Blast from Christmas Past

I had some fun projects last year for the holidays and I wanted to revisit one of my faves today! This picture frame wreath brought me a ton of joy whenever I looked at it- especially after the passing of my Mom- it showed all of us together and just some fun memories that make me smile every time I pass by it.

For the tutorial you can click back here: Picture Frame Wreath

The Unbreakable!

I love decorating... obviously.  But with two boys, it has to be practical! A bunch of Waterford Crystal would last about two seconds around here.  So I am always thrilled when I can not only get a nice look for less, but also one that is not a "I guess I will put this here with pillows all around it and hope for the best" breakable situation!
So get ready to be amazed.... and then grab your car keys and head to your closest Big Lots!! If you don't have one... I'm sorry... you can look at mine though...

I found these large ornaments that you would swear are mercury glass... but BAM! They are plastic! and wait for it... $3 each! Woohoo! And they come in silver, red, purple, and blue.

I snatched up all the silver ones they had (sorry neighbors and friends) and threw together a fun little vignette on my hearth.  I already had this amaze metal basket from Homegoods and I added some extra large pine cones from Hobby Lobby and two of the faux mercury glass ornaments and one plastic glittery one from the $1 store.  I did throw in one little green filler I had- but that's it for now! I will probably add a pretty Christmas ribbon on once it gets a bit closer:)

I have to admit I am itching to get the Christmas stuff out and up! Are y'all day after Thanksgiving decorators, before that, or after that? I have always been day after- but I feel like I might not make it this year!;)

xoxo
B

Linking too:
Twirl and Take a Bow

The Holiday Wreath to end all Wreaths!

Here we go.  Are you ready. It's that time again.
Ok... well it's almost that time again and I am getting a jump start on my holiday decor!
Wreath mania is all over Pinterest and I wanted about 45 different styles and in true form I decided to make it as complicated as possible and try and combine several ideas!
It ended up being fairly simple and fell into place once I just tossed everything I had bought out onto my living room floor... kind of like Christmas threw up for awhile but all ended well;)
So what were my inspirations you ask? yarn ball wreaths, natural elements, and ornaments!
I am going with more natural elements in my decor this year and have several projects up my sleeves but for now here is my front door wreath... all ready to welcome the season!

Started with a large fake pine wreath from Hobby Lobby (gotta love 50% off)
and a stick wreath from there as well that I just loved!

 And these little skates were ornaments I happened to see at Pottery Barn Kids and I just had to have them but at the time wasn't sure where I would put them!

 And the yarn... it was a tough call on the colors... I found the red and gray plaid ribbon and it practically jumped into my cart so I wanted to work around that... so I got some red, a tanish/gray, white, and a really pretty blue... cause I love blue. period.  It was nice to actually just sit in front of the tv and wrap yarn balls.  I did different sizes and kind of played around with the layout as I went...

 Once I had it laid it out how I liked, I added in just a few sprigs with some berries and and hot glued the yarn balls on and attached the two wreaths together with some floral wire I had.

 Hung the little skates and she was ready to go! I Lurvvveee her! And while it confused my 4yr old to no end that Christmas was not here quite yet, I still hung her up so that I could show you some picture goodness;) 

Have y'all decided to get anything new this year for decorating or staying with your tried and true?  I can't help myself and have to add in a few new things each year but still have my faves from years past! Can't wait to show you the wreath I made for over the mantle soon!
xoxo
B

Linking to:
Just Us 4
Remodelaholic

Books Books Everywhere! A Reading Nook~

In my last post, I showed you how I hung an old school map up in the baby's room (yes, he is four, yes I call him the baby).  You can check that out here if you missed it!
The other little spruce up I did in his room was to add a little reading nook.  He loves books and I love that he does... but peeps... the books are out of control! I am trying to pare down.  But he honestly does just sit and read.
He already has a big book box under his bed but I wanted to keep his favorites that he ends up searching for around the house in a better place.  Enter Ikea.  They have the nicest pictures ledges for $10! Such a steal compared to other places and they are fairly deep so you can get a few books on them.  I did figure out pretty quick though that I would need heavier duty dry wall anchors and screws than what came with them.  If you forgot... my walls are made of cottage cheese!!
I've said it before and I will say it again- don't be afraid to hang things on your walls- holes can be patched so easily... brainstorm... maybe I should do a post on patching walls... anyone interested? Bueller?
Anyhoo... hung those puppies up and then some larger shelves up top for some pics and treasures he finds:)
Can I just tell you that I love sitting in the chair with him?! And I love it also because I bought it from a good friend, so it makes me think of her:)
Enough babble- here are the goods! Look and be amazed.... or at least somewhat interested... help a girl out, it's been a long week!;)

 

I also added some fun new hardware from Hobby Lobby to his dresser to tie in to the brass nail heads on the chair...
Old...                               and New!

