MarytheKaytheBlog

But Christmas: Guest Post

I thought it would be fun this week between Christmas and New Year's to do something different.  I have asked a couple of my friends and family members to write a guest post about something holiday-related.  

Today, please welcome my dear friend Dawn, as she tells a little bit of what it was like growing up in a Christmas wonderland...

When I was little, Christmas at my house was always larger than life.  My parents didn't spoil us throughout the year; rarely giving in to our pleas for trinkets at every grocery store visit or trips to Gibson's 5&10. 

But Christmas.

Oh how I love the words, "but Christmas."  Christmas was a whole different story.  My parents love Christmas, and instilled in my sister and me a love for it, too.  A love that extends far beyond all the beautiful decor and presents. 

All through my growing up years, my family owned and operated a Christmas business.  Well, not totally a Christmas business, but that's what it was to me.  They imported and manufactured all sorts of display items, and Christmas decor was a huge part of their business.  As a little girl, I frequently went to work with my parents and found lots of places to hide and pretend among the thousands of square feet of showroom and warehouse.  There were Christmas trees decorated with every possible theme, twinkling lights by the millions, wreaths, garlands, glass balls, beads, beautiful ribbons, glitter by the pound and so much more.  I grew up in a Hobby Lobby/Michaels/Garden Ridge all wrapped up with a bow before those places had ever even hit the streets.

 

My Granddad, Big Daddy, as his grandkids called him, had a huge vision for the city of Dallas.  He loved sharing Christmas decor with the state of Texas, and he loved Santa Claus.  At that time, back in the early 80's, we had the largest Santa Claus statue in the world.  At least, in my opinion.  Every July a crane came to our building and hoisted that huge guy up in front of our storefront for every passing car to see.  He would stop traffic on the freeway.  People couldn't help but stare at that huge Santa in the middle of the Texas summer.  Christmas in July was a big deal in our business.  That's when all the buyers secured their orders for their own stores...we sold more Christmas trees in July than in November and December.  All because of the vision my Big Daddy instilled into my own daddy and his siblings.  

Many malls and corporate businesses would contract with us to decorate their lobbies or  their stores.  Some of my favorite Christmas memories are of my cousins and me running around stores and closed banks after hours, riding elevators and creating all sorts of chaos as my parents decorated for them.  My dad can bring a Christmas tree to life.  I've been lots of places and seen beautifully decorated trees, but truly, none compare to what my dad can do with a box of glass balls, some plaid ribbon and a well placed beaded garland.  He's got a talent all his own.  And I wish I had an ounce of his gift.  I don't.  I should have helped more when I was little.  I was too busy playing on the phone intercom at the store...always summoning my dad to the front counter in my commanding operator voice. 

My dad was the creative mind behind the company.  He had an eye for lovely things and could recreate something or pull it straight out of the air. Many decorations that we sold were his original creations and then the faithful servants in our warehouse manufactured them.  We sold to Branson shows before we even knew what Branson was.  Many shows still playing on the strip and some that have since closed were our customers.  And even a little theme park that is the staple in our town was a big customer of ours.  It's funny how life comes full circle like that.

 

As much as my family loved to bring the joy and the twinkle of Christmas into the Dallas area and beyond, they never failed to share why they celebrated the season.  To us, it wasn't the evergreens so creatively decorated.  It wasn't the beautiful wreath adorned with the golden bow.  It wasn't the garland lining the balcony nor was it the stockings that were hung by the chimney with care.  It was ALL about the baby.  The innocent baby that came to save us.  He saved our family.  He blessed us immensely.  He loved us unconditionally.  He gave us a full and abundant life.  That's what it is all about.  That's what my Christmas-laden family instilled in me.  

Oh how I wish I could adorn a tree like my dad.  But more than that, I hope I teach my children what my Big Daddy and his son taught me.  Jesus.  He really is all we need.  

A Family Christmas Tree: Guest Post

I thought it would be fun this week between Christmas and New Year's to do something different.  I have asked a couple of my friends and family members to write a guest post about something holiday-related.  

