Christmas "wrap-up"

I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas!

I have a lot of things to post, but I just haven't had time. Hopefully, things will settle down and I'll get them all posted very soon.

Most of the presents under our tree were wrapped in old paper I found on numerous trips to thrift stores. There were a few large packages that I had to use new paper on. Oh well. I loved how all the presents looked under the tree. Like a lot of old things, the wrapping paper has so much character.

Christmas cards

On our way to Minneapolis last week we stopped at a couple of antique stores. I didn't find much, but one thing I did find was a bunch of Christmas cards. I got about 20 cards for $5.00. There were 5 or 6 more bundles of cards and I debated buying them all, but what would I do with that many cards? I didn't notice a lot of duplicates, but in the end I decided just to get one pack. The old cards have so much character and charm. I love them. Here's some of my favorites.

Big city vintage

Last weekend the hubby and I took a quick getaway to Minneapolis. Being thrifty, I swear by Hotwire when it comes to booking hotels. On this trip we scored a stay at the Westin downtown for only $58/night. (Just don't ask me about eating downtown because we more than made up for the good deal on our hotel in one dinner). It's a beautiful hotel, but what I liked most about it is, it's in an old bank. I couldn't wait to stay here!

Yah, I stared at this glass for awhile. The detail on old buildings just amazes me sometimes.

More details on the building.

The hotel's wine is stored in the bank's old vault. I wish I would have taken more pictures of the inside of the hotel. If you want to see more visit their website at: Westin hotel

For December it was pretty nice out. At least it was nice enough to walk the 7 or so blocks to the Metrodome. I didn't want to look all touristy, but I couldn't help but take pictures as we walked. I have always been in awe of the big buildings and love to look at them. Minneapolis is one of my favorite cities, but for as many times as I have been there, I haven't spent a lot of time downtown. This was my first time staying downtown and spending time walking around downtown. I absolutely loved it.

Not sure what this building was, but I just love the top of it.

We walked around to the front of this building and it said it was city hall and the courthouse.

It looks even prettier with a light dusting of snow.

I could have spent all day walking around downtown taking pictures. I may have to take some time next year and do just that. I was also researching salvage places in Minneapolis and found a few I would love to go to. I think a photography and junkin' weekend will be in order next summer.

Christmas ornaments

Along with my wrapping paper obsession, I have an ornament obsession. These are only two groups of ornaments, I have a lot more scattered around the house.

I picked this cigar box up at a thrift store about a month ago. I love it and it fits in perfectly with my sports stuff. I got my baseball Santa recently at The Traveling Trunk. I already had the football Santa so of course I had to get the baseball one too.  

These ornaments are one of those rare new things I have. The bowl they are in however, is from a thrift store. I got these pool ball ornaments after Christmas at Target last year. They may be new, but of course I didn't pay full price for them! I had planned on hanging them on a sports themed tree, but I like how they look in the bowl better.

Christmas card holder

I get my junkin' nature from my parents and a lot of things I acquire I get from them like these metal trays. I knew I would use them at Christmas, but I wasn't quite sure how. While putting up my Christmas decorations last weekend I remembered a picture I saw of three wreaths hung in a vertical row. Running down between the wreaths was a ribbon. I thought the same could be done with these trays so I stuck some picture mounting strips on the back of trays and hung them up. I'm going to display our Christmas cards on the trays this year.

I tend to buy lots of ribbon after Christmas for cheap. I had completely forgetten what I had so I was super happy when I saw this gold ribbon with snowflakes on it. It matches perfectly!

Right now I have a few random things displayed on the trays. I got this menu a couple of years ago at a rummage sale. Those stationed at the base must have been treated to a nice Christmas dinner. I find it amusing that cigars and cigarettes are listed as being available on the menu.

School bench turned TV stand

This TV stand was once a school gym bench. I would guess in a locker room, in the aisle between lockers? I came by it, the way of the Traveling Trunk in Mandan. If you've never been to the Traveling Trunk, you have to go! That's an order!

I love our house. It was built in 1926 and has some really great features, but lacks space. I've tried to make the best out of our tight living room and this bench fits perfectly in the one corner. I will have to do something with the DVD player and video game consoles underneath. Not sure what, but that's the fun part: searching for the pieces that will complete the space. 

