You may remember that this past Christmas I crafted an oversized wood bead garland using various wooden balls and blocks. Given that I chose a more traditional color scheme of red and green, I thought I’d rework the garland for winter.
I also wanted to create another string of beads to match so I bought some additional wood beads. Since these were smaller in size, they came pre-drilled which made this project even easier. I purchased this set and this set from Amazon.
First I unstrung the beads from the garland I’d made previously. Next, I repainted the red and burgundy beads so they are now a light or dark turquoise color. Again, I used Fusion Mineral Paint. As you know, I’ve done a few projects with Fusion Mineral Paint. I love how easy it is to pair colors. They always create the most beautiful combinations.
I was surprised to see how quickly the new paint covered the old. It only took about two coats. Once the beads were dry, I simply restrung them on the leather cording, and the project was complete.
For the smaller beaded garland, I created a more consistent pattern using three different sized beads with even color placement.
Since the predrilled holes on these beads were a bit smaller, I strung them on twine I had on hand. It was truly that easy.
As you can see, these garlands (a.k.a. wood styling beads) can be used in the traditional sense as a garland to adorn your mantle. I especially love the larger garland just spilling out of a bowl on a table or hung on a wall hook to create interesting and 3-D wall art.
Custom projects that work for multiple purposes are a winner in my home styling toolkit, so I definitely recommend giving this project a try. You can get the full tutorial for the larger garland here. Have fun creating your own unique look with different paints and bead shapes and sizes.
Happy Decorating!
I guess this is the week of reimagining previous projects here on IBC. Earlier this week I tackled my brushstroke painted plates again, but with a new look. Today I’m back with an everyday-inspired update for my beaded garland. You may remember that this past Christmas I crafted an oversized wood bead garland using various […]
Last year I created a fun set of Brushstroke Painted Plates. (If you missed them, you can see them here.) They were, and still are, one of my favorite projects.
A few weeks ago I was working on a tablescape and thought brushstroke plates would make a unique addition to the table. However, the color scheme of the ones I had just didn’t work. So, I decided to create another set to match my design.
Even though I’ve already shared this how-to with you, I thought you might enjoy seeing a variation of the project.
I followed the same basic technique as I did previously. If you need the full tutorial, click here for all the details. However, this time around, I changed the colors, plate design, and pattern.
I started with plates I found at HomeGoods. I wanted something a bit more traditional in style this time to contrast with the fun and colorful lines of the paint.
This go-round, I opted for four colors in shades of blue, green, and gray. One of the great things about this paint is that it’s non-toxic. Once applied to the plates and “baked” in the oven, the plates are food and dishwasher safe. (However, I should note, that just to be safe, I still wash mine by hand.)
Rather than covering the plates with brushstrokes of paint, I decided to keep the design on only one part of the plate.
Again I worked with one color at a time, allowing each color to dry before adding the next. This keeps the paints from mixing together and looking muddy.
To finish each plate, I added a splatter of paint (one in each color) to create a casual and artistic touch.
Once baked in the oven, the plates were complete!
It truly is that simple. Plus, it’s a fun way to tap your artistic side as you create something beautiful and functional for your home and table.
As I said previously, the design and color scheme are up to you. Feel free to skip the splatter or use only one color. You could even go in a completely different direction and use painter’s tape to paint hard lines. Or stamp on a pattern. No matter how you do it, the end result will certainly be one-of-a-kind and a special addition to your table.
I hope you enjoyed Brushstroke Painted Plates: Part 2 and are even more tempted to give this project a try.
Last year I created a fun set of Brushstroke Painted Plates. (If you missed them, you can see them here.) They were, and still are, one of my favorite projects. A few weeks ago I was working on a tablescape and thought brushstroke plates would make a unique addition to the table. However, the color […]
You’re going to love these Ugly Sweater Cookies aka Sweater Weather Sugar Cookies. While they can be enjoyed all year long, they make a fun and colorful addition to your holiday cookie tray.
This week has flown by in the blink of an eye. As I explained in a previous post, January is typically a quiet month around here, but that’s not going to be the case this year. I think the waters have finally settled for a bit, however, and I can get back to the business of blogging.
Despite my intent to shed holiday pounds in January, I always seem to get the urge to cook and bake. I suspect the colder weather brings on the need to turn on the oven and stay cozy with comfort food.
Ugly Sweater Cookies / Sweater Weather Cookies:
Earlier this week when I was preparing my home for the photoshoot with Better Homes & Gardens, I decided I wanted something on hand to represent my love of food and baking. For me, those things are an important aspect of home. They’re also part of who I am and what I do.
So, I tapped into my “quirky” side and whipped up these fun and delicious Sweater Weather Sugar Cookies. (Aka Ugly Sweater Cookies – though there are totally cute sweaters!)
I found this sweater cookie cutter on Amazon and thought it’d be perfect for Christmas and also the colder months here in PA (January through March).
It’s challenging to avoid the post-holiday blues as the tinsel and lights come down, so why not continue the fun with winter baking that’s still colorful and tasty but not holiday themed?
Thankfully, the folks from BHG loved the cookies and snapped a shot for the magazine. I assumed I’d have to wait until the release of the issue later this year, but I was given permission to share these cookies now which thrilled me to no end. (I have a hard time keeping secrets.)
Despite their complicated look, the cookies are simple to make. (They do require a little time and creativity.)
How to Make Ugly Sweater Cookies / Sweater Weather Cookies:
Start with the basic sugar cookie recipe that I’ve shared below. This is the recipe my mom has been using for years, so it comes highly recommended. You’re obviously going to need a sweater cookie cutter. I used this one.
With the cookies baked, I chose a variety of colors for the frosting to represent the winter season. Blues, teals, and greens were obvious choices. I also opted for red, pink, and white. I’m thinking these cookies would be an amazing and unique Valentine’s Day surprise!
I filled several piping bags with frosting and got to work.
Using a small star and round tip, I created a variety of patterns for my Sweater Weather Sugar Cookies. As you can imagine, the possibilities are endless. Feel free to copy some of these designs or have fun with your own creations.
They are pretty adorable, right?
So, if you’re looking for a unique winter treat, something quirky for Valentine’s Day, or just an excuse to bake, give these Sweater Weather Sugar Cookies a try! And although they aren’t really ugly sweaters, you can dress them up any way you’d like!
Ugly Sweater Cookies / Sweater Weather Cookies Recipe:
Piping bags and tips - small star tip and round tip
Instructions
Begin by preparing the cookie dough. In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
In a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, cream together the vegetable shortening, sugar, eggs, and vanilla. Once combined, add half of the dry ingredients. Begin to mix and pour in the buttermilk. Then add the remaining dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Refrigerate the dough for at least four hours or overnight.
After your dough has chilled, preheat your oven to 375 degrees F.
On a well-floured surface, roll out about a quarter of the dough to a 1/8 - 1/4-inch thickness, depending on your preference. Cut out the dough using a sweater-shaped cookie cutter. Transfer each cut out to an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 8-10 minutes or until the first sign of browning appears on the surface of the cookies. Remove from the oven and transfer the cookies to a cutting board or your counter top to cool completely.
While the cookies cool, prepare your frosting*. With a mixer, cream together the vegetable shorting and butter. Slowly add the confectioner's sugar, one cup at a time. Mix in the vanilla extract. Add milk as needed for a smoother consistency. Divide the frosting into smaller bowls and add gel food coloring to achieve the desired colors.
Place the frosting in a piping bag with the desired tip. A small star tip is great for the sweater texture, and a round tip is recommended for details and dots.
Once your cookies have cooled, use the prepared piping bags to create designs on your sweater cookies.
Allow the frosting to set before packing and storing the cookies in an airtight container.
Notes
*I like to use a variety of colors when creating these cookies, so I double this recipe. Typically that will leave me with extra frosting, but I'd rather have extra in order to have fun with my designs without fear of running out.
Made it? Share it!Tag @inspiredbycharm on Instagram and use the tag #myIBC so we can see what you're cooking in the kitchen!
Pretty and simple, right?
While the piping does take some time (and your hand may cramp up a bit), the results are totally worth it.
Happy Baking!
You’re going to love these Ugly Sweater Cookies aka Sweater Weather Sugar Cookies. While they can be enjoyed all year long, they make a fun and colorful addition to your holiday cookie tray. This week has flown by in the blink of an eye. As I explained in a previous post, January is typically a […]
Well, friends, let me officially wish you Happy New Year! If you’ve been following IBC for a while now, you know It’s always a bit of a challenge for me to return to blogging after the holidays. I try to give myself a short break this time of year, but that often makes it harder to get back into the swing of things.
However, after sharing a few 2016 recaps and a new playlist, I think I’m about ready to put my work cap back on, pull out my camera, and create exciting new content for IBC. Woot. Woot!
Most years January is a fairly quiet month for me, but this year is just the opposite. This week some folks from Better Homes & Gardens are coming to my house (Yes, I’m freaking out.) They’re going to shoot my home for the 2017 issue of their Christmas Ideas magazine. So, even though I was on a little “break,” I really wasn’t.
I’ve actually been busy redecorating my home for Christmas. While some things are similar to my 2016 Christmas decor, I did change up all three trees, switch around color schemes, wrap dozens of fake presents, bake delicious things, etc. I also completed a couple back-burner projects that were long overdue – my guest bedroom and bathroom. And because I’m weird, I touched up some paint, cleaned every room (with the help of my mom. Thanks, Mom!), and threw away / donated a bunch of “stuff.”
Although it’s been a stressful couple of weeks, it actually couldn’t have come at a better time. The upcoming photoshoot has forced me to do some essential cleaning, decluttering, and finishing of projects. So, “YAY!”
After BHG’s visit, I’m headed to NYC for a few days with my friends at HomeGoods. As a blogger for their Design Happy blog, I’ve been invited to a blogger day to learn about home trends, blogging tips, and lots of other fun stuff. And I get to hang out with some fellow blogger friends, so that’s always a treat.