Today, please welcome my big sister Gina--actually my sister-in-law, whom I love like a big sis!

I love decorating our Christmas trees...yes, trees with an "s"!  I have a snowman themed tree, a thin tree filled with only ornaments that say the word "Joy" on them, and each of my children have a small tree in their rooms.  We even have a Jesse tree, that we add an ornament to each night which goes along with a nightly Christmas devotional reading. 

But, my favorite tree of all is my big family Christmas tree.  It is not adorned with the fabulous big ornaments and large spiky toppers that others are using.  It is a sentimental tree filled with ornaments that represent events in our lives...family vacations, 1st year of school, baby's 1st Christmas and ornaments made by my boys or given to us by loved ones.  One of my favorite additions to the family tree is a collection of photo ornaments of mine and John's grandparents who have gone on to be with the Lord.  I found the ornaments at Hobby Lobby and have seen similar ones every year since I found these.  Since I wanted the ornaments to match, I bought enough for each grandparent, even though my grandmother is still living.  I have enjoyed seeing these ornaments every year and I hope you will be inspired to do the same!

 

What are some of your favorite sentimental decorations?

Easy DIY Christmas Art!

I just love decorating our home at Christmas with meaningful and sentimental art!  Today, as I was (finally) putting up part of my snowman collection, I thought I'd share 2 easy DIY Christmas art projects that our family is enjoying this year.

This is actually a new china cabinet in our kitchen, and I have to say--looking at it just makes me happy.  Because it's new, I had to figure out how to decorate it for Christmas.  I decided to put part of my cutie pie snowman collection on top, and anchored them with 2 DIY art projects.

 Project #1 - FREE Joy Printable on (in)Courage

I was SO excited when I saw the lovely JOY graphic.  I originally printed this one out to use as a gift.  I even bought the inexpensive acrylic frame at Michael's as part of the gift.  When I slid the graphic into the frame, I put it on top of my china cabinet to see how it looked.  I loved the look of it so much...that I am KEEPING it.  I'll print another to give away!  

(By the way, if you haven't ever read (in)Courage, please click around over there.  I promise you'll be encouraged if you do.)

 

 Project #2 - Poinsettia Sponge-Painted Canvas

This was an art project my creative sister taught her nieces to do last Christmas.  The girls always look forward to Aunt Gina's newest art project for them whenever she comes for a long visit.  Last year, she brought all of the supplies needed to make these simple sponge-painted poinsettias:  Canvases, craft paint (red, green, gold), brushes, pencils (needed for the eraser), and inexpensive dish sponges.

Instructions:  First, they made the centers for 5 poinsettias, by dipping a pencil's eraser tip (or end of a paint brush) into gold craft paint and pressing onto the canvas.  The 4-5 gold dots each should form small circles, and be spread across the whole canvas.

Next, she cut a regular dish sponge into a pointed petal shape.  Each child got 1 petal-shaped sponge and some red craft paint on a styrofoam plate.  She instructed the kids to sponge the poinsettia leaves around each gold dot "center"--giving each flower 6-7 petals.  She told them not to worry if their gold dots were too close to an edge--the picture looks better if a few of the poinsettia petals are "falling off" the edge of the canvas.

The last step is to paint the background, using a greenish-gold they could mix together on their styrofoam plates.  They used brushes to paint the background over the whole canvas--but leaving a thin white outline around each of the flowers/petals.

That's it!  Each of the girls' canvases is unique--and strikingly vibrant and happy!  I have my girls' names and last year's date written on the backs.  

I'm sure these sweet paintings will make me smile year-after-year as I unwrap them, and place them back up for Christmas.

(More DIY art ideas... Inspiring artwork ... Pottery Barn-Inspired Bulletin Board ... Scrabble Tile Decor ...Inexpensive Custom Bulletin Board)

What are some of your favorite easy--and handmade--Christmas art projects around your house?

