Category: Christmas

That Cozy Winter Feeling

Finally.

I have finally finished putting away all my Christmas decorations after going through every item, deciding whether to keep or donate.

Usually I just pack up everything, but this year I really needed to take my time, and since this is the first of February I would say I did just that.

It is amazing how much we accumulate year after year.

Each item has it’s own story, so hard to let go.

As I packed up my totes to donate, I wondered who might buy my items at the thrift store, and love them as I did over the years.

My home seemed so empty as I packed everything Christmas away, the Santas, the stockings, all the ornaments, most everything red.

We still have many days of winter ahead so I did leave lots of things out that say “winter”.

A dough bowl full of snowy pine cones on the kitchen table.

My evergreen wreath filled with berries and pine cones in the living room.

The bit of greenery in my entry will stay a while longer.

Simple frosted cranberries in a glass vase.

Snowflake pillows certainly say “winter” and will stay.

Winter calls for warm throws and sweater pillows.

Winter artwork like this canvas print of a little boy pulling a sled in the snow.

I absolutely love this print, it reminds me of my son as a child with his sweet kitty, Nikki. So precious.

Winter scent candles give warmth to a room, my favorites are winterberry and spruce, and the smell of pine trees.

As I looked around my home after some rearranging, I could see a cozy transition to winter.

Not only could I see it, but I could feel the cozy.

A welcoming feeling when you come in from the cold.

That wonderful feeling that tells us we are home.

Love and blessings to all.

One More Last Minute Christmas Gift Idea

If you have a few hours during these last days before Christmas, and need a last minute gift, then you may like the idea I am sharing with you today..

I stopped by the $ store last week and found these little boxes, trays, or frames, whatever they are, and picked up several for an easy craft project.

I simply painted them using my chalk paint, but you could use any craft paint.

As they were drying I found some really cute Christmas images on Pinterest, printed them out on my home printer, and cut them to fit the frames.

Using Mod Podge I applied a thin coat with a sponge brush to the inside of the frames, and added the images.

To finish up I bushed on another thin coat to seal the images, and some sparkling snow.

Having some extra little gifts on hand at this time of the year is so helpful for last minute guests stopping by, or to give friends when meeting for lunch, or last minute gatherings.

It is fun to pick out just the right image that you know someone would love, like the cat image for a friend of mine who loves cats.

How cute they are to place on a shelf, or tuck in a small space for just a bit of Christmas decor.

One of my favorite things to do with small gifts is to place them in a cellophane bag and tie with a big red bow.

It would be hard to find a sweeter gift, and to say to someone “I made this for you”.

Merry Christmas!

A Memorable Last Minute Christmas Gift

Busy, busy days.

Christmas is just 4 days away.

Do you need a last minute gift for someone really special?

Today I want to share one that I believe, most folks would love to receive.

Now special is this old photo on me and my sister on Christmas morning some 65 years ago.

These wonderful mini frame ornaments are so reasonably priced, 3 for $10 at Michaels, plus extra off coupons are always available.

They are beautiful, especially when a favorite photo is placed in each one.

The quality is amazing for the money.

I gathered all the frames I had purchased last year, and a few new ones, to make several gifts for friends, and of course, for myself.

My tree is filled with ornaments that are special to me, I love to add photos when possible, especially old ones.

This one was taken on our 50th wedding anniversary.

This little snowflake is a photo of my son when he was a toddler.

Oh my gosh, that face, that precious face.

This photo of Rudolph and a Christmas elf is my sister and her husband.

So cute!
Our wedding day kiss, 54 years ago, love this frame, it has a vintage look.

These can be tied on wrapped gifts, or how beautiful to add one to each place setting for Christmas dinner.

I enjoyed sitting at my kitchen table putting these together, so easy to do in no time at all, a truly last minute gift.

Hope your gifts are wrapped, your home decorated, ready to celebrate this Holy Season.

Wishing all peace and love.

It was Merry and Bright

Christmas is over for most folks after the new year, but I leave all my decorations and tree up until January 6th, the end of the twelve days of Christmas.

Did you know that the twelve days of Christmas are actually after Christmas?

It is believed that January 6th is the day the Three Kings arrived at the stable to honor Baby Jesus with gifts.

With all the worries with my husband’s illness I have not shared any of Christmastime in my home.

It was downsized in many ways, but I tried to make it all “Merry and Bright” for my family.

This year only one tree, a smaller one.

I decided to go with what I really love, traditional red and my favorite ornaments, the simple ones.

I added frosted berry picks and pine cones to a wreath and garland I have had for years.

I love adding lighted garland across the taller pieces of furniture in my home.

The only new item I added this year was this Santa canvas I hung just inside my kitchen doorway to welcome everyone.

So wonderful, I love it!

