ombre' gradient Christmas tree

this year's Christmas tree in our house is OMBRE'!

the ornaments are all of the SAME ones we used last year: 

i used all of the colored balls & figural ornaments and fabric poinsettias.

i didn't use the ribbon or the clear glass or paper ornaments that we used last year.

it's a completely different look for the tree - and we didn't spend a cent on it!

the ornaments used are white, ivory, gold, pale copper/rose gold, copper,

orange, tan, brown, and bronze.

i like the way the color gradient is dark at the bottom - like the floor -

and light at the top - like the ceiling.

it seems to make the tree feel even more grand and statuesque.

so.... now let me tell you the story of this theme!

that's LAST year's Christmas tree...

i had fun creating paper ornaments and pulling together a new look 

for the first year in the new house - 

which was a more neutral palette than my Mom has ever had on a tree before. 

we pulled gold from her holiday decor stash, 

and white, ivory, and browns from my holiday decor stash, 

then we bought some new ornaments to add to the mix - copper and orange.
(orange is our accent color here at home)
it all came together beautifully in a lush, full decor style - see more of it here.

well.... me being ME, i just can't do the same thing twice. ever.

.so as i was thinking about this years' tree, i remembered a tree that my friend Michael created

and shared on his blog Inspired by Charm last year: 

now, i love that idea! it's fun, it's happy, 

and from a design standpoint, it's a standOUT idea.

but it isn't ME. ...however.....

i realized that if i took all of the ornaments we already HAVE (sounds familiar, right?!)

and used them in gradient bands on the tree, 

i could replicate the idea without using the same colors. 

make the idea my own, so to speak.

which is what i hope the ideas i share here will do - 

inspire you to tweak them so they work for your style, your life, your home.

so, i showed that photo of Michael's tree to Mom, told her about my idea,

and asked if she was game to TRY it - with the promise that if it looked horrible,

she could tell me that, and I'd UNdecorate the tree and re-decorate it another way.
she agreed.

so I did it. and it worked!  (and Mom LOVES it!)

(i am also happy that i don't have to dismantle it and redecorate)

a side-by-side comparison:

Michael's tree is cone-shaped, while ours is a skinny tree - so ours looks kinda' funky.

i wish i had larger ornaments on the bottom part, but all in all i am happy with it!

i wanted to share this project with you so that perhaps you will 

look at the holiday decor elements and tree ornaments you already have 

and be inspired to think about them in a new way...

maybe doing an ombre' tree is not your thing, and that's fine.

perhaps using only one color, or a new combination of colors, 

would be a fun way to make things feel 'new' at your house 

without spending anything!

Vintage Paper Ornaments

When I was in my frenzied flurry of paper crafting last month, 

(see my vintage paper poinsettia wall decor post)
I also created some ornaments for the tree...

Using a trusty old paper slicer that I kept from my Dad's warehouse,

I cut dozens and dozens and dozens of strips of paper from old books and hymnals.

With scissors, a stapler, a glue stick, and a pencil to create rolled edges as tools,

I played around with shapes until I came up with these: 

why, yes, that IS a hidden Mickey!
I put those on the tree in my studio because.... well, because!

Continue Reading to find out where I put them all!

Sweet Sweater Santa hat tutorial

along with our homes, i think WE deserve some 'decorative' touches for the holiday season!

my original Sweet Sweater Santa hats have been my go-to December accessory for a decade now,

and wherever i wear them they garner smiles.

so i thought i'd share my SUPER easy method for making them!

continue reading for my easy NO SEW tutorial - 

PLUS some ideas for using them in other ways!

diy painted gift wrap ribbon

 

faced with a creative challenge, i usually turn to paint as a solution.

unable to find THE ribbon i had envisioned in my mind, i made my own.

time consuming? yeah. but very inexpensive, and totally worth the effort.

and yes, you can do this, too - no advanced paint techniques needed.

continue reading to see how completely devoted to a theme i can be!

paint chip advent calendar

it's time to start the official Christmas countdown!
here's a simple way to create an advent calendar that you can personalize for your family.

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...

faux wood 'junk' trees

 this is not a collection of trees made from wood. nope.
it's a collection of trees made from wood-printed PAPER! 

'continue reading' to see more details of this easy and kid-friendly craft
that can be made with new or reclaimed materials -
a simple, inexpensive way to get a 'junk project' look for your holiday & winter decor!

Vintage White Christmas Tree

 WOW! Thanks for the LOVE, everyone!
My Vintage White Christmas post is gettin' hits like mad!

so, I think it's time for more inspiration... how about how the tree came together for that theme?

 first, the tree: it's not vintage - it's a new $45 white prelit 6' tree from walmart.

and it wasn't 'big' enough for the 10' ceilings in the room, so it sits up on a wood crate painted white.

