Christmas Displays

 Welcome!

I’m one of those who gripe at stores for putting out Christmas merchandise before Halloween. I grouse about people that turn on their Christmas lights before Thanksgiving.

However

I am also a crafter. I get started on Christmas presents in January. By July I’ve planned out what new Christmas decorations I might want to have this year, and researched the best and most cost effective place to purchase supplies.

Just trying to explain why I have a blog about Christmas decorating in November.

Posted Pinterest, Janice Hurst

I found some creative ideas, mostly on Pinterest, and wanted to share them with you. Hopefully this will give you plenty of time for any prep work before life gets crazy busy for the holidays. I am also big on nothing too complicated, expensive or disposable. I really like recycled things.

Lady DeClutter, Pinterest

As an example, the holiday display with candles above you only need wine glasses, some smaller ornament bulbs, a tea light (battery or wick) and some ribbon. Optional: gold paint.

A great resource for supplies, besides your own home, is your local second hand store. You may find sets of 3 or 5 there in the dishes department. These are great for decorating projects. As an added bonus, if you break one, or discover the idea that looked so cute in the magazine looks like something you would not give your worst enemy, you haven’t invested a lot of $$.

I think this is a clever way to display a collection of vintage tree toppers:

Mismatched brass candleholders and a scrap of artificial greenery - that’s all you need! Use a little putty if they seem top heavy.

This next idea is similar. Clear glass candleholders can be found in all sorts of sizes and shapes.

SheKnows, Pinterest

Or, using more assorted brass candlesticks:

Have mismatched candleholders? Buy a can of gold spray paint and paint them all the same color. Now they will group together very nicely.

Another quick holiday decoration for your table are tea cups. Feel free to mix and match patterns. There are some basic rules that will help your display look pretty and not thrown together and amateurish.

My teacup collection

First, choose a unifying theme. This can be shape (all teacups) or color (all brass colored). You could choose all rose patterns, or candles all the same color. When displaying a collection (such as matchbox cars) find something that is similar. Place all the same year together, or same style (like all convertibles, or all trucks). We call this ‘cohesiveness’. Sometimes all it takes is the same red ribbon in bows to tie items together. 

Christine Darge, Pinterest

This teacup display uses candles all the same size, and the same berries and greenery, to make a pleasing arrangement.

Let’s move off the table to the walls. This is an area often neglected in Holiday decorations, but it’s so easy to remedy! Do you have existing pictures framed on your walls? Simply wrap each one like a present, including ribbon and bow, and re-hang.

You can easily add some cheer to any room you choose this way, for little cost or effort.

I like the kitchen cabinets wrapped in ribbon and bows in this photo:

Thrift stores are great places to purchase picture frames for very little $. I found some pretty decorating ideas that just use a frame, ribbon and ornaments.

You can attach the ribbons with staples or small nails. You could probably even use thumbtacks, depending on what the frame is made of. If you want it to be temporary, just be sure the ribbon is secure so you don’t have it coming loose and crash goes your ornament onto the floor.

Adding the ribbon and frou-frou in the upper corner is a festive touch.

Here are several photos grouped together all with similar display ideas. Some of them appear to be a deeper frame, like you might find in a shadow box. This is something to consider when choosing ornaments to hang. If the ornament is too big, it will not hang straight down from the frame. Experiment before you attach everything permanently.

I thought this next idea was very clever. Get out that old elf-on-a-shelf, varying sizes of ornaments and your glue gun. This crafty person even used glitter covered styrofoam balls in the mix.

ingelaboking, Pinterest

For whatever reason, you can’t have a tree this year? I love this display. Use spring loaded curtain rods (Walmart, Home Depot) and place them in a window. Hang ornaments from the rods.

Spooky Hoagie, Pinterest

If you live close to a beach, this next display costs almost nothing but time and a little hot glue and ribbon:

No beach? Any fallen branch could work.

What makes this work is the color grouping, and mixing up the sizes. Yet all the small are the same size, all the medium are the same size, etc. Adding in pine cones and glitter snowflakes is a nice touch.

Do you have a covered entryway? Then this umbrella idea is for you! Do notice however that your visitors are either all short people, or everyone is going to have to duck to get to your front door.

Julia Evenson

The expandable mug racks were very popular in years past. You can still find them in thrift stores. Underneath the ornaments is a charming display of ceramic Christmas trees. I have seen many similar ones in second hand stores.

