Tag: christmas

Hi there! Welcome to the It’s a Colorful Life Christmas Home Tours! Did you just jump over from Heather at Southern State of Mind? I just loved all her nutcracker themed touches! If you haven’t toured her holiday home yet, be sure to after mine and also catch the rest of the tours as well – the entire lineup is at the end of the post!

I was at the thrift store yesterday and one of the employees noted how I’d scored some good art finds. I told him that tended to be how it went with me. Despite making a thrift store stop in hopes of finding a console table for the upcoming mudroom makeover, I found art. And lots of it. My shopping trips always end up becoming themed and not the theme I set out for it to be.

The same is often true of my holiday decorating. Did you see the den at the farm in all it’s holiday-cowboy-country-music glory? And last year, at the Landing Pad, it was camels. And this year, the camels were introduced to the swans.

That’s right. Only here will you find camels and swans co-mingling among one another while being supervised by busts of David in all sorts of shapes and sizes.

And it’s all surrounded by colorful pops of holiday cheer.

Emerald Chairs / Golden Pillows / Multi-Colored Pillows / Gold Coffee Table (similar) / Red Curtains / Lion Art

This camel decided he liked it so much here last year that he stayed the whole year through.

If you did see my colorful home tour last year, this area might look pretty similar to last year’s holiday decor. I used the same garland, flower arrangement and throwing-gifts-all-over-the-place trick as I did last year. I freshened up the garland with new ribbon and ornaments though.

I don’t know what it was with swans this year, but it’s like I was a magnet to them. Every yard sale and thrift store I haunted, these things just kept screaming “Buy my majestic self!” So I did. While you won’t see all the swan decor I’ve accumulated this year in my home tour, here is a paper mâché one I scored at Goodwill for $2. She’s keeping the coffee table pretty.

As you’ll see in a moment, completely unnatural looking glitter poinsettias seem to be making a strong move toward becoming holiday focal points around here as well…

This little nook has quickly become a favorite of mine.

This leopard may get its own “everyday” collar after the holidays. I’ve loved dressing it up for Halloween and now Christmas.

Peacock Tassel / Art Print / How I Made the Art “Hang” From a Bow

No lamp or art was left un-Christmasafied.

I finally got my act together and worked the massive cabinet more into the holiday decor by running magnolia garland along the top and donning the busts with bows. Bows are also a theme here, huh?

When they aren’t wearing bows, a few special ones get vintage scarfs. Everyone learns the meaning of accessorizing well around here.

On to the dining room…

Room Dividers / Rug / Curtains

Room Dividers / Art / Rug / Chairs (similar)

I told you poinsettias were trying to take center stage. I made these simple chair embellishments from floral picks.

I switched out the silver tinsel tree I had in here last year for a slimmer rose gold tree. And in a shocking twist, I actually used color coordinating ornaments and ribbons to decorate it.

Wall Art / How I Embellished the Art with Ribbon and Ornament Clusters / Rose Gold Christmas Tree

Yes, those are swans on the tree. I saw them and once more, they just called my name and sparked this whole tree’s feel.

While his looks are deceiving, David actually does approve of the swan tree.

He fought me on the bow though. 😆

I tend to keep the table simple during the holidays. To dress it up just a bit, I arranged some faux greenery, a few ornaments and a swan candleholder (a $4 yard sale find) on the marble slab I keep on the table.

Merry Christmas, friends! I hope you all have a wonderfully colorful holiday filled with family, friends, lots of love and maybe even a camel and/or swan! 😉

The next stop on the It’s a Colorful Life Christmas tours today is Our Fifth House! Carmel recently moved into a beautiful new home and it is absolutely gorgeous this holiday season! The full tour lineup is below as well!

It’s a Colorful Life Christmas Home Tours

Monday

Dimples and Tangles | Jeweled Interiors | Kaleidoscope Living | Haneen’s Haven | Southern State of Mind

Tuesday

Rain on a Tin Roof | Our Fifth House | PMQ for Two | Efforless Style |

Wednesday

Kate Decorates | Southern Hospitality | Heathered Nest | The Pink Clutch

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #DamageFreeHolidayDecor #CommandDoNoHarm #CollectiveBias

The holidays are stressful enough, so how about we make holiday decorating a little less stressful, huh?