[elevating a tree not only helps it give stature to your room, but leaves a LOT more room beneath it for gifts!]

the tree was set up and plugged in, then i gathered up all of the ornaments and decor...

 you'll notice from these photos that you don't have to just use ornaments on a tree...

you can use a lot of things that are just everyday items and collectibles, too.

adding some decor elements that are BIG helps to keep things interesting on the tree!

begin with the largest elements first, placing them equally on the tree

[and yes, i am sort of persnickety about that. 

i don't actually MEASURE the distance between ornaments that are the same, but I DO 'eyeball' it!]

 then move on to the medium-sized elements, then the small, and the really special ones go on last.

 toppers on trees don't have to be just a single star or angel or glass thingamabob...

it's easy to create an interesting arrangement at the top of the tree instead!

this one has a star made from a carpenter's ruler, some vintage silk 'money plant' florals,

a white baroque photo frame, and one of my original Junk Queen 'Ice Princess' crowns.

 some of the unique ornaments on this tree are a tiny plastic chandelier,

vintage paper bells and mini burlap stockings

 an old plastic snowflake garland, corkscrew glass ornaments from the dollar store, 

and a perfect birdsnest found in our boxwood hedge

[it's said that having a birdsnest in your Christmas tree brings good luck for the coming year!]

 these stunning ornaments are my very favorites... flocked damask designs in soft cream on white glass.

they are not vintage, but new. i found them at TJ Maxx a few years back. loooooooove them!

 the giant snowflakes are plastic, and came from a party supply store.

bonus for me: they had hung in their display windows one year, and had yellowed slightly. 

they hated that - i loved it! and i got them on clearance for a SONG

 i collect little tea cups when i find them at thrift shops, and paint them with white gloss spray paint.

they make very charming ornaments, and also look sweet hung on ribbons from chandeliers!

 carpenter's ruler stars

there are also crocheted doilies as 'snowflakes'

and crystals backed with vintage sheet music on the tree...
i didn't get a close up, but you can see them in the first photo above.

 and my most precious ornament on this tree: a silver baby spoon,

in honor of my three sweet grandsons.

you could easily get spoons and have them stamped or engraved with names, too!

i loved sitting in the chair with this view...

why 'seasonal' decorating?

i get that question a lot: "why do you change your home decor with the season?"

it's not such a foreign concept, really. most people do this at certain points in the year -
Halloween, Christmas, Fourth of July, Easter.

they bring out decor elements that are specific to those holidays to enhance their enjoyment.

i grew up with a Mom who did that, making holidays special.

decorating for winter, spring, summer, and autumn is a similar approach...

simple, subtle changes in color and accessories can make a dramatic difference

in how a room feels, and how i live in it.

for example, the room shown above... it's filled with warm neutral hues and soft textures,

the perfect place to cozy up on a rainy fall day.

but i wouldn't want to live in it like that during a hot summer!

with a few simple changes, the mood shifts and the room feels appropriate to the season.

 

every season brings a new design scheme, refreshing the space and me with new energy. 

and when i say 'new design scheme', i'm not talking totally redecorating a room.

i'm not advocating spending a bundle - of money OR time - several times a year.

easy changes - swapping out colorful accessories and bringing in touches of nature - 

are my main methods for bringing the beauty of a new season indoors.

it doesn't take a lot of money or effort to get results like this - just imagination!

continue reading to see the room above change through the seasons of a year...

tiki style tablescape

our Hawaiian holiday style continues onto the dining table...

using what we had on hand already, along with a few simple and inexpensive additions,
i was able to create a table that reflected the island style of our 'Happy HULAdays' Christmas decor theme!

as always, i try to keep the decor simple and easily removed, so we can play games or craft here.
'continue reading' to see the details...

a POKEMON Christmas Tree!

...and now for something COMPLETELY different...

My youngest daughter Brianna loves to decorate for Christmas - 

she's very creative, and used to work with me as I decorated the wineries in Washington.

She has a special challenge when it comes to holiday decor:
My grandson's Birthday is on December 18th, and she doesn't want to overshadow that -
but she also doesn't want to wait until AFTER that day to put up the tree, 

so she decorates their tree in his birthday theme each year!

THIS YEAR, she has outdone herself... with a POKEMON theme!

continue reading to see some really fun ideas...

oh, Christmas tree!

 my friends, I just don't 'do' Black Friday.

that one horrifying trip to the mall for a Cabbage Patch Doll back in the early 80's was enough.
I was an 19 year old new mommy and was seriously traumatized by it all.
.

ever since, I've spent the day after Thanksgiving 

happily hiding from the world and decorating my house for Christmas...

and then that turned into decorating other people's homes and businesses.
in the course of decorating all those trees
(about 25 trees each year, give or take - that's a lotta' tree decorating!)
I've learned some helpful tips and come up with some ideas:

I found an easy tip that really makes trees glow 

i also turned a really cheap material into fun 'tomato cage' Christmas trees!

this year, I've been making some trees

to sell in my homewardFOUND shop at our Dec 2 Shop Hop event.