Linked up with:  We are THAT Family

An EASY (and Inspiring!) Way to Add Artwork to your Home

(This is one of my favorite projects.  I originally told you about it in September, 2010)

One of my favorite ways  to add artwork to the walls is--

You guessed it:  Quick and easy!

I love hanging scripture verses on our walls.  I have simple framed verses all over our house now--our living room, kitchen, both of my girls' rooms, their bathroom, and our Master bath.  I try to match the themes of the verses to the purpose of the room.  Family verses for our common areas.  Verses about beauty, confidence, and kindness in our girls' bathroom.  Verses to remind me about inward beauty and the state of my heart in our Master bath.

I find that as I am getting ready in the mornings, my eyes will catch a glimpse of one of the verses--and I am reminded that all the hair brushing and shimmery make-up in the world cannot touch the state of my heart.  That is a good reminder for my rushing-around morning routine!  I hope that as my girls grow, and are primping in their bathroom mirror, the verses on their walls will  help them navigate the murky waters of the teenage years and into womanhood.

 Girls' Bathroom Verses

  

 Master Bathroom Verses What??  You can't read these verses?  

Sorry...that didn't help much, did it?

If you want to look them up, they are Proverbs 31: 25, 26, and 30

and Philippians 4:6-7
 

Want to know how EASY these framed verses are to make?  All you need are 3 things:

1.  Vellum paper (the semi-transparent paper you purchase at a craft store)

2.  Pretty scrapbook paper - or fabric to put under the vellum paper, which serves as the background

3.  A frame - all of the frames pictured above were very inexpensive frames

Now what?

Find your favorite Bible verses (or those that you want to inspire you), type them out, and HAVE FUN playing with all those fonts you never seem to use!  You can even insert some simple clipart, if you want.  If you notice on the girls' bathroom verses, I inserted some simple butterflies.  They just seemed to match the whimsical font I used.  When you're satisfied with the look, just print on the vellum paper as you would on regular copy paper.  Place the vellum over the scrapbook paper (or fabric), and frame it!  Easy breezy!

To see what the vellum and scrapbook paper look like, I'll show you a picture of the 5-year faded paper I just replaced in our Master bath.  I replaced the faded blue with the cheerful yellow and white polka dot fabric.  It was just some fabric I had leftover from an earlier project. 

You'll notice the vellum I used last time was patterned.  You might think I searched high and low to find it...but actually, that was the only kind of vellum I found at our craft store that day.  That is the way all of my projects end up around here--IMPROVISED, because I am too impatient to wait one more day to finish!!!

Notice the grey paper on the right?  That paper used to be the bright blue like on the left...I just flipped that page over--the other side is the horrible grey, too!  I doubt scrapbook paper would have faded that much.  Once again, I improvised...and just used regular construction paper!  Why?  Because that is what I had on hand at the time!

Want more QUICK and EASY ideas?

    Teacher Gifts

    Baby Gifts

    Dessert...my love language

    White Chocolate Popcorn

I hope this easy breezy project inspires you to hang some meaningful Bible verses around your house.   

Or, if you already do this, I would LOVE to hear what verses you use!  Another GREAT thing about this project is that you can change out/update the verses easily!

How to make a beautiful custom bulletin board: In pictures!

For Mother's Day, my mom wanted a bulletin board for her cutie pie grandkids' art.  I knew I couldn't find anything shnazzy and oversized enough in my price range, so I decided to make one!

After a quick browsing through Pinterest, I decided to hit some thrift stores to find an oversize frame to start with.

Lucky for me, my wheeling-dealing husband went along, and got the cheesy picture frame for HALF PRICE!

I'll let the pictures do the rest of the explaining.  'Cause ya'll know I could chat your ears off trying to explain each step.  I think the pictures are pretty self-explanatory.  The whole project took me about 3 hours to complete--start to finish.

Is it tacky to say that I LOVE the finished product??!

