Showing posts with label holiday decorating. Show all posts
Showing posts with label holiday decorating. Show all posts

December 4, 2013

Holiday Centerpiece ideas from Pinterest

With the holidays right around the corner, it's time to get your tables pretty. You never know when unexpected guests will drop in for some holiday cheer!

Dress your tables with various textures and stick to a color scheme that fits with the rest of your decor. This year, we will be having lots of burlap, crochet details, chalkboard elements and ribbon. I guess you could say that we are going with a rustic theme this year, so this tablescape caught my eye when I saw it on Pinterest


Simple for an intimate dinner, and since our Christmas plans are to stay cozy at home, my plan is to make my husband a nice dinner after we've tucked out little guy into bed.

The bundle of cinnamon sticks, tied with pretty ribbon, would fit our decor really nicely and bring a lovely aroma into our home for a candlelight dinner.

How do you dress up your table for the holidays?

For more inspiration, check out my Happy Holidays board on Pinterest!
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November 26, 2013

Silver Gold and Red Glamorous Christmas Tree 2013

When I was growing up, we had two Christmas trees. One was in our family room and was full of rainbow colored lights, a new ornament every year, tinsel and a big star on top. The other, in our front sitting room, was all white and sat on top of our cherished train set.

This year, I am seriously considering getting a second tree. My husband and I have the tree that I grew up with, and it's full of whimsical, funny, and sentimental ornaments.

What I crave is this

Red Silver and Gold Glamerous Christmas Tree 2013



A beautiful tree covered in glittering stars, snowflakes, a Polar Express bell, and glass balls. Topped with a shimmery glittery star, and embellished with swirling ribbons.

We have the perfect picture window for it too, where I hang ornaments from the top of the window sill! How beautiful that would be!!

I cannot wait to decorate for Christmas...only 4 more days to wait!
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November 14, 2013

Holiday Home Decor on Etsy

On of my favourite new Etsy shops is Oaklea Cottage Designs by Amanda Hunter.


This month for the home decor how-to, I wanted to talk about transitioning your fall decor to winter and holiday themes, so when I found the beautiful new items in Amanda's shop, I really wanted to share them here.

Our fall decor has been very black and white, with little punches of purple and green here and there. Now that it is time to transition to winter holiday decor, I need to go on the hunt for new branches and figure out our color scheme.

Obviously, there is the traditional red and green, and Oaklea Cottage Designs has fantastic options for that with pre-selected letters in various holiday words.


What I love about Amanda's designs is that she focus on current trends like chevron and quatrefoil to make her letters and numbers unique. She also embellishes them with pretty little flowers for that rustic touch. My favourite pairing is her navy and white qautrefoil with mustard flower.


While definitely less traditional, I think this color pairing is perfect for the winter holidays. Blue and white is rather classic when going with the ice type themes, and mustard is reminiscent of the silver and gold theme. Pair them together and you have something pretty unique!

To transition, think outside of the box. Pair colors and patterns that aren't necessarily typical for the winter holidays, then mix in your favourite ornaments and beautiful stockings hung on your mantle. I definitely can picture the word NOEL in the blue quatrefoil with mustard flower, paired with these and some fallen branches from the forest behind our house.

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Pretty perfect and all set for the holidays!
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January 9, 2013

{Guest Post}: Frosty Winter Wreath

 Since I'm still in vacation mode and don't have access to my studio to do a home decor DIY, I asked my pal Shizz from Baby Shmizz to whip up a little something for you all to enjoy. Per usual, she didn't disappoint!

Its a new year, so time for a new wreath!  January is one of those kinda boring months without a theme, besides well, SNOW.  Depending on where you live of course, those of you with palm trees just be quiet, mmkay?

Supplies:
wreath form (I used straw because its cheaper)
2-3 white feather boas
2-3 wooden stars
25 yd roll of white tulle
1 ft length of white ribbon for hanging
1 sheet white craft foam
1 sheet glittered white craft foam, with self-stick adhesive side
white acrylic paint
silver glitter acrylic paint
paint brushes/foam brush
pen or pencil
scissors
hot glue gun
aerosol hairspray (yes, you read that right)

First you're going to want to prep your stars and your snowflakes.

For the stars, first paint them white (I did 2 coats).  Then after they are dry, apply at least 2 coats of the glitter paint (lots of sparkle is good :).  And because I was totally engrossed in watching My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding while I was doing this wreath, I completely forgot to take pictures of this part.  But its a no-brainer really: paint white, repeat, paint silver, repeat, let dry.

For the snowflakes, I did remember to take pictures :)  You could buy plastic sparkly snowflakes, but I couldn't find any, so I made my own from craft foam.  First I cut out a snowflake template that I could transfer onto the foam.  I got my template from this book.
I just used white computer paper to make the template.

Then, I prepared the craft foam to make the snowflakes.  Peel off the adhesive side on the glitter foam and line it up on top of the plain white foam, and stick them together.
2 layers makes the snowflakes stiffer and better on the wreath.

Now, trace your snowflake templates onto the plain white side of the foam sammich that you just made.  For some reason my house lacks pencils, so I used a pen for this.

Then, cut all the snowflakes out and admire these little pretties :)

Now its time to assemble the wreath.

