Christmastime 2013

Christmastime always holds special memories and warmth for me.  The Christmas story, family, friends, the lights, the decorations, and the gifts, the parties....  The following is Christmas 2013 in pictures.



Oh, Christmas Tree!  Oh, Christmas Tree!
This year there were five Christmas trees in the house, counting a small tabletop one.  There was the White Christmas Tree, which is the main tree and resides in the living room.

The White Christmas Tree

There was the Icy tree that sets the snowflake theme of the dinning room.

The Icy Tree

There was the Retro Tree that holds the old ornaments that were on our Christmas Tree when we children were growing up.

The Retro Tree

This was the  Burgundy and gold tree that is in one of the bedrooms.

Burgundy and Gold Tree

And then the small tree that was in another bedroom. 

Tabletop Tree

    The White Tree is, as you can see predominately red and white and silver, with a few other colors thrown in when the ornament is a special one.  The tradition of using the red birds goes way back.  Before I can remember, my Mom was putting red birds on the tree.  Over the years the birds have changed, the  tradition has remained.

 

  Our current tree is a cheap tree that we picked up several years ago, therefore, the branches are not tight and close so there are many open spaces and gaps.  These need to be disguised so fill them in with layers of ornaments from the trunk out.

I like to keep the look of the White Tree elegant.  The white and gold ornament pictured below is one of a set and are some of my favorites.

Here is another one of my favorite types of ornament.  I like the long slender shape with the red and white colors that sparkle.  Also painted around the white part are red poinsettias with green leaves.

This picture was taken from the outside, looking through the curtains at the White Tree.

This Old Elf ornament that was a gift decoration given to my Mom by her mother.  He always gets a special spot on the tree.

Old Elf

The Angel below is actually a Christmas Tree top that is set onto the top of a lamp.  She is made of clear acrylic so it looks really nice without being too dominate.

I love the crystal-like bangles in the foreground and the Icy Tree creating a backdrop for them.

T
The Icy Tree sets the Snowflake theme for the Dining room. This tree has white lights as well as all kinds of snowflake and icicle ornaments.  The garland is several strings of clear iridescent acrylic beads.  They catch the light and make it sparkle.

Snowflake on the Icy Tree

The smaller slender trees that are available now can be really lovely.  They take up so much less space but can still look classy.  The Dinning Room is quite small but it is still possible to fit the slender tree into a corner without really compromising the space in the room. 

Close up of Retro Tree

This little tree had tiny little ornaments made in walnut halves.  The walnuts had been split in half and little bits of cotton were placed inside along with tiny little mouse figures.  Then the edges of the walnut were covered with rick-rack or braid.  Since the tree and the ornaments were so small I used a very narrow metallic braid in place of actual garland.  I wanted it narrow so that it would not overpower the tree; but also shiny so that it would give the tree some "pop".  

Some of the ornaments on this tree were snowflakes made out of lace. In place of garland I used a beautiful burgundy ribbon that has gold holly leaves on it.

Garlands:

Candy Garland around kitchen window

The kitchen is decorated in Gingerbread and candy for Christmas.  This garland has a Candy Cane ribbon woven through it, and then candy ornaments all over it.  Up in the center is a Santa Clause with baker's hat on and candy and a Gingerbread boy cookie on the hat.  The ribbon is quite heavy and dominate in this garland but since it is such a pretty ribbon, I want it to be the main focus of this particular garland.

Snowflake Garland with Elf Garland in the background.

The Snowflake Garland adorns the doorway between the Dinning Room and Kitchen.  It, of course, has white lights in it along with with snowflakes and a white and silver snowflake ribbon.  A couple of acrylic icicles are hung in the two loops and acrylic prisms also give a finishing sparkling touch.  To finish off the ends of the garland, there is a silver non-shatter ball on each side.

  

This garland is a long needled pine with pine cones and an icy look.  Every year it requires some glue to keep it together but it is just so pretty that it is impossible to toss it.  It has red lights in it and red velvet ribbon woven into it.  I use floral wire to wire together a cluster of 3 small red balls.  If the ends of the wire are long enough it is easy just to give them a couple of twists to keep them from coming off the wire and then use the remaining wire ends to attach to the garland, again with just a few twists.  At the center of the top is a roll of music that has a holly pick attached to it. 

 

As you can see in the picture below, there is music ornaments attached to the mirror.  They are frosty, acrylic pieces that I attach to the mirror with very small suction cups. It really dresses up the mirror.

This garland is put onto the stair railing.  It was a pre-made one that I wound red lights into. 

This is a garland at the Dinning Room window.  I was given a snowflake sun catcher several years ago which makes a nice focal point for the rest of the garland which is decorated with white and silver snowflake ribbon, plastic snowflakes and small clear gems to help out with the icy look.

An icy wreath with snowballs helps finish the window and adds to the snowflake theme of the Dinning Room. As you can note in the picture just above, there are silver balls attached to the ends of the garland.  I really like to use them because they give the ends of the garland a finished look.  And the best part is that they are plastic so there are no worries about them getting broken.

The Icy Garland that hangs in  the large open space between the Living Room, Dinning Room, hallway, and stairwell is probably my very favorite garland.  I decorate it with white and silver ornaments, white lights, and white narrow tulle.  The tulle is the kind found on spools and is about 8 inches wide.  It gives the garland a frosting finish without overpowering the ornaments.  In this case I want the ornaments to be the part that catches the eye and not the tulle or a ribbon.

Close up of the Icy Garland

Poinsettia and tulle

Filigree star and tulle

Helpful Garland Hanging Tips:
      For garlands that will be hung at windows, it is easy to put drapery hooks into the garland at the points where you need to attach it to the curtain rod.  I often attach them several inches from the ends and one in the middle to allow the garland to hang down the sides of the window and swoop up to the center.  The best part is, just leave the hooks in the garland even when you put it away after Christmas.  This makes garland hanging the next year incredibly easy.  

Another trick is to attach loops of green floral wire into the garland for easy hanging in doorways.  Be sure to attach a small piece of white twist tie to the wire so that it is easy to find next year when you hang the garland.  You can use small cup hooks to hang these garlands on. See below.

Angels: 

I love this angel silhouetted against the lights of the tree

These angels are acrylic so are sturdy but beautiful.  A little tulle swirled around their feet help to give them a frosty look and softens the whole effect.  Sometimes a little tulle woven into the arches that are in the background of the picture below help to give this angel choir a more  ethereal look.

Angel Choir

A few ornaments help to carry the snowflake theme of the of the Dinning Room. 

Of Elves and Mice:

Pixie Land

As you may have noticed with my other posts, Pixie Land has been around for a long, long time and is a tradition that continues to this day, even if most of us have outgrown it.  But then again some things are too good to outgrow.

The Elves are busy!

These cute little elves have been around for years also, though not for as many as Pixie Land.  They are ceramic and so cute and detailed.

My dad attached this elf (above) to a gift for my mom years ago.  So long ago that I am not sure that I even remember exactly when.

An ornamental Christmas box filled with balls, pine and elves.

"The 'mice' ran up the clock"

These mice (above) have been around almost as long as I have.  We were quite impressed with them as kids when Mom got them for us and they still hold sentimental value even thought they are a bit worse for the wear.
 

Christmasy Nooks and Crannies:

 

A music box piano is a fun thing to decorate.

 

The candles shown here are a grouping that are sitting on a snowflake plate.  The plate is then filled with icy looking acrylic pieces and small snowflakes.  Also the doily under the plate is a snowflake in shape and design.

The poinsettia plates have been in the family for a very long time and are used for Christmas Morning Breakfast.

Inside the Front Door

Parties:
 The Snowflake Party:

The Invitation

Snowflake Party Place setting

Place Card and Place Card Holder

The Place Card holder is a felt snowflake from a crafting store with ribbon woven into the center of it.  On top of the snowflake is a silver jingle bell with it's top side down which allows a card to be inserted into the slits of the bell.

Snowflake Napkin Ring

Snowflake Party Favor

Snowflake Party Menu

Snowflake Party Table

The Snowflake Party Center Piece

The flowers in this center piece are real, hence the red stamen stains on some of the lilies.  These lilies are so elegant in pure white and make a lovely arrangement. 

Tiny LED lights gave the centerpiece it's bluish tint which helped to add to the snowflake theme.

Menu Cards embossed with snowflakes

Part of the Snowflake Party tradition is that after dinner, a small gift is given to each person and is usually wrapped in, snowflake paper, of course. Above is the stack of gifts from last year that are wrapped and awaiting bows or ribbons to complete them.

Christmas Morning Breakfast:

This year the Christmas Breakfast party favors were my version of "English Poppers".  I used a piece of green cards stock, rolling it into a tube and taping it.  The holly wrapping is a plastic type "tissue paper" that I wrapped around the tube and tied on the ends with red curling ribbon. Before I tied the second end, I filled it with small gifts such as candy, gum, chap sticks, car scents, small lotions, small note pads etc.

The Christmas Breakfast plates.  They are small, so are not very practical for dinner plates. 

A cinnamon stick as a stirrer, gives the tea a nice visual appeal.  

Christmas serving platter

The place card holder is a jingle bell glued onto a small square of mirror with red ribbon and beads around the edges. With the slits of the bell turned up, you can insert a card.

A Christmas Party with Friends:

This arrangement is mostly the same one as the one from the Snowflake Party.  I just replaced any drooping flowers with fresh ones from the extras that I didn't use when I made the original arrangement, then I added some different stemmed candle holders, fake snow, some holly and pine cone picks, as well a few red acrylic gems. Bingo! A "new" arrangement!

Party favor boxes

Christmas Party for Friends from Work:

The mini oil lamps with red oil in them make a nice decoration to put at each place setting.

Christmas Party around New Years:
(This party was also a snowflake theme).

The party favors were white boxes tied with silver ribbon and a die cut, paper snowflake attached to the top.

Bits of This and That: 

A decorative box and it's lid make lovely arrangements.  It is a great way to showcase a pretty box.  

Simple crystal trees with a holly and pine cone pick added.

A plain plastic, matte ball with a pretty pick make a nice decoration for small spaces

Top hat candle holder

A matte blue ball really spruces up a curio shelf;  along with the other glass pieces, it helps carry the icy, snowflake theme of the Dinning Room.

The kitchen theme is predominately gingerbread and candy--the two mix very well together.

Candy candle holders

A wooden sled painted and decorated to my own tastes greets you as you walk in the front door.

Christmas cookies.  The decorated gingerbread cookies are practically indispensable.

I rediscovered these mini oil lamps around the house a few years ago and have found that they make a wonderful addition to party tables.

The previous pictures pretty well sum up our Christmas of 2013.  I hope that you have found warmth and joy in the preceding post.  If you have questions, I believe that you can comment here or you can also comment on the Facebook page, Christmas--the Most Wonderful Time of the Year. However, I would probably see comments more quickly on the Facebook page.