Happy Holidays from The Pink Doormat!

Hi guys! Are you all done wrapping your presents? I sure am! Isn't it fun when you have a color scheme for all of your gift packaging? I decided to reuse the brown paper bags from the grocery, because I didn't want to throw them away, but I didn't really know what to do with them. And after adding a touch of red and white, here's what I got!

For the record, I'm not giving away those Christmas cookies. Those are mine, actually. I just wanted to include them in the shot. But anyway, I just wanted to greet you all...

Merry Christmas to everyone! I hope you enjoy the holidays and I can't wait to have hot cocoa this evening!

Credits to:

Jessica McCarty

Fellow Fellow

Peppermint Bark

'Tis the season to make everything with peppermint! I'm so excited to show you how I made the classic Christmas Peppermint Bark. It's easy to make, and it's perfect for giving away after a Christmas party.

You will need:

- 300 g (about 10 oz) dark chocolate

- 300 g (about 10 oz) white chocolate

- 1/2 tsp peppermint extract

- 2 candy canes, crushed.

*No peppermint extract available in your area? Use dark chocolate with mint like Valor or Lindt or other brands

Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and set it aside. Melt the dark chocolate over a double boiler. Once melted, stir in the peppermint extract. Pour the melted dark chocolate on to the cookie sheet. and spread it until it's about 1/8" thick. Wait for about 20 minutes to harden. 

Melt the white chocolate using a double boiler and keep stirring. Pour it on top of the layer of dark chocolate and spread evenly. Sprinkle the crushed peppermint on top of the white chocolate and wait for it to completely harden.

Once it's done, peel off the parchment paper and break the peppermint bark into smaller pieces. Serve on a fancy Christmas tray and enjoy.

So I had a little accident, I poured the hot white chocolate over the dark chocolate and as I was spreading it with my spatula, the dark chocolate melted a bit. That's why it looks marbled. But nonetheless, they still taste great!

Cabin Christmas

This is my interpretation of what Christmas in a log cabin looks like - a rustic home with a delightful feast on the dinner table, the rich taste of hot cocoa, warm blankets, the smell fresh of pine trees, and the sound of wood burning in the fireplace.

1. via Anastasia Volkova
2. via Stocksy
3. via Lexington Company
4. via Anastasia Volkova
5. via Anastasia Volkova
6. via Anastasia Volkova
7. via Architecture Art Designs
8. via Skimbacolifestyle
9. via DecoratingIdeas1.com

Have a Cabin Christmas in your home with these items:

1. Donner 18" Pillow, Crate and Barrel
2. Apotheke Holiday Gift Set, West Elm
3. Holiday Heart Decoration, Lexington Company
4. Peppermint Bark and Hot Chocolate Set, Williams Sonoma
5. Holiday Checked Tablecloth, Lexington Company

Washi Tape on Gifts

Hi there! Only 12 days to go before Christmas! This week I attended two parties and I'm about to attend to another gathering later today. Anyway, I bought soap as Christmas presents for a party and decided to wrap them with old brown paper bags and dark paper twine for the bow. But before I finished wrapping everything I ran out of twine so I decided to decorate my small gifts with washi tape. You can cut them into smaller pieces to create the shapes that you want. Here's how they turned out:

I made a snowman, a present, and a Christmas tree! Cute, no? The concept of just cutting tape and sticking it on paper is quite easy, but it does take time to finish it. I only did it on three small presents though.

Speaking of washi, my friend Drea has loads and loads of washi tape packed in her storage box and she is the master of making art out of washi tape. You can check it out here!

Merry and Bright

Who says Christmas has to be just about red and green? Here are some merry and bright colors for the holidays that will make you feel like a kid again!

1. Advent calendar via Real Simple
2. Ho ho ho washi tape via Target + Oh Joy Pinterest
3. Christmas gift wrapping via Studio ToutPetit
4. Christmas ball wreath via Bright Bazaar
5. Neon Christmas tree via Print and Pattern
6. Colorful Pompom Trees via Target
7. Geometric ornaments via Design Sponge

1. MT Vibrant Solid Washi Tape, Cute Tape
2. Multi Colored Shaped Wreath, Paperchase
3. Geometric Paper Ornaments Set of 8, Field Guide Design
4. Purple Glitter Stag, Paperchase
5. Rainbow Stocking, Land of Nod
6. Marty Moose Shot Glass, Urban Outfitters

Make Your Own Christmas Wrapping Paper 2013

Hi All! Are you done buying the things on your Christmas list? I’m about 90% done ordering my gifts and I’m in the process of wrapping my presents. Last year I taught you how to make your own gift wrapping paper with gold and white paint, which you can read here and here. And this year, I’m going to show you a different way to create your own design using the trusty correction fluid pen.

You will need:

-    kraft paper

-    pencil

-    correction fluid pen

First I had to sketch my design on a piece of paper. I chose Christmas balls, stars, holly and candy cane for my design. Then I measured how much kraft paper I will need for my gift box. Remember the huge roll of kraft paper that I bought last year? Yeah, I still have some. With your pencil, lightly sketch your design on the kraft paper and using your correction fluid pen draw over your pencil markings.

Here’s how my design turned out:

You can erase the pencil markings if there’s any showing. When you’re done designing your paper, then it’s time to wrap your present with your awesome handmade gift wrapper!

It takes quite a while to do this that’s why I only made this design for just one present. But I’m sure the person who will receive your gift will definitely like it!

Decorate Christmas Gifts with Paper Snowflakes

I made a simple craft project for Katha Magazine's November/December issue - Paper snowflakes. If you haven't read it, don't worry. I'm going to show it to you! 

