Thursday, December 10, 2009

Christmas Show ~n~ Tell

I did a separate post about our whimsical tree, now I'm going to share more — from ornaments to the nativity to all sorts of decorations throughout our house.

I hope to find some Christmas pictures on sale at the end of the season that I can switch out with the normal pictures that hang on the wall behind the Christmas tree. I just can't bring myself to see a bare wall or the nails hanging there.

Ornaments that are special all because they were handmade by my friend, Bonnie.

Ornaments that I've had for at least 20 years, many for more than that:

Some of my Snoopy ornaments, again over 20 years old (probably exactly 29 or 30!), except for one new one:

Other special ornaments — I could tell you something about each one:

Hubby's sports ornaments:

Some of my favorites:

Buddy's baseball ornaments:

Some of the ornaments that specifically remind us or are each of our kids...Chatty:

Sparky:

Buddy:

Caboose:

Some favorites with short stories to tell...this one is self-explanatory, and came from my uncle, aunt, and/or cousin before kids when we had two cats. It tickles me every year when we take it out. The cats were our kids before we had kids.

This came from a good friend my senior year in high school. Her mom and stepdad were just opening up a Hallmark store.

This little painted glass ball came from a shop in Hermann, Missouri. If it's as big as a quarter around, that's all it is. I got it in the early '90s when we lived in Missouri.

This is a new ornament this year. It's a little 2-ounce ornament version of the 18-ounce Starbuck's mugs I collect. Cute!

This is also a new ornament for Hubby and me this year and represents one of our favorite Christmas movies, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. It's Cousin Eddie's RV, and it says three phrases. Unfortunately, both of us could quote them all. Fortunately, none of them have any cursing.

When we lived in Illinois and the boys were much smaller, they made styrofoam/pipe cleaner turkeys and brought them home from church one Sunday. They stuck them in the Christmas tree, so now every year we just save them and stick them in the tree like they are supposed to be a decoration.

And don't forget about the Sheep Babies if you haven't seen them yet!

These quilted fabric ball ornaments are not even hanging on our tree this year. I have them stuck in a hurricane thingy in my living room. There is one that I put some extra fancy ribbon on one year, so I have it sitting at the top. I laced a red, green, and glittery silver ball garland through as I put the balls in.



I could do a tutorial if someone is really interested in making them, but you start with styrofoam balls. Take scraps of fabric (holiday or not), and using a craft knife, or your butter knife if you're like me and never use it, push the edges of the fabric into the styrofoam ball with a little craft glue along the edges to keep it in place. Cut some ribbon, or strip of fabric, for your ornament hanger. Use a straight pin to push it into the styrofoam ball. I have found that it's a good idea to stick a dab of glue on the end of the pin before you push it in. Then when it dries it probably won't slip out.

My friend Melinda taught me to make these our senior year in college, right after winter finals, while we were watching The Sound of Music. It was my first time to ever see the movie (hard to believe!) and instantly became a favorite.

My friend Marsha sent me this angel in the late '80s or very early '90s, which in other years has graced the top of my Christmas tree.

Two of the three Christmas wreaths I made this year...the other one is similar and is on my front door, but a few hours ago it was 16 degrees, so I'm not going outside to take a picture!


Caboose thought he needed to do a little decorating around the one that was in front of the fireplace, so he added some wildlife. There are a couple of penguins and a snowman that aren't in the picture, too.

There are actually two of these trees. One is flanking the other end of the two shelves. We got them on end-of-season clearance last year for our front porch. After they blew over in the 20 mph winds just before Thanksgiving, we decided they weren't going to make it outside and brought them inside. I got two of those super soft blankets in red from Wal-Mart to use around the bases as tree skirts. We ended up getting smaller trees with heavier bases for the front porch, but they've even been going over the last couple of days and nights in the 40-50 mph gusts.

Some more of the first floor decorations, which other than the tree on the second floor is about it.


I switched out the fall ribbon I had around the lamps to a sheer blue ribbon with silver snowflakes. It really sets off the blue and white snowflake lights around the garland.

I even tied the whale's tail with some!

Some of that blue ribbon even ended up on this $1 white bucket (last year from Target) with a sprig of berries left over from the wreath-making.





A light-up, Kitty Cucumber music box from many years ago.


I've had this Snoopy for about 30 years too. Can you tell I loved Snoopy growing up?

The extent of our bedroom decoration, a pillow. But the fact that it matches so perfectly is not lost on me. When I was walking through Joann's Fabrics and saw it, I couldn't believe that there was something that would match my Ikea pillows so perfectly, with a snowman on it. Someday we'll have more decorations for upstairs, but that will come with time.

Our nativity that we purchased while we were living in New Jersey. Baby Jesus will make his appearance on Christmas Eve. That's the way we do it.

Our wise men aren't there yet. It took them a couple of years in the real Bible story.

So they're across the top of the cabinet.

And last but certainly not least...

Merry Christmas!!!

