Monday 19 December 2011

Christmas Inspiration #12...Roses are Red...

Only a few more days to go....hope you've got lots of lovely ideas for your home this year! In case you are still looking for more inspiration, I used some gorgeous red roses here to create a couple of  different table settings using a mixture of containers that I have at home. Red roses look gorgeous with silver vases and goblets...


Green hypericum berries add a lovely natural touch for a Christmas table.. 




 
Why not use some ivy from the garden to dress your napkins and place cards..





For a really simple and effective Christmas table, why not collect some green bottles and containers for your roses...it doesn't need to cost a fortune!!






Use natural wood blocks to create your own place card holder...I just used some red wire, inserted it into the wood and curled it at the top to hold your card..





Have a great week!x

Saturday 17 December 2011

Where's Wally...or in this case the Christmas soldiers!!

So I thought we could play a little Christmas game today! I came downstairs this morning to find that my son  had provided some additional decorations on the Christmas tree...not decorations that I would normally use or class as Christmassy but funny nonetheless! My tree has turned into a war zone complete with my son's collection of toy soldiers...Toy Story..eat your heart out!! I must say that they are pretty well camouflaged, so your challenge today is to find them!! Your mission is a GO..GO..GO...












If I have counted right, you should have about 21!! Let me know how you get on...you may now stand down!!
'Sergeant...I think we've lost one under the tree.....'


'Pull him out...Pull him out...we never leave a man behind...'
Happy Christmas with the family!!!

Thursday 15 December 2011

Christmas Inspiration #11...Oranges & Cloves...

10 days to go...I get a countdown every morning from my kids, just in case I didn't know! We are in full swing of Christmas fairs, school plays, shopping, baking and all that lovely stuff!! I am trying to get my life a little more organised so I was impressed when I won a weekly planner at the school fair for a family of six...these things are never produced for a family of six!! Prizes are always for a family of four...holidays are always for a family of four...meal deals are always for a family of four...as you may be able to tell this is quite an irritation to me!!! Needless to say I am very happy with my new planner! The only thing I can't get organised right now is my Christmas table! I see all these lovely ideas and make lots of different things but now I can't decide what I like the most!! It's quite a dilemma! I'll let you know...
But in the meantime, here's another offering and it smells divine. Oranges and cloves arranged on different sized cakestands with a little bit of greenery make such a simple but effective decoration. Let me know what you think...you might want to use a skewer to make the cloves push in easier or risk a very sore thumb if you push them straight in like I did!!!





I'd love to hear how you're decorating your Christmas table! Happy Thursday!

Tuesday 13 December 2011

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas!

As you can probably tell...Christmas is my absolute favourite time of year...I love cosy evenings, twinkle lights, loads of decorations, time with family and friends and the excuse to cook lots of lovely food...although I do wonder why we wait till December for all these things...I had a friend in Canada who left a tree up all year and redecorated it for each holiday!! You could have a Valentines tree...an Easter tree...yeah, maybe not!! A little extreme but fun all the same! So I've finally managed to put all my decorations up...just the outside lights to go now!! I'll have to persuade my lovely hubby to help me with that one! I thought I'd show you some piccie's in case you need to get inspired to put up your decorations...although I'm sure you're far more organised than me and have been ready for weeks!! We have 2 trees this year...red and gold in the family room (to go with the newly painted red wall!!) and plum and glass in the living room!





How about putting some twinkle lights on a mirror? I added a cute little mitten and boot garland to finish it off...




Windowsills look great with a decorated garland...



My daughter made some gorgeous little red & white pom poms, so we added some polka dot baubles and stacked them in a cakestand!



I love decorating archways...for this one I made some fabric hearts in red and white fabrics...



Don't forget the bannisters!!


  
You'll find these little guys everywhere in our house...the kids love them...although the dog's not too sure! He walks past acting like they're not freaking him out and gives them an occasional sniff!





Vintage glass cake stands look great with baubles or beaded fruits like these...



Garlands, garlands everywhere!! I just can't resist!


My husband has been telling me for years that I have too many Christmas decorations and I think that this year I have to agree...I had about 4 boxes left over!! I'll have to start hiring out! I love collecting ornaments and these plum coloured fruits and glass ones have to be my favourites!







I know...more garlands...but I love them on antique furniture...don't stop me now!! Glass and mercury glass candlesticks are perfect too!




Simple greenery and a few flowers over the fireplace to finish it all off...perfect!




So there you have it...Christmas at my place! How are you decorating your home this year? I'd love to hear your ideas or send through your own pictures if you'd like to share them here!!