Wednesday, December 11, 2013

BETTER LATE THAN NEVER... CHRISTMAS EDITION



Oh my gosh... There are only 2 weeks until Christmas!!!!!

If this facts makes you scream, panic, faint, stress out, want to eat a gallon of ice cream, cry, hide or makes you queasy... then you will want to read this! 

I have some easy last minute decorating ideas for anyone who feels that Christmas has sneaked up on them this year!

And if you are super organized and all decorated you might want to read this too and... a)  help a needy unorganized friend with the above symptoms or b) save these tips for next year.

Here are some easy peasy, low or no cost, fast ideas to get your halls decorated in no time at all... and a few last minute tips to boot.! These are my BEST last minute Christmas tips...


Don't we all love tips and decorating ideas that make our lives easier and more beautiful?

I sure do!

I'm so happy to be a part of...




Make sure you check out the end of this post for the list of participating blogs.!








This Christmas I decorated most of StoneGable with green... not fresh (due to a big surgery).

 I used faux greens and lots of pinecones and "sticks and twigs" I have collected over the years. And most of us have tons and tons of greens and hopefully something we could classify as "sticks and twigs"!!!

I love love love "sticks and twigs"! They are fillers that add fluff and height and depth and drama and interest to greens!


 And here's a great tip... cut those greens and picks apart. You don't need to put one big clump-of-a-green in a vase... cut apart several greens and mix them in a vase... the effect is so much nicer!




This is probably a no-brainer... instead of decking the halls with all those snowmen, Santas, elves, penguins, villages, gingerbread houses and poinsettias... try a simple bowl of greens with some fillers, like pinecones or ornaments or "sticks and twigs"!

Why drag out all the Christmas chotchkies and take hours to set them all up when you can put various greens in a dough bowl and throw in a few pinecones and have a beautiful Christmas decoration that took 5 minutes to literally put together!









Honestly, this is the best last minute decorating tip you will ever get!!!!! And it's so so simple!


All you need is a pretty pot...







or creamer...







or dough bowl...








or pitcher...







or crate...








or mercury glass...








or bowls...









or cups...







or boots...









or even a sweet little nest filled with greens! 

These will bring Christmas spirit to any room in just minutes!








If you love real greens... now is the time to bring them into the house. Not before... or you will be cleaning up dropped needles and your arrangement will start looking dry and tired!


We buy our live tree ten days before Christmas to make sure it stays fresh until the New Year!


Here's another great tip. If you buy fresh greens, call your local tree nursery and ask if you can buy a fresh grade "B" tree or a "second". They are the trees that are not so pretty or have bald spots or crooked trunks.  And they are usually deeply discounted.

I order one grade "B" fraser fir trees every year to use for the bulk of my fresh green decorating. It cost me $20.00. A big, big savings instead of buying small fresh bunches!!!!  I cut the tree apart myself and arrange the greens in bowls, vases, pitchers etc adding other real and faux elements.







Click HERE to see a tutorial about making the above live green arrangement and how to keep live greens fresh!


So, If Christmas morning is coming much faster than you like and you are not totally decorated... make pretty arrangement of greens and you will be FA-LA-LA-LA-LA-ing for the rest of the season!



Remember to

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Stop back on Friday...

I'll be sharing these tips at









30 comments:

  1. priscillaDecember 11, 2013 at 6:44 AM

    Love all the greenery ! Very festive !

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  2. Our WayDecember 11, 2013 at 7:57 AM

    The simplicity of it makes it so beautiful and fresh looking. What a marvelous idea. Last year I didn't put anything out because we leave two days after Christmas and we're gone for three months. Your idea would be great!! Marisa

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  3. AnonymousDecember 11, 2013 at 8:03 AM

    Very interesting tips! Good to know. Thanks! Cristina

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  4. Just JudyDecember 11, 2013 at 8:19 AM

    Very simple with an elegant touch...Beautiful! FYI everyone...I was at Loews the other day buying poinsettias and noticed a basket full of Christmas tree trimmings and asked if I could have them because they were just going to throw them away...Something for FREE is always a good thing! Merry Christmas! Judy

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  5. dawn@joyfulscribblingsDecember 11, 2013 at 8:26 AM

    Your greenery looks great, not very fake. For years I bought a ton of Christmas decorations. Now that my kids are teens I'm leaning more toward less stuff and more greenery. I also like the fact you can keep it out during the winter months. Great tips!

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  6. AnonymousDecember 11, 2013 at 9:18 AM

    your greenery looks so very festive and just plain Beautiful! your blog are amazing and always put a smile on my face. God Bless you today and always for sharing.

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  7. UnknownDecember 11, 2013 at 9:42 AM

    Very beautiful!

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  8. Doreen @ Hymns and VersesDecember 11, 2013 at 9:47 AM

    Everything is beautiful! It is so hard for me to simplify and cut back my decorating at Christmas! I feel like I reigned myself in this year, but could stand to do a little more I think! The tip about buying a grade B tree is awesome! I usually buy a tree that is about two feet taller than what we need and use the bottom branches, but have sometimes gotten a tree tooooo wide for our space and have ended up shaping an oversized tree!!! Buying a grade B seems much easier! Take care of yourself!

