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11.26.2021
Sweet Sweater Santa hat tutorial
11.22.2021
Sweet Sweater Nativity
i've made a lot of things this year,
and this project ended up being my very favorite one.
i've selected it as my very first 'official' holiday decor post
because for me, this is the 'reason for the season' -
observing and celebrating the birth of Jesus.
it is at the foundation of my faith, and fills my soul with joy.
this project began with the beautiful blown glass art of artist Helle Mardahl...
i was so inspired by the luminous colors and soft forms of her art in photos on Instagram
and they immediately made me think of human forms.
i turned a few small ceramic vessels and some tiny tree ornaments
into a charmingly sweet and simple nativity scene that reflects her art.
after i added sweater scraps to the mix, i HAD to call this a 'Sweet Sweater Nativity'!
continue reading for the very easy details...
11.19.2021
it's a 'Sweet Sweater Season' holiday!
so that i don't have to spend two weeks at the start of a new year
dealing with taking down the holiday stuff and putting out all-new winter stuff.
i want less not more work after the holiday season!
i want more time for fun days on my brand new calendar,
and more time for reading and long winters' naps by the fire. or pool. whatever!
and this season, i'm making it happen.
are you in?!
...continue reading for some sweet sneak peeks!
12.21.2020
rainbow paint chip table runner
are built on top of this rainbow-hued runner.
made from paint chips and freezer paper and a glue stick. SO easy!
and right about now in the holiday season....easy is good.
continue reading for the super-simple 'how-to'...
12.18.2020
colorful holiday tablescapes
it's completely socially acceptable to love cute decor and cute wrapping paper
and watch all kinds of cute, animated movies and tv specials.
let's just take that idea and use it to fuel our imaginations
when it comes to creating a merry and bright tablescape!
continue reading to see two versions of a colorful tablescape,
along with a few 'table tips'...
12.16.2020
diy painted gift wrap ribbon
12.11.2020
Target fringe tree makeover
12.09.2020
rainbow painted Target trees!
my DIYs fit my style, my color palette, and my budget
but give me all the fun and impact of what's hot this season...
case in point: the current Target Tree Trend.
every account on Insta is showing them.
people are ransacking their local Tarjay store Bullseye's Playground racks to get them.
along with bottle brush trees, these things are a must-have this holiday.
when i first saw them online, i knew EXACTLY what i would do to them if i could find them.
well, i found some. and then, i made them fit my style - with paint, of course.
in a rainbow array of color - of course.
in patterns that replicate paint chips because... it's a theme.
keep reading to see more of them, and what i did with 'em!
12.07.2020
diy paint chip trees
12.04.2020
merry mantel paint chip decor
12.02.2020
repurposed Christmas card wreath
and this one's made from something we all have: old Christmas cards!
yep, i'd bet there are a few (dozen) cards stashed in with your holiday decor,
with graphics or photos so cute that you just couldn't toss them out.
i love projects that make use of simple materials,
and i've always liked pulling out old holiday decorations and enjoying them in 'different' ways.
this combines the two in a simple paper craft.
11.30.2020
paint chip advent calendar
i've used paint chip squares, since they coordinate with my theme this year,
but other easy ways to create something similar include manila tags and post-it notes!
the process is very easy - everyone can get in on the fun!
continue reading for the how-to and suggestions for personalizing an advent calendar...
11.27.2020
re-purposed 'ornament' doorhanger

another of my previous diy decor projects got a quick makeover with paint,
turning it into a cute door hanger that resembles an ornament for the holidays!
i love re-using what i already have on hand,
giving it a fresh look for each season when i can.
it saves money, and storage space, and time spent shopping -
honestly, i'd rather be painting and crafting!!!
continue reading for an easy how-to...
11.25.2020
paint chip wreath, too!
in about ten minutes, i recently reworked it to become something different
because that's what i do with my decor: rethink it, remake it, reuse it.
with the simple addition of paint chip strips, it brightens up the holiday season!
11.23.2020
diy paint chip wreath
i made use of a rainbow 'ROYGBIV' color palette,
but of course you could make a similar wreath in hues that compliment your home...
continue reading for an easy tutorial!
11.20.2020
rainbow colorized wreath
switching up my holiday decor themes each year is a lot of fun,
and it doesn't cost a lot to make a change...
this white wreath was just $6 at a local thrift shop four years ago,
and i've reworked it with colorful ornaments to match my colorful tree.
most of those ornaments i already had,
a few i grabbed at thrift shops and Dollar Tree to fill out my color palette.
( all told, i spent less than ten dollars on this)
attaching them to the wreath was a quick undertaking,
and the impact is uplifting - indoors or out!
11.18.2020
diy paint chip ornaments
are these ornaments that i made using paint chips.
a note about using paint chips, if i may....
i emphatically discourage raiding paint chip displays in home improvement stores.
just to be clear.
making these ornaments is pretty simple - it's a scissors & paste kinda' craft project!
continue reading for the easy tutorial for all three styles of ornaments...
11.16.2020
rainbow colorized Christmas tree
a brilliant white tree with bright color ornaments, arranged in rainbow ROYGBIVP order
("it's a SYSTEM!" - if you know, you know)
okay, so, yesssss, i've been watching The Home Edit on Netflix. a LOT.
and yessssss, it has indeed had an influence on my Christmas decor this year.
i was also inspired by an Insta photo of a huge garland made of balloons...
that spurred the idea to create a 'garland' of colorful ornaments
that were arranged in color order.
continue reading to hear more about where those ornaments CAME from
and see how easy this approach to tree decorating is!
11.13.2020
creative Christmas tree skirts
it's not that my trees go bare-legged, it's just that i use different things under them than most people:
vintage petticoats, silky satin formal skirts, my wedding dress!, rugs,
old wood crates, and more tablecloths than i can count. Oh, and a fuzzy blanket!.
i've even used.... wait for it... pine branches. simple, right?
this year's happy colorful theme called for some FUN under the tree,
one involves some crafting, and will work on any size tree.
the other is for a small tree,
and was so easy i could hardly believe i hadn't thought of it before.
i hope they both make you take a look at whatever tree skirt you've been using
and think twice... about maybe trying something different this year.
now, let's get creative!
continue reading for the easy diy tutorials...
11.11.2020
my top tree lighting tip...
before we get to the merry & bright colorful decor,
i have a tree-lighting tip to share with you that is guaranteed to up the sparkle factor
on any tree you decorate!
continue reading to see what my no-fail tree lighting trick is...