Christmas Kitchen 2011

I was really excited about adding some touches of Christmas to the kitchen because it's the first Christmas since the Kitchen Facelift. Since I did the facelift at the beginning of this year, this is my first Christmas with the black and white cabs. I have really, really enjoyed the changes and adding merry touches have been really fun.

We are in the throws of hot chocolate season here in MO (it's even suppose to snow today!) so I set up a 'hot chocolate' bar. Honestly, this counter is typically our 'catch-all' counter, so I cleaned it off once and for all and vow to keep it clean. What better way to keep it clutter free than to fill it with all the makings of a fine cuppa hot chocolate. The kids really love it, and really, I love it too. About 12 dollars in supplies, and everything else I had on hand.

Looking in to the living room:

On the dining table, just a simple centerpiece with cylinder vases and cedar. I raised one up on a vintage milk glass pedestal and tied some fun stripped ribbon around the glass. You might remember the linen table runner I made for my Thanksgiving table. I really love the look of it for Christmas too, I think it adds a little elegance to an otherwise whimsical look.

Little Christmas touches on the other counter too, the green (leaf green from Krylon) I use all through the year looks nice with Christmas red.

Cute little musical snowman I received last year as a gift, so cute! His little gumdrops light up too! :)


I jazzed up the chalkboard door with a wreath and a merry Santa face, handcrafted felt poinsettias and gingerbread men.
If you have ever considered doing a chalkboard door, do it, we have really loved it.

The kitchen is not super big at all, the door leads to the garage and the laundry room is in the corner past the fridge. I'm hoping to give it a little facelift of it's own next month.

The centerpiece from the Yuletide Christmas tablescape found a home on top of the hutch. I wanted a little bit of greenery and that really did the job. With the super long branches, I was able to hang some paper stars. I hope to show you how to make the stars next week.

Looking in to the kitchen.

My little collection of Waterless Snow Globes are in the window sill, behind all that sunshine. :)

I recently made over an old painting into a chalk board, check out the 'before' HERE. I hung some paper punched and bottlecap garland over the corner and added a paper star. Logan is only tall enough to draw on the bottom, it's been a fun addition.

I hope you have enjoyed the little tour. Have questions? Just ask in the comments.

Joining Layla @ The Lettered Cottage

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The Meaning of the Christmas Wreath

Happy weekend! I hope you are enjoying some holiday decorating! I will be helping my MIL this weekend, so I know I'm in for some fun.

I found this poem and wanted to share:

The Meaning of the Christmas Wreath, by Holley Gerth

Every Christmas wreath is more than a decoration...it's a special reminder of Jesus, the reason for our celebration.

The circle of a Christmas wreath is a never ending ring, a reminder of eternal love from our Lord and King.

The Christmas wreath is a sign of welcome, inviting all to enter in....a reminder of Christ's invitation for all to come to Him.


The middle of a Christmas wreath is a bare and empty space, a reminder of what life would be without Christ's love and grace.

So each time you see a Christmas wreath

hanging from a door,

may your heart rejoice in the One

that Christmas is truly for!

Isn't that a wonderful poem?

All of these wreaths and more are available in my SHOP.

Have a great weekend and I'll talk to you Monday!

Need a design boost? For advice and guidance on style, contact me!

Gingerbread Man {A Tutorial}

Here is a fun craft that you can do to hang on a tree or decorate a package with....really the possibilites are endless, let's get started!

If you would like to create the felt poinsettias that you see here on the wreath, check out the tutorial HERE!

If you are feeling crafty, here is what you'll need:

Wooden Gingerbread Men

(Which I will abbreviate GM, because I'm too lazy to spell it out anymore)

Craft Paint in Golden Brown, light pink and Burnt Umber

Fabric 'Slick' Writers in black and white

Sparkle Mod Podge

Buttons/beads

New pencil (with non-used eraser)

Paint brushes

Clothes pin (and hot glue gun to glue it on)

You can find GM in the unfinished wood area of any craft store, but I like the shape of the one from Hobby Lobby the best. They come in a pack of three for around a dollar.

You'll begin by giving the GM about three coats of golden brown paint and let dry. You'll want to do both sides and the edges too, so it looks nice and neat.

Next, you want to give the GM a 'cookie' look with a gnarly brush and burnt umber paint....just around the edges.

Once it's dry, use the unused eraser end of a pencil and dip into light pink paint and give that GM some rosy cheeks. That wasn't a run-on sentence was it?

Let dry.

Slick writers I get at Wal-mart. They have them over where you get stuff to make your own t-shirt area. It's for fabric, but it works fine with this too and dries with a raised surface, which is great for a 'frosting' look.
With the white slick writer, give him some frosting and use the black for his eyes and mouth. You have to kinda have a steady hand, but the tubes are pretty easy to use. Of course you can personalize the face however you'd like too...I like mine a little cock-eyed. :)
Let everything dry and glue on some buttons or beads.

Glue the clothes pin on the back. This makes it super easy to clip any where...stockings, trees, gifts, etc.

Finally, completely cover the GM with sparkle Mod Podge. It seals it and gives it the twinkle effect you know I love!


Once it is dry, he is ready to clip anywhere and everywhere. I've been making these for years and even do them made out of burlap. I think they are so cute!

They look cute pinched on a wreath too! I hope you are inspired to give this a try! If you don't like the whimsy look, I think it would look cute with a prim look too.

Have a GREAT weekend!

Yuletide Christmas {Tablescape}

Are you getting ready for the Holiday season? Dragging out the tubs, untangling lights, and fluffing your mantle with Christmas finery? Well thank you for taking the time to stop by for some inspiration!

I was thinking the other day, what are quintessential Christmas elements? The first things that come to mind for me....red berries, pine, pine cones, and plaid. In gathering all those things, I headed outside to create a Yuletide Christmas.

This is actual frost on the centerpiece...I left it on the table and the next morning it was frosty and I couldn't resist snapping a couple pictures. It makes the berries look so real!

For the centerpiece, that I always love creating, I used an old metal log holder. It's kinda big, so I started off with long branches. Then filled in with pine and berries and finished it off with a small ribbon. A classic hourglass hurricane on a brass holder provides a little candlelight, off to the side.

The tablecloth was a recent find at Big Lots. I zeroed right in on the plaid, although they have other styles.



Herringbone napkins that I've had for a while, they show up for any occasion that calls for red. The napkin rings I created by wrapping a plain plastic napkin ring (from the dollar store) with plaid ribbon and a little hot glue.


Twiggy chargers from Mary Carol Home Collection, love these and use them a lot. Flatware is from Target, although I think I've seen this style everywhere now.

Simple white plates with a little pearl detail around the edge, also from the Dollar Tree, last year.

I love how the centerpiece turned out, something a little unexpected and certainly festive.

The snowflake glasses were a find from last year at the Dollar Tree.
These are actually in everyday use, they are the perfect size for eggnog. Which we love and drink all the time, except for Keegan, he doesn't like it at all.

The candle lit at night...

So what are the elements that make a quintessential Christmas for you? Are you like me and love the traditional things?

I hope you've enjoyed my Yuletide Christmas!


Joining Susan for Tablescape Thursday

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