christmas Archives - CENTURY 21 MarketLink Realty

DIY: Holiday Card Display Wreath

December 2, 2015 By Casey Danton

With a flood of holiday cards now filling your mailbox, it can be difficult to find enough space to display them all. Within a week, the mantel is full and you’re left looking for other options to prevent any one place from looking too crowded. To solve that problem, we’ve created a simple DIY card wreath that will help you find a home for this season’s batch of festive greetings. The simple, neutral style of this display should match many different decor styles, from modern to rustic, and it will be exciting to pull out of the attic year after year!

What You’ll Need

If you don’t already have the supplies for this project lying around the house, you can easily find them at your local craft store. Gather these items to get started:

A large hoop (pictured is an 18” quilt hoop)
Felt (Choose shades of green for a natural look, or try experimenting with unexpected but still festive hues like vibrant red or gold.)
Scissors
Glue
Small pompoms (We used white pompoms for a mistletoe look, but red or metallic pompoms are fun as well.)
Twine
Thumbtacks
Tiny clothespins

How to Make It

Step 1: Begin by making your leaves. You can freehand these onto the felt with a permanent marker before cutting, or practice them on paper first. The wreath in the picture has one long branch (going down the left side), two medium branches (one layered on each side), two small branches (one layered on each side) and one middle piece to cover the gaps between felt layers. Test the size and placement of each felt piece as you go to figure out what you like best.

Step 2: Glue your leaves in place and allow them to dry according to your adhesive’s instructions.

Step 3: After the glue has dried, lay out your twine and cards to decide on their placement. Since holiday cards come in a lot of different shapes and sizes these days, many combinations will be possible. Once you’ve decided where your twine will need to go, attach it to the back of the hoop either with thumbtacks (which will push the wreath away from the wall, creating depth) or staples. You may want to glue or fasten the twine where it runs along the hoop to keep it from view, but that’s up to you.

Step 4: Next, flip your hoop back over and glue the pompoms on the “leaves.” Keep the arrangement fairly random to resemble to natural, organic look of berries. As a bonus, these can be helpful for covering any odd gaps between the leaves if that’s necessary.

Step 5: Now find the perfect spot to hang your new wreath. We chose to hang ours over the fireplace, but the foyer, kitchen and dining room are all possibilities—just think about where you’re likely to enjoy it the most! You can attach it to the wall using a simple nail or any other picture-hanging supplies.

Step 6: Choose a handful of your favorite cards, then attach them to the twine with the mini clothespins. Remember: Your arrangement doesn’t have to stay the same all season. Have fun swapping out the older cards for new ones as they arrive in your mailbox so that you always have a fresh collection of smiling faces greeting you and your family!

About the Author:

Julia Marchand is a DIY and home design expert for Shutterfly. She lives in New Hampshire, where she grew up, with her husband and year-old son. Julia loves all things vintage and spends her time sewing, reading and crafting. Follow Julia on Twitter to find out what adorable holiday idea she comes up with next!

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How to Baby Proof for The Holidays

November 16, 2015 By Casey Danton

If you’ve got a little one this holiday season, don’t make the mistake of being unprepared. This time of year brings about unique potential dangers for him or her that you might not have considered. Follow these five tips on how to baby proof your home for the holidays.

Skip the tablecloth. Infants are known to be grabby, and the hanging end of a tablecloth is too tempting to resist. In one quick tug, your tyke could accidentally pull down the entire dinner table setting, including your dishes, silverware, and candles. Yikes!

Keep flowers out of reach. Contrary to popular belief, poinsettias aren’t actually poisonous, but there’s still no reason for your child to ingest them. Keep all plants out of reach. They’re not food, and you never know which one may make a particular individual sick.

Don’t wrap with ribbons. Stick to wrapping paper only when giving gifts. Leftover ribbons can easily fall on the ground, presenting a choking hazard for you baby. Additional tip: Gather up and throw away wrapping paper as soon as it’s discarded. Again, you never know what your child might put in their mouth.

Secure your tree. Fasten your tree to the wall and consider blocking off the area with a baby gate because after all, the tree is for looking, not for touching. If you want to bring your baby closer, do so under strict supervision, and don’t let them tug on any branches.

Hang ornaments higher. Hang all ornaments out of reach on the top half of the tree, just in case your tot does get closer to the tree. Smooth, shiny decorations will be sure to attract their attention, and all too many are easily breakable. If you feel like your tree is a bit bare, opt for paper or felt ornaments on the lower half.

These simple changes to your holiday decorating routine may make for a safer celebration for your newest family member.