This post is linked to Show and Tell Friday hosted by Cindy at My Romantic Home, Hooked on Holiday House Tours hosted by Julia at Hooked on Houses, Holiday Tour of Homes hosted by Laurie at Tip Junkie, the I'll Be Home for Christmas House Tour at The Inspired Room, and The Nester's Christmas Tour of Homes 2009.

28 comments:

“Old World Goodies” said...

wonderful...thank you for sharing

The Old Parsonage said...

Hi Karyn

Thanks so much for sharing you beautiful home and your heart! I love the handmade ornaments. They are the best!

Enjoy!
Leann

Mari said...

I loved the tour! Your ornaments are so fun and all the things you have in the house look so nice. I made some of those quilted ornaments in the past. I should do some again.

Vicki said...

Hello, Kayren,
Oh my goodness you have your home so beautifully decked out for Christmas. I enjoyed seeing all of your tree ornaments, each one so unique and different and holding special memories! Your nativity is spectacular, just love it! Blessings to you! Vicki

Ceekay-THINKIN of HOME said...

You have so many wonderful ornaments with a story behind each one. Those are such treasured memories...loved this post!

black eyed susans kitchen said...

Love those ornaments...they all have some meaning for you making them so precious.
Susan

Shana said...

Wow Karyn!! Your house looks amazing!! I hope to one day develop a decorating sense like yours :). I really liked the way you showed all of your ornaments. They really do document our history. As always, I thoroughly enjoy your blog!

Merry Christmas,

Shana

PS- Love the snow men!

Lora @ my blessed life said...

Just beautiful, Kayren!! I love all of your special ornaments. I am not a themed-tree girl either, and each of my ornaments has a story behind it. I like it best that way!
Your new Cousin Eddie's RV is a hoot!!

TQ said...

Hello Kayren,

Loved seeing all the pictures. So many ornaments and so special too. Very warm and festive.

Thank you for sharing, and until next time I wish you and all of your's good health and happiness.

Anonymous said...

You have such special ornaments. Every year it must make you feel good to have them to remember special moments. Rosie

Charlene said...

Thanks for sharing your Christmas decor. So glad to see that your remember the reason for the season with your lovely nativity scene. Merry Christmas! Charlene

R. Charles said...

You're home is very warm and Cheerful! Thanks for sharing. I LOVE the ornaments. My sons love Thomas the train and Veggie tales too! You're tree is full of stories and memories. Just like the holidays should be. Wonderful

Jerri at Simply Sweet Home said...

Everything looks great! I love all your ornaments!

Hope to see you next week for the Holly Bloggy Christmas Bash!

Al said...

Wow! That is one shimmering Christmas tree! Love the colors, bluish...I haven't finished decorating for Christmas yet, but I have finished some. Thanks for sharing.

Bobbi said...

Man...with all the snowmen you have and all the snowmen I have you'd think there'd be some cross over...WOW...there are a lot of snowmen out there! Loved seeing the collection! Smiles!!!

Hootin Anni said...

Everything is so beautiful, whimsical, fun, and festive!

Mine's posted now...it's another new one for my collection of Holiday Decor..La Befana

Betsy Brock said...

Wow..this was fun! You certainly have a huge collection. The little Starbucks mug is neat! If you collect a lot of them, you'll have to do a little tree in the kitchen just for them! :) Love the blue lights...different from everyone's white ones!

Robyn said...

I LOVE everything, it's so lovely! I especially love Cousin Eddies RV and the Kitty Cucumber...I loved kitty cucumber!

Joyeful said...

Wow--you have quite an ornament collection! And I love that they all have such sentimental value!

Angela said...

Wow, I love how you took a picture of each ornament and then made a collage of them. I wish I knew how to do the same thing.

Kayren said...

If you google flickr mosaic (not misspelled) it will bring up bighugelabs.com. You just go there and upload the photos you want to use in your collage. It also gives you options for what size (columns and rows) you want the collage to be, and the size of the pictures (square or not). It's fun to play around with.

My Grama's Soul said...

Wow - what a home full of precious memories you have. You are one lucky lady!

Blessings,

Jo

PattieJ said...

Wow!! That was a HUGE show and tell! You have so many beautiful ornaments and memories to go with them.I love the mosaic's of your ornaments! That was such a cleaver way to show all of them! Everything looks so beautiful! Thanks for sharing!

Pattie

Anonymous said...

pk @ Room Remix

I love the way you photographed and categorized all of the ornaments - so neat that each one has special meaning! Thanks for the house tour too - it looks nice. Have a good weekend!

Sam said...

Love all the ornaments! Your blog is GREAT! I will be back often. Always feel a connection with another homeschooling mom. ;)

Julia @ Hooked on Houses said...

Thanks for the fun tour! I had Snoopy ornaments when I was growing up--I wonder what happened to them? Wish I still had them! :)

Sherry @ Lamp Unto My Feet said...

I absolutely love your tree and decorations! :D Georgeous!!

Anonymous said...

It all looks so festive! Thanks for showing us around! I am stopping in from Nester's place. To see my tour click on the 'Christmas 2009' tag on the left sidebar of my blog.

 
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