Then, shortly after I return from NYC, I’m going on another Carnival Cruise! I’ve been working with Carnival Cruise lines for a few years now, and they have invited me to continue the collaboration in 2017. My mom is going along with me again on this cruise (She accompanied me on my first one.) We’ll be sailing on the Carnival Vista (their newest ship) through the Caribbean. Given that it’s the dead of winter here in PA, we couldn’t be more excited!
As you can see it’s going to be a busy month. I’m also planning to keep things moving here on IBC amidst all of this, so there will be new recipes, decorating ideas, and other good things.
Speaking of what’s coming on IBC, I’m thinking about doing Breakfast Week again for a few days this month. Who doesn’t love some delicious breakfast inspiration? As you may have noticed, last year I totally neglected my “A Year of…” series, but I’m hoping to bring it back this year. You might remember that in previous years we had A Year of Yeast, A Year of Pie, and A Year of the Skillet. I think I’ve finally settled on a theme for 2017. Here are a few hints: It’s one of my favorite foods, but I’ve never made it from scratch. Plus, there are almost endless recipe ideas. Stay tuned!
I think that’s about it for news from around here. As I continue to put together a posting schedule and new ideas to share, please let me know in the comments below if there’s anything you’d like to see here on IBC. I love hearing your ideas. Many time they spark creative things for me to share.
Have a fabulous week!
Well, friends, let me officially wish you Happy New Year! If you’ve been following IBC for a while now, you know It’s always a bit of a challenge for me to return to blogging after the holidays. I try to give myself a short break this time of year, but that often makes it harder […]
For the past month or so, I have listened nonstop to Christmas music. I’m not kidding. I normally get tired of playlists pretty quickly, but after creating four holiday Tuesday Tunes playlists, I had plenty of variety to carry me through til the new year.
Now it’s time to pack those playlists away and listen to a few fresh new tunes and old favorites. That’s why I put together this playlist called, “Hello, 2017.”
I don’t know about you, but as usual, I’m not quite ready for this new year. The past couple weeks have been challenging for me for personal reasons (new ones and those I’ve bottled up for a while). As some of you know, this time of year is usually pretty challenging for me, but this year seems even more so. I guess it’s just hard to move forward when your feet are stuck in the mud. But at least it’s mud, and not concrete, right!?
Anywho, this playlist is just a happy, reflective, mellow mix. Whether you’re packing up Christmas decor or flipping through a mag as you sip a glass of wine, I hope you’ll find these tunes to be the perfect audio backdrop.
You can listen to this new playlist using the player above or go directly to Spotify by clicking here. You are also welcome to follow my Spotify profile to access all of my favorite tunes and upcoming playlists.
No matter where you’re at as we start another year, I hope love fills your heart and peace comforts your soul. Happy 2017, my friends!
For the past month or so, I have listened nonstop to Christmas music. I’m not kidding. I normally get tired of playlists pretty quickly, but after creating four holiday Tuesday Tunes playlists, I had plenty of variety to carry me through til the new year. Now it’s time to pack those playlists away and listen […]
With several months of winter still ahead of us, knowing how to stay warm is a must. Living in the Northeast, I’ve been through my fair share of chilly winters. In fact, we’ve already seen temperatures below zero this year. Because winter is unavoidable, I thought I’d share five tips to keep your home cozy throughout this chilly season.
Tips for a Cozy Home:
This post is sponsored by Honeywell. As always all opinions are my own.
For this post I’m teaming up with my friends at Honeywell who sent me their new Lyric T5 Wi-Fi Thermostat to test out and keep my home temperatures just right this winter. (Apparently, they are tired of me complaining about the snow.)
The Lyric T5 is so much more than a thermostat. It’s the ability to have a comfortable, connected home no matter the season, schedule, or location. So cool, right?
Now, let me walk you through those tips for staying warm this winter.
Ideas for a Cozy Home:
1. Add Seasonal Blankets
During this time of year I can’t get enough blankets. Even if you’re not using all of them, there’s something comforting about having them nearby. In the winter, I recommend faux fur, cable knit, tweed, or quilted for the ultimate in coziness. Drape one over the back of your sofa, add another to a chair, or tuck a few more in a basket in the corner.
Speaking of textiles, adding area rugs (small or large) to places like the bedroom, kitchen, and bathroom will likewise keep your feet a bit toastier on cold days.
2. Set the Temperature
Having a thermostat that works with and for you, especially during the winter months, is key. Thanks to my friends at Honeywell, I recently updated to their Lyric T5 Wi-Fi Thermostat. I’m loving it. Not only can I create a schedule to regulate my heating (and cooling) needs, but I can adjust the temperature with the touch of my finger using the Lyric APP.
I can even use a voice-controlled device like the Echo, to change the temperate without lifting a finger. Turning up the heat without having to leave the comfort of your couch might be the best thing ever. Now I just need a device that will refill my wine glass.
3. Light a Fire / Candle
There’s something about the glow of a flame that makes things seem warmer and, depending on the size of that flame, it might actually be warmer, too. If you have one, light your fireplace for the ultimate glow and warmth. If you don’t have the luxury of a fireplace, candles can give the illusion of one.
Although I have a fireplace, mine’s not functioning. To compensate, I drilled holes in logs and filled them with tea lights. While I don’t get much heat (obviously), I do get the comfort of a flickering flame.
4. Keep the Twinkle Lights
Right now, thanks to the holiday season, our homes are decked out with lots of things to make us feel comfy-cozy. However, come January, when all the sparkle comes down, things are likely to feel a little less inviting. While it’s nice to be rid of some of the “clutter,” it’s hard not to miss the warmth and magic of twinkle lights. If you feel the same, you have my permission to leave a strand or two up.
I don’t take the larger bulbs hanging across my mantel down until March. The glow they give my living room during January and February is just enough to keep the space feeling cozy without making it look like I forgot to put away some of my holiday decor.
5. From the Inside Out
I could not put together a list about being cozy at home without including food. Now, I know that January is the time to shed those holiday pounds, but you can still do that while warming up from the inside out. Things like my White Chicken Chili or One Pan Chicken Apple Sausage Pasta are great options.
You could even celebrate on the weekend with an Apple Cinnamon Hot Toddy. Comfort foods can keep you feeling cozy in your home during the winter months. While you may not love the winter (I don’t blame you.), I hope these simple ideas will help you to enjoy it a bit more and stay warm while doing so.
Now grab a blanket, turn up the heat, and enjoy a bowl of chili. That’s what I’m going to do in my cozy home!
With several months of winter still ahead of us, knowing how to stay warm is a must. Living in the Northeast, I’ve been through my fair share of chilly winters. In fact, we’ve already seen temperatures below zero this year. Because winter is unavoidable, I thought I’d share five tips to keep your home cozy […]
Christmas is almost upon us. Ready for some Pop and Modern Christmas Songs?
Well, you’re in luck! After a busy 12 Days of Christmas series, much gift wrapping, lots of cookie baking, and many holiday gatherings with family and friends, things are likely to be quiet around IBC for the next couple weeks (as they usually are this time of year.) However, I can’t completely step away, so I’ll be popping in now and then. As promised I have another collection of Christmas tunes to share with you. Today’s playlist: Pop and Modern Christmas Songs.
Pop and Modern Christmas Songs:
You know how I much I love new things or a twist on a classic, so putting together a playlist with a mix of pop and modern Christmas songs and fresh takes on old favorites was a must. I found myself going to this playlist when I needed a little pep in my step but still wanted a bit of holiday jingle. It includes many contemporary favorites: Kelly Clarkson’s “Underneath the Tree,” Britney’s “My Only Wish,” and Ariana Grande’s “Last Christmas.”
And yes, there are a few reflective and slower tunes, such as “Mary, Did You Know?” by Pentatonix and “River” by Sarah McLachlan.
I think it’s a fun playlist of contemporary Christmas songs. If you’re tired of your own holiday mix, give this a listen for some variety.
You can use the playlist modern Christmas songs above to spread a little holiday cheer or play the tunes directly on Spotify by clicking here. (Hey, that rhymed!)
Christmas is almost upon us. Ready for some Pop and Modern Christmas Songs? Well, you’re in luck! After a busy 12 Days of Christmas series, much gift wrapping, lots of cookie baking, and many holiday gatherings with family and friends, things are likely to be quiet around IBC for the next couple weeks (as they […]
Well friends, we did it! Another 12 Days of Christmas is complete! But not without a little yuletide treat from me to you.
For this final day of the series, I wanted to go back to something I said at the very beginning. Beyond the opportunity of creating lots of festive content to share, I love this series because it gives me a way to say, “Thank you!” It’s because of you that I have this blog and a chance to do work that brings me so much joy.
One of the new things I did this year was share seasonal recipe cards. Today, I’m debuting the fourth and final card for 2016.
Printable Christmas Recipe Cards:
Isn’t she a beauty? (I think it might be my favorite!)
As a little present to ALL OF YOU, and there’s a bonus: links to the other three recipe card printables from 2016 as well.
Inspired by Charm FREE Printable Library:
You can access the download in the IBC Printable Library which can be found HERE.
If you’re new to Inspired by Charm, you can get instant access to this library by SUBSCRIBING HERE. Once subscribed, you will instantly receive an email that contains a link to this download.
Already a member of the IBC Mailing list? You can find the password to to access the library at the bottom of the latest email from Inspired by Charm.
Whether you decide to print out some to jot down new recipes over the holidays or make multiple copies of the entire collection to give to someone, I hope you enjoy the cards.
I know it’s not much, but it’s small touch of IBC from me to you.
(I also wanted to give a shout out to Mike over at Dash Creative. Using my vision and creative direction, he’s the one who brought these cards to life! Thanks for your top quality work, Mike.)
And because I’m a “go-big-or-go-home-kinda guy,” while we were at it, I put in an order for some matching gift tags.
Download Printable Holiday Recipe Cards Here:
You can access the download in the IBC Printable Library which can be found HERE.
If you’re new to Inspired by Charm, you can get instant access to this library by SUBSCRIBING HERE. Once subscribed, you will instantly receive an email that contains a link to this download.
