The Holidays are Over, but the
Wrapping Paper Remains…

 

Now that the holidays are over, I’ve got about a half dozen rolls of holiday paper taking up space in my already-crowded hall closet. Instead of storing it until this time next year I’ve come up with some ways to use it all year round. I admit many seem to involve lamination, but if you have any you think I’ve missed (lamination or no!), please leave it in the comments section for us to check out.



  • Placemats – cut a piece of wrapping paper to 14”x18” and have it laminated. If you have the time – and patience – you could also weave together 2” strips of two types of wrapping paper to make a more colorful and dynamic design.

  • Coasters – cut out and laminate several 4”x4” squares to make easy-to-clean but festive party coasters.

  • Bookmarks – slice elegant wrapping paper into 2”x9” strips. Place the strips back to back and laminate to create a two-sided bookmark. You can also punch a hole at the top and attach a tassel of color-coordinating thread.

Last Day, Last Chance

 

If you’re like me, you hate waiting until the last minute for anything, especially preparing for Christmas. But sometimes it just can’t be avoided. Never fear, there’s still time to ship your holiday goodies and treats! But don’t delay - today is THE LAST DAY to ship your packages to ensure arrival before Christmas. FedEx Express is delivering through December 24th for all the procrastinators and last minute shoppers out there!

And if you need some last minute gift ideas, here are some easy-to-grab things that you can pick up at any 24-hour drugstore.  ...read more

Shopping and Shipping for a
Budget-Friendly Christmas

 

With only one week until Christmas Eve, I know I need to buckle down and find meaningful gifts that won’t break my budget. I’ve always found it best to give a few trinkets that are useful and unique, along with a special note to remind friends and family how much I care.


Visit your favorite local stores and pick a variety of scented soaps and small candles in your friend or family member’s favorite color. You can wrap them in colorful tissue paper leftover from stuffing gift bags to make the present pop! Remember to include a handwritten holiday note reminding your loved ones why they mean so much to you.

 

A New Spin on the Annual Christmas Cookie Swap

 

Every year my girlfriends and I get together for a holiday cookie swap a few weeks before Christmas.  We all love how the swap gives us an excuse to get together – plus we’re guaranteed to leave with several tins filled to the brim of different treats to munch throughout the holidays. But this year everyone is just too busy to bake in time for our usual party date. So for this go-round, I had a great idea – swapping festive jars of holiday cookie mixes and recipes instead of the baked-up goodies!  While we won’t get the variety of years past, we will still get to try out few new recipes, and I can bake them when my schedule quiets down.

I put together the cute mix jars in the photo a few days ago. The cookie cutters and holiday ribbon are from my local craft store. I designed the recipe cards using a common word processing software, and printed them out on card stock at FedEx Office. ...read more

Rethink the Holiday Office Party

 

Sometimes it’s nice to shake things up a bit. Since there are so many holiday parties, dinners and get-togethers (trust me, my waistline knows), you may find an unconventional celebration to be refreshing. 

That’s exactly what we’re doing in our office this year. Instead of a traditional office party, we’re sharing in the spirit of the holiday season by volunteering together. It’s a fun, easy way to give back and spend time together, which is what the holidays are all about, right?  Our office is helping with the Frisco Fire Safety Town holiday lights event in Frisco, Texas. Safety Town is a community education program run by the Frisco Fire Department that resembles a miniature town complete with real buildings that represent area businesses, including a FedEx Office retail center! We will help the children write letters to Santa, distribute coloring books and more. This volunteering event should be lots of fun, and we’re encouraged to bring our families. ...read more

Do-it-Yourself Wall Art

 

I am in the process of buying a new house, and I have my work cut out for me. Besides the packing, moving and unpacking, I also need to decorate every room. Things to consider…what color should I paint, what kind of accessories would I like for each room, and what should go on those bare walls???

There are tons of creative ideas on the Internet for how to create your own custom wall art if you don’t want to invest in prints or paintings. You can make a collage with old photos from childhood or frame individual photos and then stagger them in an alternating or ascending pattern across the wall. Another option is to turn a treasured family photo into a large canvas print.

And if you’re feeling super creative, check out this neat blog article on how to create works of art from old postage stamps. Let me know what you think and please share your ideas for cool wall art! I could use the ideas for my new digs… ...read more

Syndicate content