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Christmas

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Making your own Christmas decorations is a wonderful way to add a personal touch to the holiday season. It’s a fun and creative activity that can bring joy to both the maker and those who see the decorations. Although it is much easier to go out and buy decorations, when you make your own, your house will stand out from the rest. 

When you make your own decorations and Christmas decor, you can customize them to reflect your personality and family values. They can be kept and passed down through the generations with more meaning than mass-produced decorations. In this article, we will give you the information you need to be able to create your own this holiday season. 

1 – Pick the materials

When it comes to making Christmas decorations, the first step is choosing the right materials. Traditional materials like paper, fabric, wood, and metal are popular choices. Paper is versatile and can be used in a variety of ways, from simple cut-outs to complex origami. Fabric offers a range of textures and colors, perfect for creating soft ornaments or festive garlands. 

Wood is always a good choice as it adds a rustic charm and warmth to the decor of the room. It’s natural and also neutral so it fits with just about any decoration style. 

The key is to look for material that will last a long time. Something like polyurethane resin for molds is a good choice since it lasts for decades. This material is a type of plastic that you can mold into different shapes. It’s perfect for creating custom ornaments or detailed decorations. 

2 – Get inspired

When it comes to Christmas-themed ornaments and decorations, there are endless possibilities for design and creativity. The key is to find inspiration so you can create decorations that reflect your personality and style. 

Classic designs are always a good start. You can put your own twist on traditional decorating elements. Think of wreaths, stars, and tree ornaments that can easily be customized. You can get creative with the materials and use things like horseshoes if you are passionate about horses, or quilts if you are into quilting. Use bright, unconventional colors, experiment with geometric shapes, or incorporate themes that are unique to your interests or culture.

3 – Displaying your creations

Once you’ve crafted your Christmas decorations, the next exciting step is displaying them. When it comes to decorating your space, think about balance and theme. For example, if your home has a rustic feel, wooden and fabric decorations can complement this style. In a more modern setting, metallic or brightly colored ornaments might stand out beautifully. 

Combining different types of decorations can also be effective. For instance, placing a homemade centerpiece on a table with store-bought candles can create an inviting atmosphere. Place your handmade ornaments on the Christmas tree alongside commercial ones for variety. Handcrafted wreaths can be hung on doors or walls, adding a personal touch.

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It is late December and the Christmas holidays are slowly coming to a close. Have you started to ‘wrap’ it all up? Or is your tree and decor still on full display? Storage and organizing of Christmas decor doesn’t have to be a total mess – there are so many awesome ways to pack up and make your Christmas storage easy and neat.

 

Christmas Tree Storage

For years, we used the box that our tree came in but honestly after year 2 the box was just being held up with some tape and it was just a mess.  Garbage bags are also a pain – you are stuffing the tree pieces into bags and I know it is damaging and really not effective.

Did you know that there are ‘Christmas Tree Bags’? Yes, these bags are actually designed to fit and store your tree.

Here are some great options for Christmas Tree Bags at all price points – be sure to find one that will fit your tree as they do come in different sizes.

Christmas Tree Storage Bag with wheels by Zober – this one fits a disassembled 9 ‘ tree. The wheels make moving the tree so much easier plus the extra wide opening makes storing the tree inside much easier.

 

Christmas Tree storage Bag by Sanatas Bags – this bag is designed to fit trees from 6-9 feet (disassembled) I love the exterior label option so there’s no mistaking it for sporting equipment.

 

Christmas Tree Storage Bag by Handy Laundry – again this bag can fit a disassembled 6-9 ft tree and the red and green colour is just perfect for the season – there is really no mistaking that this is a Christmas storage item. This is a very affordable option and it gets great online reviews!

 

Christmas Ornament Organizing

Like my tree, I have been storing my ornaments in boxes, old shoe boxes to be exact, and it suited us fine until we started get some glass and more delicate tree ornaments.  I will say that Christmas is a great time to get ‘new’ boxes for your Christmas ornaments – toss out the old ones you have been using for years and use boxes you received as gift wrapping.  Now that I have some special tree ornaments that I want to hang onto and possibly even pas son to my kids once they are adults – I love these ornament organizing boxes.

Here are some of my favourite ones.

Compartment Cube Ornament Organizer by Richards Homewares – this 12 x 12 x 12 box can hold up to 64 ornaments – the exterior label allows for the box to be identified, too!

 

Christmas Ornament Storage box by Handy Laundry – another box that holds up to 64 ornaments.  One feature I love with his piece is adjustable dividers, so if you have ornaments of different shapes and sizes, you can easily make room for them in this box.  Plus …the zipper top means no losing the lid and you can collapse the box when it is not being used!

