It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

My Christmas decorations have been packed 

away now for almost two weeks,

but I still wanted to share it with you all!

Lanterns are everywhere right now,

and I joined right in with the trend. I have

a few, and they get used in just about every

season of the year.

I wasn't sure how my mint (previously black) stand

would work for Christmas, I surprisingly really liked it! 

 After having a fireplace, I never want to not have one.

I love decorating my fireplace. We never actually

burn wood in it, but I think candles can be

just as cozy!

My Willow Tree nativity is definitely one of my

favorite Christmas decorations.

If you've been following my posts, you've seen this

log slab chalkboard before (it had a tractor on).

I love the woodsy feel it adds!

 I haven't changed my fireplace Christmas decorations

for a few years, I just don't think I can find anything

I love as much. Its so cozy & inviting.

My tree! Those awesome white twine balls,

yep, I made them!

I saw a wreath I loved, but I couldn't bring myself to spend

$30 on it. Instead I used a cheap plain green wreath

and glued berries & my sparkle pine cones on it. I added

a big silver bow and came up with this! I think

I spent less than $10 on this one and I like it just as much,

or possibly more,

than the one I saw in the store!

The wreath on the mirror-a finishing touch!

 Another chalkboard sign I did. Although

with the technique I use, I don't have to 

free hand everything, it still took me well over

and hour!

Although I am sad Christmas has come and gone so 

quickly for another year. I am ready for

some warm spring weather.

Until then, I think will get a REALLY

early jump start on planning Grace's 2nd 

Birthday Party! (as in 7 months early!)

A Christmas Banquet

A friend and I were asked to decorate for a local business's Christmas banquet. We didn't even have to discuss it with each other, we knew we wanted to do it. Immediately I started brainstorming and looking for ideas. Planning parties and decorating for them is one of my favorite things to do! Our theme was, natural/woodsy-winter land.

Here's what we came up with!

The food table at the front of the room would be 

something everyone would see,

so we wanted a stunning focal point.

I am loving plaid this season & i think this throw pulls the 

whole room together, and gives it a comfy home-y feel.

These "snow" covered pine cones really added

to the decor. If you missed my post on how to make

them, go back a few & check it out! How perfect for all 

winter long!

We love re purposing previously used

things, like these twine wrapped vases!

I used them for Grace's first birthday, but with twigs

instead of flowers- they give a completely

different look!

We used two different centerpieces on the tables.

First, these white vases, with a tea light candle in them.

They were easy to make, time consuming, but easy!

Again, these were used prior to the banquet. My mom

and I made them for my brother's wedding. It wasn't a winter wedding,

so you can see how versatile decorations can be!

The second decorations for the tables were log

candle holders.

 Can anything else say Woodsy Christmas like these do?!
My brothers made me a few sets of these!

Before walking into the room the banquet was held,

we set up this display, welcoming the guests.

A mini Winter Wonderland City Park!
(The business sells Case tractors, if you were
wondering what it had anything to do with Christmas!)

Chalkboard on a log!

I actually put that tractor on there,

I didn't say draw, because I didn't free hand it.

But I did use my hand and a piece of chalk to get it there.

Curious as to how its so perfect? 

I will do a post on it later:)

Get some new ideas for your own 

Christmas party next year? 

Or even for your house?

Let me know if you plan to use any of these for yourself! 

I love hearing from you!

Kraft Paper Christmas Wrap

Presents under the Christmas tree are nice.

Beautifully wrapped gifts under the tree, are....

hmmm, I am having trouble coming up with a word

that actually defines how awesome they are...

.....

They are:

a conversation starter, a focal point of the room,

an "Ahhh" piece, a special little something to give to 

those you love.

Somehow that still doesn't describe how much I loved having these 

under my tree for the short time they were there.

A few of my favorite craft supplies & go-to's for decorating my house

and parties this year were:

Burlap (I love burlap, for everything!)

Twine (again, so versatile!)

Lace

White Paint

To make all of those things flow together, all I needed was some

brown Kraft paper!

(This tree skirt {actually its a piece of material I bought 4 years ago

meaning to sew into a tree skirt & never felt like it, so it just gets 

wrapped around the tree} needs to go. I am so glad

I had these pretty packages to cover it up. I am thinking a ruffle

burlap tree skirt is a project before next year:) )

To make the dots I used a white ink pad and a pencil with

a slightly used eraser on the end.

