Christmas Is Coming

I know, I know, it's early, but I had to start early this year for Christmas, I have lots to do.  I have been busy making decorations from things around my house using some of my artistic talent (not good), organizing cookie baking party #11 (my sister started that flame!) and planning how my Christmas decorations are going to be used this year throughout my home.  There are a lot of decorations I might add, my family runs and hides when it's time to pull them all out.  They try to excuse themselves from the whole situation, imagine that. I don't think they like the holiday as much as I do, it truly is my favorite holiday. I am going to start the decorating of the house in the beginning of November, and yes it will take me that long to decorate it, I have to be ready by December 17 for the cookie party!

PROJECT #1 - I spotted this wood tool box in IKEA for $9.99, I have a similar one that is imprinted with BLESSINGS on the front.  A relative gave it to me for a house warming gift many years ago, and I love it.  I wanted to make one that said MERRY CHRISTMAS on it.  Me not being artistic, I can't draw to save my life, the next best thing was to.....

 Print out a fancy font MERRY CHRISTMAS from my trusty printer.  I traced it on the reverse, flipped it over and traced it on to the box.  I was going to use freezer paper to make a transfer to do this, but I was afraid it would get stuck in my printer, so I went old school tracing the hard way.

 You never know what you'll find browsing in Marshall's, I found these glitter dusts last year, they add sparkle and shine to my wording, they were $4.99. You only need a little, it goes a long way.

 After tracing the wording onto the box, I went over it with a black Sharpie, let it dry, then used a fine pointed paintbrush to apply Modge Podge on just the wording.  Sprinkled on the glitter, tapped the excess off onto a sheet of waxed paper so I could reuse it or return it the the canister, no waste.

 A handmade bow to help finish it off.  Plaid is all over the place this year for the holidays, I love it!

 A snow covered sprig of pine and mini pine cones dress it up.  The cost for this project was about $12.

PROJECT #2 - This old wood window has been sitting in my garage for over ten years, it was about time I did something with it.  I drug it out, cleaned it up, didn't paint it or anything, it was already chipped and worn so it was perfect.   

 I used window paint writers (I have terrible handwriting!) and wrote the phase on the front side of the window.  The window writers are perfect for a project like this, all you have to do if you make a mistake, is use window cleaner and a paper towel to remove it.  Leaves this project open for all year round decorating.

 The snow covered pine cone stem for $4.99 is from Big Lots, the ribbon from Hobby Lobby.

 I used a couple of sprays of "snow" that I already had, and sprayed the back of the window panes.

 All done, my mantle for Christmas is almost complete!  But yeah, I have to get someone with better hand writing to rewrite that phrase.  

   The cost for this project was about $6.50, pretty inexpensive, considering what you would pay in a home store for a 40"L x 19"W window type picture.

PROJECT #3 - Made a little picture of a snowman on burlap.  Burlap is somewhat hard to work with, if you don't know what you're doing like me.  I didn't want it to stretch, fray, bleed marker and paint while I was working with it, so I found this vinyl backed burlap at Michael's, it worked perfect for this project. 

I used Sharpies and Paint Pens to draw and fill in my snowman, how does he look?

He's ADORABLE! Already had the ribbon (from the box project), the sharpies, paint pens and the frame, so cost of this project was about $2.00. Pretty cute and easy to do. 

  

The Christmas Spirit Has Begun

I finally got the tree up, after tossing around the idea of getting a fresh one this year, I used the artificial instead.  I love the scent of a fresh tree, but I just don't like the mess and I need to get a big one because of the size of the room it goes in, they are very expensive.  Having 18 foot ceilings is a job when it comes to getting a tree, a small one just doesn't look right in the room. I purchased this pre-lit, 3000 light tree, about 10 years ago and it still looks good.  It's a 15 footer, but this year I took out the bottom section so it stands about 12 feet high.  I'm a shorty and can't reach the top any more, even using a clothes prop doesn't help.  I tested all the lights before assembling the sections and they all worked, and yes you guessed it, they didn't work when I got the tree up.  There were about 300 of them out and to go through all of those was just not going to make me happy.  So off to the store I went and purchased 500 new lights.  I plugged them in end to end, started at the top of tree and filled in all the way down to the bottom.  It looks great!  Then I started to decorate it, usually takes me a day, but took two days because of the light debacle.  Now my Christmas spirit has begun!

