’tis wreath season

My holiday DIY projects are ongoing here at my house. I think it’s beginning to drive my husband crazy when he comes home to craft projects every night, but the kids and I have had fun inside making gingerbread houses, wreaths and cookies during the freezing, arctic cold temperatures outside.

Yesterday we completed two wreaths ~ one for my son’s teacher, appropriately a crayon wreath and the other one for me, an ornament wreath. Both were enjoyable, affordable and quite easy.

Crayon Wreath


You’ll Need:
Styrofoam wreath {I bought a 12-inch from Hobby Lobby}
Box of 96 crayons {I used Crayola}
Hot glue gun and hot glue
Ribbon {to hang it}
Fabric {a little less than 1 yard} to cover the wreath {I found adorable and teacher-friendly fabric for less than $5 at Hobby Lobby with ABC’s and 123’s printed all over it}

How To: 
Cut the fabric into 6 inch strips.
Glue the end of the first strip of fabric to the back of the wreath, and begin to wrap it. Glue the end of the strip onto the wreath before you begin your next one. Repeat until wreath is covered.
Find a wide ribbon, cut to the length desired and glue the ‘base’ of it to the wreath so you can glue crayons over it.
Place a bowl in the middle of the wreath that is small enough to fit in the hole, but large enough to leave room for only the tips of the crayons to fit into the center of the wreath {this will ensure a perfect circle with your crayon tips in the center of the wreath}.
Begin to glue the crayons one by one.
{Tip: The tips of the crayons will be really close to one another, if not touching. However the rest of the crayon needs to be spaced appropriately to ’round the corners’ evenly}.

Ornament Wreath
I saw a version of an ornament wreath on Pinterest several weeks ago and was inspired to make one for my front door, or for the inside of my home during the holidays. I decided to go with a green and gold color scheme.

You’ll Need: 
Styrofoam wreath {I bought an 18-inch wreath from Hobby Lobby}
Spray paint {I used gold}
150 ornaments of all different sizes {I probably used 25 large, 75 medium and 50 small}.
A glue gun and A LOT of hot glue
Ribbon {to hang it}

How To:
Spray paint the wreath your desired color. Because my ornaments were green and gold, I spray painted the styrofoam wreath gold.
Find a wide ribbon, cut to the length desired and glue the ‘base’ of it to the wreath so you can glue ornaments over it.
Begin to glue the ornaments. Start with the large ornaments and work your way to the small ornaments. It’s like a puzzle ~ just fill in and add on top of and next to one another to cover all the gaps.
Voila ~ you have a new, festive decor piece to hang in your home for the holidays.

Here’s more holiday wreath inspiration I’m swooning over {and tutorials for all you DIYers}
This burlap wreath from P is for Party is lovely and would be a fantastic holiday card display with push pins.

A vintage music lover would adore this beautiful sheet music DIY wreath with a full tutorial at Double Take Event Styling.

Bring the ring of sleigh bells into your living room or front door with this jingle bell wreath from Martha Stewart.

A delicate-looking wreath made of paper doilies that creates the magical effect of candles flickering in the snow would delight all.

Stun your guests with this gorgeous pearl wreath. I’m in love…

{images via Tutto Bella}

{giveaway} i see me personalized children’s books

I love when I discover a new, fabulous and unique product that makes the perfect gift. I get giddy…seriously! I love it even more when I get to share it with all of YOU.

I became familiar with I See Me Personalized Children’s Books because I received My Very Own Name from a good friend {thanks McKenna} when I had my first child. It was one of my favorite gifts I received. Not only because it was personalized {who doesn’t love the added touch of personalization?}, but because it was a beautiful, lasting book that engaged my son with words, letters and animals to teach him his name.

There is something for everyone at I See Me! Whether you’re an uncle or aunt, grandparent, godmother or godfather, brother or sister, friend or neighbor ~ you can make a child smile with the gift of words and pictures beautifully bound in a story they can keep forever.

Your little one can have a magical holiday with A Christmas Bear for Me or A Hanukkah Bear for Me. Your fairy princess will star in her own magical fairy tale in My Very Own Fairy Tale as fairies bring letters one by one to spell out her name in rhyme {my daughter loves this book and actually tries to smell the flowers on every page}. Sea creatures will spell your child’s name in rhyme in My Very Own Pirate Tale. The newest member of the family will feel even more blessed and loved when he or she receives God Love You! Personalized Book for his/her christening. And big brothers and big sisters can feel extra special and rewarded with The Super, Incredible Big Brother/Sister personalized books.

I love these books! In fact, I loved these books even before I knew the hottest Hollywood celebrities coveted I See Me books for their children.

Today, I See Me is offering one lucky Tutto Bella blog reader a FREE personalized My Very Own Name book. This giveaway is worth $29.95 plus shipping. Thank you I See Me!

My Very Own Name is a beautifully illustrated personalized children’s book that helps children to learn to recognize letters and spell their names. In this hardcover, professionally bound book, animals bring letters one by one to create the child’s first and last names in rhyme. A jackal brings a J, an ostrich brings an O, and so on. At the end, the animals celebrate because they’ve created the perfect name.

As an added personal touch, this award-winning book includes the child’s birth date, a printed dedication from the sender, and an illustrated encyclopedia of 61 animals. This storybook is made in the USA and written by Maia Haag.

