It's only just begun...Christmas Vignettes Part One

Hello everyone! I hope ya'll had a fantastic and safe Thanksgiving with your family and friends! Mine was quite lovely! Did everyone survive the Black Friday hustle and bustle? I avoid going out on that day like the plague! I don't enjoy the mean and pushy crowds and I kinda have a phobia of Santa hats (and by kinda, I mean they really make me upset) haha!

I decided I was going to stay in this weekend and start setting up my apartment using mostly things I already had instead of trying to fight the "friendly" Christmas shoppers. I'll be doing my major things later. I figured I'd let this whole Christmas set up be a drawn out production, since I enjoy decorating, baking etc. I thought I'd share a few pictures of what I have done so far. My home is usually bursting with bold color however, I decided I wanted a soft, snowy, Christmasy (is that a word?) look. I am sure it all will change a zillion times over the next few weeks since I enjoy too many different styles and colors.

Here is a portion of the area around my fireplace.

This is what it looks like lit up at night. I also wanted to show it unlit so you can see the details on the mantle.

I love mercury glass, silver and throwing in some natural elements like the starfish as well. I layered the candles at different heights and added sparkly berries, crystals and french newspaper cutouts to add some graphics. Stack books to add height and put mismatched items in the same color scheme to create interest.

I am kinda obsessed with birds this week.

I love putting candles in cages!

This arrangement above is made with a charger from the 99 cent store covered with greenery, berries and candles. I topped it off with a cage. It is sitting on an awesome green and silver snowflake place mat from Walmart (don't go there this weekend I hear it's scarier than normal).

Above, I filled a giant lantern with greenery and pine cones (lower than the candle so it doesn't catch fire) to create a little wonderland in there. By the way, isn't wonderland such a majestic word?

And now, for my unfinished bar area!

I added garland, berries and sheet music around my cafe chalkboard to change things up a bit. Ok, so it's not really sheet music, it's this beautiful wrapping paper I found at Homegood's that looked like sheet music.I tore the edges to give it an aged look and put them in the garland.

I also sprinkled some snow around the winner's cup and decanter. In arrangements, try to use different things for containers. Here I used a goblet for bottle stoppers and a winners cup for a wine bucket.

Look how cute this little bird is.

I just love baskets with greenery, pine cones and berries. It  looks woodsy and rustic.

I also added some ornaments and greenery to my "B"ee wall to Christmas it up a bit!

(By the way, it's hard to see but that is a print of a bee not a spider, it's wings are very faint.)

Now, on a different note.... I ended up painting the frame over my t.v. stand that used to be black, white. I love it! The white looks great with the fresh snowy Christmas look too. I'll show you pics of the gazelle head decorated for Christmas later :)

click here to see the full makeover

More Christmas decor ideas and recipes to come!! I hope you all have a fabulous and productive weekend! Please send me pictures of what you have done! I would love to show them off! Until next time

xoxoxox