Garland and Decorations

It is now the first week of December and I am ready to decorate for the holidays!  If you are like me and waited until now, you know that the pickings are slim if you want fresh garland and pretty decorations.  I went to three outdoor garden centers yesterday looking for garland and fresh wreaths and it was a bust.  A total bust.  But then, at my last stop, I walked down to where they were trimming trees and noticed a pile of branches that had been trimmed off the trees as they were getting ready to load the trees into cars.  A whole pile of fresh cut Christmas tree limbs.  I asked the women at the counter if they were for sale.  Not only was it "not" for sale - but she said to take as much as I wanted because they were going to throw it away!  I was like a kid in candy store.  I grabbed a bunch of limbs, put them into the back of my car and headed home to decorate.  Now, I'm not the most creative when it comes to putting things together by myself but I found I really don't have to be.  Here is what I started with.

I took an old basket and cut the limbs so they would fit into the basket nicely.

I picked up some red berries from Hobby Lobby and added them for color.  Then I took some more limbs and worked on the mantle.  I had some leftover burlap and made a bow.

Not bad for a bunch of limbs right?  And the house smells fab!

Living in South Carolina, we have a lot of pine trees so I went outside and found a few pine cones.

The house smells great and along with the Christmas tree, it now feels like Christmas.  Did I mention this was all free?  Go find a place that sells trees and grab some free tree limbs.  You won't regret it!

Thanks for reading,

Paula

Simple, Rustic, Beautiful Holiday Decorations

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.....pretty much everywhere.  I love the holidays and love seeing all of the beautiful decorations.  I love putting up the tree and hanging the wreaths and lights.  But after that, honestly, decorating for the holidays can be a bit overwhelming.  How do you add all of that holiday "stuff" to a house that's already decorated without being junky.  I have come to realize that it's not about the most elaborate or most expensive decorations - simple is sometimes best.  And, when it comes to holiday decorations, I have found that decorating doesn't have to be expensive. Use what you have and transition things already in place.  Go to Lowes,  Hobby Lobby or your favorite holiday garden center and grab some greenery and get started.  You never know what some boxes, baskets and  simple basics can do to transpire your home.  Look at how simple this can be:

Stockings and candles are great on the stairway (as long as you don't have small children or a dog).

 Take old box crates and put some trees in them that you can plant after Christmas.  And look at the small buckets with wood in them.  So cute right?

Or what about adding some greenery to a window or bench?

This is one of my favorites.  Take a cloche and add some sparkly starfish or pinecones and a bow.

Wrap some greens around something already up on your wall.  

I even got creative with some burlap and made a runner.  Burlap is very inexpensive (although be forewarned that it smells and sheds!)   I even added a monogram below.

So keep it simple and beautiful.  I'm off to find some greenery and who knows what else!

Have a great day.

Paula  

Christmas Decorations

While working on some new paint tutorials over the weekend to help inspire creativity with your own pieces, I also spent some time browsing the internet trying to get some new ideas for Christmas decorating.  I have to say that I am blown away looking at all of the beautiful Christmas displays that are out this year.   I am truly amazed at the creativity and whimsy that the Christmas holiday brings out in others.  I don't know about you, but it definitely inspires me.  Here are some of my favorites thus far.... I mean, take a look at this dining room.

These gorgeous pictures come courtesy of Rhoda at http://southernhospitalityblog.com/ from a holiday open house inAtlanta, GA.   Look at the beautiful garland below.

And there is more...

And then I added few more pictures courtesy of Pinterest that I also found warm and inviting.

I  love the simple rustic decorations that really make a house feel like home.   Maybe I'll start with our coffee table today so I don't feel so overwhelmed with decorating the whole house!   Are you in the Christmas spirit yet?

Have a happy Monday!

Paula