Christmas Cloche

Hopefully I'll have my Christmas decorations where I want them by the end of the day...until then...another quick post.  Here's my little cloche with a mercury glass tree I got from Target for about $5.00 after Christmas last year.  I hope my little fern that usually lives under there will survive the holidays in my kitchen.  It probably won't. 

Paperwhites!

Short post today!  I'm in the middle of a cleaning frenzy and the rest of my Christmas decorations are still scattered all over my house so I don't have a cool project for today.  I do have some pretty pictures of paperwhites, though.  Hopefully they will inspire you to grow your own.  You need to start now if you want 'em blooming before Christmas.

 

 

Target has paperwhite bulbs that come in pretty containers from about $9.99-$14.99 and higher.  If you already have pretty containers you can just buy the bulbs I think they're pretty cheap at places like Lowe's and Home Depot.  I planted some last year and they looked great and smelled amazing.  I'm going to get mine today!  All pictures are linked to their sources.  The third picture is linked to a how-to at realsimple.com

 ***I just got back from Target and the kit I got had 3 bulbs in it and an oblong galvanized metal planter*** for $5.99!

Transformed Costco Wreath

I am covered in glitter and I have sustained minor burns from a glue gun, but I think the result is worth it.  Here is my transformed $15.00 live greenery wreath that I picked up from Costco:

This project was pretty cheap because I didn't have to go out and buy ornaments for it.  All the small ornaments were from the centerpieces at my rehearsal dinner (3 years ago...thanks Miss Sherri) and the larger ornaments were bought last year at 75% off...about $5 total.  This wreath could get pretty pricey if you didn't have some spare ornaments hanging around, but it would be very easy to do on a much smaller scale.  My wreath is 28".  I've seen smaller ones that are very cute and use only ornaments on a coat hanger and no greenery.

I started last night by hot gluing the metal tops to the glass balls.  Apparently if you don't do this they will just pop off.  I strung my ornaments onto floral wire and the result looked like this:

Obviously that's not enought to encircle the wreath.  You have to lay them on the wreath and spread 'em out. 

Once you have them where you want them wrap pieces of doubled up floral wire around the wreath to attach the strand of ornaments.  I probably had to attach it in about 10 different places before I coud hold it up and not have the ornaments sag.    Overall, I'm very satsfied with the look of the wreath especially when I consider that the one at PB is about 80 bucks and smaller. 

Here's the link where I found this idea.  That wreath uses a coat hanger and just ornaments.  Bending a coat hanger didn't sound like fun to me.  The floral wire was very easy to work with.

Back to The Inspired Room!

 Back to Funky Junk!

Pretty Pomegranates

I don't use a ton of red in my Christmas decorations, but if I did this is how I would do it.  I love this look.  Some of these seem like they could be pretty easy to recreate with some fresh greenery.  All the pics are linked to their sources!

I've seen pomegranates for about $2.50 each at most grocery stores, but I saw them for $1.29 each at Trader Joe's this weekend!

 

The Look for Less: Pottery Barn Birch Candles

Pottery Barn has been carrying these for a few Christmases now, and I still haven't gotten tired of them.  This is the first year I've bought any though.  They range from $15-$69(!) at PB, but since they've been so popular other retailers have started carrying copies that start at $9.99.   Target has three different sizes 4", 6", and 8".  I bought one of the 6" candles for $12.99 and was planning on buying a couple more from Target until I stumbled into Kohl's on my hunt for a wreath stand .  Kohl's birch candles start at $12.99, but almost all of their Christmas decor is alreay 50% off.  I got a 4" candle for $7.79.  The 6" candles are $8.99.  I"ll definitely go back and  get a few more.

I think these look just as good as the ones from PB. The taller one is from Target and the shorter one is from Kohl's.

The Look for Less: Pottery Barn Faux Snow Vase Filler

PB Faux Snow
This is the first of a few posts in which I will be targeting Pottery Barn's Christmas decorations. As much as I love that store and appreciate the quality of their products, the prices on some of them make me want to go spend a couple hours stopping customers from being ripped off. I can imagine myself being dragged out of the store still yelling at people to put down the over-priced item that they could find so much cheaper somewhere else. If it weren't for my concern for the safety of my unborn child I would consider doing it.

Let's start with the faux snow vase filler. The pictures don't do this stuff justice. The displays I've seen in store that use this are much prettier than the ones they have online. You should go check them out. A box of the faux snow is $12.00 (and I'm pretty sure that it used to cost $19). Two years ago I decided that I would track down cheaper faux snow. I paid $2.99 at Michael's for a bag. This year I was walking down one of Wal-Mart's Christmas aisles and saw that they have it for (I think) $1.99. In both stores it was in the aisle that had the little Christmas village stuff. Please, please don't spend $12 for fake snow and if you happen to see any one else doing it...stop them.

It may not come in the pretty clear plastic box that the snow at Pottery Barn comes in...but it's the same stuff.

Found: $14.99 Wreath Stand

I found a wreath stand at Kohl's! I would have never thought to go look for one there if it hadn't come up when I was searching for a wreath stand online. I'm so glad they had it in the store. I really didn't want to pay shipping and I wanted to make sure that it would be nice and sturdy. This one is heavy and should hold a pretty good sized wreath. $14.99....take that Pottery Barn and Target!

Currently Looking For: Wreath Stand

Pottery Barn Wreath Stand
Christmas is coming! Last year I didn't put up a single Christmas decoration because we went out of town. This year I'm planning on decorating the weekend after Thanksgiving to get the most out of all the things I bought after Christmas last year (I'll post on that later). The one thing I would still really like for this year that I didn't pick up last year is a wreath stand. The one pictured above is $44, but there's one at Target for $24.99. I'm trying to find one cheaper than that. I've had no luck so far, but the hunt is still on.

Smith & Hawken for Target Wreath Holder