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Deck the Halls: 10 Things to Do Leading Up to Christmas

December 17, 2014 By CENTURY 21

Christmas is one of the busiest times of the year. You have to buy and wrap presents, decorate the tree, cook, bake, and more. Preparing your home for Christmas may seem stressful but it doesn’t have to be. Here are small things that you can do every day leading up to Christmas. Your home can be more festive in no time.

1. Create a Christmas card display: Arrange the Christmas cards you’ve received over the past few weeks on a mantel or in a nice Christmas wreath. This adds a sentimental value to the holiday and shows your family and friends that you appreciate them.

2. Plan Christmas menu: Knowing exactly what you’re cooking makes grocery shopping faster. Plus you won’t have to run out because you forgot milk…again.

3. Put out smaller decorations: There is no such thing as too many Christmas decorations. If your tree is up and the outside of your home is decked out, adding small touches inside the home is the next step. Hang wreaths, display nutcrackers, snow globes, and hang the stockings — this added decor brings the Christmas season full circle.

4. Display presents under the tree: As you are finished wrapping presents for your family and Christmas guests, display them under the tree. You’ll remember where you put the gifts and you’ll get excited every time you see them under the tree. Note to Self: Stop hiding gifts and forgetting where they’re hidden.

5. Prepare for guests: If you have family staying over during the holidays, prepare in advance. There’s no need to run around on Christmas trying to cook, clean, and get things together for guests. A few days prior to the holiday, put out extra towels, bedding, and anything else your guests may need. If you have enough time, use these tips to set up a great guest room.

6. Bake, bake, bake: A night or two before Christmas, get all your baking done. It’s a fun activity to do with your family and you’ll take care of something else on your to-do list.

7. Deep clean your home: A clean home is a happy home, especially during the holidays. Clean your home a few days before Christmas. A mess may ensue during the holiday but at least the meticulous cleaning job is done.

8. Set the table: Don’t set your table in a hurry. Take some time to make it beautiful. Set up a runner, put out candles, and add a festive centerpiece.

9. Set out seating: If your home doesn’t have the capacity to hold all your guests, make arrangements in advance. Borrow or rent extra tables and chairs so there is room for everyone and everything.

10. Burn candles: There is nothing like the fresh scent of a Christmas candle. Light a few before your guests arrive to help make your home look and smell beautiful.

If you do one small thing each day before Christmas, your home will be prepared for the actual day. As a host, you will be able to enjoy the holiday more knowing everything is taken care of.

Recommended Reading:

-How to Decorate Your Home for the Holidays

-5 Ways to Reconnect this Holiday Season

-Winter is Coming: How to Prep Your Home for Winter

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How to Decorate Your Home for the Holidays

December 1, 2014 By CENTURY 21

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Not only are the holidays arguably the most cheerful and fun days to experience with your loved ones, they’re also the best time of the year for decorating. Whether you go all out or prefer minimal decorations these tips will get your home into the holiday spirit.

1. Decorate the door: Make a great first impression. Decorate your doorway with garland and hang a wreath from your front door.

2. Christmas lanterns: A lantern is a very elegant and sophisticated piece of decor that will instantly dress up any room. Add candles or flameless candles to brighten any room.

3. Centerpieces: A centerpiece is the focal point of your table. It transforms how guests view your dining room and can really get everyone into the Holiday spirit. Adorning your table with a bouquet of red roses mixed in with some garland, berry sprigs, and candles is a great way to bring the season into your home.

4. Hanging lights: Decorate any sort of hanging, pendant light with garland.

5. Staircases, columns, etc.: Take your love of detail into other parts of your home. Add bows, garland, and string lights to the handrails and columns inside and outside your house. These small decorations will help make your home cozy and give it a very Holiday feel.

6. Coffee Table: Fill glass bowls or cylinders with ornaments. If you’re feeling extra creative spray paint pinecones and add them.

7. Mantelpiece: Your mantelpiece is usually the focal point of your living room, and what better time to draw more attention to it than the holidays? Decorate the mantel with red berries, tree branches, Christmas stockings, and other small holiday touches.

8. The tree: For Christmas it’s all about the tree during the holidays. All families have their own traditions, but you may want to change things up a bit. Add some metallic shimmer, top the tree with bells instead of an angel, and cluster ornaments together. It’ll give a traditional tree a new look.

Decorating your home for the holidays is a fun family activity. Add some cheer to your home!

Recommended Reading:

-5 Ways to Make Your Home Cozy for Fall

-5 Creative DIY Projects You Can Do With Wallpaper

-First Impressions: Door Decor for Fall

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