A step-by-step tutorial for taking Christmas pictures of your family by yourself that look dreamy and professional in front of your Christmas tree.I totally lied and told y’all I was signing off until the New Year in my last house tour post, but today, I took on a DIY project that was a bit outside of my usual paint-furniture-redecorate-rooms kind. And I realized, with it being Christmas Eve and so many of y’all are gathered around your tree right now with loved ones you possibly only see once per year, maybe it would help any of you wanting to capture the moment during your festivities. I rounded up Regan and Olivia for a quick DIY Christmas photo shoot, and (even though Regan was not having it) while I was at it, I took a picture of my setup to hopefully help some of you. Whether you have a DSLR camera or a cell phone, this works! (Some affiliate links are provided in this post for convenience. Full disclosure here.) 1. Set up for perfect lighting.I shoot only in natural light 99% of the time, so to avoid any weird hues on peoples’ faces in the photo, turn off all of the lights in the room except for the lights on the Christmas tree and sunlight streaming in from a window or open door. Place the people in the photo between the Christmas tree and your natural light source so they will be lit from behind and in front. Check out this super professional diagram I made so you see what I mean. Haha! Whatever works. If your Christmas tree is in a room that doesn’t get any natural light, you can opt to shoot using just the tree lights and a small lamp opposite from the people in your picture to get just enough light on their faces to make them show up in the photo without being too bright. Another good way to get good lighting on faces, especially with kids, is to have your subjects lie down facing up under the tree and shooting over top of them to allow the glow of the Christmas lights to illuminate them evenly. 2. Frame your subject.Always try to shoot at eye level with your subject. So if you’re shooting kids, squat or sit down so that their faces are the same height as your camera lens. 3. Use these camera settings.If you are shooting with a DSLR, be sure to switch your dial to manual mode. Aperture – Set your aperture (f/) to the lowest setting your lens will allow for that dreamy, blurry effect. I set my lens at f/2.0, but if your lens doesn’t go that low, just opt for the smallest number it will allow. Shutter speed – Next, set your shutter speed to 1/200 or higher. Any less than that (especially with kids) will make the people in your photo look blurry, if they move. ISO – Now that you have those two settings, you can adjust your ISO depending on how much light you need. The higher your crank your ISO number, the more grainy your photo will look, but a higher ISO will let in more light and create a brighter photo. White balance – For white balance, set it to auto since it will give you a “best guess” for your photo’s coloring. (If you only have a cell phone, you can get the VSCO app to use these settings on an iPhone or an Android too. It does cost about $20 per year, but there is a free trial you can use and just delete the app after you’ve taken your photos.) 4. Focus on your subjects.Because you’re shooting at a wide (low number) aperture, it will cause a blurry effect in your background and Christmas lights will have that dreamy, soft look. But that makes it even more important to make sure you’re focusing on your subjects’ faces so they appear sharp. If you’re shooting on a DSLR, you can set your focus point to do this. If you’re shooting on a cell phone, tap on the person’s face you’re shooting on your screen to set the focus. 5. Tweak in edits. (optional)I use Adobe Lightroom for editing my photos on my iMac, but if you’re using a cell phone, you can use the VSCO app again for adjusting. There is also an Adobe Lightroom mobile app, if you prefer it, but VSCO is just as great. The main thing I do to adjust my photos in editing is…
…to create a more evenly lit photo. But even without editing, your photos will likely have a soft, natural glow. Like this… If you want to know about any of the photography gear I use, I have a Canon 6D and a Canon 50mm f/1.8 lens, but really any basic DSLR can handle this and a cell phone can manage in a pinch. I hope that helps! And I hope it allows you to capture precious moments with family and loved ones this season. Merry Christmas, y’all! If you want to save this post for later or for next year, you can pin it here: The post How to Take DIY Christmas Photos appeared first on Bless'er House. Originally from Bless'er House http://bit.ly/2ENIoEe
