Weekend Project {Holiday Drinks}

It's Christmas this weekend! There's still time to run out and gather the ingredients to make some delicious Holiday Drinks... I'm trying to settle on which one to make for our Annual Christmas Eve Gathering... I think any of them would taste just as good without the alcohol (which I will be skipping)... Just click on the image to view the recipe! And Merry Christmas!

{All Wrapped Up} A Dash of the Colourful...

Weekend Project {Free Printable Gift Tags}

one. via 'Love vs. Design'

two. via 'Brightside Prints'

three. via 'Domestifluff'

four. via 'Blush Printables'

five. via 'Miss Pickles Press'

six. via 'Eat Drink Chic'

"Gifted Magazine"

{All Wrapped Up} Touches of Gold

Weekend Project {Christmas Jars}

via 'Tortoise and the Hare'

"Homemade Holiday"

{All Wrapped Up} Touches of Silver

Weekend Project {Fabric Poppy Gift Toppers}

 via 'Creature Comforts'

The Book of Love...

Last year, I committed to journalling more... I failed... Sometime in the fall, I thought that I would try to at least get a year's worth of thoughts on paper... To present to Jay as a Christmas gift... I wanted to give it to him, all finished, all 365 days, so he could take it to work and hold a year's worth of encouragement... I made it to the end of March, ran out of time and space, and gave that to him for Christmas... Turns out 365 days takes A LOT of time! So over the next few months, I intend on continuing, so that on March 31st, I can present him with April onwards... Here's a sneak peek into what I've finished so far... With scripture, hymns, quotes of love, snippets from the emails we sent while separated during our dating days, pictures of our wonderful life, and a few of my sentiments for him added here and there, I truly hope he'll love it as much as I loved making it!

{Christmas Lights} and Our Christmas Tree...

Tomorrow morning... The tree will be graced with this Christmas' presents! I can't wait! Merry Christmas to you all! May God's grace be with you and yours!

Weekend Project {DIY Candy Poppers}

How do you like the new winter look my friends? And please take the time to check out the new winter playlist... Just click on a song to begin playing! Enjoy!

It's been all about gifting around here this week... And with the Holidays just around the corner, is this idea for DIY Candy Poppers for 'Style Me Pretty' not the sweetest idea? I'm definitely going to attempt these for our annual Christmas Eve dinner! Enjoy and have a wonderful weekend my friends!

And please don't forget to enter this week's giveaway for a calendar from 'Sixth and Main'!

The First Annual Christmas Gift Exchange!

I've been at this blog thing for two and a half years now... And over the years, I've gathered some pretty loyal readers... I enjoy this blog... A lot... It's one of my favourite things to do... And the best part is reading your comments, getting to know you all a little bit! So this year, I thought it would be really wonderful for you to get to know one another a bit better too!

Drum roll please... Welcome to the First Annual Gift Exchange! Would you like to get a sweet little gift, all wrapped up pretty, in the mail this Christmas? Who doesn't like to get mail?

Comment on this post before Wednesday, December 8th at Noon EST, letting me know that you'd like to participate along with your email address

I will then send you an email, requesting your mailing address

On Wednesday evening, December 8th, I will send you the name of another blog reader and her address

You'll then have the rest of the week and weekend to get your package ready

I recommend you ship your gift by Monday, December 13th so it will {hopefully} arrive by Christmas! (Of course we're dealing with the mail here friends, so please be patient with one another)!

What would be fun to send? Wrapped candy, handmade items, small books, stickers, magazines, Christmas decorations or anything you think might help to bring a little cheer to someone else's Christmas... And don't forget... Wrap it up so it looks as pretty as pretty can be!!!

Be sure to include a card with a bit of info about yourself

It's up to you how much time and cash to spend but I think around $25 would be about right

Finally, if you'd like to take a few high quality shots of your package before it ships out and email them to me, I will post some of the photos on Thursday, December 9th!

1. via 'Paper Crave'

2. via 'Art as Life'

3. via 'Oh Hello Friend'

4. via 'Scrapbook Lady'

Any questions? Shoot me an email at rebecca@theardentsparrow.com

I hope I've remembered everything... I'll add more info if need by, as I tend to be a bit forgetful! 

Enjoy my friends... And happy gift-giving!

And don't forget to take the time to enter this week's giveaway for a calendar from 'Honeytree'!

Project Idea {Advent Calendar} Part II

Brennah is pretty excited about our new tree! She's not too sure how it will work... And today is the day... The day that she finally gets to peek inside box #1 to see what's inside!

I filled the boxes with little items I gathered at 'Michaels' and the dollar store! Tiny trinkets including socks, stamps, stickers, chocolate, 'Kinder Eggs', glitter glue, hair barrettes, small wind-up toys and 'Lip Smackers' (which will be Brennah's first... She's going to be very excited)!

As exciting as Christmas is around here, I am constantly seeking to remind the girls the real reason we celebrate... The purpose of advent is to think of the Christ of Christmas... I want that, admist the gifts, to be the focus of our holiday season... So each day, before opening the box, we are going to read the Christmas story... Brennah already knows it quite well... But I'm hoping that it will cause her to stop and remember that it is because of Christ, His life, His death and His resurrection, that we celebrate!

 And don't forget to take the time to enter this week's giveaway for a calendar all your own from 'Honeytree'!

Project Idea {Advent Calendar} Part I

When I was a girl, I loved advent... I loved preparing for Christmas... And I still do! It's my favourite time of year... Several weeks ago, I decided that I would like to create an advent calendar for the girls... I spent most of last week trying to work out what to do... After an evening visit to 'Michaels', it began to come together!

I purchased brown kraft favour boxes from the wedding section at 'Michaels' along with some bamboo yarn, number stickers and some lovely snowflake stickers...

I punched a hole in the top of each of the boxes and strung the yarn through the hole, attached the number on the front and a snowflake on the back... I ended up using a bit of glue for the #'s as they weren't especially sticky...

 All the boxes... All 24, done!

On Saturday afternoon, I sent Jay out on an adventure (in our backyard) to collect twelve branches! It was a bit of an adventure for me attaching all the boxes, but here it is... All finished... 24 tiny advent boxes, awaiting their sweet little advent gifts! More to come on the finishing touches tomorrow!

And don't forget to take the time to enter this week's giveaway for a calendar all your own from 'Honeytree'!

Print It... {Gift Certificates}

Gift Certificates make great last minute gifts... Here are a few choices from some of my favourite Etsy shops... You can check them out in my shop too!

Gift Certificate from "Cutiepie Company"

Gift Certificate from "Plum Pretty Sugar"

Gift Certificates from "Sweet Anthem"

Gift Certificates from "Orange Beautiful"

Gift Certificates from "Red Ruby Rose"

Print It... {Gift Tags}

I'm not sure about you... But I still have presents to wrap! And these printable gift tags would make a welcome addition to any gift! Enjoy!

Printable Holiday Gift Tags from "Sweet Bippy Papers"

Elephant Printable Gift Tags from "e.m.papers"

Printable Grandpa's Ornaments Gift Tags from "Little Paper Dog"

Printable Holiday Dog Gift Tags from "English Muffin Shop"

'Tis the Season Printable Gift Tags from "Talk of the Town"