Christmas Décor DIY: From Junk to Treasures
Holiday decoration is so much fun, but could also feel as yet another project to do in preparation for the most exciting and the busiest time of the year! I heard from people many times that that’s how they feel before and after the Christmas Holidays:
Well, let’s calm down and take a step at a time…
THAT PLUMP CHRISTMAS BOX.
If you have done this for years, then you have a box labeled “Christmas Stuff” and some of the “stuff” might seem to be slightly dusted and outdated. But buying something new means… first, adding stuff to an already plump box that takes a lot of storage space.
This also means that you will add expenses to an already long list of gifts to be purchased.
If you have this problem then read further, you might find my “secrets” rather helpful and inspiring.
I am here to give you some practical ideas and tools on how to simplify this project by NOT adding new stuff and NOT adding big expenses to your family’s budget!
Instead, these ideas will add some freshness, connect you, your children and grandchildren to Mother Earth (aka Nature) and will add some holidays spirit to your space!
Advice #1: Start with a color that fits your family.
LEFT-OVER PAINT: I love utilizing the paint left from the previous interior or even exterior work. Check your garage and basement storage before spending money! If that route was unsuccessful, then check out your craft box. There is so much you can do, update and create with ACRYLIC PAINT in just 15 minutes!
Color could be your starting point to simplify the process of creating a cohesive décor.
Color has a story to tell and a mood to create. It is also very powerful. Why?
Let’s chat a bit about colors before you set up on one of them.
WHITE is such versatile color, that brings purity, elegance and richness with its quiet voice.
BLUES along with GREENS are so calming, soothing and generally speaking are considered as health promoting colors reducing our anxieties and lowering the heart rate.
Don’t we all need this during the holidays season?!
VIBRANT RED certainly brings our energy up!
However, please be careful and mindful with bringing lots of this color into your home if you have babies, kids, people with ADHD, ADD, autism and other psychological conditions. Red is like a large doze of sugar for a child. Or vodka shot for an adult.
On this photo you can see how just a little bit red combined with soft greens are quite pleasing to an eye and do not overwhelm us. Have you noticed the red beads on the red branches? How cool is that?! I love this branch and use it in my decor throughout a year.
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Advice #2: Use what you already have in your home!
I am pretty sure that in your house you will find vases, coffee or tea cups, wine glasses, woven baskets, ribbons, old frames, old books, beads, old jewelry, colored glass-these are all such fabulous playful objects to make compositions creating any mood or style! They also bring a STORY!
These objects were gifted or thrifted, then adding a bit of nature, some succulents or dried wildflowers adds life!
Advice #3. Use nature treasures!
I love to use branches from our woodland for their non-intrusive soft colors and magnificent texture! Some of them I paint with brush or spray paint.
Birch bark pieces, found in our woodland, is always such a poetic touch in displays, especially by art.
Advice #4: Go Thrifting!
If you still have an urge to do some shopping, then how about exciting treasure hunting in thrift-stores?
In the below photos, the table, the candle holder, the antique books and books stopper, the crochet table runner, the chair, the picture frame, all came from the thrift store.
Advice #5: Craft it Yourself!
One winter day I have done quite a few fun Christmas Trees by gluing them with a hot glue gun and adding some beads! I absolutely loved the rustic look they have created! You can also attach them onto the gift box as a wonderful personal touch!
Find a box of old jewelry.
On another winter day I felt a bit more ambitious and creative and took on a bit more than I would usually do: a hand made star made of beads. As I grabbed the beads and old earring pieces from my jewelry craft box, it was actually so easy and fast to do. Hey, try it with your kiddo!
Advice #6. Surprise your inner child: non-restricted imaginative thinking!
The photo below shows one of those decorations I have done in my studio where people might ask “Why did you use this old brush?!”. And I will answer them with a smile: “Why not?”
Other objects used in this photo: English Ivy from the woodland, wood stump from our wood supply for the fire-place, a tea pot set I had purchased in Vietnam and a pine branch from the woodland cozily set in in a small ceramic plate from the local ceramic artist. I don’t know about you, but THIS brings me a smile, which is truly a priceless result indeed, don’t you think?
Believe me, I do love and appreciate traditions in their deepest sense. But there is that wild part of my nature that needs to sing as well. Plus, you certainly have the right to start new traditions!
You just never know where you could find your treasures, don’t you?!
I discovered many antique bottles tossed as trashed in the soil on our land!
Let’s see what I have on the photo below:
crochet from thrift store (50 cents)
pine branches found outside
pinecones lightly sprayed (or painted) with white acrylic
birch bark and glass bottles found in the backyard
And of course, my mini watercolor on an easel (my daughter purchased a dozen for me from Amazon ($1.50 ea!).
So, the whole set, which I consider quite elegant and tasteful costed me $1.50. And a lot of satisfaction that fed my ego pretty well!
And as far as watercolors, so many of them are available on my website Shop. They pair pretty well with any decor!
And now here is the short version of the “Holiday Decoration List”
Start with a color that fits your family.
Use what you already have in your house (old paint, vases, paintings, frames, jewelry, beads).
Use nature treasure (branches, barks, pinecones, shells, rocks, etc).
Go thrifting!
Make a family crafting time!
Surprise yourself and your family with innovative “outside-of-your-old-box” decor!
Be mindful of your family members preferences, temperaments and needs.
Another adorable suggestion I have reserved for you to make amazing savings and connect with your kids:
Try to use paper gift bags verses boxes! See my blog on how to create these magical gift bags yourself or with your kids.
If none of these ideas still have not helped you, then I have one more reserved one:
Run barefoot on the snow!
You would be amazed by the most invigorating results! You will see the prove of it by watching on my facebook page a video of my winter Saturday morning routine! Quite fun!
And the final thought…Be MINDFUL of
-Bringing too many objects or too many colors into your home. You might love them, but some of your family members might not. They just don’t tell you, because they love you and don’t want to spoil YOUR holiday spirit.
-Adding financial stress to your family budget by buying many gifts that are not necessary! In fact, this could be the year, when you start NEW traditions (one gift per person, crafted gifts, etc).
-Yourself, your well-being. If you are a parent or grandparent you are the one, who sets up your kid’s expectations. You are in power to change them.
-That YOU, not exhausted, not reactive and explosive you, is the center of your family (and certainly your kids’ and grandkids’) SAFE world.
“Mini Art” makes a great addition to Holiday décor placed next to small pieces of nature. See the Christmas Collection for more.
And that is what a creative lifestyle is all about!
I wish you all, my dear creative soulmates, healthy, meaningful and joyful holidays!
With LOVE,
Alla
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Why spend money on gift bags when they will just be thrown away? Create your holiday gift bags yourself or with your family! They are EASY, LOW cost, and IMPRESSIVE!