Holiday Gift Guide–For The Decor Lover

November 21, 2016

When we all sit down to enjoy Thanksgiving this week, the day will also mark the official kick-off to our holiday season! In the weeks ahead you’ll be celebrating at parties, decorating your homes and searching for that special gift. And all this week I’ll have some fabulous suggestions to help you do all that.

Today I’ve got a gift guide for the design lover in your life. As a design enthusiast myself, a decor themed gift has to be unique, stylish and functional. All of the items on today’s list check all those boxes and more. Happy shopping!
***warning, you may find a piece or two that you need for your own home!

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2016 Holiday Gift Guide For Decor Lovers

Quatrefoil Tray–This hand-carved mango wood tray is a great style statement for a coffee table or bar cart.

Blue and White Ceramic Plant Stand–I love the look and price of this blue and white garden stool. It’s the perfect piece next to a chair or as a pair tucked under a console table.

Brass Bamboo 2-Tier Bar Cart–During the holidays and beyond, this chic brass bar cart will be a sure hit for anyone that love to entertain.

Venus Foo Dogs–A pair of ceramic Asian Foo Dogs will make a great accent on a bookshelf or console table. Set of 2.

Clear Glass Candle Lantern–One or two of these gold framed lanterns will look great as a centerpiece accent on a dining table.

Gold Trivet–I love this decorative and functional pineapple trivet for a stove top or kitchen counter. It’s also available in a chic matte black.

Black Flokati Stool–A faux fur stool is the perfect accent piece in a reading nook next to a cozy chair. Also available in blush, ivory, charcoal and taupe.

Hearth Candle by Nest–Everyone loves candles and you can’t go wrong with Nest. The hearth scent is the perfect fragrance for the winter months.

xo,

Favorite Posts, Pins and Products (of the week)!

November 19, 2016

Enjoy your weekend and my favorites from the week.

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FAVORITE POSTS

If I do life all over again, I’d live in New York for a few years and my apartment would look something like Emmy Rossum’s Manhattan home.

Here’s a fun and inspiring interview with designer Christiane Lemieux.

Loved this easy idea to glam up holiday garland.

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FAVORITE PINS

With Thanksgiving just a few days away and Christmas right around the corner, I’ve been thinking a lot about holiday table settings.

Here’s a really fresh take on a holiday tablescape. You’ll definitely want to click here to see the other elements that were used on the table.

I’m loving this black and white table setting and those turquoise candles are a perfect unexpected pop of color.

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FAVORITE PRODUCTS

These initial stickers are such an easy way to UpStyle a tote, handbag or just about anything else you can think of.

This is just one of the great holiday prints available from this Etsy shop. And they are all between $2.00 and $5.00!

I spotted the adorable Pineapple Tumblers in Bed Bath and Beyond the other day and immediately added them to my wish list. Set of 2 for $19.99!

Enjoy your weekend friends. I’ll be back tomorrow with a fun and easy DIY hostess gift idea.

Preparing For The Holidays (and reducing holiday stress)

November 14, 2016

Can you believe that there are only 41 days until Christmas? This weekend the magnitude of my holiday to-do list set in and I began to panic about everything I need to get done. When that panic set in I knew I need to sit down and strategize my holiday season. With pen and paper in hand, I outlined a strategy to take the stress out of the holidays and put the joy back in.

I know many of you can relate so today I’m sharing my tips for a Stress-Free Holiday Season.

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PLAN YOUR HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES

Planning is key to getting things done this holiday and finding time to enjoy the season. The first thing to do is pull out your calendar and jot down all the activities you want and need to participate in. Plan time to enjoy holiday traditions with family and friends and block out time to just relax.

tip: pull out your favorite board games and put them in a basket where they are accessible and will encourage play time.

CREATE A DETAILED GIFT LIST

If you haven’t started your gift list yet , it’s time to sit down and create one. Spend time online looking for the perfect gift and do some price comparisons. Plan to shop on Small Business Saturday (Sat., Nov. 26th) to support your favorite local businesses. When planning your gift lists, gather store coupons so they will be handy when you head out to shop.

tip: many stores have already started offering Black Friday Deals so shopping early can reduce stress and save you some money.

And to make things even easier, I created a fun Gift List printable below for you to use.

