Our Rustic Cottage Christmas!

Welcome to our “Rustic Cottage Christmas” home tour. I’m a pretty traditional girl and most of my decorations have meaning to me. I don’t make radical changes from year to year, but I do work with what I already have, changing it up a bit, adding a few things, re-purposing and/or making it myself.

Hope you enjoy the tour!

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Handmade Stockings

H-E-A-R-T–my grandchildrens’ initials, in order of age from oldest to youngest–Hayden, Emilie, Ashlynn, Ryder and Tatum! I made these for them using burlap and fleece, with painter’s drop cloth for the lining. Then I personalized them with hand painted wooden letters.

Paper Covered Mirror with Wreath and Garland

I love how this looks–I was inspired by a project on my friend Jeanette’s blog–Snazzy Little Things. She covered an art find with this paper, and the minute I saw it I knew it was the perfect solution for a really beat up mirror we have. I love the frame, but the mirror was in bad shape. It takes two people but it was a super simple project using Fadeless Design Rolls Weathered Wood paper and re-positional Elmer’s spray glue !

The wreath was purchased at Home Depot for $6–it had a plastic bow which I removed and replaced with my handmade burlap roses, faux berries, a handmade burlap bow and my sweet little bird in grapevine nest ornaments (handmade also).

The pillows? Well, there are pillows in there, but those are actually two sweaters that I grabbed from my closet, shoved the pillows inside and tucked the sleeves etc, to the back for the photos! I know–I cheated, but it worked!

The garland? I cut branches from a tree in the back yard and wired the pieces together, made another burlap bow and went a little berserk with some flocking spray!

Handmade Burlap Roses

Here’s a closeup of the burlap roses and other details and how I used them. You can learn how to make your own here!

Cricut Explore Santa Project

I also made a Santa picture on my Cricut Explore Air 2. Used an old frame that I painted black and made a spray of greens, burlap roses and some pine cones, I covered some foam core board with the same paper that I used on the mirror.

A Tray Full of Sweets

I love trays and use them all over the the house for small vignettes like this one or just to keep things neat! This one is filled with candy canes in a cute little jar, hershey kisses and an arrangement I did in an old oil container that my husband found somewhere. I purchased the little pine cone sprays and had everything else. I’m liking the rust too!

REPURPOSED CHARGER PLATE

I’m going to tell you a little secret. A long time ago, like 30+ years ago, I was in a beauty pageant. A teacher from high school entered me. I was First Runner Up and was given this charger and some other prizes which then sat in a box for all these years. I decided to dress her up for the holidays using my Cricut Explore and craft paint!

Kitchen Chalk Board

Another wreath from Home Depot hangs in the kitchen on our calendar chalkboard.

Christmas Cloche and Snowmen

I removed the bird’s nest from the cloche and replace it with this adorable little holiday house. The little snowmen were my Mom’s- aren’t they sweet? Another reminder of her that I hold dear. You can read about my Mom here.

JOY Mason Jar Votives and Burlap Garland

A few of Mom’s cute decorations and some mason jar votive holders that I painted and glued greens and berries to after wrapping the neck with jute twine and a small handmade burlap garland decorate this little cupboard!

Three Tiers of Cinnamon, Pine Cones and Sleds

This three-tiered galvanized tray is one of my favorite items to decorate with. You can change it with the seasons. Filled with cinnamon scented pine cones, sparkly Christmas balls, and these really cute burlap covered sleds! My kitchen smells amazing and looks so pretty!

Handmade Burlap Wreath

We have this cute little shelved recess in between cabinets in our kitchen and its the perfect place to decorate. I made the burlap wreath and burlap roses and cut the greens from the yard. (the wreath is available in our Etsy shop www.thedecoratednestshop.esty.com)

Little Bits of Christmas

Who wouldn’t want a little mason jar filled with snow from the actual North Pole. The music box was painted by me back in 1978. It plays my Mom’s favorite “The Christmas Song” by Johnny Mathis-“Chestnuts roasting on an open fire . . .Jack Frost nipping at your nose. . .” Here’s a close up of the candy jar and that cute little sled ornament!

Fresh Greens, Artificial Greens and Berries

A plain white pitcher is filled with greens, berries and pine cone stems. That fabulous tray was a steal from Antique Farmhouse. Of course, my inspiration comes from Country Living magazine, a staple in my house for well over 20 years!

Handmade Burlap Trees, Jazzed up Sled and My Nativity

I’m going to let you in a little secret. See that basket of greens on top? Its actually two old wreaths that I bent up a little and stuck in the basket, then added some fake berries. On the top shelf I placed a sled that I attached a small spray of glittery things and added some burlap roses. The trees are a set of three that I made using the same process as the burlap wreath. I added garland from strips of fabric and glued on berries.

Of course, it wouldn’t be Christmas without the manger. My in-laws (love them with all my heart) gave me this years ago for Christmas and it’s one of my prize possessions. The wooden trees were another Marshall’s find from years ago.

Here’s a close up of some of my tree decorations. Clusters of hand made burlap roses, burlap bows, my little nesting birds and my new favorite-tags from Three Little Monkeys Studio.

Last, but certainly not least, our Christmas Tree!

I hope you enjoyed the tour and maybe came away with some ideas for your own home.

Wishing you all the Happiest of Holidays!

Karen