(Photo via Rifle Paper Co)
If you didn’t catch my post this weekend for 12th & Broad‘s Style Scout, here’s a recap:
Gift wrapping, you either love it or hate it.
For years I hated wrapping presents. I would wait till the last minute and rush the process. Wadded up, bulky, tons of tape and whatever paper was left on Christmas Eve. This is how I wrapped presents year after year. My gifts were easily recognized for all the wrong reasons.
It wasn’t until I stepped into my first paper store that I fell in love with gift wrap and stationary. I learned that gift wrapping was an art form and could be fun (and beautiful) if I would simply plan ahead.
(Photo via Rifle Paper Co)
Here’s what I have learned over the years:
1. Keep the Shopping Simple. Throughout the year, pick up paper, cards and various wrapping accessories at stores that you already shop. Don’t over think it. Some of my favorite gift wrap for the holidays has been found in the summer.
2. Shop Local. Nashville has an incredible selection of paper goods & craft supplies. Make sure to check out Kore Nashville, Pulp Nashville at Hey Rooster General Store, Rock Paper Scissors, Hester & Cook, and All Seasons
3. Not a Big Shopper? Online Only? Choose 1-3 paper sources that you really like, check in a few times a year and buy a little at a time. My favorite online sources are Rifle Paper Co, Ferme Papier and 1canoe2 and Paper Source (many of the Nashville shops carry these lines).
4. Feeling Crafty? There is a plethora of DIY gift wrapping ideas on Pinterest. The options are endless!
5. Choose Your Materials Carefully. This is an important process. I have found that if I choose paper I love, I will love the process of gift wrapping. There are so many types of papers, varying in weight and finish. And oh, the accessories. So many choices! Find one that suites you. It will make all the difference in the world.
6. Make Room. Christmas is not the only time you wrap a gift. There are lots of other holidays and events. Create a space where you can store your gift wrapping items, and stock up on supplies
7. Make Time. You don’t need a whole lot of it, but you do need to set some time aside. The gifts have to be wrapped one way or another. Giving a little extra attention to detail isn’t going to cost you a lot of extra time. The key is to plan ahead with your supplies and set-up
8. Why All the Fuss? A well-wrapped gift conveys a message of love and thoughtfulness.
Need some inspiration? Looking for something unique? Here is my holiday gift wrap round-up for 2014:
Holiday Cards:
1. Foil Joyeux Noel
2. Ferme Santa – Hipster Mr. & Mrs. Clause
3. Merry Llama
4. Reindeer Mistletoe
5. Tis the Season to Be Jolly Card
Wrapping Paper:
1. Forest Path Wrapping Paper
2. Cursive Wrapping Paper
3. Dark Blue and Gold Star Wrapping Paper (in-store only)
4. Black and Gold Polka Dot Wrapping Paper (in-store only)
5. Floral Gift Wrap – Black/White
6. Graphite Lace
7. Winter Wonderland
8. Holiday Greens
9. Bitch Wrapping Paper
10. Holiday Dots Wrapping Paper
Gift Tags, Ribbon & Twine:
1. Merry Bitchmas Gift Tag Set
2. Foil Wilderness Gift Tags – Dear
3. Emerald Peonies
4. St. Nick
5. Pinecone Gift Tags
6. 3-in-1 Photo Card
7. Nutscene Twine
8. Heirloon Stripe Red Paper Ribbon
9. Honeycomb Paper Ribbon
10. Skinny Cream & Gold Ribbon
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Photo via Stylizimo
“As the days become gray, our homes become the center of our attention. The mantle we had almost forgotten is now highlighted by a roaring fire and suddenly needs dressing. The rarely used dining table is now a perfect place for new décor. And all the projects we’ve been thinking about this past year are now in full production. It’s December, that time of year when we cozy up the house.”
This past weekend, I published my first post with 12th & Broad’s Style Scout: Playful, Modern and Simply Beautiful Holiday Decor. I discussed Christmas decor, new found treasures and how to spruce up your holiday collection. And! I featured a partial round-up of my favorite holiday and winter decor for this season. Today I bring you the full round-up. All 42 fantastic items that will dazzle any home. Enjoy!
{From Left to Right} 1. Decorative Sisal Trees 2. Champagne Glitter Trees 3. Felt Trees 4. Wooden Cutout Trees 5. Gold Bottle Brush Tabletop Tree 6. German Glitter Village
{From Left to Right} 7. Glitter Star Garland 8. Mercury Glass Bulb Lights 9. Champagne Garland
{From Left to Right} 10. Luminous Dots Pillow 11. Faux Fur Pillow (white) 12. Northwood Pillows (penguin) 13. Northwood Pillows (moose) 14. Mongolian Lamb Pillow 15. Faux Fur Pillow (blue)
{From Left to Right} 16. Wood Penguin 17. Hand-painted Wanderlust Globe 18. Reclaimed Metal Reindeer Candle Holder 19. Mercury Cut Glass Hurricanes 20. Threshold Gold Bar Cart 21. Pinecone Wreaths
{From Right to Left} 22. Diptyque Red Tubereuse Candle 23. Tobacco & Patchouli – Paddywax Apothecary 24. Côtes du Rhône Three Wick Candle 25. Izola Candles 26. Woodland Truffle Classic Candle 27. Welton Parfums Kelly Hoppen Candle No. Iv
{From Left to Right} 28. Ferm Living Paper Balls and Stars 29. Birch Reindeer Ornaments 30. Wire Ornaments 31. Set of Three Heart Ornaments 32. Stuffed Ornaments – Squirrels and Pinecones 33. Foiled Gold Ornament
{From Left to Right} 34. Breathless Paper Coasters 35. Gilded Dapper Animal Mug 36. Set of 5 Matryoshka Nesting Dolls 37. Hello Darling Dish Towel (set of 2) 38. Festive Fair Isle Cheese Board 39. Fox Love Tea Towel
{From Left to Right} 40. Lodge Stripe Wool Throw 41. Italian Wool & Alpaca Cable Knit Throw 42. Faux Fur Snow Leopard Throw – Stone White
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I’m a huge fan of shopping local, but I also love a good trip to Home Goods & Target. Over the last few weeks, I have had to shop both stores numerous times for design projects. And along the way, I’ve been picking up gold, white and natural decor for my home.