(By the way, this ain't my first bulletin board rodeo...bulletin boardeo...Click here to see the Pottery Barn knock-off I did for my daughter's room!)

 

Now, heretofore are the project pictures:

 

DRUM ROLL for the finished project:

 

 (I can't heeeaaaarrrr youuuuu)

 

 What do you think?  

The bright red frame just makes me HAPPY!  The colorful striped fabric makes me smile, too.  (And did you notice I used a $5 flat sheet from Walmart for the fabric?  I have admired the fabric in these sheets for a while, and decided it would cheerfully complement the bright red frame!)

 

P.S.  How about a BONUS PROJECT??

Cute little custom pushpins!!!

What projects have YOU been working on lately?

Linked up with:

Works for Me Wednesday at We are THAT Family

Happy Summer to you!!

When we were in my hometown last weekend, I snapped a few pictures at my brother's house.  Their home is everything I LOVE about a house--bright and cheerful, with a huge front porch with white wicker furniture that just says, "Come sit, and let's have a cold glass of sweet tea while we watch the kids run around!" 

Their front porch and yard beckon you to come and sit a spell.  

See! I wasn't kidding about the inviting part, was I?  Doesn't this make you want an icy glass of sweet tea?  Bring your kids--we'll watch them while we chat.

And look!  If the kids get tired of swinging, they can run around back to the koi pond.  

Sorry I didn't take a picture of the huge goldfish.  Guess I was a little too lazy to walk down to the bottom to snap a picture.

But, can you blame me?  LOOK what caught my attention...

I just wanted to put up my feet a moment.

Now, if this picture doesn't say "Happy Summer" to you, I don't know what does! 

 What's your favorite part about your house in the summertime?

Please help me pick out a lamp

I don't know if you noticed how sneaky I was the other day...when I asked what was on everyone's wish list--and just-so-happened to mention what was on MY LIST.  

I just figure ye have not, because ye ask not.

Do you agree?

Anyway, I need to amend that list.  After looking with my mom at the table that I wanted to put the orchid on, she wondered what a lamp would look like, instead of the orchid? She was worried the orchid might not get enough sunlight in that spot.

So, today, I tried out a lamp that I already had, and I also walked through the lamp aisles at Target.  But, I'm no good at this decorating stuff.  My decorating style is called "Hand-Me-Down Decorating."  Nearly everything in my house is from family.  I LOVE having furniture that was my grandparents' and my parents', but when it's time to purchase something new and different, I am at a total loss.

Which is why I am coming to you, dearest readers.  I know that many of YOU are fabulous at decorating.  I've taken a couple of pictures, and I really hope you will help me figure out what to do with 2 tables in my living room.

Ready?  Let's get started!!!

This first picture is how I've had this corner table for years.  I originally loved the silk plant with pomegranates, but now I can't stand it another second.  It is a terrible dust collector, and I just don't like the look of it anymore.

I am open to changing anything on the walls, and anything on the table. Please don't tell me you don't like the tablecloth--I really love the fabric, and love the way my curtains bring out the red tones in it.  The shelf was my grandmother's, with several angels from her collection.  The pictures I bought years ago when we visited the Smithsonian American Art Museum. 

Oh, and in case you can't tell from my lame photo-taking skills, the walls are a buttery yellow.

 

Here's the next table I need help with. Again, this is the way I've had it for years:

Ya'll, these pretty chairs were my great Aunt Mae's  I can just see her tiny self perched in one of these, as we'd visit in her living room.  That needlepoint footstool was made by my grandmother, and sat in her living room. I can remember my uncle's gigantic feet propped on it, as he'd con me into giving him a foot rub.  The tiered table was also my grandmother's, and probably sat very near the footstool in her room, too.

I know you don't need all of these sentimental details.  But, I just can't help myself.  I just love furniture that tells a story.

 

Okay, next picture.  Here is the first table as a blank slate.  What would YOU put on it?

