The Countdown to Thanksgiving has Begun....

With just 16 days left until Thanksgiving my Christmas decorating on the outside officially began yesterday.  With this years Thanksgiving one of the earliest we've had in years it really cuts down on the decorating days.  Since I do such a huge display inside AND outside I really can't afford those lost days.

Usually all outside decorations are done the two weekends prior to Thanksgiving but due to conflicting commitments we had to shift to working on the lights during the week.  I was fortunate to be able to take a weeks vacation, an entire week to just put out Christmas!

We were able to get quite a bit done Monday 11/5.  Here are a few pictures of our progress -

All lights are up on the eaves to the house.  We do both multi-colored icicles and multi colored C6 LED's around all roof lines.

The front entrance garland is up along with the handmade wreath over the door.

Our figurines all light up and are in place.

We typically don't change the house lights very much.  I'm fortunate that my husband will still put up the lights for me and he does not like change!  So, in order to get lights up high, I don't mind keeping them the same.  I did change up lights for around the window/shutters.

In after Christmas sales last year I found some great LED C9's that change from green to red.  They look great.  I have enough to go around the garage and both front windows so they should look great.  It's always best to add some motion to your house.

Tuesday we had a late start but all electrical for the house is done, trimmed back the yard and raked up all those darn leaves (tree's are still full so this could get fun!) and I placed LED icicle lights on the long fence line.

Stay tuned, I'll try to post progress daily.

Tomorrow is Halloween!

Now I know that to the rest of the world tomorrow is all about celebrating Halloween and enjoying a great Holiday and I do get that.  However, for me it means I get to start decorating for Christmas the next day!  So tomorrow Halloween, Nov. 1st is all about packing up Halloween and then it is finally time to get to work and create my Christmas wonderland for 2012!!!

Since I can't decorate quite yet I worked on my wreaths again tonight.  Moved the brown wreath to the informal dining room off the kitchen since it matches the brown drapes.  I still need to find my ribbon tub so I can replace the wreath hanger with some wide ribbon tying it to the rod.

I then finished off my second wreath.  My glass ball wreath with gold and a deep red color.  it didn't turn out nearly as nice as my brown one and I think the difference is not using any matte bulbs.  this will be hung off this mirror but with wire ribbon so I can center it on the mirror.  Now where is that ribbon tub! 

Well it was still early so I went on and tried another quick craft project.

These were so easy to complete.  I simply took glass vases and wrapped a piece of thick metallic scrapbook paper around them and created a completely different look for a candle holder.

This is a great project for a beginner and relatively cheap.  I had most of the items already laying around in my house so this cost me just $1.00.

You'll need a glass vase, spray adhesive and a sheet of scrapbook paper or something equivalent to this.    I also used a paper cutter from scrapbooking in order to get a straight line.

Just cut the paper to the right size to wrap around the vase with a slight 1/4" overlap.  Spay the adhesive to the paper and then line the paper up to the side of the vase and then just roll the paper around the vase.  On the large one I managed to roll it perfect the first time.  The second one, well let's just say it took a few more tries!   I bought a couple more sheets in complimentary patterns all with the same silver look to them.
I plan on putting candles inside and then lining up about five of them together on a sideboard or location off to the side in a room.

Next time you hear from me I will be        
updating everyone on how the Christmas
Decorations are going up.  Watch out for
lot's of pictures this year!

How to Build a Christmas Ornament Bulb Wreath

With just four more days until Halloween is over and I can start decorating I just couldn't take it anymore.  So I set aside an evening to build a Christmas wreath made out of Christmas Ornaments.  Here is my first ever attempt at building one but I know it won't be my last -

I will have to find a better location to hang it but I really like how it turned out. 

Now I know there are a lot of methods on how to make one of these and I'm sure most will work out just fine I thought I'd share with everyone how I made mine.

First, you have to buy the supplies.  I actually had purchased glass bulbs about three years ago with the intention of making one of these but a friend told me to only use non shatterproof bulbs so I went shopping (this has never been a problem for me :) . 

