Oops, I Changed It!

   I wasn't going to decorate around the front door this year, just wanted to put up a wreath and the sled by the front door.  I'm getting too old to be out in the freezing cold weather decorating, and then taking it down when most times there is snow outside.  I don't want to do it anymore, but it does look nicer when I do.  I scaled back alot of the decorating this year, the outside included.  I usually have spotlights all across the front of the house, didn't do it this year.  I'll use the landscaping lights, all I have to do is turn them on from inside the house!

SO, I added the garlands with lights to the front door and made new bows, because the old ones faded from the sun.  I buy wired ribbon, so if it doesn't fade, I can use it until I get tired of it.  All I do is store them in a plastic tub for next year, and then fluff them up a little, I do the same for the garlands.  I wrapped up weighted boxes in Christmas wrap with fancy bows and added them too, I wired them to the sled so they don't blow away.

So in order to keep me safe and uninjured (just doing this little bit I almost fell off the ladder!) this is all I did to the entryway this year.  It still looks festive, but with little effort, YAY!, I'm done the house, next is the tree.

 

Easy Pom Pom Garland For Any Occasion

I am in the crafting mood since Christmas is staring me right in the face.  I was in the craft store with my sister looking for ideas for things I could make, and buying new things that I needed to decorate.  We walked all the aisles in that store, there were so many good things in there.  I saw these little sparkly pom poms on one of the shelves and knew exactly what I was going to do with them.  I already had the baker's twine at home in various colors.  Now, I do have 2 pom pom makers, one small and one large, but thought why go through the bother of that, when these are already made and were so cute.  These garlands are easy to decorate with, over a chalkboard sign, across a mirror, draped over a kitchen curtain rod, decorate a gift package.  You can make them as long or as short as you want, and you can make them for different holidays.  This is how I made my little garlands.

One package of sparkly pom poms and I used the red and white baker's twine on the card, so it looked like a candy cane.  I separated the colors - 1 white, 1 green, 1 red and so on.   Lay the twine out in a straight line, I left about a 3 inch end on each side of the twine for hanging.   Start tying the pom poms to the twine, wrapping the twine around the pom pom once, then tightly knotting it so you don't see the twine.  Space the pom poms evenly before you knot them to the twine.  Fluff up the pom pom and...........

Done, so cute, shiny and bright.  This is a picture of 3 small garlands using 22 small pom poms.  Adjust the amount of poms poms for how big you are going to make your garland.

Here Comes Peter Cottontail

I made up an Easter/Spring display across my dining room table, I need something to brighten my mood for the season, the temperature certainly isn't doing that.  I started with a twine runner, and these tall wood candlesticks and faux topiaries that I found at Gabriel Brothers, they are the center piece on my table.  I built the rest of my display from things I had in my Easter/Spring decorations.  You don't always have to buy new things, use what you have.  Although, I will have a lot of uses for those candlesticks!

Carved wood candlesticks- Small 18", Medium 22" and Large 24". with faux topiaries.

This is the front of my display.  Wrapped around the candlesticks are two garlands - Lilacs and a mixed Boxwood.

I started tucking little things into the garlands - A moss covered birdhouse and little bird, a bunny and speckled eggs.

 Sparkly bunny and a small pot of tulips.

Another sparkly bunny and a big bunny, more speckled eggs.

And a bird nest.

This is the other side of the display.

Glittered birdhouse and speckled eggs.

 

Sparkly peep and more eggs.

 Grape Hyacinth and Daffodils with moss in egg cups.

 Baby bunny.

 And another glittered birdhouse.

All I Want For Christmas...... Is To Be done Decorating!

On Day 8 of decorating, I just finished the last few things inside the house.  After Thanksgiving I will put up the tree and decorate outside, then I am DONE!  Just waiting for Christmas to get here.  I finished the shopping too!  HOORAY for me!  I am so happy, I don't have to fight the crowds.

I found this rustic, old looking silver tinsel wreath at a flea market and added a berry garland.  I used a trifle bowl, filled it with glittered and sequined balls, pine sprigs, glittery candy canes and snowflakes, with a candy cane striped pillar candle.  The stand that I got the garland from, had the bowl filled with water, berries and a floating candle.  THAT would have been a pool party for the cats! So I had to change it. The the plaid table cloth is from IKEA.

My daughter came on Saturday, and decorated my railings and catwalk with pine garland, berry's, ribbon white lights and handmade bows.  I still have to add the peppermint candy balls to it. 

 This is part of the catwalk that is decorated with a handmade MERRY CHRISTMAS sign that I made out of scrapbook paper.