6 Free Christmas Printables: Gift Tags!

I am pleased to report that I am pretty much complete all my Christmas shopping. Believe it or not,  I actually finished the other week! Most presents are even wrapped, but most don't have gift tags! 

The gift tags that I keep finding at the store aren't that nice, so I decided today that I would find some free printables on the world wide web and give that a shot! Thanks to my favorite website, pinterest, I found tons that I adored. It was hard to pick only six...!

01. Free Holiday Greeting Tag and Pocket.

02. Free Printable Holiday Gift Tags.

03. Printable Gift Tags with Calligraphy.

04. Printable Gift Wrap and Tags.

05. Printable Holiday Tags.

06. Free Holiday Gift Tags Printables.

Which tags are your favorite? Enjoy!

5 Fantastic DIY Photography Backdrop Ideas.

I love taking photos, especially for my instagram and my blog. Having any kind of background for your photographs is always very important (and something I need to work on). While I have purchased a plain white poster board to help when staging various items, I still hate taking photographs inside our apartment. Why? Because I am not a huge fan of our floors (dark wood/tile), counter tops (marble granite) and plain white walls (also, we have a lot of windows!).

My solution? Do-it-yourself photography backdrops and backgrounds! 

1. DIY Backdrop Stand

2. DIY Doily Photo Booth Backdrop

3. DIY Wood Photo Backdrop

4. DIY Confetti Party Backdrop

5. DIY Photo Backdrop

I am personally leaning towards the material and wood DIY's ... what do you think? Do you use a backdrop when taking photos for your blog? 

5 Great Autumn DIY'S to Try.

Even though thanksgiving weekend has almost come to an end, Halloween is right around the corner! In the spirit of autumn, I wanted to share a few DIY's that I REALLY want to decorate our apartment with. 

1. DIY Gold Leaf Pine Cone Garland

If you are ready to get your gold leaf on, you should try these gold leaf pine cone garlands! Visit the Sweetest Occasion for the tutorial.

2. DIY Gold Dipped Colourblocked Painted Pumpkin

I absolutely love these sassy little pumpkins that Dana created. Visit the Wonder Forest for the tutorial.

3. DIY Autumn Leaves Table Runner

This super simple autumn leaf table runner is one of my favorites! I love all things sparkly! Visit the Sweetest Occasion for the tutorial.

4. DIY Gold Glitter Candles

By now it must be no secret that I am a huge fan of gold and glitter. These gold candles are the perfect ascent to warm up your home decor. Visit A Pumpkin & A Princess for the tutorial.  

5. DIY Thanksgiving Bunting.

This book page bunting is both super adorable and super simple. Visit My Fabulous Life for the tutorial.

Have you done any fall DIY's this year? Hope everyone had a fantastic weekend! 

5 Pretty Sweet Instagram DIY'S to Try.

As I am sure you all know, I am addicted to instagram. I love snapping memories of my loved ones, beautiful sunsets, or anything for that matter. But what happens after you snap that photo and share it? 

Here are some clever instagram DIY's that I came across and wanted to share. I have also posted their website so that you can check them out and try them yourselves! Enjoy!

1. DIY Magnets

Make your own fridge maganets with your instagram images. Visit Secondhand Sunday's for the tutorial.

2. DIY Instacards

Such a great handmade gift idea for the holidays! Visit Say Yes to Hoboken for the tutorial.

3. DIY Wrapping Paper

Have you ever made your own wrapping paper? I love this idea! Visit Poppytalk for the tutorial.

4. DIY Wall Art

This DIY is my personal favorite because I have always wanted to get some of my photos put onto a canvas. Visit A Beautiful Mess for the tutorial.

5. DIY Photo Strips

Such a fun way to document your life and to decorate your walls! Visit Free People blog for the tutorial.

What do you normally do after you share your photos on instagram? Have you ever printed them? Or tried any DIY's? 

Friendship Bracelet.

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Do you remember these? I sure do...!

