All Things Lovely

An Instagram Christmas

Hello everyone! Oh dear, I really have gotten dreadful at this blogging thing. I guess life really gets in the way sometimes! It hasn't stopped me decorating and making things, and this weekend was one of those ones where Christmas DIY came out. I shared some pics over on Instagram of what I've been doing around the house (I'm kyliewakeley on Instagram if you want to follow along) and I thought I'd share them over here.

One thing I love about the blogging communty, and it's also highlighted by Pinterest is how generous people are in sharing printables, ideas and other ways for all of us to make Christmas special. Many of the things I've made in my home for Christmas have been inspired in some way by someone else, and I hope in turn I can inspire others. Sharing the love!

Anyway, here's some sneek peeks into my Christmas for this year.

The lead up to Christmas is nothing if not an excuse to eat. Since it's summer in Australia for Christmas, in my life it's not Christmas without a pavlova. This recipe is my favourite one to make from Donna Hay, it's easy and pretty much never fails. Add some cream, berries and grated chocolate and you're good to go.

I love sending Christmas cards, here they all are nearly ready for the post.

Presents wrapped and ready. I'm obsessed with keeping to a theme every year, this year is no exception!

For the first time ever, this year I have an advent calendar. Inspired by this printable from Room for Emptiness, I made this little hanging one. So easy! I just grabbed brown lunch bags, sewed up the middle of them to make them narrower, trimmed the sides, popped on the number sticker and hung them on twine with clothes pegs. They're now filled with chocolate....who's betting a couple of days get eaten at once?! I've got to admit, I'm a little bit in love with it. I've caught myself a few times just standing and gazing at it!

And who can say no to some Christmas cushions?! I quickly made some very cheap calico cushions, and then we found some beautiful Christmas pictures like here, here and here and stenciled them on. I can't remember where I found the instructions on how to transfer from paper to fabric, but it involves laser printing and turps!

Have you gotten in the Christmas swing? I think I was incredibly eager for Christmas this year, the tree was up two weeks ago and my shopping is pretty much done! It's just such a wonderful time of year.

 

I Love Christmas

I am so excited about Christmas this year. I've been planning my gifts, making my cards, and organising my wrapping which I'm still changing my mind on! This weekend though with the lovely Josh Groban serenading me Christmas carols, I put up my tree and decked my halls.

My tree. Gosh, i need to scour Pinterest for how to take good photos of my tree but my lounge is so cozy it's hard!

Anf some close ups of my ornaments. The birds are probably my favourite.

What's your favourite album to play when you're decorating your home for Christmas?

Christmas Ornaments

I thought I would quickly show you how I made the clay ornaments that I'm hanging on my twisted willow tree. I'm not fully happy with these which is why they're not going out as gifts. But I'm happy enough to keep them for my home.

I started out with some Fimo air clay, lace and some Christmas themed biscuit cutters.

I rolled out the clay on a plastic bag. Warning, this stuff sticks to everything! Plastic or foil is recommended.

I wanted the ornaments to have a slightly textured feel, so I used some old lace curtains. I laid them over the clay and just went over it lightly with a rolling pin.

Once I'd done that, I chose my shape and wet it thoroughly. I feel like it made it slightly easier to get the clay out of the cutter. The heart and bell shape seemed to be the easiest.

I just used a skewer to pop  hole in the top. If I was doing it again, I'd probably use a straw instead as it would sort of take out the clay, rather than just press it through if that makes sense? Not to mention it would have been good to have a slightly larger hole.

Anyway, after a good 48 hours of dry time, including turning them all over half way through, my ornaments were dry. You could always lightly sand off the rough edges but I actually left them very 'natural' ie I was too lazy to do that! Just threaded a bit of twine through and voila! Done.

Christmas Craft

I've been busy making some Christmas crafts, which I can finally show you. I've wanted to do this for a couple of years and finally got around to it.

I used some twisted willow I've had sitting in the garage for about 5 years (!) and put it in a tall vase which I'd added some silver baubles to the bottom of. I needed to use floristry oasis but didn't want it right at the bottom. The baubls were a good filler. I then wrapped some hessian which I've frayed slightly, and some pink twine.

I'd originally made the little porcelain ornaments as gifts for Christmas, but I really wasn't happy enough with them to give away so used them on my little tree here. I'll show you later how I made them. What a shame when gifts don't work out and you just have to keep them for yourself... :)

Christmas Cards

Oh yes....I know it's only October!! But for some reason I'm very excited about Christmas this year. And, I'll be away for a fair bit of November, so I'm trying to be Little Miss Organised this year.

I love to put lots of thought into my theme, and wrapping for Christmas, and of course the gifts. There's something so special about the planning, isn't there? So, I went for a homemade, doiley and brown paper kind of theme for this year and I really love what's come so far.

These are my cards. Very simple, far from perfect but pretty. Usually I'm quite a perfectionist, but I think the imperfections are what makes them charming.

Brown card, a cute doiley, some alphabet stamps and thread. I'm so happy with them. The stamping took me forever though, and unfortunately the white ink just didn't come out as well as I'd hoped. Oh well.

I decided to use some lines from Christmas carols as well, rather than the plan 'Merry Christmas'. I think it's fun. Now just to count down to the 1st of December to post them out!

Have you started any Christmas crafts yet?

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like An Anthropologie Christmas

Is anyone else getting excited about Christmas? This year I am determined to be better than last year! I'd just started a new job and life was insane - I think I was lucky to actually get a tree up. This year I feel more organised, I'm starting to think about it and looking forward to it.

 
Today I had a look a look at Anthropologie at some of their Christmas decor. So, so much that I'd like! What do you love?

So, I'm Not The Grinch

Christmas this year has sadly not been a priority for me, I hate that. I finally got around to decorating my home very quickly, just to bring in some Christmas spirit. This afternoon, I'm heading off to see the Christmas Spectacular put on at my church, I'm so looking forward to it.

I thought I'd just quickly show some of the things I've done around the house, and I freely admit they're neither wonderful or amazing - I've bought really nothing new for this year even though I had great intentions. Maybe next year.

This is my wreath for the front door,. I made it a few Christmases ago, but I still love it.

This is my tree, which I've only really just put up - still no presents underneath it. Oops. Oh, except for the little surprise I've bought for Indie.

As one of many Christmas presents to myself, I recently bought the Markor sofa bench from Ikea. I really wanted something to go in my staircase to put pretty things on, so it's also been tarted up for Christmas, just with some cheap Ikea baubles and a reindeer candelabra I bought last year from Dusk.

So, do you have photos of your home all done up? I am determined that next year I'm going all out!