I’ve got a question for you…
Do you put up the same Christmas decorations each year or do you change it around from year to year?
I tend to be a ‘theme’ decorator….
That’s not to say that I go out and buy new Christmas decorations each year. I’ve been adding to my stash for 30 years, so I definitely shop my own store room.
But I do like to follow a theme… and I think that also comes from having worked as a Visual Merchandiser and Interior Designer for many years. Both jobs work better with themes.
Also, working with a theme in mind lets you tie all your individual pieces together for a more cohesive look throughout your home.
Let me show you how easy it can be….
Two years ago I held a small dinner party in my studio space and transformed it into a wintery night woodland theme with little expense and time.
If you look closely at the photos, I think it exudes a cool snowy feel, yet it was a hot and very humid summer night outside.
Here’s how I put it together….
First I emptied my shelves into boxes and stored my things in the shed for a few days. That gave me a blank white canvas to work with.
I collected pine cones from a friends yard and sprayed them with Santa Snow.
On the day, I picked fresh greens from the garden to add around the room.
The table runner was a piece of pallet wood that I added a couple of off cut bits of wood to at either end to raise it up off the table an inch or two.
I also used various chunks of scrap wood as risers for my vignettes and in a few places I used whole logs.
Next came the owls…. a woodland theme needs animals!
And I wanted white owls.
So how did I create so many with little effort?
Here’s my secret….
I painted just a couple of owls on cardboard and then scanned the images. I printed them out on matt photo paper and adhered the photo paper to a sheet of 16mm MDF. Next I used my scroll saw to cut them out. On the ones that would be on the wall and only viewed from one side, I simply painted the sides and back of the cut-outs with white paint. The remaining owls that were used on the table and viewed from all angles had a reversed owl image attached to the back. The sides of the wood cut-out were painted with white paint.
Last year after lots of requests, I created a couple of owl painting patterns. The E-patterns have full sized pattern drawings and give step-by-step photo instructions for painting. I used an aqua blue for my owl eyes, because I had an aqua theme last year, but you can paint their eyes any colour.
The 2 E-patterns are in my web Boutique.
So on with my themed room, I used basic white table cloths and white china on the long table, so as not to take away from the snowy white theme.
Next came lots of candles… both pillars and tea lights. I even had candles hanging in jars from the roof. I used all my saved up jam jars and filled them with Epsom Salts (looks like snow) and tea light candles.
Fairy lights were strung overhead which appeared like stars as the room grew darker.
So here’s what I used for my snowy night woodland theme:
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Collected pine cones, scrap wood and logs, fresh greenery and empty jars – all free.
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1 x can of Santa Snow
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1 x packet of Santa Snow Flakes – $2 from variety shop
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Epsom Salts for candle jars
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A large assortment of white candles – all purchased at the variety shop
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Several strands of white fairy lights – from my own stock.
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Handmade owls
Once I set up the room, I lightly sprayed all greens and wood logs with Santa Snow. Then I sprinkled Epsom Salts and the Santa Snow Flakes around all the owls and vignettes.
The room packed a lot of punch in the awe factor as guests entered and the ambiance throughout the night was so soothing and magical. Just the way Christmas should be.
So you may not want a wintery woodland theme, but this is the way I would handle any theme:
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Decide on a theme and budget.
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See what you already have in your own supplies that can be used.
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Map out where you want to place your vignettes and make a list of what you already have and what you will need to implement this theme. This way you won’t waste money on unnecessary purchases.
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Put it all together and then see if there are any blank spots or areas that need to be reworked… I often live with things for a day or two before moving things around. We don’t always get the final look to be exactly like that which we imagined.
Tip: If using a colour theme, step back and look with fresh eyes. Ask yourself… Is there too much of one colour in any area? Could you add small items in a particular colour to make the theme flow through your house? Is there something that is overwhelming in a room or a vignette that just doesn’t work?
So I’ll ask you again….
Do you put up the same Christmas decorations each year or do you change it around from year to year?
I’d love to hear about your colour schemes, themes or different things you’ve tried.
