Stairway Garland

My final large holiday decorating project was my stairway banisters; it took forever to get into the right decorating mood to finish them up this year, not sure why, maybe just too many other creative projects to do first.  I started right off by putting up the lighted garlands the same day we put up our two Christmas trees, I was moving along when I added the pretty burgundy and gold bows but never got to the rest until last weekend, cutting it kind of close on that one.  Anyway, I dug out all the Christmas stockings, colored glass bulbs and golden snow flakes and went to work creating a garland which sparkles when all the twinkling lights come on, the last of the bling has arrived, finally.  The banister garland completes all the pretty golden, burgundy and green sparkle, glam, glitz and bling of all the holiday decorations, bringing all my decorating together, creating a cohesive look and feel to my home.

Now that you have seen my banisters, my final project, I would like to share some photos of my golden holiday decorations and my Old World Santa collection.  I hope you enjoy this little peak into the elements I use to decorate my home.

Wow that was a lot of photos I know, I just could not resist sharing my golden bling and Santa’s with you.  It is now time for me to settle into the last minute preparations, my son and his wife come home for the holiday on Friday, I have lots of  things to finish up before they arrive,  I am off to take care of all those little details, I leave you here for now, I will return.

Thanks for letting me share all my creative ventures with you these last few months, it has been a blessing, honor and a privilege and I am looking forward to a new year of more possibilities, creativity and adventures.  I wish you and yours a Very Merry Christmas and a Very Happy Holiday.  I will be back right after Christmas, watch for some New Year’s Eve Party Ideas.  See you very soon.

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*Sparkling Santa Tabletop

*Holiday Ribbon Wall

Sparkling Santa Tabletop

This year with a new home and a new furniture layout I could not figure out where to start my decorating, I tried a few things here and there but I just could not get into the swing of things.  I fussed around for hours and finally decided to start with my dinning room table, it is the largest piece of furniture in the room and the first thing you see, it would set the tone for the whole room and the other adjoining rooms.  I played with tablecloth colors, runners and center pieces until I landed on a cream, gold, burgundy and green theme for the table and the room.  Once that was decided things just few together as I dug out all my decorating goodies; here’s what I did.

I chose a very basic cream table cloth, a taupe and gold table runner, a really beautiful gold and cream standing Santa, which I collect each year and finally gold chargers with cream napkins and beaded napkin rings. This was my very basic color base which I would use to add the sparkle and bling.

Out came the greens, I could either use silk or fresh greens but chose silk to get a longer lasting centerpiece, but you could use either one and get a fantastic look.  I pulled out my box of bling to add to the greens and went to work adding dimension and sparkle.

I placed some tall crystal candlesticks with some oversize sparkly ornaments on top, and then put them on opposite ends of the Santa to create some symmetry and balance.  More ornaments in different sizes, shape and colors were tucked into the greens to give it extra shine and color variation.  It was still missing something so I pulled out my box of decorative pearls and added those, just the right amount of bling to pick up on the Santa and the tablecloth, more balance.

  

All done and looking very glamorous, I just love the way the dark room came alive, now I have my jumping off point for the rest of the room which should make finishing up my holiday decorating much easier. The tabletop will stay like this until Christmas Eve day which is when I will change it up to make it fun and kid friendly, for our family Christmas dinner, this one is just for show until then.

I can’t wait to start on all the other projects, look for those as the weeks get closer to Christmas, I will try to post them as I finish them, at least a picture or two per project.  Thanks for letting me share my Sparkling Santa Tabletop with you, back to more decorating.  See you soon.