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Brown Paper Packages

Published on December 10, 2012December 10, 2012 by Our Humble Abode12 Comments

Tied up with paper tape.

This will be our first Christmas spent at our own house. Heck, in our state. The first year our little family of four won’t pack up to head to Minnesota for Christmas. Instead, we’re staying home, sending gifts to family and friends through the postal system. To keep wrapping simple, I used plain kraft paper, paper tape, and a black Sharpie to decorate the packages.

Paper tape, from Target’s office supply section (I tried to find it online, but I didn’t see a link), adds a festive, unsquishable, mail ready ribbon replacement. And festive flair.

In all honesty, I don’t know what USPS allows for wrapping paper. To prevent issues, I kept decorations flat, sticky, and minimal.

I think it still seems fun and holiday-ish.

For the boys, we’re using fun patterned wrapping paper they picked out and simple stick on bows. Because that’s what makes them happy. Especially the snowmen, deer, and mini bows.

Do you wrap/adorn gifts you mail out? Have you picked up paper tape at Target? Four rolls for four dollars is hard to beat.

Etsy Favs: December

Published on December 7, 2012 by Our Humble Abode4 Comments

For the Friend/Hostess:

I Get by with a Little Help from My Friends and I Love You Because from Recipe for Crazy

Cubi Vignette by Thedor

Glacier National Park Photo by Montana Clicks

Give Thanks print from Gus and Lula

Red Poppy print from Rebekka Seale

Abstract Acrylic Painting by Linnea Heide Art

For Her:

Taupe Hand Knit Scarf in Arlene’s Boutique

Abstract Geometric iPhone Case from Case of Identity

Botanical Wall Calendar by Modern Printed Matter

For Him:

Phone Desk Stand from Terry’s Woodworking

Moustache Head Phone Wrap from Alvin Art and Design

Grill Bar Spice Kit from Kitchen Stories

Eggs and Bacon Poster by Creative Sobriety

Star Wars 2013 Calendar from Loopz Art

For Baby and Kids:

Argyle Reversible Baby Shoes from Little Thread Wagon

Stuffed Dachshund Toy by Friends of Socktopus

Dinosaur Hat from Suzi Creations

DIY Canvas Tote Kit from Brooklyn Assembly

For the Home:

Orange Geometric Pillow Cover by Jillian Rene Decor

Yellow Water Colors Pillow from Hettle

Bone China Bowl with Gold Rim by Made by Manos

Nesting Cloud Plates by JD Wolfe Pottery

Pen and Ink Architectural Drawing by The Ink Lab

Abstract Gray painting by Letter Happy

Winter Pillows

Published on December 6, 2012 by Our Humble Abode6 Comments

Each season, I try to sew new pillow covers to fit the time of year. For the fall, I made an assortment of coral, tangerine, and yellow covers. When winter rolls around I think of blues, deep greens, silver, and white. Lucky for me, I bought a few yards of pretty blue fabrics over the summer. These fabrics set the tone for the winter look. Because I have to make everything more complicated than necessary, I set out to make a hexagon patch pillow cover, similar to fall’s triangle one. To make it, I made a template in Photoshop, printed it to card stock, cut it out and traced it on scraps of linen/cotton blend fabric.

With my pieces cut, I pinned the pieces together to make a strip, alternating colors.

I wanted a small seam, so I stitched along the sides, keeping the edges of my presser foot and fabric aligned.

Easy enough, just a few straight lines. But sewing the strips together was more complicated. First, line up the strip, fold the right sides together, then pin one side only, like this:

Continue sewing each side, one at a time, working down the row. Or skip sewing strips and add one piece at a time. Check out this full tutorial to get a better idea of how to sew hexagons together.

Once I had a sheet of hexagons large enough to cover a pillow front, I cut pieces of silver satin for the back envelope closure.

For the stripe pillow, I simply cut out a 19 inch square (for my 18 inch insert) at an angle. It also has a shiny silver satin back.

Ben thought six pillows on the couch was overkill, so we’ve only got four.

Because the designs aren’t winter or Christmas specific, we can use the pillows year round or elsewhere in the house.

Do you rotate pillows with changing seasons or holidays? What colors seem most wintery to you?

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays

Published on December 5, 2012December 5, 2012 by Our Humble Abode19 Comments

If you’re getting ready to wrap up your holiday gifts (literally) and shopping, I’ve got a little something to share today.

Get a slightly glittered look without using glitter. You know what they say about glitter, right?

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays glitter tags:

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays hexagon tags:

If these new designs don’t tickle your fancy, try this assortment or last year’s woodland critter set.

But now I’m curious, do you wrap gifts in a theme? Or buy a variety of papers and go crazy?

Just a Trim

Published on December 4, 2012December 4, 2012 by Our Humble Abode22 Comments

Well, we finally have gotten around to trimming out (most) of the new windows, settling on the same style we used in the main bathroom. Unfortunately, I still have to fill holes, caulk joints, prime, and paint everything. I know what I’ll be doing the rest of the week.

But right now, it’s nice to see trim, albeit brown and white trim, instead of sheet rock edges and home foam. The side casement is 3 1/2 inch wide trim with a 3/4 inch thick by 1 inch deep bead molding/fillet, topped off by a 5 inch tall top casement.

For the bottom half, the 3 1/2 inch casement is on both the sides and bottom with a 1 inch thick window stool overhanging the casement by a half-inch.

All the house windows are trimmed, but we still have to track down a piece of oak for the floor at the sliding door.

And then figure out curtain placement and height. In the family room, I’m dreaming of pretty curtains, hung on either side of each window and the door. Not sure yet if the sconces will hinder that plan.

But I’ve got another problem, hopefully you can help; height of the curtains. I’m assuming it would look best to hang the curtain rod an inch or two above the new trim, which is fine in the living spaces. However, I’ve already made curtains for the boys’ bedroom, before we decided on a trim style. Which means, if I raise the curtains in their room a few inches, they’ll look short at the floor. Without moving the current set up, the curtain rod is about an inch below the top of the trim.