Christmas Home Tour 2014...

Welcome to this year's Christmas home tour here at Sew Many Ways. You know I just LOVE decorating for the holidays and this year was no exemption. I have so many new ideas to share with you and lots of projects using old things in new ways.

Welcome to our home…

Grab a cup of your favorite hot drink, sit back and enjoy the tour. This post has over 150 pictures…so get ready!!

Our front porch has a few oldies, but goodies. The ice skates were mine as a child and I hung them on a fire place tool stand. The red lantern was a TJMaxx sale item, because the glass was missing. Adding a few pieces of fire wood and pine cones always add a wintry touch.

Along the steps, I have a set of old canisters that I filled with rock salt (ice melt) and a candle.

The cover is open to let air in, but covers the candle in case it rains or snow. I had more going down the walkway as luminaria for my party, but forgot to light them!

This is our kitchen/dining table. I had to turn the table this year, because I wanted the tree to be in the window. I try to have minimal furniture moving, but a tree in the window is a must!

My first flocked tree!! I bought it at Walmart at the end of season last year for 50% off. This tree came flocked, but I must say it's the best! No mess at all. Only a tiny bit when I took it out of the box.

Here it is at night, all lit up. There's Hallie ready to take a nap on that tree skirt. I think she sleeps under every tree.

This year, I combined Courtney's silver tree and Kelsie's gold tree from last year to make this room's theme of Platinum, Gold and Silver!

All my ornaments over the years have come from either Walmart or the Dollar Tree.

I love mixing textures, patterns, colors and sizes.

Don't you just love the flocking?!

I also love adding dimension. You can buy these curly little thingies at Walmart, Michael's or any floral store.

Perfect addition to any tree.

 The mantel was fun to put together too. The pictures really don't do the colors and the sparkle justice.

I made the wreath last year from a styrofoam form and a bag of vintage tinsel garland I bought at a thrift store.

The flowers are from Michael's in the regular floral section. I always use a coupon or buy them when they're 60% off.

One tip for adding flowers is…always arrange them in odd numbers, like 3 or 5. They say odd numbers of things are more pleasing to the eye.

Don't forget your curly things too!

I bought this ornament garland at TJMaxx, because it had the perfect platinum, gold and silver combo. I did add ornaments and pine cones from the Dollar Tree though.

The top of this beverage center is perfect for a silver collection.

The cloche was a gift from my hubby a few years ago. It's my absolute favorite. I add things to it for every season. This year it's filled ornaments and silver bells.

Tie a ribbon around a candle to add a little sparkle.

and a jingle bell wreath to the knob for the "sounds" of Christmas.

I made this wreath for about $5.00. I used 5 tubes of ornaments that were a $1 a tube and threaded them on a wire.

All my favorite colors.

I added the rest to a silver bowl.

Little ornaments hanging from a lamp adds that special touch too.

On to the kitchen…

My little "Tea" Tree.

I already had this teapot planter.

So I added some kitty litter as a base for the tree.

This will help hold the tree in place.

Just take off the plastic legs from the tree. and stick the stem into the pot.

I bought these galvanized ornaments at Michael's craft store. Great to hang next to my tea ball collection.

This is the coffee bar next to the kitchen.

Remember the "Santa's Stuck in the Chimney" post I did last week?

An old tool box filled with greenery for the top.

Candy canes…

Gingerbread and berries finish off the decorations…

The door to the basement gets a little sparkle too. I had this silver wreath, but added a red glitter ornament and real tree branches to make a...

Rudolph Wreath!!

The stairs this year just gets some greenery.

I did use white pots that I had and glued the letters N O E L to the front of each one.

The den off the kitchen has my sugared fruit tree.

 The tree is filled with sugared fruit I've had for years.

I also added my dried hydrangea from this year's garden.

I added twigs and pine cones I sugared for a natural element.

Daytime…

Nighttime…

On to my sewing room…

My Candy Tree!

Bright colored ornaments in every size and shape on a white tree.

This candy garland is plastic, so it will last forever.

 I used a big galvanized tub filled with white batting for the tree skirt.

This JOY sign is on the door this year.

Here is the "O"…a styrofoam wreath wrapped with button candy! Click here for wreath

For my Christmas party, I had a hot chocolate bar.

and what would a hot chocolate bar be without a Marshmallow Wreath! I'll share the tutorial soon.

