It seems like it took a little longer to get in the “Christmas spirit” this year. I’m not really sure why. Perhaps 70˚ days have been a contributing factor. Whatever the reason, I still managed to put out Christmas decorations. Yippee!
The decorations are the same as in years past. Some just get relocated from year to year. I looked back in the PCTuesday files and found a Christmas Decor post from 2012. If you click on that post you can see some of the same decorations used in different ways.
We’ll start with outside.
I made my fresh wreaths again. It is such a relaxing activity.
I used some of the leftover greenery here and there around the porch, along with leftover pumpkins.
To really appreciate this greenery, you need to be sipping coffee on a Saturday morning–which we do as often as possible!
See? It’s like a little surprise for porch-sitters.
I guess this picture would have looked a little better if the kitchen blinds had been closed. Ahhh, hind-sight.
I even have a little nativity on the porch. Don’t you love the old tv tray? I got it here.
On to the inside…
Even though we have teenagers now, they are still excited to use our advent calendar. Looks like we were deeper into the season than we were when I posted about it in 2012.
This is a “new” kitchen wreath. The gingerbread man usually sits in a little sleigh with his little Christmas tree. His tree is filled with tiny gingerbread men and cookie cutters. You can see some of the little gingerbread ornaments in the outdoor wreath above.
This year I wanted something different-surprise, surprise. So, I tied him on a wreath. I pilfered the little rolling pin from Katie’s old kitchen play set. The giant rickrack was in a box of old ribbon I had saved from several Christmases ago. It looks like the icing you put on gingerbread cookies!
You will not believe where I got the little red ties for the cookie cutters and rolling pin. I recently got new chair cushions for the dining room. Megan tore open the old ones to reuse the stuffing for some of her knitting projects. Not knowing what I would use them for, I popped the ties off of the back of the old cushions. Tada! At least my hoarding wasn’t in vain. I think this new little wreath is a winner. I like how it looks against the antique game board, too.
More in the kitchen. I think this is the first time I have used my old scale specifically as a Christmas decoration.
Look what’s in the colander–antique jingle bells!
Vintage overload!!! I hope not.
I pick up Scrabble games when I see them at garage sales and thrift stores. I always think I am going to make something cool-like Christmas ornaments or something. Since we enjoy playing Scrabble from time to time, I just have not been able to bring myself to do it. Maybe one of these days…but for now, a temporary use.
I stepped out a little on the china hutch. I bought a HUGE roll of double-sided wrapping paper at Sam’s. I was so glad to find a plaid paper that I liked. I LOVE plaid! Blue ticky tack is all I used to adhere the paper to the back of the hutch.
I really like how it looks with my Lenox Christmas china.
We folks in the South are often dreaming of a white Christmas. Usually, that’s all we do. We don’t get a lot of snow in Arkansas. However, last year it snowed ON CHRISTMAS DAY for the first time in 80 years!
I’m still dreaming of my girls to drawing some snowflakes on the chalkboard for me. They have been busy studying for semester tests. Maybe they will get to it during the break.
The wool garland is not new.
I came across the pompom strand and red rickrack in my scrap box. I think they add a nice little touch of whimsy. The pompoms even look a little snow-like.
My in-laws brought the girls these fun little wooden toys from their travels to Germany.
I love my glittery music tree. You can see more pictures and a link to the tutorial here.
Just a few more pictures.
One of the many nativities we have collected.
THIS is the reason we celebrate CHRISTmas!