Already a member of the IBC Mailing list? You can find the password to to access the library at the bottom of the latest email from Inspired by Charm.
Given the variety of colors in the design, I think they’ll look great on almost any gift.
Download Printable Christmas Gift Tags Here:
You can access the download in the IBC Printable Library which can be found HERE.
If you’re new to Inspired by Charm, you can get instant access to this library by SUBSCRIBING HERE. Once subscribed, you will instantly receive an email that contains a link to this download.
Already a member of the IBC Mailing list? You can find the password to to access the library at the bottom of the latest email from Inspired by Charm.
I hope that you like and can use all of these printable goodies. Merry Christmas!
As always, if you missed anything in the 12 Days of Christmas 2016 series, you can find the posts linked up below.
Wishing you and yours the happiest of holidays and all the best in 2017!
Well friends, we did it! Another 12 Days of Christmas is complete! But not without a little yuletide treat from me to you. For this final day of the series, I wanted to go back to something I said at the very beginning. Beyond the opportunity of creating lots of festive content to share, I […]
Welcome back to the 12 Days of Christmas here on Inspired by Charm. ‘Tis the season to DIY! Today we’re making a Wood Bead Christmas Garland!
That’s right. For Day 10 of this series, I’m sharing a fun and colorful DIY that you can use to decorate your home for the holidays and beyond. Check out my DIY Oversize Wood Bead Christmas Garland.
Wood Bead Christmas Garland:
For the past year or so, I’ve been seeing these wood bead styling strands pop up on some of my favorite blogs and in home decor magazines.
In essence, the strands are oversize wood balls on a string that you can use to decorate a shelf, style a coffee table, etc. Because of their size and shape, they add texture and movement to a vignette. And during the holidays, they can double as a beautiful garland. On their own or tucked in pine, they bring a rustic modern element to your decor.
Typically, these wood bead styling strands are left natural. However, because I like more color in my life, I decided to paint a few of the beads to give the strand a little holiday spirit. I was also itching to paint because my friends over at Fusion Mineral Paint sent me samples of their new color collection. The Bayberry, Fort York Red, and Cranberry were just begging to be used in my holiday decor. (Stay tuned to find out how you can enter to win a collection of paints from Fusion Mineral Paint.)
To begin, gather a variety of wood beads. (The ones I used are linked above.) You can use any combination you like. My finished strand was five feet long and contained 49 wood beads.
Next, drill a hole in each bead. Grip the bead with a pair of pliers and drill into the center using a 3/16″ bit. Use a piece of scrap wood below the bead to protect your surface.
(This drill bit makes a hole that allows the cording I used to slide through nicely. However if you choose a different cording, you may need a different size drill bit.)
With all of your holes drilled, use a piece of fine grit sand paper to clean up any rough edges.
Now, you’re ready to paint. I selected four coordinating seasonal colors from Fusion Mineral Paints. They include Bayberry, Fort York Red, Cranberry, and Lamp White.
For easy painting, I threaded the beads on a wood skewer and then inserted the skewer into the side of a cardboard box. This allowed me to paint the entire bead without getting paint all over my hands.
I gave each bead two coats.
Once the beads are dry, string them on your leather cording. Again, you can choose any order you like. I made a repeating pattern with the smallest beads at the end. The painted beads are evenly spaced on the garland.
Once the beads are strung, leave a couple inches of cording on both ends and finish off each end with a knot. (The extra cord will ensure that there’s some give in the strand so that it’s flexible and easy to shape.)
And with that, your project is complete!
Now, you can enjoy styling the garland all over your home.
DIY Beaded Christmas Garland:
As I said above, it looks great strung on the mantel, just lying on the coffee table, or spilling out of a bowl.
What I love about this project is that when the holidays are over, you can easily replace the colored beads with ones that fit the new season or your everyday decor.
This Christmas garland is a decorative piece that easily transitions from season to season, allowing you to use it all year long.
Plus, with dozens of wood bead shapes and sizes and lots of colors from Fusion Mineral Paints, the options are endless.
What do you think? Will you give this DIY Oversize Wood Bead Garland a try?
Don’t forget – there are two more days in this special holiday series. See you back here tomorrow for more festive fun!
Welcome back to the 12 Days of Christmas here on Inspired by Charm. ‘Tis the season to DIY! Today we’re making a Wood Bead Christmas Garland! That’s right. For Day 10 of this series, I’m sharing a fun and colorful DIY that you can use to decorate your home for the holidays and beyond. Check […]
It’s time to wrap all those gifts you’ve bought. Today I’m sharing some Christmas Gift Wrap Ideas! Welcome to Day 9 of the 12 Days of Christmas!
I couldn’t let this series go by without talking about holiday gift wrapping, right? (You can check out previous gift wrapping posts here and here.) That’s why today I have some Personalized Holiday Gift Wrap Ideas for you.
Christmas Gift Wrap Ideas:
1. Stick with a Color Scheme
Although I’ll be showing you wrapping with a variety of colors, I often find it helpful to have sort of a color scheme when it comes to gift wrapping.
If you’re anything like me, it’s easy to be tempted by all of the pretty papers and ribbons. Having a color scheme gives you a focus and eliminates a lot of decision making when you’re selecting paper, ribbon, etc. This will save you time and stress.
2. Add Personalization
Did you know you can personalize wrapping paper with your name!? Tiny Prints sells fabulous gift wrap that you can customize with your very own holiday greeting.
While all of your paper doesn’t need to be personalized, it’s one way to add a unique touch to your gift giving.
3. Layer Ribbons
As I’ve said in years past, my go-to ribbon for gift wrapping is satin. Nowadays, you can find it online in almost any color and width. To get the best buy, I recommend purchasing a spool of 50 yards. (If there is extra, you can use it year round for gift giving. I do!) A single satin ribbon looks classy, but also try layering a couple ribbons for depth and contrast.
I’m clearly not the only person obsessed with ribbon. The array of ribbons at home stores and super stores today is crazy. I’ve been buying them up all season. (My mom thinks I have a problem. There might be an intervention soon.)
Again, work within your color palette, and you can’t go wrong. Pick a ribbon with a touch of metallic, and you’re likely to get the “this -is-too-pretty-to-open” response. (Congratulations, you just won Christmas.)
One more thing about ribbon: When trimming the ends, take a few extra seconds to make a V cut. Just fold the end of the ribbon in half lengthwise and make a diagonal cut from the folded edge out. It’s that simple, and it gives a finished look to the entire presentation.
4. Gifts on Gifts
What’s better than one gift? A gift on that gift. Last week I shared festive ideas for creating holiday gifts in clear glass ornaments. Why not add one of those to the top of your gift? Not only does it make the package look amazing, but the recipient will be super excited to receive a bonus gift.
More Creative Christmas Gift Wrap Ideas:
5. Add an Ornament
This year my sister-in-law decided to change up her tree. As she was contemplating donating / tossing the outdated ornaments, I suggested that she keep them for embellishing presents.
Adding an ornament to a wrapped gift is probably one of my favorite ways to personalize it and make it extra special. Not only does the ornament make your gift stand out, but it’s something the recipient can hang on his or her tree and remember you by throughout the season and for years to come. (Or, they can do what my mom does and save it for next year to tie onto someone else’s package. Ha!)
6. Don’t Wrap
I get that many of you might not be as excited as I am about wrapping. That’s okay. Thanks to fabulous boxes and stickers, you don’t have to be.
Here, I used a plain black box tied with ribbon, and embellished with a personalized sticker from Tiny Pints. That’s it. No wrapping required. How easy is that? Thanks to the sticker, you get that personalized touch sans paper.
And yes, you can still get creative. Here I used a kraft paper Chinese take-out container to achieve the same look. With a simple ribbon, the adorable gift tag becomes the star of the show. (You can find the stickers I used here and here.)
7. Bring on the Twine
For years, I’ve been using baker’s twine as the piéce de résistance when wrapping gifts. Although it does take a bit more time, wrapping a simple piece of twine around a package is a beautiful finishing detail. The twine can double as a way to tie on an ornament, gift tag, piece of pine, etc.
I’m especially loving the twine with metallic thread, but with the huge variety of options available, you’re sure to find something to suit your style.
8. Gift a Card
Sometimes the right gift during the holidays is just a card. That works for me. Whether your sending this festive greeting by mail or handing it to someone in person, Tiny Prints has hundreds of options to make it special and personal.
For the past several years, I’ve tried to keep my cards personal, and this year was no exception. Since I don’t have a family to feature on my card, I opted for several of my favorite holiday images from last year.
A picture of my dining room worked well with this letterpress design. I paired it with printed envelopes for the perfect combination.
My marshmallow wreath is the star of my second holiday card. I wanted a card to go with these “special delivery” envelopes, and this looked great. The red foiled “Merry Christmas” was the perfect greeting.
As you know, I like to embellish my cards, too. Holiday stamps are a must. And a simple strip of washi tape seals the deal (envelope).
Whether you have a picture of your dining room to share, an image of your pets, or dozens of family photos, Tiny prints will have a card option to suit your taste.
And that’s it! Another round of fabulous, festive, and personalized ways to gift holiday cheer.
The 12 Days of Christmas continues through the entire week, so be sure to stop back every day for more inspiration. If there’s something you’ve missed, catch up on all the posts linked up below.
It’s time to wrap all those gifts you’ve bought. Today I’m sharing some Christmas Gift Wrap Ideas! Welcome to Day 9 of the 12 Days of Christmas! I couldn’t let this series go by without talking about holiday gift wrapping, right? (You can check out previous gift wrapping posts here and here.) That’s why today […]
Happy Monday, and welcome back to more holiday fun on IBC’s 12 Days of Christmas! Today I’m showing you two of my decorated Christmas trees!
It’s Day 8 of the 12 Days of Christmas series, and today I thought we’d take a closer look at two of the Christmas trees I shared during my 2016 Holiday Home Tour. Since there was so much happening in that post, I wasn’t able to give them the attention they deserve.
Let’s start with the small tree in my living room.