First you want to wrap your tulle around the entire wreath form.  The tulle provides a white background, and also provides a rough surface which makes it easier for the glue to grab on when you attach the snowflakes & stars.
I used the entire 25 yards on this 12" diameter wreath
Then, you want to wrap your boas around the wreath.  What is great about craft boas is that at each end, there is a small length of string that does not have feathers.  You use this string to knot the two ends together at the back of the wreath so you don't have to glue it.
See what I mean about the knots?
When I wrapped the boas, I wrapped them with space in between each wrap, so that the ends of that boa were tied together.  Then I wrapped another boa filling in those spaces.  So the ends of each boa are tied together, but you aren't tying 1 boa to another boa.  Make sense?

Now its time to glue on all your sparkly stars & snowflakes (make sure the stars are dried!).

First you want to lay them out how you want them arranged, THEN glue them down in place.  Once you have them glued down, go back and glue any floppy parts again.  Hot glue is your friend, you can never use too much :)

Make a loop with your piece of ribbon, thread it around the top of your wreath and hang that beauty up on your door for all to see!

You're probably wondering where the hairspray comes in...

If you happen to have boas that are going through a mid-life crisis and are shedding their feathers, after the wreath is all assembled you can spray the wreath with the hairspray and that will set the feathers in place.  Best to use aerosol hairspray, as the mist is finer (pump hairspray is too wet and will leave the feathers droopy and gloopy).

Have fun making your wreath and brightening up a gloomy winter day!

Disclosure: Affiliate links within this post are used to fund my awesome blog :)

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December 21, 2012

Fabulous Finds Friday: Luminaries

Picture this...

A midnight dinner party for your very closest friends
Everyone dressed in beautiful glittery cocktail dresses
The table set with candles and clear glass

Leading them up to your door, in the moonlight...




Very simple...white bags with a stamped tree and fringed top {folded over to create a pennant effect}. Pop in a tealight candle, or even a votive and you have a romantic and beautiful way to light the path for your guests!

December 14, 2012

Fabulous Finds Friday: Pomegranate Champagne

A good cocktail can go a very long way, espeically when you're entertaining family and friends for the holidays.



Fizzy and delicious, and festively red!! Pomegranate juice with champagne! I cannot wait to serve this over the holidays...it's just wonderful!

And for an extra little touch of magical, try freezing the pomegranate seeds in your ice cubes, or maybe even a mint leaf or two.

December 6, 2012

Holiday Order Reminder!

Some deadlines have passed, but there is still time for Expresspost and Local Delivery!!

Be it a painting, ornament, sculpted wearable art, wallflower or journal - your custom gift is just an email away at Sweet Stella's!


Email me your wishlist to shannon@sweetstellas.com

November 30, 2012

Fabulous Finds Friday: Green Christmas Wreath

Every wonder how to spruce up your front entry way or porch for friends and family during the holidays?

I saw this on Pinterest and thought it would make an excellent addition to any porch or entry way.






A hulla-hoop, covered with faux greeney, with lovely white and glittery ornaments hanging down. Then, tie beautiful white ribbons and hang from a light fixture {if safe} or the rafters and beams {if you have them}

Really really beautiful, and oh so simple to make yourself!

November 29, 2012

Chalkboard Holiday Decor

After I finished my chalkboard cheese tray using the Americana Chalkboard Paint, I started looking around our house to figure out more projects.

We moved into our house in March...so we haven't had a Christmas here yet. I want it to be special and magical, and since Owen is starting to recognize things like Santa and is saying Merry Christmas, I want this house to be busting at the seams with Christmas.

We have a beautiful two way fireplace that usually has a gorgeous red painting on one side, and our TV on the other. After using the Americana Chalkboard Paint, I had a brilliant idea.

All you need is one piece of foam core ($4.99 at Michaels), and the chalkboard paint of course. Apply two coats (one horizontal and one vertical), allowing the paint to dry 1 hour between coats.

Then, choose your favourite Christmas song, poem or saying and go to town with chalk!


I am beyond thrilled with the results. To finish the entire mantle, I used a branch that we found on our nature walk this weekend, a beautiful green vase I received from a friend, and two Santa's from my mom's collection.

I think it's pretty perfect! Are YOU creating a chalkboard project for your holiday decor? Leave me a link in the comments!

* I was provided the Americana chalkboard paint by DecoArt Inc. for the purposes of completing and blogging about this project. 

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November 23, 2012

Fabulous Finds Friday: Apothecary Jars

We all have them...well, most of us do, and at the holidays we find ourselves filling them with beautiful, and sometimes yummy things






Candy canes, ornament and bows - all things that you have in the house during the holidays, but never know what to do with!

Put them in hurricane vases, apothecary jars and lanterns and Viola! Instant holiday decor!!

November 13, 2012

Christmas Ornaments

Now's the time to order beautiful handpainted glass ornaments to give as personalized gifts, hang on your family Christmas tree, or use as escort card holders at your winter wedding!


Each glass ornament is painted and marbled in the colours of your choice. Add metallics and glitter, and finish off the coordinating ribbon!

Interested in a bulk order for a wedding or special event? Email me at shannon@sweetstellas.com and we'll figure out a discount to make sure you every guest has a beautiful ornament to take home!

How long can you expect your order to take? Since the ornaments are handpainted and need time to dry before shipping, please allow 1 week for production, plus shipping time.

October 30, 2012

Happy Halloween - Free Printable

Happy Halloween!!

Before you take your super-cute munchkins out to play tricks and get treats, here's a free printable to spruce up your porch, Halloween display, mantle or candy buffet!



Get it here!! And feel free to pass it along. It's simple and sweet, with just the right touch of spooky!

Happy Halloween!
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