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A candlelight tour of 26 bloggers’ homes aglow decorated for Christmas at night.Merry Christmas, y’all! It’s that time of year when I officially sign off to soak up lots of time with family until the New Year. But before I do, I wanted to tell y’all just how thankful I am for all of you as you’ve journeyed along with us this year in our little DIY/decorating adventures. One of my favorite things about Christmas are the late evenings when the house is quiet and the lights are all glowing and I can simply reflect in the peacefulness. So I walked through with my camera to try my best in capturing a little bit of it. I’m joining in with Kristen from Ella Claire Inspired, Courtney from French Country Cottage, and a group of sweet blogger friends for the Christmas Night Home Tour as they all share their homes in the night time glow too. (You can tour them all at the bottom of this post.) If you’re visiting from my fellow colonial dweller Michael’s home from Inspired by Charm, welcome! I won’t “talk” much in this post just because there’s something special about seeing Christmas lights in the peaceful quiet. Although, if I could play “Silent Night” during your tour I would… and maybe hand you a cozy cup of cocoa. I hope you have the best Christmas yet, friends, and I hope it overflows with love and happiness that will carry you the whole year through in 2019. “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace.” – Romans 15:13 You can continue the tour at Lucy’s home over at Craftberry Bush, which is ALWAYS gorgeous! And you can see the rest of the tour here: Ella Claire | French Country Cottage | Cherished Bliss | Julie Blanner | Happy Happy Nester Kelly Elko | Rooms for Rent | Love Grows Wild | Boxwood Avenue | Decor Gold Designs Maison de Cinq | Craftberry Bush | Zevy Joy | Making Home Base | Inspired by Charm The Lilypad Cottage | Shabby Fufu | Finding Silver Pennies | Blesser House | Sunny Side Up Love and hugs, friends! The post Christmas Candlelight Night Tour 2018 appeared first on Bless'er House. Originally from Bless'er House https://ift.tt/2SdnO3e There are days when I wake up and think someone should pinch me. If you had told me 5 years ago when I was leaving my high school teaching job to be a stay-at-home mom that I would one day be published in not one but SIX magazines, I would have said you’re a total liar liar pants on fire. Earlier this year, Robert and I had our window seat project published in Better Homes and Gardens. This fall, we had Olivia’s wardrobe reading nook published in Flea Market Home & Living and our entire house tour spread published in Southern Cottage. And for Christmas this year, we’ve racked up three more features to add to the pile. I. just. can’t. even. Robert jokes that we’re now best friends with Bob Vila since our winter botanical wall is in this month’s This Old House issue. How cool?!!! And two of my Christmas decorating projects from years’ past ended up in two different issues of Country Sampler. I still remember the “light bulb moment” when I stuck this jingle bell on a plate while I was decorating our dining room table for Christmas and discovered it made the perfect place card holder… …even though, technically, we’re more casual, buffet-line style dinner kind of people. But what’s really hilarious to me is seeing our old “builder grade” house from three years ago in a magazine. This was the very first Christmas home tour I ever shared on this blog, and I never would have thought this is where it would end up 3 years later. It’s funny for me to see how much my style has changed since we moved into this new house, but I still love both. The coolest part though is seeing my own photos that I shot with my very own camera when I didn’t have a clue how to take pictures of anything not too long ago. Flipping through this stack of magazines while snuggling our baby girl (who we found out we were expecting right after New Year’s this year) are making me think 2019 has some VERY big shoes to fill. Because 2018 is pretty hard to beat. But I know God has only just begun. Seeing His plans unfold for Robert and me year after year always leaves me astounded, and I cannot wait to see what He does in our lives next. It’s never without struggle and determination, but it’s always an enlightening journey. I am so thankful for y’all as you’ve encouraged my little dreamer heart and been here every step of the way as I pour myself into everything we do. I still can’t believe I get to do what I love for a living, and I hope our work of finding attainable ways to make a house feel like home has blessed you in some way too. Don’t ever tell yourself that you shouldn’t dream big. Don’t ever tell yourself that you can’t go out there and do what you really want to do. Because it is absolutely 1000% possible with a leap of faith to trust the gifts God gave you. The post Christmas Magazine Features! appeared first on Bless'er House. Originally from Bless'er House https://ift.tt/2A18LCK
