Dare to DIY: Deck the Halls: Advent Wreath

I have been wanting to start the tradition of having an Advent wreath at our home. Of course, I wanted something a little bit different, so I was dragging my feet on the entire project. I got the boost I needed when I said that I would bring one to church for an Advent event.

I started by looking on Pinterest where I found this blog post on Groovie Mom that featured a wreath that was similar to what I wanted to make. I started by looking for a base for the wreath. I ended up with a white cake stand from Pier 1. (I can't find the exact one I purchased, but this one is similar.) Then I purchased and chopped apart floral sticks for the greenery.

I got mine from Michaels. The hardest part in this project was tracking down the candles. I could find tapers, but finding purple and pink pillars was hard. Finally I got the purple and white ones at Target and the pink one at Hobby Lobby. At first I just laid the greenery around the candles, but it kept falling off and needing to be rearranged.

So, I cut a piece of white card stock into a circle, traced the candle placement onto it, and then hot glued the greenery around the outside edge. That way I can remove the greenery after Christmas and have a white cake stand to use. We have been enjoying our new Advent wreath tradition. Every night after supper we light the appropriate candles for the week and read a devotion out of an Advent book I found online. The girls look forward to it every night.

I am linking up to the Dare to DIY link party.

Christmas Tour 2012

I promised you a while back for the complete tour of our home with its Christmas decorations. I finally got a sunny day to snap some shots. (Yes, while many other states are dealing with rain and snow today, we got sun. I am a happy lady. I know that we will get plenty of snow. I am okay with putting it off a little while longer.)

You have seen the entryway decor and can read about it here.

And you can read about my table off-center piece and chalkboard here.

Here is our tree. We seem to relocate it every year. This year it is more out in the open. I like that because we can use the entire tree. It is a small tree and we have many ornaments. It is always such fun getting the ornaments out of the box and remembering where they are all from.

Here is a new addition this year. I knew I wanted to do something with my window. I ended up going with a fabric garland and simple wreath. I really like how it turned out.

I made this Christmas banner last year. It hangs on our hutch with the snowflake ornaments on each side.

At the top of the stairs we have a little table that has my favorite Christmas decorations on it. I have been saving vintage glass ball ornaments for a while and now have enough to fill a small hurricane jar. (With a fun little vintage elf thrown in.) My mom bought me these pine cone elves last year at a great little store in my hometown. I love their character and whimsy! And then there is this fun little deer as well. Peachy also really likes this area as she is constantly rearranging the elves and trees.

This is our third year of hanging our stockings and Christmas cards on the curtain rod where the picture frames usually hang. (You can see how it normally looks here.)

I got these fun glass ornaments on Christmas clearance one year. I vary how I use them from year to year, but this year they are all nestled in a bowl with a birdie friend.

The girls have several toy nativity scenes. I couldn't resist adding this picture in of their FisherPrice set. Love that there is an unknown gentleman talking on his phone in front of the manger. Wouldn't that be the case if Jesus were born today?

Recycled Christmas Decorations

I got two more of my Christmas Pinterest to-do list. After I had blogged about my projects, some of my gracious readers (read my family members) came through for me. I was lacking the barn board and the pinecones for the first and fourth items on my decorating list.

My father came through with the board and some of the pinecones while my sister-in-law got the rest of the pinecones during a Thanksgiving Day hunt. (Thanks guys!)

Star Project Idea: Beyond the Picket Fence

Talk about a simple and easy project. (Once you have the board, that is.) I raided Mr. Cherry's workshop for five nails and after hammering them in, tied the ribbon. Easy as that.

Painted Pinecone Project Idea: Under the Sycamore

While this one took a little more time, it was just as simple. And with these simple touches, I am loving how my entryway shelf is looking. All ready for Christmas.
I am linking up with the fabulous bloggers doing Dare to DIY: Dare to Decorate at the blogs Newly Woodwards, Decor and the Dog, Maybe Matilda, and Two Twenty One. Be sure to stop by and check out their great projects.