Upcycle One Lone Berry Garland...

I know it's April 2nd and that means spring cleaning. However, my spring cleaning usually starts after Christmas. You know that feeling you get when you are putting all your decorations away...you just want to clean and organize things to get your house back to normal.

I've been doing my basement for a few months now. Long process of clearing things out, throwing things out and moving things around. I should have a post on it soon. Nothing earth shattering...just a few tips on organizing. Our basement is unfinished, so it's truly for storage.

While purging things, I found one fruit garland. One small, short garland won't help me in decorating anything, but I couldn't throw it away. No surprise there. Here's what I made with it. The word "made" is used lightly. I actually just threw them in the vase.

Look for them in the clearance section of craft stores. This isn't a Christmas garland. It's fruit that I bought in the summer a couple years ago.

Sometimes when you see something in the clearance section, you only see it for what it is and say..."oh, I don't need "one" small garland". Don't look at things for what they "are"...look at things for what they "could be"!

They look like crab apple buds

Just snip the string...and slide them off into your container.

Just a simple vase with a candle. (click HERE if you want to see the makeover I did a while ago for the coffee table in this picture.)

You could also put a smaller vase inside a larger glass container. Surround it with the berries and then you can put fresh flower in the center vase.

Hunt through your things. You might find something fun to put in a vase too!!

Have a great start to the week,
~Karen~

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Tool Time Tuesday...Summer Trick To Halloween Treat!!

Here's a quick and easy transformation with a sale item from the summer clearance section...

I found these plates at Walmart for 75 cents for 4 plastic plates. Plastic plates can be found any where, in any color, so this idea is great for any holiday.

Just add scrap booking letters and you have a quick wall decoration.

One word on one plate...or...

Spell out the word on several plates. This would be great on that long narrow wall that you don't know how to decorate.

I found these chip board letters in a consignment shop, but I'm sure something similar is in craft stores.

The black chip board letters had stickers on them already!

Perfect for a little wall decor...just hot glue a hanger on the back.

Great in a plate stand too.

I know pumpkins decorated as witches don't say BOO, but I thought BOO was cute!!

Don't forget to look for some tricks in different places, so you can make some treats. Remember...think outside the box.

Happy Tuesday,
~Karen~

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Spray Painting a Topiary...

Do you remember these topiaries I made last year? They were a Christmas clearance redo. Click here to go to that post.

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Even though I did love the way they turned out, they were a little too green. space Especially now that I added this chartreuse green wreath in the hallway next to where these topiaries are on the dining room table. spa

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What's a girl to do? Spray paint them of course!! See the difference in the color? The spray painted one is on the right.

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It's not completely spray painted...just enough to have different shades of all the greens. I did a few light coats, let them dry in between each coat. That way it doesn't look like a solid color.

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Now it matches the wreath so much better!

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It matches better in person...it was a little bright from the sun light coming in.

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I used this paint and I already had it...which is even better. This was a gloss, maybe satin would be great too. The funny thing is, it's called Ivy Leaf!!

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Don't like any of the artificial plants or flowers you have stored away and never use...try spray painting them. What's the worst that can happen...you weren't using them any way!!

Have a great day,

~Karen~

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Christmas Home Tour 2010...

I have been collecting Christmas decorations for over 25 years. I add a little bit each year with after Christmas sales. I use the same decorations over and over, but in a different way each year, so it looks like something new.

We have several trees in the house...7 right now, 2 more to go which I'll share later on. I had a ladies dessert party last weekend, so I started decorating the house the day after Thanksgiving. My family is coming here for Christmas this Saturday the 18th, so I'm all set.

Here is a picture heavy post of this year's decorations...Enjoy!

When I was putting this tree together, I knew I wanted to use the big green balls and red. I kept adding and adding the more things I found in boxes. The only thing I added that was new this year are the sprigs of green fuzzy flowers I found in the floral department of Walmart...only $2.00 a bunch! I knew when I was finished this would be the Cindy Lou Who Tree from The Grinch Who Stole Christmas.

Here's the matching mantel next to the tree.

The red glitter sign says...Believe!

This is a woodsy pine cone tree in the family computer room.