You’re with me? Yay!

I truly love decorating for the holidays. I love all the shiny ribbons, chic bows and colorful touches everywhere. I also love not spending a ton of time and thought on those things. And funny enough, I often end up liking my super simple holiday decorations more than the ones I spent countless hours trying to perfect.

So today, I’m going to share five different simple holiday decorating looks focused around working your everyday decor into your holiday decor.

And of course, it’s all shiny. Because duh. It is Christmas.

SIMPLE HOLIDAY DECORATING IDEAS

Supplies Needed

To create some of my favorite holiday looks, I used…

• Command® Adjustables™ Repositionable 1 lb Hooks
• Command® Adjustables™ Repositionable 1 lb Clips
• Pre-Made Wire Edged Bows
• Wire Edged Ribbon
• Ornament Clusters
• Ornament Clusters

Command™ products are what makes this holiday decorating so easy. No tools required and they still give you a strong hold. With their new adjustable line, you don’t have to get it perfectly in place the first time – these can be repositioned up to  three times in the first 20 minutes, giving you the extra chances you need. And let me just tell you about all the extra chances I’ve needed in my life…You’ll find Command® Adjustables™ at your local Walmart.

I also found all the other items I used – bows, ribbon, etc. at Walmart as well.

EASY HOLIDAY LOOK #1: “HANG” IT FROM A PRETTY BOW.

Do you guys remember in the 90’s when everyone wrapped their wall art in wrapping paper each holiday season? I mean, I love me some great wrapping paper, but I also love my art. I don’t want to cover it up during the season, I’d rather make it shine! So, adding a bow that the art “hangs” from is my interpretation of the 90’s wrapping paper on wall art.

To do this, you’ll just need a pre-made bow (or one you made if you’ve got mad skills like that), coordinating ribbon and a Command® Adjustables™ Repositionable 1 lb Hook.

Add a couple of strips of ribbon to the back of the bow that will be long enough to go behind the art.

These bows came with a decorating tie attached to the back. I just secured the extra ribbon onto that. Next, make a loop with the remaining tie left.

Place a hook above your artwork.

No worries if you don’t get it placed exactly where you need it the first time – you can readjust it!

Place your bow on the hook, then work the ribbon behind the frame to make it look like the frame is hanging from the bow. Adjust the hook as needed.

Boom. Chic holiday decor that only looks hard!

EASY HOLIDAY LOOK #2: ADORN WITH ORNAMENT CLUSTERS.

You guys know ornament clusters are my jam during the holidays and I love to hang them from just about anything I can. Another way I like to embellish art at Christmas is with these gorgeous colorful clusters. (Tutorial for the clusters is here.)

After whipping up a couple of clusters, simply place Command® Adjustables™ Repositionable 1 lb Hooks above a picture frame or any other wall decor you’d like to embellish.

Tie the ornament clusters on, then adjust as needed.

Command® Brand Adjustables™ Hooks can be repositioned up to three times and still hold strong. Each hook or clip will hold up to 1 lb.

I love my chicken lady, but I love her more when surrounded by shiny colorful ornaments.

EASY HOLIDAY LOOK #3: ZHUSH UP THE MIRROR TOO.

For this one, I wanted to give the bow and ribbon around the mirror a “molded” look and I wanted to keep the ribbon out of the way of actually being able to look in the mirror. Using wire edged ribbon helped with molding the ribbon like I wanted, but Command® Adjustables™ Repositionable 1 lb Clips were also key here.

Just like with the first bow I showed you, I attached extra ribbon to the back, then made a loop with the remaining wire for hanging. I attached a Command® Adjustables™ Repositionable 1 lb Hook to the top center of the mirror to hang the bow from. Then, I attached Command® Adjustables™ Repositionable 1 lb Clips (better for taming ribbon and garlands), to either side of the mirror and clipped the ribbon down.