Do you see what the frame is? Bed springs from a twin or crib mattress bed! The greenery around the edges softens the entire display from harsh to pleasing. You could wire (or use twisty ties) to attach fresh greens into the metal frame. You could also use silk greenery and use ribbon or twine to tie in place.

Therurallegend.com

I really like this unique Christmas ‘tree’. You can find all you need at your local thrift store, or even at a hardware store. Or, if you are like my house, just go look in the basement and see what’s stashed there! Various, graduated sizes of wire lamp shade bases and a way to keep them stacked is all you need. I would probably use a good weight wire to attach the frames. The bottom stand is a lamp base spray painted a neutral color.

I love this next one!

For the nutcracker display tree you will need a vertical piece of wood, and then varying sizes of 1x2 strips of wood. Measure and cut the strips in tree shaped dimensions. Attach to the vertical support. Add hardware to hang the support piece(s). You can use putty to attach your nutcrackers to the shelves so they won’t fall off. Want to make it permanent? Hot glue should be fine. Add a little fake greenery between the feet of the nutcrackers and you have a unique and interesting decorative display.

Used all your ball ornaments on your tree? Have a mirror and a bag of bows? Here you go:

 Do you have a collection of dolls or nutcrackers, or? Add some mini lights and greenery along one side of your staircase. Tuck in on every step a doll or nutcracker, gingerbread men, or? Keep in mind safety so don’t get all excited and over-decorate. Keep it simple and not too wide.

Lovely Harbor

This person featured their collection of globes with a few nativity sets to make a one-of-a-kind Christmas display on a shelf unit.

Instagram, Courtney Snowden 

Adding the letter banner helps tie it all together.

Itsmeencreates

I found a few variations on this stacked book theme. I chose this one as it is temporary and you don’t have to damage any books to create it. Use a cake stand as a base. Stack your books as shown. Add a bow with long ends to the top. Attach silk flowers and ribbons as desired by using wire, and tucking the ends in between your books. Finish by draping a strand of pearl chain. Want it to be a bit more sturdy? Wrap the books with ribbon as you would a package. Fasten the ends together or knot at the top. Cover with the top bow as mentioned above.

I will end with a few photos that are pretty self-explanatory about how to put them together.

Casa Lory

I hope I have encouraged you to try a couple of new decorating ideas. Make the project your own by tweaking and adding your own personal touches. But most of all, have fun and get ready to enjoy the upcoming holiday season.

‘Til next time,

inkspired

Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii

 E komo mai

That’s Hawaiian for

‘Welcome, come in’

Delaware, USA

I can’t tell you how much fun I’ve been having learning about the different states that comprise 

the United States of America.

Delaware

Florida

Georgia

Hawaii

These are the states I’d like to look at today. Come along with me, and let’s have some fun!

Delaware

Delaware’s motto is ‘The First State’ and for good reason. It is the first state that ratified the Constitution in 1787. Hmm…a few things there.

What does ratify mean?

It means to give official, formal approval.

Sooo I thought we became the United States in 1776?

Well, no.

Each ‘state’ was an individual colony under British rule. To declare independence there was a Second Continental Congress. This was created to manage the Revolutionary War. 1776 - We won! But who won?

And where did we go from there?

Here’s how we got started:

But then, statesmen being human and all, had to spend a lot of time arguing about things like who should sign first? What should we call the leader? Who should be the leader? How about another king? (If this had won votes it would have been ‘King George Washington’!).  Yes, a lot of other important issues too.

So, in 1781 there was a Constitution ratified. Only it was not so great, so after more debate and revisions, in 1787 Delaware was the first to sign the Constitution as we know it (mostly) today.

Whew.

Back to Delaware.

SunCatcherStudio.com

The state capital is Dover, which is one of the oldest European settled cities in America. The largest city in Delaware is Wilmington. Delaware is the second smallest state. You can drive across it in 2 hours!

Courtesy MusePrintables

What’s famous about Delaware?

For one thing, it is known for beautiful beaches, like Rehoboth Beach.

Rehoboth Beach, Delaware

It is also home to the world’s largest population of horseshoe crabs. Some people think they predate dinosaurs. That would be a long time ago.

Horseshoe crab

Delaware has the fastest internet connection in the States, and in fact is faster than any other country in the world besides South Korea. Many big companies are registered here because of its’ business-friendly laws. For shoppers, there’s no sales tax!

inkart.net

puzzles-to-print.com

For being such a small state, it sure seems to have a variety of wildlife and birds.