And here is this table with the dark red lamp (from the other tiered table).  What do you think?  Is it too much red?  (The light makes the lamp look funny--but it is the same deep red as the curtains.)  Would a darker color lamp look better?  Black?  Rubbed bronze? Or a different lampshade?

 

Here is the tiered table with nothing on it.  Except for a doily.  I know, I know.  People haven't decorated with doilies since the early 1990s.

 

 

As I walked the lamp aisles at Target today, I snapped a few pictures.  Do you think any of these lamps/lampshades would work on either of these tables?

 

The pictures don't do these lamps justice.  I just love the gold (glass) lamp!  Also, anything mercury glass makes me swoon, and this "antiqued" mercury glass lamp is no exception.

 Please don't tell me to use the Eiffel Tower lamp.  My favorite lamp here is the dark rubbed bronze twisted lamp on the right.

 

Oh, how I love this golden yellow lampshade.  I realize it has more of a modern flair than my very traditional living room.  However, I'd love to transition it slowly into a slightly more modern space.  (Emphasis on "slightly.")   What would this lampshade look like on a dark lamp--on the 2-tiered table?

Okay, there ya have it!  Please please just make out a plan for me, and tell me what I need!  Oh, and could you do it soon, please?  I need to tell my daughters what they need to "suggest" to their dad for Mother's Day.  *grin*

THANK YOU for your help!!!!  I promise to post pictures after you guys tell me what do do!

Sometimes it's the little things that make me happy...

Yesterday, I bought myself a little present.  At the time, I knew I should wait, and tell my husband or daughters that I would love this item for Mother's Day.  Dave loves when I give him good ideas for gifts.  Especially inexpensive ideas--like this one.

But, did I wait?

No, I did not.  I picked it right up and put it into my shopping cart before I could change my mind.

And I have to tell you--I could NOT WAIT to get home and try it out!  I was just like a little kid with a new toy!

So...what did I buy?

Here, I'll show you!

 
No, no, no.  Not the apples or bananas.  Look closer!

I bought a ScentSationals Scented  Wax Warmer Plugin!  Isn't it the cutest little thing?  Plus--double score--because it covers up my awkward plug in the middle of the wall.

I have wanted a Scentsy warmer for a long time, but Santa did not catch my hint the past couple of years.  Yesterday in Walmart, I saw the ScentSationals products nestled in between all the candles. When I saw their new line of plugins, I knew I had to have one!  Plus, it was only $10!  (Walmart is not showing the plugins online, but I bought mine in the store.)

I know this is only a little thing...but walking into my pretty-smelling kitchen sure did make me happy today!  Also, there is just something cozy feeling about the sweet little light.

Sometimes, it's just the little things...

Do you have a scented wax warmer?  What's your favorite flavor?  So far, I've only tried the Tranquil Spa.

What little things have made you happy recently?

Set a Spring Table and 2 Refreshing Spring Desserts

Well, if that title doesn't make ya want to eat a marshmallow Peep, I don't know what will.  I figured since Easter is this weekend, I'd better get this post up...or else I'll be trying to post these delightful Spring ideas this summer when I'm so sweaty and grumpy I want to punch somebody.

And punching somebody just doesn't fit in with this lovely post, now does it?

So--pinkies out, everybody!  We're talking Spring and pretty and dainty today!

I know I mentioned this post a couple of weeks ago, when I gave you a sneak peek at at my easy and inexpensive place cards idea.  I decorated this Spring table and made the 2 refreshing Spring desserts for a cooking show our church held.

My  mom and daughters helped me get everything set up the day before

Pop of color: Fabric.   I fell in love with the bright tablecloth topper (simply a fabric remnant on sale at Hobby Lobby), and knew it would add just the color pop I was looking for.  Because of the many bright colors in the fabric, I knew I needed to use white or clear dishes on the rest of the table.  I also bought the cheerful yellow with tiny white polka dots fabric at Hobby Lobby--and simply cut them into rectangles, and folded them into napkins.  (Shh!  Don't tell--I didn't even sew them!)

