Holiday Inspiration

Wow, I feel so overly inspired by all of the beautiful holiday crafts and decor I see all around me... especially in blogland! I love this time of year because there's always a plethora of NEW craft ideas that get me so inspired. My Chrismas craft/decor list is getting long, but I made a very small dent in it today. I'm really excited about the project I'm working on and will photograph soon! I had hoped to make a tutorial, but my pattern skillz are NADA, so I won't go there. Trust me, you'll be glad. ;-) I pretty much wing it when it comes to fabric. In this case felt.

I also have another decor idea where I will actually get to use up some of this fabric stash I have! I rarely use my fabric, because I'm still a novice sewer, so I rarely get my machine out these days. But this decor idea is a no-sew project! yay!

I was looking through my Holiday decor photos from last year... We are still *slowly* getting our decorations up. It's takes forever, and then there's of course the new projects, so it's a work-in-progress for a few weeks at least. But we're getting there! To me that's the funnest part: the process of creating new things and putting things up...

We'll be putting up alot of the same decorations, but we'll be changing things here and there... like this little blue tinsel tree won't be going on the fireplace this year since we have a very active toddler walking around now. ;-) That tree wouldn't stand a chance. It would be trashed in 2 seconds flat.

 

I'll probably add some more of the large yarn pompoms.. those things take forever to make, so i didn't make as many as I wanted last year. This tree will be going in our newly painted front room with our big tree (FINALLY! a pre-lit FAKE tree! yay!)

 

I think we might FINALLY attack this fireplace this year and paint it white. We've been in the house 10 years and have wanted to do it the day we moved in. What is it about painting brick? i have a mental block about it. ;-) Just the process of it seems so daunting, but we'll have some extra time. Crossing my fingers!

 

Look at Little Man. He's so BIG now! :-) This room has changed quite a bit too this year.. rearranged furniture, got some new stuff (thank goodness for IKEA)... got rid of some stuff... Made it more of a playroom for the boys, and expanded my little "studio" corner....

Looking forward to hanging my felt-circle garland I made last year.

 

I got this idea from the fabulous Anna-Maria Horner! :-)

 

And of course the stockings from Sock Dreams. I think I got this idea from Domino last year. Ethan complains that you can't really put anything in them.. but they sure look cute, don't they? ;-)

Looking forward to getting these guys out again...

 

I feel like I'm inspired by so many different Holiday/Christmas decorating styles.. I love anything vintage inspired of course.. and I looooove anything Kitschy. I'm trying to strike a good balance this year with Vintage-inspired/Kitschy/Modern.... although if I had my way, in my insanity, I would make this place a Kitschy factory. ;-) I'm just drawn to it!

And I also love the pretty vintagey-pastels, and tinsel, and things that are elegant... I just love a little bit of everything. :-)

(can you tell i'm in Holiday-Eye-Candy-Coma already?)

 

 

And what about gift wrapping? I *LOVE* that part of the holidays!! This is what I did 2 years ago (after about 3 months of severe nausea from my pregnancy with Campbell, I remember this was the first creative thing I had done in MONTHS!!)...

 

 

 

This is what I did last year.. sort of a hodge-podge of various things I found in my crafts stash.. fabric yo-yos... felted flowers...crocheted flowers...

 

 

 

Some flower "bows" made from cupcake liners... (idea from Martha Stewart)...

 

These I did for Valentine's Day this year, but these would be fun for Christmas too!

 

It's fun to look back and see what we've done in the past... I really have NO Idea what I'm going to do this year.. but i've got some ideas brewing...

And just so you don't think i'm a cheapskate by just posting photos I've already posted in the past.. (lol!).. here's some more holiday inspiration i've found online lately by other artists! You might have seen some or all of these on other craft blogs, but i thought i'd post just in case you didn't see them... :-)

BEAUTIFUL origami star tutorial! i love the colors she used on these! she used more holiday-ish colors in her tutorial. (blog: ZenCrafting, photo via her Flickr)

 

And this is my no-sew decor idea that i mentioned... i had seen this wreath on the home page of etsy and just loved the colors and the idea of an old-fashioned rag wreath, but a modern take on it! can't wait to use some of my fabric for this! Shop where you can find this wreath: Holland Fabric House

 

THEN i saw THIS tutorial this week and it was perfect timing. Although it's pretty straight forward making these it looks like... but i adore her color palette here and i'm so adding some crocheted flowers too. Just beautiful! (Blog/Image via: Lindamade)

 

I LOVE this simple mini-wreaths tutorial by Kayte Terry at Craft Stylish.. i love everything she does. :-) I love the fabrics and color palettes she used...

 

i also love this hair pin tutorial i just saw today.. there are SO many accessories ideas out there, but somehow this stood out to me... i think it's always her awesome fabric choices and how sort of rustic her designs are! very simple, but they always stand out! these would make cute stocking stuffers for a little girl (or for me, hint, hint! ;-)

 

These paper trees from Martha Stewart are just so stunning to me... i would love to make some of these... in lots of pretty colors!

