DIY Ballard Christmas Peace Wreath Knock-Off

November 25, 2013


Today I want to share with you a really simple and pretty DIY Christmas wreath decoration I found in a Ballard Designs catalog.  I knew the moment I saw it that I had to try and recreate it. They're not even selling a peace decoration, per se.  They're selling the wreath.  And someone from Ballard in their infinite wisdom styled it by hanging it from a chalkboard and drawing in a peace sign.  Genius.


Sorry about the Sharpie ring around the whole thing.  Apparently, Ballard doesn't want you to be able to copy their catalog photos (well, at least not this one) and I had a heck of a time finding it on the internet.  Enter my handy-dandy copier-scanner.  I just scanned the actual catalog page and voila.  And yes, even in today's Pinterest-filled world, I still draw circles around all my fave design ideas in all the catalogs.    
 

So anywaaaay.....I substituted my thrift store gold frame/homemade chalkboard (I just pulled out the old painting inside it, turned it around, and chalk spray-painted the whole back side of the canvas) for their white framed chalkboard.  You can find some of my other DIY chalkboard tutorials here and here. I also used a boxwood wreath from Antique Farmhouse in place of the more traditional evergreen.  Hang the wreath with some floursack-looking red-striped ribbon, "chalk" in the peace sign and "Peace on Earth" and voila.


Loving it!
 
I set it up a few different ways, and true to form I still haven't decided exactly how I want to display it.
 
 
I'm obsessed with ball-filled cloches, among other things, this Christmas and hope to share more of them soon.  For now, although it's a wee bit early in the season, I just want to say:
 
 
 Peace on Earth!
 
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xoxo
 

Christmas Decorating with Mini-Pickup Trucks and Fresh Christmas Greens

November 19, 2013



While reading the Sunday paper this past weekend I came across an ad for the cutest little red vintage-style pickup truck ornament at Target.  I made a mental note to stop in there during the week and pick one up.  Later that night I saw that a Facebook friend {Sharon from Homeroad} had already done just that, and by the comments her post was generating it looked like those little gems were in high demand.  SOoooo, of course I had to high tail it there yesterday and was lucky enough to pick one, er, two up -- and lucky for me because they were the last of the bunch.

Did I mention they were $2.50 a piece?

 
I had already decided that I was going to find my son's bright red pickup truck and decorate it for Christmas this year, and I still intend on doing that.  But for now I was so thrilled with these that I actually started my Christmas decorating early so I could share some shots with you!
 

Don't you just love the faux snow?  I think it adds just the right touch.
 
 
And of course I had to throw in some glitter. This "joy" ornament was a dollar store find last Christmas. They came a few to a package so you'll be seeing more of them in future posts, I'm sure.
 
 
I set the whole vignette up on a silver tray for mobility, so I can move it around the house until I find just the right spot for it.
 
 
I'm really liking the look with my burlap tablecloth and thick red-striped burlap ribbon.
 
And I'm always thankful this time of year that we have so many evergreens to choose from on our property for Christmas decorating.  The smell of fresh greens really can be intoxicating!  I just added some of my own faux snow to them.

 
I have some small bottle brush trees I'd like to use, too.  Once I unearth find them I will use them in my son's truck and take some more shots to share. 


Until then, thanks for stopping by!

I do hope you'll stay connected and follow me via Google Friends Connect, Bloglovin' or e-mail subscription (all in my sidebar) if you haven't done so already.

CLICK ON ONE OF THESE:)

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xoxo
 

Homemade Holiday Home Fragrance {Mulling Spices}

November 12, 2013


Fall is absolutely my most favorite time of year.  As it gets colder outside, we look for ways to make it feel warmer inside.  Be it a fire in the fireplace, a wool throw on the couch or a hot cup of tea, we turn our homes into havens filled with warmth and comfort.  

One thing that's been a mainstay in our house around this time of year, and into Christmas time, is the smell of homemade mulling spices on the stove.  They fill the house with an incredible aroma that lets us know that harsher weather is on the way but all is right with the world at home.


While we use it strictly for the aroma, many people use similar recipes for steeping the ingredients in hot apple cider.