Off to the side you can see the white Santa mugs we have enjoyed hot cocoa in throughout the season.

One of just a few projects I had time to complete this year was these paper mache drawers from Hobby Lobby purchased last year.

Painted them white and added whimsy stick on numbers to each drawer.

To finish it off I glued a snow covered house and tree to the top.

It turned out beautiful, a Christmas keepsake for sure.

We enjoyed opening a drawer every night, some filled with Christmas memories to talk about, or tiny family Christmas photos to enjoy, and even some chocolates for after dinner.

Remember this beaded tray I made this past year, such a warm feeling filled with votive candles this time of year.

Thank you for letting me share some of my Christmas, late as it is.

I tried to make our home “Merry and Bright” even with our worries.

We love Christmas and I know that as long as I can I will fill our home with as much joy of the season as I can.

I pray you all had a blessed Christmas season and have the happiest new year.

A Special Christmas Gift

Quietly sitting in my living room, just me, in front of my beautiful Christmas tree, looking at photos of a niece I did not know for 21 years.

For Christmas she sent me an album filled with photos of her 22 years of life. Oh my goodness, it is wonderful, so wonderful.

On the back of each photo she wrote of her life, her family, and so much more.

How beautiful she is, inside and out.

I now know that fall is her favorite season, that sunflowers and roses are her favorite flowers. She loves flowers.

She hates birthday cake, birthday cookies, her choice.

She has a horse named J.N. and is accomplished in riding and competing.

That her grandfather somewhat taught her to play “Amazing Grace” on the mandolin.

There is so much more she shared on the back of each photo in this album.

Tears come when looking at her photos, how I wish I had been part of her life growing up. To take her shopping, to spoil her, to love her.

Tears of joy and sadness.

A perfect gift, one she took much time to put together.

How thankful I am for this gift, and for my beautiful niece.

Thank you for this special Christmas gift, I will cherish it always.

Thank you with all my love.

My DIY Christmas House

Every year Hobby Lobby has a section of Christmas crafts, ornaments, kits for children, and so much more.

At the end of last Christmas season I found this unfinished paper mache house.

I am sure they once again carry them, I just haven’t shopped much this year.

I painted the house several coats of craft paint, white with a gray roof.

Love the look, but decided to add a bit of something else, shiny snow!

Painted the house with a thin coat of Modge Podge and then sprinkled on the snow, and let it dry.

I used a Martha Stewart brand of sprinkle snow.

Beautiful!

Glued a small wreath at the door, and added a battery operated candle inside.

It now sits on my kitchen counter along with some snow covered trees.

There’s a warmth it brings to my kitchen.

For as long as I can remember I have loved little white houses.

I have collected several small white ceramic ones over the years, still looking for a little white church.

Maybe this is the year I find one, or maybe, just maybe, Santa will bring one for me!

I suppose I see our homes as a huge part of Christmas, a place we make special for those we gather with and love.

Hope you all are finding some time to work on a Christmas craft for yourself or others.

Enjoy this season with love.

Christmas Memories

Yesterday was a cold, windy, and snowy day.

Brrrrr…..

Our first snow of this year.

It was a perfect day to stay in and work on a Christmas project.

I put together a sweet box of cards, let us call them Christmas memory cards.

One card for each day from today until Christmas Day.

I printed the cute, colorful cards out on my home printer, found them on Pinterest.

Love the whimsy winter pattern.

On the back of each card I typed a Christmas season related question.

Questions about remembering.

Remembering childhood at Christmas.

I have so many regrets that I didn’t ask my Momma questions about her Christmas days growing up poor in Kentucky.

Poor or not, knowing my Grandmother, I am sure she made Christmas for her children as best she could.

So each night at supper, I am going to read a card.

Allowing me, my husband, and son to recall old Christmas memories.

I placed them all in a bright box I found at Hobby Lobby for $2.00 with the 50% off sale.

Can’t wait for supper tonight so that my little family can talk about their Christmas memories.

I sure hope my son’s are special.

Hope you all loved my snowy day project as much as I did putting it together.

Stay warm, enjoy every single day of this season.

Love and blessings.

Wood Bead Votive Tray

A few weeks ago, on a beautiful warm and sunny fall day, I met a good friend for lunch.

We decided on an upscale hamburger restaurant.

We all sometimes just need a burger and fries!

After lunch, we put on our masks, and went to a sweet gift shop in the same outdoor complex.

Of course, I saw something I wanted!

But the price tag was $46, not at all in my budget.

It was a long tray with wood beads along the sides, filled with different small glass votive candle holders.

You all probably know what happened next, I tried to make it myself.

The fun part of this project was collecting the glass votive pieces.

I managed to find several at the thrift store for 25 to 50 cents each.

Each one unique.

