Another DIY Martha Stewart Advent Calendar

This is another great advent calendar idea from Martha Stewart.  Rather than spend $78 on this calendar from Garnet Hill, get yourself some inexpensive kid's socks at Target, apply number stickers to the socks, attach them to a pretty ribbon with clothes pins, and make yourself an adorable calendar for dollars less.

You can find Martha's instructions for the calendar here.

I have one more calendar that I want to share with you, but since I am having trouble loading more than one picture at a time, I will have to share it with you in tomorrow's post.

Love, 40

Another Inexpensive DIY Advent Calendar (or, Martha Stewart is the best)

As you can probably tell by now, I have advent calendars on the brain.  Traditionally, my family and I use a felt calendar that has a tree to which we add ornaments every day of December.  But over the years pieces have gone missing, and we always wind up with a few days at the end of December that are advent calendar-less.  Last year, I filled the gap with store bought chocolate advent calendars for each of the kids.  This year, I wanted to do something different.  Something more special than the store bought calendars, but that doesn't cost a lot of money.  Enter Martha Stewart. (Of course).  Her November issue is full of great, inexpensive advent calendar ideas.  My favorite is the Gift Chain Calendar.  All you need to do to have a festive, cute calendar that will get the kids excited is to wrap your gifts and attach them to each other in a long chain.  The number of gifts remaining is the number of days left until Christmas.  To be extra Martha-esque, attach numbered gift tags or stickers to each gift.   

 To find Martha's instructions, you can go here.

I hope this inspires you to go out and create your own advent calendars.

Love, 40

DIY Pottery Barn Advent Calendar

Do you remember this advent calendar from last year's Pottery Barn catalog? 

The calendar was a crowd favorite, but for $299, the price tag left a lot to be desired. Lucky for us, the crafty blogger over at the Feminist Housewife found a way to get the Pottery Barn look for less.  A lot less.  Like $270 less.  Check out her tutorial over at davidandcarolineblogspot.com.

Love, 40

Hermes Bangle Paradise - Color Your Own Bangle Bracelet!

We just adore Hermes bangles - don't you?

If you love all things Hermes like we love all things Hermes, you should check out Paris Mon Ami.  I plan to follow the bangle paradise, and color my very own bangle bracelet.  Enjoy!

Love, 40

Inexpensive and Easy Martha Stewart Christmas Ornaments

Generally, I am a major procrastinator.  So I am very proud of myself for having started to think about Christmas before I have sat down to my Thanksgiving meal.  Now, I know for some of you I am late to the party.  And I have one thing to say to you people - OVER-ACHIEVERS!  Anyway, I have long admired Martha Stewart's Christmas ornaments, and for many years now have planned to make one or two of them.  Unfortunately, I tend to be more of a thinker and planner than an actual doer.  But this year, I have promised myself that I will make at least one ornament.  At first, I had set my sights on Martha's paperclay ornaments.  But, if I am honest with myself, they may be above my crafting ability/capacity.  So I was happy to stumble upon her button ornaments on her website.  Aren't they cute?

And they look easy enough that even the craft-impaired like me could whip a few out in an hour.  If you are interested, you can find the instructions here.

I am officially declaring that I will make at least one ornament this year.  Please don't hold me to this!