Crafty Texas Girls

12/7/11

Merry and Bright

I am feeling extra 'merry and bright'. Probably because I spent the morning surrounded by 21 kindergartners dressed as elves...

plus a one 2 year old who served as the official 'mini elf'.

And if that isn't enough to make someone feel jolly- well imagine what happened when those same little elves saw Santa land in a helicopter on their school playground!

Yes, I had a smile on my face all day. I actually still do :)

So continuing in that happy spirit of Christmas, today I want to show you my Christmas mantle. This year I really wanted to incorporate more greens into my decor. When I lived in South Louisiana, the school where I taught sold fresh Christmas greens as a fundraiser each December. They were beautiful, fragrant and so rich in color. I knew that was the direction I wanted to go this year.

I ended up using 'fake' greens (to match my fake tree- ha!) because they are economical and can be re-used. I found a large wreath at Hobby Lobby, half-off of course. Then I added different textures and types of greens, feathers, sticks, bits of holly, and some ribbon.

I made these stockings for the girls last year out of burlap and buttons. Now that I look at them, I can see a similarity between the ruffles on top and the lamp shades I made for our bedroom.

The other details of my mantle come from odds and ends around the house. A nutcracker from my Christmas collection, silver from the dining room, a glittery star ornament, bead garland, old family books, and a small green plant in a galvanized pot. I like the white details against my dark painted fireplace and the green wreath really makes it 'feel like' Christmas to me.

Thank you to everyone who has shared their blogs or photos with me. This season, I would love to see what you are crafting- so please feel free to leave a link or email pictures. Christmas decor is so personal and unique, I can't wait to show you a few other projects that I have made for the holidays.

Until then, I hope you are having an 'elf-tastic' time getting ready for Christmas !

Thanks to these great bloggers for hosting inspirational linky parties this week:

here

12/5/11

Christmas Tablescapes

Decorating my home for Christmas brings so much joy. I love when Jeff lugs the big boxes down from the attic and piles them in the family room. This year Afton really got into unwrapping each ornament and delighted in seeing the decorations again. It was almost like Christmas morning! Throughout the process, the house was destroyed, and then made new again. All in all, we probably spent two days living in chaos before everything was set right. But the process itself was actually enjoyable. I like to change my decor a bit every year, while still honoring our traditions. Truly this is the most wonderful time of the year- a chance to celebrate, rejoice, and reflect.

Source: cgsblog.com via Samantha on Pinterest

Over the next few posts, I thought I would share a few of my ideas for Christmas decorating. I would love to see yours too. So if you have a blog, share your link in my 'comment' section and I promise I will stop by. If you aren't a blogger- send me a photo. I would love to see what you are up to in your home.

Source: danielleflanders.blogspot.com via Samantha on Pinterest

Today I thought we would start with table decor. You may remember a few posts ago, I wrote about 'tablescapes' and the decor tips that Pottery Barn shared with my MOPS group. 'Tablescape' is just a fancy word for what you put on your table. No rules, just a fun collection or a group of items on display.

The tablescape can be on a side table- maybe a few framed photos. I like to display the photo we take every year with Santa. Next to it I mounted a vintage Christmas card (it was my grandmother's when she was young) on a book page. The lights from the tree reflect off the glass, making it feel even more magical.

Or a use a sideboard, buffet table, or even a dresser in the hall to host your tablescape. I have a growing collection of nutcrackers, they seem happy gathered together here around our new advent calendar. My coffee filter wreath from last year made a move from the mantle to the hall.

Try putting a Christmas item under a glass cloche- instant beauty!

Probably the most traditional location for a tablescape is the dining room. I mixed some of our 'every day' items like the candles, glassware, and the bird with holiday pieces such as glittered bottle-brush trees and ornaments. I experimented by mixing the brightly colored apples with my glittered silver ornaments. This year I added more green in with my neutral Christmas palette. This large grouping of items for a centerpiece is great for "in between" mealtimes. But for an actual dinner, I would scale back so we could actually see each other across the table :)

Throughout the rest of the house, I added a little 'Christmas cheer' using tabletop trees and framed printable art. I love the burlap tied with black and white ribbon!