I know that seasonal and holiday decorating is essentially the inherent duty of any home blogger, though as I’ve admitted several times in the past, it’s just not my thing – even when it comes to the mighty crescendo that is Christmas. It’s not that I don’t adore the look and feel of Christmas decor,...READ MORE
Via http://thepaintedhive.net/2018/12/upcycling-everyday-items-into-christmas-decor/ A round-up of thrifty Christmas decorating ideas using thrift store finds, sentimental details, and free decor solutions to customize your home during the holidays.The other day (well, during a middle of the night feeding actually #momlife), I was randomly looking around our house counting up all of the thrift store projects we have hanging around. Some of my absolute favorites are ones I’ve whipped up for Christmas decorations, and I realized I’ve never rounded them all up into one big blog post before to have them all in one convenient place. Some of our decor is made up of thrift finds, some is made up of just inexpensive little touches from repurposed items, but all of it is super easy to do. So just in case you want some budget-friendly Christmas decorating ideas for this season or next year, here they are… (Some affiliate links are provided below for convenience. Full disclosure here.) 24 Thrifty Designer Christmas Decorating Ideas1. ID holder stocking name tags I made these last year using just ID badge holders that were less than $1 each and safety pinning them to Target stockings to make them look high end. And you can get the printable labels for them here too, if you don’t want to design your own.
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2. Jingle bells as place card holders I discovered that jingle bells can become place card holders totally by accident, but it works!
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3. Free public domain images as winter botanical wall decor You can find free public domain images all over the internet (basically antique prints that don’t have a copyright). I change this wall for every season, but these winter prints are my favorites to leave up until February.
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4. Ornaments in a soup tureen as a centerpiece This past summer I found this soup tureen for $5 at Goodwill and immediately thought up a million different ways to use it in decor year-round. Growing up, my mom always put a big bowl of ornaments on my dining room table at Christmas as an easy centerpiece, so it just seemed right.
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5. Ribbon to change the look of a tree each year I love how ribbon can create a whole knew look on your existing decor for just the price of 2-3 spools. This blackwatch tartan plaid is my new fave.
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If you have any leftover ribbon scraps from wrapping presents, this one is so easy to do.
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7. Fairy lights under a cake dome or old thrifted clock dome These fairy lights are my favorite because they’re battery powered, can be set to a timer, and work in so many different places- on miniature Christmas trees, woven into garland, or like in our kitchen, underneath a cake dome or an old thrifted clock dome.
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8. Thrifted ice skates for a decor accent I bought these ice skates in the middle of summer in the sporting goods section of the thrift store, but I knew they’d eventually make a great Christmas decoration. I’m painting a pair of skis right now too that will look super cute once I get them finished.
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9. Reuse wreaths as candle rings I’ve had these mini boxwood wreaths for years hung up on the backs of dining chairs or placed on a wall or on mirrors. But wreaths are great at repurposing with candles into easy tabletop accents too.
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10. Print an advent calendar as a candle label I printed this little calendar this year to stick on a votive candle I had, and it’s a great, simple way to countdown until the big day. And it’s as cheap as printing 1 sheet of paper from your own computer. Pick up discarded trimmings from Christmas tree lots to use on tabletops and mantels or make fresh garland. And if you want to keep it looking fresh, you can spritz it all with some Wilt Pruf. 12. Spray paint thrifted Christmas villages white for a modern look I see these ceramic village sets in the thrift store all the time. Paint them white (or any color you want) to make them new again. 13. Utilize the grocery store produce aisle I love sprinkling a table with fresh rosemary and cranberries. Bonus: it smells amazing too. And if you happen to keep rosemary growing in an herb garden year-round, it’s even cheaper.
