Christmas Home Tour with some of my favorite Holiday DIY's
Christ·mas
[ˈkrisməs]
NOUN
:the annual Christian festival celebrating Christ's birth, held on December 25 in the Western Church.
WELCOME TO MY CHRISTMAS HOME TOUR
Christmas is fast approaching and it seems like that "to do" list just keeps growing and growing. I hate when stress eats away from the joy at Christmas time. I cannot express enough, the zeal I have for Christmas. Everything about this beautiful holiday makes my heart warm inside. Every year I come to this point at around 5 days before Christmas and feel like I didn't capture enough of it. I feel like I didn't decorate exactly how I wanted, didn't listen to enough Christmas music, didn't take enough pictures, didn't make enough of our favorite Christmas cookies! But the truth is Christmas comes and goes SO FAST!! Every year without fail! But I have found that as I have grown up the stress takes over more and more. So today I am allowing myself to say "it is what it is!" My solution to a happier Christmas is to be content. Content with where I am and who I am. BUT I already have some goals for next year... :)
So here is an array of my Christmas decor I accomplished this year! I hope you enjoy my home tour of my little Minneapolis home and hopefully find some inspiring ideas for inside and out!
DIY minimal wreath 🌲🌲
I didn't use any glue in the video but I would suggest you use some hot glue as reinforcement, especially if your wreath is going to be out in the elements!
The material I used are the following: Spruce, Cedar, Seeded Eucalyptus, Red Magnolia Leaves, and Eucalyptus Pods. All attached to a grapevine wreath :)
DIY Pinecone Garland
DIY PInecone garland is beautiful and so easy to make!
1. Collect your favorite pinecones! This could be from your back yard if you're lucky, a random forest if you want an adventure, or a near by park if your going for a walk! My pinecones are from a White Pine and they naturally have that beautiful white (but sticky!!) sap on them that appears as if they have been slightly snowed on! So precious ;)
2. Purchase some jute or twine string- I picked fairly thin which one I liked the look and two it was easier to work with. Michaels or Hobby Lobby should be able to help you with this task!
3. Tie each pinecone on to the top of your pinecone, working down the string until you reach your desired length.
We acquired this beautiful little hutch this year! Just another beautiful addition to our home, and another perk to being married to a carpenter with access to beautiful furniture! :)
I just love the tradition of poinsettias. My dad has been growing Poinsettias (and many other plants!) his whole life and because of that we've never had a shortage of Poinsettias at Christmas time. I still remember the excitement of the many Poinsettias that filled our home at Christmas- sometimes 10 at a time! But my dad is also a very generous man so we always gave them away to family and friends as gifts for Christmas. It was humbling experience that my parents taught us to always give. I still remember everyones reactions and the love and joy it brought to people!
DIY Felt Trees
Above are some super cute DIY felt trees I made last year! I found this idea on a blog called Little House of Four! Here is a link to all the instructions over on Katie's blog where she shows you how to make your very own!
My Christmas snow globe is made of fake snow, little reindeer and bottle brushed trees! Just pick your favorite glass container and well JUST ADD SNOW :) I purchased this jar, reindeer and trees from the Target dollar section. Yes I am guilty of not being able to walk past that little section right when you walk in! My Birch Tree is made out of painted birch branches (which you can pick up at most garden centers) and tiny little ornaments! I arranged the branches in a large glass vase and purchased the little ornaments from Target. Target is just my go to but you could also find these tiny gems at many other stores :)
I love this nordic trend that has surfaced over the past few years! I am Swedish to the bone and I love embracing my beautiful heritage. These baskets are from the thrift store and the stocking were a hand-me-down from my parents when they switched out their Christmas decor! I gladly took both! The little trees are real spruce tops. I gave them a fresh cut just like a real tree and placed them in floral foam in a water proof container. They are sill doing great! I also sprayed them down with a product called Wilt-Stop, which you can purchase at any garden center to help the needles from falling out.
This beautiful garland is fresh Cedar. I don't really like faux greens but with fresh greens you have to take an extra step in keeping it fresh. Mine is just now becoming a little dried and crispy but I have continued to spray it with Wilt-Stop like the little spruce trees which has been helping!
My outdoor decor was a major afterthought this year but I think I saved the best for last! I had no ideas or designs in mind when I started these but wow am I happy with how they turned out! I was totally against the terra cotta because I thought the look was too "summery" but apparently not! Christmas 2017 is looking good in the earthy terra-cotta :D Maybe its just me?!
Above is an oversized spruce top, (sometimes called porch trees) placed in my red wing crock with a few mini lights to create the mood! Cedar garland is hung on our porch railing for a little more festive look.
Materials in my Christmas window box: Spruce tips, White Pine, Port Oxford Cedar, Curly Willow, Red Magnolia, Spiral Eucalyptus, Seeded Eucalyptus, Eucalyptus Pods, and Pine Cones.
Thanks for checking out my Christmas home tour! I hope you have the most blessed and joyful Christmas! Merry Christmas my friends, and don't forget about the reason for this season!
From my house to yours,
Amy <3
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