 'found' materials have been a big part of that process...

 last year, I created and shared a 'vintage lace Christmas tree' on a tomato cage

this year, I shrunk the idea down to size!

recently I found some funky old bristle brushes in a thrift shop, 

and of course I don't SEE them as that - I saw TREES!

they turned out exactly as I envisioned them, and I really like 'em!
I mean, REALLY like them. I am torn about selling them.... 

I've shared a lot of Christmas tree decor themes over the years,
and I hope they continue to inspire you!

The tree is up and fluffed and lit in our living room, but I have NO IDEA
what the theme will be this year... we'll see what I come up with
as soon as I get alllllll those decor boxes out of the garage and into the house!
(The only tip I have for that is 'get help!')

to all who are visiting from the Funky Junk Interiors DIY Salvage Junk link party, welcome!

a Vintage White Christmas

as you might expect from an  

a) decorating enthusiast  b) visual designer & stylist 

and c) owner of fifty-plus tubs of assorted Christmas decor, 

i try to mix things up every year when i decorate my home.

i love what i have, i just want it to be fresh and interesting each year.

one year, my theme was 'a Vintage White Christmas', 

with some burlap and lace thrown in to echo the popularity of Danish-Euro style...

all this white pine-bough loveliness came about as a last-minute addition to my decor plan!
 

in the midst of decorating, i went into the local thrift shop [i know, i know....]
where i spied two huge plain cardboard boxes labelled
'White Xmas Tree: Part 1 and Part 2'. and they were taped shut. 

i asked how much for the tree, and was told  

ten bucks - plus 50% off, so a total of FIVE BUCKS.
and you already know what happened next... i said SOLD! so fast it wasn't funny!

the gal cut open the boxes so I could check out the tree, 

and it was a really NICE white nylon tree from the 80's. 8' tall. No lights. 

 Now, I already had a decent white 7' white tree, pre-lit, to use that year......

but here's a hot tip for you:  

NEVER pass up a decent faux tree for a good price.

You may not need another TREE, but you can use the branches for decorating with!
and that's exactly what i did.

instead of using my usual cut greens from outside in the decor,

i stayed with a very light, soft palette and put white branches 

on the chandelier, on the buffet, on the dining table, on the tables in the living room, on the entry table...

 everywhere, basically. 

and then i added heaps of ornaments and candles and more to the chandelier 

(and i have to say i just LOVE those fancy blown glass ornaments)
and to the buffet, the dining table, the tables in the living room, and the entry table.....  

 filling jars, bowls, serving trays, cake pedestals, and other everyday containers with beautiful ornaments

is an easy way to spread Christmas cheer and your color scheme all through your home

remember my original 'white glass light globe pumpkins' i shared here in my fall posts?

well, THIS is what i do with CLEAR light globes!

i put them into arrangements with greens and ornaments, 

and then tuck a night light on an extension cord inside them.
turn it on, and it glows beautifully - while being very safe.

[i use them outside this way, too, 

and have photos of that to share in another post...]

a sweet way to add 'a little something' to a simple candle: 

a vintage crocheted collar, a silk ribbon and a vintage rhinestone clip earring 

wrapped around a glass hurricane shade.  a candle in a glass jar inside the shade burns safely. 

and because i am truly NEVER 'done' decorating, i made a change after i took the photos...

i put white bubble light bulbs into my chandelier!

my grandma Ward had bubble lights on a tree when i was little, 

and they always bring back sweet memories for me.

these white ones were just too perfect to pass up

[and my grandson LOVED them, so the tradition is passed on!]

this soft, monochromatic Vintage White Christmas theme was so restful

and serves as a basic decor scheme that allows for changes through the years:

the next year, i added seashells for a really beachy theme

and another year, i had a swanky black and white theme...

i'll share those soon!

making a happy home

a brand new year is a fresh new start, in so many ways...
every year, i choose a single word to be my intention and focus (rather than resolution).
i like this approach, as it is more about 'be' than 'do'.

THIS year, my word is 'happy' - for many reasons.

Mom and i also select a word that is our shared 'Word of the Year',

something that reflects a purpose or mission or quality that we intend to pursue together.

and this year, that word is 'HOME'.

we chose it for a few different reasons...

but the really amazing thing is that as soon as we decided on it,

all KINDS of things started showing up to 'confirm' that it was the right choice:

things like songs, and sentiments in cards from friends, a book that a friend of mine was selling, 

and us noticing little objects we had around here already

that would bring the word 'home' resonance in our home and our daily life.

and when i combined my word with our word, it really came to life...

continue reading to see how our winter decor evokes a 'happy home'!