Covered with berries, pine cones, red cardinals, birds nests, old fashioned candles clipped to the branches, apples...

This is my new Charlie Brown Tree my mother in law just gave me last night. Isn't it just the cutest!! It came with Linus' blanket! I put it on the small table where I serve the egg nog.

The china cabinet becomes The Dickens Village.

All the greenery on the stairways, windows, mantels etc are branches from our old 12 foot Christmas tree. We replaced it 2 years ago, but I kept all the branches and use them all around the house.

Sugared fruit that I use every year in different place. Here's a tip...if you have artificial fruit, keep it out of the attic or your basement. The change in temperature will crack the fruit.

Here's a picture of the hook that would go into the trunk of the artificial tree. A perfectly placed bow hides all that!

Here is a tip to hide art work that might not match your holiday decor. Use a 3M Command strip to hold a wreath. I used a burlap theme in the family room, so I used chair strapping for bows. I searched every where for this and thankfully my sister had some!!

For this, I used heavy duty wire to shape the letters and then covered it with garland.

Here are 2 branches from the old tree with the hooks facing inward...instant window swag.

Along with the burlap, I used all galvanized things in this room. Those bells are from the dollar store.

A galvanized bird cage...

with a touch of Christmas!

Punch bowl all set to be filled.

I had a snowflake tree one year and now I'm using them to decorate all the burlap tablecloths

This is the wine station on top of the bar. Believe it or not we don't drink wine...just never acquired a taste for it, but I love all the pretty glasses.

Galvanized buckets hold the white wine...just waiting for all the ice.

Here's another use for that circle cutter that I've been addicted to lately.

Name markers to keep track of your glass.

I cut the larger circle, punched smaller holes with a regular hole punch and then cut a slit so it can wrap around the glass stem.

The wine glasses are all set with their little tags.

Another table is set up for all the other drinks. Say hi to Annie back there in the picture. She wants to come to the party too.

Bottled water in an old bucket.

Rein-Beer...I saw this idea some where in blog land...too cute! Hot glued eyes, red nose and then brown pipe cleaner for the antlers.

Soda bottles in a large galvanized tub from Home Depot. I bought these a few years ago for $13.00 for our summer parties. For Christmas, I used the other 2 for the buckets under the trees.

Table all set for the desserts.

More of those $1.00 sleigh bells on the lamps.

A little snowflake added to the point of the table runner.

Aren't these little buffet plates adorable? A rectangle plate and small cup completes the set.

I found them in a consignment shop. They are from the 1950's and are made by Anchor Hocking. I keep searching for more.

This is our family room tree...12 feet high! This is filled with every ornament we buy for the girls each year, all the ones we receive as gifts, the ones we buy on vacations or special trips and all the creations the girls made when they were little. This is my favorite tree.

Every inch is jam packed...3 large Rubbermaid containers full of ornaments.

Each and every one has a special meaning.

This tree is in our bedroom. It is our original tree from when we were first married 23 years ago. All the ornaments are my mom's. She had a large collection of Steinbach ornaments...the little people with wonderful little costumes on. I put this tree up every year in memory of her.

I used my $2.50 tree skirt and stocking tutorial in here. The green matches perfectly.

This tree is in my husband's office. It's a replica of the tree he had growing up. Large colored lights, silver garland, colored glass ornaments and tinsel...always his favorite.

This is Courtney's silver tree. The color of her wall is coming across peach in the picture, but they are as hot pink as her curtains. The pink looks great with the silver.

Silver balls, my mom's silver angel collection, silver garland and white/silver glitter curly springy things popping out all over.

Kelsie has the purple room and a sweet tooth!

Her's is covered with purple balls, springy things and artificial gum drops and candy all over the tree. Plus a real popcorn garland.

and lastly the girl's bathroom...just a couple silver trees that were on clearance a few years ago at Walmart.

They are super shiny in person...a little dark in this picture.

Silver ornaments added to each hook of the shower curtain for a special added touch.

Hope you enjoyed the tour. If I finish the other 2 trees, I'll be sure to share them with you.
spaceBig Holiday Hugs,

~Karen~

 

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