Pretty, Pretty Pleats

Quite a few people asked me how I made the tree skirt from my previous post. It all started when I spotted a similar no-sew ruffle skirt project on Pinterest, pinned it, and decided to give it a try. I chose to go with pleats instead of large ruffles in order to achieve a more tailored look. Pleats always remind me of my wedding gown :)

This was a relatively easy project, but it did take a fair amount of time to complete. The most tedious part was carefully measuring and cutting 4 yards of fabric into 3" strips. I used shimmery blue-grey linen in hopes of creating "waves" under the ocean section of our tree. The best part about this project is the fact that it doesn't require a stitch of sewing whatsoever! All you need is a glue gun and a bunch of glue sticks, and you're good to go.

I didn't make a tutorial because there are already tons of fantastic ones out there. Here's a great tutorial if you're interested in making a tree skirt of your own!

Wonka was very curious and tried to keep me company, but he got sleepy a few hours in.

7 hours (and several burnt fingers) later...

Voila! We have a tree skirt!

Bow Wow

One of my favorite things about presents is the part where I get to wrap them up! Pretty packaging simply makes a gift feel that much more special. I've been having such a blast wrapping, tying, taping, gluing... and checking everyone off my list :)

Since paper is usually destroyed during the unwrapping process, I prefer using plain brown craft paper (super affordable and eco-friendly) and placing more emphasis on trimmings. This year, I'm experimenting with different styles of poofy bows and doodads. Here are three simple projects that are guaranteed to give your presents a bit of extra oomph! Click the photos for tutorials. Happy wrapping!

Gift Bows - I tried making felt & canvas variations of traditional paper gift bows, and was quite pleased with the results. Love that they're reusable!

Yarn Pompoms - These are incredibly easy to make and add a whimsical touch to anything! Tip: For smaller poms, try using a serving fork.

Paper Flower Poms - These paper flowers are just tinier versions of these. Simple & romantic!

Can't wait to share these gifts with some very wonderful people.
By the way, what do you think about our new tree skirt? I made it myself!