CACHEPOT RE-DO FOR THE SIDEBOARD

Keeping with my woodsy-plaid-deer theme this year I removed most of the items in the cachepot on my sideboard and recreated a new arrangement.  A neighbor admired this the other day and I said "easy peasy" and her reply was "easy for you." I promise if you just do a few simple things - this is easy, a real cost saver and you can make it yours.

 Here is the cachepot with fall items......

I removed the fall items - left some of the greenery and started adding back some picks and cones for Christmas. I think the most important thing is to have a good work surface and lay out your supplies - truth be told it takes me longer to do this than to put the arrangement together. Since I was reusing the cachepot it already had the florist foam inside.

You don't have to keep using the same pot and you could keep them but I prefer to just remake new ones, you don't have to store them or worry about them becoming dirty, etc.  I use a long, not too deep plastic container to store the picks and greenery.  I have one for fall, one for Christmas and a miscellaneous one.  I store them in the garage but this size will fit under any bed.  I save things - if I am lucky to have someone send flowers or an arrangement, if there is anything in the arrangement/flowers that I can reuse I pluck them out before discarding the dead flowers/arrangement, put them in the container so they will be easy to find when needed.

This is the chandelier over my dining table so I thought I would do something in the arrangement that was evocative of the light.

I just added a little more greenery, a couple of pieces of cut grapevine wreath, some pine-cones on wires, and of course my plaid ribbon (one of the repeating themes this year to tie it all together). A little woodsy "Merry Christmas" and I was almost done.

To balance the look I just added a couple of simple candle rings and red candles with deer. After Christmas I will take this apart and put the materials in the plastic container and it will be organized and ready for use again.

Resource

D. Stevens wool flannel ribbon, Nell Hills, The number is: 913-367-1086 - remember this is central time. The ribbon is $14.00.
Grapevine garland, Darice 1/2-Inch Twig Garland, 15-Feet
Cachepot, Antique Farmhouse 
Candle-rings, Home Goods
Candles, Marshalls

Thank you for stopping by. 
 

MACKENZIE-CHILDS INSPIRED TREE

Hubby loves to have a tree in our bedroom (me too) so I call this tree "Poppa's tree." A few years ago I purchased a new Poppa's tree after Christmas - it was just the right size and was wired with lights and was a little sparkly - he likes sparkly.  I decided last year that for 2015 I was going to do a MacKenzie-Childs inspired tree.  I will put the link to their website in resource.  I used some real but much more "inspired" items for this tree.  As much as I love their products they are a little pricey.

 The tree...

I ordered some Christmas gifts from MC and my receipt was in this envelope (showing with sides cut and laid flat) in their signature Courtly Check.

I cut off the desired size, cut out half-moons to go around the tree stump, glued the base and the back of the paper and voila - the base is covered in the Courtly Check.  I used a sharpie to put the lines on the ribbon I will be using on the picks, etc.

I found these picks after Christmas for a dollar a box of three (they were originally $10) and used two different techniques with my version of the Courtly Check. I used the Sharpie on the ribbon and on one I just tied the ribbon around the poinsettia and on the other I cut out sections and glued around the poinsettia - used these techniques until all six were completed.

 Added the picks to the tree...

I found these Mackenzie-Childs inspired ornaments on Ebay and bought six of them - added them to the tree...

A couple of Courtly wheelbarrows and a sled - found from an Etsy seller, added to the tree...

I added two miniature holly top hats - they are small so I used a little black & white gingham ribbon around the hat - the other ribbon was too big.

The last item I added before putting on the big top hat, was a few bows (simple bows made from real Mackenzie-Childs ribbon) placed randomly around the tree. I crimp the ribbon and use a pipe cleaner to hold the bow. I prefer the pipe cleaner to wire as the pipe cleaner is oh so much easier on  your hands.

Ta-DA - added the beautiful holly top hat (I had added a little tie of the faux Courtly Check ribbon on the holly decoration) and the new tree is done - now time to carefully move to our bedroom.

