CasaSugar

Deck the Haus: Recycled Magazine Wreath

CasaSugar — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 08:15:35 -0800

Although the scent of a traditional-pine Christmas wreath can't be beat, the drawback is that it doesn't last year round, because it's both ephemeral and undeniably synonymous with the holidays. So when I happened upon this Brookish Recycled Magazine Wreath ($18), I knew I'd found a green, nonperishable, and seasonally-neutral solution to my door décor dilemma. For December festivity, you can tie it with a big, red bow, and then leave it in the buff until the next holiday comes around. If you've got a big stack of shelter magazines sitting around (as I do), you might even try to do it yourself.

Deck the Haus: Dove Table Art

CasaSugar — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 03:49:05 -0800

What better way to say Peace on Earth than with some lovely doves ($34) flocked together on your holiday table? These 10 shearling doves have been handsewn together, and decorate a table with 10 shearling doves hand sewn together. This functional art piece measures approximately 15" x 9". I wonder if it can be used as a trivet?

Where Is the Julbock From?

CasaSugar — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 03:31:04 -0800

The Julbock or Yule-goat, is made of straw and wrapped in red ribbon. It has a long history in its home country, going back 300 years. Now its job is to guard presents at Christmas. What country is the Julbock originally from?

DIY: Recycled Catalog Christmas Trees

CasaSugar — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 15:00:27 -0800

I was inspired by either random creativity or divine procrastination yesterday to turn a stack of office DWR catalogs and expired In Touch magazines into festive Christmas trees. The project took me under ten minutes to complete. Since the holiday deadline for ordering from that stack of catalogs laying on your kitchen counter has passed, I highly suggest recycling them with this easy DIY. You can use any catalog or gossip mag so long as it has a saddle-stich binding. (Do you like my Apple tree topper?)

What You Need

One catalog or gossip mag per tree
Scissors or X-acto knife
A marker (optional)
Around seven paper clips

To learn how to make this perennial tree, read more

Here are the steps:

Using a marker, draw the outline of a profile of a Christmas tree on your magazine, as shown. (Although, I skipped this step on my first try, and it turned out okay.)

Take a small chunk of pages in your catalog, and cut along the outline of your tree.

Continue cutting the pages in chunks, until you've cut through the entire catalog.

Now, take about four or five pages and paper clip them together at the base of the tree, as shown, starting with the front and back covers of the catalog.

Continue clipping the pages together, until all of them have been grouped together. The point of doing this is so that the tree will stand upright on its own. You may have to burnish or fold the pages on their "hinges" so they don't just flop to one side.

Now, stand your tree upright, and voilà!

Deck the Haus DIY: Wrapping With Craft Paper

CasaSugar — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 12:00:43 -0800

Last night I started the long process of wrapping gifts for friends, family, and future in-laws. Does anyone else forget how time-intensive this process is between holidays? I sure do. There's the Scotch tape stuck to the side of the coffee table, the misplacing of ribbon, and the wrestling with the long roll of gift wrap that insists on curling itself up again. Not that fun, even when you're watching the fourth season DVD of The Wire.

I should've stuck to recycling grocery bags like I did last year, when I made my own wrapping paper with grocery bags, similar to those that AmberHoney made. The size is so much easier to handle, and the process is more creative and fun. I recently stumbled upon some gorgeous grocery bag wrapping paper that designer Danny Seo came up with. This cool gift wrapping DIY that not only uses grocery bags, but also makes them look positively retro-chic in the process.

Danny suggests the following deck the haus DIY:

Rip open a grocery store brown paper bag and wrap a gift so the unprinted side shows on the outside of the box.
Cover the package in office supply store stickers.
Tie it all up with wool yarn in festive colors.

Source

Deck the Haus: Homemade Wrapping Paper

CasaSugar — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 07:15:45 -0800

TeamSugar member AmberHoney sent me this photo of some decorating paper she made for a business associate of her husband's. She says, "I have only ever used newspaper or grocery-store bags (the inside of course) to wrap my gifts. I started because wrapping papers are just too expensive to rip open and litter the earth. I usually stamp, spray paint, or stencil paper bags. It's fun and you can personalize each."

I also sometimes make my own wrapping paper, though I have to say that AmberHoney's is some of the most sophisticated, design-savvy homemade paper I've seen in awhile.

What about you? Do you make homemade wrapping paper?

Would You Deck Your Haus With These?

CasaSugar — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 03:30:59 -0800

These CB2 disco balls (on sale for $0.95–$2.95) will turn your holiday nights into boogie nights. The only question is: Are you really dreaming of a disco Christmas this year?

Source

Deck the Haus: Massimo Giacon and Alessi Nativity

CasaSugar — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 12:00:11 -0800

Growing up, my family had a nativity set with a thatched roof and wooden sides. It was as true-to-life as any could be. While I was not particularly religious, I enjoyed moving the pieces around and imagining how the birth of Jesus Christ really went down. Although it contains an ox, donkey, Joseph, Mary, and the baby Jesus, this Massimo Giacon and Alessi Nativity set ($105) is a clear departure from my traditional nativity set. The porcelain manger looks more like a bubble chair than a manger. The figurines, in full–Massimo Giacon style, are reminiscent of Italian comic-strip characters. I suppose it's kind of funny though. The ox and donkey don't have
bodies . . .

Deck the Haus: Oil Drum Angel

CasaSugar — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 10:00:01 -0800

Who would've thought that such an angelic figure could come from such a surprising source? When empty oil drums washed up on Haiti after World War II, local artisans reworked the "trash" into metal sculptures. And while this simple and sublime angel figure ($169) from VivaTerra wasn't in your tree topper roundup, I think it would've fit in nicely. This angel, which would also work on a mantel or tabletop as well as a tree, features a stipple textured robe and torso and large fluttery gold wings. Best of all, she's created and marketed exclusively under fair trade practices.

Deck the Haus: Recycled Light Bulb Ornament

CasaSugar — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 12:00:30 -0800

This 3R Living Recycled Light Bulb Ornament ($26) turns me on. But, but, but, I would never buy it. The beauty of this ornament is that everyone has the supplies to make it. A burnt-out light bulb, some leftover paint (nail polish would work well), and a paper clip or spare wire (for the hook) and you're good to glow. Well, not really. Is anyone up for this DIY? Send me photos if you get motivated to make one. Otherwise, check out the ten stupidest things to do with a burnt-out light bulb.