See, even the camel is ooohing and ahhhing over that one.

EASY HOLIDAY LOOK #4: RIBBON + ORNAMENT CLUSTERS = ALL THE HEART EYES.

And for the grand finale, we combine three of my favorite things – beautiful ribbon, ornament clusters and gorgeous oversized art.

I have a couple pieces of oversized art that needs a little more than just clusters. For those, I use a combo of ribbons and clusters hung on Command® Adjustables™ Repositionable 1 lb Clips.

Simply place a few clips on the wall above the art or whatever you are embellishing, then attach long flowy lengths of ribbon to the clips. Layer on enough ribbon to provide some depth. Then, top off the clips with ornaments clusters.

Yea. It’s kind of my favorite too.

The best thing about all these holiday decorating looks? When you take it all down after Christmas, you won’t have damaged your walls!

What simple holiday looks will you be whipping up this year?

Want to come back to these ideas later? Just pin the image below!

I completely understand if you are on Christmas home tour overload by this point. I’m sure there has been a slew of holiday decorating coming your way this week and probably last week too.

If you’re fed up with it by now, I totally get it. I’ll be the first to say that I’m pretty glad this is the last Christmas decorating post I’m doing this year. I’m ready to sit back, drink a few cheap beers and just enjoy the holidays.

I’m hoping I can still reel you in though for one last Christmas home tour today – a very colorful one.

So if you’re hopping over from Laura at Duke Manor Farms as part of the Christmas Home Tour that the wonderful Marty from A Stroll Thru Life hosts every year, welcome. I will try my best to live up to the rest of the gorgeous holiday decorating that the other folks on the tour have shared. However, if Laura included her donkey in her Christmas home tour, then I can already tell you I won’t be able to top that. I love that damn donkey and I’ve never even met him. 

What I can offer you is a Christmas home tour that isn’t trendy, the tree would never win a prize for the most beautifully decorated and there will also be a Gone with the Wind reference featuring James the Elf.

Intriguing, enough?

The Living Room

Affiliate links included in this post. 

Lion Print / Ghost Chairs / Green Velvet Pillows / Red Drapes / Multi-Arm Brass Floor Lamp

I fell a little more in love with our living room when I decorated it for Christmas this year. For those of you who are new here, this is our first Christmas in this house. The way all the colorful decorations just popped off the black walls won me over.

Ghost Chairs / Green Velvet Pillows / Red Drapes / Our Christmas Tree

Leopard Print Pillow / Banana Leaves Print Pillow / Red Drapes / Multi-Arm Brass Floor Lamp

Lion Print

To decorate our house for Christmas, I like to use lots and lots of colorful vintage ball ornaments, preferably in clusters, and drape them anywhere I can. Also, I’m a fan of tinsel, especially gold tinsel, which I realize some may consider tacky. That’s never stopped me before though.

How to Make Ornament Clusters / Red Drapes

I guess our leopard print wrapping paper may be considered trendy, but if you take a deeper dive into my home, then you’ll know that leopard print paper was meant for me. However, my bow making abilities, or lack thereof, don’t necessarily do justice to the wrapping paper.

Brass Unicorn (similar ones) / Vintage Santas (similar ones) / DIY Vintage Ornament Tree

I’ve rarely met a vintage piece of Christmas decor that I didn’t like, especially Santas.

Our Santa rides a unicorn though. He’s hip like that. 

The Circus also prefers to wrap her Uncle Nicky’s gifts in the leopard print paper complete with a bright pink bow. We can’t wait for him to see that.

Malachite Paper / Chrome & Black Bench

A new addition to my living room is this malachite wall, brass floor lamp and bench.

The bench, which Harper Blvd. sent me, helped to add some extra seating space for parties and of course, brought in some sexy with the curves of the base and the reptile upholstery.

DIY Vintage Storybook Garland  / Our Christmas Tree

My most favorite decoration we have though is our tree.

It’s not filled with matching, color-coordinated ornaments and it will never make its way into an issue of Better Homes and Gardens.

