Holiday Crafting

Although I've been terrible at blogging about it, I've been busy, busy with holiday crafts.

First off, we're planning a holiday party for this weekend.  And since we like our parties to revolve around cocktails, we're hosting "A Very Boozy Christmas" featuring both classic and novel winter cocktails.  To this end, I put together an invite.  I had a classier version (sans the candy cane striping), but Michael insisted that the occasion called for gaudiness.

And so that our guests don't leave empty-handed, I thought it would be fun to send folks off with a booklet of recipes for the featured cocktails.  Using my invitation as the jumping off point, I put together a set of 3x5 cards that I cut from card stock and assembled with some gold brads that I had left over from our wedding programs.  I had also considered gifting beautifully wrapped jewelry boxes with a dose of Alka Seltzer (to go with the boozy theme), but the booklets won.

 And because it's not a Pellegrin party without a home infusion, I'm also infusing some vodka with mint for this Candy Cane Cooler cocktail.

In other holiday news, I'm all about some packaging this year.  I'm not even ready to admit how much I've spent on wrapping paper (man, The Container Store has pretty--but pricey--options) and trimmings--including these adorable trimmings that I ordered from Knot & Bow.  Metallic bakers twine and flashy doilies. So excited to use this stuff (secretly hoping that the gifts on which I'll use it will spontaneously appear).

Finally, the holiday card.  This is something that I feel compelled to do now that we're married (and Groupon/Living Social make it so affordable with deals on photo cards).  I'm not sure why exactly I feel that way.  I know our friends aren't particularly interested in seeing a ho-hum pic of us (other than musing about how I was able to convince Michael to pose for such a cheesy, white bread picture), but the parents and grandparents eat it up, right?  Anyway, I whipped up a little glittery banner, threw up some fabric for a backdrop, and my dad snapped away (this was while we were home in Tennessee for Thanksgiving).  I've got to say, I have no idea how to edit a photo.  I should take a class.  In the future, if I'm serious about this, I should just hire someone to take the picture and edit it.  Anyway, as soon as I buy stamps, those suckers will be out the door.

Card by Simply to Impress

Is everyone else super busy with the holidays?  Any fun holiday cards in the works?

---