 

Other Christmas Organizing Products

Christmas Wreath Storage Bag – I know my wreaths have taken a beating when they aren’t protected or stored properly, so I love this bag as it keeps away the dust and moisture.

 

Master Craft Gift Wrap and Storage Bag – when it comes to gift wrapping and all of the necessities, my area used to be a mess! But now with a gift wrap organizer, I have it all in one place.  It does make wrapping gifts for all occasions easier – I also keep rolls of tape and a set of scissors in mine.

So if you find the tidying up and packing up of Christmas to be a big task – maybe these pieces will help keep you organized and make the whole task easier.  So when do you plan on taking down your Christmas tree and decor?

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best-neutral-christmas-home-decor

Christmas time is in full swing … but you say you don’t like colourful Christmas home decor. Well you are in luck, Christmas decor comes in all styles and ‘colours’ – let me show you some of the Best Neutral Christmas Home Decor …

Neutral Christmas Decor – white, gold and beige

Maybe not your typical colour scheme but this is just so elegant and chic.  Gold and white are a classic combination and by adding the beige and taupe tones – this room looks so rich! The white lights add some beautiful shine and the rustic touches like the deer head on the tree top add a woodland look which is very popular right now.

Photo credit: Kirklands

Neutral Christmas Decor – Silver, Green and White

I love Christmas decor that can really extend through the long winter months and when you opt for a neutral palette you definitely have that ability to keep up a lot of your decor through the winter.  This combination has a cool, outdoorsy vibe think evergreens, snow and ice….This beautiful staircase with evergreens and baubles is so seasonal and fresh looking!

Photo credit: Lowe’s

 

Neutral Christmas Decor – Brown and Gold

This combination of brown and gold is so rich and elegant. This tree has a traditional feel and the colours of brown and gold add drama and depth. Al of the the sparkle that contrasts with the more rugged textures like the burlap makes this tree make this tree one of a kind.

 

Photo credit: TrendyTree

 

Neutral Christmas Decor – Black, White and Wood

This combination is not your typical Christmas combination but it also has a great modern meets outdoors feel.  The mix of the Buffalo Check and the wood log chargers gives this Christmas table setting a relaxed and casual feel but still says Christmas.

Photo credit: HobbyCraft

Neutral Christmas Decor – Navy and Metallics

Navy Blue is a great way to add some depth and drama yet still keeping it classic with a winter feel and you can easily mix in some metallic tones like silver or gold (maybe even both).  Navy blue and white are also a great neutral combination for the season – a little unexpected but it works!

Photo credit: lushome

 

Neutral Christmas Decor – All White

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow…..make your home a winter wonderland with layers of white on white Christmas decor. With these colour scheme you can remove the tree and keep other decorative touches up because the white decor is more seasonal and less holiday focused.

Photo credit: skimbacolifestyle

Remember, neutral decor is never boring mix it up with pattern and texture for everyday and for the holidays,


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christmas-decor-favourites

Christmas time is here! and you know what that means…Christmas decor! I love any excuse to decorate but Christmas has to be my absolute favourite time of year – the cool air, the white fluffy snow, the music and the overall spirit of the season is just so warm and welcoming.  In my house we love to start decorating around the American Thanksgiving weekend – that way we can make the most of the season and really get into the spirit.

Over the years, my Christmas decor style has evolved and every year I add a few more pieces to the mix – here are just some of my favourite Christmas Decor items…

Christmas Decor Pillows

I love how simple these are to ad to an armchair or a sofa – plus these would look really cute in a guest bedroom (how welcoming).  This is such an easy piece to add to a room and what I really love about it, is it brings the holiday feel into all areas of the home.  You could either store away your ‘regular’ decor pillows or if you are short on space, get some Christmas pillow covers instead and zip them on for the season and zip them off at the end of the season.

This is a really cute and festive option from Wayfair

Christmas Decor Canvas

One of the big holiday trends that we seeing a lot of this year and it is a bit of a nod to the whole farmhouse look is the canvas signs with sayings – I love the simplicity of the farmhouse style and adding in a great farmhouse sign with a Christmas feel is a great addition to a fireplace mantle, a gallery wall or a front foyer vignette.

This wrapped ‘Peace on Earth’ canvas from Wayfair – is not only a wonderful message but it comes in great neutral tones so it will work with most colour themes.

Christmas Decor Wreath

The Christmas wreath is a classic, we all know that but I am loving wreaths in vignettes, fireplace mantle styling and handing indoors.  I added a festive red and white one to my gallery wall in my family room and again I love how it brings the spirit of the season into all areas of my home.  I also love the look of a wreath hanging on the outside and the inside of a front door – so chic!