I wanted my first attempt to be with all shatterproof bulbs.  I picked up a metal wreath frame for the base.  I almost used a styrofoam ring but thought this would hang easier and allow me to secure the ornaments on easier. 

I then bought approximately 100 bulbs for the wreath.  I know that sounds like a lot but I used every single bulb I bought and could of used a few more.  I started with the large brown collection to the left of the picture below.  I know several stores sell them but I found the brown I wanted in this pack of 55 bulbs at Hobby Lobby and paid around $15.00 for it.  The ornaments below are not all for this wreath but all clear packs to the front are.  I loved the multi pack I purchased but knew I needed some additional small ornaments to fill in the gaps and I wanted some with glitter and designs on them to add some dimension to the wreath.  I didn't plan it but I really liked having the matte bulbs along with the normal shinny ones in the multi pack.  I stayed with the brown theme, added in some ivory colored and at the last minute layered in just a few green bulbs.  You can find these shatterproof ornaments at any of the big box retailers, Hobby Lobby, Michaels or even Big Lots. 

In addition to the bulbs and wreath frame you will also need a glue gun, glue sticks and floral wire.  All can be found at a craft store such as Michaels or Hobby Lobby. 

Next I layed down newspaper to stop hot glue from getting on my table.  Somehow I missed not getting the hot glue on myself.  So one other item you might want is BandAids! 

I knew I didn't want to just hot glue all the ornaments on so I actually wired the whole first layer onto the frame.  You absolutely (yes you must listen to me here) must hot glue the tops down to the ornament and the little wire inside the lid.  I just lifted the lid, put a little hot glue under the lid and then set the lid back down and then ran a line of hot glue over the two openings on the top of the ornament lid.  Now you will want to skip this step since it takes so much time but DON'T.  You will have to go back and trust me gluing it first will save you time eventually.  I then connected the wire to the frame and slid on two or three bulbs at a time and then secured the wire to the fram and then moved down and around the frame this way.  I mixed large and medium sized balls as I went.  Below is the first layer I put on.  Using shatterproof bulbs you can really pull them tight before you secure the wire to the fram and then continue on.  It worked great and allowed me to fit in the right size ornaments as needed. 

After the entire bottom layer was complete then I stopped using the wire and just started hot gluing the bulbs into place as I layered in some large, med.ium and small ornaments. I loved the blend of shinny, matte, sparkly and all the different shades of brown.  I I tried to face the lid of the bulb down and hidden away where ever possible but with a few I wanted the design more prominent so I did leave the lid showing. 

I tried to fill in as many of the holes as possible so when the wreath hangs up you can't see the wire frame.  In some variations I have seen where people wrapped the frame with a matching color of ribbon or the tinsel garland in a gold or silver color.  I liked the ribbon idea but thought wiring onto the frame would be too difficult so I just left mine blank and you have to really look to see the wire frame beneath it. 

. 
If you do use a styrofoam wreath rather than the wire one just remember to wrap a heavy wire around it so you have something to hang the wreath from when your all done. 

I constantly picked up my wreath to make sure it didn't get glued to my paper underneath but also to turn it and see where I needed additional small ornaments placed. 

I might add a bow to it but I think I'll just buy some wide ribbon and then hang it from the ribbon up to a curtain rod or attach it to my mirror.  The glass ball wreaths look great layered on top of a mirror because of the reflection and play of light. 

I let mine dry overnight and then hung in the next morning.  I did loose a couple of the ornaments I hadn't secured on with enough glue.  If you have the patience to wire all the layers of ornaments on you will probably like the effect a lot better, just pull them very tight so you have very little movement between the ornaments.  I didnt, I know I should of tried but the hot glue gun was calling my name.  Because they were shatterproof I was able to make the final adjustments to the wreath in the morning and it has now been up for over a day without a problem. 

Now I am working on the glass ball wreath with the ornaments I bought two and three years ago at after Christmas sales.  It is red and gold with a few light bronze colored bulbs.  I already know I like my brown one the best but I'll post pictures of my second creation when it is done. 

