Family Photo Christmas Tree

We have our family Christmas tree downstairs in our basement where there is lots of room.

But I hated not having a tree on our main level, so I decided to buy a 4 foot tree for my entryway table. I didn't want to get to fancy with the decorations for it. I had 2 strands of felt balls strung on twine that I bought at Home Goods a while ago, so I put those on and then I had an idea to hang up my Instagram pictures that I had printed out in the summer. I just used mini clothes pins to put them on. I love the meaning behind it and also anyone that comes over loves to look at the photos on the tree.

10 Great Christmas Printables

I love Christmas, and I love preparing for it too!

There's nothing better than free decor.

Here's some great ways to prepare for this Christmas season.

Eighteen25

Mufn Inc.

Miss Cutiepie

Eighteen25

My Girl Thursday

JDC

My Sweet Prints

Less Cake More Frosting

Design Sponge

Sugar Tot Design via I Heart Naptime

Winter Place Mat Pillows

Back in December when I went to the Blogger Christmas Social we were asked to bring a handmade gift and I brought these place mat pillows. 

I was at Target and saw these simple wintery place mats made from burlap so I bought 2. I think they were only $4 a piece (not super cheap but way cheaper than buying a pillow).

I didn't want anything Christmas'y but more Wintery so it could be used longer.

I wanted to make them a bit more 'handmade' so I cut out a stencil with my Silhouette using vinyl and stenciled on some wintery words.

I loved the metallic coppery color I found.

After the stenciling and paint was dried I then ripped open a 3 inch gap on the edge and stuffed it with poly fill (at Hob Lob a huge bag costs like $3, I think I used 1 bag for both pillows). Then I just hand stitched up the hole. Voila! A Pillow made from a Place Mat, hence "Place Mat Pillow"

 (like our fancy new faux fur blanket from Restoration Hardware that cost $100, my husband has a vendor at work that always spends a ridiculous amount of money on the Christmas gifts they give to clients, that could be a whole blog post by its self. PS, I would never have paid $100 for that thing)

 I wrapped them up with a bit of brown paper some brown twine and added a snow flake and a jingle bell! I thought the wrapping was super cute.

Place mat pillows are such great and easy handmade gift because there are always new and seasonal place mats out in the stores. Easy and totally can be personalized.

Glitter House Village

Weeks ago...like before Thanksgiving and all, I was at Home Goods with my mom and we saw all these glittery Christmas houses and I fell in love with them. I snatched a bunch of them up (at a Awesome price) and had big plans to make a little village with them.

I wanted the vintage look which I think I achieved.

I used paper doilies and folded them over a string. I had a vintage mirror given to me from my mother. I used my Linen Pin Board and hung a couple glittery snow flakes and a glittery postcard, I loved this as part of the backdrop. I used various things to elevate some of the houses, bowls, cake platter, tray sitting on glass blocks, vase, etc. And, I knew I wanted my vintagey Santa ornament to be flying in the air. I had a stand that you hang a glass vase from, so I just removed the vase and used it to hang the Santa. I love my village....My girls don't try to touch it anymore which is a good thing.

Christmas Music Playlist

On my iTunes Christmas Playlist I've got the usual Bing Crosby songs and the Mariah Carey songs, the silly kid songs like chipmunks singing and dogs singing. But I love to get some new artists renditions of classic songs each year and grow my collection.

This year I found Meaghan Smith's "It Snowed" "Silver Bells" and "Christmas Kiss"

Also Mindy Gledhill's "Patapan" "The Christmas Song" and "Silent Night"

I also bought a couple George Winston 

and Jon Schmidt piano Christmas Songs

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I just love folk artists like Mindy Gledhill and Meaghan Smith...What are some of your favorite new songs that you have added recently to your Christmas music play lists?