This tree came about more or less by accident. One of my friends on Facebook posted a picture of a beautiful slim flocked tree. I got the source from him and ordered one. (You can find it here, in case you’re interested.) However, because I sometimes do not pay close attention, I did not realize how slim the tree is. My intention was to use it in my office (where my other flocked tree is), but it looked completely out of place. It was just too small.
However, my mistake proved to be serendipitous. I had long wanted a tree in my living room, but could never find one that worked in that space.
That is until this tree came into my life. It fit perfectly!
I tried a variety of ribbons and ornaments on the tree before settling on the final design. Much of my inspiration came from these wood ornaments from Tree Hopper Toys. I’d never heard of this brand until I saw one of their ads on Instagram a few days before Thanksgiving. I clicked on over and immediately picked out my favorites.
I especially like this #SantaSelfie ornament. You know I love a little quirky in my decor, and this ornament gives me that and more.
You may also have noticed the wood trees and stars as well as the clear ornaments with gold trees. They’re from H&M. In fact, I ended up picking up a lot of holiday decor at H&M. Their selection is killer, and the prices are hard to beat. My tip: They sell out quickly, so gobble up the good stuff whenever you see it.
The rest of the ornaments were ones I already had on hand. I strung ribbons vertically to add softness and tie it all together.
It’s wonderful to have the glow and warmth from this tree when I’m cozied up on the couch watching TV. And that’s another beautifully decorated Christmas tree completed!
Decorated Christmas Tree #2 – Dining Room:
Over in the dining room, I tried to go a bit more rich and modern which is why I opted for gold and black. That’s one of the great things about having four trees, I have a chance to try new things and have fun. (The downside is the amount of money I spend on tree ornaments.)
The first thing I put on the tree was a faux fur garland I picked up at Pier 1. Even though I loved it, it proved to be a design challenge. Because the tree is dark, the white garland created too much of a contrast. Since I refused to get rid of the tree or the garland, I decided to add white flocked pine branches I found at a local home store. Along with these white marbled ornaments I got at Target, they really brought it all together.
With that part complete, I packed the tree with black ornaments and a variety of gold and copper ones. I also brought in some green for a bit of color.
These gold sequined unicorns (from Target), coupled with a feathered owl tree topper, were perfect for an unexpected touch of whimsy.
The candle clip-on ornaments are from Crate and Barrel. You can find them here.
For a tree skirt, I used this plaid sequined beauty from CB2. As I mentioned previously, this Designer Lit Tree from Grandin Road has over 6,000 mini LED lights. When lit, the sequins on the tree skirt sparkle like you wouldn’t believe! It’s pretty stellar!
All in all, I achieved the look I was after with this tree. I think it works well with the rest of the details in this space.
Sidenote: Since we’re in my dining room, I wanted to let you know about a post that I just put together for my friends at HomeGoods. In it, I talk about my place settings and tablescape. The holiday decor in this space was partially inspired by this stunning dinnerware I found, so it couldn’t go without mention. Head on over to the Design Happy blog to read more about how I styled the table.
And that’s it, my friends! Now that you’ve had a closer look at all of my decorated Christmas trees, which is your favorite?
Happy tree trimming!
Happy Monday, and welcome back to more holiday fun on IBC’s 12 Days of Christmas! Today I’m showing you two of my decorated Christmas trees! It’s Day 8 of the 12 Days of Christmas series, and today I thought we’d take a closer look at two of the Christmas trees I shared during my 2016 […]
The 12 Days of Christmas is back. Today we’re celebrating Christmas in the Kitchen with a look at my Kitchen Christmas Decorations and a sweet yuletide treat.
Kitchen Christmas Decorations:
I’m so excited to be joining the Blogger Stylin’ Holiday Home Tour for Day 7 of the 12 Days of Christmas to share my Kitchen Christmas Decorations. Lindsay of The White Buffalo Styling Co. has invited me back for another year, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to join in the fun. If you’re currently on the tour and coming from Megan Pflug Designs, welcome! I’m so happy to have you. If this is your first stop on the tour, and you want to visit all of the bloggers’ homes, you can click here to start at the beginning.
Last week I was honored to share my Holiday Home Tour with you (You can find it here in case you missed it). If you’ve been following IBC for some time, you probably noticed that a few rooms were missing from the tour. Today, I’m going to give you a look into my kitchen. Plus, *sings* since I knew you were coming, I baked a cake! Well, not a cake exactly, but a Pink Velvet Yule Log. Wait ’till you get a closer look at this beauty!
Now, let’s get this tour started!
Kitchen Christmas Decorations Home Tour:
Now, before we head to the kitchen, I thought you might want to see my front entryway. I don’t use this door much, but I felt it needed a touch of the season.
I decorated my coat rack with a bit of holiday bling and and some scarves.
On the opposite wall, I decided to tuck new artwork into my mirrored frames. I found these snowy pine tree prints on Etsy and thought they’d be perfect not only for Christmas, but for the entire winter season.
I also replaced my colorful bench with a more neutral piece I picked up at HomeGoods. With a few seasonal pillows and a throw, this space is looking quite welcoming.
Christmas Kitchen Decorations:
Over in the kitchen, I kept things simple with just a few colorful touches for Christmas.
I don’t think I told you that I purchased a real tree so I could cut greens from it to decorate my mantel. The top of the tree looked so perfect that I decided to chop it off, put it in a vase with some water, and set it up in my kitchen. It wasn’t that I needed a fourth tree in my house; I just couldn’t let that top go to waste.
On my bench I added this Merry and Bright pillow (For details about it, visit Shop IBC.)
Just behind it on my windowsill is one of my favorite Christmas decorations. Why? Well, because these little plastic deer are from my grandma and hold lots of beautiful holiday memories.
Also, above the cabinet which hides my microwave, I added modern wood houses I found at HomeGoods. I also tucked in lots of adorable tea lights from Finding Home Farms around my kitchen for an evening glow. The little jars are just too cute, and I love the Joyeux Noel scent.
The cabinet next to my bench, which houses all of my white servingware, is adorned with mini lights and a few bottle brush trees.
Sidenote: If you are new to IBC and are wondering why I have old cabinets and pink formica countertops, you can check out this post here. It’s where I talk a bit more about my vintage kitchen.
On the opposite side of the room I added a few mini wreaths to my DIY pegboard organizer which pairs nicely with a Buddy the Elf print from Lindsay Letters.
Elsewhere in the kitchen, Santa mugs, peppermint sticks, and pine give a seasonal touch.
My DIY marshmallow wreath also made it’s way into the kitchen this year. I can’t believe this is three years old and still looks as good as new!
As you can see, in this space, pops of bold reds bring it all together.
Now, I don’t know about you, but all this home touring has worked up my appetite!
Thankfully, I’ve prepared a Pink Velvet Yule Log to fill our bellies and warm our hearts. Let’s eat!
If you can believe it, I’d never made a yule log before. I’m certain I broke all of the rules with this pastel pink version, but I couldn’t stop myself.
With a swirl center, piped “bark” frosting, chocolate “mushrooms,” and a lot of sprinkles, this is a festive and magical treat. It actually turned out much better than I ever expected.
As always, Thank YOU for joining me today for Christmas in the Kitchen. Again, for that Pink Velvet Yule Log recipe, click here.
Also, I’m the final stop on the Blogger Stylin’ Holiday Home Tour. I hope you enjoyed taking a peek at my Christmas Kitchen Decorations!
The 12 Days of Christmas is back. Today we’re celebrating Christmas in the Kitchen with a look at my Kitchen Christmas Decorations and a sweet yuletide treat. Kitchen Christmas Decorations: I’m so excited to be joining the Blogger Stylin’ Holiday Home Tour for Day 7 of the 12 Days of Christmas to share my Kitchen Christmas […]
I decided to give a classic holiday dessert a delicious and colorful makeover. This Pink Velvet Yule Log is a unique, delicious, and beautiful dessert to celebrate the holiday season!
Happy 12 Days of Christmas! I love you all so much, and my Christmas spirit is soaring so high, that I decided to add a bonus post to the series with this Pink Velvet Yule Log recipe.
Inspired by my Christmas in the Kitchen tour, I thought we needed something sweet to celebrate. How about this Pink Velvet Yule log recipe?
Pink Velvet Yule Log:
Since I’d never made a yule log, but had long wanted to do so, this seemed like the perfect opportunity. And, since nothing can be typical around these parts, I wanted a yule log with a twist.
With touches of pink all over my kitchen (including my fabulous pink countertops), a pink velvet yule log only made sense. To make it feel festive and sparkly, I added lots of sprinkles, sugar pearls, and coarse sugar.
I’d say we have something worthy of Suzy Snowflake. Right?
Now, if you’ve never made a yule lug, it can be a bit time consuming, given all of the ornamentation. However, despite how it looks, I kept things pretty simple.
How to Make a Pink Velvet Yule log:
To start, you’ll prepare two pink velvet Swiss rolls. The cakes are baked thin on a large sheet pan lined with parchment paper.
Once out of the oven, they are immediately rolled in a confectioner’s sugar-dusted towel to cool. Doing this prevents the cake from cracking when it is filled with frosting and rerolled.
After the cakes have cooled, they are spread with a cream cheese and white chocolate frosting and are rolled back up.
Once they’ve set up in the refrigerator, you’re ready to assemble them. The reason you’ve baked two of these rolls is to make the main yule log and have extra pieces to create branches. You can see how I’ve sliced my cake up below.
You’ll have to slice the cake with some curves so they fit somewhat snuggly to the main roll.
However, don’t worry too much. The nest step is using more of that wonderful frosting to pipe lines all over the cake to create a wood grain effect. (I used white and pink for a bit of variety.) During this process you can also fill in any gaps where your cake pieces connect. Once your yule log is complete, you won’t notice the joints. Frosting covers a myriad of mistakes.
Now you’re ready to decorate. Traditionally, yule logs are adorned with meringue mushrooms. However, I don’t have much meringue experience, so I just created mushrooms by piping white and pink melted chocolate onto wax paper. Sprinkled with sugar and candies before the chocolate sets, no one will even miss the meringue mushrooms.