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14. Hang family photos on the tree At our old house, we didn’t have a ton of extra money leftover for Christmas ornaments, so I printed some favorite photos, hole punch them with some twine, and hung them on my tree. Putting them on the branches was a sweet little trip down memory lane… and cost next to nothing! 15. Use bud vases as candle holders I inherited this collection of milk glass bud vases from my grandfather after he passed away. He had a huge rose garden and loved giving roses to friends and family as gifts using those milk glass bud vases. I love having them as a way to remember him, so I repurposed them into candle holders as a simple centerpiece. 16. Repurpose a planter for a Christmas tree stand Use a planter from the garden department for a tree stand holder. There are so many pretty ones, but this barrel planter was my favorite of the bunch. During the warm months, we just stored it upside-down on our patio as a makeshift outdoor cocktail table.
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17. Transform an old gumball machine into a snow globe I found this one in the kids’ toy section of the thrift store and spray painted it a pretty ballet pink for my daughter’s room. Fill it with some fluffed cotton balls and a little house ornament, and you’ve got yourself a snow globe.
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18. Use old shutters as Christmas card holders A friend of ours gave us these old shutters that I hung on our wall in our last house, and they were so perfect for sliding photos and Christmas cards through the slats to display. 19. Utilize a thrifted typewriter to display messages to Santa I was so excited when I found this typewriter at the thrift store for $9! It’s perfect for printing out funny letters to Santa as whimsical decor. If you don’t have luck at thrift stores, you can sometimes find them on Etsy and eBay for not too pricey. 20. Use decoupaged sheet music on cheap ornaments for a vintage look I made these ornaments from cheap Walmart ball ornaments years ago using old sheet music I ripped up and decoupaged with Mod Podge. So sweet and pretty and a craft that’s hard to mess up. 21. Incorporate family heirlooms This sled belonged to my mom when she was a little girl and my brother and I raced down hills many times growing up. If you have any winter gear passed down from decades ago, use them in your decor! Bonus points if they have great stories to tell. 22. Repurpose baby shoes as ornaments These little boots were Olivia’s when she was born, and every year we nestle them onto a branch to remember that sweet baby phase. 23. Turn an old sweater into a pillow cover I see old cable knit sweaters in thrift stores all the time! Snatch them up, wash them when you get home, and rework them into cozy pillow covers. This tutorial can take you step by step. 24. Use an old crate for a hot cocoa station I found this old Coca-Cola crate years ago at the thrift store, and we bust it out for centerpieces, coffee table trays, and festive cocoa bars throughout the year when we want a punch of red. And you can snag this hot cocoa bar sign here to go with it too. Do you have any thrifted items you love using in your Christmas decor every year? Share them in the comments below so we can gather more ideas! Because you can honestly never have enough. If you want to save this post for later, you can pin it here: The post 24 Thrifty Designer Christmas Decorating Ideas appeared first on Bless'er House. Originally from Bless'er House https://ift.tt/2QuGUoZ A quick tutorial for making pretty and simple Christmas ornaments using faux holly berries, greenery, and dollar store glass balls.Hi Everyone! It’s Jennifer Zuri here from Town and Country Living with an easy tutorial for creating elegant glass ball Christmas ornaments. I’m so honored that Lauren invited me to create a guest post for her blog. I love her home and decorating style, and she has the sweetest family! Today’s ornaments were inspired by a photo I saw on a decorating magazine’s website where they had tucked holly and berries inside a glass ball Christmas ornament. I couldn’t find any holly, but I did find some faux greenery that I thought would work just as well. These are so easy to make. You’ll need:
