our christmas card.

I really like Christmas cards. My mom usually keeps them in a basket during the holidays, and I love reading through them each year to see what friends and family are up to. I wanted to keep things simple this year for ours, but also signify the big change in our lives that happened in 2011: our move to Texas. I came up with this design, which allowed me to print them at home and send as a postcard...

 We sent these to our family and friends that are sprinkled across the West Coast. I had another set of cards that say "Merry and Bright," that we sent to friends here in Abilene.

Do you send out Christmas cards? Do you like getting them in the mail? I love both the sending and receiving.

xoxo.

P.S. See last year's card here.

diy monday: holiday garland.

I didn't waste any time adding some Christmas spirit to our house this weekend. We weren't able to bring any Christmas decorations with us to Texas, so I'm improvising. I remembered yesterday that I had this fun two-sided Christmas cardstock that my grandparents gave me a few years ago, perfect for making a festive garland. I've included a tutorial in today's post in case you want to make your own!

1. Gather your materials: cardstock or paper, twine or yarn, scissors and tape (any kind will work, I used packing tape because it's all I had).

2. Find a small circular object and trace circles onto your cardstock (I used a mini juice glass from IKEA for mine). You could also use a round punch to cut the circles.

3. Place your circles on a flat surface in a line, wrong side up. Place your twin or yarn in the center of your line of circles.

4. Tape the twine or yarn to each circle, spacing them evenly as you go.

5. After all your circles are taped, flip over your garland and voila! I hung mine over our chalkboard in the living room with a festive holiday message...

 This would also be fun to hang in a dorm room or around your desk at work. I'm thinking of making another one for my office (I made this garland for my desk last year).

Have you started decorating for the holidays? 

xoxo.

P.S. I'm linking up here...

happy monday + a giveaway.

Happy Monday, friends! The lovely Amanda + Elizabeth of Do I Even Like This? are hosting a TylerBright giveaway over on their blog. We're giving away a fun little holiday pack, so head over to Do I Even Like This? to enter!

xoxo.

inspired: snail mail.

Today: a little inspiration of the postal variety. I love snail mail, but then, who doesn't?? Here's some letter packaging ideas that I'm loving...

Gift tag stamp from Creature Comforts 

Heart envelopes from Forty Weeks and Then Some 

Doily Envelopes from Daydream Lily 

And I especially love the 13 Ounces or Less Project from Giverslog.

And I got this beautiful wooden card in the mail from my sister last week, isn't it cool??

I even sent off a little snail mail of my own yesterday because today is my sister's birthday! Happy, happy birthday Christi! Love you!

Christi, my niece Shayla and I at my bridal luncheon last summer

xoxo.

[top photo via]

in the shop: all things grad.

Bringing you some pretty little things for December grads in the shop today! First up, the Oh the Places You'll Go Announcement. This is a two-sided announcement with a vintage flair.

And a new addition to the shop, the custom Tell Your Story Announcement (please excuse the terribly taken night photos, I promise they're cute in real life)

This is a spin-off of the custom Love Story Print that we've got in the shop, and it's perfect for grads who have a story to tell about their accomplishment. I made these for Lindsay, who is graduating from UNCG at 30 years old and wanted more than just the conventional announcement.  

What do you think? Spread the word to any December grads that you know! 

Happy, happy Friday.

xoxo.

P.S. A recap of this week:

DIY Monday: Pencil Vase

Inspired: Living with Less

Life Lately: Trunk-or-Treat

The Anthology: Fall Colors Collected