Taa Daa: Christmas Trappings

I've had a hankering for a letter for our mantle since seeing a number of different examples on crafty blogs I follow.  So when I spotted the B on the left at Hobby Lobby at half off, I snatched it up, added our anniversary year, and liked how it turned out.  We liked it so much, we decided to give one to Josh's mom for Christmas, except better; we made hers.  Josh scroll sawed the shape from some remaining wood from a tree in our yard from way back in Gainesville, GA (about 3 homes ago for us).  I painted it, sanded the edges a bit, and added their anniversary year.  And Taa Daa, instant homemade gift!  Turns out, nowI like hers more than mine!

I ordered some play oven mitts for Anna off eBay ... I thought.  What I actually bought was the pattern for the mitts.  I was bummed to have wasted the money because I had no intention of learning to sew.  But Josh stepped in and made good on my purchase.  Using some fabric I had leftover from last year and some iron-on batting we got half price at JoAnn's, he created these precious oven mitts for our girl, sewing every single stitch.  I adore them.  I adore him for making them for her.  And Anna adores them, too.  She wears them at all odd hours of her day.

I fashioned a Christmas card wreath in late November, though I can't find a picture of it to show when it was empty.  I must have deleted it.  I'm bad about that.  Anyway, this is how lovely it is to behold all full of good cheer and tidings of joy from family and friends this season.  I do so love Christmas mail.