Easter and Springtime Decorating Ideas

Springtime blossoms and sunshine are just around the corner. Many will be celebrating the joys of Easter by hunting for eggs and hosting a Sunday brunch with family and friends. Here are some festive decorating ideas to help you welcome Spring and the Easter holiday in style.

This is an easy, inexpensive way to dress up a woven basket with silk flowers and leaves. Just need a hot-glue gun for this project by Martha Stewart.

Fill those darling Easter baskets with decoupage eggs. It is a fun way to create keepsake eggs without having to be an artist. Simply cut small images from magazines, scrapbooking supplies or old greeting cards. You can also download some here.

These vintage Easter images are available on Etsy for only $2.75 and would also be adoable on eggs.

These eggs are slip-cast from pure white clay in the same dimensions and smooth texture as a real egg, making it quite the little piece of "trompe-l'œil." Each is hand stamped in black ink with the word, phrase or text of your choice. Another great option to help fill your Easter baskets. Available at Paloma's Nest on Etsy.

These darling farm animals from Williams-Sonoma are fudgy brownies in a white chocolate shell. Perfect addition for your Easter baskets.

An Easter tree is a delightful way to decorate a buffet, console or dining table this Spring. The branches of this tree by Martha Stewart features egg and carrot ornaments hanging from loops of silver thread, as well as pipe cleaner baskets filled with Easter goodies. Learn how to make it here.

These DIY sweet blown egg bluebird, bee and dove ornaments would also look darling tied to a small potted tree or bare branch. Here's how to make these decorative eggs with wings.

Can't seem to find the time to DIY? Pottery Barn Kids has an adorable Easter tree and sweet egg ornaments featuring classic scenes from Beatrix Potter's Tale of Peter Rabbit™.

This beautiful cotton/linen tablecloth features an intricate Jacquard pattern of woodland bunnies, leafy vines and blooming flowers. It's vibrant green would work well with almost any springtime color palette. Available at Williams-Sonoma.

Show off your beautifully decorated Easter eggs in these antiqued tin rabbit egg cups. Perfect to add to a tablescape for Easter Sunday brunch.

These hand-painted ceramic carrot dishes would add a bit of whimsy to your table setting. Perfect to hold jelly beans, condiments or use as place markers for an Easter brunch. Available at Gumps.

The personalized Beatrix Potter™ chair backer by Pottery Barn Kids is a festive way to store Easter surprises, decorate the Easter table and let everyone know where they are sitting.
 

Are you ready for Spring?

*first image courtesy of Country Living

Love it: DIY Valentine's Cards and Decorating Ideas

February 14th is just a few weeks away. Traditionally I don't decorate my home for this holiday of love, but just might after being inspired by so many DIY ideas {many from fellow bloggers}. Here are some of my favorite DIY Valentine's projects to help you say, "I love you".

This romantic heart shaped wreath with fabric roses would look great on almost any front door. Crafty mom, Maggie at Smashed Peas and Carrots created this festive wreath and has a wonderful tutorial here.

Dressing up a console table with these darling frames reading XOXO is a great way to spread some love this Valentine's Day. Jennifer at Tatertots and Jello created this marble craft project and shows us how here.

Paper heart garland is an inexpensive and colorful way to decorate your home for Valentine's Day. Secret Pie Shoppe designed this version and has a great how-to here.

One place to hang Valentine garland would be your fireplace mantel. I love how Beth at The Stories of A to Z decorated her mantel for Valentine's Day.

I love this sweet origami heart, but haven't a clue how to make it. Blogger, Sonja at Craft-Werk has a great tutorial on how-to make these little paper hearts. She swears it is easy as pie.

For tea lovers, this is a perfect way to start Valentine's Day off right. Martha Stewart shows us how here.

This Rosy Stationary by Martha Stewart {again} was made using the end of a head of Treviso radicchio as a stamp. Kill two birds with one stone - eat a fresh leafy green salad and make darling Valentine's! Here's the how-to.

Disney's Family Fun show how to make this darling "Plant One On Me" card. It includes a packet of seeds for a fun project later!

Now, where to put all those darling Valentine's cards and projects? The talented folks at Paper Source transformed this simple file folder into a fun place to keep those Valentine greetings. Printed on the outside is a recipe for love. aaahhh.

No time for DIY projects? The Doodle Spot sells this darling "Crazy 4 You!" mini mailbox. It is also perfect for all those heartfelt notes.

xoxo

Valentine Wish List

It is hard to believe, but St. Valentine's Day is almost here. My wish list is simple:

1. Message Heart Cookies from Williams Sonoma, 2. Red Heart Wreath from Gumps, 3. Hello Lover Letterpress card and XOXO stickers from Paper Source, 4. Heart & Key Lock Charm and Bracelet by Tiffany & Co., 5. Queen of Hearts Owl by Plants and Animals, 6. Valentine Plates and Mugs from Crate & Barrel.