Dip the eraser in the ink for each dot & "stamp".

 Washi Tape is so fun, and comes in A LOT of different

colors and patterns. I found mine at Michaels.

LET IT SNOW!

I bought a paint pen (Michaels again!) and covered

the box in writing. 

These adorable paper lace doilies were left over from

Grace's birthday party. Can you guess where I bought them?

Yep, Michaels! They are actually in the baking isle and come in

an assortment of sizes.

This gift wrap could be used all year round. Instead of using red ribbon, 

swap it out for another color. Write "Happy Birthday" or "Congratulations" all

over a box, instead of "let is snow". 

I think this would be a beautiful wedding present!

I hope I inspired you!

Paper Bag & Burlap Advent Calendar

Advent calendars are beautiful. 

They are Christmas traditions. 

They allow families to take a moment out of the hustle and bustle

and create a memory.

I wanted to create all that for my family. Here is my version of an advent calendar. 

My plan was to put an activity in each bag leading

up to Christmas. I am going to be honest, I failed. With a 15 month old

who won't even sit still to read a book to, activities were hard to come up with.

We have a done a few, but some days-I just had to enjoy looking at

this display without the doing!

Grace does love books, so I bought 6 Christmas books and wrapped

them. That was our activity for 6 of the days!

We also had hot chocolate and popcorn in front of the Christmas

tree one evening before bed. (if you don't already 

know, Grace also loves food..so this was a

 favorite one for her!)

I made M&M cookies and put in a bag (now this one is 

Drew's favorite!). A few years from now, or maybe 

even next year this can change to a cookie decorating day!

The best thing about making your own advent calendar-you can make the

activities whatever you want them to be! Drive around and look at Christmas

lights, go caroling, build a snowman, watch a Christmas movie (this was on my

list until our tv broke), read the Christmas story, open a gift, etc. 

Just enjoy being a family!

 The clothes pins I covered in lace for Grace's birthday party (maybe you

remember seeing them on my earlier blog post?) I thought

they fit this theme perfectly!

I made these burlap bows with a lace accent! These are perfect for 

Christmas, a country wedding, a shabby chic birthday party & lots

of other events! DIY instructions to come!

As I started receiving cards in the mail, they took the place of the days

 that had already passed. I am hoping by the 24th I have enough cards to fill the whole thing!

My family Christmas card.

PIN IT.

I want to hear about your family Christmas traditions too!

DIY Christmas Snowglobes

I LOVE decorating for Christmas. Getting my boxes of decorations out is like unwrapping presents-I don't remember what I all I have packed away. There is something about taking down all of my normal/regular/starting to get bored of stuff & getting to create a new space. When it's Christmas, each time I walk into my living room I smile--that's how I want my house to be all year round! Today I put together a quick little craft--DIY Snow globes!

What you will need:
-Jars (I used my pasta jars, but you could use mason jars, jelly jars, etc)
-Small Christmas trees in varying heights (I found mine at Walmart ranging from .75-$2!)
-Epson Salt for snow
-Pine Cones (mine are painted & sparkled to look like glittering snow!!)
-Hot glue gun
-Paper & Scissors

Cut a circle out of the paper a little bigger than the inside of your lid.

When put down in the lid it shouldn't move.

(If you are using a jar that you don't mind if the lid is ruined-glue it right to the lid!)

Glue your tree to the paper, and the pine cone to your tree, about a half inch up on the tree.

 (if you glue it on the paper it will get covered by the "snow")

 Add your salt to the jar & screw the lid on.

Finished!

For the jar that only has pine cones in I just shook them around

 until they were placed how I wanted them)

Want to make these gorgeous sparkly snow covered pine cones?!!!

You will need:

-Pine cones

-Wite Out

-Spray Adhesive

-White Glitter

 Boring, regular pine cone.

 Paint all of the tips on the pine cone using the brush in the Wite Out.

I originally started using white Puffy Paint but that was taking forever, I also like the look of the Wite Out better.

(sorry this is a bad picture)

 Once all of the tips on the pine cone is painted, spray the entire pine cone with the Spray Adhesive.

Sprinkle a generous amount of glitter on while still wet.

I made about 50+ of these in varying sizes for a Christmas party I am helping decorate for.

I believe after the party I may add them onto my Christmas tree, or garlands I have around the house!

As always, feel free to PIN it!