May Christmas Happen in Your Heart or with spray paint

This post will be a hodgepodge of holiday decor and small DIY/craft projects.  Lets begin with the crafty stuff.  Do you remember the 3 mini twig wreaths I mentioned in the Habitat for Humanity post?  I also picked up a small ceramic googly-eyed owl at the thrift store for $3.

Wreaths and Owl ready to paint

googly-eyed owl

I spray painted everything with white paint.  I wanted the owl to fit in with my milk glass collection so it could live on the same bookcase.

White flat spray paint

White Owl

This is how the little owl turned out.  He is cute.  I sat him in a festive old Yankee candle holder stand thing that I've had for years. 

Holiday 3 Wreath Trio

I turned the newly white twig wreaths into a small holiday decoration for our guest room.  It is hard to see because of the bright light, each wreath is hot glued to one long piece of ribbon with a bow at the top.  Then I added a blue ball ornament to each.  What I like about this little decor piece is that after Christmas, I can remove the ornaments and the wreath trio will still fit in.

Lets move onto holiday decor.  I probably do not have enough to do one of those fancy house tour blog posts, but I will share a few of my favorite things (that is a song, right?) beyond the traditional tree, stockings and mantel.

This globe also came from Habitat for Humanity.  I added a Peace On Earth vinyl decal.  The decal spans a good half of the globe, but it works because as you walk past the globe, you read the whole phrase.  I heart this $5 globe.  I may keep her out year round.

I went a little silver happy for the dining room tablescape.  The silver theme will translate well into New Years.

I saw this idea on another decor blog.  I used a satin gift ribbon to wrap this pillow to mimic a gift.  The ribbon instantly added a bit of holiday spirit.  I love it.

I love preserved boxwood wreaths and this one is my first.  I can not claim it as a DIY because I purchased the wreath online while it was on sale.  I'd love to make one myself, but my boxwood bushes are still in their infancy stage.  To add a some holiday sparkle, I stuck a little reindeer ornament in the center.

I hope you have a wonderful holiday season.  Best wishes for a happy and healthy New Year!

Take Care!

Estate Sales

Inspired by friend and fellow blogger, Alisa with Five Eleven Decor, I checked out a couple estate sales over the weekend.  A while back Alisa posted on her blog all her favorite places to treasure hunt (although, I can't seem to find that post at the moment), and that is where I discovered http://www.estatesales.net/.  I've been searching my area for sales and found two near by.  Below are the items I picked up:

Vintage Tin Box

Skeleton Keys

My eyes were drawn to this old tin container and as I picked it up, I realized something was in it.  It was a nice surprise to find a bunch of old skeleton keys inside.

Vintage Iron

My grandmother has been looking for an vintage iron to use as a door stop.  She will get this one tied with a bow for Christmas.  Don't worry I did not spoil the surprise, she already knows about it.

Pillow

I found a pair of small pillows with an neat design.  One pillow is on this red chair and its twin is across the room on the sofa.

Blue and White Decorative Pillow Shames

I've been wanting to change up the bedding in the guest room.  It was a bit too matchy, matchy if you know what I mean.  I found these two decorative flannel pillow shames at my favorite local consignment shop Carriage House Consignment. They are well within the pattern theme of the bedding but the darker pattern add a little contrast and they are super soft.

Previous Bedding

This shows the pillow shams that came with the bedding set and the matchyness (is that a word?) that I am referring to.

Hobnail Milk Glass

Hobnail Milk Glass

Vase With Clear Ruffled Edges

The milk glass collection is spreading to the mantel

I picked up the milk glass the consignment shop.  Carriage House has quite a bit of milk glass available but I am picky and search out the items at the cheapest prices.  My favorite type of milk glass are the pieces with the clear edges.  I put a few of the skeleton keys from the estate sale in the little round hobnail milk glass and two sparkly Christmas balls in the oblong hobnail milk glass dish.

And yes, I did break out the Christmas decorations.  I use the month of November as a transition month.  You will find both pumpkins and Christmas balls in my house right now.  Maybe it was the Christmas shopping over the weekend that put me in the holiday mood.

Have you started Christmas shopping?

Take Care!