 

and how beautiful is this festive pin... LOVE these colors! great tutorial... (photo via blog: Elizabeth Holcombe: Whimsies and Words)

 

and how SWEET is this mushroom ornament? tutorial here. I think one of my blog readers linked to this! thank you! :-)

 

I recently bought some HUGE vintage cotton-spun German mushrooms at an amazing millinery store in Atlanta... i'm going to make those into ornaments...

And lastly, an incredibly inspiring wreath by Kari at ArtsyMama. She is always always inspiring me... and speaking of those vintage reflectors she used on her wreath.. i had never seen those before until she listed some in her shop recently! so i did some searching on ebay and was amazed at all of the beautiful colors out there in these reflectors! i love the texture that metallic adds to projects.. i purchased some and can't wait to use them!

 

Ok, i hope to have some new photos of my own very soon... until then, here are images of my 2 Kitschy Digitals kits that I released last week and this week. A Vintage Button Digital Kit and a Feathers Digital Kit. I love seeing feathers in fashion, and even more, i love seeing them carry over into other artforms..

 

 

Here's a stunning page by Annie using both the buttons and feathers...

 

And a beautiful image by Severine. She printed out the elements and added them to her artwork. I love this!

 

More to come...

Comments

[Rebekah]

I love all of the colors and little projects in your post, as usual! Everything is so inspiring!

[Jennifer]

wow these are awesome, what gorgeous stuff, and great details, I love all the vibrant colors! Such a colorful home!

[leanne]

omgggggggg the gift wrapping is just AMAZINGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG........ they look sooo yummy and bright and happy!!!!!!!!!! wonderful!!

[vol25]

Thanks sooo much for the holiday inspiration! That no sew wreath is adorable. I just finished a paper garland today, but am loving the felt garland idea.

Again... thanks for the inspiration!! :)

[Kimberly]

I remember many of these photos. Always inspired by your fresh take on old ideas with bright colors for the season. I too love those Martha Stewart Paper Trees. When I got the magazine that was one of the projects I wanted to create. Now, to find the time. My son is home on leave from Iraq for 18 days and my craft time this year is not the concentration it normally is...Have a great time decorating and let us see your creations for this year when you get them completed. Again, thanks for another year of fun in reading your blog.

[Amber Ulmer]

I just adore your decor for the holidays! I remember seeing it last year and just loving it! Loving all the things you featured too! And the new kitschy stuff... feathers... so love them!

[Rory]

Oh that Holland House wreath is on my list too. I am all about birds this year and that was such a cute idea. All her stuff is supa dupa cute!

[eef]

Love reading your blog! Your amazing :-) xoxo eef

[Casey]

such beautiful pictures! HOW do you make those yarn pom-poms? I need to make a few for a wreath

[danielle]

wow! major eye candy! thanks for sharing.

[celia]

Oh I loved the idea of yo-yos and crochet flowers to embellish gifts wrapping. I truly tahnk you for the idea!

[Nina]

OMG. Those pictures...they are fantastic....stunning!
Thanks for the inspiration!

[priscila]

love ur blog! love those elves and the wreath and the tree

[ArtsyMama]

Hi Danielle,
I'm spinning with holiday crafting ideas as well. Thanks for sharing my wreath. It was so fun and easy to make:)
Love your elves. I have an elf tree this year full of these vintage cuties along with mushrooms and other enhanted forest creatures of kitch. Fun! Fun!!
Holiday cheers
Kari

[megan]

love the stockings!!! I have some too. Your vintage cuties are darling. You would really like elf on a shelf. This book comes with elf just like your cuties and a fun tradition for the kids I am sure you could find it on amazon. Very cute christmas wish you were wrapping my gifts.

[Thalita Dol]

I just found your blog through Sarah Jane's blog.

And, oh my, I'm really speachless...
IT'S ALL SO WONDERFULL I'd have to make up a whole new vocabulary just to compliment you! It's beyond cute, and pretty and beatifull...

CONGRATULATIONS on the amazing creative work!

Kisses from Brazil!!

[kaitlin]

I just love your blog!
Whenever I feel I need a little inspiration to get me going I just check what's going on in your world.
I bought your woodland digital kit and my daughter and I are having so much fun with it!
I love all the other digital kits you are coming out with also- they are all so versatile.
Kaitlin

[Amy]

So cute! When I was growing up, we had 2 elves. Their names were "Jingle" and "Jangle". (I have no idea how they got their names...) When I was old enough, it was my job to tuck them in the tree.

[jen]

LOVE the fabric wreaths, but that photo of your little man in the holiday decorated room is one of my new favorite photos.

[beca]

Where did you get those little elves!?!?!? I have to get some! Thanks!

[Mandi]

I may have just ODd on Christmas eye candy. :) And it's okay that you recycled photos, because I didn't read your blog last year (poor me, hehe. I love those stockings by the chimney, but I know Phil would also have to say, they don't hold anything! haha

[Patricia]

Oh my goodness, I thought I was already overloaded with Christmas crafting inspiration, but I was SO wrong. Your photos of your previous Christmas are so beautiful and inspiring!! Thanks for including me in this fantastic roundup!

[metrochic]

i seriously have to find a link for those martha cupcake liner flowers! so adorable!

[cally]

i love you.

[Emilie Reid]

that front room !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! so pretty ! all i have to say !