Christmas Wrapping using Brown Paper Sacks

It's that time of year again...and as we are traveling out of town, I need to get my wrapping done early so that the packages will arrive in time for Christmas.

Here's the mess I start with...

I don't have a great area to wrap in my great room, so I just decide to camp out on the rug in front of the couch. You can see I have my work cut out for me-ha ha!

I decided to sort of "color code" gifts this year by child. My oldest daughter's favorite color is blue, so I wrapped her gifts with blue accents. Here are a few of my favorites:

Blue Accents

I love using tulle to make bows. It allows for "springing back" after getting smooshed in the mail.

I also added star stickers on it purchased from my favorite online store, Amazon.

I used Washi tape on this package. Oh, and all the writing is done with chalk pens. 

Here's another one done with a different washi tape.

 Quick and easy.

I used self-adhesive jewels on this gift. Rubber cement 

helps if the adhesive doesn't work well.

I added stamps to this one. I used the white chalk pen on the stamp.

Pink Accents

I used a lace washi tape on this one and a bow. I also used 

some self-adhesive jewels to give it a little bit more "punch." I added rubber cement to the bow in several places to help it stay 

on the paper.

Simple round stickers decorate this pretty package. If you make the tulle extra long, you can tie more bows, if that makes sense.

More tulle and self-adhesive stars. 

I love this Washi tape and pink chalk tape with a hot pink bow.

I used some old foam stickers that I had from making Valentines for the kids' classes on this package to sort of make a snowflake. 

Other Decorations:

Here's a variety I put together with different craft paper, etc that I had at home. I love making Christmas trees from Washi tape.

Here's a variety of different of different leftover crafts I have at home again. As you can see, tulle, washi tape, foam stickers, and stamps are staples.

Don't forget to invest in a good brown paper craft tape like this one. It works much better than scotch tape. I use a very small spray bottle to wet the adhesive on the back of the tape-like the spray travel bottles. Using a big spray bottle leaves the tape too wet and it takes too long to dry.

Hope you have gotten some good ideas about wrapping with brown paper sacks! It's fun and allows for a little creativity. Plus, if you are like me, you have a bunch sitting around waiting to be recycled or used in some other way. It will save you a trip to the store during the busy season!

Growing Old Sucks

I haven't blogged in several months, but for some reason, felt compelled tonight after a visit to my primary doctor today. A little background: I've had pain in my right hip since probably my mid to late twenties. It's been relatively mild over the years till my mid thirties. Fast forward a few years and I'm sleeping with a pillow between my legs to try and prevent waking up with pain. I also can't sleep on my stomach anymore, which stinks, because I've always been a stomach sleeper. I now have lower back pain, too, and wake up stiff every morning. My husband has been encouraging me i.e., nagging me to call my doctor about my issues. I've avoided doing so partly because it takes time out of my work day and partly because I've not really wanted to hear what my doc might tell me.

I finally scheduled an appointment for today and, after hearing my symptoms, my doc tells me it's very likely I have arthritis in my hip. She wants me to get an x-Ray and is referring me to an orthopedist. Tells me the x-Ray will likely say "mild arthritis," but that really means it's "pretty bad" if it shows up on the x-Ray. Great! Ortho will likely recommend PT, which I do not have time for...who has time to go during work hours 2-3 times a week? I did that before prior to having surgery on both hands for carpal tunnel. Unfortunately, it didn't work for me, which doesn't mean it won't help for my hip and lower back pain. The real issue is the time I do not have in my day during work hours.

Oh, and then my doc mentions that this type of issue is what commonly leads to "hip replacement surgery" down the line. Wth?? I have to admit, this possibility is why I was avoiding going to the doc in the first place. Hearing her vocalize my fear, however, is another thing. I ask her when she thinks I may need surgery if my pain continues to worsen. I say, my sixties? I thought that was a reasonable guess. She surprises me by saying mid-fifties. In my 20's, that seemed ancient, but now that I am on the other side of 40, I hate admitting that, mid-fifties is really not that far away.

So, hear I am sitting on my couch, researching exercises for my hip arthritis, which was confirmed this afternoon by an x-Ray. I was supposed to be going to a work social with my hubby tonight, but didn't feel like going after today's visit. I also admit I do not want to be around the temptation of the food and alcohol there since today's visit has left me feeling like I should FINALLY try and lose the extra baby weight that might be making my hip and back pain worse. I've only ever been overweight in my life since having kids. I'm not that overweight, but any extra stress on my joints can't be good, right?

Like I said, growing old sucks.