Christmas Decor 2013

Ahhh!   I am almost there!  I have been working the last week to get my Christmas Decor up because beginning next Monday I will be decorating OTHER peoples homes.  :)

We have a tradition in our family after all of the Thanksgiving festivities come to an end, we go outside and do the Chevy Chase Christmas lighting!  No lights on until then, but I work hard to have everything ready for the big lighting event.

Here are a few photos of what I have done so far.  

This year I did my tree in Turquoise, blue, gold, champagne, black and bits of red!

This was something I just did today!  I love chalkboard art on walls but my walls are pretty textured so I compromised.  I designed this vinyl to look like chalkboard art and then drew over the outside of the letters so that it gives the appearance of chalk! I love it!

This was a new one this year too!  I made the "JOY" sign.  I went to Hobby Lobby and picked up the wooden letters for only $3.50 each.  I came home and drilled holes through the letters where I wanted the lights to go.  (I started with a small bit and worked up to a size that the lights would fit snuggly into. Thi.s was I didn't make them too big to begin with) Most of the lights fit tight enough that I didn't have to glue them but there were a few that I dabbed some hot glue onto.  

Next, I glittered the letters by painting on Modge Podge and sprinkling glitter over the entire surface.  Once it dried I pushed my lights through the holes and VIOLA!!!  I wired them to my garland and added some twisted braches with icicle hanging from them.  Woohoo!

Here is my bedroom.  I just added a little bit of garland at the Headboard to bring in some Holiday cheer.  :)

Halloween decorating ideas- Blue, (turquoise) white and black!

I am loving all of the fun Halloween decorating ideas that I have been seeing floating around the web lately. I am particularly drawn to anything blue or turquoise for Halloween this year.  I thought I would share some of the ideas that I have come across and hopefully help you spark some creative ideas of your own.  If you don't care for blue, what about interjecting green, fuchsia, or lavender?  (Hmm....maybe I will find some of those for a future post!)

How cute is this!  Run down and grab some decorative pumpkins from your local craft store and paint them your favorite Halloween accent color!  She has displayed them on cake stand and dressed them up with some all picks.  Super cute!

Completely-coastal.com

Here is a cute idea.  Instead of using your typical orange and black, use your unique color of choice when creating your crafty decor!  Just interject a little bit of the color here and there.  Aren't these cute?

Paint me Plaid

This neat turquoise and silver vignette is done with mercury glass pieces and glittered skulls.  I have found several of these pieces at my local TJ Maxx and Dollar Tree.  

She Walks Softly

Here is another nicely done blue pumkin done with chalk paint.  LOVE IT!

Tater Tots and Jello

Classy and tasteful!  This tablescape could be used during Halloween and Thanksgiving. Well done!

Home stories at Oz 

Change it up this year.  Use unique colors when putting together your Halloween decorating items this year. NO RULES!  Just have fun with it!

Hand painted furniture tutorial!

I have been having way to much fun re-doing my kitchen and some furniture the last couple weeks!  I thought I would show the results!  First the cabinet-

I found the cabinet at an estate sale a couple weeks ago hiding in that back of someone's garage.  Of course it caught my eye and I convinced my hubby that I HAD to have it!  :) 

I brought it home and got to work!  After sanding, priming with "GRIPPER" primer and painting it, I distressed it with paint using an antiquing technique with paint!  I then rubbed it down with some burn sienna paint tint to give it an aged look.  I love how it turned out!  I will post the pics of the kitchen tomorrow! :)

Christmas Decorating Ideas Marathon part 2!

Now for part 2 of the Christmas Decor Marathon~  Turquoise, (or teal or aqua, which ever color you prefer) and white!  Use what you have.  Take a look around your house.  Pull out any dishes, fabrics and decor items you might have.  Use them to display ornaments or display them as holiday decorations themselves!

I love the idea of using a white or flocked tree with your Turquoise ornaments!  It is so stunning.  Just a few blue ribbons, glass balls and take a look at the glitter dipped pine cones!  LOVE!

Simply add a turquoise tree skirt to a flocked tree!

Now for the decor~

Add ribbon to your display to add a pop of color!

Use little white jewelry boxes wrapped in blue ribbon and create a darling wreath!

This mantel is so simple.  They have displayed vintage canning jars, an old planting pot that has been painted white and hung a wreath on a vintage window.  Sometimes less is definitely more!

Below are some darling stockings with a touch of turquoise.  I recommend using this idea with white stockings instead of the green, (or turquoise stockings with white trim.)  Just add a little bit of blue and maybe even silver riff raff ribbon to your stockings and you are set!  I love the stockings on the piano.  So cute!

Here are 2 more simple mantel ideas.  Use glass vases and fill them with silver, white and turquoise glass balls!  Notice the second photo where they have wrapped boxed in white paper and displayed them as part of the decor.  I also love the greenery on the second picture.  It adds nice contrast to the display.