New post at The Art is Found! And here’s what I did.

Since we’re in a new house this year, it’s been taking me a while to figure out solutions for holiday decorations. By the time I’m done with everything, Christmas will be over! But it’s okay, because I love the process. One of the issues with the new house, is that traditionally, the stockings would be hung on the mantel… except we have no mantel! So, I decided to find a solution that would be a bit modern, and a bit quirky. I’m not even sure how my progression of thoughts turned into this. But here we have it! Our stocking tree!

I applied wood grain contact paper to a sheet of posterboard. Then, I drew out the outline of the tree and cut it out. To apply it to the wall, I used rubber cement. It dries quickly (but I secured it with painters tape while it dried) and peels off easily. After Christmas, I will take down the stockings, and leave the wall decal for part of my winter decorating. When it comes time to take down the decal for Spring, the rubber cement rubs right off and leaves no residue. It’s amazing, really. I use it for everything….

I also made the stockings. No, I didn’t knit them. I just went to the thrift store and bought some sweaters I liked. Cut them up. And made these! :) The stocking tree is one of the few decorating choices I’ve made that I think looks a lot better in person. It’s so hard to get photos of our front door because there is only a few feet in between that wall and the other wall. It’s our entry area, and on the wall across from the front door is our Christmas tree. I figured, that way, Santa will be able to easily spot the stockings. :)

Which… I’ve been wanting to share my feelings of Santa and Christmas. I think I will save that for another post.

Because I also wanted to share with you something I did with the scraps from the posterboard.

I always wanted to decorate the panels on the old doors in our house… so I thought little leaf-less trees would be perfect for this time of year! I think they look really sweet.

So there’s a few ideas for ya! I think it’s so easy to make wall decals… I don’t know why I’ve never done it before!

but no fire inside of it. All is well, though. We’ve got our candles to keep us warm. :)

This is my first Christmas crafty project I’m sharing here. More to come! I just started photographing the decorating progress. This particular project is one of my favorites, though. I got some dried out birch logs (with burl and all!) that came from fallen trees. Then I sliced them using a table saw (I know most people don’t have these, but you could probably use a hack saw, or borrow someone’s!) and then had a couple of muscular men hold them tight while I drilled into them using a special circle bit bought to use on a drill press (which is basically a ginormous power drill). The custom circle cutter drill bit was a splurge, but my pop bought it, claiming that he would surely use it again. :) I love him for that. (and for lots of other things, of course!) So, after I had sliced up birch loges with cylindrical holes in them, I procured some polyurethane spray (good ol dad!) which I used on the logs, bought some votive candles to fit in the holders I had (I bought the circle bit to match the size of my candle holders) and voila! A candlescape for my large coffee table! (after I let the polyurethane fumes dry out for a week or so!) It’s perfectly cozy, and everyone who comes over just loves them. But honestly, I could care less if they love them (so I tell myself!), I just think they’re the greatest and… well, “I’m in love, I’m in love, and I don’t care who knows it!”

You’ve GOT to be kidding me!
But no.
It’s true.
The arrival of Christmas is swift…
and so I’m beginning preparations now.
Thanks to Hambly Studios,
and my local craft store,
I was able to make some pretty awesome gift boxes
for food gifts,
or whatever little lovely gifts I’m giving this holiday season.

I was so delighted to find shaker boxes
for less than a dollar at a craft store.
And I’m pretty sure one sleeve
of Holiday Rub-Ons from Hambly
could decorate about five boxes, or more!
Finally, cute holiday boxes are affordable!

So…. Christmas gifts!
I have no idea what to say
when people ask me,
“so what do you want for Christmas this year?”
Ummmm…
A canon rebel.
A new laptop.
A high quality wide format printer.
But is anyone going to get me these things?
haha No.
But it’s really all I want.
So what to tell people…
what to tell them.

I mean really. I have no idea.
I know I’m going to get a bunch of crap
that I don’t even want.
Ah well.
I should just say not to get me anything.
But I know that won’t work either.
I guess what I really want is….
A work out partner.
A model for Half Caf. :)
Someone to come over and do crafts with me.
An afternoon of coffee and chatting.
The end of construction on the house.
Someone to make omellettes for me each morning.
A freshly shaven husband each day.
A thrifting buddy.
Shopping sprees at Anthro.
All the stuff you can’t wrap up in a box.
So yeah.
That’s what I want for Christmas this year.
Should I make a list?
:)

Thanks for all of the well wishes.
There have been no changes in Grampa’s health yet…
he’s just still hangin in there.
***EDIT***
Redesigned the blog!
And it feels good. :)
***EDIT TWO***
Well, they’re putting my grandpa on a respirator.
And they had told us,
if they put him on a respirator,
there’s a 50% chance
that if they take him off
he will survive.
Also, my dad has to have surgery again.
Tomorrow.
What a week.
I’m kind of a wreck right now.