Grey House Harbor
  • Home
  • about
  • contact

Dec 30 2013

christmas storage : tips and tricks

Posted by hayley
Tweet

Pack up it, pack it in, let me begin…

With Bug’s birthday so close after New Year, I have ample motivation to get all the Christmas decor packed up and back in the attic. Lest the party photos be tainted by holiday clutter whose magic has faded – the horror!

These super tough totes from Home Depot are my fave. Extra sturdy, stackable, and they hold a ton of stuff without being too big to lift on my own. At $10 each, me likey a lot.

wpid1450-christmas-cleanup-2.jpg

wpid1448-christmas-cleanup.jpg

Some people prefer clear storage to see what’s inside, while others like the red/green totes to designate Christmas stuff. Personally, I think clear totes look messy and I like the way these can quickly be re-purposed for anything. I bought a set of neon wet-erase markers to easily jot what’s in each box; even a year later it wipes off clean with a damp cloth, so I’m free to change it as often as needed.

wpid1452-christmas-cleanup-3.jpg

Somebody was NOT happy to see the nativity put away. It’s for your own good, buddy, I promise.

wpid1455-christmas-cleanup-4.jpg

When removing ornaments from the tree, leave the hook on. Saves time now and next year, too!

wpid1456-christmas-cleanup-7.jpg

They say the difference between a hoarder and a collector is that a hoarder saves things indiscriminately and a collector gathers selectively. Or at least that’s how I justify my need to save bed sheet packaging. Am I the only one who thinks these little zippered pouches are just too neat to toss?

wpid1458-christmas-cleanup-8.jpg

Well, my stash has been vindicated! After years of putting wrapped ornaments into gallon ziplock bags, I had an epiphany. My bed sheet packaging collection finally found it’s true calling.

wpid1460-christmas-cleanup-9.jpg

Since this was the first year we did outside lights, I am determined to not let them be a hot tangled mess come December 2014. I saved the center of my gift wrap tubes, cut them small enough to fit into the storage totes, and then wrapped one light strand per tube. Not only will this prevent knots within each strand, but it also keeps multiple strands from becoming hopelessly snarled.

wpid1464-christmas-cleanup-11.jpg

For icicle lights (or if you don’t have any tubes on hand), carefully coil each strand and place a generous sheet of wrapping paper between as you lay them into the tote.

Christmas Storage

Empty toilet paper rolls make great gift wrap keepers. Cut down the long side and slide over, securing with tape if needed.

Christmas storage

One of my favorite parts of Christmas is opening the mailbox. It seems so sad to toss my “friends” in the trash recycling come January. So this year I’m keeping all your smiling faces tucked away amidst the decor. They will be a lovely reminder next season of how we’ve all grown (some more than others)!

wpid1462-christmas-cleanup-10.jpg

I pack, Handsome hauls.

Christmas storage : tips & tricks

Christmas storage : tips & tricks

Tags: Christmas, diy home improvement, organization
CONTINUE READING >
0 comments
Dec 20 2013

santa stranger danger

Posted by hayley
Tweet

Last year Bug played it cool on the big man’s lap.

This year, not so much.

wpid1395-crying-on-santas-lap-1.jpg

What better way to take a mental break from the holiday run-around then to admire some quality Santa screaming. So in honor of all you harried parents out there, I give you these gems from around the web …

Merry Christmas

Handsome saw this one and said, “Whoa… geez, ok Aerosmith!”

I know why us adults love these photos so much. They’re sweet payback for all the other mid-grocery, mid-phone-call, mid-shower, mid-meal, mid-church-service, mid-library tantrums that we didn’t get on film.

Tags: bug, Christmas, crying on santa, songbird
CONTINUE READING >
1 comment
Dec 18 2013

party planner

Posted by hayley
Tweet

Ladies and Gentlemen, we may have an extrovert on our hands. For someone whose DNA comes from 100% introvert stock, I find this wondrous indeed.

wpid1379-Christmas-Party-Grey-House-Harbor-1.jpg

For a week or more Songbird had been bugging me about hosting a Christmas party for her friends. I usually just kinda shook my head and said, “Oh yeah, that sounds fun” – without any actual intention to follow through. Every morning she asked if it we could have it that night and I always responded “No, sweetie… you have school tomorrow.”

wpid1375-Christmas-Party-Grey-House-Harbor-3.jpg

On the last day of school for the week, her teacher informs me that Songbird has (unbeknownst to me) told the entire class she’s having a party and they are all invited.

wpid1381-Christmas-Party-Grey-House-Harbor.jpg

I kindly explained that I wasn’t prepared to invite her entire class over, but that she could ask a couple close friends to come to her impromptu party. Since it was in the evening, she quickly decided it was a pajama party and that we must have a craft, a Christmas movie, and hot chocolate.

wpid1377-Christmas-Party-Grey-House-Harbor-2.jpg

  • Swiss Miss with marshmallows in the pantry. Check.
  • Christmas movie streamed via Netflix. Check.
  • Themed craft… uhm… panic and quickly rummage on hand supplies. (thank-you Google image search!)

wpid1373-Christmas-Party-Grey-House-Harbor-7.jpg

Songbird is a gal full of big ideas, with the persistence and planning to make them happen.

