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1.23.2023

make a cozy pillow cover!

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when i started this blog waaaay back in 2012,
i used the tagline 'fast, cheap & easy' - a LOT.
it's a big part of how my projects evolve -
based on my 45+ year career as a retail display designer & stylist.

in my profession, things aren't made to last forever - just a season.
that's a big part of why i use and RE-use elements & materials in my projects!
by doing that, i can avoid having even more stuff in storage bins than i already do
and i can have fun finding new ways to use everything i have on hand.

THIS 'fast, cheap & easy' project came about in the funniest way - 
continue reading to find out what i used and how easy it is to make!

1.16.2023

cozy yarn-wrapped winter wreath

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yes, Deb's gone a *bit* 'loopy' lately!
this soft chenille loopy yarn is finding its way into several projects around here
because it's so FUN - and makes me think of snow. (okay, and frosting! LOL)

i've found another way to use it for a winter home decor accent,
and i hope this easy tutorial inspires you to give it a try!

continue reading for my easy tutorial...

1.09.2023

cozy yarn-wrapped candles

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you may have spied these in my last post...
they're a new take on one of my fave early projects:
sweater-wrapped vases. only these are yarn-wrapped vases!

they are a fun way to cozy up your home decor in wintertime.
this material has the effect of fluffy white powder snow that is perfect for the season.

continue reading for the easy how-to AND an important safety tip...

1.02.2023

warm new year greetings

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happy new year, my friends!
i hope 2023 finds you healthy and happy...

every year, i learn something new. sometimes MANY somethings.
and this past year, i think i could sum up what i learned as:
"sometimes, you just have to do the thing."

this winter i've added a new element to my studio, shown in the photo above -
it's a heater that looks like a wood stove, 
and it works perfectly in tandem with my fake fireplace mantel built in 2020!

i had been thinking about doing this for over a month, but put it off.
(procrastination is my biggest challenge, seriously.)
then in Mid-December the temps dropped waaaaay lower than normal,
and my studio windows frosted over.
sometimes nature gives us a lil' helping hand to get us moving.

continue reading to learn more about my solution...

12.30.2022

my FAVE winter decor projects

all of the Christmas decor is packed up, and i've been thinking about winter decorating
and all of the many ways i've 'warmed up' my homes every winter over the years...
 some of those projects have been successful several times in more than one home
as i re-create them in new versions + colorways.

over the past ten years of blogging here at homeward found decor,
i've shared hundreds of my original diy home decor projects
in 733 posts since i launched this blog in August 2012.

if you've been reading my blog for the past decade, THANK YOU FRIENDS!
if you're new here, i hope you enjoy discovering some of my past creations
as i share a look back... 

continue reading for some of my FAVE winter decor projects!

12.26.2022

NEW! sweet sweater 'gingerbread' cakes!

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deb used to bake. uh huh. but now if deb bakes, deb eats.
getting older with a slowing metabolism sucks!
so now my approach to 'holiday treats' takes a different form...

i just make sweet things out of other things... like SWEATERS!

for the finishing touch on my Gingerbread Holiday theme this year,
i've created two all-new Sweet SweaterTM originals to inspire you:


an oh-so-trendy 'tall cake' and a lil' mini 'cake buddy'
all trimmed out with gingerbread houses, men, candy canes, snowflakes,
and some 'frosting' that couldn't be easier!

continue reading to see how these sweet treats came together - 
without a calorie in sight ;) 

12.20.2022

a sweet 'gingerbread' creche & nativity

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for me, Christmas is not just about decorating or food or gifts...
it's about the birth of Jesus.
so each year, i either bring out my childhood nativity set
or create a new rendition of a creche scene that coordinates with my theme.

this year, i reworked the simple nativity scene that i created last year,
and added a new element that reflects my 'gingerbread' theme.
while the nativity figures would certainly work without the creche,
i like the way it focuses attention onto the holy family.

continue reading for the details of how i made it...

12.13.2022

gingerbread theme Christmas tree

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i have always enjoyed using what i have and mixing it up differently
to create new themes & looks each holiday season.
and while i don't have nearly as many bins of ornaments & elements as i once did
(over fifty JUST for Christmas! now it's about 10)
i still pull from my stash each year and then make / makeover some elements.

continuing the 'Gingerbread Holiday' theme this year,
 the tree in my studio is decorated with elements and materials on hand
to tell the story of a snowy gingerbread village.

keep reading to see how it all came together
and a few of my tree decorating tips...

12.06.2022

diy gingerbread men + village wreath

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true to form, i've re-used one project in the creation of another!
you'll recognize these ceramic village houses and trees from my last post,
where i shared my 'gingerbread' makeover - with paint!
i love seeing how many ways i can use something,
and how i can expand a seasonal theme to encompass many different projects.

continue reading to learn some secrets about this one!