I do think that cinnamon is my favorite ingredient.


And cloves are a close second.  Their scent is very strong, but mixed with the apples and cinnamon it's quite pleasant.


 Here's what we usually use:


apples, cored and sectioned
cinnamon sticks
cloves 

{*Other recipes also use allspice, cardamom, star anise and orange peel.  You can place all the ingredients into a homemade tea bag/ sachet or cheesecloth tied up with kitchen string, and then place that into a cup of hot cider.}

And that's it.  First we fill a pot with water and place the ingredients in it, turning the heat up to medium until it boils.  Once it boils we turn it down to simmer and enjoy the aroma throughout the entire house. 

NOTE:  Be sure to watch the pot carefully, and refill the water level back to full periodically as it will boil off and the pot could potentially burn, causing a fire. 


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Here's to a warm and cozy fall and winter.

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China Cabinet Styling Reveal

November 7, 2013


Yes, I fell in love with a very non-traditional Pottery Barn china cabinet, as seen in my last post here.



Don't you just love the wire?  While I know I'll probably never be able to rationalize paying for that actual cabinet, I also know that it can be an inspiration to me and others who want to change up the cabinets that we do have.  And that's just what I've done.


I'm sorry that I don't have a "before" shot.  But you're really not missing anything there.  The cabinet was filled with some very beautiful {Old Country Roses} wedding china and crystal, but it was lacking something.  A je ne sais quoi, if you will.  Then I saw it.  That darned Pottery Barn wire cabinet.  And not to sound wacky or anything but I really felt inspired by the look.  As soon as I saw it I thought of marrying all the ironstone I had with all the silver and mercury glass that I could rustle together. And voila.

soup tureen white coral mercury glass

It was too hard to get a picture with the glass doors closed due to the reflection, so I had to open the doors for a better picture. 

soup tureen white coral mercury glass

I added a pop of green here and there for visual interest.

red and green apples in a wire farmhouse basket

I mixed some homemade mercury glass with some store-bought on the top shelf.  On the middle shelf I topped a silver display stand with a silver wire bowl and some fresh, delicious-looking apples.  The bottom shelf houses one of my many thrift store ironstone tureen finds.

red and green apples in wire farmhouse basket


white porcelain lidded soup tureen

I just love the fluted detailing on this one.


There's more homemade mercury glass on the top shelf, a Goodwill ice bucket on the second shelf, and another thrift store ironstone tureen on the bottom shelf.


In real life this bowl is actually a very silvery mercury glass, even thought the picture makes it look very dark.  It was quite the Target find which I blogged about here.

silver loving cup white porcelain lidded gravy boat

I absolutely love my mini loving cup.  You can read about it's thrifty back story here.  And the thrift store mini ironstone tureen was a perfect fit for this shelf, don't you think?

mercury glass hurricane white deer bookends

I think the adorable deer head bookends (sshh, don't tell anyone they're supposed to be bookends) from Target are the only non-thrifted items in the entire cabinet.  The pretty mercury glass goblet to the left is also from, you guessed it, a thrift store.


I am absolutely loving my new dining room look.  I'm even thinking about maybe t.a.k.i.n.g. o.f.f. t.h.e. d.o.o.r.s.  That is, if I can convince Mr. CBD that I'm not crazy.

china cabinet reveal dining room Pottery Barn-inspired china hutch

What do you think?

I hope you enjoyed reading about my
China Cabinet Styling Reveal.
And thanks so much 
for spending time with me today!

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Pottery Barn Cabinet Envy and Dining Room Decorating

November 4, 2013

I have fallen in love with a cabinet.  And not just any cabinet, mind you.  The Gridley Caged Storage Cabinet from Pottery Barn.  It is so calling my name.  Just take a look and you'll see all there is to love.


But since the price tag is way off-budget, I've decided to use the inside of it for inspiration for my own dining room china cabinet.  I really like the mix of white stoneware and silver and glass.  What do you think? It's very different from how I've always set up my traditional china cabinet.

Perhaps it's time for a change?

Oh, yeah!

Stop in later in the week for the big reveal!

xoxo

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