Sunday, December 6, 2009

Christmas Decorating Around the House

It's been crazy around here since Thanksgiving...non-stop Christmas decorating. I'm getting ready for a party!! For the past two years, I've had a Christmas Dessert Party with all the ladies in my family, neighborhood and the girls I work with. I serve appetizers, punch, wine, tea and coffee. All the women bring a dessert for all to share. I also have a raffle. Right after Christmas I shop for all the bargains of adorable Christmas things. I store them away and use them for the raffle. Each item has a little cup in front of it and each person gets a long strip of raffle tickets. They put the tickets in the cups and then we draw for the prize...(no money is involved) just a lot of fun to see who wins.
space
I also make party favors. The first year I made the tissue holders and last year I made everyone scarves. I'm still debating on this year's gift. Typical me, waiting to the end and then I'll be sewing all night. I think I secretly love the pressure of doing things last minute. It's like the adrenaline rush that athletes get and since I don't exercise...procrastination is my adrenaline!!!
Space
Here are a few pictures of rooms around the house. I still have to do the girls' trees in their bedrooms, but if their rooms aren't magically cleaned by some cleaning fairy, you won't be seeing those!!
space
This is the tree in our family room. It's 12 feet tall and has all our family ornaments on it. We bought this tree last year to replace our 16 year old one. I have some tips on what to do with old artificial trees, so stay tuned.


space

We all get a new ornament every year to represent something that happened that year or a vacation we went on.
space

This tree is in our master bedroom. I always have this tree in here, but this will be the third year it is decorated with my mom's wooden Steinbach ornaments from Germany.



These little people were her most favorite things. She had a large collection...the tree is filled with them. I know you're looking down on them and smiling mom. Something special just for you.



This is our Dicken's Village collection. Scott and I started this the year we were married in '87. Haven't bought any in years...too expensive now. Wow, that greenery sure looks "green". It's not that green in person...looks like frozen broccoli.


space

The railing change every year. Sometimes they have stockings, sometimes pine cones and berries, but this year is sugared fruit.



I reuse all my decorations in many different places each year. Last year in the dining room, the tree was filled with all these sugared fruits.



If you change it up a little, it's like you are working with all new things.



I made these last year to fill in the large wall in our family room. I just took heavy duty wire from the hardware store, shaped it into the letters I wanted and then attached evergreen garland to it. I already had plenty of garland from years past, so this was a freebie. Hey, that was a quick Tool Time on a Sunday. Now you're off to the hardware store for wire...you can also use coat hangers.



This is our nativity set in the front foyer...the true meaning of Christmas right as you walk in the door to our home.



These next few pictures are in the dining room. This year I tried a woodland theme in here (which I usually have in the office).



The tree is filled with berries, red cardinals, pine cones, bird's nests, snow flakes, tree twigs and little clip on candle holders. I love the look of the old fashion candles on the tree (we don't light them though).





Here's the fireplace...still not sure about this, it looks better in person. I hate my camera.







and this is the hutch in the corner. I put a few of my Christmas dishes in there, but I really use the rest of it all season long. I've learned life is too short to keep the china just for decoration.



If it breaks...it breaks. They're just things after all.



This last tree is the tree in the office. It's our gingerbread tree.



I seriously re-use things for years. Those red checked bows are soooo old (I'm thinking at least 15 years). I just keep them nicely packed away in their own box so they don't get crushed and they look good as new each time I take them out.



If I do add something to a tree, you better believe it was on sale from the previous year or from the dollar store. The red pom pom garland was the only thing I added this year and it was only $2.99 for 9 feet. Do the galvanized tubs look familiar? They're from my sewing room. See just look around your house for things that you wouldn't think to use.



I have been making or buying things a little each year since we were married. You need to build your Christmas stash slowly. I never pay full price for anything...always after Christmas bargains, 75% - 90% off. You'll have the urge to go right away, but then it's only 50% off. If you wait a little, they drop the prices pretty fast. You might miss out on some things in those first few days, but the bigger bargains are worth it. Except for our 12 foot tree, I have 7 or 8 other trees that are about 5-6 feet tall. Some are even pre-lit. I paid $3.00 dollars for the regular trees and $8.00 for the pre-lit trees...all at Walmart.
space
Well, I hope you enjoyed this part of the tour. If I don't run out of time, I have plans to do a few more trees. I finished one in my husbands office, but didn't take a picture of it. It's a tree with all his boyhood memories...big colored lights, colored glass balls, the silver garland and tinsel. It's his favorite!!
space
I'll see you on Tuesday. I have another Christmas Tool Time, but you can also use all year too!
space
~Karen~

33 comments:

  1. How Beautiful! I know it takes a lot of time and energy to do all of that decorating. It looks great and thanks for sharing with us.

    ReplyDelete
  2. All I can say is WOW!

    I have the same philosophy about china,and many other things, as you. Even as a historian I believe that things are not supposed to last forever. If they did the world would be even more cluttered than it is!

    Looking forward to Tuesday.
    Happy Holidays!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Beautiful trees! I love your mom's ornaments and your family room tree...Christmas and memories go together.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Karen, Your house is truly a holiday delight! Just beautiful, you definitely have the knack. I love all the decorations, but I just love your mom's collection of ornaments.