Click here to order “My Very Own Name”, a personalized children’s book

To enter the giveaway, you must:
{1.} “Like” I See Me on Facebook. Come back and leave a comment telling us you did {you have to leave a comment so we can enter your name in the drawing}.

For additional entries:
{which means you can enter the giveaway up to three times}
{2.} Visit I See Me on Twitter and become a follower. Then tell us you did it.
{3.}Visit I See Me, then come back here and leave a comment telling us which book is your favorite {you have to leave a comment in order to enter your name in the drawing}.

Winner will be chosen via random.org. Must enter by Sunday, December 11, 2011. 

{images via I See Me}

our favorite things {for the new mama}

New moms have to adjust to 9 months of their body changing and growing, and once their child is born, their lives are turned upside down {in a good way} with diapers, sleepless nights, milk and baby talk…and the endless joy and unconditional love that miraculous babies bring.

All moms ~ pregnant and post-birth, moms of one, two or three or more children and moms of children of every age ~ DESERVE to be pampered. They dedicate their lives to their families and deserve to be given a little something special this holiday season…and always.

We put together a list of sweet gifts for the pregnant mom and new mom that is sure to bring a smile to their face…and their tiny tots too.

All products have been given my highest stamp of approval because I received these items as a new mom and absolutely LOVED them all!

1. Hanky Panky Lace Thong, Nordstrom, prices vary but range from $18-23 per pair: Comfortable, pretty, no pesky underwear lines and wearable even with 50lbs of baby weight because it’s one size fits all. Gotta love it…I know I do, whether I’m preggo or not.
2. Belly Laughs: The Naked Truth About Pregnancy and Childbirth, Jenny McCarthy, Amazon.com, $10.98: This book will make her laugh and give her an honest and hilarious insight into the changes a preggo mama goes through. Read an excerpt here.
3.  Mama Mio Tummy Rub, Amazon.com, $35: She will love to massage this on her belly to try to prevent stretch marks as her belly grows, but will come to love the routine of massaging and rubbing her sweet baby bump daily.
4. My Very Own Name, I See Me Personalized Children’s Books, $29.95: Animals bring letters one by one to spell out your child’s name in rhyme. This is a gift that will keep on giving. You can personalize the mom to be’s child when he/she is born or personalize for a big brother or big sister. I LOVE this book and so do my kids!  
5. Petunia Pickle Bottom Diaper Bag, Petunia Pickle Bottom, prices vary: The new mom will stay fashionable with her designer diaper bag that fits all her new baby needs.  
Check back here tomorrow for our wonderful giveaway and how to enter. It’s a good one you won’t want to miss.

{images via Nordstrom, I See Me, Amazon and Petunia Pickle Bottom}

{giveaway} doodle design shop

{FOR A FRIEND} giveaway: Petal Heads Frayed Flower Hat from Doodle Design Shop

Creative crafter and mompreneur {mom and entrepreneur}, Jenny at Doodle Design Shop,  creates one-of-a-kind hats adorned with unique and colorful handmade blooms. The distressed military style caps are my favorite, but she has something for every style and season – fedoras for the fashionistas, crochet winter head wraps and cute beanies to keep warm during the winter months, straw cowboy hats and even youth flower hats for your little tots.

We love Jenny for creating these hats, and also because Jenny is kindly offering Tutto Bella readers a FREE Petal Heads Frayed Flower Hat! It’s a fashionable gift {for a friend} or yourself, worth $38.

All three of us own a hat like this and absolutely LOVE IT. In fact, we’ve given to friends and family as gifts, and they too LOVE the hat.

A bad hair day has never looked so cute with a Doodle Design hat to cover it up.

To enter the giveaway, you must:
{1} Visit Doodle Design Shop and leave a comment telling us which item is your favorite.

For additional entries:
{2} Visit Doodle Design Shop on Facebook, and leave a comment telling us you became a fan or “like” Doodle Design Shop.
{3} Visit Fleur de Lis on Facebook, and leave a comment telling us you’re a fan, or you “like” Fleur de Lis.

Eligible to U.S. Residents only. You must comment by 10 am MST by Friday, December 2, 2011. Winner will be chosen via random.org.

{images via Doodle Design Shop}

favorite things {for a friend}

I am truly blessed to have a loyal group of girlfriends I can always count on, and who love me through it all. Just thinking about all of them makes me smile. Everyone needs a good friend in his/her life…it’s therapy you don’t have to pay for! 🙂 Think about your girlfriends this holiday season, and if you can’t afford to buy them something, make them dinner or send a card letting them know how much you love and appreciate them.

We have terrific gift ideas {FOR THE FRIEND} this holiday season that will be sure to delight…and come back here tomorrow to enter in our giveaway because we have a giveaway item from the list below you won’t want to miss!

1. Petal Heads Frayed Flower Hats, $38, Doodle Designs Shop
2. TOMS Herringbone Shoe, $54, Toms
3. East Cloud Grey Scarf with Sequins, $48, Kitson
4. I heart Italy {insert your favorite place} necklace, $55, tru.che {Stevie at tru.che kindly offered Tutto Bella readers 10% with code BELLA this week only. Shop her etsy store – she creates beautiful jewelry ranging from $8-$100. I am in LOVE with the I heart Italy necklace…think about that special place for you you’d like to keep around your neck and close to your heart this holiday season and always}
5. Voluspa Candle, $18-$28, sold at Fleur de Lis, a paperie

{images via Doodle Design ShopKitson, Toms, tru.che, Voluspa}