(I also piped trees, but they didn’t work as I thought. However, I did tuck them around the base of my yule log to mimic leaves.)
Once all of that was complete, I just sprinkled the entire thing with more coarse sugar and sprinkles to create a festive and heavenly confection.
It’s the perfect pink holiday treat.
For my first yule log, I’m pretty pleased with how it turned out. I also had a blast putting it together.
However, with all that work behind me, I think it’s time for a taste.
I decided to give a classic holiday dessert a delicious and colorful makeover. This Pink Velvet Yule Log is a unique, delicious, and beautiful dessert to celebrate the holiday season!
Additional melted white chocolate (in white and pinpiped into mushroom and tree shapes
Instructions
Begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees Grease two 15x10x1" pans with baking spray, cover with parchment paper, and then spray again.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the eggs on high for 3-5 minutes, until pale in color. Continue beating as you slowly add the sugar. Once combined, add the oil, buttermilk, vinegar, vanilla extract, and almond extract. Beat to incorporate. Add pink gel food coloring to achieve desired color. Mix to combine. Finally, beat in the dry ingredients until just combined.
Divide the batter evenly between the two prepared baking pans. Tilt the pan (or spread with a spatulto even out the batter.
Bake for 12-15 minutes or until the cake springs back when touched.
While the cakes bake, lay two tea towels out on your countertop and sprinkle each towel with powdered sugar.
When the cakes are done, immediately invert them onto the prepared towels. Remove the parchment paper and then roll the cake in the towel starting at the narrower end. Set on a wire rack to cool completely. (This step is important because it will prevent your cake from cracking later when you reroll it after it's cooled.)
In the meantime, prepare your filling. In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the cream cheese, butter, and salt until smooth. Add the vanilla and almond extracts and beat to combine. Gradually beat in the confectioner's sugar and white baking chocolate until smooth. Divide this frosting evenly into three bowls.
Once your cakes have cooled, unroll them. Using two of the three bowls of frosting, spread one bowl over each of the cakes to within 1/2 inch of the edge. Roll them up again, without the towel. Place both onto a large platter seam side down and refrigerate until the filling has set. This will take about 2 hours.
Once the cakes have cooled, trim of the edges of each cake. Set one cake onto a platter, then cut the second cake to create branches off the first. Trim the cake branches so they fit snuggly.
Divide your final bowl of frosting into two bowls. Use a touch of pink gel food coloring to dye one half pink; leave the rest white. Put each frosting into separate piping bags, cut off the tips, and pipe lines onto the cake to resemble bark. Fill in any areas where the cake connects.
Garnish the yule log with sprinkles, sugar pearls, and coarse sanding sugar for sparkle.
To create chocolate mushrooms, put melted white chocolate (one white and one dyed pininto two piping bags. Pipe the desired shapes onto wax paper. Sprinkle with coarse sanding sugar or add sugar pearls to the mushrooms before the chocolate sets for added interest. Allow the chocolate to cool completely, and then tuck them into your yule log.
Made it? Share it!Tag @inspiredbycharm on Instagram and use the tag #myIBC so we can see what you're cooking in the kitchen!
I decided to give a classic holiday dessert a delicious and colorful makeover. This Pink Velvet Yule Log is a unique, delicious, and beautiful dessert to celebrate the holiday season! Happy 12 Days of Christmas! I love you all so much, and my Christmas spirit is soaring so high, that I decided to add a […]
If you’re looking for the merriest of martinis you need this Very Merry Ornamentini. It’s the ultimate Christmas cocktail served in an ornament. It’s as beautiful as it is delicious!
Ornamentini Christmas Cocktail
I was recently brainstorming new holiday cocktail recipes. When I stumbled upon some clear glass ornaments a few days ago, it hit me. Why not make a holiday martini, but serve it in a glass ornament!?
I loved the idea, but wondered if had been done before. After a quick Google and Pinterest search, I was thrilled to see it hadn’t been tackled. (I created this idea back in 2016. It’s not 2022 and there are hundreds of these. I still like to credit myself as the originator.)
Following some experimentation and decision making, the perfect seasonal martini recipe was born. Thus, I present to you the Very Merry Ornamentini!
Tell me that this isn’t one of the most festive and fun martinis ever.
First, let’s talk about the actual cocktail. I opted to create a variation on a classic cosmopolitan.
Ingredients:
vodka as the base,
cranberry juice,
cherry juice,
orange liqueur,
and a splash of freshly squeezed orange juice.
Shop Clear Class Ornaments
You’ll also need some ornaments. That’s what makes this Christmas cocktail so special! I used glass because it’s a bit more elegant, but plastic will work too.
Adding cherry juice and substituting orange juice for lime juice is what makes this drink different and seasonal. The cherry juice gives it a beautiful deep red color and the orange juice suits this time of year. The resulting flavor combination is deliciously classic with a twist.
Garnished with a few of those sugared cranberries I taught you how to make here, plus a sprig of fresh rosemary, this martini is Christmas AF.
Now, you’re probably wondering how to serve this.
You could pop a straw in the ornament or drink directly from it. However, I don’t love either of those ideas. That’s not how to enjoy a martini.
My suggestion is to serve the cocktail in the ornament and invite each guest to pour the cocktail over the cranberries into a glass. Or if you’re hosting a dinner party, you can present it and pour it for your guests.
Sidenote: As you can imagine, ornaments weren’t designed for pouring liquids. What I’ve learned is to only fill them about 90% full and to pour slowly into the martini glass. This will help prevent spills.
These martinis do take a little longer to prepare, but they can be made in advance. Mix up the cocktails several hours before your party (or the morning of) and portion them into the ornaments. Pop them in the refrigerator and pull them out when it’s serving time. That way there’s no fuss during the actual gathering.
Christmas cocktail perfected. What do you think?
I’d recommend these for a party of up to 10 people. If you’re serving a crowd, definitely check out my Jingle Juice Holiday Punch.
If you liked this Christmas cocktail recipe, you’ll love these:
I know I say this a lot, but this might be my new favorite thing. I vow not to drink a cocktail this holiday season unless it’s served in an ornament. Haha!
Cheers, friends!
Love this Christmas cocktail recipe?
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If you’re looking for the merriest of martinis you need this Very Merry Ornamentini. It's the ultimate Christmas cocktail served in an ornament. It's as beautiful as it is delicious!
Made it? Share it!Tag @inspiredbycharm on Instagram and use the tag #myIBC so we can see what you’re cooking in the kitchen!
If you’re looking for the merriest of martinis you need this Very Merry Ornamentini. It’s the ultimate Christmas cocktail served in an ornament. It’s as beautiful as it is delicious! Ornamentini Christmas Cocktail I was recently brainstorming new holiday cocktail recipes. When I stumbled upon some clear glass ornaments a few days ago, it hit […]
Use clear glass ornaments to make creative holiday gifting ideas for anyone and everyone on your list!
The 12 Days of Christmas continues with some ideas for Holiday Gifting with Clear Glass Ornaments. Welcome to Day 5 of the 12 Days of Christmas here on IBC.
Holiday Gifting Ideas:
Today, I’m teaming up with my friends at merci® (and their delicious chocolate) to give you some holiday gift ideas for the people in your life who you’re especially grateful for. By giving merci (“thank you” in French) you are truly saying “thanks”! #givemerci
This post is sponsored by merci. As always all opinions are my own.
In case you haven’t heard of merci, they’ve been making rich, European chocolate from the finest ingredients since 1965. Their slim, stylish boxes (featured below) contain eight unique, individually-wrapped flavors: Milk Chocolate, Coffee and Cream. Hazelnut-Almond. Hazelnut-Créme, Marizpan, Dark Cream, Dark Mousse, and Praline-Créme. Yum!
Inspired by merci, I immediately thought about those individuals in my life who provide a service – the mailman, the girl who cuts my hair, the server at my favorite restaurant, etc. I so appreciate their excellent service throughout the year. During the holidays, I’m always looking for different ways to thank them rather than just handing them cash in a card. I prefer something a bit more personal.
That’s why today, I’m sharing six clever and cost-effective ideas for creating a unique gift using a clear glass ornament. There’s no doubt that the recipient will feel appreciated with your extra effort and creativity. Paired with a box of merci, your gift truly says thank you. Let me show you what you might do.
Holiday Gifting Ideas with Ornaments:
We’ll begin with the basics. What goes better with chocolate than more sweet treats? Try filling up an ornament with small candies. Your recipients will think of you every time they shake out a little snack.
Need a small gift for the baker in your life? Then fill an ornament with sprinkles. Folks who enjoy baking can’t get enough of them. Trust me, I know.
For an added festive touch, tie on a seasonal cookie cutter!
Sidenote: To get your goodies into the ornament, use a funnel. It makes things a breeze. Also, these clear ornaments are available in glass or plastic. Use what works best for your application.
More Holiday Gifting Ideas:
If your recipient leads a busy life or has a stressful job, these next ideas are for you.
Pick up some of your favorite bath salts (or make your own) and add them to an ornament. Pair it with a small sponge-on-a-rope and chocolates, and you’ve given the gift of relaxation!
Looking for another gift for someone who needs to unwind? Try filling the ornament with loose leaf tea. Tied up with a mesh tea ball, the recipient can enjoy your gift cozied up on the couch with chocolate and a Christmas movie. Who wouldn’t love that?
And for those hard-to-buy-for people on your list – lottery tickets.
To get them in an ornament, roll them up and tie them with a piece of twine. Tuck a few inside, add tinsel, and you’re set!
Last but not least, double the chocolaty goodness by giving the gift of hot cocoa!
Funnel a few servings into an ornament, top with marshmallows, and your gift is ready! (If you’re looking for delicious homemade hot cocoa recipes, click here.)
Pretty, fun, and unique ideas, right? These are really great for holiday gifting!
I hope you’re feeling inspired to recreate one, two, or all six of these ornaments this holiday season to thank those special people on your holiday list.
IBC’s 12 Days of Christmas continues tomorrow with more holiday fun!
