Sunday, December 1, 2019

SO MANY IDEAS...SO LITTLE TIME!



It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas….and once again I have collected TONS of ideas but never seem to find time to complete them all.  I REALLY need to start preparing in JANUARY every year!

The house is decorated…yea!!!  I “over” decorate every single year, but the hubby and the grandkids love it.  Therefore, I work my nerves into a frazzle and my fingers to the bone for 3 days every year just to make them happy…(I’m sweet that way😊)  It’s a whole lot of work, but so very worth it to see their excitement when it’s all done.  I won’t show ALL my decorations but my favorite is always my GINGERBREAD KITCHEN.  This year Granddaughter M really helped sooo much, and decorated the GINGERBREAD TREE and the SNOWMAN TREE…yes, I do 4 trees every year!



I know we all read blog after blog and ooh and ahh over everyone’s decorations, but I thought I would share some “small ideas” that I really like and that you don’t see every day.  Some I have tried…some are still on my TO DO LIST (until next year…or the next!)

I love getting Christmas cards from family & friends, especially the ones with the kids’ or family’s photo.  Only problem is finding a place to put them…the refrigerator will hold only so many!  Here is what I think is a really cute idea…and it can be a keepsake to be enjoyed year after year…the kids really do change so much from year to year, don’t they?
                                                   Amber Nelson, Pinterest

Can we ever have enough ornaments???  Of course not!  And my favorites are those we have collected over the years from trips, from my past students, or ones my kids made in school.  How I love to reminisce over each one every year.  Here is a really great idea (I think) of what to do with your GRADUATION CAP TASSLE…you did keep that, didn’t you?  I actually did complete this project last year  BTW, you can get these plastic fillable ornaments from Dollar Tree.

Pinterest

Mine...I added green & gold shredded paper (our school colors)

Here is another really cute idea for an ornament...or even a gift for your kids' friends.  It looks really easy to do (thanks to craftymorning.com).  You could use that old Scrabble game that has been gathering dust for years...or you can order tiles from ebay or other sources.


And here is yet another way you could use those plastic fillable balls.  I haven’t done this yet, but I want to fill one with some of the buttons from my mother’s or my husband’s grandmother’s button box.  What a special keepsake…and I do love buttons (as you can read about HERE).
Pinterest

Wouldn’t this little fella look cute hanging around the neck of a bottle of your neighbor’s favorite wine?  And when the wine is all gone, they have an ornament for the tree.  There are no directions, but looks plenty easy to do…and I can now use some of those wine corks I’ve been saving for who knows what!!!
Pinterest

Do you happen to have any old windows laying around?  I do!  Wouldn’t this be pretty sitting on a mantle or decorating a porch?
                                                         Etsy:  Toadstool Pond

And what about those clothespins you no longer use but just can’t throw away?  These (or similar) would be so cute and useful for several things…put a magnet on the back and use them to hang cards or photos on the refrig, or clip on presents just for an added touch, or even clip on the tree!
Pinterest

I just have to add this one from one of my favorite bloggers DEBBIE DABBLE.  I am definitely going to do this!  I collect old cookie cutters…some hang on my Gingerbread Tree.  Only problem is I don’t have an old bowl like this one…but I’m on the hunt!  It will fit perfectly into the theme of my kitchen…thank you, Debbie!

I could go on and on and on…..but I will end with this last one.  It’s my own creation (so it’s not perfect).  I have made these in the past to fill with treats and give as gifts.  Don’t ask me for directions….it was a make as I went along type of project!!!! 


CHRISTMAS is such a special time and BLOGLAND is filled with so many wonderful and creative ideas…if only I had the time, the talent, and the patience!!!  So...are you all decorated???  What projects (old or new) have you found time for?




17 comments:

  1. So many fun and beautiful ideas right here..no need to find any more! I'm almost done decorating. I say every year I'm cutting down on decorating but I usually go a bit overboard too. Tomorrow we'll put up the tree and I have a few more things to put out. I don't have time this year for any projects but maybe when I'm retired I'll take on a few. I do have all my outdoor lights on and need to finish one area out there. Time is flying so I guess I should get to it! I bet your home is just charming this time of year..thanks for sharing all these ideas!

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    1. With shorter time between T'giving and Christmas we are all feeling rushed. But what gets done gets done and what doesn't...well, there is always next year:)

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  2. LOVE your tree! There are SO many great ideas and yes SO LITTLE TIME! BUT, that Christmas card idea is one that I am going to copy:) Have a blessed day dear friend, HUGS!

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    1. So glad you liked that idea...I'm definitely doing it too! May even pull out those photo cards from years past and do them too:)

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  3. I am decorated but I can always use another cute idea and you gave us plenty this morning. Thank you. I may try a couple.

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    1. We can always use new ideas, can't we??? As long as they are cute!!!!

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  4. TONS of good ideas here and I've marked several. Every year I try to do a cork ornament for our winetasting group members and I think you just showed me the perfect one (lots easier than last year's, too!) Don't you just adore this season? I sure do!

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    1. Oh, so glad the cork ornament will help you out. It really is cute!!!

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  5. Cheri, you and I have the exact same taste, because I love all of your ideas. They are unique, adorable and practical...just the way I like them. And your tree is lovely. I'd love to see the rest!

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    1. Kim, just the thought of my maybe having some of your same taste & style brings a smile to my face:)

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  6. Great ideas - I also tie all my photo holiday cards together and have about 7 years of great photos of friends and family - the children change so much from year to year! Enjoy the season!

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    1. I am thinking of pulling out all my past years photo cards and bundling them together by year! Yet another project:)

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  7. Just love all your ideas, Cheri, I have a few of those clear bulbs, just waiting for me to get creative.. I too have a gingerbread tree in my kitchen, your is so beautiful.
    I agree this is such a special time of year, we finally finished our decorating yesterday, and now maybe I will have more time to blog and enjoy the season.
    Thank you for your sweet comment on my post.
    Blessings,
    Sue

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    1. Sue, I would LOVE to see your gingerbread tree! I hope yours brings you as much joy as mine does me. I can't help but smile every time I look at it:)

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  8. Well, I think it's great that you go all out with your decor if that makes you happy. And, some of your ideas are too cute and I see the clear ornaments at Dollar Tree all the time. Blessings!

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  9. Lea, it does make me happy....once all the decorating is done:) For the 3 days that I'm in the thick of things, I am constantly asking myself...ARE YOU CRAZY???

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  10. Awww, thank you, Laurie. It's wonderful making new blogging friends.

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