Even though Coach pulled the Christmas boxes out of the attic on November 1, it’s taken me a while to add all the finishing touches to my decor. And since it’s my blog and I didn’t sign up for any holiday home tours this year, I can make my own rules, which is my favorite way to play anyway.
Ha! #funlittlefactsaboutme
So, instead of one big, all-inclusive home tour this year, I’m going to take you room by room, bit by bit. I already shared all of the details of my Christmas mantel, so check that out if you haven’t yet. This year I’ve mixed Christmas decor from the past with some new purchases.
Anything I bought this year, though, had to pass the winter decor test. What is that? It’s the question “will this work as winter decor after Christmas is over?” If the answer was yes and I loved it, I bought it. If not, I left it on the shelf. I plan on leaving most of this decor up through the winter.
I’ll take my Christmas trees down in January, but being home with a new baby in the coldest months of the year, I kind of need some pretty decorations around me. And I won’t have time to take it all down anyway. So there’s the trick: decorate for winter with a little Christmas mixed in, and you’ll be set until March rolls around! #lazydecorator
One of the two DIY projects I’ve done this Christmas is the chicken wire Christmas card holder. I absolutely love it! I’ve wanted to make some kind of decorative Christmas card holder for the past few years, and when I saw this tutorial from Lolly Jane, I knew it would be perfect!
They have the full tutorial on their blog HERE. Mine is 5 feet long by 2 feet wide, and I followed most of their tutorial. I angled the corners and changed the size for my space, but otherwise it’s the exact same project. I used my new favorite small-project staining cloths, the same ones I used for my harvest sign on my fall mantel. They make staining small projects soooooooo easy!! And I bought these cute mini gold clothespins for pinning up the cards. Too cute!
I think I’ll keep it up year-round and use it to display all of our beautiful family photos, just like I’ve done on the side of my fridge the past two years.
Last year I made this glittery Christmas subway art using my Silhouette and double-sided adhesive paper.
When I was searching for new wintry art for the white frame in this corner, I couldn’t resist this sweet buck watercolor from Craftberry Bush. She is amazing! I may end up with her gorgeous art all over my home. You’ll see her work all over the blogging world, and her business is sure to keep growing. She’s so talented!
Oh, and did you notice my new ruffled burlap Christmas tree skirt?? Guess what? I didn’t DIY it. I bought it … from … Amazon! For less than $20. What a steal, and I LOVE it. Sometimes it pays NOT to DIY.
OK, I’m going to hush and let you look at the rest of the room without interruption. #maybe
OK, one more tidbit. This is my only new ornament on my little tree full of personal ornaments and family memories. My mother-in-law gave it to me, and I love it since I’m a University of Tennessee grad. Go Vols!!
It’s so cozy to curl up with a cup of hot chocolate every night and wrap presents or work on this blog. I sit in that new rocking recliner and work away by the light of the Christmas tree. Oh yeah, did you notice the new recliner? It’s my Christmas present, so I can rock the new little one in the living room. I love that it looks like a club chair and not an overstuffed leather recliner. (Not that there’s anything wrong with those!)
So, do you decorate strictly for Christmas, or do you keep winter decor up in December and leave it until the first signs of spring?
Where to Find Things:
Joy Pillow – Target (it has sold out, but here’s a similar one)
Sparkle Snowflake Pillow – Target
Buck Watercolor – Craftberry BushWhite Tree Garland – Target
Blessed Pillow – DIY
Stenciled Curtains – DIY
Rug – RugsUSA
Burlap Ruffled Mini Tree Skirt – Amazon
White Glittery Bottled Brush Tree – Target
Blanket basket – Target
Burlap monogrammed stockings – Mint Julep Monograms
Red Christmas Beetle – Craftberry Bush
