Window Wreaths and Christmas Candles

I finished my last Christmas project this morning - fresh wreaths for my living room windows (they smell sooo good)! I picked up a couple of wreath forms for 30 cents at a thrift shop. I simply wrapped them in fresh greens and cut a strip of red and white toile fabric for the wreath hanger. I love that wreaths are so simple, yet add so much festive charm.

Yesterday, I found these slender jar candles at the grocery store for $1.50 each! I wrapped them in my brownish, vintage sheet music and hung vintage crystals from an old chandelier.  To finish them, I added fresh greens with berries.

Best wishes to you and yours this Christmas.  May your days be merry and bright!

 

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Whitewashed Christmas Wreath

I told you I had some Christmas posts to catch up on at the last minute!

I wanted to create a whitewashed, rustic Christmas wreath. I had a few extra pinecones that I had gathered outside around my house, so I decided to add those to the bottom. I mixed some white paint with water and brushed it over the wreath and pine cones. I had just enough burlap left in my fabric bin to make a bow wreath hanger.



I started with this twiggy wreath - a $1 thrift store find.

For the finishing touch, I stenciled letters on vintage sheet music and attached them to the wreath with mini clothespins and hemp twine.

My front door finally has a wreath this Christmas!  It is better late than never.

I have one more Christmas decorating project for tomorrow, so stop back by!

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Brown Paper Christmas Gifts

I had to go out of town unexpectedly, adding a bit more stress to an already hectic month. I have the next couple of days to catch up on my Christmas posts!

While I was away, Mr. Rubbish called to see if I had any Christmas wrapping paper stashed anywhere. I did not, so I told him to use brown paper sacks and I would decorate them when I got home. I wanted to forgo the commercial wrapping paper this year and opt for recycled wrapping instead. I used trims, ribbons, burlap and vintage broaches, from my stash, to dress up our presents.

I love the old-fashioned charm of brown paper packages.

The Trader Joe's bags are nicely decorated with white snowflakes, ornaments and holiday words, so I cut those out to make gift tags.

I stenciled white reindeer on one of the larger packages.

 I adore these little galvanized metal pots that I picked up at a yard sale for free.  They are perfect containers for my large pine cones.

My sister-in-law made us these adorable, felt Christmas boots with our initials.  Mr. Rubbish's family always used boots instead of stockings and I love the idea, especially when I have no fireplace mantle to hang stockings!

Mr. Rubbish did manage to find one remnant piece of wrapping paper from last year.  I decorated it with burlap, ribbon and mini pinecones.

Happy gift wrapping to all of you!

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Christmas Window Mantle

Since I don't have a fireplace mantle, I decorated the built-in shelf above my living room window.  I gathered redwood branches and pinecones around my house and mixed them with some of my Christmas decorations.  I brushed white acrylic paint over the pine cones and then sprinkled gold and white glitter over them to add a snow frosted look. 

I wanted my mantle to be natural and whimsical at the same time.  I added birds, pomegranates and shimmery ribbon to the branches and pinecones.

When I was visiting my sister this summer, I found these vintage, glass Christmas balls for $1 at DI.  I hung these under the shelf and in front of the window with some clear string.  I love the pretty, pastel colors of the vintage balls.

I am so happy to be done with working on stuff for my space at the shop, so I can finally focus on decorating my house for Christmas!