When it comes to a Christmas wreath – there is a style for everyone but in my home I tend to stick to the classics like this one….

 Christmas Decor Candles

Candles are a great way to add some soft lighting – they also make a great gift.  This year I purchased some beautiful ‘Christmas scented’ candles for my kids’ teachers – I love the simple look of these ones in the mason jars – plus it is a ‘one size fits all’ gift.  Candles are great addition to a coffee table, console table or a fireplace mantle….

Christmas Decor Snowy Tree

This year, we finally purchased a new Christmas tree – we are a big fan of the artificial tree for a few reasons…it’s not as messy and high maintenance  as a real one and with 4 children under the age of 9 – we need to keep it simple.  Plus we used to travel quite a bit over the Christmas break and a real tree can lead to some real problem if it is not watered regularly, so a fake tree it is.  But there are so many beautiful options – like the one we just purchased.  I have been eying these snow flocked trees for a while and my husband surprised me with one this year and I LOVE IT! It is so pretty just on it’s own but once you add the white lights and all of the ornaments, it is just magic!

 Christmas Decor Countdown

My kids are always asking me…”how many days until Santa?”.  It’s cute and I know they are SO excited! I saw this sign at one of my favourite stores, Urban Barn and I knew it had to come home with me this year.  I love the rustic farmhouse feel of the sign and of course, that chalkboard feature – Santa stops here in # days .  We have placed ours on our mantle (we have the height) but it is actually designed to stand on it’s own, it would be great by the fireplace or at the front entry – it’s a cute addition to family friendly Christmas decor….

Do you have any favourite Christmas decor pieces?

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“I really want a Christmas Tree but I’m in a small apartment.  Any ideas how I can still have a tree without taking over my whole space?”

You can absolutely have a tree in your space – Christmas trees aren’t just for large homes!

Depending on the size of your space and where you want to put your tree you may need to get a little creative but we have some ideas for you.

A smaller tree can still make a big impact!  To make it look even larger without all the bulk try placing it on a stool.  This image has a mini tree placed in a steel bucket (for a bit of a rustic feel) and propped up on a stool.  this gives the tree height but the stool isn’t big and full.


Photo from House Beautiful Magazine

Instead of a whole tree why not make use of some branches? They are easy to find this time of year and they are an affordable option.  We love the simplicity of some evergreen branches in a glass vases, add some colourful decor and you are set.

 
Photo from Buzzfeed.com

This idea is nothing short of brilliant!  This ‘half tree’ (aka Corner or Flat back Christmas trees) takes up half the space of a full Christmas tree but you can push it right up against the wall so it won’t eat into your living space.  Half the lights, half the decorations so half the work!


Photo from Treetopia Christmas Trees

 Want the look of a gorgeous Christmas tree without all the work and mess? Try a hanging Christmas tree canvas.  IKEA knows all about decorating and furnishing small spaces and they knew that the Christmas tree would also be a challenge – so they came up with this!


Photo from bricobistro.com

 Have you heard of a pencil tree? These are tall and skinny trees, they are perfect for anyone short on extra space as they don’t fill the room but they are full of holiday cheer.


Photo from martahome.com 


Maybe you want something child friendly? This wall hanging felt tree is perfect for the little ones in your life.  It’s fun and festive and bonus – it’s mess free! It’s child height so even the little ones can participate in decorating too – perfect for parents, grandparents or aunts and uncles! 


Photo from Etsy


The shape of a tree can be an inspiration, too! Use cards, twigs, photos, branches and even lights to create a beautiful wall art display in honour of the Christmas tree.  

Photo from PSbyDila.com

Another fun and simple idea is the Christmas tree wall vinyl – this is so easy to put up and it won’t cause nay damage to your walls.  There are so many different designs you might find it challenging to pick one!


Photo from Chrisymas.com 

Keep it fun and festive and find a style that fits you and your space,

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“Christmas break is coming soon and we have out of town guests staying with us for a few days, how can we make them feel at home when staying with us?”

Hosting out of town guests is a part of the holidays and you definitely want your guests to feel comfortable.  When it comes to hosting house guests you really want to think of the details – it really is the small things that make the difference!

It’s always nice to have a guest room that looks and feels like a bedroom – you really want your house guests to feel like they are welcome and a part of your home.  A cohesive looking bedroom is always a welcoming touch.  We always recommend decorating a guest bedroom in a soothing and calming theme and in neutral colour tones.