What's on your Valentine's wish list?

xo,

Holiday Organizing Ideas: Storing Ornaments Safely

Holiday clean-up is a chore many of us dread and can't ignore. Packing and storing Christmas tree ornaments is a project that takes some planning and time. There are several storage options to help you pack away ornaments neatly and safely until next year.

Up for doing-it-yourself? Martha Stewart uses corrugated cardboard, paper cups and egg cartons to covert a standard plastic storage bin into a container perfect for housing our most fragile ornaments.

Who said storage can't be stylish? The beautifully patterned jacquard fabric of the Jubilee Ornament Storage Chests makes them easy to spot when it comes time to trim the tree.

This space-saving holiday storage box consists of three stackable trays with adjustable dividers to accommodate as many as 48 ornaments. I like that the clear body of this Christmas storage box allows you view the contents easily.

These Archival Ornament Storage Boxes provide secure storage and protect your holiday treasures from damage due to ultraviolet light and migrant acid.

Now that you have organized your Christmas ornaments, are you still buried in ribbons and gift wrap? If you need ideas on storing holiday gift wrap, go here. For more DIY ideas, go here.

Happy holidays, happy organizing!

DIY - Inexpensive, Handmade Gift Wrap Ideas

Handmade wrapping paper is beautiful, but can be expensive. Here are some inexpensive, do-it-yourself gift wrap ideas that look fabulous, but won't put a dent in your wallet this holiday season.

A repeated holiday phrase in a script font becomes elegant packaging for small gifts. It's simple, inexpensive and can be easily done at home with your computer and printer. Thanks Better Homes & Gardens!

Blogger, Creature Comforts created this darling gift wrap using celery {yep, the veggie} as a stamping tool. Here's the step-by-step.

Here is another clever stamped gift wrap idea using buttons. To create a button stamp, Martha Stewart suggests affixing button to a cork with double-sided tape. Top the present with a pretty button tied on with baker's twine.

This spray painted lace wrapping paper by Eddie Ross is gorgeous and is a fraction of what hand block wrapping paper costs. Love the batik look.

Martha Stewart's nature inspired wood grain wrapping paper is one of my favorite this year. Here is the how to.

Whether it be in satin, velvet or grosgrain a beautiful bow always puts the finishing touch on your gift. Need a refresher on how to tie a bow or square knot?

But, it's the thought that counts right? Here is a picture of the gifts my little girls wrapped for one another. My five year old has no idea that the heart she put on her sister's gift reads, "hot babe." Too funny!

And now to organize all that wrapping paper neatly away - here's five gift wrap storage solutions for you to consider. Happy holidays!

Our Christmas Fireplace Mantel

After giving ideas on decorating a fireplace mantel for Christmas, I have decided to share images of my own mantel dressed up for the holidays. It's an eclectic look, but I love it.

The beautiful oil painting of the turquoise Imperial Horse {by my grandmother} is displayed year-around. Live pine and fir garland is hung around the fireplace to balance the look.

Festive red ornaments and winter berries are added to branches.

Pinecones, vintage clowns, miniature trees and tea lights line the mantel.

A golden bird ornament perched on pine branches mirrors the bird on the Chinese vase.

What do you have displayed on your mantel for the holidays?

*images from Simplified Bee

Holiday Decor: Ideas for Decorating the Mantel for Christmas

Decorating our homes for Christmas is a wonderful way to catch the spirit of the holiday season. Because the fireplace is in many instances the focal point of a room and Santa's big entrance, decorating it with holiday décor is a must. Here are everyday tips on decorating your fireplace mantel and a few basic elements you may want to incorporate when creating your Christmas look:

* Display holiday stockings {with care}.
* Hang a live wreath over or garland around a mirror on the wall.
* Lay or hang live garland or pine branches along the mantel.

Continue to add and layer holiday items - pinecones, ornaments, candles, ribbon, seashells - that best communicate your design style.

Here's a collection of mantels decorated in a variety of styles for the Christmas holiday. From opulent to simple, classic to rustic, and monochromatic to colorful, hopefully you will find one that inspires you.

Here's our eclectic Christmas mantel in 2009 and elegant Christmas mantel in 2010.

Happy decorating, happy holidays!

*images courtesy of BHG, Veranda, Country Living, Coastal Living, Southern Accents, Pottery Barn