You will only need paper and scissors for this project. First, cut your paper into a square

Fold in half,

Fold it again in half

Then fold into three. Cut that excess triangle portion.

Make a crease at the center to make a guideline

And just snip away!

When you're satisfied with the holes that you've made,

Unfold the paper and be amazed!

They're not just for decorating your home, You can also use it to embellish your Christmas presents. I did it in two ways. I covered the top portion of the paper bag with the paper snowflake and used twine to secure it. As for the other gift wrapped in kraft paper, I just placed the paper snowflake on top and wrapped it with red yarn.

Enjoy!

Dreaming of a White Christmas

It's already December! The last month of the year! I don't know about you, but I've been thinking of Christmas every minute. I'm going to post Christmas decor inspiration in different themes every week and I'm going to start with White Christmas. 

1. Photo by Roy Alsen via Mad About The House

2. via Fit Mommy Diaries

3. Stag Head via Dobbies

4. Jute Cushion Cover via H&M

5. via Trendir

6. Aðventukransar via Rakel Ósk Sigurðardóttir

7. via Norske Interior Blogger

Neutral colors, clean crisp white sheets, warm and lovely candles, Scandinavian decor - all of these produce a calming vibe for your room. Here are some items that you can use to decorate your White Christmas home:

1. Tree in a box 3 pieces, &Klevering

2. Engel Set 3 Snow Stars, &Klevering

3. Town Square Sculpture, Anthropologie

4. Grey Gran Pillowcase, Nordic Design

5. Stuffed Ornaments, Ferm Living

6. Candleholder String, Ferm Living

Reindeer Christmas Cups

After drinking coffee from your favorite coffee shop, don’t just throw your paper cup away. You can still use them for craft time! This craft project is inspired by the Jingle All The Way Cup from Meri Meri.

 I figured I can make this myself and so I did. :)

Materials Needed:

-    paper cup

-    brown paper (better if in 2 different shades)

-    red and black construction paper

-    white glue

-    scissors

Wrap a piece of paper around the cup and trace the bottom and top of the cup. After tracing, the result should not be a straight line, but two curved lines. This will be your template. Use this for cutting the brown paper.

I sketched my design on my notebook first so I know how to cut the pieces of paper. I even made different deer heads to see which one works.

So for my design, I wrapped the light brown paper around the cup as my first layer. The second layer was the darker brown paper, trimmed to form the “nose bridge”.

Then I drew and cut circles on red and black construction paper for the eyes and nose. Just use white glue to stick them to the cup.

For the ears, cut the brown paper into two leaf-like shapes and pinch the end. Glue the pinched end to the sides.

Then for the antlers, I traced my design first with a pencil before cutting. Slightly make a crease at the center so that the antlers won’t look too flat when you put them on the cup.

Wait for everything to dry before displaying them. Don’t use these as drinking cups though! These are made only for decoration purposes. I’m not even sure how you can drink with this when the antlers are in the way. :)

I even made him two more friends! The one in the middle was from my previous sketch, and for the one on the left I used the Starbucks paper bag for the deer’s skin, hence the crumpled texture. It’s still cute nonetheless! :)

All done! Wasn't that easy? :)

Cardboard Tube Pillow Boxes

If you are planning to give your friends earrings, bracelets, or small items for Christmas, then you can make these cute pillow boxes. And guess what? These are made from cardboard tubes that are found in toilet paper rolls! Way to go to recycle this Christmas!

Materials needed:

- cardboard tubes

- materials for decorating like wrapping paper, ribbons, washi tape, twine

1. You need to collect the cardboard tubes from toilet paper rolls

2. Flatten it to make creases at the sides

3. Open the tube a bit

4. Press the edge of the tube with your thumb.

5. That's going to be the flap for your pillow box. Now do this on both sides.

6. And you have a pillow box!

I decorated my pillow boxes in three ways (but they all look similar haha)

- Wrapping paper and yarn. I got the wrapping paper at the Rockwell holiday fair.

- Origami paper and ribbon. The origami paper is from Muji while I got the ribbon at the Hallmark sale.

- Washi tape and twine. Of course, the washi tape has got to be in Christmas colors.

It's still a bit early, but I already want to say this to all: Happy (handmade) Holidays!

Mason Jar Snow Globe

Hi all! I can really feel the Christmas spirit nowadays. So as early as now, we're going to make crafts for the holidays. Let's start with this mason jar snow globe. This is one of the craft projects that we did in Moonleaf.

You will need:
- glass jar (make sure it's clean)
- glitter glue
- glitter powder
- distilled water. I just learned tap water will eventually look cloudy.
- snowflake template, or pencil, if you want your own design,
- paper
- masking tape

Cut a strip of paper with the width a few inches shorter than the jar's height, and the length should be the same as the jar's inner diameter. This paper will serve as your guideline when you start decorating with glitter glue.

Now, on the paper you can either draw your own design, like Allie:

or you can cut out snowflakes and glue them on the paper, like Annie. I just googled snowflake templates on the internet and printed them on A4 paper.

When you are satisfied with your design, put the paper back inside the jar and secure it with masking tape. Trace your design with glitter glue then wait for it to dry, which will probably take 30 minutes to 1 hour.

That's me in action:

And here's the detail of my prototype:

These are my students raising their glittery jars!

Pour in some glitter powder and fill the jar with water up to the brim. Then put the lid back and start shaking! I've read somewhere that adding glycerin will help the glitter settle more slowly. So if you want more drama, add glycerin.

And then you're done! By the way, if you have a plastic toy or a plastic Christmas ornament, you can use hot glue to stick the toy to the inside of the lid.

Let me know if you have comments or recommendations, like using a special glue that's better than hot glue, or using oil instead of water. :)