One Last Christmas Project for 2011

I hope everyone is getting to spend time with loved ones on this wonderful day. It is a tradition of ours to let the kids open their gifts from the hubby and I on Christmas Eve. We always have somewhere to be on Christmas Day at noon & don't like to rush around trying to get out the door. We had a great time today baking & making lots of snacky foods, opeining gifts & having some family over. We are all exhausted!!

Well, I couldn't resist painting this little bird lantern thingy once I got it home from the thrift store. I knew it would be a quick, easy project :) I didn't have the color of paint I wanted to use, so, what's a girl to do??? Why MIX HER OWN of course ;)

BEFORE

And AFTER with my custom color :)

This little birdie is much happier now :) :) :)

1 Day 'Til Christmas

Linking Up:

The Shabby Nest
Crafty Scrappy Happy
Debbidoos Blogging & Blabbing
The DIY Home Sweet Home Blog
Domestically Speaking

$2 Project-Coffee Filter Wreath

This is that final project that I was hoping to get done before Christmas. I did it!! It's done. AND, I do love the result. It's so sweet & simple & white. I think it could be kept up all year & made to work with different holiday decorating.

So Frilly :)

Hard to believe this is all it took!! I bought the foam wreath form a while back at a thrift store for 59 cents.

I hung it on my old ironing board in my laundry room.

The addition of the dainty little snowflake just finishes the look!!

About $2 and 1 hour of work (while watching Christmas movies).

Oh yes, and here is the link to the tutorial I used for this.

2 days 'til Christmas

Linking Up:
Funky Junk Interiors
Here Comes the Sun
Ladybird Ln

The Gunny Sack

I WAS FEATURED BY A WONDERFUL BLOG FOR THIS PROJECT!!!!

You should definitely check out her blog and link up to her Friday parties :)





Today's Thrift Store Treasures

I had to make a trip into town yesterday so I figured it would make perfect sense to stop at the thrift store while I was there.....:) They just happened to be having a sale!! 1/2 off EVERYTHING!!! Woohoo!!! It's my lucky day!!

These 4 things cost me a total of $1.90.

This little bird cage & birdie were only a QUARTER!! And the thing it's sitting on is a cake plate. It's darling :)

I had been wanting a Christmas cookie jar, but couldn't part with the $$ for one. This will work for a mere 38 cents!! It's even glass :)

This little wooden Peace on Earth sign is too cute. You can see the base of my cake stand here too.

I didn't find much, but what I did find I {love}.

Thrifting makes my heart happy :) :)

Linking Up:
Passionately Artistic
The Gunny Sack

A Partridge in a Pear Tree

I have one last project I want to get done BEFORE Christmas Day actually arrives. I have been busy, but am hoping today is the day it will happen :)

So, 2 days ago my sweet husband took the kiddos to school on his way to the gym (already on my good list for the day just for that), and then, he comes home with a gift for me. He even had it wrapped at the store :) He told me I needed to open it early because I would want it BEFORE Christmas. I wasn't arguing with that!! ;)

4 Calling Birds

3 French Hens

2 Turtle Doves

And a Partridge in a Pear Tree ♪♪♪♪

I had been eye balling this set of plates for a couple weeks now. The partridge plate was on top & they were in a stack tied with ribbon. I thought they were 4 of the same plate & loved them. When I opened them up & discovered there were 4 different designs. I SQUEALED WITH DELIGHT!!!! I am a lucky girl to have such an amazing husband, that spoils me rotten ;)

I think this will go down as one of my all time favorite gifts. What are your favorite Christmas gifts from past years??

3 DAYS 'TIL CHRISTMAS!!!!

Linking Up:
Funky Junk Interiors

Pretty Pink Tree-$0 Christmas Project

Here is one of my inspiration photos.

Found at I Heart Organizing. I love her blog!!

And here is another darling photo. This is where I actually got the tutorial & free cone tree printable template.

I didn't have any sparkly tinsel garland or any bright, beautiful yarn, so I made do with what I did have because I needed to get one of these made immediately...

I think it still turned out cute & I will most likely make a couple more. After I recover from my third degree burn & blister from the hot glue gun ;)

I don't have much pink in my living room, but I would like to :)

I don't remember if I was blogging when I made over that little topiary or not. It was hideous before & it's such a darling little thing now!!

I used some pink fabric I found in my sewing stash. Just cut into long strips & wound & twisted, hot gluing ever so often. Easy & Free!!

Be inspired. You can't pass up a fast, free Christmas project!!

**UPDATE**

I made another one with some red & white polka dot fabric {love it}.

Linking Up:
Flamingo Toes
You Are Talking Too Much
Under the Table and Dreaming
Cherished Treasures
The Gunny Sack
The DIY Home Sweet Home Project
Debbiedoos Blogging & Blabbing

FREE Christmas Printable-10 Minute Christmas Project

Hey everyone!! It's not too late to get a couple more Christmas projects done before the big day. This one is a quick, easy, FREE one :) I found it at Eye Candy Blog Shop. I love the colors. It definitely goes with my vintage {y} decor in the kitchen. I printed out an 8 x 10 and popped it in a 10 x 13 frame. It makes me happy :) Go here to print your's off.

