The Stars Come Out at Christmas

 

Distressed red is right at home for the holidays.

Distressed red is right at home for the holidays.

Stars are apparently my shape this year for Christmas.  I found some furring strip stars at a local antique shop for my holiday kitchen. (see post here).  I found some wood stars on my trip to the Round Top Antique show (see post here) that I will use to decorate.  Lastly, I found some wood star shaped trays in graduated sizes that I thought would be great for a Christmas project.

My project for this week is a tiered, star shaped tray.  I imagine using it for every day display of seasonal fruits in my  holiday kitchen or holding sweet treats and cookies for entertaining or perhaps holding silverware and napkin roll ups for a Christmas buffet.  At any rate, a number of  uses for the holiday and incredibly easy to make.  It took less than fifteen minutes to make and that included the time needed for the epoxy to cure.

What you need:

medium and large star shaped trays from Joann.com

red, wood candle stick from Joann.com

five vintage glass knobs (optional)

epoxy

 

From Joanns.com

From Joanns.com

From Joanns.com

From Joanns.com

The assembly is pretty straight forward.  I attached the candlestick to the smaller tray first and once the epoxy set, I attached the other end of the candlestick to the bottom, (or larger) tray and the vintage knobs for legs.  I found that weighting everything down with a brick helps created a strong seal with the adhesive.

 

A vintage glass container helps top of the display with cheery candy canes.

A vintage glass container helps top of the display with cheery candy canes.

Sweets are a natural choice to fill the Christmas Star Tiered tray.

Sweets are a natural choice to fill the Christmas Star Tiered tray.

Although optional, the vintage glass knobs are a great way to finish and refine the project.

Although optional, the vintage glass knobs are a great way to finish and refine the project.

This easy project can be used a number of ways while entertaining for Christmas.

This easy project can be used a number of ways while entertaining for Christmas.

 

 

 

 

Sparkly, White Snow for Christmas

White Christmas.

Peppermints covered in snow.

Fresh Snow.

Nature’s red, green and white.

Twinkle in the night.

Candy Cane Sidewalk Lanterns

 

Eternally Christmas.

I can never have enough twinkling light.  Period. End of story.  These Candy Cane lanterns were fun and fairly easy.  With some modification, they would be a great addition to summer outdoor decor, too.

Here is what we used:

The key to this festive project is two fold: these particular shepherds hooks were essential because of their shape, reminiscent of a candy cane and secondly, the battery operated votives with the timer option.  Since the mason jars are lidded to protect the contents from the weather, it is important to have a way for the candles to turn on/off automatically.

I hope you find some inspiration.

Always,

Cindy

Battery Operated Votives with remote control and timer option.

Assembling the lanterns.

Mica flakes added.

Hand Made Annealed Wire Harness for a rustic touch and Jar Lids

Assembled and ready to go.

Painted red, remeniscent of a Candy Cane.

Lighting the pathway in succession.

 

This project would not have been possible without the help and support of our sponsors.  Thank them by stopping by.  Merry Christmas.

GOOD LOOK, Inc.

 

 

 

A light along Winter’s path…

The Midnight Rider.

With a twinkle in our eye, we set out to make lanterns to light the way to welcome one and all this holiday season.

Using vintage mason jars as a starting point, we created these maintenance free lanterns for Christmas.  Using inexpensive battery operated candles with timers, we fashioned a holder out of polymer clay to keep the candle in place and up right and tossed in mica at the bottom as snow.  These cozy lanterns become a beacon on a cold winter’s night for friends and family.

Lighting the way home.

It’s really very simple.  Here is what you need:

  1. Large, half gallon Mason Jar (best prices are online)
  2. Battery operated candles, with timer from at Lowe’s (click here)
  3. Mica Flakes
  4. Polymer Clay
  5. Hobby Store Glue Dots

Polymer Clay shaped, baked as a holder to stabalize the candle and hold it upright. Then secured with glue dots to the bottom of the mason jar:

Polymer Clay fashioned into a stabalizer/holder for the candle.

Remove the factory holder from the candle (candle is too tall for jar, otherwise):

Factory candle holder easily removes.

Insert the candle into the polymer clay that you just secured to the bottom of the mason jar:

Secure polymer clay to bottom of jar with glue dots.

Add mica flakes as snow:

Add mica flakes for snow.

 

Light a walkway, or as we did…place in multiples on the porch rail.

These projects were made possible with the support of my sponsors.  Please give them a visit.

GOOD LOOK, Inc.

The Christmas Cottage

I didn’t post last week, I have just been extremely busy getting ready for the Christmas Holiday.  This year, our local Lowe’s here in McKinney is sponsoring my house for Christmas.  The manager, Brian Washburn has been extremely generous and accommodating by providing us decorations to support our design.  When I say “our” design,  it really is the vision of my good friend, antique dealer, merchandiser and designer, Vince Maggio of GOOD LOOK, Inc..

He designs, I execute.  As such, it has been very busy.

This year, it is all about simplicity.  A Very Simple Christmas.

We’ll have more pictures in my next posting, but for now…here is a sneak peak:

Rustic and refined. Sparkly bow, real pepperberries, fresh greens from Lowe’s in a vintage water can.

 

 

 

GOOD LOOK, Inc.