Our 2008 Christmas decorations are up! And in light of the less than fabulous economy, I decided to deck our halls without spending a dime! Everything you see below is reused from previous years. And since I still wanted to mix things up, I had a fun time thinking of new ways to keep decor from previous years looking fresh. Hope you like it!
I meant to hit up the after Christmas sales last year for a matching tree skirt, but never got around to it. So this year–instead of dropping $$ on a new one–I used a faux fur throw blanket, borrowed from Chase’s never-ending collection of blankets. The gold and bronze glitter trees on the console table are from Target, purchased last year. And our white tray–which is always placed there–holds this year’s holiday cards.
I’ve gotten a lot of mileage out of these Pottery Barn bayleaf and glass beaded garlands I purchased two years ago (middle picture). In 2006 I used them to line the windows, last year I tied them together and made a large swag over the living room windows, and this year I wrapped them in a circle to make little wreaths to hang from the windows. So versatile!
This is our first Christmas with our fabulous new chandelier, so I had to gussy it up a bit! I purchased a spool of elasticized gold sequined “ribbon” last year to make napkin rings, but never ended up using them. When I pulled them out of one of my Christmas decorations totes this year I decided they’d be perfect over the shades of our chandelier! I put 2 “napkin rings” on each shade for extra thickness.
I’ve pretty much done the same thing with our photo gallery wall for the past 2 years, so this year I wanted to mix it up a bit. I had some leftover wrapping paper and plenty of ribbon and gold gift tags on hand, so I decided to wrap some of the frames to look like presents. I just love how it turned out!
Some close-ups of our picture frames making a temporary guest appearance as Christmas presents:
I had to include this picture from the living room because Chase made an appearance! See her sitting on her bed to the right of the couch? Posing like the little diva she is? Yeah. Now that is a Christmas miracle!
My beloved tree! Similar to last year, but this year I left off the cream ribbon so it’s a little more gold. Love my gold!
Some Christmas tree close-ups. See that bronze and gold medallion ornament in the upper right corner of the second pic? That was a gift from my friend Allison (aka halfofvamh) last year! And the large gold ornament covered in little triangle mirrors to the far left was a gift from my friend Beth a couple years ago. They’re 2 of my favorite ornaments!
It was also time to mix things up with the entryway this year, so I went for some red! The stocking on the left is stuffed with my red Christmas tree topper from last year. And the stuffing for the stocking on the right, as well as the dots of red in the garland, are from the poinsettia and garland I used to dress the body of my red tree last year. And to finish it off–my baby tree in the corner dressed with loads of red beads!
I haven’t decided on this year’s tablescape yet, but I’ll be sure to post pics when I do. Hope you enjoyed my “didn’t spend a dime” Christmas decorations this year!
Related Posts:
I’m Dreaming of a GOLD Christmas
First Noel in our Current Home
One Last Christmas Throw Back
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mother, maker, decorator, and drinker
of the wine here at All Things G&D.
Thank you so much for joining me!
As always…you’ve done a beautiful job!
Wow, everything looks great! You always give such great insperation!
I especially love the “gifts”, and the napkin rings turned into belts for the lights!
I LOVE IT! Let’s do eggnog or mulled wine or coffee with peppermint schnapps or hot chocolate with vanilla schnapps in your winter wonderland soon!
Beautiful Dusty! I especially love the sequin around the chandelier shades! Nice work lady, as usual!
Oh my GAH!! I don’t know what I love more, the bay leaf wreaths or the wrapped presents on the shelves or the sparklies on the candles. Wait, I love them all so much I’d like to marry your holiday decorations.
And I LOVE that it didn’t cost you a dime this year!! Genius.
Looks gorgeous!!!
I LOVE the photo wall presents! How creative and adorable!!!
*sigh* it’s just gorgeous. Love how you blinged up the chandelier, and the pictures-turned-gifts are genius!
I love the “presents”. What a great idea to dress up the frames for the holidays. Your house looks great!
I always love what you do with your home…but this is beautiful! And I love that you did everything by re-using what you already had! The wrapped picture frames and “ringed” chandelier are my favorites!
Looks beautiful! I love the changes for this year.
love the frames – i do the same thing around the house. I even include tags on them like to the w family love santa. my nephew always asks me to open them š
Beautiful Dusty! Love it all. Where did you get your tree? We need to buy one at the end of the season and we need something tall and skinny.
Thanks!
Love it all. (Sigh) Can I please come visit? It’s just too beautiful to be real…
Can you please let us know how you made those perfect little bows on the frame gifts?
Thanks,
Your Bow-Challenged Reader
I love the shelves and the banister the most. Thanks for sharing!
jbhat
you have such a great house!!
Wow, your home is just gorgeous– you did a great job decorating for the season. It looks wonderful, so pretty!
D, Beautiful decorations and beautiful tree! Love the gold, very classy! I am doing red again this year, but you have got me thinking gold for next year! Your home is beautiful as well!
Very very pretty!
I LOVE your photo gallery wall! I want one just like it but I live in a tiny tiny house. I think I am going to attempt to try it with smaller shelves. Your house looks gorgeous!!!
Wow! Everything looks absolutely GORGEOUS! I am loving gold this year. You are SO talented!!!
I love it all. Especially – the stocking toppers, the bayleaf wreathes, the wrapped light fixture (which I’m jealous of year round), and the presents on the shelves. Looove.
Dusty, I’m green with envy! I love it all! You did a great job!
Your house looks beautiful. I especially love your idea of wrapping the picture frames. Mr. McB did that at his place last year.
Everything looks beautiful. I wish I had half of your creativity! I love the gold theme and how you used existing decorations to make it look nice and fresh.
I love the way you decorate your home. It is absolutely stunning!
Your home is gorgeous! Totally like a Pottery Barn catalog come to life
Sigh, love it, love it, love it!
Thanks so much everyone! I really appreciate all your amazing comments–you’re all too sweet!!
@The Munns–I’d be happy to show you how I made the bows. It was very easy. Stay tuned for a little tutorial! =)