Christmas, hands down my favorite holiday. There’s a certain “peace on Earth and good will toward men” spirit in the air. People take a step back from the hectic day to day life and get into the Christmas spirit. For me, it’s not about the gifts, it’s all about what we celebrate, who we celebrate with and the food at the feast!
Christmas 2018 presented an interesting challenge – finding a natural Christmas tree! Little did I know that in the economy of 2008 fewer trees would be planted which would come full circle in 2018! I found a Charlie Brown tree close to Christmas and decorated it, but unlike the animated feature, it didn’t transform. It remained a Charlie Brown tree.
In 2017 I started a Santa Claus collection that exploded in 2018 into a Santa Christmas tree and various collections throughout the house! Below are a few pictures of my 2018 decorations. I hope you find inspiration as you decorate your home to celebrate the season. I’ve had many items for years, but I’ll do my best in sourcing new and old.
Above: (L & M) I made a slip-on “Santa” outfit for a popcorn tin and stood a Santa motion figurine on it. Motion Santa was purchased about 25 years ago from Old Time Pottery. The Nativity Scene was purchased about 18 years ago from Costco. Under the Nativity Scene is a small vignette to fill the space – Santa carrying gifts with two large trees on a glass serving tray. I got faux snow from the dollar store to fill the tray and rested a wooden tag against the tree. (R) The white tree is new – it’s a 6 foot pencil tree I bought online from Bed Bath & Beyond. I wanted a white tree so the red popped in contrast. I didn’t want a skirt, instead I wrapped boxes of various sizes and placed them as gifts around the tree.
Above: (L) Topper is made up of HO HO HO picks from Pier 1 and smaller tri-color picks from eBay. (M & R) I’ve purchased Santa ornaments from Hallmark, Hobby Lobby, Lenox, NY, LA, DC, specialty Christmas shops, yard sales, etc. I filled the center of the tree with Santa glass balls for depth and added snowflakes from the Dollar Store for texture. A wooden sign from Hobby Lobby is perched on top of the fake gifts.
I decided to fill my china cabinet with Christmas trays, Santa cookie jars, ornaments and mugs that I’ve purchased at Sur La Table, Pier 1, Homegoods, Hobby Lobby and eBay. At the very top I’ve got two wooden Kurt Adler Santa Choo-choo trains from eBay. They are so whimsical! In the middle, I filled a white bowl with a Christopher Radko Shiny & Brite garland and tucked in a few Santa and Snowmen bottle stoppers.
Dining Room Table above: I love to weave a garland on the chandelier and hang ornaments from a string. As a simple centerpiece I arranged three glass apothecary jars filled with small silver and gold ornaments and three winter tree candles under the chandelier. The sideboard table has more jars filled with ornaments and decorated with ribbons. Between the jars I placed a two tier serving tray from Hallmark with village scenes.
Our piano room is a light pink color so I wanted complimentary tones. I placed an angel on a table, a pink velvet snowflake pillow from Pier 1 on a chair and decorated a small tree with Christopher Radko Shiny & Brite ornaments and garland that I bought at TJMaxx and Dillards after Christmas 2017.
Our Peanuts Gang tree! This tree is near and dear to my heart because it’s my daughter’s tree. She’s a HUGE Peanuts fan and we’ve been collecting since she was five – about 20 year’s worth of ornaments. I have mostly figurines, but I also have glass and satin balls that I hang on the inside of the tree. The base is boxes wrapped in Snoopy Christmas paper and Linus’s blue blanket tucked in on top of the boxes. A simple popcorn garland (nod to Snoopy’s Thanksgiving meal) and Santa hat finish the tree.
(L) A few deer themed throw pillows and blanket decorate the family room. Simple and done. (R) The outside patio is barely decorated since we move the furniture to make space for our Christmas Eve dinner. All I have outside is a simple tray on the table and a galvanized bucket with garland and over-sized snowman balls from Pier 1.
I hope my home inspires you as your deck the halls for 2019! Remember to start Christmas window shopping in August/September.