Use clear glass ornaments to make creative holiday gifting ideas for anyone and everyone on your list! The 12 Days of Christmas continues with some ideas for Holiday Gifting with Clear Glass Ornaments. Welcome to Day 5 of the 12 Days of Christmas here on IBC. Holiday Gifting Ideas: Today, I’m teaming up with my friends […]
“The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear!” – Buddy the Elf
Welcome back to the 12 Days of Christmas here on IBC! I hope you’re enjoying the series this year. I’m having a wonderful time sharing the joys of this holiday season with you.
For Day 4, I have more holiday tunes to keep your spirits bright. During the past couple weeks, I’ve been sharing some of my favorite holiday songs as part of my Tuesday Tunes series. We’ve covered Classic Christmas and Country Christmas. Today, it’s my favorite Folksy Christmas tunes.
Folksy Christmas Music:
If you’ve been following along with my music selections over the past year, you know that while I love a variety of sounds, there’s something about the folksy singer-songwriter style that will always have my heart. Think artists like Brandi Carlile, Mumford and Sons, and The Lumineers. With this style of music being near and dear to me, naturally I had to put together a playlist of holiday Tuesday Tunes.
Although it’s not necessarily a country Christmas song, one of my favorite tracks on this list is “Winter Song” by Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson. I love a song that can somehow make you feel both happy and sad at the same time. Other favorites include “River” by Sarah McLachlan, “Christmas Time is Here” by Shawn Colvin, and anything by She & Him.
I hope this playlist allows you to feel the spirit of the season as you reflect on the year.
You can use the playlist above to listen to these festive tunes or play them directly on Spotify by clicking here.
I have two more holiday playlists to share this season. You can get a sneak listen to them (and lots of other music) by subscribing to my Spotify profile here.
I’ll meet you back here tomorrow when the 12 Days of Christmas continues!
“The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear!” – Buddy the Elf Welcome back to the 12 Days of Christmas here on IBC! I hope you’re enjoying the series this year. I’m having a wonderful time sharing the joys of this holiday season with you. For Day 4, I […]
Hope you are having the happiest of holiday seasons. Today I’m sharing my flocked Christmas tree!Welcome back to the 12 Days of Christmas here on Inspired by Charm! In case you missed the start of this holly jolly series, you can click here for Day 1: Holiday Home Tour.
For Day 2, I’m so thrilled to be back today to give you a closer look at the Fun, Festive, and Flocked Christmas Tree in my office. While you got a little peek at it yesterday, you didn’t get the full experience of this tree, so that’s what I wanted to share today. Plus, I’m going to pass along some of my tree trimming tricks. Let’s get to it.
Colorful and Whimsical Flocked Christmas Tree:
As you may have noticed, flocked Christmas trees have become increasingly popular in recent years. It’s easy to see why. You get the look of a Christmas tree (obviously), but it also has a magical snowy white glow. Plus, flocking on a pre-lit tree covers the lights, making them and the wires almost undetectable when it’s not lit. It’s genius.
What is a Flocked Christmas Tree?
This year, I decided to invest in a quality flocked tree. This is the Flocked Artificial Christmas Tree from Lowe’s. I saw it in-store around Halloween, and then when Lowe’s asked me to decorate a tree for them, I knew this was the one I had to get. (It also has a surprise feature, but we’ll get to that in a second.)
A flocked Christmas tree is just an artificial tree (though you can get real tree that has been flocked) that has been sprated with a substance to make it look white and snowy.
Once I had the tree set up, I added colorful plaid ribbon. A couple tips about ribbon: First, get more yardage than you think you’ll need. For this tree, I used about 25 yards. Second, start at the top and let the ribbon flow as you work it down and around the tree. In some spots, tuck it in, and in other places, let it billow out. Twist the ribbon as you work around the tree to give it some dimension. Work in a pattern around the tree, but let the ribbon do its thing. This will give you a much more natural look rather than having horizontal stripes across your tree.
For ornaments, I began with the beautiful collection of faceted ornaments from Lowe’s (they are not longer available.)
With those ornaments on the tree, I pulled inspiration from the ribbon and my office space to fill the tree with beautiful color. I’m a fan of glass ornaments, and Lowe’s has almost any color you could want. From their Holiday Living collection, I ended up using the Pink Ball Ornament Set, Blue Ball Ornament Set, Green Ball Ornament Set, and Red Ball Ornament Set. For a tree this size, I used three packs of each color.
I finished things off by adding a few ornaments from my personal collection and a felted ball garland.
Okay, so we covered festive and flocked. What about the fun? Are you ready?
Tada!
This tree has color changing LED lights! Surprise! It goes from warm white to multi-colored with a click of a button.
Even though I’m usually not a fan of colored lights on a tree, there’s something about the tone / hue of these lights with these decorations that I’m totally digging.
Let’s have a look at that color changing action one more time.
Fun, Festive, and Flocked. Mission accomplished! I hope you enjoyed my flocked Christmas tree!
I’ll meet you back here on Monday for Day 3 of the 12 Days of Christmas. I’ll be teaching you how to make a beautiful and tasty treat for the holidays, plus I’ll be sharing all of the details about those gingerbread house cakes you’ve seen in my posts.
See you then!
Hope you are having the happiest of holiday seasons. Today I’m sharing my flocked Christmas tree!Welcome back to the 12 Days of Christmas here on Inspired by Charm! In case you missed the start of this holly jolly series, you can click here for Day 1: Holiday Home Tour. For Day 2, I’m so thrilled […]
Well, friends. This just might be one of my favorite days here on IBC. Not only am I sharing my Holiday Home Tour 2016 and my Christmas Decorations with you, but today marks the official beginning of 12 Days of Christmas!
Now, if that’s not exciting enough, I’m also honored to be participating in Jennifer Rizzo’s Holiday Housewalk. I’ve watched with wonder as she has hosted this tour for several years now. When I received an email from her asking me to join the seasonal fun, I was filled with holiday cheer. This year, more than 30 bloggers are sharing their Christmas decorations! . Each blogger has a unique style so it’s inspiring to check out all of the homes and their festive decor.
If you’re currently on the tour and coming over from Ella Claire, welcome to Inspired by Charm (or IBC as we call it around here). Kristen of Ella Claire is amazingly talented, so it’s an honor to follow her on this tour. Wasn’t her home stunning? Check it out here if you missed it.
How Do You Decorate Your House for Christmas:
Okay, now that we’ve taken care of the preliminaries, let’s get on with the tour! (I recommend listening to one of my holiday playlists to set the mood while browsing. You can find them here.) We’ll start in the living room.
As you might have noticed, thanks to a new rug, this space has a different look. Last year I celebrated the holidays with cool blues, teals, and greens. This year, things are feeling warm and cozy.
Before we go any further – I know how much many of you liked my previous rug. I loved it, too. However, I was ready for a change, and this rug from RugsUSA offered me just what I needed.
With the new rug in place, I opted for traditional reds and greens to create a warm and cozy space that’s ideal for enjoying a Christmas movie on the couch with a big cup of hot cocoa in hand.
I also managed to squeeze a tree into this space. I found this slim flocked pencil tree that fit perfectly next to my couch. Decorated in hues to match the room, it’s the perfect festive accessory.
The star of my mantel this year is this pair of elk antlers that I scored at a local thrift shop. I actually live in Elk County, PA so the antlers are quite fitting. In fact, one of largest roaming elk herds is about 30 minutes from my house.
Adorned with fresh greens, copper ornaments, and acorns, my mantel is dressed for the season.
Side note: Be sure to check out Shop IBC if you’re looking for product links. I’ll try and link up most things there to make it easy to find and shop for products.
Since I eliminated the aqua from this area, I also picked up a new lamp to better suit the space. I also couldn’t resist this #naughty pillow from Grandin Road.
Now, let’s turn on those twinkle lights. I tucked a dimmable strand of LED wire lights into the greenery around my mantel. They are awesome. You can find them here.
My tree adds such a magical glow to this space. I’m so happy I was able to finally have one in this room. Those adorable wood ornaments are from Tree Hopper Toys.
Colorful Christmas Decorations for your Home:
Okay, let’s head over to the office.
If you’re new to IBC, my house layout is a bit weird because it used to be a bed and breakfast. At one point this living room / office space combo was sectioned off by a bathroom. Then it became a gift shop. At this point it’s just a big fun space for me.
This is where the blog magic happens.
Over by my desk, things are looking the same. However, I found a new home for my printer (It’s in my closet thanks to wifi printing.), so I had a bit of extra space for decorating.
These trees LED candles from Grandin Road look great on a wood tray embellished with fresh pine. The geometric himmeli wreath over my Stendig Calendar was a HomeGoods find! I love it.
In this room I added yet another tree next to my office table.
This tree is mostly decked out in ornaments from the allen + roth collection at Lowe’s. They are carrying these beautiful geometric ornaments this year, and I just couldn’t get enough of them. That beautiful plaid ribbon was a HomeGoods find! It’s perfection!
I also baked up this beautiful gingerbread village with a cake mold I found at HomeGoods. That’s another little sneak peek at things to come during this years 12 Days of Christmas! (So many things to look forward to, right? I’m such a tease!)
As we move into the dinning room, you’ll notice I filled a white vase in my entryway with fresh winterberry. This stuff is just gorgeous. I want to put it everywhere. This is the first year I’ve used fresh pine and berries in my home. I’m not sure I can go back to faux!
I also picked up two of these gold peace signs from CB2. Given the state of the world these days, I couldn’t imagine a better way to greet my guests than with a sign of peace.
I tied them up with black satin ribbon and more fresh pine.
Christmas Decorations for your Dining Room:
Over in the dining room I opted for metallics, black, and just a touch of green.
Going with mostly blacks and golds made me a little nervous since black isn’t a traditional Christmas color. However, with lots of sparkle, it came together better than I could have hoped.
A few years ago, I never would have mixed gold, silver, and copper. This year, I broke the rules and just went for it.
The inspiration came from various sources, but it all started with this Designer Lit tree from Grandin Road. It’s unique in that it’s lit with over 6,000 tiny LED lights. That’s not a typo. It really has 6,720 lights to be exact. (Unfortunately, it’s currently sold out for the year.)
