Have you started taking down your Christmas decor? I am pleased to say I am DONE. I started a little earlier this year than normal, the day after Christmas.

 For me, it always seems sooo overwhelming every year!

 I like to make a huge pile... to make sure I get everything down from each room. Every year I think... I am going to put everything away ORGANIZED this year! (Hoping when it comes time to put it all up the next year it will make more sense and I won't have a HUGE mess). Every year I get overwhelmed and just stick everything in boxes and call it good. Then of course go shopping for 75% off Christmas decor and wrappings and stick those in, just in the bags, shut the door and call it good.

 We have this little storage space above our garage... well it's not exactly small, just the door is small =) The door is in the hubbys office, behind his desk.

 This is how I left it after putting all the Christmas decor up this year.

 Umm, yep! Way back there in the very back? Ya that would be the FALL decor that didn't get put away in bins either. Luckily I can just close the door and don't have to worry anyone will EVER see it.

 I labeled all the plastic bins this year with what is in the boxes rather than just "Christmas". All the linens are all together, ornaments are by colors, the village is all in the same bins, etc.

 It took an extra couple days of "stuff" everywhere, which I have a hard time with.

 It took me 3 hours separating out ornaments into separate containers by colors, in front of the TV watching HGTV...

the hubby even had to cook a meal (he's making homemade whole wheat fettuccini noodles).

 But it's all been put away...

 and... it's organized! Woohoo!

 I am a happy girl =)

 even the fall decor =)

 BLISS =)
Yes, my one little word for 2012 was BLISS wasn't it? My word for 2013? That will be my next post!
Happy New Year!

 I have really been trying to use up some of the crafting supplies I have on hand this Christmas so I thought I would post a few more Christmas gifts I made this year. I got the idea for this from here. I loved the one she made using an embroidery hoop. I wanted to use what I had on hand, so I used a 16x16 canvas. The only thing I had to buy was a few vintage Christmas ornaments. I found them at Habitat for Humanity for $2.00 for a box of 21. I think I need to make one for myself =)

 Next up I needed some girly gifts for the hubbys assistants at work.

 I've had this recipe for lotion for a few years, and probably had all the ingredients since last Christmas.

 I got the recipe from here.

 I packaged them all up in a few plastic jars and used lots of rhinestones and ribbon.

 Add a little gift card for coffee and he's good to go!

After finishing the Christmas ornament tree I decided I liked using the glitter letters so I added Silent night to the driftwood tree I made. I love it even more now!

 I bought these cute little "Merry Christmas vinyl kits from Groupdealz  (I think)

 The kits came with the wood pieces and the vinyl, I added the paint, card stock and rhinestones from my crafting stash. One is going to my neighbor for a "neighbor gift". She bakes, so I didn't want to burden her with MORE baked goods =)

 I will probably keep one...

Now to decide which one to keep! Ha!

Crafting...

 I've been doing some last minute crafting the last couple days.

 My neighbor just had a baby girl, her name is Julianna. Her room is all done in pink, white and brown.

 I thought it would be fun to do a monogram for her wall.

 I also quickly tied a fun polka dot blanket.

 I had the special opportunity to pick out a vintage chandelier and vintage baby carriage for her room. My neighbor mentioned that she had been searching for the chandelier and carriage with no luck. While traveling a few months ago I came across the chandelier at a vintage market

 I knew as soon as I saw it she would love it! Doesn't that just scream baby girl room!

The price of $110.00 was pretty reasonable, I would have tried to negotiate, but someone else had their eye on it too... I couldn't take the chance of loosing it. The carriage was a find a few states away while traveling in California. We are headed over for "happy hour" to toast Juliannas arrival so I will try to snap a few pics of her room and the carriage.

 I had pinned a few driftwood and twig Christmas trees on Pinterest and decided since I had a bucket full of driftwood to try making one for a friend for Christmas.

 I used some shells my sister in law sent me from a trip to Florida, a few pieces of "fake" beach glass, a starfish and of course the driftwood I picked up from a local beach this summer. I hot glued it to a piece of black velvet that I attached to a canvas with staples. I hope she loves it as much as I do!

 I think a bomb exploded in the craft cottage!

 The silly thing is...

 I can still manage to create in this mess!

 Keeping it real friends and hoping to get it all cleaned up before the New Year =)

2012 Holiday House tour

 Welcome to my holiday house tour! This year I decided to enjoy the holidays... so I decorated lightly. I have been done with all the shopping, wrapping, mailing and baking for a few days now =) So WELCOME!

 I will greet you at the kitchen door, no one uses the front door! It snowed last night, just for your visit.

 I got this fun vinyl, wasn't sure where to put it and then the light bulb moment hit me when I decorated the kitchen entrance with the snow flakes, I LOVE it!

 In the kitchen I have my gingerbread tree, it also has some fun star shaped vintage tins. Kokos "stocking" awaits Santa to add more treats.

 Some dollar store wreaths, with a simple star ornament and some red ribbon added. The inside of the china cabinet is decorated with some favorite decorations.

 Large brown and white checked ribbon tied in a bow with a small bird ornament adorn the back of each dining room chair this year.

 Ordinarily I am not a huge fan of red, but this year... it just had to be. While shopping with my sister in October I found myself gravitating to Red, Brown and White for my Christmas colors, so I went with it!

 Would you like to stop for a cup of hot cocoa? The cocoa bar is all ready for you =)

 We have been lucky enough this year to have a few house guests, so I added a few Christmas touches to the guest rooms too. A simple dollar store wreath tied with burlap to the bed frame. A snowman on the nightstand.

 The guest bathroom got a few touches too. Another dollar store wreath, some red ribbon and an angel ornament made from an oyster shell.

 My grandmas carolers, a vintage look Santa ornament and a few sparkly red ornaments bring a pop of color behind the toilet.

 My gift wrapping station was just too cute to hide in the closet, so it sits in the corner, patiently waiting the hubby to wrap his last minute gifts. (Which I'm sure he hasn't even bought yet;))

 The master needed a wreath too, this one a much larger one, with a bow of the brown and white ribbon.

 I added a Christmas caroler doll my grandma made for me, and a star shaped box of blue ornaments on top of my dresser.

 The master bathroom got a large wreath,

 and a couple red ribbons tied here and there.

 We can go back to the second guest room now,

my friend Jessica and I each made 3 of these fun vinyl pictures. Each one is different.

 Just a couple more rooms to go... upstairs the media room didn't get a big tree this year, but if you look closely you will see quite a few smaller "trees".

 My friend Jessica made me this ceramic tree last year.  I LOVE it! I Love having it in the media room since we are up here every evening watching TV I get to spend a couple hours everyday enjoying it.

 A couple more of those dollar store wreaths, with brown and white checked ribbon...

 And lastly the hubbys office airplane tree.

 One last look at the living room looking over the balcony.

Come back when you can stay awhile, we can have some hot cocoa or tea... I may even break out some Christmas cookies =)