Easy Tree-Shaped Napkin Rings

I wanted to share with you a way to add an additional festive element to your entertaining this season. My color scheme for the dinner table is shades of silver with touches of gold. I did not have enough napkin rings for thirty people (when I was planning this particular event) so I decided to make my own.

I came across this simple craft for tree-shaped napkin rings my Martha Stewart.

I bought shimmering gold scrapbook from Joann's and also had to pick up some silver ones as they did not have enough gold in stock. My kids love getting involved in the fun projects and my youngest had some free time on occasion to help me out with this. This was easy although it required some cut of thick paper. 

I proceeded to print out the tree template from here and traced it onto the back of the craft paper (I did silver and gold equally). And then we cut out the template.

I traced the outline onto tracing paper, then flipped it over and went over the tracing again onto the back of the scrapbook paper I wanted to use.

Then we cut it out.

I used pewter colored paper napkins.

I worked on putting everything together in a large tray. I folded each napkin over a set of flatware so they were held down in a pocket-like holder.

Then I rolled them.

And lastly, held everything together with the napkin rings - gold and silver.

I lined a couple of platters with silver paper doilies.

These pictures are just to give you the idea. I arranged them better on the day.

This idea was much appreciated on this particular evening. My own recommendation, if you do try this, is to use paper that is not too thick as that will make for quicker and easier cutting.

One could make these in any shape depending on the occasion. All one needs is the basic outline of an item - an ornament, a leaf, a balloon, for example. These could also be further adorned with beads or trinkets or something else decorative.

Linking up to Be Colorful

 

If you require any help with Interior Decorating please click on the tab at the top of my page marked 'Services' or click here for further details.

I would love for you to leave a comment. Thank you for stopping by; please do check back often.

Lisa

The Dining Table For The Holidays

I decorated the dining table for the holidays. Although I had some idea what I wanted to incorporate in the overall design I had no idea how I was going to set it up. I had scoured Joann's and the Internet (including eBay) for some inexpensive mercury glass items thinking I would love to incorporate an antiqued effect with some modern sparkle and a dash of color. My grand plan had been to have done some mercury glass work on regular glass pieces purchased at a consignment store or Goodwill or Salvation Army. There was no time to drive to these stores which are located miles away. My overall color scheme was to be silver with a touch of gold and some green and/or red for color.

I was hosting a couple of parties which were to be buffet events so I did not need to incorporate any place settings.

During my search I came across these items on ZGallerie a couple of weeks ago. They were in a gunmetal finish. I bought 2 sets. Each set cost $7.99 (originally $9.95).

Modello tealights

and these in silver finished on the inside in an antiqued mercury glass-like finish with nickel-plated stems. This was on sale for $19.89 (originally $39.95).

Monte tealights

I laid a green tablecloth (large enough for my dining table) and a smaller off-white cotton embroidered tablecloth which was given to me by one of my sisters, purchased in Hong Kong. I placed the Monte tealights in the center (tallest centered). Inches away on each side I placed a set of the Modello tealights in a random pattern (I do love the organic elements in design). I had planned to use flameless candles.

These pictures were taken in a hurry while I was getting a hundred other things ready. I had pine cones which are gold and glittery...I just used a couple here. I took a couple of stems with silver berries (purchased at Joann's) and wove them around the tealights and threw in a few green glass marbles which I have had for a few years. The walls of the dining room are green (but I plan to change them over the holidays) so I did not want to get carried away with the green hues but just for a bit of color. The pine cones and the stems are a way of introducing nature, and the pine cones and the tealights, when lit, would lend the gold tones to the setting.

View from the top - flameless candles within.

Yes, my tablecloth has some crinkles but these were eventually ironed out. A little picture overload while I try to capture many angles of this tablescape and some with the candles lit.

I love the effect - silver and gold. The warm gold effect would perhaps not be achieved with real tealight candles. My flameless candles were purchased last year from Crate & Barrel. A good investment.

Candles are on here, too. One can see the gold through the glass.

I would agree that nothing can replace the look of a real lit candle (or the warmth) but the flameless candles are a good option and I decided to use them in this setting instead.