I’m not an expert at beautifully capturing Christmas tree lights (The the dreary gray weather wasn’t helping either.), but this is a stunner.
Pure magic!
It’s definitely not traditional, but when you’re decorating with gold and black, tradition kind of goes out the window.
Along with lots of glimmering metallics, this tree has gold sequined unicorns, faux fur ribbon, and an owl tree topper. I’m so lucky I get to experiment with new trees every year. I honestly never expected a tree like this, but I couldn’t be more excited to celebrate around it.
Over in the opposite corner of the room, I upgraded my $5 thrift store bar cart to something a bit more refined and larger for serving up holiday cocktails. (More about that soon! I’m trying to get one to giveaway!)
I’ve set the table with a variety of things I found at HomeGoods. From the big mercury glass trees to the faux fur table runner to the dinnerware, black, white, and metallic never looked so chic. I’ll be posting more about this tablescape in the coming weeks over on the HomeGoods Design Happy blog.
I’ll also probably pop back in to talk more about this tree. There’s just so much holiday cheer. I can’t fit it all in one post. I did tuck a few presents under the tree topped with my free printable gift tags and DIY concrete ornaments.
Last, but certainly not least, I wanted to try something totally new this year.
Rainbow-Inspired Christmas Decorations:
I decided to style my staircase banister with garland. This is something I’ve always wanted to do, and I’m crazy in love with it. I chose the soft pine garland from Grandin Road which has battery operated LED lights, complete with timer. Set it and forget it. (I’m sad to report that this garland is currently sold out for the year. However, you can check out some of their other garlands HERE.)
With the green garland in place, I simply wrapped it with another garland of Christmas balls. (You might remember that I used it on my flocked tree a few years ago.)
Two simple steps yielded this dramatic, colorful, and festive garland. If you come and visit me, you might find me sitting on the stairs gazing at it. (Please bring me a cocktail because I’m not moving.)
I’d say my first staircase garland was a success.
And that’s a wrap for my Holiday Home Tour 2016! I have a couple dedicated posts coming up where I’ll show you around my kitchen and take you upstairs, so please stop by in the coming weeks. The festive fun continues!
Now, don’t forget to continue on the Holiday Housewalk. Next up is The Yellow Cap Cod. Sarah is such a talented decorator. You’re going to love how she’s decked her halls for the season. Head on over and check it out.
Thank you so much for joining me for all the festive fun today. If you want to see more of my home or how I decorate for other seasons, you can find all of my home tours here. If you’re on the hunt for more holiday inspiration and christmas decorations, click here for those posts.
Happy Holidays to my friends both old and new!
Well, friends. This just might be one of my favorite days here on IBC. Not only am I sharing my Holiday Home Tour 2016 and my Christmas Decorations with you, but today marks the official beginning of 12 Days of Christmas! Now, if that’s not exciting enough, I’m also honored to be participating in Jennifer […]
As I mentioned in a post a few weeks ago, back in October I was part of a group of bloggers and designers who got to travel to Napa and San Francisco with Zephyr (makers of the quietest kitchen range hoods on the market).Throughout the trip we had a chance to learn about their range hoods, meet with Zephyr designers, and of course, take in some of the wonderful things that California has to offer (including a sip or two of wine.)
One of the designers we met was Fu-Tung Cheng. With an impressive list of skills (designer, architect, and artist), he partnered with Zephyr to create the Cheng Collection of range hoods. (You can check out the collection here.) Fu-Tung’s artistic and modern vision makes him the perfect person to design for Zephyr. The resulting range hoods are beautiful and artistic elements in a kitchen rather than necessary but unsightly accessories.
Beyond the Cheng Collection, Zephyr offers a wide variety of range hoods, including some of the quietest ones on the market. They even have a new range hood called Lux Island, which is mounted into the ceiling, so that the views in your home are not obstructed. Until my visit with Zephyr, I never thought much about range hoods, how important they are, or how stylish they can be. If you are shopping for a new range hood, redoing your kitchen, or building a home, be sure to check out what Zephyr has to offer.
Now, you’re probably wondering what all of this has to do with DIY Concrete Ornaments. Right?
Well, remember Fu-Tung Cheng? Among his many talents, he’s known for his innovative uses of concrete in architecture and industrial design. In fact, he was the first person to pour a concrete countertop in his own home.
Because Fu-Tung enjoys working with concrete so much, he’s created a product called ShapeCrete for crafters like you and me. This product is a shapable concrete that can be rolled, molded, or poured into almost any shape imaginable.
As soon as Fu-Tung mentioned it, I was on my phone ordering a tub of it because I knew I could come up with something creative to share here on IBC. And that’s exactly what I did. I made these DIY Concrete Ornaments.
When it comes to holiday decor, they are a bit untraditional and modern, but that’s exactly what I love about them.
Then, grab an old plastic container or bucket. To get the clay-like consistency you will want for this project, mix about 4 cups of ShapeCrete with 1 cup of water. Add the water slowly until you get that clay-like consistency. I recommend mixing this with your hands.
Next, roll out a piece of parchment paper and scrape the mixture out of the bucket onto the paper. Top it with another piece of parchment paper and roll it flat with a rolling pin. You’ll want the concrete to be about 1/3 -1/2-inch thick.
Use cookie cutters to cut out your ornaments. Be sure to press the cutter all the way through the concrete. Then, with the cookie cutter still pressed into the concrete use a toothpick or wood skewer to make a hole near the top for a ribbon or ornament hook. Doing this with the cookie cutter in place will help prevent the concrete from cracking.
Do not remove any of the excess concrete because this might crack the ornaments. Let the concrete set as-is for about 24 hours (or overnight at a minimum).
The next day, break off the excess concrete so that you’re left with your ornaments. Use a piece of sandpaper to smooth the edges and remove any extraneous bits of concrete.
Finally, you’ll want to create a glittered edge. Using tacky craft glue, paint the side of your ornaments with a paint brush. Then dip them in the glitter.
Once the glitter is dry, your ornaments are complete!
Pretty cool, right? I bet you’ve never seen a concrete and gold glitter ornament before. These look great on a tree, but I also love adding them to packages for a one-of-a-kind, modern touch.
I hope you enjoyed this unique and festive project. A big thanks to Zephyr for hosting a fabulous trip and educating me on range hoods.
As I mentioned in a post a few weeks ago, back in October I was part of a group of bloggers and designers who got to travel to Napa and San Francisco with Zephyr (makers of the quietest kitchen range hoods on the market).Throughout the trip we had a chance to learn about their range […]
Celebrate the holidays with this seasonal collection of Country Christmas songs with favorites from Martina McBride, Carrie Underwood, Sugarland, and more!
I’ve been listening to country Christmas songs every day for the past week, and I still can’t get enough. If you love this season as much as I do, then you’re in luck today because I’m back with another holiday-inspired Tuesday Tunes playlist.
This week we’re getting out the guitar and singing along with some country Christmas songs. If you’re not a fan of the genre, you might not agree with me that it’s perfect for the holidays. Like most holiday songs, country tunes tell a story. Country music also makes me think of home, and as the song says, “I’ll be home for Christmas.”
Country Christmas Songs:
Before we get to the playlist, I wanted to point out a few favorites from this list of Country Christmas Songs.
First, Dan + Shay’s take on “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” is incredible. I also adore Michael W. Smith and Carrie Underwood’s cover of “All Is Well.” I’m talking full body chills, people. And because I will forever be a fan of LeAnn Rimes, her rendition of “Carol of the Bells” is crazy good. (All of those songs above are linked to YouTube videos which are worth a watch.)
I hope you enjoy my second Christmas playlist. In case you missed the first, you can check it out here.
Do you enjoy country Christmas music? Who are your favorite artists? Let us know in the comments below.
Celebrate the holidays with this seasonal collection of Country Christmas songs with favorites from Martina McBride, Carrie Underwood, Sugarland, and more! I’ve been listening to country Christmas songs every day for the past week, and I still can’t get enough. If you love this season as much as I do, then you’re in luck today […]
This post is sponsored by Glad Food Storage and Hidden Valley Ranch. As always, all opinions are my own.
During the holidays I’m always looking for yummy snacks that I can make and share with family and friends. That’s why today I’m showing you how to make these Spicy Ranch Pretzels.
No matter the time of year, when I go to my brother’s house, my sister-in-law always has these pretzels. As delicious as they are on their own, they also pair nicely with homemade mustard, mini cheese balls, or even just a cheese and pepperoni tray. Who doesn’t love a go-to snack?
I was thinking these pretzels would likewise make a fun gift or treat to bring to a holiday gathering. You’ll never again show up empty handed when you can easily whip up a batch or two of these guys.To make things even better, I created a free holiday gift tag printable. We’ll get to that in a bit.
If you’ve never made these, let me assure you they are quick and easy. First off, you’ll need some pretzels. I prefer square snaps because they have lots of edges to hold the spicy ranch flavoring.
These dip mixes are great for adding flavor to holiday appetizers. You can find them in the dressing aisle at Walmart while your shopping for all your holiday entertaining must-haves.
Side note: The recipe calls for 1 and 1/2 envelopes of Hidden Valley Fiesta Ranch Dip Mix for the best flavor. I recommend doubling the recipe. You’ll then use three envelopes and not waste half of one.
The dip mix gets whisked together with other spices, including garlic salt, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper. The recipe below calls for a teaspoon of cayenne. In my opinion, this gives the right amount of heat, but feel free to add more or less based on your own preference.
Next, drizzle this spice mixture over your pretzels.
To make sure the pretzels are evenly coated with all that goodness, here is a little trick I use. Place a piece of Glad® Press ‘n Seal on the top of your bowl. (That stuff is magic.) Stretch it around the edge of your bowl to get a tight seal; then shake, shake, shake.
I love Glad Press ‘n Seal for sealing in freshness. It creates a tight seal on paper, plastic, glass, metal, and wood.
