Saturday, December 5, 2009

Christmas Past




Hi everyone! It's a cold day in Georgia today.  I've got a pot of bean soup with a ham bone leftover from Thanksgiving simmering in the crockpot and the house smells so good and is so warm and cozy.  I'm staying inside and working on some projects while my crazy husband is outside putting up the Christmas lights...brrr!




I have a fun wreath project which I hope to share with you on Monday. In the mean time, I thought I'd post a few pictures from Christmas past. Maybe there are some  ideas here that you can use this year.


Wrapping the picture over my mantel was an inexpensive and easy way to make a big statement (plus camouflage the fact that the colors didn't go with my Christmas colors)! I'm planning on doing this in my dining room this year on a smaller picture.








This is a tin star that had something painted on it that I didn't like (can't remember what). So I painted it white, shook some of  that fabulous Martha Stewart glitter and mica flakes on it and hung it on top of this mirror.

The following are pictures from my screened porch from last year. I don't think I'm going to decorate it for Christmas this year other than put a tree out there. But we'll see!








These are little birdhouses from the dollar store that I decoupaged with Christmas scrapbook paper and used stick on letters to spell "Joy".









Some Christmas balls in a nest.



This is a foam snowflake from the Dollar Store.

This is the headboard in the guestroom (we weren't expecting guests that year so I thought I'd have some fun )!








I want to introduce you to a new blogger who has a really great project featured on her blog that I think you all might like.  Sherry @ No Minimalist Here did a wonderful knockoff of a Ballard item.



The original cost over $300 and her version above cost under $30! Love it! Go see how she did it - it's not hard at all.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

34 comments:

Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions said...

Great ideas, Manuela! I've already done one that you show. I covered a picture in our small den {a floral that I just painted the frame on a few months ago}. The colors don't work with my Christmas decor either, so I gift wrapped it.

Julie Harward said...

Oh, I just love your blog and you! Such good ideas are always found here! Love wrapping the big picture..loved it!I'm staying in today too, catching up on magazines and the blog. Stay warm and take care! Come say hi :D

GlorV1 said...

That bean soup sounds delicious. I just put on a pot of beans with bacon in it. It's cold over here too. Just popped in to say hi and have a great Sunday. Take care.

Anonymous said...

I love all of your projects. Very nice. You do very nice work.Love the painted star idea... I might do that!

Kathleen Grace said...

Always good to go back and see what you did previously because the projects are still just as cute. I am in love with the chalkboard on the bed that says "The Night Before Christmas".

Glenda/MidSouth said...

You have some of the greatest ideas. Thanks for sharing with us. Your soup sounds so good. I am eating a burger that I got in a drive thru. Cold here also. I am ready for Winter to be over with and it has not even started good yet. :(

Brenda Pruitt said...

Yep, you sure have given me an idea I've been stewing about figuring out how to do! I'm making taco soup tomorrow. It's actually COLD here!
Brenda

M.L. @ The House of Whimsy said...

Hi Manuela,
I'm slow getting around, but I can't tell you how much I loved your cloche party post. I lingered on each pic to take in all the lovely details. All your tree dying really paid off this year. : ) LOVED the rhinestone tree you made, the frost you sprayed on the glass, the half pine cone display, the silverware under glass. It was all SO magical. Thank you for always sharing your wonderful inspiration.
M.L.

Tracey McBride ~ Frugal Luxuries® said...

I love all your seasons Manuala. I hope you enjoyed your day and your bubbling pot of soup.
Love,
Tracey xxx

Gypsy Heart said...

I just found your blog and I love it! You have some wonderful ideas. I collect stars...and hearts and the glittered star is something I'd love to do. I'll wander around some more and see what other creative ideas you've shared. :-)

Domestic Designer said...

Love your ideas! I especially liked the idea of wrapping the picture. So creative!

Melissa Miller said...

Very pretty looks and great ideas Manuela!

I wish I would have known about the wrapping of the picture sooner. When I think of all of our past Christmas photos that did not match it....Sigh.
How easy this would have been.

This year I hung a wreath on a stick. Stop by and take a look if you have a moment.

~Blessings, ~Melissa :)

Barbara Jean said...

Thanks Manuela,

I'll go check it out

blessings
barbara jean

Natural Mama said...

Beautiful decorating you've done there, Manuela. So inspiring.again!

About Southern Belle said...

I just loved the apple topiary! Maybe next year I can make it. Thanks for the idea. = )

Michelle said...

I LOVE the idea of wrapping picture frames w/ wrapping paper! I'm totally doing that!

Moore Minutes said...

Oh what a treat to see your decor. I absolutely LOVE the ball ornaments in the nest of greenery!

Paula@SweetPea said...

You have the best ideas! Hope you enjoyed your bean soup. Last night was definitely a soup night as cold as it was.

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

Wonderful ideas! My favorite is the little birdhouses!

Lisa said...

Beautiful and I am so stealing the birdhouse idea. I just happen to have some sitting around waiting to be made over. :) Thanks!

Terri Steffes said...

I love talented people... and you are one!!! Thanks for an inspirational post!

Julie said...

Oh the soup sounds so yummy! Its so cold here and we have gotten a little snow with more to come! Thanks for more ideas just keep them coming!

Happy Holidays!

Brenda said...

Everything looked great last year cannot wait to see what you are doing this year! Thanks for stopping by and explaining what my tree bleaching problem is. I might look for a bag after Christmas on clearance to try for next year. I have a couple more projects to finish and I think I will be done for this year. We are having Christmas the weekend b-4 so I am spending most of my free time shopping for our grandchildren. I really would like to go back to my part time hours at work. Really should not hope for slow downs in this economy though.

Mimi Sue said...

Great ideas. How do you come up with them? Love your picture present. Mimi

Christine said...

Had a hard time figuring out where to leave a coment. Love your decorating, especially the balls in a nest! Check out my home tour at....

http://christinescottagegardenhome.blogspot.com/

Nadine said...

Wonderful ideas to inspire ~ Thank you for sharing!

Blessings!
~Nadine

Betsy Brock said...

Don't you love pulling out the old decorations and having a new inspiration from them? Doing something new with the old stuff....that's one of my favorite things.

Linda (Nina's Nest) said...

You have some beautiful decorations there! And I scrolled back to the cloche party - wow - love the simplicity of the cloche filled with balls..as well as many other gorgeous ideas! Linda

Anonymous said...

Morning, Manuela! Love all of these pretties. You are just fantastic, Dear Ones!
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality said...

It's all beautiful!! I loved Sherry's knockoff project too. Great idea & I just might feature it too.

Anonymous said...

Oh my gosh! You're so clever. I like the snowflake as a doilie. Good idea. And the birdhouses look like a great idea. Thanks for stopping by. Rosie

Wsprsweetly Of Cottages said...

Just beautiful. I loved the Christmas balls in the nest. I smiled as I thought of some Christmas bedazzled bird overcome with the joy of the season, putting them there.. :)
Everything is just gorgeous!
Smiles!!
Mona

Pat@Back Porch Musings said...

What a beautiful post,Manuela! Lots of inspiration, too!

Sherry said...

Manuela, Thank you so much for mentioning my blog and my Ballard knock-off project. Your blog is wonderful and I love all the creative ideas.
Sherry