I would love to get pictures and thoughts from any of you on wreaths you have made out of ornaments so send me pictures!

Start looking for daily updates because November 1st the Halloween gets packed away, the house gets a major cleaning and stripping of all home decor and by November 3rd I will be full blown Christmas decorating!

Wine Themed Christmas Tree

Okay I have decided on a Wine Themed Christmas Tree for my husband's "man cave".  It's actually a Poker room with a bar and a large wine cabinet.  I place a small tree on top of a wine barrel each year in here but I haven't found that perfect tree theme yet.

Loved my lime green tinsel tree with jewel themed ornaments but just didn't fit into this room.  Last year went with a basic tree with gingerbread/candy themed display with pink ribbon...that lasted one day :)

So it's Wine Theme this year.  Started looking at wine ornaments but I don't want it too store bought so I'm going to attempt to make some of the decorations.  Now if I could just get a day off to do some crafting!

Figure the colors will be a deep purple and green for ribbon and I'll include some grape clusters on the tree in different sizes (found some in Hobby Lobby that will work great).  I told my husband I need lots of wine corks but he doesn't seem to be in a wine drinking mood.  I think he should drink a couple of bottles a day :) so I have plenty of corks.  Figure I can attach a ribbon or small decoration to the cork and hang them on the tree.  Buy a couple of pre made ornaments and that should fill in the tree nicely.  Now, what do I do for a tree topper?  Ok I'll have to work on that one.

Check out some cool wine Christmas decorations I found while looking around -

This wreath is more for the fall season but I could tweak the look and add in some Christmas flair.

Here are some of the styles of store bought decorations that are available in the stores.

Now if only I had some more room in my house this would be awesome!!!

Themed Christmas Trees

It's actually September 1st!  I wait all year for Christmas to arrive and just hearing that it is September means fall and after fall comes CHRISTMAS!

Suddenly I'm thinking of all the items I want to get done for this years display both inside and out!

My first project needs to be my largest formal Christmas tree - I went with a green/gold theme for my formal living room tree the last two years so I really need a change in colors.  It looked great but I need a new look.  Any ideas?  The room already has some green's in it so I need to go with something along those lines or a compliment to green.    I need to establish the color scheme before I can create the tree. I am leaning towards brown and a mid green color.  Let the search begin.

In the meantime check out some of these great trees, any work for you?

White & Silver but I love the over sized dramatic ornaments.

I just love these themed trees!  Hmmm, where could I find a spot to duplicate this tree???

Love the pop of color with this aqua blue tree

Great surprise in color with pink and silver.

Is there really a tree in their?  Too cute!

So I still haven't found that perfect color scheme yet but heck, half the fun is shopping!

Let me know what your doing this year?

Is it too early to start planning your 2012 display?

So, I'm walking thru Hobby Lobby today and they are clearing out of a lot of merchandise so I overhear a customer asking why and the associate said "To make way for our Christmas Merchandise"....I was in shock!  Good shock, but shock non the less.

We didn't have Hobby Lobby open last year but I have heard they set Christmas earlier than most stores.  However, even I would be shocked if they set in June.

My mind has been racing though trying to figure out what to do different for my 2012 Christmas Display for outdoors.  Inside I want to do different this year to but it really is all about the outside :)

Checkout this great picture that was just posted, see I'm not the only one thinking it's not too early to start planning...

Time to start planning for 2012 Christmas!

In less than 9 months it's time to start decorating for Christmas.  I really wanted to find a lot of LED lights in the after Christmas sales but there were hardly any.  We found a few hundred of the color changing ones that change from red to green so I'll have to figure out a cool place for these.

We also bought a couple items for the yard.  Bought a little lighted 3D train that should look nice out in the yard.

I always start planning my next years display before I even take the current year down but I'm hitting a wall for this next year.  I know I want to do the arches again along the walk and by the front door but expand and go along the driveway this year.  I absolutely have to do better on the trees this year and move the Purple LED's up to a front tree.

I guess I just need to go online and find some great deals on LED's so I can figure out a creative way to use them in our display!