Such a sweet boy... by bubba enjoying his space...

I am using a larger picture ledge frame in my older son's room as well and I can't wait to show you that project!
Hope your weeks is amazing!
xoxo
B

Linking to:
Twirl and Take a Bow

Give the Baby the World! Ok, a Map!

No, I do not need you to tell me that he is 4 and not a baby.  I get it- it's just a term of indearment,  mmkay?

But his room needed some sprucing up and it all started with a map! I was in love with the huge wall map canvas at Ikea but not in love with the price tag.  So that got me thinking, where else could I find a large map? Craigslist of course! And it didn't fail me- I found a listing for a large 1950's USA school pull down map.... squeal! I kept my cool and called and offered $75 on his $100 listing and he flat out shot me down and said he would not accept offers... tear.  That tear was only half way down my cheek when he called back to say that he changed his mind and would take it! (His wife told him to do it... smart lady:)

I did my happy dance and raced over to get it and it was beautiful!! The colors were amazing and just the character of it was so fun.  It inspired me to paint his small blue stripes and his clock an orangy red color and I got him a new lamp shade.  It's amazing the difference it made in his room.   Such small things but I think it makes it all come together!

Picture mania...

 The orange canisters are from Ikea and they have other colors too!

 The lamp shade was from Walmart- So pretty and I already had the base...

These cog looking things, I found at Hobby Lobby and just to put you all at ease, they are plastic and hung up with a tac! I am crazy, but not that crazy! It's a little boy's room!  And you can see the start of the orange stripes which I will share more about tomorrow...

This clock was already in his room and a dark green- I just quickly painted some of the orange paint from the stripes on it to give it a more industrial feel and pull some more orange in...

I will be back to share pictures of his reading nook and stripes tomorrow!

xoxo

B

Linking to:

DIY Showoff

The Dedicated House

Home Stories A to Z

Wow Us Wednesdays

Thrifty Decor Chick

Remodelaholic

Unskinny Boppy

Fall Decor Around the House

I do like decorating for fall- but definitely don't put out as much as Christmas.  I like to just add a few things here and there that can last from October through November.  I added a couple fun little things to my mantle- This little acorn tea-light holder was given to me by my oldest, dearest friend and I love, love, love it! And the little cross stitch Pumpkin sign I couldn't resist getting at an antiques mall recently.  Old is new again people!

These orange faux pumpkins were from Hobby Lobby a few years ago and I just love the color it adds up on my bookshelves! and the little burlap pumpkin was also a Hobby Lobby find... I swear I don't go there every day... kinda.

And this adorable little ceramic pumpkin I picked up at a garage sale a long time ago and I just paired it with this little glass medicine jar that I got at Michaels.

Of course I have our real pumpkins outside and some fake spider webs in the bushes- which is the only decorating that interests the boys in any way;) And you can find my tutorial for my painted $1 Store Pumpkins here and our Fall Table Scape here!
Do y'all do a lot of fall decorating? I am about to gear up for Christmas!
xoxo
B

Knock Off

A bunch of amazing bloggers have been participating in what they call- Knocktober- and showing how creative they are at knocking off some great designs!
I decided to do my own little project but I decided to knock off another blogger whose project I loved so much! I want to give her full credit- Jennifer at The Chronicles of Home made the cutest Faux Antlers and I just had to have some of my own!

I started with an unfinished wood plaque from Michaels- and stained it Rust-Oleums Golden Oak- I chose a lighter stain because I knew I wanted to hang this on the inside of my front door and it is black, so I didn't want it to get lost-

After staining, I took out my trusty gold leaf pen and just traced the outline to pretty it up- and ya know I will use that pen on anything I can think of!!

After sending out my assistants (ie... my two little boys) to find some sticks- I just hot glued them on! I did go ahead and attach a hook for hanging on the back.  The ribbon I just put up on the door with double sided tape so that it looked like it was holding it but wasn't.

So fun and really so easy! 

 I hope your week is wonderful!
xoxo
B

Linking to:
The Dedicated House
Home Stories A to Z
Wow Us Wednesdays
Thrifty Decor Chick
Remodelaholic