PRINTABLE CHRISTMAS DECOR & PACKAGING

A week out from Christmas...and after some baking and cranking of Christmas tunes yesterday, I'm actually feeling it now!

I don't know what we're doing for the Christmas table yet this year, not being in our own home at the moment, I'm not sure what the theme is going to be, but I thought I'd share some printable decor options from my shop with you.

These would look great as a set, or just use bits and pieces from each set for things like packaging, gift tags, food labels, menu cards etc. for your Christmas celebrations.

Nativity Christmas Printables - available in my shop.

Snowflake Christmas Printables - This design is coming up to it's four year anniversary, but it's still my best seller, so it's staying put for now. It was designed in collaboration for Peekaboo Magazine, working alongside Sharnel Dollar & Naomi Vasington.
Decor available here & no-glue pyramid box available here. 

I hope all your Christmas preparations are coming along! 7 more sleeps...

Images : Nativity by Polkadot Prints | Snowflakes by Naomi V Photography

CHRISTMAS WRAPPED UP

In my head I've been trying to be more consistent with my posts of late, but I never seem to wind up for the week until Wednesday. As a natural night owl, I wonder if this is a correlation to days as well. Slow to start and then full steam ahead come Saturday! One day I'll do what the experts recommend and post 5 days a week. But this is life, this is real and this is how I'm rolling right now!

On a positive note though, I finally got stuck into my Christmas shopping earlier this week. Feels good to cross a few names off the list! I usually wrap my gifts in a theme or colour each year, sitting in front of the movie Elf. I'm really liking this idea from the latest copy of RealLiving magazine. Such a creative idea using garden plant tags for name tags…adding it to my ideas file!

Do you avoid the crowds and nail your shopping early, or do you enjoy the last minute amped up shopping vibes like me?

Image from RealLiving magazine December 2013

CHRISTMAS SALE 20% OFF

It's the last days of the 20% off sale in my shop. Enter "merry20" in checkout for the discount. Nows the time to get your christmas cards sorted, not to mention a fun advent to make this weekend, just in time for the Christmas countdown!

Happy Shopping!

Jordan x

BAKED GOODS CHRISTMAS SWING TAG

This swing tag design is probably my favourite from my new Christmas collection. They make me want to bake up a storm and add these cards for a dual Christmas greeting / gift tag. Don't you think they'd be cute?

These and the rest of the holiday collection are on sale in my shop at the moment. Enter MERRY20 at the checkout to receive 20% off your entire order. Offer valid till the end of the month

Take a look at the entire holiday collection here.

POLKADOT PRINTS CHRISTMAS CARD SALE

I'm so excited to open the shop again! You'll notice a few new Christmas designs, just in time for holiday season!

Photo cards, a cookie swap Christmas party, advent calendar and a fun photo tag if you're a lover of baking gifts. (I think I might be using these myself this year!)
All card designs are printed on luxe matte card stock and shipped right to your door complete with envelopes, making this 'silly season' a little less silly - too easy!

Enter MERRY20 at the checkout to receive 20% off your entire order. Code is valid until the end of the month.

Take a look at the entire holiday collection here. Happy Weekend!


// Design copyright Polkadot prints, photo copyright to Voice Photography

CHRISTMAS

Well, I'm back! A little late to the party, but I've so enjoyed taking extra time off at the end of what seems to have been a mammoth year. I've had some time to really step back, read, think and develop a new plan for the new year. But more on that later this week...first a Christmas re-cap...

All was definitely calm, but not much brightness for our first Christmas here in Canada. My sister was here with a friend, which was so nice to have some family around. Unfortunately, we were all struck down with an awful flu and ended the day in the ER with a baby with suspected dehydration. Thankfully she wasn't, and we returned home to our quiet Christmas day...and couch.
So while we had laid grand Christmas plans, they sadly didn't come to fruition. But, the memory will remain. Our first Christmas here stuck on our backs sniffling and coughing all day...ahhhh tis' the season! : )
How did you celebrate on Christmas day? I hope it was a little more exciting than us!

Images // Our tree ready and waiting & ice skating at Spruce Grove in the Christmas lead-up - so pretty!

