Create a simple and stylish tag using a stamp. There’s a variety of festive options at your local craft store, along with pre-cut tag shapes to add beauty to your gifts.

Choose ribbon, yarn or twine to secure the tag and accents that will add that special touch. I’ve used sprigs of holly or even small branches from my Christmas tree.

This year, I selected bronze jingle bells, burlap ribbon and twine to add a vintage charm. Plus, a few springs from my potpourri bag and the gifts look beautiful! Then, just handwrite the to and from directly on the tags.

Happy wrapping!

I picked up some light-weight, gauzy fabric with my Mom a few months ago and thought it would be lovely for a simple infinity scarf.

Supplies: 2 yards of light-weight fabric, thread, scissors, pins and an iron.

Begin by cutting your fabric along the long-edge. Then fold the fabric in half (again along the long edge), place the right sides together and pin in place. Since we will want to hide the seam, we will create a french seam. First, sew a 1/4″ seam allowance. 

Then, trim the seam allowance down to 1/8″.  Press the seam to one side. Then turn the fabric so the right side is facing out. Now, sew along the same edge again, this time with the right side up at a 1/4″ seam allowance. This will trap the original seam and allowance in the fold, creating a beautiful, seamless edge. 

Now, just just sew the outer edges. You can add a decorative edging with pom-pom ribbon or keep the edges clean and simple by sewing at 1/8″. 

Wash and you are ready to enjoy the cooler temps!

Supplies: container, syrofoam insert, batting, 15+ faux succulents, pebbles and moss. No glue required!

Start with selecting a neutral container that will work with your seasonal changes. I love Magnolia Market’s cement bowls. I received them as a gift last year and they look lovely on our dining table.

Pick up a variety of succulents at your local craft store. I found a good variety of sprigs at Michaels and purchased about 15 for each container, along with a piece of styrofoam, batting and pebbles. I also included a little moss I had from another project.

The best part is you can do this arrangement without any gluing, so everything can be easily removed from the container for a new arrangement. 

First, place your styrofoam in the base of the container. You may need to cut to fit. Then fill in any gaps or edges with batting to create a flat base for your faux succulents. Now have fun arranging!  Starting in the middle, begin gently pushing the succulents into the styrofoam. Vary colors and styles to creating layers and interest throughout the arrangement. Fill in any gaps with pebbles and moss.

And in no time you will have a lovely succulent container for your dining table!

I’m in love with all things HGTV and, of course, JoAnna & Chip Gaines of Fixer Upper. The show has inspired many of my own kitchen renovations, so their book, The Magnolia Story, was naturally my first choice to start the summer. It was such a lovely and inspirational read! A perfect choice for a story of family, love and faith.

Next I was ready for a little who-dun-it adventure so I grabbed Ruth Ware’s The Woman in Cabin 10. I was hooked after reading the opening page in Target! My girlfriend mentioned In A Dark, Dark Wood so I thought I’d give Ruth’s suspenseful novel a try, and I hooked. I forgot how much I missed these thrilling murder mysteries and couldn’t put it down. I’ve already reserved In A Dark, Dark Wood as my next read from local library (aren’t community libraries still the best!)

I’ve heard a lot of great things about Fredrik Backman (the blogger turned novelist) so I picked up his first novel, A Man Called Ove and fell in love with his writing. Witty and charming (you will laugh and cry) the characters were so lovable and real. I’m ready to dive into Fredrik’s other novels.

If you loved Big Little Lies, definitely pick up Liane Moriarty’s The Husband’s Secret. You are instantly intertwined into the lives of these strong women. The characters are well developed and Liane left me wanting more!

Up Next: In A Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware, No One is Coming to Save Us by Stephanie Watts, The Light We Lost by Jill Santopolo, and My Not So Perfect Life by Sophie Kinsella.

If you haven’t ventured over to Creative Market yet, you are in for a real treat. The site is full of beautiful fonts, all sorts of templates and some really amazing photographs. I downloaded the Beverly font for my Christmas gift tags and thought it would be a perfectly sweet choice for Easter cards too. I created a simple design with one of my favorite verses and printed it with black ink on my extra Christmas card stock (but you can use any cardstock for this).

Then, I added a little bow with pastel baker’s twine and voila – it’s ready to mail. Simple, yet beautiful.

Enjoy a free download of the 5×7 card I designed here: Easter Card Template. Wishing you a Happy Easter!

These cards are so beautiful I had to share them!

If you love a daily inspirational message, sign-up for Erika’s encouragement emails here. And, Mary’s personalized scripture cards are available here.

I started with a marker and stack of sticky notes. I’ve designated each color with our moving needs – orange [storage]; green [kitchen]; pink [bedroom]; blue [bath], etc.

So there are a couple of ways to tackle staying organized with your box labeling. Here, I’m using a keyword on each box with the color system above. I’ve also noted a number on the sticky note. The lower numbers will be the first items I pack [i.e. things I won’t need right away] and the larger numbers in the system are boxes I will unpack first.

You may have a mix of items in your boxes and need more detailed list. For that, simply use the sticky note color system but just indicate a number on the box. Then use a notebook to list more details on the items contained in the box.

All that’s left is attaching to the top and side of the box for an easy indicator on what’s inside and which room or area of your home the box needs to go.

Happy moving – we will see you in Austin!

Yesterday, I was spending my morning planning a post on creating a rustic and elegant Christmas table setting…

On this Christmas Eve morning I decided it best to share some of my favorite bible verses for those that may be grieving the loss of loved ones this holiday season. My 84 year old Grandfather, Pawpaw, passed away yesterday afternoon. There is much sadness this holiday season but he lived a very blessed life and we are rejoicing that he has gone to the Lord. I will miss him dearly.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. – Proverbs 3:5

The Lord stood at my side and gave me strength. – 2 Timothy 17

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed. – Psalm 34:18

I love you, O Lord, my strength. – Psalm 18:1

Blessed be the name of the Lord. – Psalm 113:2

I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you. – 2 Kings 20:5

Our neighbors have plenty of pine cones that have fallen off the trees so I picked a few from the sidewalks. I popped them in the oven for about 20 minutes. This dries up any sap and they can be stored for many Christmases to come.

I still had some burlap from our wedding so I decided to use it to make the loop on the top but you can use any ribbon or twine of your choosing. I cut the burlap into 7 inch strips and hot glued the ends together at the top of the pine cone.

Let them cool and then add to the tree. Merry Christmas!

Here are a few from past years:

I love the simplicity of the boxwood wreaths and topiaries I’ve been seeing this season. So I thought, why not add them to this year’s Christmas card.

I used a kraft 5×7 card with a matching envelope and printed a simple message on the card. Then using a spool of ribbon, I penciled a circle for where the wreath would go around the Christmas Blessings text.

You may be lucky enough to have a boxwood growing in your yard so snip a few sprigs and you can be on your way to creating this simple card. I found this great mini wreath at Target that I cut apart for the card design. With a little hot glue on the sprigs the wreath began taking shape.

If you have any remaining springs, they will make perfect accents to your holiday gift wrapping.