Cardinals in our Faux Snow Covered Christmas Tree

I wanted a smaller, really snowy, Christmas tree this year, but I didn't want to spend money on buying a new one. So, I used the top 2/3rds of our old, 6 foot tree and added lots of homemade snow.


This was my inspiration for the tree and living room this year. I wanted to bring the outside in.

I'm not gonna lie, it was a really messy project.  I'm just glad that it was a gorgeous, early November day, in the70's and I could make my big ole mess outside!

I mixed up a batch of plaster of paris with some white paint and water. The epsom salts gave it some added texture to make it look more like snow.

You'll need to keep it on the "soupy side"....my first batch was way too thick and hardened quickly in my bucket!

I just slopped it, heavily, on each branch and sprinkled on some clear glitter to give it a bit more sparkle.
After I was done applying snow all over the tree it then took a few days for it to be dry enough to bring back inside.

It's no longer just a fake green tree....it's wintery and simple and just the right size.

I placed this cardinal, in it's white rope, nest near the top of the tree.

 I stole it off last year's winter white grapevine wreath  

Lots of babies are perched on top of branches 

and beside the rhinestone garland glam.

White, painted pine cones and fall ------------are tucked inside for a natural, wintery look.

I added red glitter to the star on top  of the tree.

This is how tall it was and with a little less snow still set up for Valentine's Day last year.


I'm all ready for Christmas, are you?

I'm really excited about sharing the rest of the room with you. There's a lot more glam and a bit of red cardinal mania.
It's gonna be a really long post!

 Love, Hugs and Kisses,

JP

and Gucci, too!

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Glossy White Pumpkins & Touches of Gold on Our Fall Mantel & Coffee Table Centerpiece

 A few weeks back my honey helped me paint two walls in our living room with a fresh, new, soft green. I chose to leave the other two in the existing, neutral, cream color because we live in a heavily wooded area and we need the lightness to keep the room bright.

  I may still opt to paint the other walls in another shade of neutral and convince my honey to install a new light fixture and change out the plaid valances....it's just that our home is a rental and we'll have to change it back should we decide to ever leave.

This year I followed through with my staying light theme. 

  My treasured, vintage clock sits on a ladder shelf.

White hydrangeas, from summer, stayed mixed in with the decor.

Pine cones and acorns dipped in white paint and tipped, heavily, in gold.

As always country touches and glam.

And rustic, chippy, chippy love that makes my heart go pitter patter!

Plastic pumpkins sprayed in glossy white and highlighted with some "rub and buff" in gold add a bit of elegance to compliment the old.

A complimentary vignette on the hearth below.

A painted bushel basket filled with a harvest of whites.

 We added an extension for our mantel that was made with love by my brother in-law...he's such a gem!

I told him that I missed the size of our old one which had more space for display and voila...he made my dream come true!

Another glossy pumpkin is featured on our coffee table on a shiney brass tray.

An amber, glass bead, necklace adds my favorite touch of glam.

A scarf, from my wardrobe, adds an interesting twist as an accent and runner that's wrapped through the tray's handles...
 like this.

A pair of amber votives and glittered falls leaves complete the coffee table centerpiece.

Fall, last year had more rusty tones.

This was from fall in our New York home

Now, I'm off to spend the rest of my day, poolside, with friends....84 and sunny is something that I simply cannot resist!

   Love, Hugs and Kisses,
JP

and Gucci, too!

Thank you, Kathy for featuring this post!
lifeonlakeshoredrive


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Rusty, Crusty & Glam on My Cast Iron Chair

My cast iron chair need a touch of fall and of course "some glam!"

First, it got some pumpkins.

and then I gave it some glam... I love this pic, it just oozes rusty, crusty & glam!

Rusty and crusty.

My 1800's beauty!

A, country, vignette with my vintage, watering can nad mandievella vine entwined.

The white pumpkins were from last years crop...I gave them a little, rub and buff face lift this week.

A giant version, beside our lamp post, got a touch up, too!

This was it's summer look with  a potted, red mandevilla vine..both chair and vine will, soon, be coming inside for the winter. They'll be back to present a new show in the spring!

Love, Hugs and Kisses,
JP

 Like me? Follow me and I will follow you! 
Visiting Southport,  N.C? stop by my booth @ the Northrop Antiques Mall


This post was honored with most views @  staceyembracingchange "thank you" Miss Stacey!


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