BALSA WOOD GIFT TAGS

Are you all ready for Christmas? Food sorted? Gifts wrapped? No, me neither! But I'm getting there! While I like to focus more on the experience and relationships at Christmas, I do love buying and giving gifts.
I shared a super easy way to jazz up your Christmas gifts over on Design Mom. If you haven't checked out these easy Balsa wood gift tags, head on over the turorial. Get your kids involved, they'll love it!

And if you're still looking for some handmade touches at your place, here are a few crafts from Christmas pasts you might like - Christmas lights, clay place cards & hanging cookies

CHRISTMAS WRAPPING :: PINNED

I'm not one to fuel commercialism that starts Christmas prep in August, so I made a vow to myself to not 'pin' anything Christmas related till October. But now that October is already half way over...look out! (You can follow my Christmas board.)
I know there is still lots of 'fall' parties happening around my neck of the woods, and I am still working on a couple of project of this season to share with you, but I love Christmas! I'm already thinking colours, menu and decor. I love all these wrapping colour combo's...so many different flavours for the one season. Do you have a set theme for the Christmas in your home?

Images :: 1. Gold + White (original source) | 2. Kraft + Black (original source) | 3. Red + White from Kikki-K | 4. Kraft +Natural

CHRISTMAS CLAY STARS :: DIY

I'm going to squeeze this post in before the New Year hits. It's a little project I did for our Christmas dinner table inspired by Real Living magazine. I know it's too late now, but you can always file it away on Pinterest for next year. Or use this concept for placecards for a wedding or your next party!
 Materials you'll need:
1:: Air Drying clay - I bought this at Bunnings for under $10 and I made over 20 stars with some leftover
2:: Alphabet Stamps
3:: Star Cookie Cutter
4:: Rolling Pin (I raided the playdough box for this mini one)
5:: Skewar or pencil for making a hole in the top
6:: Ribbon or twine for attaching
 
Roll dough out till about 5mm thick and use the cookie cutter to cut out your stars. (Enlist "help" as required.) You may need to really knead your dough to get it soft and not crumble.

Using the stamps, press your word or name gently into each shape. You could put ink on the stamps if you wanted a colour, but I want to be able to use these again with a different coloured ribbon, so didn't want to be locked into one colour scheme. I used the words 'Joy', 'Love', 'Hope' & 'Peace' and made kind of a set.

Using a wooden skewar or pencil etc, make a hole for the ribbon in the top of each star making sure you've gone right though to the back.

Let them dry. Ours took overnight to dry completely and I had to turn them a couple of times to make sure they dried flat and not curl up at the edges.

If I'd thought about it earlier, I think these would make a great Christmas gift idea. Packaged up in a cute box. Or even an everyday set with words like 'Eat', 'Drink', 'Party', etc could be great for your hostess friends! Hmmm....guess what people are getting next year?! :)

CHRISTMAS 2011

It always seems so relaxing this "in-between week" between Christmas & New Years. A good time to eat leftovers, chill and plan and think for the new year.

How was your Christmas? On the weekend we went to the Christmas eve service and then opened our traditional Christmas Eve pressies of new Pajamas (so we all look smashing on Christmas morning. Except that we didn't end up getting a family photo at all this year - woops!)
Then Christmas Day was spent with Dave's side of the family for lunch and mine for dinner. It was a big fun day! Here's a snapshot from our Christmas...hope you're enjoying holiday mode!

'TIS THE SEASON

I feel like I should say something profound for my last post of the year, and leave you with something that will just blow your mind. But really, I like the simple things at Christmas - time with family, remembering, generosity, giving, and laughter. So these words below are truly what I hope for you this Christmas day and start to the new year.

I'm excited about 2012. There will be a few changes around our place as we welcome a new baby, and plan to move. And my mind is actively planning new adventures for this little business of mine. I have to remind myself it will all happen in good time!

So, this is the official sign off for the year. I'm going to lay low and charge full steam ahead with baking and Christmas food preparations today ready for tomorrow.

I'm so grateful for your support this year, it's been wonderful! 

Merry Christmas! 

