New favorite toy

I picked up a new paper punch the week before Thanksgiving and proceeded to go nuts with it. Talk about mindless, satisfying craft projects - it's the easiest tool to use and it makes paper even better than it already is. I have the lace border punch, but now I am a little tempted to buy some of the other patterns.

{table setting}

These napkin rings were super simple. I cut pieces of kraft paper about 3 inches wide by 4 inches long and then used the border punch on the long edges. I rolled my napkins up and then wrapped a strip of the punched paper around each one, using small Zots to secure the paper ring in the back (Zots are one of my craft staples). Then I just tied a bit of cream colored crochet thread around the paper.

I did the same thing for the candle holders, except I used vellum instead of craft paper, so the candle light would show through and the lace pattern would be a little more subtle. I neglected to take anymore pictures because I was busy getting food produced. They looked great lit - you'll just have to take my word for it.

{thanksgiving table}

The votive candle holders are sturdy, squat little guys that D found at the thrift store the day before Thanksgiving. He just walked in the door with them and said he had picked them up on a whim (except he must have said it differently, because I'm pretty sure he's never said the word "whim"). What he didn't know was that I had already made the little vellum wrappers in a fit of craftiness and then realized that we didn't own any votive candle holders, so I wasn't going to be able to use them. I know. It's like it was fate.