Snip bits of greenery short enough to fit inside the glass ball, and hot glue the ends of the greenery onto the inside of the metal cap of the ornament. Allow it to cool for a bit, then carefully guide the greenery into the glass ball and place the metal cap back on. You can then hot glue a strip of red velvet ribbon around the outside of the metal cap. I also added a couple mini pine cones into the glass ball. Just be sure that whatever you purchase for the inside of the glass balls will fit through the opening. Loop another piece of red velvet ribbon through the hoop at the top of the ornament and hang. Be creative! You can fill glass ball Christmas ornaments with a variety of items, as long as they’re small enough to fit! I love quick and easy Christmas projects, don’t you? Plus I love anything handmade for the holidays. These would make great teacher gifts too! Visit me at Town and Country Living for more crafts and decorating inspiration! Thank you, Lauren, for letting me guest post on your blog today. – Jennifer The post DIY Holly Berry Christmas Ornaments appeared first on Bless'er House. Originally from Bless'er House https://ift.tt/2ROmIuK Practical gift ideas for kids that they will actually use to instill passion for learning, teach real-life skills, and create special memories from experiences that they’ll hold onto forever!There are days I look around our house… the graveyard of plastic toy pieces in the playroom, the arsenal of Barbie body parts all over Olivia’s bedroom floor… and I swear I will lose my mind if one more box of Shopkins finds its way into our lives. Holy slime-filled surprise eggs, y’all! I can. not. deal! I donate toys when she’s not looking or end up combing through her mounds of toys to throw out all of the broken pieces she hasn’t played with in a year. And when she says, “I’m bored”, despite her accumulating pile of entertainment, I tell myself, “I’m NOT buying her more toys this Christmas.” But I don’t want to be the “mean mom”. I don’t want her to feel like she’s not loved or isn’t getting something exciting when she rips into her treasures on Christmas morning or her birthday. So this year, I brainstormed every non-toy gift idea I possibly could. And you know what?! Every single thing on this list kicks the PANTS off of any plastic toy she’ll get bored with in 5 minutes. (Ya know… if toys wore pants… besides Ken dolls.) All of these gift ideas are things kids will actually use, instill passion for learning, teach real-life skills, and create memories from experiences that they’ll hold onto forever! Win – win – win – win! (And parents all over the world rejoiced!) If the toy thing is a struggle you’ve had with the kiddos in your life too, I hope this list helps you as much as it has helped me. I’m so passionate about this one from a mommy and teacher standpoint and from a homeowner who is ready to reclaim her sanity! (Some affiliate links are provided below for convenience. Full disclosure here.) Subscription Boxes:My daughter loves getting packages in the mail, and these boxes are all special monthly surprises with STEAM learning opportunities (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) and lessons on cultures from around the world. Or if you only want to buy 1 box without the commitment of a monthly subscription, you can do that too.
Room Decor:I love these just because they’re fun and kind of like toys but have more practical function.
Events:We LOVE giving “events” instead of giving presents or throwing birthday parties in our family. In the past, we’ve taken Olivia to the zoo, Disney On Ice, Great Wolf Lodge, etc. We love the memories we’ve created doing that instead of forking out the money on toys that would be broken within a year. Olivia still talks about them all the time. I usually just search on TicketWeb or TicketMaster for upcoming events in our area to get ideas.
Real world learning tools:
Arts & crafts:I love all of these because they can set your child on the path for learning skill sets that could one day translate into future artistic careers.
Classes:If you want a gift that keeps on giving, I love the idea of gifting a special class that suits your child’s interest. Who says they can’t be presents? Wrap up a horseshoe and put it under the tree to reveal your gift of horseback riding lessons. Or box up a pair of boxing gloves to tell them you got them boxing classes.
Nature discovery:If your little one is the outdoorsy type, I love these ideas that embrace their exploration of nature.
Magazine subscriptions:Remember when getting mail was super special as a kid? I love these magazines that are a little monthly surprise for learning about history, nature, and art and are packed full with activities.
Memberships:Every year, my parents gift us season passes to our local amusement park that we use from spring to fall. We love all of the opportunities it creates for family time! Whatever local attractions you have in your area, spring for memberships to keep the memories going.