Much love, 

Jordan xo  

PINTEREST CHRISTMAS

I have my last Christmas craft air drying at the moment. It is for our Christmas table, so I'll share with you after Christmas day, on how it all comes together. It was inspired by an idea I found on Pinterest.
Such a resourceful place to browse (and "waste" time!) I can get off on so many tangents, discover new blogs and inspiring people.
I thought I'd share a few of my favourite Christmas pins I've collected. There is definitely a red & white and navy scandinavian vibe going on in my Christmas board!
Are you all ready for Sunday? The presents are mostly all wrapped up at our place and final preparations are happening - exciting!!

Images via my Pinterest - 1:: Winter Dessert Table  2 :: Scandinavian place setting 3 :: Pinhole candles 4 :: Outdoor Australian Christmas 5 :: Mini wreath drinks. 

ALL BOXED UP

It's only a few sleeps till Christmas, and just three weeks till our baby arrives! I don't know what life will look like with a second child - so many unknowns all over again! I do hope he/she can wait till after Christmas though, I don't really wish for a Christmas birthday for this little one.

This past weekend, I organised an early surprise celebration for our 7th wedding anniversary coming up in January. I wanted to get a chance to have some quality time before our life gets a little addition. We had an overnight getaway, went to the movies *during the day* (gasp!), dinner in the city...ah the simple things. : )

It's a busy season for sure, but at the same time everything seems to start to winding down don't you think? Levi has his last day of Kindy this week, and we (I say that very loosely), made some passionfruit gem cookies to package up and give to his teachers. He even helped write his own name...awww. xo

What are you doing in this week to prepare for Christmas?

HANGING COOKIE BAGS :: THE TWINERY

"...brown paper packages tied up with string, these are a few of my favourite things"! (and now try and not sing the rest of the song... : )

I recently discovered these gorgeous homemade cookies by Cookie Dough here in Australia. They are chunky little circles of goodness with amazing flavours! When my boxes of treats arrived recently, I wanted to display them in a fun way. I've had these oversized pegs from Typo and have been itching to use them. This seemed the perfect project.
Imagine these served up for a cookie bar for a "Milk & Cookies" themed party. Yum!

I used the party dots from my Snowflake Christmas printable collection and some Carribean & Maraschino twine to suspend some kraft paper bags. Hang them over your mantel or from your Christmas tree and they will definitely add some sweet goodness to your home! They may not last for long however!

This project was featured over at The Twinery blog today with a few more photos. It's my last contribution on their design team, which has been such a fun opportunity - thanks Nicole!

AFTER-PARTY CHERRY JAM

One of my regular customers and friend, Shannon, recently purchased the Cherry Love collection for her daughters 4th birthday. (You can see some of the photos in my Facebook album here.)

After the party, she made jam from all the cherries leftover from decorating and popped them into jars to give as Christmas gifts. Add some twine and a party dot and you're all set! What a creative idea!

CHRISTMAS FAIRY LIGHTS :: DIY

I've shared a little Christmas DIY over on Design Dazzle today as a part of Toni's 100 Ideas of Christmas Wonderful. Head on over to see the full tutorial and for a tonne of Christmas craft inspiration. It's only 10 sleeps!

GINGERBREAD HOUSE WEEKEND

I hope you had a lovely weekend! We made our annual gingerbread house over the weekend. A family affair.
I used the template from Adriano Zumbo's whacky gingerbread house of Masterchef fame.

We tiled the roof with homemade freckles as per his instructions and then with the "help" of a three year old, we just stuck lollies all over the sides. 

 I don't see Adriano selling it in his patisserie,  but it's built with a whole lotta love!

CHRISTMAS PRINTABLES

It's the start of another weekend (yay!) and the last chance to get a bargain in my shop. Both the 'Snowflake' & 'Silent Night' collections are 25% off till Saturday/Sunday (Depending where you live in the world!).

I hope you have plans for a wonderful weekend. I'm 'enjoying' a head cold and sore throat, so hopefully it goes away in time for some fun get-togethers we have planned! Whatever you do, enjoy! - Jordan x

WOMEN'S BUSINESS TREAT BOX

For Saturday's "Women's Business" Christmas party. I contributed a little something to the goodie bag (it was bursting with goodness!).

I used my Snowflake Christmas collection to wrap a chocolate bar, write a little discount card and even included a few cupcake toppers ready to go! I think it turned out really cute.

P.S. Both the "Silent Night" & "Snowflake" Christmas collections are 25% off for this week only! Get in quick early birds!