wpid1371-Christmas-Party-Grey-House-Harbor-8.jpg

Even if it means having patience with a dismissive mom …

wpid1369-Christmas-Party-Grey-House-Harbor-9.jpg

… a mom who’s so glad she did.

wpid1367-Christmas-Party-Grey-House-Harbor-11.jpg

Tags: Christmas, songbird
CONTINUE READING >
0 comments
Dec 16 2013

kids keepsake ornament {a tutorial}

Posted by hayley
Tweet

wpid1294-kids_keepsake_ornament.jpg

On the heels of my family tree post last week, today I want to share an easy way to handcraft a child’s keepsake ornament. Placing things inside a clear plastic bulb is popular, but you’re typically limited to only small items that will fit through the top opening. This method allows for much larger and more interesting fillings.

You will need:
• clear plastic bulb
• 2 or 3″ diameter wood discs
• cup
• ultra fine point sharpie
• Xacto knife & sharp scissors
• paint, scrapbook paper, Mod Podge
• hot glue gun
• pipe cleaners
• trinkets personal to your child

wpid-kids_keepsake_ornament-17.jpg

Start by finding a small version of something that will remind you of your child this year. Songbird has been big into My Little Ponies since spring and Bug has a serious obsession with all construction equipment. The fox is an ornament for the daughters of a friend so they can always remember the year they were smitten with “The Fox Song.” If you haven’t heard of it, be one of the 287 million cool kids that have by clicking here. Very popular with the under 10 crowd.

Clear plastic bulbs come in two sizes (80mm & 100mm), so decide which will best fit your trinket. Find them at both big box and various craft stores; costing about $1 each.

wpid-kids_keepsake_ornament-16.jpg

Find a cup or similar jar opening that is slightly smaller than your wood disc.

wpid-kids_keepsake_ornament-15.jpg

Center the bulb inside the cup and (holding firmly) trace a circle with a ultra fine point sharpie.

wpid-kids_keepsake_ornament-12.jpg

wpid-kids_keepsake_ornament-11.jpg

Use your Xacto to first roughly cut out the bottom of the bulb, staying away from the line you drew. Then go back with your detail scissors to make a clean cut around your line.

wpid-kids_keepsake_ornament-10.jpg

wpid-kids_keepsake_ornament-9.jpg

I chose to enhance my wood disc by painting the edges and then using Mod Podge to adhere traced scrapbook papers to either side. You can use any type of paper, really. Or just paint the whole thing.

wpid-kids_keepsake_ornament-14.jpg

Once the disc is dry, arrange and attach your trinkets. I had Songbird color in a hand-drawn rainbow to add bulk to her arrangement. The fox was slightly too long if place directly on the disc, but by boosting him up on some mulch he fit just fine. Test your trinket set up with your cut bulb before hot gluing into place.

wpid-kids_keepsake_ornament-13.jpg

To attach the bulb, put your hot glue gun on low; high temps can melt the plastic. Carefully and quickly place 4 equally spaced dabs right on the edge of your disc and place the bulb while the glue is hot. Let set till firm.*** Do not make a ring around the whole thing. Trust me, it looks terrible.

wpid-kids_keepsake_ornament-7.jpg

To cover the glue dots, use evenly spaced glue dots on the outside to attach a coordinating pipe-cleaner. You could also use ribbon, but I found that a fuzzy texture hides the glue better. For the fox ornament I gave some soft garland a hair cut!

wpid-kids_keepsake_ornament-6.jpg

wpid1350-kids_keepsake_ornament-1.jpg

On the bottom, be sure to record your childs name, date, and any other info you want to remember.

wpid-kids_keepsake_ornament-5.jpg

Hang and enjoy. These are a new handmade holiday tradition that I’m already excited to re-visit next year!

wpid-kids_keepsake_ornament-3.jpg

wpid-kids_keepsake_ornament-1.jpg

If you don’t have time to make one for this year’s tree, don’t fret. Score the bulbs on sale after the holiday and make a 2013 version to hang up next year!

Tags: child ornament tutorial, Christmas, christmas ornament, diy ornament, handmade holiday, kids keepsake ornament
CONTINUE READING >
0 comments


I'm Hayley. Wife and mother by day, DIY enthusiast by night. Fueled by sweet tea and jelly beans, I own power tools and know how to use them. Consider yourself warned.

featured on button

New posts delivered fresh to your inbox!

Follow on Bloglovin

Recent Posts

  • big ‘ole magnet board / job chart
  • a collection of caps a collection of caps
  • a new chapter a new chapter
  • treasure rocks treasure rocks
  • missing grams missing grams

 

S P O N S O R S - & - F R I E N D S

1 2 NEXT

Categories

Archives

Follow

Follow on Bloglovin

Recent Posts

  • big ‘ole magnet board / job chart
  • a collection of caps a collection of caps
  • a new chapter a new chapter

disclaimer & copyright

All opinions within are exclusively and honestly mine. I do not commit to posting positive reviews of any promotional items I may receive. However, if the product or service suits the interests of my readers I may feature it and denote such compensation.
All content © greyhouseharbor.com 2015.