Here is the tree on our dresser.  I made a couple of simple arrangements in little wicker hats. Took the MC Tuxedo ribbon and wrapped around the hats, put some florist foam inside and used picks of poinsettias and berries to create the arrangements.

Up close view of the little hats.

Resource

Mackenzie-Childs Tuxedo Ribbon, Link
Top Hat 7" (used for tree topper), RAZ Imports - Holly Top Hat 7"
Top Hat, 3 1/2", Nell Hills
Black & white 1 1/2" checked ribbon, LUV RIBBONS Fabric Ribbon by Creative Ideas, 1-1/2-Inch, Black Checkered, White
Large picks, Big Lots
Scotch Quick-Dry Adhesive, Scotch Quick-Dry Adhesive, 4 fl oz (021)
Lighted tree, Tuesday Morning
Narrow gingham for small hats, Michael's
Small wicker hats for poinsettia's, Hobby Lobby, Grocery Outlet
Poinsettia and berry picks, Hobby Lobby 

Thank you for stopping by.



 



 

CHRISTMAS WREATHS TO MAKE

Last Christmas I had one of those "What were you thinking moments?" I decided to go silver and sparkly and I was not happy with the outcome but you know what they say "go big or go home!"  I have some plastic bins in my garage with lot's of silver stuff to loan to others!  This year I have decided to go back to my favorite - tartan plaid, deer, woodsy wreaths and arrangements, etc.
I also need to mention a little more than a month ago I had a total knee replacement (not for the faint of heart) and so I am taking my time decorating this year and started with refreshing some wreaths.  A note about wreaths.  I love them all year round there is something so lovely about the circle of eternity and it so says welcome to me, that I have wreaths up for every season.

This is my only new wreath this year.  I found it the end of January last year at Tuesday Morning in a box on the floor and it was originally $40 and I think I paid maybe $7.  Not saying this to show I am a good shopper but pointing out that it is a good idea to pick them up when you see them at a good price.  It is hard to see in the photo - this is a really thick wreath and inside are full size pine cones and it has battery lights.  That was how I bought this wreath.  I used a Command Hanging Strip and attached to my antique mirror in the entry. I added a red wool felt bow and a tiny garland of holly and tiny pine cones.  The fuzzy deer I picked up at an antique shop and was told he was from the 50's - he is one of those plastics with fuzzy stuff on him - I'm sure there is a name for this type of toy but I just call him cute!

It has been VERY cold here in Idaho lately - most days the high below freezing.  The day I went out to decorate the front of the house was no exception and believe me I think I brushed off and wiped down this bench and then rubbed teak oil on it in record time! This is an old wreath that I made years ago and when I pulled it out of the box the red cardinal was pink!  So rather than throwing it away I did a little re-ferb! I painted the cardinal with some Christmas red acrylic paint and using the same brush touched up the faux berries everywhere the red had come off and white styrofoam was showing.  Took off the old sad bow and added a red plaid wool flannel bow. Not new but looks great gracing the bench. Once again used a Command Hanging Strip to hang the wreath.

 This is my outside wreath and is really big, I would say at least 36" and I have used this same wreath in many incarnations for several years.  Keeping with my theme of lots of deer and the same red wool flannel ribbon all I had to do is add these items and a little wood garland and it coordinates nicely with the wreath on the bench and the rest of my decorations.

Here is the ribbon and the tiny garlands - they are both from Nell Hill's in Atchison, KS. The d.Stevens ribbon (I love and have a small collection) can be hard to find as they only sell wholesale so you have to find a shop that sells.  I know that Nell Hill's ships so if you want some it might be worth a phone call. The number is:913-367-1086 - remember this is central time. The ribbon is $14.00 a roll and the little garlands are $4.00 each.

I know the ribbon is a little pricey but I am using it this year in arrangements, wreaths, etc. and it gives continuity to my decorations and ties everything together, or at least I think it does.

Thank you for stopping by.