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  9. Mary LDecember 11, 2013 at 9:59 AM

    Oh how my heart yearns for a dough bowl. Ahhhh! Maybe one day I will be blessed with one.
    Love your natural look this year.

    Mary L

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  10. Shirley@Housepitality DesignsDecember 11, 2013 at 10:02 AM

    I am tossing out my "old christmas stuff" and buying lots of greenery next year!!!…your decor is amazing Yvonne!!!…so very fresh and exquisite!...

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  11. Kelly JezekDecember 11, 2013 at 10:16 AM

    love, love love your style and decorations! thank you!

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  12. maryannDecember 11, 2013 at 10:19 AM

    My local garden shop sells Christmas trees and he has a big pile of branches that fell off. He lets people have them for free! I made an advent wreath with them this year. Maybe I'll ask for more to decorate as you suggested. How clutter-free too! Just through them into the compost pile when done...

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  13. Tanya PatriceDecember 11, 2013 at 11:20 AM

    Love all these tips, and like someone else mentioned, if you're lucky enough to live where they have Christmas tree lots, then they usually have lots of greens in piles for free or for a tip.

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  14. JunkchiccottageDecember 11, 2013 at 1:18 PM

    Yvonne,
    It is all so gorgeous. Great tips thanks for sharing.
    Kris

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  15. AnonymousDecember 11, 2013 at 1:47 PM

    Yvonne: Loved all your tips.
    Can't wait to try them for next year.

    I hope that you are feeling better and on the mend.

    Denise

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  16. Madonna/aka/Ms Lemon of Make Mine LemonDecember 11, 2013 at 7:14 PM

    It's all gorgeous. You really have a talent for this.

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  17. Jeanette@Creating a Life StudioDecember 11, 2013 at 7:19 PM

    Gorgeous and easy! Thanks so much, Yvonne!

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  18. AnonymousDecember 11, 2013 at 7:49 PM

    Your home is beautiful and I love all the greens. You mentioned that you are using artificial greens this year but they look absolutely real. Do you have any tips on where to find quality greens? Hobby Lobby and Michales don't look nearly as good and the florist in the area is quite expensive. Thanks

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  19. Pinky at Designs by PinkyDecember 11, 2013 at 10:51 PM

    Love it all!! I actually like the faux greens because you can ARRANGE them so much easier, bend them to just where you want them! Have you tried "scentsicles"? I heard about them on soeone's blog, and Joe is picking up some at Lowes tomorrow for me. The tour is Fri, night and I want everything to SMELL fresh and Christmasy!!!!!!!!!!! XOXO

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  20. Mary@mydogsmygardenandmaryDecember 12, 2013 at 1:24 AM

    Hope you are feeling better. Your arrangements are so very pretty and it would be hard to say which one I like best - they all very lovely.
    Take care.
    Mary

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  21. Linda @ bushel and a pickleDecember 12, 2013 at 6:34 AM

    Two weeks away! Today, the tree goes up! The girls and I want to add the last of the decorations. Then we can start wrapping! Thanks for the ideas.

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  22. Ann from On Sutton PlaceDecember 12, 2013 at 9:11 AM

    These are brilliant tips Yvonne! I am finally coming out from under my Etsy shop and visiting some blogs. I have missed so much and I have missed you! I feel disconnected from everyone. Hope in the New Year we can catch up. ~Ann

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  23. UnknownDecember 12, 2013 at 2:57 PM

    I can't beleive you have managed to do all this while healing. Wonder Woman for sure. It's lovely.
    I was wondering where you found your wood bread bowl. I have been looking everywhere. Also I love your cut out ceramic vases. I saw some a Potery Barn similar but yours are a little diffierent. Thanks for sharing!

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  24. Jacqueline HollimanDecember 12, 2013 at 5:15 PM

    I LOVE them ALL. Just Beautiful. Thank you for sharing your talent. Jacqueline

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  25. BeverlyDecember 12, 2013 at 7:30 PM

    Everything looks fresh and beautiful, Yvonne. I hope you are healing well.

    Please stop by to visit and say hello sometime.♥

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  26. Christy @ Our Southern HomeDecember 13, 2013 at 7:48 AM

    It is all just stunning! You just have the magic touch, friend! I hope you are feeling better. Happy to be touring with you! ~Christy

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  27. Becca BertottiDecember 13, 2013 at 7:49 AM

    What a genius idea about buying a tree to cut up and use all over! I love your tips, Yvonne! Your home is gorgeous … hope you're having a speedy recovery!

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  28. PamelaDecember 13, 2013 at 8:45 AM

    Everything is so beautiful Yvonne!

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  29. Linda @ it all started with paintDecember 13, 2013 at 9:22 AM

    Yvonne,

    You have the best advice! Love, love the idea of decorating with greens -- it's like I can smell them coming off your post. Oh, wait, I'm sitting next to our real tree as I read this! :)

    Linda

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  30. Sara's Sweet SurpriseDecember 14, 2013 at 1:33 PM

    I just adored the whimsical touch of the Wellies filled with Christmas foliage!

    Sweet wishes,
    Sara

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