The Old Hutch-A-Roo....

One of the best parts

about owning a store is that it is always changing....

not that our homes are, but, well, come to think of it, they don't change much!

{most likely because we are ever-changing the store around!!}

Anyway, we found a new hutch top at one of our favorite junkin' spots...

and painted it white so that we could replace this hutch

that sits on a vintage enamel topped table

After emptying all of the goodies

we put the new hutch on top...

ahhhh

it didn't work

at all

I couldn't even take a picture of it...

it would have tipped over.

Now, listen, I measured....

but forgot about the nice lip on that great vintage table

which made the hutch VERY unstable

{not a good thing when you have customers grabbing inside of that cabinet for things!}

So our EASY

 switch-a-roo

became a little more challenging....

however, it just so happens

 that we had an old white washed dresser

that was the perfect size!

TA~DA!

Then we filled it up and just

"did our thing!"

There you have it.....

the old Hutch-a-roo!

The 12 Decorating Tips of Christmas

Well, here it is, the last Friday before Christmas....and your final decorating tips. Hope you've enjoyed our top 12 tips...we've had a lot of fun with it at the store! Missed some tips? Check out 1-4 here and 5-8 here.

And now....drum roll please......

9. Brown Bag It!
Get a brown paper bag and cut out a shape of your choice. Insert a mason jar with a candle for an instant luminary - perfect for Christmas eve!



10. You light up my life...
We don't know about you, but every year we have lots of burnt out light bulbs from the Christmas tree.....now we found a nice place for them to be put to good use! Any glass jar will do!




11. Stick it to it!
Insert poinsettias into those pots that held your summer flowers - throw lights in them if you'd like (we added sticks....of course!)







12. Cards, cards, cards!! You get more mail in December than any other month of the year! It's great to show off the cards that you receive. We love hanging garland over our doorways and windows and stapling your cards onto the garland as they come in, or punch a hole in the back and put a ribbon through the hole and tie onto the garland!!

Finish up that decorating if you haven't yet so you can hop on over to Hooked on Houses on Monday to show off your holiday spirit!

Happy Decorating!

12 Tips of Christmas

Here we are again.....one week down...in three weeks Christmas will be over...."sigh"!
Time for tips 5 - 8 for Christmas decorating:


5. Throw In The "Hat"
Santa's hat, that is! Top your tree with the jolly one's hat - and watch people chuckle (and take your idea home with them!!)



6. Use Flower Pots For Candle Holders

Use them like they are, or spray them a color that you'd like! Set pillars inside of them, fill with sand, mini Christmas ornaments, pinecones....whatever your heart desires!



7. Gather Old Pictures, Photocopy and Make Ornaments

Have a few cherished pictures? Make copies of them and cut, paste and decorate! Add a ribbon on the back - and you've got a personalized ornament for your tree....or even better - tags for your gifts!








8. Have A Beautiful Christmas Card? Frame It and Set It Out

Christmas cards are pretty - make the most out of them and get an inexpensive frame to put your favorites in - it can change every year! Great art - for pennies!



Miss last weeks tips? Check 1-4 out here!

The 12 Decorating Tips of Christmas

Here it is....can you believe it? We've been putting together our top 12 decorating tips of the Christmas holiday and we will share four every Friday with you for the next couple of weeks......so, here we go....

#1 Twigs, Pinecones, Cranberries and Fake Snow

We love using twigs in our decorations. Whether we use them Au natural or if we paint them - twigs look great in vases, or off of your entertainment center - go ahead, hang some snowflakes and ornaments from them if you'd like - this is such a fun way to bring big decorating impact in your home on a small budget!

Filling containers with pinecones is a great way to bring a winter look to your home. It is simple idea, but so effective. Another favorite decorating tip is to fill the base of a clear vase with fake snow. Put a candle in the center, then pour cranberries around the candle. This is quite an elegant look that everyone loves. The cranberries last about 3 weeks like this.

#2 Add pillows, quilts, throws to chairs and sofas and tables.

These items warm up a room, making it look cozy. A fun decorative pillow like this "good cheer" pillow is a great accent to put on a chair, or on a sofa with some other holiday print pillows!

#3 Add Ribbon, Bows, or Ric Rac to pillows, chandeliers, candles, glass and napkins.

Christmas is such a great time to add ribbon for a fun and festive look to....well, anything! Tie a ribbon of your choice on your existing pillows for instant transformations into "holiday pillows." Tie beautiful bows onto your candles on your chandelier. Use wired ribbon for more control in keeping that bow looking great! Adding ribbon to your home, turns it into a Christmas delight!


#4 Bring out your glassware

Things that you don't use every day (or week....or month for that matter!!) have an excuse to come out during the holidays! Clean it up to make it sparkle and group in different areas of your home. Do you have wine glasses, or even sorbet dishes that you never use? Set them around in varying heights on tables or mantles with votives in them.


Here we show one of our cloches over some antique bowls with berries in them - cloches are great to highlight special pieces that you have around your house.

If you'd like to see more decorating fun today, hop on over onto Melissa's Inspired Room and check out all of the fun ideas everyone else has!! Until then....
See you next Friday for tips 5 -8!