I started working on this idea a few weeks ago, and finally got around to finishing up this little experiment of mine just the other day.  I wanted to create some original candles with plain glass containers and soy wax for the holidays and to give as gifts. 

Here is the first of the four candles I created.  This version has a cranberry tinted soy wax inside a plain glass oval container – it is painted and embellished with a glittery seasonal message. 

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I had really big plans to fix myself up and to give y’all a video tour of our home this weekend, but as luck would have it, I just ran out of time.  Gosh darn, oh well.  I was able to snap a few photos of some of the decor on display this year, so here’s a glimpse at a few areas you haven’t seen yet.

Welcome to our Holiday Home !

Our front porch is draped in lighted garland and the urns are filled with lighted trees.

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The color red has been banished from the living room this year due to my latest fixation with hot pink accents.  However, the rest of our collection of crimson décor is making an appearance all around the rest of our home.  

As rainstorms pounded the house yesterday, we decided to skip those crowds at the malls and stay warm and dry indoors by making hot chocolate and decking our front hallway and foyer with garland, berries and red ribbons. 

In years past, I’ve made every effort to cover the banister to hide the ordinary oak railing that I was never crazy about.  Ever since we refinished the staircase in this dark espresso color, I have no desire whatsoever to hide its new finish, so I swaged some simple greenery this year instead of wrapping it all around. 

Underneath the fresh cedar, the base is formed by a lighted faux fir garland.  We thought ahead to Christmas when we remodeled the house, and added electrical outlets at the top of the stairs. 

On top of the fir I’ve swagged some fresh cedar from a local farm.   

Love.This.Scent.

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We love to send them, we love to receive them.  Christmas cards are just one of those holiday rituals that some dread, some cherish, yet we all must decide how to display them every year.  Years ago, I used to apply some double sided tape on the back of the cards I received and I would secure them to a door.  Back in 2006, I bought one of those Christmas card display trees on sale from Pottery Barn – that worked fine too.

This year, I wanted to do something more creative, more unexpected.  When I ordered a new chandelier from Ballard Designs for my home office, it came with some extra chain that I never used.

My daughter tried to convince me to make her a Marley costume.  I decided it was better put to use as a tool to display some Christmas cards in front of my window.

Originally, I decided to just use white paper clips.

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For me, there is no such thing as too many ornaments during the holidays, especially ones that are handmade, heartfelt, or historic in one’s family.  I just love to deck the halls at Christmastime and having plenty of ornaments on hand is the key to a fa-la-la fabulous season.  My girls and I had a ton of fun in the last few days creating new ornaments this year. 

Welcome one and all to my little parade of DIY ornaments !

This year, I came up with a medley of merry décor, from a boxwood kissing ball to glittery cookie cutters to kid friendly peppermint letters to several variations of glass ornaments. 

All of these projects are incredibly simple !  The step by steps are so easy, they can’t even be called tutorials, but I’ll share the ingredients just the same. If you’ve got something creative you’d like to contribute, or a host of family ornaments you’re showcasing, then please join the party and link up at the end of this post!   MckLinky is active through Wednesday to encourage plenty of holiday blog hopping.   

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I’m making my way around the casa, decorating here and there.  Just recently, I picked up a sideboard from the local thrift for $50 dollars and decided to jazz it up for the holidays. 

I brought out some of my silver, gave it a good polish, then embellished with some gold accents.  I also shopped my home, and raided my party supplies stash to add some unexpected elements. 

I’m so into mixed metal sheens this year, and I adore a combo of silver and gold together.  I had this old wreath from a few years ago that inspired the color scheme, as well as the pink and bronze mantlescape from a few days ago. 

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I am so fond of wreaths at Christmastime, aren’t you?  For me, decorating my front door wreath is just as important as the tree.  My favorite front door wreaths are vibrant, festive, and most importantly, welcoming.   When I came across two very different wreaths in my stash of Christmas decor it struck me that they might look marvelous if combined.  

I have a ‘spend less, spend more’ goal this December, meaning I seek spend less at the retail stores, and spend more time with my loved ones. 

Creating this wreath in about an hour with what I already had at home allowed me to do both.

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I was just fa la la la la-ing my way through the fabric store the other day, in search of more velvet for those stockings I have every good intention of sewing whenever I get around to it. 

Darn it, why did I have to spy those bolts of faux fur ?  I was completely stopped in my tracks.  I couldn’t think about stockings, I could only see a fabulous tree skirt trimmed in that cream colored fur.  I’ve never ever ever had a tree skirt -  it’s one of those luxuries I’ve just never bothered to purchase.  In years past, I simply wrapped a piece of crimson velvet around my tree trunk.  In truth, that worked just fine since the fabric always seemed to be covered up with Christmas presents relatively quickly. 

This year, after spying that fur, I just had to make myself an authentic tree skirt.  I wanted a skirt with a luxurious look, but without the big price tag. 

So I came up with this purty little number. 

Here’s the quick and easy way to make this simple sew faux fur trimmed tree skirt in one afternoon.

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Whenever the Christmas closet is opened, the first place I always begin with my seasonal decorating is with the three mantles in my home.  I am blessed to actually have three mantles to decorate, so this time of year, I take full advantage of my very good fortune.

This year, I used a combination of fresh garland, faux greenery, yard clippings, and other baubles to add a little holiday flair to my home with three very different, yet very merry mantlescapes.   

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Happy Monday friends!  I’m so happy to bring you one amazingly beautiful DIY project from my great friend Lindsay over at Living with Lindsay. 

Lindsay is one of those inventive gals that I admire so much because if nobody’s done it, well she’ll figure out how, and then teach you.  When she showed us how to paint laminate, I was hooked.  When she transformed this Craigslist coffee table, I almost spit out my coffee.  Then she made this amazing wreath that was featured on Apartment Therapy.  She even watches Glee (love that show!).  Lindsay is just a DIY gal after my own heart. 

Today, in continuation of Guest Blogger Week, I’m proud to present her vintage inspired sequined holiday tree. 

Take it away Lindsay !

“When thinking about decorating my home for the holidays this year, I’ve been really drawn towards the vintage inspirations of my past. Growing up, we had a gorgeous array of ornaments handmade by my grandmother on our tree. I’m not sure if the ornaments exist anymore (unless they are hidden in my parents’ attic), but I am still inspired by their beauty.

These aren’t my ornaments, but I wish they were.

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