{love it}

Looks so cheery next to my vintage kitchen utensils.

Oh, and I backed mine with some Christmasy scrapbook paper.

I love this color combination!!

I also love free stuff!!

Let the countdown begin!! 8 days 'til Christmas!!

Linking Up:

Ladybird Ln
Tatertots and Jello
The Shabby Nest
I {heart} Naptime
Crafts Keep Me Sane

Pinecones in a Pail-10 Minute Christmas Project

I have been working & working to re-design my blog. I think I finally got it the way I want it, but boy was it a lot of work!!!! I am not very smart when it comes to computer stuff, so it was definitely a challenge!! I hope you all like my new look as much as I do :) I have another 10 minute Christmas project for you. I found my inspiration for this one over at Restoration House blog.

I had everything I needed for this around the house!! Love it when that happens :)

It needed a little heighth, so I plopped it on this little pot.

I actually went out in the yard & looked for the perfect sticks for this.

I am loving the simplicity of the pinecones & sticks paired with the elegance of the ribbon & balls.....

I am so not ready for Christmas....just because I will miss my Christmas decor terribly.....

Linking Up:
Passionately Artistic
Sweet Peas and Bumblebees
Here Comes the Sun
Serenity Now
Fingerprints on the Fridge

Christmas Cloche-Another 10 minute Christmas project

I was inspired by this adorable cloche over at Fox Hollow Cottage. Her blog is just darling!!

I had some vintage Christmas ornaments that my dear friend gave to me & I hadn't found a project to use them with yet, so this was exciting for me!!

This little cheese dome/candlestick combo turned cloche was one of my very 1st projects. I have had it in my dining room with various things in it & thought it would be cute with some fake snow & a few of the vintage ornaments.

I think it adds just the right amount of Christmas cheer to this little cupboard.

Another project done in 10 minutes or less!!

Linking Up:
Ginger Snap Crafts
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

10 Minute Christmas Project

We are all busy during the holiday season, so 10 minute projects are good projects right!?! I spent my Sunday afternoon at a photo shoot with my sister & my sweet baby niece. That's what's keeping my busy these days :) Anyways, let's get down to business.

I found this lantern type thing in the free barn at the dump. I stuck it in the garage until I could figure out what to do with it. Then I got some {pin}spiration & came up with this. I didn't paint it, it looked okay the way it was. I did have to add a piece of glass though. Since I didn't want to go have a piece measured & cut I used glass out of an old picture frame. It didn't fit perfectly so that is the back side ;)

Filled it with thrift store Christmas balls & pinecones.

I think it really came to life when I added it to my Christmas vignette.

Stay tuned for more 10 minute Christmas projects!!

Linking Up:
You Are Talking Too Much
Passionately Artistic
Here Comes the Sun
Under the Table and Dreaming

Ladybird Ln

My Christmas Decor

I have been decorating my house for Christmas since about the 3rd week of November, as I completed a Christmas project I went ahead & added to my decor until November 22nd when my husband finally agreed to put up the tree. Even though I have been super busy spoiling my new niece, I am still adding and making changes on a regular basis & probably will be until Christams day!! I love the festive look & the cozy feeling it gives my home :) Here are a few (thousand) photos of what I have so far ;)

This buffet is in my living room. I bought it from a little shop about a year ago. It was kind of a blond color. My husband painted it for me & I kept the original hardware. It's gorgeous...I love the Christmas vignette I have set up on top. The lantern type thing is a project I will be blogging about soon. The candle holder was in my pile of stuff to sell or donate when I decided a new paint job could spruce it up. I think I like it now :) I really love to frame old snapshots of my kids from past Christmases & add them to my decor.

A view from one corner of my living room. You can see my embroidery hoops on the wall & my mirror & tree project :)

I wrapped some boxes to sit in the fireplace. The smallest one is wrapped in Christmas sheet music.

Some Christmas cheer added to my milk glass collection.

The wreath I hung on my dining room mirror.

My {Christmasfied} cloche. This adorable little cupboard was given to me by a friend. I will blog about the cloche soon!!

I still have my drop cloth curtains.

My kitchen, all lit up. This is a desk area in my kitchen. My milk glass collection has overflowed.

Some of my ornaments.

I got all the kids Christmas gifts wrapped last night, while watching Christmas movies :)

Are you all finished up with your Christmas decorating??

Linking Up:

Cherished Treasures

I {heart} Naptime

Funky Junk Interiors

Flamingo Toes

Serenity Now

Tatertots and Jello

Chic on a Shoestring Decorating

Sisters of the Wild West

The Shabby Nest

Debbiedoos...Blogging & Blabbing

Thrifty Decor Chick