Recreating Our Christmas Decor

This season is a time to enjoy one another, remember our Savior's birth, and gifts for those you love and appreciate.  I think most people are on a tight budget and we are no exception.  I decided that I would not even think about the things I could not purchase but use my creativity to recreate the things we already have. I spend very little, mostly on floral picks that were highly discounted and a few things from the Dollar Tree.  

Our tree is very eclectic.  I would love a theme tree that is color coordinated but our tree is filled with memories.  Our ornaments each hold special meaning for us.  Each year the kids choose an ornament.  It is so much fun to see their tastes change.  Now that they are older, the ornaments remind us of their interests when they were young.  Some day they will move out and take them all with them.  Then I will have my theme tree.

 For now I enjoy the memories each ornament holds.

 I am extremely thrilled to have all our gifts wrapped early this year.

 Crocheted snowflake ornament I made a couple of years ago.  I love these.  They are some of my favorites.

 Our daughter now loves the Eiffel Tower~these are recent ornament choices.  She dreams of someday traveling to see these places.

Another favorite 

 

Our angel-she is so pretty

 My secretary that is on the to be painted list.

 Glittery pine cone that I found last year at Walmart on sale

 This little box was from a Bath & Body Works gift set that hubby gave me years ago.  It was a dark green color and this year I gave it a coat in white paint with touches of silver glitter paint.  I am loving it.

I filled it with pine cones that I have had for a long time but this year I painted them in blues and silver.

I watched a video on HGTV's website of Sarah Richardson (whom I love) painting pine cones in the easiest way.  I knew I wanted to try them.

 You water down some paint in a plastic container that has a tight sealing lid.  Drop in the pine cones, put the cover on and shake it.  Open the lid and your pine cones are completely covered, remove them and place them on wax paper to dry.  I sprinkled them with some glitter while the paint was wet.

 I forgot to take a before picture but I didn't paint the bottom-this is the original color.

Our fireplace mantel.  We start off with the big tv.  It is the bane of my decorating. I envision it decorated so differently.  I would love a mirror, frames in various sizes and shapes and so much more but there really isn't a better place for it.  So the tv sits on the mantel.  I work with what I have.

 We are in need of new stockings.  Not sure if I will look for some on clearance or just make some.  They are well over ten years old.

Garland to hide the wires behind the tv.

 The white candles looked plain so I wrapped some silver ribbon around them and glued some snowflakes to them.  The white ones I crocheted.  The blue one is a floral pick I found for 49 cents.  It was the last one. Would have loved a couple more at that amazing price.

 More painted pine cones 

 Our son's ever expanding nutcracker collection.  The newest edition is Sherlock Holmes.

I hope you have enjoyed this little tour.  I have had so much fun creating things to decorate for Christmas.  I am never truly finished.  Each day I seem to find just one more thing I would like to try.

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Blue CricketDesign

Garland Before & After

Christmas decorating is on a tight budget this.  Living on one income is becoming increasingly difficult.  I have tried to make do with what I have on hand.  This garland has been in my basement for a couple of years.  I have never been a big fan of it, but used it outside in the past.  This year I decided to give it a new look.  I started by removing all the old ornaments.

 Then I went to my craft cabinet looking for something to add white to the garland.  I found this.

 It's Snow-Tex.  I've had it for a couple of years and when I opened it, it had dried up.  I decided to add some water and mix it well.  It worked.  It came back to life.  

 Using a popsicle stick I spread some faux snow on the garland.  I was already much happier.  Then I set it to dry overnight.

 Once it was dry.  I folded it in half to give it more fullness.  I went through my stash of floral picks and set to work.  Using wire cutters, hot glue and what I had on hand.

 I used the silver mesh that I had used on the swag I made here.

 Here it is in its new home.  This window really needed a little something.  

I am so pleased with this "new" garland 

 and so glad I never tossed it.

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Chocolate Truffles

I am joining in on Edie's Christmas Sweet Treats Party

This recipe is so easy and delicious.  It is originally from Gooseberry Patch Christmas book.  Perfect for this time of year when we are so busy.

We start off with 

3/4 cup of butter

3/4 cup of baking cocoa 

14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk

 Melt butter in heavy saucepan over low heat, 

 add cocoa and stir until smooth.

 Add sweetened condensed milk, cook and stir constantly until mixture is thick, smooth, and glossy, about 4 minutes. * This must be done over very low heat.*

 Remove from heat: stir in 1 tbsp vanilla.  Cover and refrigerate 4 hours.  Shape into 1 inch balls.

I use a melon scooper that I grease first.  This mixture will melt quickly so it is important to work fast. 

 Roll in sprinkles, baking cocao, powdered sugar, chopped nuts, or any other topping you would like.

 Refrigerate again until firm, one to two hours.  

Store, covered, in refrigerator.

Enjoy!!

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A Bit of Christmas Decor

Christmas spirit is in the air. Decorating is just beginning here.  It has been fun!!

This swag has been around for some time and it needed a new life.  I decided to remove everything and start from scratch.  This year I am loving the white and silver decor that is everywhere.  So I headed to Michaels and bought some floral picks.

Before:

 After:

 I gathered some sticks from our backyard and used them for this along with some leftover floral picks.

 My white hutch is one of my favorites this year.  I am so glad that I painted in the spring.  It is lovely with the Christmas decor.

 The rice wreath hanging on the door was made by my daughter when she was in second grade.  She is now in college and each year asks me why I keep it.  I keep it as a memory of her when she was so young.  That was a fun age.  We used to make so many things together.  

 The Tweety teapot doesn't really go with the rest but it has a special story behind it and I wanted it with my favorite things.  The blue skeleton keys were from Walmart last year.  

 Mini village scene~building a snowman

I am enjoying the Christmas spirit.  I want to savor this season and not rush through it.  I wish the same to all of you.

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