Merry Christmas

"Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord." Luke 2:11 

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Merry Christmas! I hope you have a wonderful day of celebration with family and friends. Brad and I are home for the holidays, so I’ll be taking a break from blogging for a bit. I have some exciting things in store for 2012, and I can’t wait to share them with you when I come back! 

Lindsay

Day 12: Gift Wrap

Christmas is just days away, and I thought I would dedicate this last post to something practical and time appropriate: gift wrap. You may find yourself locked away in your room wrapping presents galore, so I wanted to share some tips from Martha on how to make beautiful bows and knots. 

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I’ve also come across these free printable gift tags from Jones Design Company. I love the patterns and colors they use. Just head over to their site to download and print! 

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I hope you’ve enjoyed the 12 Days of Christmas series. In case you missed a day, here’s a recap:

Day 1: Christmas Trees

Day 2: Christmas Tree Crafts

Day 3: Decorate With Ornaments

Day 4: Handmade Ornaments

Day 5: Christmas Mantels

Day 6: Christmas Subway Art

Day 7: Handmade Holidays

Day 8: Christmas Wreaths

Day 9: A Christmas Window Box

Day 10: Decorate with Candy

Day 11: Use Epson Salt as Snow 

This was a fun series to write, and throughout it I was reminded that decorating for Christmas doesn’t have to be expensive and overwhelming. There are a ton of simple and inexpensive ideas that will help you create a beautiful home at Christmas, leaving you with time to spend with family and friends. 

Lindsay

Day 11: Use Epson Salt as Snow

Today’s tip comes from The Inspired Room. Combine epson salt, candles, and mason jars, and you have instant winter decorations! 

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You could easily line them in the center of the table and surround them with greens and berries, and you’d have a simple centerpiece that is quick and affordable. I especially love this because you can have the look of snow anywhere, even in California where it’s green and warm at Christmastime. I love a White Christmas. (Meant literally and in reference to the movie!)

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Lindsay

Day 10: Decorate With Candy

Today and tomorrow I will share cute ideas for some last minute Christmas decor. These tips will be perfect for those of you who are hosting a party and want to add a little flair to your decor. They’re also quick and inexpensive. Today’s tip is to decorate with candy. Add candy canes or peppermints to your shopping list and put them on display. 

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Fun details like these won’t go unnoticed! 

Lindsay

Day 9: A Christmas Window Box

Do you ever wonder what to do with those window boxes during the winter season? Well, I came across this beautiful idea from Better Homes & Gardens. They collected glass bottles and jars, in varying sizes, shapes, and colors, and added candles to create this beautiful display. 

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It may not be practical all season long, but it will definitely create a charming atmosphere if you’re hosting a party this Christmas!

Lindsay

Day 8: Christmas Wreaths

While I was decorating for fall this year I got the itch to make a wreath. I had never attempted one of my own before and ended up making two simple and inexpensive wreaths! I was very satisfied with the end results and had a great sense of accomplishment because I made them myself. So I gathered up some DIY wreath ideas in case you want to attempt wreath making yourself this season!

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Lindsay

Day 7: Handmade Holidays

Do you remember when I shared a site listing 101 handmade ornament tutorials? Well, I discovered there is also a site of 101 handmade holiday tutorials. Pretty cool right? Especially if you’re looking to add a few more decorative details around the house but don’t want to spend a ton of money. Here are a few of my favorite ideas from the list.

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What I love most about these projects are that you can’t buy them at a store. They’re crafted uniquely by you and are one of a kind. Personally, I love it when a piece of decor has a memory or meaning attached to it, and that’s often the case with handmade decorations. 

Lindsay

Day 6: Christmas Subway Art

I came across this blog the other day called eighteen25 written by three sisters, Jamie, Jodie, and Jen. Their site is so creative, fun, and full of great crafts like their Christmas subway art. 

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The best part is that it’s a printable so you can re-create this look in your home. Just head over to their site and you’ll find the links where you can download the subway art and banner! 

They also share their colorful Christmas Advent and cheerful Christmas decor that I love! 

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If you’re in the mood to be crafty this Christmas, I would definitely recommend exploring eighteen25!

Lindsay

Day 5: Christmas Mantels

Next to the Christmas tree, mantels are the easiest place to incorporate holiday decorations. That’s my assumption; I wouldn’t know because I’ve never lived in a place with a mantel of my own, but it seems to me mantels create great focal points in a room, and Christmas time is no exception. If you’re like me and don’t have a mantel, try decorating the top of a bookshelf, piano, hutch, or entertainment center. In any case, I have collected some inspirational Christmas mantel photos for you to enjoy. I’ll admit a couple of these mantels are way more elaborate than I’ll ever get, but they sure are pretty to look at! 

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My favorite mantels are the ones that incorporate greenery into white pitchers, pots, or urns. These displays are simple, natural, and can easily translate from Christmas to the remainder of the winter season. What is your favorite thing to display on your mantel for Christmas? Please leave a comment and share your ideas!

Lindsay

Day 4: Handmade Ornaments

These days it seems there is an ornament for anything and everything, favorite sports teams, movie characters, food; you name it and you can probably find it. But I think there’s something to be said about a handmade ornament. Growing up my Grandmother would cross stitch an ornament for each grandchild, and these are the ornaments that I cherish. They’re personal and irreplaceable. So if you’re looking for an inexpensive yet meaningful gift to give this Christmas, a handmade ornament is the way to go! I came across a site that has compiled a list of 101 handmade ornament tutorials. It may prove to be very helpful to get your creative juices flowin’. Here are a few of my favorites...

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So what’s on your tree? Store bought ornaments or handmade ornaments? There’s no right or wrong, I grew up with a combination of both. But there’s no denying the sentiment that goes along with a handmade ornament. 

Lindsay

Day 3: Decorate With Ornaments

I love the idea of decking out the house for Christmas time, but spending a ton of money on decor that is only on display for a month or so is less than thrilling. That’s why I love the idea of using some bulb ornaments (which can be found at the Dollar store) and combining them with an accessory you already have, a glass hurricane, candles, bowls, or a glass cloche. 

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You can also make it really simple and string a few ornaments together making a beautiful garland or display to hang from your chandelier. 

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Using inexpensive ornaments, or ones you already have, will go a long way when decorating for Christmas. The bottom line is, you don’t have to spend a ton of money to create something beautiful. 

Lindsay

Day 2: Christmas Tree Crafts

This year will be the second year Brad and I have not put up a Christmas tree. Because we travel out of state for a couple weeks to be with family during Christmas, it seemed silly to put up a tree and not be around to enjoy it. However, Christmas just isn’t the same without a tree, so I decided to make one. Here are a few cute Christmas tree crafts that I found. 

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I found most of these through Pinterest which has a ton of Christmas tree craft ideas. Do you have a favorite? Leave a comment and share the link; I would love to check it out!

Lindsay