With your pretzels evenly coated after all of that shaking, they’re ready for the oven. Pop them in on low heat for about 1.5 hours and you’re good to go.
Once the pretzels are cooled, you can store them in an air-tight container or package them up like I did to make small gifts.
I found some clear bags at Walmart and then created some holiday gift tags to finish them off.
I was so pleased with the gift tags, that I decided to make them into a printable you can download for free! (Sharing is caring, my friends.) Click here for the printable. I recommend printing the tags on white card stock.
Tie up the bags with ribbon and these tags and you have a gift that’s easy, delicious, and as cute as ever. What’s not to love.
Spicy Ranch Pretzels
Makes about 3 quarts
Here's what you will need:
1 pound (16-ounce bag) mini pretzels
1 cup vegetable oil
1 1/2 envelopes Hidden Valley® Ranch Dip Mix (Original or Fiesta)
1 teaspoon garlic salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Begin by preheating your oven to 200 degrees F. Then add your pretzels to a large bowl and set aside.
In a small bowl, whisk together the oil, Hidden Valley® Ranch Dip Mix, garlic salt, garlic powder, and cayenne.
Pour this mixture over the pretzels. Cover the bowl with Glad® Press 'n Seal, seal it tightly, and then shake until the pretzels are evenly coated.
Bake in a 13 x 9" pan for about 1.5 hours, stirring every 20 minutes.
Allow the pretzels to cool completely. Store in an airtight container or package in sealable bags for gifts.
Print
As you can see, this is simple but tasty recipe. These Spicy Ranch Pretzels can be served in a variety of ways during the holidays or simply gobbled up on their own. For more holiday entertaining tips and recipes, be sure to check out www.walmart.com/holidayfavorites!
Enjoy!
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Glad & Hidden Valley Ranch. The opinions and text are all mine.
This post is sponsored by Glad Food Storage and Hidden Valley Ranch. As always, all opinions are my own. During the holidays I’m always looking for yummy snacks that I can make and share with family and friends. That’s why today I’m showing you how to make these Spicy Ranch Pretzels. No matter the time of […]
Cream Cheese Frosting might be my favorite way to decorate a cake. I love the tangy sweetness it adds to almost any cake. Today, I’m sharing my favorite Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe. I think you’re going to love it as much as I do.
As I was working on a cake recipe today, it struck me that I don’t have some of my favorite go-to recipes on the blog. You know, those basic recipes that you rely on over and over again. For some reason I assumed that “easy” things like a frosting recipe weren’t “post worthy.”
However, to make sharing recipes easier, and to give you some tried-and-true recipes for your own cooking adventures, I’m going to start posting more of my go-to recipes. I’m kicking things off today with My Favorite Cream Cheese Frosting.
Cream Cheese Frosting:
If I could only eat one frosting for the rest of my life, it would be cream cheese frosting. (Well, that or the frosting my aunt makes, but we’ll save that for another day.) There’s just something about a really good cream cheese frosting that gets me every time. Maybe it’s the blend of tangy cream cheese, rich butter, and subtle sweetness.
How to Make Cream Cheese Frosting:
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together the cream cheese, butter, and salt until light and smooth. This will take about five minutes.
Blend in the vanilla and almond extract. Beat to combine.
Add the confectioner’s sugar slowly, about one cup at a time, and mix until smooth.
Note: While this recipe probably won’t need it, you can add a splash of milk for a thinner frosting.
Of course, this frosting works great on things like red velvet cake and carrot cake, but I’ve used it on plain vanilla cake as well.
I also like that you can adjust the flavoring to make the frosting even more complex. In the fall and winter, cinnamon and nutmeg can give it a seasonal touch. For a touch of spring freshness, you could add some grated lemon zest.
This is a recipe that you can use for lots of things and make in lots of ways. I hope you like it as much as I do.
How to Use this Cream Cheese Frosting:
You can use this frosting on any cake you love. These are a few of my favorite cake recipes:
Cream Cheese Frosting might be my favorite way to decorate a cake. I love the tangy sweetness it adds to almost any cake. Today, I'm sharing my favorite Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe. I think you're going to love it as much as I do.
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together the cream cheese, butter, and salt until light and smooth. This will take about five minutes.
Blend in the vanilla and almond extract. Beat to combine.
Add the confectioner's sugar slowly, about one cup at a time, and mix until smooth.
Add milk, 1 tablespoon at a time, to achieve desired consistancy.
Notes
This recipe makes frosting for a double layer cake or about 20 cupcakes
Made it? Share it!Tag @inspiredbycharm on Instagram and use the tag #myIBC so we can see what you're cooking in the kitchen!
Cream Cheese Frosting might be my favorite way to decorate a cake. I love the tangy sweetness it adds to almost any cake. Today, I’m sharing my favorite Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe. I think you’re going to love it as much as I do. As I was working on a cake recipe today, it struck […]
This past weekend I set up a two trees and got a good start on a third. I also began more detailed planning for my holiday decor. (I included some pictures in this post if you’re interested in a sneak peek.)
A few months ago, I mentioned to my mom that I wanted to decorate for Christmas this year using things I already had on hand. As much as I love shopping, a part of me was a bit tired of the influx of new “stuff”.
Well, so much for intentions. Because of my job and desire to share something unique with all of you (That large gold Santa did help either.), I succumbed to the allure of the new and different. Several exciting and beautiful items have now made their way into my home. Maybe one of these days I’ll be able to resist.
With that being said, I do realize that not everyone is a blogger or has the resources to style three new Christmas trees each year. And don’t feel like you have to do that. A big part of Christmas is tradition. I love my job, but there’s definitely a side of me that would prefer to set things up the way I always have, thus eliminating the stress of creating something new each year. (I do crank up the holiday tunes and enjoy the decorating process, despite being bit anxious about how things will turn out.)
In fact, there are many ways to decorate and celebrate the season on a budget.That’s why I put together Six Inexpensive Christmas Decorating Ideas as my latest post for the HomeGoods Design Happy blog.
So, if cash is tight (or you prefer to “Reduce, reuse, recycle,”) check out those ideas here. I hope you’ll find a few of my tips to be helpful.
You can also click through my Holiday archives here on IBC to see DIY projects I’ve shared over the past several years. As I mentioned in my post, making things at home can be a great way to save a buck or two this time of year.
(If interested, the mercury glass trees are from HomeGoods. The Gold Santa can be purchased HERE. The Owl Tree Topper can be purchased HERE. For more holiday favorites, check out SHOP IBC by clicking HERE.)
And stay tuned for even more festive inspiration in the weeks to come. (If you’re in the US, have a fabulous Thanksgiving week!)
This past weekend I set up a two trees and got a good start on a third. I also began more detailed planning for my holiday decor. (I included some pictures in this post if you’re interested in a sneak peek.) A few months ago, I mentioned to my mom that I wanted to decorate […]
Is Thanksgiving really this coming Thursday? It seems like I only blinked, and now November is more than halfway over. Does anyone else feel this way? Or are you more than ready for the Christmas season to be here? No matter how you’re feeling, you’ve survived another week and in my book, that calls for a drink. Today I’m teaching you how to make this Cranberry Bourbon Cocktail.
Whether you’re celebrating Thanksgiving, Friendsgiving, Christmas, or none-of-the-above, this cocktail is perfect for this time of year. The bourbon and herbs make it fall friendly and the cranberries add a touch of holiday.
As I’ve told you, even though I’m not a big fan of bourbon, I’m totally on board when it’s mixed with the right ingredients. That proved to be the case with my Apple Cinnamon Hot Toddy. And it’s true with this cocktail as well.
The base of this drink is mainly bourbon and cranberry juice in equal parts. By itself, that combination makes for an exceptionally nice, easy-sipping cocktail. However, you know me – I like to step up my cocktail game and fancify things a bit.
For this recipe, I made a rosemary sage simple syrup. Yes, it sounds elaborate, but it’s actually very easy. You just combine a cup of water with a cup of sugar and toss in a few sprigs of rosemary and sage. Let that simmer for 5-8 minutes until the sugar is dissolved. It’s really that simple.
The syrup adds a fresh, seasonal flavor to the cocktail that works wonderfully with the bourbon and cranberry.
To finish things off, squeeze in a bit of fresh lemon juice.
Since I had extra herbs, I created a garnish by tying a few pieces together with string. Isn’t it pretty? I know it’s over the top, but I thought the holidays called for something special.
If you like these glasses, you can find them here. From what I gathered, they are the same glasses Ina Garten uses. They are even prettier in person.
This is a libation I’d be proud to serve and wouldn’t mind sipping myself. Maybe I’m developing a taste for bourbon after all!?
Cranberry Bourbon Cocktail
Makes 1 cocktail
2 ounces bourbon
2 ounces cranberry juice (100% juice, unsweetened)
1/2 ounce rosemary sage simple syrup*
Splash of lemon juice, freshly squeezed
Fresh rosemary and sage for garnish
In a glass filled with ice, add the bourbon, cranberry juice, rosemary sage simple syrup, and a splash of lemon juice. Stir to combine.
*Rosemary Sage Simple Syrup: In a medium saucepan, combine one cup of sugar and one cup of water. Toss in a couple sprigs each of fresh rosemary and sage. Bring to a boil, stirring until the sugar has dissolved. This will take 5-8 minutes. Strain the herbs from the simple syrup and allow it to cool completely before using.
Print
This truly is a stunning cocktail and one I’m certain you will enjoy.
Happy everything!
Is Thanksgiving really this coming Thursday? It seems like I only blinked, and now November is more than halfway over. Does anyone else feel this way? Or are you more than ready for the Christmas season to be here? No matter how you’re feeling, you’ve survived another week and in my book, that calls for […]
I’ve actually been busy redecorating my home for Christmas. While some things are similar to my 2016 Christmas decor, I did change up all three trees, switch around color schemes, wrap dozens of fake presents, bake delicious things, etc. I also completed a couple back-burner projects that were long overdue – my guest bedroom and bathroom. And because I’m weird, I touched up some paint, cleaned every room (with the help of my mom. Thanks, Mom!), and threw away / donated a bunch of “stuff.”