When I was younger, which seems like such a long, long time ago, my friends and I were obsessed with making these bracelets. From what I can recall, I had several tutorial books and hundreds embroidery threads -- all different colors! 

I stumbled upon this post from Volcomunity today, and it would appear that friendship bracelets are back in trend. If my memory serves me correct, these bracelets are one of those trends that resurfaces every few years, each time with an updated look. Now that I think about it, I actually received one for Christmas, but with a few beads on it.

Anyways ... instead of going out to buy one, I thought I would share a few of my favorite DIY Friendship Bracelet links that I found and thought were worth sharing!

+ DIY: Friendship Bracelet
+ DIY: Friendship Braclets
+ DIY: Heart Friendship Bracelet
+ DIY: Grown-Up Friendship Bracelet
+ DIY The Fastest Friendship Bracelet
+ DIY: The Ultimate Friendship Bracelet
+ DIY: Fishtail Braid Friendship Bracelet

Don't these fabulous DIY's make you want to stop by the craft store and make a few?!! Or maybe that's just me who has this sudden urge to make a few!

Top 5 // Valentine's Day Free Printables.

Did somebody say free printable(s)? Yes please! I searched high and low for the best and narrowed it down to these top five. Not only are they free, you don't even have to leave your house! Sounds like a win-win situation! 

I actually attempted the top one, hearts stitched together, and was amazed at how fabulous it turned out (I only say that because I am not the most crafty person).

Get them here, from top clockwise: 

Hearts Stitched Together // Monogram Heart Thank You Card // Valentine Scrabble Gram // Valentine's Day Note Cards & Envelopes // Mini Valentines

Do you have a favorite Valentine's day printable that I missed? 

Free Holiday Coupon Book.

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I have been searching high and low for some free printable holiday coupons. My search turned up few options, most of which weren't anything spectacular. Only one really stood out from the rest.

What You Need

• Holiday coupon template 
• Scissors 
• Small hole punch 
• Ribbon, cord, or twine
• Marker or pen

For instructions and to download the template, jump over to Natalie's blog, Johnny in a Dress, here. 

If you have found any other amazing templates, please let me know!  

Decorate Your Mugs.

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While I love this idea, it's easy and inexpensive, I am somewhat skeptical of the permanent marker actually staying on the mug. Before you get started, here are a few tips that you should keep in mind:

1. Wash the surface of the mugs before designing your masterpiece. 

2. If you plan to use permanent markers, don't forget that they are are not recommended for use on surfaces that come in contact with food. I would suggest only using them on the outside of the mug. As well, permanent markers have a high chance of washing off the mugs when put through the dishwasher.

3. If you are worried about your design washing away, and if you don't mind spending a few extra pennies on markers, I have read that pebeo porcelain markers are the way to go. Just like permanent markers, these markers are not recommended for use on surfaces that come in contact with food.

4. Follow instructions on the pen's packaging. Porcelain markers, for example, need 24 hours to dry before you bake them in the oven. Most sites I have read recommend that you bake your mugs in the oven for 30 minutes at 350F to set the ink. Don't forget to allow the mugs to cool completely before using or washing. 

3. To preserve your design, try washing them by hand rather than in the dishwasher. 

I have yet to try this popular DIY, but really want to give it a go as I think they would make for some great Christmas presents. Have you tried this DIY? Any other tips that you would suggest?

Tin Can Lantern.

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Since moving in with the boyfriend, I have been browsing the internet trying to find creative and inexpensive ideas to add some character around the apartment. These adorable tin can lanterns from Grow Creative are perfect for impressing your guests and illuminating your outdoor space. The best part of this DIY is that you don't need a lot to make them!

What You Need

• recycled tin cans 
• hammer 
• nail 
• bailing wire 
• pliers 
• spray paint 
• tea light candle

 For instructions, jump over to Grow Creative's tutorial here. 

Have you ever tried to make your own tin can lanterns before? As soon as I have some spare tin cans (I guess that means I have to do some cooking!), I plan to try this DIY and put a few out on the patio! Hope everyone is having a great weekend!