Thursday, December 6, 2012

A Cheap Girl's Guide to Making Your Home "Holiday Fancy"

It's no secret that I am cheap. My husband teases me for not buying a shirt because it's $25 dollars. But I only wanted to pay $15! He has way more expensive taste than me, so I guess it's good I'm a cheap-o. If we both had champagne taste, we'd live in a VAN BY THE RIVER (any SNL fans?)

Christmas is no different. Especially due to spending obscene amounts on my godson's Xbox 360 games because that's what he wants, and I have no clue what 11 year olds like other than that. I still want our house to feel warm and inviting, covered from head to toe in glitter and cheer, though. This is where using your resources comes in. My mama didn't raise no fool. So, I got creative. If you've read my wedding post, you know I shit burlap. That wasn't called for, I know. But I really really love me some burlap. Poor S knew there would be burlap incorporated somehow, but he was actually surprised with how everything came together. Last year's Christmas was all red, but I wanted to throw in some sparkle and of course...burlap this year.

First I hit up Cheap-O Craft Heaven, AKA Hobby Lobby. All their Christmas decor is always half off. I bought about 12 glittered berry picks to stick in my burlap topper, mixed with last year's red feather picks and glittered gold:
Seven bucks total, thankyouverymuch.

I cut some of the burlap table runners from the wedding into 5 inch strips and made ribbons for the tree and mantle. I loved it but it needed color. My aunt found holly berry (not to be confused with Halle Berry) wrapped candles at a garage sale and bought them in case I'd be able to use them for weddings. The candle holders were pretty on their own so I ripped the berries off and stuck them in the tree and on the mantle. It added just the right pop of red.


I took to Pinterest for some more ideas. I was inspired by this pin and knew I needed a glittered reindeer in my life. It came out great I think!
Between the canvas and huge container of glitter, I think I paid $10.
 
All this left over glitter could not go to waste, though. Not on my watch! (sorry, I am very passionate about glitter..) So I found this on Pinterest and got to gluing.
Voila! Glitter clothes pins to hold Christmas cards! (And how cute are my friends L and D? They did a photobooth style Christmas card that I just loooooove.)
 
The clothes pins cost me $3 because I bought them at Hobby Lobby, but I'm sure you could find them at the Dollar Store for even less. I had twine left over from the wedding that I used to string it from.
 
 
Another Pinterest inspired project was the stars on the mantle. I fell in love with this:
 
and knew I wanted to recreate it. My mom coincidentally had 12 stars just like this sitting in her garage. I asked for a larger and smaller one only to realize they were white. Nothing a little spray paint can't fix.
 
Not a bad comparison huh? Again, I used spray paint I already had and the stars were given to me so this project cost me ZERO DOLLLAAAA!!
 
 
 
So, all in all, my decor cost less than $20 and I am so happy with how it turned out. Sorry for so many Christmas posts lately, but seeing this fellow yesterday kinda put me in the Christmas spirit:
Who knew St. Nick drove an Izuzu?



22 comments:

  1. L-O-V-E your decor! Especially the reindeer!

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  2. Your deco is SOOO cute! LOL @ Santa!!!!!

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  3. I'm joining the cheap club with you! Everything I get, must be on researched AND on sale. Must.

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  4. WOW you are amazing - I wish I had an ounce of that talent. Love the decor.

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  5. Oh my WORD I looveee the glitter deer! I am going to steal this idea :) Xo

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  6. Kassie! You rockstar, I'm going to need that glitter dear canvas and clothes pins STAT. LIKE FOR REALS. You are lucky I don't live close enough to come over and steal it :) Oh and your tree looks amazing, I love the burlap with it!!!!!

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  7. Kassie!! I love your tree topper! You did so good!!

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  8. I am obsessed with the reindeer! Great job!

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  9. You got skills girl. Your decorations look FAB!

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  10. Only in LA Santa in an Izuzu! Ok so can you do Wedding planning AND interior design? I need some help! Will you be upset if I shameless copy your picture hanging line? I don't want you to come over and I'll have to do the awkward..oh yeah..about that... LOL LOVE your decor!

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  11. You are a freaking pinterest rock star. I have dreams of making everything I pin but it never works out that way. So, you can come live with me... cook... and do my crafts. hahaha.

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  12. I seriously wish we weren't 2500 miles apart. 1. I would want you to plan my wedding. 2. Decorate my house. 3. Craft with me. 4. I am a burlap fanatic as well and so wish we had a Hobby Lobby. 5. Be my long lost best friend.

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  13. I love your craft ideas! I think there's a difference between being cheap and being savvy! Why spend oodles of $ on something that costs less some other way? I'm a savvy shopper and I love finding DEALS

    This is beautiful.

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  14. Omg I looovvveeee that reindeer!! And your mantle! And the tree topper!!

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  15. wow great job!!!! I'm impressed...and now feel inadequate. lol

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  16. Can you please come do this at my house? Especially the reindeer!? I just love it.

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  17. FALL-oooo-WEEN!!! Aka: FOLLOWING!!!! Love the Christmas crafts!!! I've gotta get something going for the Christmas cards!!! Hopefully we get more... So far just 1... Peeps must be behind!! Aka: I'm behind. :)

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  18. Hey girl! I nominated you on my blog! Www.mcgfamily4.blogspot.com

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  19. I nominated you for a liebster! Check it out on my blog :)

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  20. Hey Kassie!
    Nancy Clue nominated me for a Liebster award, and I nominated you! The questions are on my blog. www.tabertime.blogspot.com. Love your blog!

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    Replies
    1. I'm nominating you too!!! Get after it girl!!! YOU ROCK!!!

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