I hope that helps! Any others you would add to the list? Feel free to add them to the comments below! Want creative ideas for stocking stuffers? You can find my giant list of favorite stocking stuffer ideas in this post. If you want to save this post for later, you can pin it here: The post 60+ Gift Ideas for Kids That Aren’t Toys appeared first on Bless'er House. Originally from Bless'er House https://ift.tt/2BXmKuA Christmas time is busy enough without complicated crafts. That’s why I’m sharing these 25 cheap and easy Christmas crafts that you can make today!Christmas time is my favorite time of year. No surprise there, it’s lots of people’s fav! But it can be busy and hectic too, right? I don’t know about you, but in order to enjoy the season, I don’t take on any complicated or expensive Christmas crafts these days. I learned that lesson the hard way. Just plain and simple, cheap and easy Christmas crafts for this girl! Speaking of which…in case we haven’t met yet, I’m Shannon. I’m the creator, writer and editor of HomeMadeLovely.com, a home and lifestyle company focused on cozy farmhouse style decorating, simple family food and all things HOME. I have three homeschooled teenagers and am married to my handy hubby and love of my life, Dean. We’ve been married for 22+ years & have always homeschooled our kids. I don’t teach them as much as I used to (online school and all that). But I still love having them home with me. Random facts about me. I:
I’d love to learn more about you too. Please feel free to visit us on our Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram. Make These 25 Cheap & Easy Christmas Crafts Now!There is nothing complicated or expensive about these 25 crafts! You could even make them all in a day or two if you wanted! 1. DIY SilhouettesMake DIY silhouettes using either card stock or paint. Both tutorials are easy! You can then display then on a gallery wall or even as Christmas ornaments! 2. Handmade Glitter Letters Sheet Music GarlandWant an easy high impact Christmas decoration? How about our Handmade Glitter Letters Sheet Music Garland? 3. Vintage Sheet Music Ball OrnamentsSimple Vintage Sheet Music Ball Ornaments using old sheet music and clear plastic ball ornaments. 4. Paper Chain Garland from Sheet MusicMake your own diy upscale paper chain tree garland with sheet music or vintage book pages. Wrap all your Christmas trees with them! 5. Gingerbread Salt Dough OrnamentsEasy to make gingerbread salt dough ornaments that last for years. Perfect craft to do with the kids on a cold, winter afternoon. 6. Simple Cookie Cutter Ornaments for a Kitchen TreeMake these simple cookie cutter Christmas ornaments in less than 10 minutes. Give them to your favorite baker or hang them on a kitchen tree! 7. Pine Cone and Rusty Jingle Bell WreathMake your own pinecone and greenery Christmas wreath with an oversized rusty jingle bell, pip berries and farmhouse ribbon! 8. Snowflake Embroidery Hoop OrnamentsMake your own snowflake embroidery hoop ornaments, with a few inexpensive supplies. Use them on your own tree or customize them as gifts! 9. No Sew Candy Cane Bowl Fillers/OrnamentsMake this easy red burlap no-sew candy cane craft to use an an ornament or bowl filler for the Holidays. Or make it with neutral burlap for a lighter look! 10. Easy Burlap Christmas OrnamentsSimple enough to do with the kids, these easy burlap Christmas ornaments will add a touch of rustic woodland to your Holiday decor this year. 11. MYO Faux Greenery MonogramMake a simple faux greenery monogram for your Holiday decorating from only three items! 12. Rustic Holiday Wreath with Bottle Brush TreesMake your own VERY simple DIY rustic holiday wreath with a grapevine wreath and a few bottle brush trees for good measure. 13. Mini Cooper Dinky Car Christmas Tree Snow Globe14. Embroidery Hoop Wreath Set – with Free Printable TagsA super easy early holiday decorating project! Merry Christmas Embroidery Hoop Wreath Set – complete with free printable tags. 15. Paper Bag Advent CalendarHave you ever wanted to make your own Advent calendar? Create this fun and versatile paper bag advent calendar for your family this year! 16. Wooden Crate with Logs and LightsMake your own wooden crate with logs, greenery and lights for your porch, table or anywhere this Christmas! 17. Make Your Own Cinnamon Scented Pine ConesMake your own cinnamon scented pine cones for fall, winter and Holiday decorating. Use fragrance oils OR even essential oils! 18. 40 + Christmas Ball Ornament IdeasCreate memories making your own ornaments with over 40 easy to make Christmas Ball Ornament Ideas! 19. Glam Snow Globe for Teenagers20. Vintage Frame, Skates + Greenery21. Rosemary Wreath Place Cards22. Hand-Lettered Ornaments Anyone Can MakeSometimes you just need to make a handmade Christmas ornament in a hurry. Well then, you should try these hand-lettered ornaments anyone can make! 23. Personalized Chalkboard Christmas Ball OrnamentsCrafting is one of those things you can do to slow down & enjoy Christmas. Crafts need not be complicated, like these Chalkboard Christmas Ball Ornaments. 