies aren't elegant but this film has a lovely charm to it. If you haven't seen it & enjoy films like Sleepless in Seattle or You've got Mail, then I would really recommend this film.  Do any of you have a tradition of any type for leap day?

I hope those of you who live in the Midwest region of the U.S are safe & sound.

Lily




Thursday 16 February 2012

Valentine's Day

Another festivity has passed this year already.  Did you all have a nice Valentine's Day?  I had a fantastic evening.  Being mid-week, hubby was at work all day but I met up with him over his lunch hour (I do that most days if we're both free or I'll miss him too much). In the afternoon I decorated the house a little & cooked us a dinner. 
I was spoilt so much this Valentine's. I had a dozen of beautiful roses, a gorgeous card, a bird feeder for the garden (I really wanted one), a brand new girlie DVD & tickets to a fantastic Waltz show for Saturday night. I can hardly wait, it looks amazing. The dancers will have traditional 19th century Vienna costumes & of course there will be live music by Johann Strauss Orchestra. If I didn't have a big bump, I would desperately try to wear something old fashioned for the occasion but a maternity dress will do :) I am so very excited. Trying to do some "date nights" before our baby arrives as we wouldn't want to leave him with a sitter once he is born.  

Hope you all had a great day whatever you did & hope you enjoy the photos.

Lily 




Salad for starter




Heart candy

A friend gave me a recipe for middle eastern style kebab with rice, it actually tasted nicer than it looks.

Strawberries & cream for dessert. 



Thursday 2 February 2012

Happy Groundhog Day

I wanted to wish you all a very happy Groundhog Day.  Do you celebrate it where you live? If so how? What are your traditions?  Hubby & I like many people around the world know about it because of the movie & would absolutely love to visit someday in the future, hopefully with our little boy.  Usually we watch the film on February 2nd but tonight we went to the cinema instead to watch  The Descendants which was absolutely brilliant. Hopefully we will watch Groundhog Day over the weekend.  

Punxsutawney Phil, thanks to Google Images

I really enjoy watching the TRAILER for the film too. Hope you all are having a great week.

Lily

Wednesday 1 February 2012

Christmas Dinner

How was your January? I cannot believe it already is the first of February, how fast the time goes by. I thought I'll share a few photos with you all of our Christmas feast. It looks like a lot but to my delight there weren't much left overs. I was glad because that meant everyone enjoyed their dinner & also I don't like wasting food. We had some cold Turkey sandwiches the next day so that was nice but we finished everything else :) This year I followed a Jamie Oliver (a popular British cook) Christmas recipe & he does everything from scratch. I'm not drinking at the moment as I'm pregnant so I thought I'll put a little more effort into the food this year & actually it turned out very nice. I may do the same recipe next year although it might be a little challenging with a little boy around. We're almost done decorating the nursery now, the furniture has arrived & we're doing the finishing touches such as curtains etc.  I'll upload some photos as soon as it is all done. Hope you all are having a lovely Wednesday/Thursday.

Lily 





Friday 13 January 2012

Bauble Wreath

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and New Years.  We had a lovely & quiet time :)
I just thought to share some photos of the bauble wreath that I made for Christmas as promised.

Have you made any New Year's resolutions? Have you broken them already, lol? ;)

Hope you all are having a great January.

Lily


Started with a foam wreath

used just under 80 baubles

Wrapped the baubles around with ribbon & then added a bow.