Download Christmas Gift List

GET THE GUEST ROOM READY

Hosting guests during the holidays doesn’t have to be overwhelming if you plan ahead. Stock up on petite size toiletries and snack food for your guest to use and enjoy. Wash sheets and towels and placed them in a linen closet or accessible storage area. Create an essential list for your guest including phone numbers, house alarm code, wi-fi password and local points of interest.

tip: place a basket in your guest bedroom to hold extra blankets and pillows so guest don’t have to come asking for them.

STOCK UP ON NECESSARY COOKING SUPPLIES/FOOD ITEMS

Don’t take the chance that your grocery store will have everything you need days before Thanksgiving and Christmas. Plan your holiday menus and shop now for all the necessary supplies. Stock up on items like beverages, frozen food and spices so you have enough to last through the season.

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DECORATE YOUR OWN WAY

Decorating during the holidays can sometimes feel like a challenge–who can make their home the merriest. One way to take the stress out of the season is to decorate your way. Decorate as little or as much as you want and don’t feel bad if you don’t get it all done. This is the time of year when the focus should be on spending time with family and friends and remembering all that we have to be grateful for.

tip: if the idea of decorating a tree has you cringing, don’t do it. Hang a few garlands and wreaths, put out a few Christmas pillows and call it a day.

PLAY MUSIC

Music is proven to have a calming effect so during the busy holiday season turn on some tunes and enjoy the season through music. Create a holiday playlist in iTunes that includes your favorite Christmas songs and make it a point to enjoy at least 30 minutes of music each day.

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KEEP YOU HOME CLUTTER FREE AND ORGANIZED

It’s easy to let clutter and chaos take over during the holidays. Create storage areas of holiday wrapping paper, supplies and cards so you have a designated place to store things. And spend 10 minutes every day walking through the house so that task of doing major cleaning is more manageable.

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Preparing For The Holidays…RELAX & ENJOY

The most important tip I can share for reducing stress this holiday is to relax and enjoy the season.

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Gift Wrap Inspiration: Floral Paper Wrapped Boxes

October 24, 2016

I’m back with another Gift Wrap Inspiration post and this one is sure to go down as one of the easiest gift wrap ideas ever.

The idea was inspired by a box I spotted at HomeGoods. It was a simple idea–a paper mache’ kraft box wrapped with pretty paper. The minute I saw it, I recognized what a great concept it was for people who don’t like to wrap gifts, have a ton of gifts to wrap or need to wrap a gift in a hurry. Or in other words, it’s a wrapping project that anyone can do.

Here’s what you’ll need to recreate these pretty floral wrapped boxes…

Paper Mache Kraft Boxes come in a wide range of shapes and sizes and can be purchased at any of the big craft stores. You’ll find the widest range of shapes from Amazon and they offer the best pricing is you are buying in bulk. I’ve also spotted these boxes at Goodwill from time to time so be on the look out there too!

Next you’ll need wrapping paper. Since I have somewhat of a paper obsession, I’m always looking for pretty paper when out shopping. The animal print floral and the black and white stripe paper came from Hobby Lobby (currently on sale for $2.00/pk of 6). This paper is actually decoupage paper but the weight makes it suitable for wrapping gifts. The other two floral papers are from Papyrus (similar here and here).

tip: this is a great project to use those wrapping paper scraps you might have lying around

(black and white chevron // fuchsia two-tone // green textured lines)

And of course a beautifully wrapped gift wouldn’t be complete without pretty ribbon. If you’ve read my blog for a while, you know that MayArts is one of my go-to sources for ribbon. They have hundreds of styles, patterns and materials to choose from so you’ll easily find the perfect ribbon for your gift wrapping projects.

fyi: MayArts used to be a wholesale supplier only but now anyone can purchase from their site

Now comes the easy part…measure, cut and wrap the bottom of each box with wrapping paper, using double-sided tape to secure the ends and edges. To create the ribbon ties, tape two pieces of ribbon on opposite sides inside the lid of the box. Place the lid on the box and tie a bow.

note: You can also cover the lids of the boxes like I did with one of my boxes.

Just think of all the paper and ribbon possibilities you have with this wrapping idea. And with the busy holiday season fast approaching, you’ll want to stock up on paper, ribbon and boxes now so you’ll have everything you’ll need for holiday gift giving.

