Traditions With A Twist

Hello Friends,

Christmas is rapidly approaching....Countdown has begun.  There's still cookie baking to be done here and presents to wrap.  How's your preparations coming along?  I'm putting finishing touches on the Mermaid Tail Blankets I've been knitting for Sunshine & Lollipop and I'll be sharing those with you after Christmas.

I promised to share more decorating with you......most of you know that I have no fireplace mantel to decorate (I live in Florida where it is currently 82 degrees in Mid-December) but I do have a baker's rack that gets the full treatment each season.

In addition to the Santa collection

I've added a new chalkboard greeting

A few of my favorite things

including a vintage angel and her reindeer buddy.

More Santas and a new addition of glass pedestals to hold  my jeweled fruit. 

Oh another crafty project I've been working on is the Coffee Filter and Cupcake liner Christmas tree.  This was inspired by Pinterest: see it HERE.  

 Of course I did my own spin on the original, adding pom-poms and painting my own design. 

I originally planned to use the tree on the baker's rack but it just didn't look right.  Less is more, right?  And looking at the BR it didn't need More! So, this year my cheery little tree will join the moss-filled hurricane lanterns on the dining table.  I think it fits in perfectly here, don't you?

Until next time,
Bee Creative!
Suzy

Keeping It Simply Natural

Hello Friends!

It's that time of year again when we are all super busy with preparations leading up to Christmas when time seems to fly rapidly, while we try to keep up with an endless TO DO list.  If you are that busy then it is time to slow down and enjoy the season!  Take time out of your busy schedule to enjoy a cuppa something warm, take a breath and enjoy the moment.  I don't know about you but I have to remind myself to sloooooow down!

As December approaches I get super busy with craft projects, decorating and gift making.  I like traditional decorating but try to switch up the traditional each year with a few newer ideas.  This year I'm keeping it simple with natural elements.


Cinnamon scented pine cones in a wooden bowl on a quilt brightens up the coffee table. 

 Last year I made a few cone trees decorated with pages from a dictionary and added paper snowflakes punched from recycled Christmas cards. This year they join the angel next to a vintage basket stuffed with pine boughs.

And a few more cone trees decorate an entry table....they are favorites of Sunshine & Lollipop. They love the bright green and silver tinsel trees decorated with red buttons and wooden stars.

JOY!  My newest chalkboard design holds court over a painted Santa sign and mini Christmas tree decorated with nuts and berries.  The silver and gold basket holds a silver pear. 

A new hand-made faux boxwood wreath hangs over the wooden nativity near my chair. 

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Another natural element: silver and bronze tin pail holds more greenery and a little red star.

Our beautiful porcelain nativity with vintage trumpet candle holders announce the birth of Jesus.  That's a wooden chopping board painted with chalkboard paint to herald the blessed event.

What creative ideas have you come up with to decorate your home?  I don't know about you but I have a zillion ideas but only a few make it to the final cut each year.  That's the great thing about decorating, there's always lots of ideas and they can wait until next year.

  I do have a few more decorating projects to show you, so please come back soon!  

BEE CREATIVE!  

Suzy

Tinsel, Glitter & Glue

Greetings Friends!

December is here and its officially time to start hanging the greens and getting our home decorated in the traditions of the season.  Our Christmas tree is up but not decorated and a few crafty projects are in the works.

For several years now I've been doctoring up the old Christmas wreath that hangs on the front door, thinking I would eventually get a new one to replace it.  This was the year for making a new Christmas wreath and I found all the supplies at the Dollar store.

 It all started when the shiny silver tinsel caught my eye....originally my plan was to make an ornament wreath but that shiny tinsel had me and pretty soon there were berries and before I knew what was happening I had a basket full of silver glitter pine cones and red berries and shiny red and silver ornaments, OH MY!

It has been YEARS since I've used a hot glue gun but this project called for the heavy duty glue and you know what that means....lots of painful glue burns. Not a fan of the low temp glue but I might need to rethink that position.  

And yes I've been busy crafting other Christmas things but just a glimpse for now.....

Something Red & White.....

Something Green & Red........

Have you been crafting and decorating?  Stop back by again....I'll be sharing these with you soon!

Bee Creative
Suzy