Homefront: Simple Valentine's Day Craft Decorating



This is a Christmas hurricane glass candle holder that came with faux pine needle/cone wreath to display around the base. My husband won it from his work White Elephant Christmas Party, (and yet he brought something "funny" a Schticky Lint remover, but his the year before, a fancy toilet scrubber was a hit... I digress).

I wanted to hussy it up for Valentine's Day... so I got out my glue gun and silvery craft jewels (that you can order from me here) for this craft. If you want less permanent jewels, than you can use glue dots instead of hot glue.

 

Then, I tied a ribbon around it, added some romantical doodads like craft pearls, ginormous diamond rings, plastic crystals, a paper doily and a wood letter... and there you go. Remember the bedazzled red room I posted earlier? Well this would fit in there for sure! But I like to keep the bling to a minimum.

  

 

 I love keeping white taper candles in an assortment of jars and vessels.

 





Even for a person who doesn't go all out on holiday decorating, like how I went *teensy weensy* overboard with my "mantel"... doing a fun and simple staging area like this for holiday related items can bring just a bit of that fun and sparkle into your home. My kids always love it! 

Inspired Interior: Bedazzled

I love browsing craigslist. I find real gems sometimes... In this case, I found a lot! I see potential, creativity and personality here, some really neat pieces of furniture too, great job, Sammy! I also see that someone got a little carried away with a bedazzler. I wonder if we know when we have gone too far? Sometimes, it's good to question that, I suppose. I would have loved to see the creativity here of the gems used in a large scale piece, like a large art piece or the entire screen wall or coffee table or a chandy dripping with jewels... as opposed to a little bit speckled everywhere. What do you think? Interestingly, I'm totally inspired now to take one huge item and just craft jewel the living heck out of it. I do have colorful ones for sale here, maybe I need to add clear ones to the mix? All this furniture, and accessories, with diamond trim (including a bedroom I didn't show), is available for $4,000.

 

 

Homefront: Christmas Mantel

 I would love a larger statue of the kneeling Santa and the baby Jesus.

 I love using reds, aquas and whites for Christmas, though it will change one day.

I love love love trees, I think it would be fun to get one each year.

 My childhood gingerbread house debuts, and this vintage reindeer pair I found at a garage sale is a favorite.

 Ornaments and garland that will be going up on the tree.

My oldest son is almost 5 and has been asking about Santa's 'realness'. I found this book and it ties in the Christ child and the Santa legend beautifully, and explores the historial roots of Santa. For any Christian family who loves tradition, but also wants to keep the focus of Christmas on Christ, this book is a must!
It's called A Special Place for Santa by Jeanne Pieper
I got mine at Hobby Lobby for $10 and it would make a great Christmas gift!

 

 We found this authentic Chinese drums at Goodwill for an amazing price. they had about 30 of them, so I think a local monastary must have closed down or remodeled around here or something. We got 3 of them!

To see 2009's mantel in my old home, see here. For 2008's mantel in another home, see here.

Post will be linking up with lots of Christmas Mantle parties!

•  The Lettered Cottage Holiday Home Mantel Linky Party
• December 2nd :: Rhoda’s Christmas Vignette
• December 7th  :: Kate’s Christmas Craft
• December 6th  :: Deck the Halls Party @ Between Naps on the Porch
• December 9th  :: Sarah’s Christmas Tree Link up
• December 9th  :: Coastal Charm Open House
• December 10th :: Cloche Party @ A Stroll Through Life
• December 13th :: The Nester’s Holiday Tour of Homes {here at Nesting Place!} AND Kelly @ Kelly’s Korner; Show Us Your Life Christmas Tour {don’t you love how I bold our day?}
• December 15th :: White Christmas Party @ Cuisine Kathleen
• December 15th :: Share the Decor @ No Minimalist Here

Inspired Art: Red and Blue Illustrations

Hello Butterflies Postcard Pack~ Rebekka Seale

I have really be drawn to illustrations and the like lately, I thought this collection of red and blue designs looked smashing together. I am a little surprised at how many amazing portraits there were, I seriously had to refrain from posting more. But, you can find more blue and red illustration art here. They woulld look beautiful all framed together in tawdry, chipped up dark wood thrift store frames all gallery like.

Hodges Angus Logo by graphic artist Christian K. Schmid

Red Haired Mermaid Postcard ~ Yuki Koi

"Whatever you are be a good one" Abe Lincoln quote ~ 3 Lambs Graphics

Lou Le Petite Chaperon Rouge ~ Matilou

Violet ~ Water in my Paint  (she seems very Tale of Two Cities to me)

Deer Digital Collage ~ Hue Concept

Thelma Dothrock ~ Bret Pendlebury
{perfect shop for those drawn to vintage photographs, but love hand drawn art.}

Homefront: Cinco de Mayo Dress Up

Over the weekend, we attended a little birthday party for me and a nephew and a baby shower for my sis. But this post is about the Cinco De Mayo themed party we attended. There was a piñata of course at a few of these and lots and lots of good Mexican food and authentic dulches Mexicanos (candy!) I had my first taste of yummy, perfected, homemade flan (made by her) and other authentic treats.

 Mexican Candy by Warm 'n Fuzzy

I wore this, yes I did. I actually own 3 of these Mexican embroidered vintage dresses. This long cream one, a short hot pink one and a short white one with pale pink embroidery (it's very pretty). 

 

I love them all, but have never worn them. I wore this long one with a vintage red belt, vintage red cowboy boots I got at an auction and these amazingly (huge, pointy, uncomfortable) red enameled flower clip on earrings. My ears hurt just thinking about them, but oh the cuteness.

Many people remarked how 'festive' I looked as I was pretty much the most colorful thing there (aside from the piñata), though I wonder if that mostly meant 'ridiculous'? Oh well. It's not everyday we get to dress up as a Spanish Rose (even if we DO look a little ridiculous). At least I didn't go all dio de los muertos with a  sugar skull, now eh?

piñata via ok history

For those of you wondering, Cinco de Mayo (Spanish for "fifth of May") is a holiday celebrated in the United States and primarily limited to the state of Puebla in Mexico. The holiday commemorates the Mexican army's unlikely victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, under the leadership of Mexican General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguín. (thanks, wikipedia) as my knowledge of Mexico is little more than a brief visit to Tijuana). Cinco de Mayo is also my little brother's birthday... Happy Birthday Jae!!