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Want more creative gift wrapping tips and inspiration, join me for The Art of Gifting gift wrap workshop which I’m conducting at Steve McKenzie’s, a beautiful decor and gift store here in Atlanta. The event takes place Saturday, Nov. 12th from 9:30-11:00 am. You can learn more about the event and purchase tickets here.

Happy wrapping!

The Art Of Gifting–A Holiday Workshop

October 19, 2016

Join me for…

I’m excited to be partnering with Steve McKenzie’s this holiday, hosting a holiday gift wrap workshop, The Art of Gifting! During the workshop I’ll share fun and creative wrapping ideas to get you ready for holiday gift giving. From unique ways to use paper and ribbon, creative packaging ideas and fun embellishment tips that will give your gifts that special touch, you’ll learn all my gift wrapping secrets! I hope you’ll join me for a morning of creative inspiration and shopping.

Tickets are $15 and can be purchased through Eventbrite here.

I hope to see you there.

Best of ConfettiStyle–Creative Gift Wrap Ideas

September 6, 2016

Hello friends. I wish you could be with me as we are sailing our way to Aruba. As promised, it’s Best of ConfettiStyle week here on the blog. Today I’m sharing my passion for gift wrapping and five of the most popular gift wrap posts.

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Ribbon Tie Boxes

Paper is not always a requirement when it comes to wrapping gifts. I created these Ribbon Tie Boxes in a flash and boy have they gotten lots of love on Pinterest. You can find the set of nesting boxes at the Container Store and all of the ribbon came from my favorite ribbon source, May Arts.

Full tutorial here.

Flower Band Gift Wrap

This Flower Band giftwrap project was inspired by a cake design I spotted on Pinterest. I use a variety of faux flowers and made a beautiful flower wrap for a plain white gift box. If you’re looking for a creative way to wrap a gift for a wedding or baby shower, this idea is great.

Full tutorial here.

Signature Colors

Way back in 2012 I wrote a blog post about wrapping gifts in my signature colors. Much like Tiffany & Co. I have a signature wrap. My go-to colors are red and hot pink and I’m always looking for wrapping paper and ribbon in that color combo. If you spot any, let me know.

Read the post here.

Paper Lace Bands

If you’re not a ribbon ~~hoarder~~ collector like I am, my Paper Lace Band project shows you how to make a paper wrap for gifts. I used the Fiskars Advantedge Paper Punch System and scrapbook paper to make these pretty gold paper bands.

Full tutorial here.

DIY Holiday Wrapping Crate

Last Christmas I made this DIY Holiday Wrapping Crate to hold the papers, ribbons and tags that I used to wrap our gifts. I embellished the crate with a Merry & Bright decal and added wheels so I could easily move it from room to room. The crate will get a refresh this Christmas and I’ll share it during the 2nd annual Merry & Bright Holiday Home Blog Tour I’m hosting with Kellie from Design Asylum.

Full tutorial here.

I’ll have a new gift wrap post for you later this month so stay tuned.

Anyone else share in my love of wrapping gifts?

Creative Gift Giving–Stationery Box

August 19, 2016

If you’ve been reading the blog for a while or follow me on Instagram, you know I love beautiful stationery. I’m a sucker for the boxed notecards at HomeGoods and I’ve been known to handcraft my own monogram notecards.

As a business owner and lifestyle blogger, I make it a practice to send cards and notes to all my design clients and to new friends that I meet through blogging. I also love to give beautiful stationery as gifts.

Today I’m sharing a fun and stylish gift idea that’s easy to pull together, Monogrammed Stationery Suite!

The first thing you’ll need to do to create this stationery set is to compile an assortment of notecards. The perfect stationery suite should include thank you cards, blank note cards, blank or decorative tags and maybe even some decorative or monogrammed stickers.

Here are the items I included in my set:

DIY Monogram Notecard // Personalized Notepad // Monogram Stickers // Personalized Thank You Cards // Gift Tags (similar)

DIY Monogram Notecards // Personalized Notepad // Monogram Stickers // Personalized Thank You Cards // Gift Tags (similar)

tip: You may also want to include a pretty pen in the stationery suite so the gift recipient has everything they need to send notes.

Next, head to the store and pick up a small acrylic drawer unit. I purchased this one from HomeGoods for less than $8 but I also love this one from the Container Store.

Once all the items are pulled together, arrange them in each drawer so all the cards and stickers can be seen.