I think I was destined to have this bench. With so much high school and college sports stuff in our living room, it was meant to be. 

My parents make these great door knobs. People use them for all sorts of things, like hanging necklaces or towels. We have one in the living room for our Wii controllers. 

I have a couple of wire baskets under the bench to corral video game controllers and accessories and one for games.

More wrapping paper

Here's some of my other wrapping paper. I have a lot more. After I get my presents wrapped and under the tree, I'll be sure to take a picture.

Wrapping paper

I have this obsession with old Christmas wrapping paper. I've collected enough the past two years that I think I can wrap every one's presents in older paper. Some of the paper is kind of ugly, but when all the packages are under the tree together, I think it will look great.

I got out to a couple of thrift stores last weekend while out and about and found this wrapping paper. Normally, I like older paper, but I thought it was kinda cute and at 50 cents, how can you go wrong on a jumbo never opened roll of paper? Torii was with me and I asked him politely to hold the roll while I shopped. After repeatedly slamming the end on the ground and then tripping over it, he broke of the end cover and some other paper came sliding out. 

 This paper is rather ugly, but can you tell what it is?



 Here's another clue.

Yep, that's right, it's Disney wrapping paper. I believe that's Disney World, but correct if I'm wrong. And I'm sorry, but that's kind of a scary reindeer with Mickey. Now I have to decide what to do with this paper. I know for sure that I'm going to scan some of it into the computer to keep for all time. I'm not sure if I want to use the rest or not. Should I use it on a package or some other project? Ideas?

Junk tree

This is my junky tree. The elves are new, but pretty much everything else is old. On this tree you can find: Christmas cards, wooden spools, keys, a fabric tape measure, clip on earrings, crafting bells and a few other odds and ends.

Christmas card

I love the graphics on this Christmas card and the inside font is wonderful. I'm going to make copies of this card because I can't bring myself to destroy the original.

Collections

 I spent a good part of today putting up Christmas decorations and wanted to share some of my holiday decorating, but my camera battery died and I didn't go out to get any more batteries. I'm sure I have some backup batteries somewhere, but I can't find them right now. So until I get those pictures uploaded, let me share one of my collections.

In our living room we have a lot of sports memorabilia. I started collecting football buttons and my favorites are displayed on the set of lockers that we keep our coats in.



This is a favorite just because it's my high school and the year I was born.



Three of these were my mom's. So glad she hung onto them!

 

This is my favorite. I got it in a $5 bag of buttons at a thrift store. The bag was taped and as I moved buttons around trying to see what was all in there I saw the words Sioux vs. Bison. I opened the bag as soon as I got to the car to see what I had gotten. I was so excited when I saw it. Not only is it the Sioux vs. the Bison, but it's a Homecoming pin, which are my favorite. I did a little research and I'm happy to report the Bison won this game. At UND. At their Homecoming. Ha!



And finally, the buttons that started the collection. These buttons have great graphics. And I love buttons that still have their ribbons.

Christmas coaster

I bought a pack of these paper coasters at a thrift store last year. I'm a sucker for paper with really great graphics. I punched a hole in one, looped some string through it and hung it on my junky Christmas tree (pictures to come later). I also think these would look really great printed on card stock and then used as gift tags. I have collected a pretty good stockpile of vintage wrapping paper the past couple of years and these would look great as gift tags on top of all that pretty vintage paper.

Wine charms

I bought an old Bingo set from an antique store while on vacation this summer for a whole $1.50. The box was really beat up, but I liked the wooden numbers and the small box the numbers were in was really cute too.



I really didn't know what I was going to do with the numbers, but the other day I had a light bulb moment while working on another project. Since I already had my drill out I wondered if I could drill holes in these as well. Turns out you can so I whipped up a batch of wine charms. I love how they turned out.

Bathroom table

 I got this little wood table at Goodwill for $3.00 not long ago.

I slapped some paint on it and Viola! A cute new table by the shower.

I'm really happy with it because our bathroom really needs some design help. This piece really transformed the area by the shower.

Welcome

Welcome to my new site! I decided to start a blog to document all my crafty pursuits. I hope to post all of my repurposing and craft projects here as well as some of my favorite home decorating ideas and anything else that inspires me. With Christmas right around the corner I’ll have some fun things to post soon so check in often!