Everything borrowed: Inexpensive and easy.  Since the point of our table settings was to be easy and inexpensive entertaining, I mostly "shopped" for my table in my basement, my friend's basement, and my mom's storage closet.  I borrowed the darling bunnies and Easter egg tree from my mom, the votive candles from a friend, and the mason jars from my canning jar bin in the basement. 

Mason jars: Make me happy.  I wanted my Spring table to have a laid-back and fun feel, and the mason jar candles sure helped set the mood!  I used plain glass votives (from Walmart...Well, from my friend's basement...but I've seen them at Walmart), and slipped them into different sizes of mason jars.  I loved the way they looked grouped together in 3's.

Unique place cards: Fun.  I already told you how I made my jelly bean place cards here.  I bought the silicone cupcake cups at Hobby Lobby (on sale!), and filled them with jelly beans.  The only bad thing was I had to keep re-filling the jelly beans because a certain little person with a sweet tooth kept squirrelling them out. 

Want to see the whole table?  Here 'tis!

Sorry, I just couldn't grab a picture before people started taking the Mini Lemonade Cupcakes.  The plates are looking a little sparse here...  If you look real hard, you can see the White Chocolate Lemon Truffles hiding behind that bunny on the right.

Prettiest dessert winner: Smile.  Oh, there they are!  Y'all, these Truffles just make me smile.  Aren't they they prettiest little sparkling things?  (My camera skills don't do them justice.) The recipe said to roll them in powdered sugar.  But, I had seen some pretty ones rolled in regular (granulated) sugar and did that, instead.  I also placed each one inside a mini cupcake paper--which made them look all the more special.  Click here for the easy, no-bake recipe I used from Kitchen Simplicity.

Lemonade and cupcakes: Lovely words.  When I saw the Lemonade Cake with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting recipe on Pinterest, I knew I had to make it into mini cupcakes for my Spring table.  I will say that the mini cupcakes were more labor intensive than I planned--and next time I would prefer making a whole cake of this recipe.  However, the flavor is perfectly lemony, perfectly springtime!

Table centerpieces: Easy and meaningful.  My mom has the most adorable miniature ornaments for her Easter tree, but I wanted something simpler, and more meaningful.  I decided to use coordinating scrapbook paper and my beloved oval cutter (from Creative Memories).  My daughter helped me make these--I cut the ovals, while she hole-punched the tops, and slid in the yellow ribbon.  My mom wrote Easter Bible verses on several of the "eggs"--which brought a spiritual emphasis to my Spring table.  Up close, you might be able to see a couple of the Bible verses my mom used: John 13:8 and John 1:29

Does all of this Spring talk get you in the Easter mood? 

What are your Easter plans?  Will you attend church?  Cook?  Visit relatives? 

Spring Table Preview: Place Cards

I'm working on a longer post full of happy springy photos and ideas, but I thought I'd give you a little preview today...

Recently, I decorated a pretty Spring Table for a cooking class event at our church.  For my table, I focused on ideas that were EASY to do, INEXPENSIVE, yet PRETTY.  Ahh--3 of my favorite words!

The place cards hit all 3 of those wonderful words!  Want to know how easy they were?  I only did 4 things to create these Spring Place Cards...

1 - I bought a package of 8 yellow silicone baking cups at Hobby Lobby.  (They were $3.99--but 40% off!!)

2 - I filled each cup with jelly beans (after eating...quite a few!)

3 - I used a toothpick, and stuck it into 1 jelly bean.  Sometimes, I used my fingernail to "pierce" the jelly bean, if it was being stubborn.  I did break a couple of toothpicks before figuring out the fingernail piercing method.  (A highly technical process, as you can see!  Ha!)

4- I cut little rectangles out of plain notecards, wrote on the names, and taped to the toothpick.

That's it!  4 easy steps to creating darling little Spring Place Cards!  And won't your guests just love nibbling on the jelly beans?

What's your most recent EASY, INEXPENSIVE, and PRETTY idea??