A Christmas Story

Our home was in Manti's Christmas Home Show this year. It's been days of fussing and fluffing (paper and pillows). Thanks to all my 'santas helpers'. You know who you are, and it just wouldn't have happened or been so fun if not for you. Here's a sample of what it looks like. Think red and lime green and black and white and Dr. Suess all over. Think Merry and Bright and disposable - that's what I was after. And on a shoestring if I could (and I did, basically because of slave labor earlier referred to as 'Santas helpers'.)

Gena's whimsical handwriting.
Candy trees. 1Cup sugar, 1/2 C cornsyrup, 1/2 C water, splash of vinegar (what does THAT do?) Bring to hard crack stage. Add coloring. Pour thin stream onto oil sprayed cookie sheet into shapes. I tried these trees, large and small dots, into a cookie cutter and crazy non-sensical, Seusical shapes. Not a project for kids!

But this is: These little nut cups that go over tree lights are folded in half 3 times. Cut a little scallop on the big end and a tiny snip on the point. Unfold and put over any of your lights. Mark and Kyle did great on this. Thanks Keli.

A puff and curly ribbon and flat sided marbles decked out three over-the-bar lights. You can get great instructions on how to make puffs from Martha Stewarts website.

Wall detail.

Crepe paper snow ball pile. I violated an idea from Martha Stewart - her tower was elegantly made with styrofoam balls covered in glass glitter. But that would have violated MY motto of CHEAP. I'm thinking we'll have a snowball fight with them when we're tired of looking at them.

Disposable chair backs. Double sided wrapping paper worked nicely.

This puff just got made and set there - nothing deliberate - but doesn't it look like the first course? It ended up staying there - deliberately.

A change of look in the twins bedroom and the rest of the house. But more later, I'm too tired to finish tonight.