24. DIY Hand-Lettered CanvasMake this huge, oversized Christmas Canvas with our tutorial and free printable template! 25. MYO Farmhouse Style Stockings – in 30 Minutes or Less!These lovely little Christmas stockings are going to look so perfect hanging on our fireplace this holiday season. Make sure you pin these ideas for later too!There’s just something about Christmas crafts that makes me want to make things at this time of year, more than any other. Do you love to make Christmas crafts too? If so, I think we could become good friends. If you enjoyed our chat today, please feel free to visit us on our Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram.xo, The post Make These 25 Cheap & Easy Christmas Crafts Now appeared first on Bless'er House. Originally from Bless'er House https://ift.tt/2zLJoET Psst… there’s a giveaway at the end of this post. If you’ve ever been in the market for a new house and envisioned how it would look decorated for Christmas while walking through with your realtor, then you’ll probably get why I’m SO excited about this little decorating project. Because last year, when I saw our house for the very first time, I envisioned it all done up with Christmas greenery. #priorities Except it looked like this back then… A lime washing job and full out hall-decking a year and a half later, it now looks like this… Granted, our landscaping still leaves much to be desired (thanks to a lot of focus being on interior projects, a baby, and that weird in between fall/winter dormant phase), but I can only imagine how cozy Christmasy it will be when a blanket of snow covers our yard. Big IF on the snow thing here in the Carolinas, but this Southern girl can dream. Don’t steal my thunder here. (Some affiliate links are provided in this post for convenience. Full disclosure here.) Ever since we moved in, I’ve been dying to put Christmas wreaths on all of the windows, but since we couldn’t last December with the brick being in mid-makeover, I went all out with these wreaths from Two Inspire You on Etsy this year. I fell in love with that little Etsy shop back when I decorated our fall porch at our last house because all of the wreaths look SO REAL! And I like supporting small businesses instead of large corporations whenever I can. Tonya, mama to 5 littles and the shop owner, is an absolute artist. I’d totally swear this wreath on our front door was made of real fresh cedar, evergreen, holly berries, and eucalyptus. And these holly and boxwood wreaths on our windows look like the real deal. I sprayed them with Scotchgard Heavy Duty Water Shield to keep them lasting a long time against the weather because I’m holding onto these babies for as many years as I can.
For our front porch, I kept our trusty welcome mat and just layered it on top of this red and white striped accent rug. And I scooped up these little Christmas trees on the steps at Target for some extra greenery since our puny bushes currently aren’t doing us any favors. I love seeing this view of our home as we pull into our driveway every day. I ran out here over the weekend with my camera while the sun was just coming up and the morning frost covered the grass and still couldn’t believe that this is our home. Sometimes it feels like a dream, especially considering where Robert and I started. And while it definitely is a lot of work and random things seem to break all the time, I know they don’t make them like this anymore. This house is worth every bit of the chaos. Now if we could just get that order of snow, that’d be great. We have many more big plans for this front yard in 2019, but I’ll share more about that later. If you want to shop any of the decor I used, you can click the images below:
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As my little way of saying thank you and Merry Christmas to y’all, I thought it would be fun for me to have a $100 giveaway to Two Inspire You. If I could give all of you a wreath to ring in the season and greet your guests this year, I totally would, but I hope it blesses one of you in some way. Just enter the giveaway on this Instagram post, and I’ll randomly choose a winner this Friday, December 7th. Have you hung lots of greenery on the outside of your house yet this year? Or gone crazy with a staple gun and a strand of twinkle lights, Griswold style? I love all of it really. The post Colonial Christmas Outdoor Wreath Decor + Giveaway appeared first on Bless'er House. Originally from Bless'er House https://ift.tt/2DYig8s |
Author - Emily ColemanVisual Furniture Merchandiser at Simmons Quality Home Improvement Archives
February 2019
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