    ReplyDelete
  5. You do a beautiful job on decorating. I would do several trees if I had storage space. We are now in a place with no basement, no attic, and no garage, so that REALLY limits what I can keep stored from year-to-year. I wish I lived near you...I'd love to come over and get my "dream" of a tree in nearly every room by visiting your place. Hey...c'mon...show us the girls' rooms even if they aren't clean. It will make those of us who don't have a totally spotless, totally-beautifully-decorated house feel a bit better....LOL

    ReplyDelete
  6. now, I feel really bad! I haven't even gotten up one tree, put a wreath on the door, or anything. I have to get started today. Your party sounds like so much fun!!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thank for posting your tour of Christmas trees. Each one is so pretty. I love the sentimental ornaments, and your holiday party sounds like a delight!

    ReplyDelete
  8. WOW - so many trees! I can hardly get one tree decorated! I really need to find a dozen or two more decorations for the one tree I have as over the years some of the ones in really bad shape have been tossed and I haven't replaced.
    Karen
    http://karensquilting.com/blog/

    ReplyDelete
  9. Wow, so festive. I think I need to ask my husband to get the holiday decorations down.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Good Morning, Karen,
    Thank you for inviting us into your home. Everything is just lovely. Your dessert party is a fabulous idea. I wish I lived in your neighborhood!

    Happy Holidays ~Natalie

    ReplyDelete
  11. Everything is stunning! I can imagine the hours that it has taken you to decorate your home so beautifully and it shows.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Karen, your home looks so warm and inviting all decked out for the Christmas season! You are very creative and talented.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Beautiful! Your special touch shows how much you enjoy it all too!
    Hope you share the party with us too!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Wow! Your decorations are all so beautiful! The woodland tree is my favorite but they're all so lovely! :0)

    ReplyDelete
  15. Karen, thanks for sharing all your beautiful decorating ideas. I love the thriftiness of it all and that everything has a theme. I think my favorite is the gingerbread tree...hmmm...might work in my kitchen. I'd better get baking or buy some brown felt!

    You are so inspiring!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Your house is so pretty! You did a lot of decorating! Everything is pretty! Thanks for the inspiration!

    Have a happy holidays!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Gorgeous Karen!! You sure have a knack for decorating. Want to come and decorate my house?

    ReplyDelete
  18. Holy moly your house is the epitomy of Christmas! It's beautiful! I feel like a kid looking at all the photos...

    ReplyDelete
  19. Karen!!! I just want to read, and read and re-read your post. I see something new in each picture. This should be a job for you; it all looks so very, very beautiful!! Five trees so far right? I have trouble with one!! Now tool time lady and master decorator, may I ask you a question? I also have a wooden railing and love to put garland and bows, but I am so worried that the wire with scratch the railing, any tips?

    ReplyDelete
  20. Oh Karen I can see why it's been so crazy at your house! :0) Your home looks so beautifully decorated. It's so warm and inviting! Wish I could join your upcoming party!!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Wow, just wow. Your house seriously looks amazing - it's like the house of Santa Claus or something. Thanks a lot for lots of inspiration, by the way. I haven't started decorating my own house yet and your pics kind of inspired me.

    Elli

    ReplyDelete
  22. Your home so festive and I thoroughly enjoyed the tour!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Oh my Karen your trees and decorations are so beautiful! We only have room for one tree, and we've had it for 17 years now. We still love it. Did you ever get your replacement sewing machine??

    ReplyDelete
  24. Outstanding!!! Wish I could come to your party.
    Everything looks so beautiful.
    Cheers,
    edyB

    ReplyDelete
  25. Your house looks AWESOME! I just love that around every little corner is a piece of holiday. And your new tree is sooo pretty. Can't wait to read future posts about what to do with the old trees. :)

    ReplyDelete
  26. Thanks for the lovely tour. And the photos were just fine. But, you can always ask Santa for a new camera! I'm asking for a sync cord for mine!!

    Merry Christmas!

    ReplyDelete
  27. Beautiful - beautiful.... I have boxes and boxes of ornaments and don't even put 1/2 up each year -it would take so long... You must stay awake steady from August on... It is fabulous! I really enjoy your blog and all the wonderful ideas!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Your thrifty ideas sure don't result in a lack of amazing decor--what a clever woman you are. The house looks wonderful and I can only imagine the hours (and storage space, LOL) all those pretty things require. Gorgeous!

    Thanks so much for sharing your ideas. I agree, moving things around and changing where you put them makes them seem fresh. This year I put up the same little 2' artificial tree I have had for probably 10 years. This year its in my kitchen garden window, propped up on a dollar store cookie tin. Some mini-balls, some handmade ornaments--it looks new again.

    Have a great party!

    ReplyDelete
  29. I love te idea of the tin "bucket" that you use to stand your trees in, that is such a neat idea, and one I may use in the future. We have a tree skirt on our tree.

    Lovely photos,

    Gill in Canada

    ReplyDelete
  30. Hi Karen -
    Thank you for all the Christams wondefulness!
    I love all your themed trees!
    barb

    ReplyDelete
  31. Oh my goodness, your house is beautifully decorated!

    ReplyDelete

Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment...I just love hearing from you!

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails