Deck the Halls {O Christmas Tree}

It's the most wonderful time of the year! Christmas music in the air, a warm fire on a chilly night and the glow of a beautiful Christmas tree! We have had our tree up for a couple of weeks now and I have been tweaking with decorations ever since! Put the ribbon on- didn't like it- take the ribbon off (x3). Put all the ornaments on but it was still missing something! Weaved in some large feathers and fell in love! I still feel like our topper is lacking but we can work on that! Without further ado- here is our Rustic-Glam Christmas Tree!

I started with a mix of gold and silver ribbons and a silver beaded garland. Silver ball ornaments and a few other fun gold and sparkly ornaments with a few pine cones, branches and feathers finished off the tree!!

and our lovely Wedding Invitation Ornament looks great!

Our tree topper is a few branches from outside in the woods that I spray painted gold and silver.  It needs a little more "filler" and a little more sparkle and I think it will be just right!

I finished up my tree skirt last night!

I have a few more ornaments that we will put on the tree but I have to finish my advent calendar first!! Look at me- I am already 8 days late on counting down! I'll have to get on that one soon!!!

So there you have it- our Rustic-Glam Christmas Tree!

I'm linking up with:

 

Deck the Halls {Merry Mantel}

This year I wanted our mantel to sparkle! I used a mix of golds, silvers, mercury glass and twinkle lights!

 I wrapped our garland in silver and gold ribbons and then tucked in silver ornaments.

I spray painted the finial that sat on our fall mantel. It was red but is now a pretty hammered gold. I bought the mercury glass trees and candle holder and then added one of my cute owls on one side...

On the other side I have my gold mercury glass candle sticks, striped candle holder, another cute owl, and a gold hexagon faux candle that I picked up from Salvation Army.

The hexagon candle looks really yellow here but it doesn't normally look that way. It flickers and is ok to forget to turn off before going to bed! I would have burned the house down the other night if it was real!

I backed my mirror with another strand of lights to make it stand out a little more from the brick.

I am working on of fun wreath and some stockings to hang with care for my sweet little family. But for now, my mantel is just enough sparkle and glow to light up our living room!

Linking up with:

 

Decking The Halls {Wedding Invitation Ornament}

Although this is technically our 2nd Christmas, David and I finally have "Our First Christmas" Ornament! I pinned this great ornament made from a wedding invitation and thought this would be a perfect addition to our Christmas tree!!

I started with two wedding invitations and cut one in horizontal strips (so you could read each line) and one cut vertical (for longer curls).

I then wrapped the strips around an ink pen to make the curls and put each one in the ornament.

The ornament turned out great and it will be special for David and I for years to come!

Linking Up to:
Lemon Tree Creations
Centsational Girl 
Bower Power Christmas Crafts
The Southern Product Queen 

Deck the Halls {Coffee Filter Garland}

Christmas has been on my mind for a few weeks now. I don't know what it was this year that made me just want to skip over Halloween and Thanksgiving and go straight for Christmas so early! I have tried to put off decorating until at least a somewhat normal time of the year by working on projects a little ahead of time. I have had fun pinning all sorts of inspiration for my Rustic Elegant Christmas.  My first project was an Anthropologie inspired Coffee Filter Garland.

 My inspiration came from Pam Garrison's coffee filter garland that I found on Pinterest!

To make this garland, I used both white and natural coffee filters (no they are not used coffee filters!).  I used the coffee filters as a template to cut circles of "blank newspaper" paper, kraft paper, sheet music, my handwritten "Merry Christmas" paper, and brown tissue paper.

I cut a long string of twine. (This part was purely a guess on how much I would need; I cut a pretty long string and it worked out almost perfect! About 6 inches too long).

I tied a knot, cut a slice in the middle of every layer, thread a stack on, and then tied another knot to hold it in a cluster. I made a short stack and then I would double that and make a tall stack just so my garland would have varying size groupings.

And I loved how it turned out! My family is still warming up to the idea that I am decorating with coffee filters! "It doesn't look very Christmas-y".

I know it isn't the typical red and green Christmas but I feel like when the greenery and shiny decorations are added it will be pretty!

What do you think? A little too weird? Or do you like a little change up from the traditional Christmas decor?


Linking Up to  Centsational Girl, The Southern Product Queen, Bower Power Christmas Crafts Remodelaholic  

Anthropologie Crush

Have you ever been to an Anthropologie? My first time was just earlier this year. I know -crazy- but tiny town East Texas doesn't have many Anthropologies around! I was amazed at some of the displays I saw when we visited in Philadelphia. Anthropologie hires some of the most creative people around. They're particularly resourceful at repurposing everyday objects into works of art. This would be my absolute dream job! Take a look at some of their amazing displays!

Parts of Furniture

Plastic Cups

Books

Paper Chains

Coffee Cups

I think this is all paper?

Wine Corks

"This philosophy comes from the organic need to re-imagine and reinterpret what is already part of our environment," says Karen Heilbronner, Anthropologie's visual director, in Philadelphia. "We are always working with our presentations in a state of evolution, and that lends itself naturally to the reuse and redevelopment of existing material."

Quote Via 

Marshmellows

 

Scrap Wood on Outside of Philadelphia Store

Clothes Pins

Balloon Animals

Wine Corks

Scrap Wood

Isn't it all great! Just for kicks- Google "Anthropologie Displays"! You will see all of the amazing-ness I have been swooning over today! My latest project is Anthro inspired! Can't wait to see how it turns out!