For as long as I can remember, my house has been decorated in white for the holidays. I pair the white with a few red and natural elements, creating a rustic modern wonderland. This year, I am all about bringing gold & brass into the mix. These glitzy colors have been popping up all year in home decor. And I can’t get enough!
The fresh approach to these metallic colors is the use of white and beige. The combination gives a soft, neutral palette. Allowing you to mix and match them with bold or monochromatic colors, as well as other metals. It’s modern, playful, and sophisticated. What’s not to love?
Stay tuned for my Gold & White Gift Guide this week. It’s so good, you’ll want everything!
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I’m feeling the urge to make a holiday wreath today. There is just something so therapeutic about trudging through the woods, gathering bits of nature and then combining them into something beautiful for your home.
Gone are the days of big bows, cheap bright colors, and fluffy fake holiday wreaths. This season the trend is clean lines and soft color palettes. Using fresh flowers, botanicals and fruits. A welcomed change.
Looking for inspiration? Check out Alyssa Hoppe, Moon Canyon Designs, Annette Joseph and Gardenista on Pinterest. Or pick up my new favorite book, The Wreath Recipe Book.
1. Unique Holiday Wreath by Alyssa Hoppe (DIY on Design Love Fest)
2. Metallic Pinecone Wreathy by Papier D’Amour
3. Thanksgiving Wreath by Emily Thompson
4. Citrus Winter Wreath by Sarah Ryhanen
5 & 6. Wreaths by Moon Canyon Designs
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This time of year, we are all scrambling to get our homes ready for the holidays. It’s exhausting, I know. In the last few weeks, I have thought a lot about how out of control I feel in November & December. I LOVE Christmas, but the chaos can be downright overwhelming. I have decided to take control of the madness, and find ways to make life more enjoyable during this season. This means I need to get my ass in gear and get organized.
For almost a decade, I have been decorating other people’s homes, store fronts, museums and events for the holidays. And somewhere in between, I decorate my home. My home is always last on the list. By the time I reach for those attic boxes, I am ready to go into winter hibernation. So much to do and so little time. That rush to get it all done is a dreadful feeling. And I am over it.
So, this year I am decorating my home early (and more wisely). I will be hosting Thanksgiving and Christmas, which means decorations for two very different events. With my busy schedule, there is no way I am going to set my house up twice. Instead of two different looks, I’m going to gradually transition my home with the season. Adding and subtracting various elements as the weeks go by. The key is to take notes from nature. The earth transitions from Autumn to Winter with such ease and grace. It is not a chaotic event. It is the same scene but with a simple swap of colors and textures.
The first thing that has to happen before any decorating begins is a deep clean. Scrub, purge, put away and organize the house. Decorating in a messy house is miserable. Wrapping gifts in a messy house brings me to tears. Hosting all the unclaimed furnishings & décor in my bedroom to accommodate the holidays is incredibly frustrating. And yet year after year, this is how it goes. I refuse to succumb to this cycle one more time. So, early cleaning and organizing is a must.
After the house is clean, take away all the decorations that will not be used for the next few months and pack away. This is the stage I am in this week. Freeing up space for holiday décor. To simplify this transition, I have two empty bins that I keep in my office closet. It’s easily accessible. If it’s too difficult to pack things up, it will never happen. I’ll just have a miscellaneous pile of décor sitting on the floor of my bedroom for two months. Think ahead, make this process as painless as possible.
Once you get those first two steps out of the way, you’ll be surprised how free you will feel. I’ve just begun step two, and I already feel like I have gained a few extra weeks on the holiday season.
Now, to decorate.
First, cozy up the home. Place winter throws on the sofa, burn candles, brew hot cider and welcome the chilly weather with warm touches. Next, bring out the Christmas decorations and use everything that is holiday neutral. Aka, winter décor. Winter décor mixed with autumn flowers, pumpkins and leaves look fantastic for Thanksgiving. Throw in a few gold touches and you have a lovely combination. There’s no need to buy a bunch of décor for Thanksgiving. Just look to nature and keep it simple. And after Turkey day, throw out the fall elements and replace with the glitzy Christmas pieces.
As for the Christmas tree and lights on the house, there are no rules. If you want to put them up before Thanksgiving or the day before Christmas, it doesn’t matter. Just plan ahead and give yourself plenty of time to get it done.
I encourage you to do whatever makes you happy this holiday season. Find ways to bring the stress down. Prepare a little earlier, so that you have more time later. Stop playing by everyone else’s rules. And most importantly, enjoy the days to come with your friends and family.
*photos via A Pumpkin & A Princess, The Daily Basics, Resonances and La Petite Cuisine
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