Birthday Party Ideas Unique and Fun + HM #245

Find unique, fun birthday party ideas for every age. Linkup @ Home Matters – recipes, DIY, decor, more. #BirthdayParty #BirthdayPartyIdeas #HomeMattersParty

Birthday Party Ideas Unique and Fun + HM #245

We’re celebrating birthdays! The gals of Home Matters have collected some awesome birthday party ideas from themes to decorations, to checklists, recipes, and more. We hope you will be inspired and have some fun!

Birthday Party Checklist from Denay @ Confetti and Bliss

Simple Harry Potter Party Ideas from Jesseca @ One Sweet Appetite

Little Witch’s Tea Party on a Budget from Paula @ Frog Prince Paperie

How to Make a Killer Cake for a Theme Party from Lorelai @ Life With Lorelai

Birthday Party Ideas Unique and Fun Blog Hop

Click through all the Hosts and Co-hosts blogs to see the complete Themed Roundup!

A Home Matters Themed Roundup

Last Week’s Theme: Back-to-School

Next Week’s Theme: Cakes & Desserts

Welcome to the weekly Home Matters Linky Party. A great place to come, share your blog posts, and make new friends.

We would love to have you visit our blogs and follow us on social media!

Hosts

Lorelai @ Life With Lorelai — Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Donna @ Modern On Monticello — Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Co-hosts

Sahana @ Vikalpah — Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Emily @ Domestic Deadline — Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Nina @ Vintage Mama’s Cottage — Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Check out more posts from the Hosts and Co-Hosts on our
NEW Pinterest Board, All Things Home Matters!
And, please do follow…

Follow All Things Home Matters Board on Pinterest.

Each week, we like to feature some of the awesome posts shared at last week’s party. We hope you will be inspired by these creative and talented bloggers who share their best recipes, DIY projects, crafts, home decor, organization ideas, and more. Enjoy!

Check out this week’s features below.

Pineapple Malibu Slushie Recipe from Ann @ Ann’s Entitled Life

PIN here

How to Repurpose a Piano into a Bar / Drinks Cabinet from Anita @ Unique Creations by Anita

PIN here

Back to School Organization and Time Management Printables from Susan @ Crafting a Family

PIN here

Gluten Free Slow Cooker Tangy Turkey Meatballs from Kristy @ Kristy Still

PIN here

Salted Dark Chocolate Dipped Peanut Butter Cookies from Tracey @ The Kitchen Is My Playground

PIN here

Thank you to all who linked up at last week’s party. We look forward to seeing what you will be sharing with us this week!

Remember that every feature is shared on all Host’s and Co-Host’s blogs, as well as on the Home Matters Linky Party Pinterest Board! Don’t forget to follow…

Follow Home Matters Linky Party Board on Pinterest.

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Are you ready to Party?

The linky party starts when Friday begins and closes when Monday ends, EST.

We at Home Matters love meeting new people and discovering new blogs. Help us grow this party by sharing a link on your post or grabbing our party button for your sidebar or party page.

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Stop by and VISIT as many OTHER BLOGGERS as you can. Leave them a message, and share their talents on social media.

Be sure to Please USE our Registered Hashtag…

Home Matters Linky Party Guidelines:

We are thrilled that you came by to link up today! Here are a few rules that hosts and co-hosts of the Home Matters Party follow, and we ask that you follow them, as well.

Please link up no more than THREE posts each week–try to make sure that they are new links that you have not shared here previously. (Exception: Holiday/Seasonal specific posts may be shared once per year.)

Please take some time to poke around and visit some of the other links.

Please take some time to check out your hosts and co-hosts on social media.

We appreciate the variety of blogs on the www; however, the Home Matters Party is for links on matters of the HOME. Please link accordingly.

We ask that you do not add other Linky Parties, Blog Hops, or Giveaways–unless you begin the party with a new project, recipe or post.

On the same note, please do not add links of an extremist, political or strong controversial nature. (The hosts and co-hosts read each and every blog post linked and will contact you directly if you have linked something that does not fit into the realm of the party.)

With your help, we can continue to grow the Home Matters Party! Thank you!

Find unique, fun birthday party ideas for every age. Linkup @ Home Matters - recipes, DIY, decor, more. #BirthdayParty #BirthdayPartyIdeas #HomeMattersParty Click To Tweet

We are looking for Co-Hosts. Help us Rock this party!
If you are interested, please

Click Here for DETAILS!

Link Up!

By joining the Home Matters Linky Party you are giving permission for all hosts and co-hosts to use and share any part of your post, including pictures, for party promotion, as featured posts, in party photo collages, on blogs, and across social media, etc. All credits will be given to the original source. Also, you will receive a weekly email reminder regarding the new week’s Home Matters Linky Party.

Thank you for joining in the fun and excitement at the Home Matters Linky Party. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do. We look forward to chatting with you in the comments.

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Easter Celebrations and Decorations + HM #176

What do you have planned for your Easter celebrations? Let us help you with some great food and decoration ideas for your parties, fun traditions for kids and adults. Find everything you need for Easter. Plus link up at Home Matters with recipes, DIY, crafts, decor. #EasterCelebrations #HomeMattersParty

Easter Celebrations and Decorations + HM # 176

Spring is here and the Easter bunny is on his way! The gals of Home Matters have pulled together some fabulous and fun ideas to help you celebrate Easter with great food, decorations, traditions and more. Enjoy!

