Holiday Candles: Easy Ways To UpStyle Candles For Christmas

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via babble

Happy Friday!  I am so glad that weekend is here and I can’t wait to sleep in a bit tomorrow.  It’s been busy in my neck of the woods and while I still have some decorating to do, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.  I’m looking forward to relaxing and savoring the season.

Today I wanted to share some creative and easy UpStyling ideas you can use for your holiday candles.  I love having candles in every room but buying a lot of my favorite candles can get expensive.  During the holidays I pair this scented candle and this scented candle with basic candles and candle holders that have been UpStyled to get the look I want without blowing the budget.

Here are a few easy ideas that I hope will inspire.

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5 Minute Holiday Doormat

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I change out my doormats seasonally but when it was time to put one out for Christmas I realized I didn’t have a holiday themed one that went with this years decor.

What I had was this basic $4.99 doormat I purchased from Ikea last summer.  It was tucked in a corner of the garage most likely waiting to be UpStyled.

Ikea doormat

Some  Scotch Blue painters tape

Scotch Painters Tape

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A can of Rustoleum Extra Cover Gloss Spray Paint in Apple Red… 

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and in five minutes I had a holiday doormat with a classic design.

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Now that’s what I call holiday decorating on the cheap!

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Shelly

TWO Easy DIY Christmas Ornaments

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When I haven’t been decorating for clients I’ve been busy getting crafty and decking the halls at my home.  This year I made a few handmade ornaments from things I already had stashed away.  These ornaments were so simple they should be in the Holiday Decor for Dummies Book.

First up are tinsel filled ornaments.  I bought these clear ornaments two years ago I think and had plans to paint them.  While unpacking my decor this year I came across them and decided to turn them into tinsel ornaments.

All is took was some tinsel garland (mine purchased at Ikea), scissors and something long to push the tinsel into the ornament.  I removed the ornament cap, cut my garland into 4 inch long pieces and used a chop stick to push it into the ornament.

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Next I decided to take a stash of holiday coasters I purchased at a Crate and Barrel after Christmas sale and turn them into ornaments. I punched a hole in one corner so the coaster would hang on the diagonal and easy peasy, I had ornaments.

Coaster Ornaments1

Both of these ornaments add something different to my tree–the tinsel ornaments add sparkle and shine and the coaster ornaments layer in a different shape and dimension.  I’ll be back tomorrow to share my fully decorated Christmas tree in part one of Merry & Bright Holiday Home Tour.

Have you crafted any of your Christmas decor this year?  

Shelly

#merryandbrightholidayhome

Holiday Gift Guide: Fashion Gifts

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Clothing is one of the most gifted items at Christmas but that doesn’t mean you have to gift a basic sweater, a simple pair of gloves or a bundle of basic socks.  Why not gift fashion with ultimate style.  Here’s my His & Her Fashion Gift Guide and every item is $50 or less!

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Plaid and Ponchos are two of the hottest fashion trends this winter and this Plaid Poncho is chic in every way. $38.00
These Stone Drop Hoop Earrings are definitely a one for them, one for me gift items.  Available in 5 stone colors $46.80
This Reversible Faux Leather Tote w/Wristlet may just be the perfect handbag and it’s available in 6 color options. $48.00
Need a great gift under $10 then this Giant Birds Hill Tribe Clutch is a winner!  Only $6.99 and available in a ton of pattern/color options.
Layered or along, with jeans or slacks, this Jacquard Check Pullover Sweater is red-hot. $29.99
I adore this Pearl Snowdrop Keychain and think it would make a beautiful bag charm too!  $48.00
This Faux Fur Hand Warmer is such a chic way to keep your hands warm. $29.00  available in 6 fur colors
Because every girl needs a few statement necklaces in their wardrobe.  This Tribal Inspired Layered Necklace is such a fabulous look at it’s only $13.90.
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Help him keep warm and cozy with this Luxury Plush Robe. $49.00
The perfect gift for all the men in your life Leather iPhone Slip Wallet $39-$42 available in 4 colors
The perfect go with anything Plaid Woven Scarf.  $35.00
You may want to get him one in every colors–1/4 Zip Sweater Vest. $29.70 available in 7 colors
For those times when a baseball hat is just too casual–Flecked Tweed Fedora $35.00
He’ll love this classic Silver Plate Personalized Pocket Watch for years to come. $45.00
Put a little pep in his step with Happy Socks. $12.00 per pair

Happy gifting!

Shelly

Decorate Your Mantel For Christmas: Tips & Techniques

Hello friends.  I hope everyone had a great weekend.  After spending the end of last week decorating for a client, I was happy to see the weekend come.  I did some Christmas decor shopping for a another client, hung out with my brother and got all of my holiday linens pressed.  Anyone else out there hate ironing as much as I do?  All in all, it was a good weekend and I was able to squeeze in some of my own Christmas decorating.

Speaking of decorating, today’s post is all about decorating your mantel for Christmas.  It’s part tips & techniques and part inspiration.  Enjoy!