Catwalk is done on both sides.

Front stairwell is looking festive!

On the front steps, lanterns are lit, decorated with plaid bows and snowflakes, just have to fill in with poinsettias.

Now I am getting ready for my Annual Christmas Cookie Baking Party.  I have this party every year with a few of my friends and family, this year I am hosting 15 people for a day of baking cookies and a nice luncheon.  We'll bake over 2500 cookies for all of us to share, it's fun but hard work, and in the end all of our cookies are baked and decorated in one day.  We all get to spend time with each other, share laughs and news, and I have to say there is some imbibing of wine or whatever, while all this is going on, it relaxes the muscles, hahaha!

SO, I wanted to get some ideas for my table scape for lunch that day.  I wrapped these linen napkins, that are kind of sparkly, in red and white baker's twine, added a handmade stamped place card, a jingle bell and some fresh greens.  I am using red chargers, and instead of my Christmas china, just plain creamy white plates.  I also used an off white, silver and gold plaid tablecloth, as well as some red plaid vintage scarves across the table for more red color.

Glitzy reindeer and a sled full of shiny and glittery Christmas balls down the center of the table.

 I found these faux birch tree branches at Lowe's, they were so unusual, so they came home with me.  I thought once I get the fresh greens on the table (photo later after it's done) I would use these too.

 For three branches, about 27" long, they were $4.98. They are also beaded so they add shine too!

Also at Lowe's were these beauties, 20" fine glittered champagne colored bottle brush trees, with red berry clusters and clear beaded branches mixed in. They come in a clear decorative glass stand, $24.98 each.  I added the matching champagne colored snowflakes to the top.

 

To tie in my birch tree branches,  I had these birch and pine cone candle holders in a box of things I was not going to use, so I put them on the hutch with some fresh greens and red and silver Christmas balls.  When the whole room is finished I will post a photo.
  HAPPY DECORATING!

In My Closet

Not cooking much lately, the hubby is traveling, one son working alot and the other has classes later in the day.  Me, I am satisfied with a bowl of cereal for dinner, no muss, no fuss.  So to keep myself busy during the day, I organize things around the house including the closets.  While I was in my closet hanging things up, cleaning things out and organizing, I put together some outfits to wear during the Fall months.  When everything is organized (I organize by color), it is easier to pull things out in no time at all.  All of my tops, blouses, tanks, sweaters, jackets, pants, jeans, scarves, belts, jewelry, shoes and handbags, are set up this way in my closet. I have found that this is the easiest way for me to get ready in a hurry when I have to go out.  When an outfit isn't ready for me to throw on, it takes too much time to figure out what I am going to wear, so I take pictures of the outfits that I put together and at a glance I can dress quickly.

These are some Fall casual outfits for running errands, grabbing a bite to eat or just out and about.

Boyfriend Jeans, Cotton Lace Tank, Soft Red and Blue Flannel Shirt and Brown Boots

Boyfriend Jeans, Silk Plum T-Shirt and Plum Satin Flats with Rhinestone Brooch 

 Gray Knit Leggings, Denim Shirt, Orange Pashmina, Silver Jewelry with Black Riding Boots and Cognac Riding Boots

Shoes Frenzy!

Cute shoes are always fun to wear.  Everyone will notice when you have funky colorful shoes, especially ones with details, on your feet.  They light up your whole outfit, just like a bright scarf around your neck would do.  Shoes are an accessory and don't have to match everything you are wearing, they just have to go with what you are wearing. Pair your shoes with jeans or dress pants for eye catching attention.

Satin leopard print with top bow flat.  Royal blue suede metal studded flat.

 Satin blue and black plaid with side bow flat.  Pewter top knot sequined toe flat.

 Fuchsia satin rhinestone studded flat.  Black suede star studded flat

 Copper metallic and black patent toe flat. Black, grey, tan chevron woven flat.

 Black buckle toe flat.  Black sequined flat.

 Brown, orange, tan chevron woven flat. Gold suede beaded moccasins.

 Brown suede ruffle flat.  Red patent with white buckle flat.

Red and white polka dot flat with penny detail on the heel.