FLORIDA

‘The Sunshine State’

Florida, in 1845, became the 27th state to join the Union. It has 1850 miles of coastline, and 1300 golf courses. The capital is Tallahassee but the largest city is Jacksonville. I was surprised it wasn’t Miami!

Florida is known as a place people move to from the North, after they retire from work. Tired of snow and cold, the sunny temperatures of Florida are very attractive.

Florida beach view

And of course, Mickey Mouse calls DisneyWorld his vacation home in Orlando.

Florida has a unique eco-system called the Everglades, where alligators and manatees swim. It is the flattest state in the US and has over 4500 islands.

Yeah. 4500.

Beeloo

Although I think of Florida and oranges going together, the most well-known food is Key lime pie.

GEORGIA

Georgia is called ‘The Peach State’. If you’ve ever visited, you would find Peach Street, Peach Avenue, Peach Way, Peach Circle, Peach Tree Street, Peaches Cul-de-sac, well, you get the idea.

Panther Creek Falls, Georgia

Georgia joined the United States of America in position #4 in 1788. 

On January 19, 1861 Georgia voted to leave the Union and join the Confederate States of America. They were the fifth state to do that, after South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida and Alabama. Around 120,000 Georgians fought on the Confederate side, and about 3,500 - 4,000 fought for the Union (many of the last were either free men or escaped from slavery individuals.) The second most bloody battle of the Civil War was The Battle of Chickamauga, Sept 1863, fought in Georgia with over 34,000 casualties and a clear win for the Confederates. They did not, however, win the War.

A Confederate Calvary officer

Georgia is a beautiful Southern state with many State Parks, Historic sites and water features. You can find mountains, swamps, beaches and forests all in one state.

Okefenokee Swamp

SunCatcherStudio

You can also find peach pie!

Atlanta is the capital, and has one of the busiest airports in the world. Besides peach pie, Georgia is proud of their fried chicken, sweet tea and Southern Barbecue. I guess that’s why they rank in the top 20 states with the highest obesity, with the city of Augusta coming in at approximately #6 as the most obese city in the US. That’s not in Georgia, that’s in the entire United States of America.

Georgia is known for peanuts, pecans, kudzu and BBQ. Coco-Cola was created here, as was the cotton gin (machine). The first Women’s College to grant degrees to women, in the world, was chartered here in 1836.

Courtesy WordSearchAddict.com

Hawaii

‘The Aloha State’

Song sheet cover

Hawaii became a state a little differently than most. It became a US territory first, in 1900. During WWII Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, was attacked by Japan, but it did not become an official state until 1959.

Kualoa, Hawaii

 Hawaii is made up of 137 islands - the only state made up entirely of islands (and 8 atolls). Honolulu is the capital and largest city in the state.

Fun fact: Hawaii is the only state that grows coffee, pineapple and vanilla in the USA.

Oh, and those coconuts? You can mail one somewhere if you want!

SunCatcherStudio.com

The Hawaiian islands are made up from volcanic actions. There are currently 2 active volcanoes, causing Hawaii to actually become larger by 42 acres every year! The tallest mountain in the world is Hawaiian - Mauna Kea (10,210 meters).

How to draw a volcano:

Courtesy IHeartCraftyThings.com

Hawaii is known for it’s beautiful paradise-like landscapes and friendly native customs. It is also home to many unique creatures. (Although sometimes it is just a winter or summer home!) This combination makes Hawaii a popular vacation spot for people from all over the world.

In 1993 the US government officially apologized for overthrowing the existing Hawaiian kingdom in the past. Interestingly this has not become a trend carried over to other indigenous kingdoms. Perhaps because they called their leaders ‘chiefs’ instead of ‘kings’?

A previous king, Kamehameha the Great

Hawaii still retains many of it’s customs and celebrations from it’s earlier history. There are many common phrases and place names that are from the Hawaiian language.

Here are a few:

Flashpackingkerala.com

Last, but not least, I have to mention one of my favorite singers - Israel Kamakawiwo’ole.

IZ

If you get the chance, check out his albums. He had true talent and was a spokesperson and representative for the indigenous Hawaiian population.

Israel Kamakawiwo’ole aka IZ

As always, when I research a state there is SO MUCH MORE that I can’t begin to cover in these short clips, but I do hope you get a small sense of the individuality of each state that makes up the United States of America. Although each state is unique, we share a common goal - ‘being one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.’

Next up:

Idaho

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

‘Til next time,

inkspired