On The Eleventh Day of Christmas...

Beyond the Picket Fence gave me, a belted place for my greetings.  The belts are back, this time wrapped around a board and used as a card holder. 

 I kept this one pretty plain, but you could paint the board behind red or another festive color, hang Christmas balls from the belts. 

 This could be a longer board for more cards.  Make sure your belts are either wide enough or small enough to fit the board you choose.

On The Tenth Day of Christmas...

Beyond the Picket Fence gave me, a simple, natural centerpiece.  So the red toolbox centerpiece I showed you did not stay at my home, but went out to my space at The Antique Barn.  But, that meant I still needed a centerpiece.  This one is easy, quick and in my budget.

Start with a great crate or a tray from the thrift store.

Add some thrift store milk glass and candles.

 Filler is next--I used fresh branches and pinecones.  Not your style?  Other ideas for filler would be glass balls from the thrift store, epson salt and snowflake ornaments, balls of yarn, rusty, crusty piece of junk, peppermints, and...what ideas do you have?  This Christmas, create a fresh centerpiece with pieces you find from a thrift store or garage sale--it is fun, inexpensive, and stretches the creativity.

On The Ninth Day of Christmas...

Beyond the Picket Fence showed us, snowflakes made from old utensils. 

 Ok, crazy idea?  I haven't decided, but I glued together some old silverware to make some snowflakes.  I used Gorilla glue to stick them together

 and on the spoon one I glued them to a small cardboard circle. 

 I hot glued the ribbons to the back.  I thought about glittering them up a bit, but am kind of liking the tarnished silverplate.  I am not sure if the frame is staying or just part of the staging.  Find more ideas at Donna's Funky Junk Interiors.

On The Eighth Day of Christmas...

Beyond the Picket Fence gave me, a vintage, metal stocking.  I found 2 sets of these sock stretchers this week at the thrift store.

 At a quarter each this one was a no brainer.

I little ribbon, jute, and burlap and vintage Christmas balls, and I have a 5 minute new and fresh decoration.

 

Find more ideas at Donna's Funky Junk Interiors.

Under $100 Linky Party

How are you doing with the holiday frenzy?  I am surprisingly calm, not sure if that is a good thing or if I am in denial of all that I have to do.  I have simplified through the years.  I make 1 baking item instead 8-10 like I previously did, I have addresses on computer to print labels for cards, I wrap presents as I get them, I decorate much less, I pick up stocking stuffers throughout the fall.  What about you?  Keeping it simple?  Here are some of you that were busy last week.

This cake from Sweet Song Bird looks almost too pretty to eat...almost.

What a sweet twiggy tree from At Home With K.

Rustic Living knows who sleeps on which side of the bed with this great headboard.  

Loving, wanting this little kitchen island from Decorating Insanity.

A new transfer technique was shared on this cute towel from Crafty, Scrappy, Happy.

The Dating Divas shared a fun holiday bucket list.

Who doesn't love furniture that is named?  Head to Sweet Girl Expressions to meet Babette.

Thanks for linking up and for sharing you with us :) !!

Under $100 Linky Guidelines:

1. Please link to the specific post, not your blog!

2. Please only post ideas that cost $100 or less--it would be great if you share the cost of your project, but not necessary.3. Please include a brief description in link up.

4. Grab my Under $100 button on the sidebar and include it in your post or a link to Beyond the Picket Fence so people can find you and more great ideas.

5. Please check and make sure your link works. If it doesn't you can delete it and try again.

6. Please no direct links to sales sites, i.e. ETSY or just a plain ol' commercial site, we are looking for inexpensive ideas we can recreate, thanks!

On The Seventh Day of Christmas...

Beyond the Picket Fence gave me, a little bling for my stocking.  I made these stockings from old sweaters a few (2? 3? 4?) years ago.

I decided they needed a little bling or accessorizing.  Out came the box of junky parts--my favorite box--a little jute, and now each stocking has its own identity.

 Have plain stockings, a boring wreath, or plain centerpiece?

Add a little junk to make it fun and new!  Find more ideas at Donna's Funky Junk Interiors.

On The Sixth Day of Christmas...

Beyond The Picket Fence showed me, a toolbox centerpiece.

 Red toolboxes are plentiful at thrift stores, usually for a few dollars.  I added some moss, a candle, a nest, and some pinecones and Christmas balls to make an easy and fun centerpiece. 

 

Keep your eyes open for these little toolboxes--so many uses! Find more ideas at CRAFT and at Making The World Cuter and at Keeping it Simple.

We Interrupt This Regularly Scheduled Program...

...to bring you, or me a clean garage!  Every summer my garage becomes a pigsty.  I build and create  and don't clean up after myself, going from one creative mess to the other.  And the car, it stays outside.  Normally, by mid October it gets all cleaned up and my car sits snug as a bug in a rug in the garage.  But, this year I did Holiday Junk Fest for the first time and the garage remained in its summer frenzy disaster.  Finally spurred on by the negative 15 degree weather that is being predicted for later in the week, we got 'er done.  Oh, and my early Christmas gift also motivated us (picture was taken pre-cleaning with cell phone).  Now we are having a hot dog and marshmallow roast over the scrap wood--in 15 degree weather.

Tune in tomorrow for a new 12 Days of Christmas idea.  Until then, here is a favorite from last year.

On The Fifth Day of Christmas...

Beyond the Picket Fence showed me, how to make a tomato cage, burlap tree. 

 Upside down tomato cages just scream Christmas tree, don't they? .For this project I started with 2 tomato cages, stacked together.  I cut the bottom part off of one and twisted up the ends around the other.

 At the top, I turned the ends under and "tied" them together with a wire. 

I then wrapped lights around the cages.  I used a 100 count string of lights because it was what I had, but think a 50 count string would work just as well.

Next, I cut 1 inch strips from a coffee sack.  I liked the red and green print on the sack--perfect for Christmas.  You could use burlap from the fabric store as well.  I wrapped and tied strips around the cages, wrapping every now and then around the vertical wire pieces of the cage.

Tied off the top and set it in an enamel bowl full of old Christmas balls. 

 This will probably end up on the porch, but it is about 10 degrees out there right now, so I wasn't up for outdoor staging and photography.

 Find more rustic and burlappy Christmas ideas at Donna's Funky Junk Interiors.

On The Fourth Day of Christmas...

Beyond the Picket Fence gave us, a star made with no fuss.  I like thrift store belts--if you have been around here for any amount of time you know that.  And I have made stars from belts before:

 This time I decided to do an easier star.

 I  cut five 12" lengths from leather belts.  One of the belts I buckled, and then cut it.

 I laid out the star and hot glued it together wherever the belts touched.

I added a little "garnish" or greenery, tied on with jute and ribbon (if you haven't noticed, I love the contrast of rough jute and silky ribbon together).

 I am going to try some larger ones--just need to make sure the belts lie flat and are somewhat stiff leather.  Find more ideas at Donna's Funky Junk Interiors!