Happy Christmas crafting,
Kerryanne
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Hey Kerryanne! OOOOOOHHHHH!!! I LOVE your snowy, woodland scene! I can imagine that it was quite magical to enjoy a candlelit dinner amongst the snowy owls … who are just so darn CUTE!! Hmmm … really must take that painting course one day! :0) For the last 11 years, I’ve tended to be fairly minimal in my Christmas decorating due to our cosy cottage being a little TOO cosy to accommodate much decorating, but there were always a lot of Woodberry Design folk art items around that I bought the patterns from you for and a clever friend painted for me. I’m looking forward to being a bit more Christmassy this year now that we’re in a much bigger house … if only I can find the box we packed the decorations in! Tee! Hee! Hee! Thank you for sharing your decorating tips … I’m in awe, as always! :0) Bear Hugs! KRIS xx
You captured that wintery night perfectly. I love it. And what a clever idea for breeding those owls 🙂 I am drawn to the white Christmas theme, the old case of what you don’t have, I guess. I usually put up the same decorations each year and lots of them. I always manage to add a few irresistible new must haves along the way. I even take photos so I know where everything goes. There’s not much room for error-literally! As I am going away for most of December this year my decorating will be minimal, but starting next year I intend on putting less out and being more themed. I will sort my decorations into Traditional and Shabby/Cottage, and taking turn about each year, create more interest by using less. You’ve inspired me. xo
Gorgeous!!!! I don’t usually run themes but love the idea of it. I’ve bought some old ice skates from EBay and plan to have a vignette with the Tilda skating angel… And pretty up the ice skates. But you have inspired me!! :-). Love and hugs! Vik x
Kerryanne,
Your owls are so sweet and what a clever idea for making re-producing. I love your theme and the look. Thank you for visiting my blog and leaving your kind comment. I tried to e-mail but am having trouble with that. Have a wonderful day and thank you for sharing your talents and ideas.
Tamara
Love, Love, Love ! You are a very talented person.. I love everything … I also love nature . & You have done it beautifully. I will definitely be watching your site for more inspiration. I don’t have the for site to in vision a creation such as this. Beautiful . I’m in such ahhh
It is breathtaking Kerryanne! Those owls are the cutest I think I’ve ever seen. That kind of painting takes talent! I love the idea of the raised and painted pallet board.
In the past I put up the same decoration every year, but the past couple of years I have been culling my decorations, setting some aside for the kids and branching out into my own style. I try to set up different vignettes each year when I have time. Thanks for sharing these wonderful ideas! I might just borrow that pallet idea 🙂 Have a lovely week!
Blessings, Deborah
Bonsoir Kerryanne! Thanks for sharing your ideas. Your deco is adorable. As for me, I am crafting each year something new, sewing some another Tilda creation, changing colors as well. This year I am preparing all hand made Christmas ornaments. Hope I will finish it. Have a lot of inspiration and happy crafting.
Hugs, Monika
YOU ATE NOTHING LESS THAN A GENIUS!!! all my adoration to you!!!
Hi I am so interested in the glass jar scenes. Can you tell me any more. It sounds like you can paint the outside while the template is inside? Or you can leave paper template on the outside? I so want to make one or two or three!
I’m not sure what else you want to know Judy… the instructions are pretty detailed. If you have a question you can email me at [email protected]
I always tell my art students to use the instructions provided as a guide and then make the piece your own. Have a play, have fun and go with what feels right for you. You don’t have to make an exact replica 🙂
I remember when you first posted about that party in your studio – I loved it then and still love it now.
I tend to swap between a gold/copper/brown/cream theme and a more Nordic style. Both schemes get added to when I see something that catches my eye. Last year I had an aqua/teal/silver/white theme in my hallway as I adore those colours.
I don’t tend to theme the house but do stick to colours or styles for certain areas.
Toni xx
It was definitely a magical evening Toni 🙂
I’m sure your home always looks lovely at Christmas, with or without a theme 🙂
Hugs ~ Kerryanne xx