But it always sinks its branches into our hearts with the memories it holds.

Like a dinosaur painted garland made by a two-year-old.

Multiple Barbies and Care Bears.

And J.R. from Dallas of course. 

And most importantly with little stuffed animals that once graced my Grannie’s tree.

Our tree is filled with memories – you can see more of it here.

The Kitchen

Our kitchen remodel is not 100% complete just yet, so you’ll have to overlook any little unfinished details.

In here, I brought a little bit more of the leopard touch in with the small wrapped gifts on the cabinet doors.

DIY Vintage Elf Wreath

And of course, another little vintage touch with the Elf wreath.

Oh What Fun Towel

Obviously, I’m a Barefoot Contessa fan. 

Ceramic Christmas Trees (similar ones) 

While this ceramic Christmas tree isn’t my Grannie’s, it’s one that is similar to the one she put out at her house every year. Every time I look at it, I think of her.

Free Gone with the Wind Printable + DIY Lucite Frame

James, our elf seems to abide by the same motto myself and Rhett Butler do. 😉

Conway, Loretta, Johnny and June oversee the gift wrapping festivities.

Judging from the end of that gold wrapped gift, I should also opt for more clear tape. #failingatChristmas

Did you hear that? I think there’s cheap beer and good country music calling my name somewhere.

I’m off, but you can see the first part of my Christmas Home Tour here if I didn’t scare you away with this one. And If you haven’t made it through all of today’s tours yet, you can also visit Chelsea from Making Home Base. She always creates a cozy home for the holidays.

Disclosure: Harper Blvd provided me with the living room bench. However, all opinions are 100% mine.

*This post contains affiliate links. That means if you click on one of those links and buy something, I may receive a small commission, but you won’t pay a dime more. 

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Merry Christmas!

Welcome to the first part of my Holiday Home Tour! If you’ve been around for a while, flying your freak flag right alongside me, then you know what to expect – holiday decor at it’s most colorful, meaningful and perhaps a touch on the tacky side.

If you are just popping in for the first time from Chelsea at Two Twenty One or from one of the other gals on the All Through the House Christmas tour, I feel I must warn you – my Christmas decor may not be what you would expect. 

The most color coordinating we get around here when it comes to our holiday decor is our wrapping  paper. There are no rules for holiday decorating with us – we just prefer it to be fun, festive, colorful and we give bonus points for decorations that come with plenty of memories.

If you do enjoy my “freak flag take” on Christmas decorating, then be sure to stop back by on Friday to see the rest of my home tour including our Christmas tree where the decorations include, but are not limited to old shoes, glasses, stuffed animals and other memorable items.

We’ll start today in our entryway….

Affiliate links included in this post. 

Red Rug

We have a split-entry home, so there isn’t too much room for decor here.

I did manage to make it look like we beheaded Santa and hung it from the backside of our front door.

Kidding. Well, kind of. 

I do have a thing for vintage holiday decor and am a sucker for just about any vintage Santa paraphernalia that comes my way. I picked up the hanging Santa head at an antiques store for a few bucks. I loved his big ‘ol grin.

Assholes this side of the Nuthouse Printable / National Lampoon’s Christmas Wrapping Paper 

In the corner of the entry, I nestled my father-in-law’s sled from when he was a boy, wrapped with the beloved vintage red and green Christmas lights that were my grandparent’s. As you may know from previous Christmas tours, those lights hold a very very special place in my heart. It seemed those and the sled just belonged together there.

Assholes this side of the Nuthouse Printable

Of course, it was necessary to add my own personal holiday touch to the vignette. I did that with this Jolliest Bunch of Assholes printable that my friend Dena made. Dena gave me a download of her Griswold family printables to use in my Christmas decorating and I fell in love with this simple one. I can’t wait for it to greet people at our annual Christmas party this Saturday!

Griswold Wrapping Paper

Dena also made wrapping paper in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation themes as well. I got the Griswold White Wrapping Paper and also the red Cousin Eddie’s RV paper. The wrapping paper alone should ensure the gift recipients enjoy their gifts.

