July 13th

 

We covered mason jar gifts a week ago, so today we're looking at mason jar decor. Using mason jars as decor can be simple or elaborate. It can be small or large. It can be cheap or pricey. Basically you're only limited by your imagination. Mason jars are readily available at most retailers and online. 

Images from Pinterest:

When I made these I used Epsom Salts for my snow, but I know there 

are products available at craft stores that make good snow, too.

I know it sounds odd, but I never thought of turning the jar on its side

for a craft. I really like this!

When the kids were younger, I bought jelly in jars like this. After the jelly was gone,

we had an instant collection of clear mugs to drink from.

Cute idea for a snow globe.

July 12th

 

I'm going to have an awesome front porch at my new house. It's actually the best porch in the community. I spend a lot of time daydreaming about how I'm going to decorate it, not only at Christmas, but year round. My taste in porch decor tends to be simple and a little rustic or nostalgic. Here's some examples:

I have been looking for a sled at antique shops in Kansas for years.

I just haven't found the right one yet.

I really like this look. It's like an outdoor living room.

Porch swings, I love them.

I definitely plan to have one.

There's just something about enamel items that reminds me of my childhood!

Maybe I should add a red wagon to my wish list!

July 5th

 

My favorite style of Christmas decor is vintage. Old ornaments repurposed into new decor. Old rustic tools, utensils, buckets... well, you get where I'm going with this. Today I'm sharing some of the unique vintage decor I've found on Pinterest. When I pin these, it's with the intention of making them myself someday. Someday hasn't come yet, but I always enjoy looking at themand wishing!

Next time I'm in Kansas I'm going to try to find a gate similar to this.

So simple, pretty.

Another one I think I can actually do.

This is incredibly beautiful to me.

I have lots of vintage handkerchiefs, but no Christmas themes one. 

Guess I need to keep my eye out at estate sales and antique shops.

July 2nd

 I love Christmas wreaths! I've made a few over the past several years and enjoyed them immensely. Last year I took a good look at them and realized that some of them were very tired. So I disassembled them in order to start fresh. July is a great time to make wreaths. Just put on some Christmas music or a Christmas movie, plug in the hot glue gun and start creating! Here are some ideas I pulled off of Pinterest. My tastes run to very simple wreaths, but I appreciate the more elaborate styles. What do you think of these?

Christmas in July 7.11.2021

 

I love wreaths and swags. In particular I've always wanted a huge wreath to put on the front of my house above a porch or garage door. Maybe someday... In the meantime, here's a few wreaths to inspire.

This is what I'm talking about. This is a huge wreath!

I love the natural elements of this wreath

A traditional Christmas wreath

Ok, I don't want to offend anyone, but this wreath is hot mess to me.

I do appreciate the time and creativity that went into making it, though.

Someday I AM going to do this. So classic!

Christmas Time's a'Comin'

 

Outside of my bedroom door I have an old glass front bookcase that was my mom's. I'm not sure how old it is, I need to ask her, but I love it. 

For the past several years it has been my "Christmas Corner". I leave a few pieces of decor up along with some Christmas pieces I've stitched. The Lighthouse piece was stitched by my daughter, Jessica. 

This year's Christmas corner is very simple. The Merry Christmas sign is new this year from Hobby Lobby. It turns over to say Ho Ho Ho. The lantern on the right was a gift from my daughter Katie a few years ago. The other lantern and the two snowman jars are new this year. All four of them light up.

I have purchased a few Christmas gifts for 2021 and some stocking stuffers, so I'm off to a start on a stress-free 2021 Holiday Season.

Christmas is Here! December Seventeenth

 

I actually decorate every room in my house. At least in a small way. This is our laundry room. I love decorating this counter because then I don't pile stuff on it. From Thanksgiving through Christmas it looks clean and festive. The rest of the year it is a drop spot for anything and everything that doesn't have a home, or that we're too lazy to put away.

The HoHoHo sign is a new addition this year. I either bought it at Rod Works or At Home. Not sure which. The Santa/Reindeer candles to the right are a gift from Dan's sister years ago. She sent them as a reminder of candles they had when they were growing up. I had those exact same candles in my house too as a child.

The carolers to the left are also candles that Melissa sent. Both Dan and I remember the carolers as having black robes in our homes. The Merry Christmas sign is new from Hobby Lobby. The Rocking Horse Santa is a music box. I'm not sure how long we've had it, but the kids were young when we bought it, so at least 20 years.

Christmas is Here! December Fifteenth

 

This is the bookcase that I use for my year round Christmas Corner. When December arrives, I remove the Christmas Corner decor and place it around the house replacing it here with another "scene". When Christmas is over, I will choose the items that I want to leave up all year and create the new Christmas Corner. This bookcase sits right outside of my bedroom door and I enjoy passing by it several times each day and catching a glimpse of Christmas!

Christmas is Here! December Tenth

 

I have decorated the niche in the hallway in similar fashion the past few years. I enjoy heading down the hall toward the bedrooms and seeing the snowflakes shimmering in the "air"!

Unfortunately, the silver tree was damaged when I took it out of the tub this year. The plastic feet had warped in the heat. I guess I'll have to come up with a new display next year!

Christmas is Here! December Eighth

 Today I'm sharing some new decor. I found these white enamel bells at Hobby Lobby this summer when the Christmas decor was first being stocked. I also found this vintage felt-type banner. I wasn't sure what I would do with them, but they reflected the decor style change I was looking to make for this year.

I tried placing them in a few spots in the house, but settled on the French Doors leading to the backyard. The wreaths are "live" from Costco. The red bells are a purchase from three years ago at Hobby Lobby. The poinsettia garland is old as dirt, who knows where I got it.

It's such a simple bit of decor, but I get compliments on it from everyone who comes into my house. Sometimes (usually) less really is more!

Christmas is Here! December Seventh

 One of the casualties of Christmas 2020 is our Christmas Village. I haven't put it up this year because I have to place to put it.

I love the Village. I don't like storing it. And I've never found a good place to display it in the seven years we've lived in this house.

I've tried many options:

2013: Our first year in the house. We set up a folding table, 

covered it with a sheet and stuck it in our empty front room.

2015: I set a few selected pieces on flat surfaces around the house.

2016: We had purchased a dining table with two long benches.

I set them up in the entryway and the Village found a new home.

This worked for a few years until the Village grew too large to fit on the benches.

2019: The Village was divided into two rooms. 

At that, we still couldn't put all of the buildings out. 

I really enjoy the Village. I just can't figure out where to put it. 

This year with many of our trees needing to be replaced I think I'm discovering the joy of many small trees instead of fewer large trees. I'm looking at rooms with a new eye and imagining a 3-ft or 4-ft tree for next year. 

Since we already know our 9-ft Main Tree is on its last year and will be replaced with a 7.5-ft tree, maybe I can set up the Village in the Family Room where the Main Tree usually goes.

Stay tuned for next year! In the meantime, I'm enjoying this year... even though the Village is MIA.

Christmas in July Day Twenty One

 

As I was wandering through my Christmas board on Pinterest trying to find some decor inspiration, I came across these images. 

This year I'm feeling a huge desire to change things up in a really big way. It's not so much that I want to get rid of any of my decor. It's more that I'd like to re-purpose it into a fresh look.

In the meantime, I'll continue to browse Pinterest and dream...