These elements are musts when having guests stay over for a few days:

1. Fresh bedding and an extra blanket and pillows
2. Night stand with lamp and alarm clock
3. Trash bin
4.Tissues
5. WiFi password
6. Clean towels (a set for each guest)
7. Available outlet to charge phones, tablets etc…
8. Bottled water and snacks
9. Clothing hangers and space in the closet (and/or dresser)

It’s always a great idea to stock up on some extra toiletries too – everyone always forgets something…

toothbrush
– tooth paste
– dental floss
– ibuprofen
– hair dryer
– shampoo and conditioner
– q-tips
hand lotion

Some little extras that add a little something special…

fresh flowers or potted plant
– Spare reading materials (books or magazines)
– Notepad and pen

Be sure to tour your guests around the house and let them know where to find essentials like bathrooms, laundry, coffee and how to work the TV.

The best thing you can do when it comes to creating an atmosphere that will make your guests feel welcome is to imagine how someone else would make you feel welcome in their home.  Put yourself in their shoes…

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christmas-decor-for-everyone

Yes – there is Christmas decor for everyone and every style! Well…it’s about 1 month away – Christmas day! Have you decorated yet?

If you love to decorate but feel like Christmas just doesn’t blend with your style we have some news for you – this year there is something for everyone!

 

In the past, Christmas decor was all about a traditional look and sticking with a white, green and red motif with a touch of silver or gold; or, it was very child like and full of animation.

 

For the person that loves bright colour and even neon hues –

This option is for you….try a white tree with lots of bright and bold colour decor items! You can even find bright colour trees like aqua or pink.  We love a fun punch of colour and colour is so festive so why not opt for colour and fun this holiday season? Try adding some different elements to your tree to make it really unique like bright bows that are oversized and full or print, bright colour feathers from a craft store, bold neon baubles, ribbons, pompoms and so much more!

 

For the person that loves glitz and glamour…

Why not dress up your home for this Christmas in metallics? The shiny and reflective surfaces look so chic and sophisticated (timeless too).  You can stick with one metallic like silver and keep it so cool and clean or blend them all.  Mix in some glitter and crystals for a total glam look.  We love to see metallics mixed with white twinkle lights.  Paired with a white tree gives the look a more modern feel but paired with a classic evergreen makes it a bit more elegant, it’s up to you!

 

 

For the person that likes a more rustic look…

You can incorporate your favourite woodland animals like owls, deer and moose along with wood textures like birch, mix in some plaid and knit textures for a cozy cabin Christmas vibe. Burlap garlands around the tree, grapevine accessories and pine cones are easy and simple additions to any evergreen tree and will give the look that rustic country feel.

 

For someone who likes a more modern look…

Try a minimalist and monotone look.  Grey is a hot neutral and why not incorporate it into your Christmas decor motif? Pair it with some silver decor and you do not have to fill the tree with decor – keep it clean and simple. If you have grey in your home currently and like a tone on tone look this is a great option for you.

 

For the sports fan why not find a another way to display your team colours? 

Try a sports themed tree celebrating Christmas and your team! You can find logo decorations for all of the professional teams and college team plus you can easily find lights, ribbon, baubles and more in your team colours.  Go Team! Go Christmas!!

 

 

For the person that likes something a bit different but you want to nod to tradition somewhat…

why not decorate with an unexpected colour combination? Black and white are not your traditional Christmas colours but they are a classic combination, they look great together even on a tree. Add a fun pop like yellow or even aqua (Tiffany Blue like the tree here) for something really unique and eye catching.  Make the Christmas a part of your decor scheme!

 

 

For the fashionista or aspiring fashion designer…

Show off your flare for fashion with this dress form tree.  Dress this tree up how ever you like! Add as much bling as you like and in any colour – you can really take this idea to the next level and completely customize it! This tree truly has a style of its own!

 

 

For the person that loves the beach…

Try a coastal Christmas tree! Shells, starfish and silver dollars look amazing on a tree paired with soft pastel tones.  If you love Christmas and you love the beach this is perfect for you or if you live on the coast and want to compliment the surroundings this is a great look, too!  The beach themed items pair so nicely with the green tree and the silver tones and glass baubles.

 

 

For the person who loves the traditional colours but want to make a statement…

Make your tree a total designer showpiece and go over the top with oversized decor items all over your tree! To get this sculptural look you will need time, patience plus lots of floral wire but you can definitely achieve this fabulous look and it gives a fresh take on the traditional colours.

 

 

For the person that loves the snow….

A snow flocked tree is for you!  Take the look of nature, those stunning snow covered evergreens and bring it indoors – this is a great look with any colour scheme or style.  It works beautifully with bold and bright neon hues, the rustic look and even the more elegant and traditional looks. You can even transform your current artificial tree to a snow covered one with a little DIY

 

 

Remember when you are decorating for the holidays, keep the theme consistent – that will give your home that designer holiday look no matter which style you prefer.  Make sure that no matter your style – have fun!

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