I searched for a long narrow tray everywhere, with no success, until I ran across an old, inexpensive sign in my basement stash.

I turned it over and glued wood beads all around the edge using E6000 glue.

Once the beads dried, I painted the entire piece with white spray paint, several coats.

So very pleased with this project. Perfect for the season.

How beautiful it shines!

All the different glass holders look amazing.

Love this piece displayed with some of the little white houses I have collected over the years.

This is officially my first Christmas project for this year, with many more to follow

Hope you all agree that with using what I have, and spending only $3.00, I now have a beautiful keepsake piece.

Hope you all have a Friday that shines in so many ways!

Blessings, and please be safe.

Back With You Once Again

So, I am saying once again, “it has been awhile”.

It has been over five months since my last post.

Five months, so hard to believe!

I have done a bunch of soul searching during this time, also new health issues filled my days with overwhelming worry.

Should I give up my blog or continue?

It hasn’t been the success I had hoped for, it is difficult to build followers.

Giving up my blog was always there, but now more than ever, with the craziness of our world, I know I need to keep it going.

I need to be able to share the things that give me joy in my life.

During these past months I missed sharing Thanksgiving posts like this sweet burlap table runner.

I stenciled the words, “thankful, grateful, blessed”, down the center.

Such an easy project that I used on my kitchen table on Thanksgiving Day.

A simple look, simple to make.

I missed sharing Christmas projects like these ornaments made from $1 cookie cutters, painted gold.

How rewarding to take inexpensive cookie cutters and change them into special ornaments.

So beautiful on my tree.

I also made some cute ornaments from wood rings, painted white and gold.

Added photos, words, and finished up by adding some eye hooks.

Love to use photos to personalize holidays whenever possible.

How sweet on my trees.

Love them!

I loved my trees this year, white, gold, with lots of snow, and a whimsy one, red and white.

I have been working on a few Easter projects.

Easter will be different this year, no church services, no large family meals, no community egg hunts, but I hope you all have still filled your homes with bunnies and eggs.

Just a few of our favorite Easter treasures, the ones we all keep and display year after year, the ones with meaning and memories, are good for our spirits.

I added this stenciled pillow this year.

I found the stencil on Amazon, and the pillow cover and paints I had in my craft stash.

Stenciling is not difficult, I found the secret is to add very little paint to your brush, almost dry.

If you have time to stop by tomorrow I have another Easter project to share.

I hope you and your loved ones are safe.

We will all get through this terrible time.

It will end and we can all be together with those we love once again.

Love to all, until tomorrow.

A Million Tiny Little Things…..

There is a scene in one of my favorite movies, Sleepless in Seattle, when Tom Hanks talks about his wife in such a beautiful way, “it was a million tiny little things that, when you added them all up, they were supposed to be together…”.

When cleaning up a bit yesterday, room to room, picking up and dusting, I realized that Christmas in my home is a bunch of tiny small touches that when you put them all together, you feel the magic of the season.

Before this week is over, I wanted to share many of the tiny things I treasure each Christmas.  Many I have cared for with love over the years to use again and again.

My cherished white nativity set, purchased with Christmas money from my son.

My tree, with all the special ornaments I have collected over the years.

It is sprinkled with snow, pine cones and berries.

My beautiful paper mache angel, handmade, always sitting at the very top, love her so!

This wall hanging was my new addition this year.  I love that it is the first thing you see as you look into my home from the front door, “We Wish You A Merry Christmas”.

A snowflake pillow, a wreath on the mirror, lots of sparkle, with gold and silver ribbons.

Garland on my dining hutch, and entry clock, decorated with beautiful ribbons, lights, and snow covered pine cones.

A bit of red in my kitchen, small dishes, tin canisters, and a small tree.

A Hallmark Santa, so old, nestled under a tree on my kitchen counter.  Love him!

This salt dough nativity set I have carefully packed up each year, purchased at a church craft fair, 42 years ago. The faces are amazing.  Big smiles, rosy cheeks, just so sweet.

A Santa tray, purchased on a Thanksgiving visit, with my precious mother, to see my brother in New York City, so many years ago.

When I bring it out each year, I remember our trip together and how I struggled with spending $35 on this hand painted, paper mache tray.  So glad I did, the memory it brings to mind each year is priceless.

The best saved for last, this Baby Jesus made of paper over 40 years ago by my son.

I love the smile Jimmy placed on his face.

Oh my, precious, cherished, now a family tradition each year, finding the perfect place on our tree to place our Baby Jesus.

Thank you all for allowing me to share all these treasures.

I truly hope every one of you have collected special Christmas treasures, those items that when the season arrives you find such overwhelming joy in displaying in your home as I do.

Sad a bit that the holidays are over and my treasures must once again be packed up with loving care.

Love to all of you, also precious treasures to me.

Blessings and love.