wallpaper borders

a simple recipe for two easy to make, modern ornaments!


i bought my paper mache ornaments at michaels craft store for less than 50 cents each. the paint, glitter paint, rub n buff and paper totaled around around $9. i made 10 ornaments for right around $1 each!






i really like the pop of pattern these add to my tree!

i always think that a nice dose of black can do wonders for a room, but i was honestly surprised at how much i LOVED seeing what a dose of black did for my tree!


 together, these ornaments add a little "edge: to my christmas decor....and they were SO easy to make!

color blocked ornament:
i just rubbed the top part of the color blocked ornament with gold rub n buff, and painted the bottom half with black paint.
once the black paint was dry, i went over it with black glitter paint.

striped ornament:
i rubbed rub n buff on all of the edges of the ornament.
then i traced the triangular surfaces (this ornament has 2 different sizes) onto some scrap paper to get my templates, which i used to trace my finished triangles out of the grey striped scrapbook paper.



 this is a fun, inexpensive and easy project, and can be done in so many different ways!

 
the large star was a clearance purchase last year at pier 1. i love the hugeness of it!


another look at the nativity backdrop.





 i made this crystal + nut garland a few years ago, and i LOVE pulling it out every year and figuring where to put it. you can see how i made it here.










i put some garland and glass balls on the chandelier to free it up a bit.

 my entry table, with my antlers, a fresh wreath and some leftover crystal garland.
this vignette makes me happy. :)




 i "took back" the tree this year!
for the last 10 years, our tree has been a collection of family ornaments, and mismatched decorations.  while i have loved it, i was ready for a more grown up tree this year.
AND, we broke down and bought a fake tree this year. at first, i wasn't sure i was going to like it, but after having it up for a week, and having zero needles on the floor, i am IN LOVE.


 
i actually made these little striped ornaments from some 47 cent paper mache ones that i found at michaels.




 (these are some more paper mache ornaments that i painted.) i like the touch of black that they add to the tree!

materials for this project:
*1 2 x 6 board, cut to fit your nativity. mine is 16" long
*nativity set. i bought mine at walmart
*long holiday picks. i used 11 for my board
*ivory/white spray paint
*stain for board
*pencil
*drill/drill bit
*measuring tape
*sandpaper
*wire cutters
(optional star--mine was bought last year on clearance from pier 1)


the first thing i did was figure out where to place the holes for my picks.

 

i penciled in an X or O where i needed to drill.
after i drilled the holes, i lightly sanded them to remove any sharp edges.


the figures were all sprayed with white paint. i used fusion paint (good for plastic) since my figures are made of resin.





i bought some spray "stain/polyurethane in one", but it was a bust. the color was much lighter than promised, and it went on streaky. i had some stain leftover from when we tested colors for our hardwood floors, and so i used "dark walnut" from minwax.


the picks were cut down in order to fit into the drilled holes. sorry i didn't get a picture of me ACTUALLY cutting them. i kinda like my fingers and want them to stay attached to my body!
here's the aftermath:


and, the finished product!






you can see a little peek of my holiday decor in these pictures! i will be posting a holiday tour of my house later this week!