Candy Cane decor continued - a light fixture?

We converted an old tobacco drying basket into a light fixture by suspending it upside down over a chandelier.  We have beautiful edison bulbs in it that give off a very mellow glow.  I was chewing on a large candy cane while making the candy cane wreath and then a light went off..haha I started draping the large candy canes over the wire basket.  I love the look- added just the right amount of Red colored fun to the dining room.
And bonus, if hungry you can just grab one and eat it.  :)

A Candy Cane sort of holiday wreath

We have all of our holiday items in storage in NC except for our one artificial tree and family ornaments.  So decor is being made up of things we have or can purchase cheaply.
I am a neutral gal- you know that.  Beige linen, burlap, white and browns..but Christmas is a time to bring in some fun RED.  And what better red than Candy Canes.

I just purchased a Styrofoam wreath then hot glued all these miniature candy canes on it.  Add some red checked ribbon and voila- very fun wreath.
It was on the coffee table and I kept seeing our dog, Boone licking it.

I love red at Christmas.

all the family is together- picture time

We rarely get time to be together as the whole family.  With two of the boys in NC at college and then the four of us here at Sheppard AFB in Texas it is hard to all be in the same room.  So when the opportunity raises itself we do pictures.  Now, doing pictures is a HATED thing by most of us.  But when mama only wants pictures for her Christmas present - who can deny me?

Just the kiddos.

Biggest boy- Josh - not sure why he likes the beard or why it is red, but he does.

Second son- Jon - he's our preppy one who loves clothing.

I love these kiddos.  Wish they were all at the same place.

hiking trip - texas style

One thing the big boys liked when we were stationed here 10 years ago was going hiking in the Wichita Mountain.  No different now, the younger ones enjoy it too.  So, when the boys were home for Christmas break from college a trip to the mountains was called for.

And the token Texas cattle shot.

christmas 2014

Christmas time and in Texas.  With our base house space is limited and throwing in a Christmas tree made it even more tight.  We used our skinny tree and decided to do it much more simpler than normal.  To give us something to do, Sophie and I created a tree paper chain garland out of all our Christmas scrapbook paper.

The college boys came home for two weeks.  The little ones were so excited to see them.  I don't know if the big brothers realize how much Sophie and Jack miss them and how hard it is on them to be so far from them.  It was very hard for them to go from living in the same house with them to living across the country and only seeing them at Christmas time.

Here Jon is doing what any teen does best...sleeping.

Jack and Sophie waiting at the top of the stairs until they can come down on Christmas morning..they are eager - although tired- to see what Santa left.

Toy time.

The college boys are not so good in the morning haha

Jon finding out what his friends were up to during break.

Josh's turn to do the teen thing- sleep.

Here's to Christmas 2013 !!!

advent calendars ...with some help

We do advent calendars.  Usually those cheap cardboard ones from World Market.  You know the ones?  The ones that you open the tiny door to a piece of chocolate.

This year to help break the utter boredom that is called being stationed at a terrible place, Sophie and I decided to make some.



First we started with two cardboard frame type things that held 24 drawers.  We painted the outsides.

Next we addressed the drawer fronts by cutting and gluing on different scrap book papers to the fronts.

Yes, the girl gets excited when she is allowed to play with sharp objects..haha

Lots of gluing and scraps everywhere.  I never said it was a non-messy project did I?

Next came the stamping part.  We had to stamp the 24 dates on each drawer.

The finished project.

I think my little helper did an amazing job.  Now it is my job to fill with surprises. 

{ Merry Christmas }

This being our last Christmas in North Carolina for a while I thought I'd make a collage.
Christmas through the years in North Carolina : 2003-2012.

 

Next year we will be in Texas with the two eldest away at college. It will be a strange change but I can always look back and relive these years. The kids grow so fast.

Merry Christmas from our family to yours.
tammy

{ Merry Christmas }

This being our last Christmas in North Carolina for a while I thought I'd make a collage.
Christmas through the years in North Carolina : 2003-2012.

Next year we will be in Texas with the two eldest away at college. It will be a strange change but I can always look back and relive these years. The kids grow so fast.

Merry Christmas from our family to yours.


tammy

{ Christmas Vignettes }

 

After taking pics of all the simple decor I figured I'd share some of the not so in your face decor.  The ones you have to stop to look at and admire.  

Enjoy, 

  

 This is my fave wall art to hang.  My sister painted this on a piece of roof slate.  She is amazing at painting old world Santas. 

{ Christmas Vignettes }

 

After taking pics of all the simple decor I figured I'd share some of the not so in your face decor.  The ones you have to stop to look at and admire.  

Enjoy, 

  
 This is my fave wall art to hang.  My sister painted this on a piece of roof slate.  She is amazing at painting old world Santas. 

What are some of your vignettes?

tammy