It’s the week of Christmas and I’m still tweaking my holiday decorations. I wanted something above the mantel in the family room and had been looking for a farmhouse style sign that said “There’s no place like home for the holidays” but hadn’t been able to find one locally. I considered DIY’ing one, but knew that wouldn’t happen with my current to-do lists. So I came up with a quick DIY alternative using items I already had and a free printable.
I dug out this large classic frame I’ve used on the mantel several times before including St. Patrick’s and Halloween. I filled it with some light colored burlap material from my fabric stash and used the cardboard baffle inside to keep the fabric tight.
Once it was closed up, I turned it over and added a free printable I found online thanks to fellow blogger Lil Luna to the glass on the front using glue dots. This made placement much easier than trying to attach the print directly to the fabric and center it in the frame under the glass.
Here’s how it looked all put together. Sorry for the late night photos, but daylight is a rare thing when I’m at home working on projects these days. Unfortunately this frame has seen better days and no longer has good hanging options on the backside, so we had to get creative when we went to put it on the wall – especially one made of stone.
The Hubs and I came up with a solution using more items we had on hand and now it completes the fireplace wall – just in time for Christmas!
And while we’re talking Christmas decor, I’ll give you a quick tour around the house of my other displays, since I’ve been meaning to do that with photos I was able to take during our minimal daylight hours.
Next to the fireplace I used my collection of bottle brushes along with another free printable I found on the Little Glass Jar blog. I flanked everything with two of our favorite lanterns filled with pine cones and mini light strings. Please overlook the dust I apparently didn’t notice when taking these photos – because it’s so common in our household, hence the name of this blog!
In the entry way a lighted garland is the perfect base for several woodland style characters, including this super cute driftwood reindeer I just added to the herd this year! I haven’t named him yet, so if you have suggestions I’d love to hear them. I also picked up that cute little stuffed fox this year and think he makes a perfect buddy for Santa – plus he makes a great prop for winter time photos shoots with small children! He’s in need of a name as well so share those ideas too.
Out front there’s a new wreath on the door as Rusty greets visitors. I usually get a live wreath, but the fundraiser I used to buy from is no longer available through a friend, so decided to go faux and get something I can use for several years. The classic combination of silver and gold should fit in with any holiday style I try over the coming years.
I shared my decor on the dining room buffet on Facebook a while back, including the new wall decor I got this year so be sure to get a peek at that. On an adjacent wall I placed another new piece, this barn wood angel. I picked her up at the Colony High School Holiday Bazaar that I attend every year. She was created by the same vendor who made the barn wood star that hung above our nativity set last year and then became part of the gallery wall.
There are a few other decorations around the house, but they are minimal and most have been shared here on the blog before so I won’t rehash them. I hope you enjoyed the project and quick holiday tour!
Dust Bunnies and Dog Toys 