Sunday Verses

Christmas Home 2013 Round-Up--Beyond The Picket Fence Style

I have heard some grumbling in blogland lately.  People feeling overwhelmed with all of the beautiful homes and decor they are seeing.  Remember--the expectations you should have for Christmas are the ones you want to put on yourself.  Relax, breathe, and do only what works for you.  

You do not need a thousand dollar budget, you do not need to have your table set and ready for Christmas dinner today, you do not need to decorate every nook and cranny.

I put together a little collage of what I have done this year for decor.  Other than purchasing 1 roll of green burlap ribbon, everything else I have shown was done in two 3 hour afternoons with things I already had at home.  Just keepin' it real for us simple folk!

I love looking at all the blogs, getting inspiration and ooh and ahhing.  But, if you need to keep it low key, here are a few other blogs I love for simple ideas:

Funky Junk Interiors

Chipping With Charm

Organized Clutter

Mamie Jane's

Keep it simple, do what brings you joy, and have a blessed, not stressed Christmas!

A Little More Decor (On a $0 Budget)

I am sorry if I have been a bit out of touch.  First off, I escaped -20 degree weather for this the past week.  

Hubby and I took a cruise to celebrate our 25th anniversary that was in July.  

It was warm and relaxing and fabulous!

But, I also, for the past month or so, only receive a few comments to my email, but most do not go there.  I think it might have to do with Google+, but not sure.  I can reply in the comments, but do you ever go back to a blog you have commented on to see if there is a reply?  I do not.  I will continue to work on figuring out the email thing. If you have any insight, I would love to hear it.

I thought I'd share the last bits of decorating I did before my trip.  I create new decor most years, all with things I have on hand so it is affordable!

Here I hung my stockings and then added a few garlands I made.

Last year I removed the large clock for Christmas and the family went nuts.  So I left it this year. It needed a little something to tie together the stockings and clock.  As I have said before, I have no mantel--don't know if I ever will.  

I hot glued some driftwood together, and then wired it to secure it.

A few fake sprigs of pine and berries 

and a bow finished this mini spray.

I like a bit of decor (other than feet, remotes, cups) on my coffee table so I put three candles in a rusty vase,

set it on a tray to catch candle drips and added a bow and some vintage Christmas balls.

If you are still decorating, or need a little something extra, look around your home and through old decor and see it with fresh eyes.

Chalkboard Sign & An Old Crate

A little "chalkboard" art I created on a piece of black construction paper

was looking for a home and found a fun one in an old RC Cola crate.

Look at that fun logo.

A few pine sprigs added to the top, completed this easy Christmas art.

My Junky Red Ladder

I love ladders.  They have so many other uses other than standing on them.  When I spied this old red ladder on a friends dump pile several years ago, I grabbed it.  It has mostly been used as a display piece for my shows and in the summers at Farmer's Market.  This year I decided to bring it indoors for Christmas.

I propped it against a wall that was lonely and empty and added some lights,

and some greenery, a bow,

and some of my old Christmas photos.  I used screws to hold the frames in place since the rungs are slanted.  

Who is that little girl crying on Santa's lap?  Yep, it is me 45 or so years ago.

I love the new use for my old junky ladder--it might have to stick around after the new year.

Sunday Verses

5 Easy Decorating Tips

Have a tough time putting displays and decor together?  Need a quick formula that works for all styles and tastes? I use the same 5 tips over and over with different objects to create fresh decorating ideas.

I shared these in the fall, but they bear repeating.  I am generalizing them a bit more to work with any look or style.

1.) Height--You need height in your displays, something to elevate objects.  I use a small child's chair and a suitcase. You could use a metal stool for a sleeker look, a rustic crate, anything that gives height.

2.) Reclaimed Wood--I believe even the most modern decor can use a little reclaimed wood for texture and warmth.  For my Christmas shelf, I don't have much, but some that is whitewashed on this star and the frame around it. 

3.) Books--are cheap and affordable, can add color and create display "shelves" or areas.  Wrap them in white paper or silver metallic paper for a cleaner look.

4.) Metal--my metal of choice tends to be rust like this rusty whatnot piece that reminds me of a candy cane or tarnished silver, but you can use copper, gold, bronze or silver.  

5.) Natural Elements--This is the easiest for me, the thing I love to add.  Pinecones, antlers, greenery, and twigs all add a touch of the outdoors.  Again, if you have a more contemporary style, copper or silver leaf those antlers or sticks.

I added a little sparkle to these twigs 

with some modge podge

and glitter.  

Use these 5 simple tips today for no fuss decorating!

12 Days of Christmas, Day 12, Hot Cocoa Stand

So here we are, day 12 of the 12 Days of Christmas.  I did not intend to spread the 12 days out so long, but with helping to put on a Christmas Market (that I also had a booth at) in the midst of it all, I was a turtle.  I actually have lots more of my own personal decorating to show you in the next week or so, stay tuned.  but, for my final project I thought I'd share our hot cocoa stand or station.

Now, I know this idea is not new and I know there are some really adorable hot chocolate area's out there, but here is my version.  Real.  Practical. User Friendly.  

This piece is a wine rack that was a store display.  I painted it several years ago.  Normally it holds my cookbooks, wine (which is still there), and some ceramic bowls.  But for Christmas, it is transformed into Hot Chocolate Central.

I added a little crochet necklace to this vintage jar that holds the cocoa,

and a candy cane to the jar that holds the peppermint cocoa.

A burlap, stencilled sleeve dresses up the marshmallow jar.

Because spoons are the first utensil we always run out of, I pulled out some vinatage silver plate spoons for stirring cocoa.

We love hot tea too, so a jar of that sits on the second shelf, as well as small dessert plates, mug--yes, mug, I need to get cute Christmas mugs, and a favorite snowman.

An ironstone creamer holds cinnamon sticks and candy canes.

I included a hand written sentiment (that speaks the truth--down to 17 below 0 tonight!) to a chalkboard I had,

and we are in the cocoa business!  Find a little corner or small space in your home to create your own cocoa area--kids, young and old will be thrilled!