Now, let’s take a trip to the Jungle Room…

The Jungle Room Makeover / Zebra Rug / Sofa

This is the first year as a family that we’ve had a chimney for Santa to come down and a mantel to hang stockings from.

I am probably way more excited about this than I should be.

Santa Tinsel Wreath / Custom Character Stocking Holders

Since we didn’t have stocking holders for a mantel, I made each of us our own custom ones complete with each of our favorite characters. The Circus and Bill chose horse and Bob the Builder ones.

DIY Ornament Clusters

Grunt Labor and I used the Barbie and G.I. Joe that topped our wedding cake.

We’re cool like that. 

The custom stocking holders literally took less than five minutes to make and each cost less than $10 too. You can get the tutorial for the stocking holders here. If you noticed those colorful ornament ball clusters, I’ve got the easy how-to for those here.

Standing Santa Wood Cut-Out (similar)

The big Santa was an after-Christmas sale find last year. He’s new, but I loved his vintage look. There’s a similar one here.

I did opt to go for some leopard print wrapping paper this season because it did lend itself so well to the jungle room decor. 😉 My bows are simple satin ribbon and most don’t even look that great – I’m not skilled at all in the bow making department.

Rug / Sofa / Plaid Throw (similar) / Fur Pillows (similar)

Snakeskin Lamp (similar) / Sofa / Plaid Throw (similar) / Fur Pillows (similar)

I also added some of the ornament clusters on the lamps.

Ocean Avenue Art Print

For the ledge above the sofa, I just accented the decor already there with a gold tinsel tree complete with a leopard print tree skirt, which is really just a half-yard of fabric. 🙂

Vintage Radio turned Bar Cabinet / Hereford Cow Print / Green Lamp / Giraffe Tray

If you haven’t already noticed, I do a good bit of cheating and use holiday gifts as decor in places besides just under the tree. 🙂

Finally, we’ll head back up to the dining room. 

Rug / Dining Chairs (similar) / Glass Dining Table / Red Velvet Drapes

While this room isn’t 100% completed just yet, there have been a couple of new additions that have done wonders for the space – those beautiful red velvet drapes being one.

Art

I kept the table really simple. Yes, that actually is a fur blanket I’m using as a table runner.

You see, I saw this fur table runner that I wanted really bad, but I didn’t let myself get it because it is Christmas, which means we had lots of gifts to buy. Instead, I improvised and used my fur blanket as a table runner. So sue me.

I scattered vintage ornaments on the “runner” and placed brass deer in the center.

Art / Brass Deer (similar ones) / Lucite Taper Candle (similar ones)

Another ornament cluster and vintage Santa make an appearance on a small table in the dining room as well.

Bar Cart

The other latest dining room addition is this metallic silver and gold bar cart that the folks at Harper Blvd sent me.

Malachite Accent Table 

I love the metallic two-tone goodness it has going on. Right now, I’m using it more for just decorating, but I’m sure this bad boy will get put to use during our holiday parties. I love the contrast of it against the malachite accent table as well. It’s on wheels, so it’s super easy to maneuver.

Bar Cart / Elvis Bust (similar ones) / Vintage Ceramic Christmas Trees

Ceramic Camels (similar ones) / Brass Lion Container (similar ones) 

I scored the ceramic camels for $5 at a thrift store. At the time, I had no idea what I would do with them, but loved them too much to pass up. They ended up being great for holiday decor, but I don’t think I would mind keeping them out after the holidays either.

Elvis Bust (similar ones)

Of course, none of our holiday decor would be complete without the king. 😉

Be sure to stop back by on Friday to see the rest of our holiday home tour – if you’re into not-so traditional Christmas decorating, that is. 

The next stop on the tour today is Kristi at Making It In the Mountains!

Disclosure: Hearts & Sharts provided me with the Griswold printables and Harper Blvd provided me with the bar cart. However, all opinions and love of putting a twist on holiday decor is 100% mine. 

*This post contains affiliate links. 

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