To personalize the top of the box, use these embroidered iron-on letters and simply glue them onto the top of the box.

tip: the initials are white when you purchased them but you can easily use a Sharpie to change the color like I did. I used this same technique when I made my DIY monogram straw hat.

DIY Monogram Stationery Suite

If you’re looking for unique stationery products, here are a few of my favorite sources:

Notecards, Thank You, Blank Notes

Stickers

Zazzle (the best source and prices for monogrammed stickers)

Washi Tape

Cute Tape

A personalized stationery suite is a creative gift to give for any occasion. And it’s a great gift for men who usually don’t keep stationery items on hand.

With the Christmas gift giving season just a few months away, get a jump on your gift giving and make up a few of these boxes for the special people in your life.

Happy Gifting!

Best of Etsy: Shop Nancy Nikko Design

August 8, 2016

I recently came across an amazing paper goods shop on Etsy and was smitten with everything they make. Nancy Nikko Design specializes in personalized stationery, labels and bookplates, all with beautifully illustrated images, graphics and typography. I am especially drawn to the chinoiserie designs and home decor illustrations and love her collection of business cards.

There are over 800 items in Nancy’s shop, perfect for your personal stationery suite or for gift giving. You’ll also find a collection of party decor, kids stationery and art prints and most of the custom wine labels, personalized stationery and invitations can accommodate color changes, and additional text upon request.

FYI– Nancy will have her Christmas and holiday designs available in late September.

Picking my favorites items was a hard task but I did manage to round-up a few of them for you below. To view the entire Nancy Nikko Design shop, head here.

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Nancy Nikko Design

Chinoiserie Memory Card Game (I think these would also look great as a framed collection)

Shop Bookplates (the perfect gift for anyone that still loves coffee table books)

Shop Stationery (personalized stationery is such a thoughtful gift)

Shop Business Cards (every savvy business owner needs a card that makes a statement)

Shop Thank You Cards (you can never have too many of these, especially if they are cute)

Shop Place Cards (a fun way to personalize your party table)

Shop Custom Wine Bottle Labels (such a great design touch for a special event, holiday or gift)

Limoncello Label Tags (you’re going to have a hard time picking a favorite from these designs)

Shop Art Prints (great prices on chinoiserie inspired designs)

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Nancy Nikko Design is one of the most beautiful hand-crafted paper goods line I’ve come across in a long time.

Enjoy shopping and let me know which items are your favorite.

2016 Holiday Gift Guide For Decor Lovers

FAVORITE POSTS

FAVORITE PINS

FAVORITE PRODUCTS

PLAN YOUR HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES

tip: pull out your favorite board games and put them in a basket where they are accessible and will encourage play time.

CREATE A DETAILED GIFT LIST

tip: many stores have already started offering Black Friday Deals so shopping early can reduce stress and save you some money.

GET THE GUEST ROOM READY

tip: place a basket in your guest bedroom to hold extra blankets and pillows so guest don’t have to come asking for them.

STOCK UP ON NECESSARY COOKING SUPPLIES/FOOD ITEMS

DECORATE YOUR OWN WAY

tip: if the idea of decorating a tree has you cringing, don’t do it. Hang a few garlands and wreaths, put out a few Christmas pillows and call it a day.

PLAY MUSIC

KEEP YOU HOME CLUTTER FREE AND ORGANIZED

Preparing For The Holidays…RELAX & ENJOY

tip: this is a great project to use those wrapping paper scraps you might have lying around

(black and white chevron // fuchsia two-tone // green textured lines)

fyi: MayArts used to be a wholesale supplier only but now anyone can purchase from their site

note: You can also cover the lids of the boxes like I did with one of my boxes.

Join me for…

Tickets are $15 and can be purchased through Eventbrite here.

Ribbon Tie Boxes

Flower Band Gift Wrap

Full tutorial here.

Signature Colors

Read the post here.

Paper Lace Bands

Full tutorial here.

DIY Holiday Wrapping Crate

Full tutorial here.

tip: You may also want to include a pretty pen in the stationery suite so the gift recipient has everything they need to send notes.

tip: the initials are white when you purchased them but you can easily use a Sharpie to change the color like I did. I used this same technique when I made my DIY monogram straw hat.

DIY Monogram Stationery Suite

FYI– Nancy will have her Christmas and holiday designs available in late September.

Nancy Nikko Design

all images via Nancy Nikko Design