Crock pot to keep the hot chocolate warm and lots of topping too.

I made this sign with an old shelf and letters I had.

As a back drop, I screwed together these 4 old shutters my sister gave me.

 I wanted to hang the wreath, but the shutters didn't work for that, so I used a lamp that I had.

 I wired the bow around the top.

then hung the wreath from the shade hooks.

Our family room tree is over 12 feet and is filled with every single ornament that we've bought for the kids, the ornaments they've made for us and the ones we have received as gifts. I just LOVE this tree for all memories it holds.

The little wine cabinet was decked out too. I just cut some branches and added lights for the top.

The theme for this room for the party was burlap, so I added some curly ribbon to the lamps.

They are the curly ribbons you put on gifts. I just wrapped it around the lamps.

I used an old toboggan for my punch bowls. I also used my childhood sled for a Bruschetta Bar, but I have to ask a friend if she took a picture of that during the party.

Three punch bowls set in wreaths, then nestled on the toboggan.

Three candy canes glued together for a sign easel.

The burlap flowers are from Michael's.

This was filled with Homemade Irish Cream. It's so yummy, I will definitely share the recipe.

Let's head upstairs…

The landing at the top of the stairs is an awkward space during the rest of the year, but perfect for Christmas and my whole Dickens Village collection.

This year I wired them into the tree with a snowy theme!!

Clear ornaments fled with sprinkle snow are the perfect addition.

 I used a heavy floral wire wrapping it in the windows and out the other side.

Twisted it to secure, then wired it to the trunk of the tree or a sturdy branch.

I also added more houses underneath the tree.

A small bureau holds the rest.

I always use batting and sprinkle snow for my village.

The sprinkle snow is perfect to hide the wires.

See? The wires can be on top of the batting and still be out of sight.

I combined my Santa ornaments and my peppermint ornaments for a 9 foot tree in our master bedroom.

Large over sized ornaments that were on clearance add whimsy to the packages under the tree.

Size, shape, texture and color all help to bring this tree together.

Over our bed, I stapled three sprays of evergreen to my old printing press drawers.

Bows and 3 Ho Ho Ho ornaments add to the Santa theme.

I have a little snowflake tree in our master bath.

White berries, snowflakes and candle clips for a simple look.

In my husband's office, I always have his vintage boyhood tree.

Colored glass ornaments, big colored bulbs, silver garland and tinsel hanging on every branch!

 I also buy vintage toys at thrift stores to add underneath.

When I first put up the tree, I had the tricycle and wagon as a tree skirt, but I moved it to the Santa tree in our bedroom.

Here's how it started out.

I filled the wagon with blocks to cover the tree base.

Courtney's old room is now lime green and pink for Christmas!!

Dr Seuss like flowers for a tree topper.

I sewed the pillows, but I just cut the fabric and layer it over the feather quilts on the end of the beds to match.

 A little gift on each pillow for guests who sleep over.

More ornaments threaded onto wire to make a matching wreath.

and floral candle rings on the closet door knobs.

Here's the tree at night.

Kelsie's room this year has a kind of Scandinavian theme with gray, red and natural wood.

I found the baskets at Michael's. I bought one and my sister gave me the other as a hostess gift this past Thanksgiving!

My clothespin stars…click here.

Yarn covered candy canes…click here.

Gray wool envelopes with a letter to Santa.

and the yarn ball garland I made!! Click here for garland and the ornament tutorials.

Don't forget the kitchen towel pillows I sewed too….very easy! Click here for that.

The tree skirt for this tree is an old basket I dried my hydrangea in.

I removed a slat in the bottom,

Slipped in the tree pole,

then added the legs.

Perfect addition for the natural look I was going for.

I'm leaving all these decoration up til mid January. I'm going down to Disney to pick up our daughter Kelsie and bring her car back. She hasn't been home since August. We didn't see her for Thanksgiving and this is her first Christmas and birthday away from home. We miss her so much and want to keep everything the way it is, so she can enjoy Christmas like she always did.

I really hope you enjoyed visiting our home. My husband and I and our whole family want to wish you and yours a very safe, healthy and happy holiday!!

Merry Christmas everyone,
~Karen~