Printable found here

Do you enjoy decorating your home for Christmas? How would you describe your Christmas decor style? Do you have a 'pop of red' like this?!

If you get a chance, stop over and visit "Remodelaholic"- so excited that she is featuring my desk chair in a post called "Upholstery for the Impatient DIYer".

Needing more inspiration? Check out the great ideas over at:

here

12/3/11

Keep It Simple

Have the holiday crazies hit your home yet? Or did they arrive last month? Seems they set in earlier every year. Kinda like the Christmas decorations at Hobby Lobby! At my house, things feel calm… until I glance at my calendar and my then add another person to my gift list. That’s when my eye starts to twitch and I realize I need to get off facebook and getting working! In times like these, I like to remind myself something my Dad always said; “The only way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time.”

So armed with that kernel of wisdom, I am going to do two things. The first one is easy; I am forcing myself to limit our family activities this holiday season. If I want to keep the focus on Christmas, then it is up to me to keep our obligations under control and make time to enjoy the real meaning of the season. Easier said than done, but Christmas only comes once a year and no one can enjoy it if ‘mom goes crazy’.

Second I am going to give meaningful gifts. Remember that long list I mentioned? Well in truth that list is long because it is filled with the names of people we love. People who play a significant role in our lives. Now some of them will be getting gift cards and such. I find that ‘handmade’ isn’t quite as fabulous to men! But I feel there is a need to make a few special gifts. Handmade gifts that are not only fun to make, but gifts that are also pretty simple too.

After scouring the blog world, I have compiled a few sweet, simple handmade gift ideas. The details for all of these projects can be found on my pinterest board: http://pinterest.com/craftytexasgirl/craft-it/

Monogram Rug- Use fabric paint to personalize a rug or doormat.
Colored Pencil Jewelry- Cut colored pencils up and string on a cord.
Chunky Frame- Paint and layer frames for a unique look.
Pincushion Teacup- No sew, perfect gift for the crafty type!

Burlap Memo Board- Using burlap and nail head- what’s not to love?!
Pom Pom Necklace- Floral jewelry inspired by Anthropologie.
Jewelry Hanger- Chicken wire and a chunky frame.
Fancy Backpack- Dress up a bag with ruffles and a flower.

And if that isn’t enough inspiration for you, try your hand at a few of the projects I created and blogged about- these fun ideas are all featured over on one of my favorite online magazines: SouthlakeMoms.

T-Shirt Necklace- Upcycle your t-shirt to create a statement piece.
Custom Art- Distress old wood and add a favorite quote.
Funky Camera Strap: Fancy up your camera strap with some fabric.
Headband Holder: Use an old oatmeal can to store headbands with flair.

Just remember, when Christmas is all said and done, the things your family will remember aren’t really even ‘things’. Instead they will hold on to the moments spent together. So whether that time is spent relaxing at home or working on a project together- your children will treasure those memories for years to come.

This article originally appeared on SouthlakeMoms.com

Linking up Here:
Home Stories A to Z
-Tatertots and Jello

here

-Serenity Now
-Under the Table Dreaming
-The Creative Paige
-Not So Simple Housewife

12/1/11

Holiday Fun

If you live in North Texas and are looking for some Holiday fun, you are in luck. Grapevine is the self-proclaimed "Christmas Capital of Texas"!

Tonight the city is kicking off the Christmas season with the annual Parade of Lights. We have gone the past few years and have always been impressed with the floats and performances in our little town. The parade starts at 7pm on Main Street. More details can be found by clicking here.

Photo Courtesy of the City of Grapevine.

And with Christmas vacation just around the corner, I have compiled a list of a few other festive activities around the metroplex for SouthlakeMoms.com. New this year is the "Gift of Lights" at Texas Motor Speedway- which features 1.5 miles of light displays.

The Gift of Lights is a 'self-driven' tour that leads you under the TMS. For more information about this and other fabulous, local Christmas attractions- like the North Pole Express and Ice Skating outdoors in Grapevine, pop over to SouthlakeMoms.com and check out my article- "Sam's Picks for Holiday Fun".

PS- If you are viewing this in "Google Reader" or an email, jump over to my blog and check out my new layout. I am so excited to show-off my 'new blog look'!