This is an easy way to decorate a table. The colors can be changed by just adding a different pop of color. And it turned out to be inexpensive, too. It was worth investing in the votives as I will use them a lot and they were at a great price, too.

I did not want a heavy tablescape as the table itself is large and heavy but I did want to add something sizable in terms of the length so that the decorations would not be lost on the table. For a relatively unplanned tablescape I am really happy with the way it looks.

If you require any help with Interior Decorating please click on the tab at the top of my page marked 'Services' or click here for further details.

I would love for you to leave a comment. Thank you for stopping by; please do check back often.

Lisa

Easy Holiday Decorating With A Garland

One of the easiest ways to decorate for the holidays is to incorporate holiday garlands (real or faux, beads, berries, crystals, whatever one may wish). It is instant decorating. It can be placed on or hung below a mantle, it could be hung from or wrapped around a banister, or a candle or a light fixture, it could be added to window treatments and so on. Beaded and crystal ones can also be placed in a glass jar to add some color and sparkle to a vignette.

This is how my chandelier looked before last week. The faux pearl strands was left on several Christmases ago (and yes, I do clean the fixture) and in addition, I had occasionally put some greenery over it for the holidays. I like to change things up because I love when an unexpected/unplanned look is achieved and it works.

A couple of weeks ago I tried it on my mantle, posted about here, but it was too full a garland for the look I was going for.

This is where it is now, wrapped around the chandelier. I just started working from the top and brought it down and around the fixture at the base, weaving in and out and I tweaked it a little here and there. Easy.

It does not take away from the faux pearls but enhances the look. This is really an easy way to bring a festive look to an entire room (which includes the ceiling). It certainly draws the eye upward.

It brings in the green and a touch of the holiday red, and the pearls keeps it elegant as well as festive. What do you think? Do you like this look?

This is what I did with a different garland on the mantle. This is the one I have used on the chandelier in the past. (Nighttime picture).

The addition of something more organic. (Daytime picture).

My next post will be about how I decorated the dining table. Here is a glimpse.

Stay tuned!

If you require any help with Interior Decorating please click on the tab at the top of my page marked 'Services' or click here for further details.

I would love for you to leave a comment. Thank you for stopping by; please do check back often.

Lisa

Living Room Wall Display

Over the summer I came across CHAI Honolulu on Facebook. This is a store based in Honolulu, Hawaii, selling handmade bedding and decorative accessories, rustic and reclaimed wood furniture, to name a few things. I contacted the owner and asked if I could somehow purchase these amazing reclaimed wood mirrors I saw on the store's FB page. I ordered three (sold separately). I loved the color variations and the rustic element and thought they would look good behind the couch in the living room over the decals. I like mixing styles and in this case pairing the elegant with the rustic. I thought the mirror shapes were interesting and fun and I planned to place them together as a set.

Each piece is different and I had the owner pick out the three for me after I gave her an idea what I wanted.

I had to find the right hooks and I came across a pack of these at Michaels. Perfect.

I had written a post on my decal layout here. I was ready to hang the mirrors and tried to figure out a layout for these while not entirely messing with the decal pattern. I decided to place two of them at the same height and one centered slightly above in almost a triangular pattern.

First attempt with the smallest mirror in the center.

 Then I moved them around.

Lastly, I decided to add a picture - this stunning teal/turquoise/green silk artwork which was a gift from Brazil and which I have had for many years - to the display.

An easy way to add this color combination that I love and have been trying to incorporate into the living room. Wrote about it here and here.

I do love the look and the colors tie in to the sofa and throw pillows and makes for an interesting wall feature. I like the addition of the framed silk artwork.

Do you like the mirrors? And do you like the wall display overall? Do you prefer the wall with or without the artwork?

I have not posted in a week as I have been busy with various things - Holiday festivities, school events, work and more. Will share some of my other seasonal projects with you soon.

If you require any help with Interior Decorating please click on the tab at the top of my page marked 'Services' or click here for further details.

I would love for you to leave a comment. Thank you for stopping by; please do check back often.

Lisa