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One of the exciting parts of my design business is decorating homes for Christmas. Just about every home I decorate has a mantel or two and even though every one of them has a different style and design, I use the same techniques when decorating them for Christmas.

Here are my tips for decorating your mantel like a pro:

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Inspiration: Christmas Entertaining With A Color Twist!

Gold Reindeer with Faux Fur

If you can’t tell from recent post here on the blog, I’m really getting in the Christmas spirit.  Today I’m bringing you an inspiration board I created for a colorful holiday party.

The concept for this party was a casual, chic party table with a twist on traditional Christmas colors.

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Here’s a look at each item and tips for creating your own festive holiday table!

Whenever I can’t find cloth table linens to fit a theme, I turn to wrapping paper. With just about any design and color option available, wrapping paper is a cost-effective and simple way to dress your table.  TABLE RUNNER:  Snowy Tree Wrapping Paper  
Most table settings I create incorporate a charger plate.  Chargers help to add impact to a table and are also part of the layering that every table setting needs.  I recommend you buy a set of gold, silver and red chargers so you have colors that will work with every table setting your can imagine.  CHARGER PLATES:  Gold Charger with Fluted Edge     *  (my favorite gold charger design)
One of the basic tabletop items I think everyone should own is a set of classic white dinnerware. White plates will give you tons of flexibility to mix and match patterned salad/dessert plates and bowls.    DINNER PLATES:  Round White Dinnerware  *(you can’t beat the price of these plates)
Novelty salad plates are an easy way to bring pattern to the table for the holidays or for any season.  I love to pair square salad plates with round dinner plates for visual interest.   SALAD/DESSERT PLATES:  Green and White Chalkboard Christmas Plates 
Entertaining is so much easier when you have the right serving pieces.  A tiered stand can be used in lots of different ways and works just as well on a table as it does on a buffet.  SERVING STAND:  Gold Two Tier Stand
Holiday entertaining by candlelight is a must in my book and these Christmas tree shaped candles are the perfect accent to compliment the paper runner design. CENTERPIECE DECORPearlized Christmas Tree Candle *(these would make a fun hostess gift too)
Gold flatware is just one of the elements that helps to add a touch of glam to this tablescape and it ties in with the other gold accent pieces which helps to create the theme.  FLATWARE:  Gold Flatware *(I also love the design of this silver flatware set)
I like the idea of placing wine in an ice bucket versus placing the bottle on the table.  When not used to hold wine, the bucket could hold flowers or even be used as a serving bowl of a salad or bread.  ICE BUCKET:  Hexagon Ice Bucket
Colorful glasses are a great investment and will add that bold pop of color that every table needs.  These glasses accent the green in the runner and salad plates so that the table has three different pops of the key accent color. STEMWARE:  Green Wine Glasses  *(HomeGoods always has a great selection of colorful glassware)
Pattern mixing is key to bringing your holiday table to life. The gingham plaid dinner napkins provide a great contrast to the oversized pattern of the paper design and further highlight the navy color.  LINENS:  Blue Check Dinner Napkins *(these would be easy to DIY if you can’t find your color)
When it comes to a centerpiece, I use items that will add height, style and a unique touch to the table.  These gold reindeer do all of that along with adding that glamorous touch the decor called for.  DECOR:  Gold Reindeer Decor *(the fur collar is removable so you could change the look from year to year)

Chalkboard Christmas Plates

So when it comes to setting your holiday table, do you have any tricks or tips you use?  Leave me a comment and let me know.

I’ll be sharing my own holiday table soon.  Stay tuned.

Shelly

The Look For Less–Monogram Christmas Ornament

Alaphbet Ornament Tree

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It’s beginning to look a bit like Christmas around my house.  I’ve pulled the Christmas pillows out, started decorating here and there and will get my tree set up and decorated this weekend.  If you’ve read my blog for a while you know that I change my tree theme each year.  A majority of the decorations are pieces that I already own but a few new pieces get added each year.

Two of the key components on my tree will be monogrammed ornaments and lots of red which was partly inspired by the tree decor above.

Last year I purchased a few of these beautiful blown glass alphabet ornaments from Pottery Barn at $7.50 each and had plans to add a few more to my collection.

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But yesterday I stumbled across the almost identical monogram ornament at JoAnn’s on sale for $3.99.  While the details aren’t exactly the same, these ornaments will still give me the look and feel I want the tree to have.

JoAnn Monogram Ornament

I’ll be sharing my completed Christmas tree decor with you on Dec. 2nd as part of a blogger holiday home tour I’m participating in so stayed turned.

p.s.  In case you like the idea of monogram ornaments on your tree, I’ve rounded up a few of my favorites to share with you.

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KirklandsChalkboard Monogram Ornament $6.99 / Zazzle–Personalized Monogram Keepsake Ornament  $24.50 / ZazzleCeramic Holly Monogram Ornament $18.95
AnthropologieWoodshop Monogram Ornament $ 9.00 / PB KidsGlitter Alphabet Ornament $3.00 / West ElmBeaded Letter Ornament $3.00

 

Shelly

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