Carrot Crescent Rolls Filled with Egg Salad for Easter Brunch or Lunch from Beth @ Hungry Happenings

Easter Egg Fruit Pizza from Elizabeth @ Sugar Hero

Easter No-Bake Mini Cheesecakes from Elizabeth @ Sugar Hero

9 Easter Cocktails Every Bunny Will Love from Lorelai @ Life With Lorleai

Easter Celebrations and Decorations Blog Hop

Click through all the Hosts and Co-hosts blogs to see the complete Themed Roundup!

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A Home Matters Themed Roundup

Last Week’s Theme: Spring Season

Next Week’s Theme: Spring Cleaning Tips and Ideas

Welcome to the weekly Home Matters Linky Party. A great place to come, share your blog posts, and make new friends.

We would love to have you visit our blogs and follow us on social media!

Hosts

Lorelai @ Life With Lorelai — Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Kristen @ The Road to Domestication — Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Co-hosts

Sahana @ Vikalpah — Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Nicole @ Mom Always Finds Out — Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Emily @ Domestic Deadline — Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Donna @ Modern On Monticello — Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Nina @ Vintage Mama’s Cottage — Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Ashley @ Sweetpea Lifestyle — Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Jenny @ Cookies, Coffee and Crafts — Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Check out more posts from the Hosts and Co-Hosts on our
NEW Pinterest Board, All Things Home Matters!
And, please do follow…

Follow All Things Home Matters Board on Pinterest.

Check out this week’s features below.

Spring Pastel Meringue Cookies from Tracey @ The Kitchen Is My Playground

PIN here.

Quilled Topiaries Tutorial from Suzy @ Suzy’s Artsy-Craftsy Sitcom

PIN here.

Strawberry Souffles with Fresh Strawberries from Liz @ That Skinny Chick Can Bake

PIN here.

DIY Emoji Squishy Stress Balls Filled with Slime from Crystal @ Hello Creative Family

PIN here.

Basil In Eggs from Heidi @ My Sweet Cottage

PIN here.

Thank you to all who linked up at last week’s party. We look forward to seeing what you will be sharing with us this week!

Remember that every feature is shared on all Host’s and Co-Host’s blogs, as well as on the Home Matters Linky Party Pinterest Board! Don’t forget to follow…

Follow Home Matters Linky Party Board on Pinterest.

If you were featured this week, Please Grab our Featured Button to display proudly on your blog post, featured page, or sidebar! Share the joy…

<br />
<div align="center"><a href="https://lifewithlorelai.com/" title="Featured at Home Matters Linky Party" target="_blank"><img src="https://lifewithlorelai.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/HMLP-I-Was-Featured-200x214.png" alt="Featured at Home Matters Linky Party" style="border:none;" /></div>
<p>

Are you ready to Party?

The linky party starts when Friday begins and closes when Monday ends, EST.

We at Home Matters love meeting new people and discovering new blogs. Help us grow this party by sharing a link on your post or grabbing our party button for your sidebar or party page.

<br />
<div align="center"><a href="https://lifewithlorelai.com/" title="Home Matters Linky Party - Grab Button" target="_blank"><img src="https://lifewithlorelai.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/HMLP-Grab-Button-Sidebar-2015-200x200.jpg" alt="Home Matters Linky Party - Grab Button" style="border:none;" /></div>
<p>

Stop by and VISIT as many OTHER BLOGGERS as you can. Leave them a message, and share their talents on social media.

Be sure to Please USE our Registered Hashtag…

Home Matters Linky Party Guidelines:

We are thrilled that you came by to link up today! Here are a few rules that hosts and co-hosts of the Home Matters Party follow, and we ask that you follow them, as well.

Please link up no more than THREE posts each week–try to make sure that they are new links that you have not shared here previously. (Exception: Holiday/Seasonal specific posts may be shared once per year.)

Please take some time to poke around and visit some of the other links.

Please take some time to check out your hosts and co-hosts on social media.

We appreciate the variety of blogs on the www; however, the Home Matters Party is for links on matters of the HOME. Please link accordingly.

We ask that you do not add other Linky Parties, Blog Hops, or Giveaways–unless you begin the party with a new project, recipe or post.

On the same note, please do not add links of an extremist, political or strong controversial nature. (The hosts and co-hosts read each and every blog post linked and will contact you directly if you have linked something that does not fit into the realm of the party.)

With your help, we can continue to grow the Home Matters Party! Thank you!

Planning for your Easter? Let us help you with some great ideas for food, fun and decor. Plus link up at Home Matters with recipes, DIY, crafts, decor. #EasterCelebrations #HomeMattersParty Click To Tweet

We are looking for Co-Hosts for April 2018. Help us Rock this party!
If you are interested, please

Click Here for DETAILS!

Link Up!

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Thank you for joining in the fun and excitement at the Home Matters Linky Party. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do. We look forward to chatting with you in the comments.

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Christmas Printables – 12 Days of Christmas – Day 9

Make the holidays fun, festive, and easy with Christmas Printables. You are going to love all of the Christmas goodness that is headed your way over the next several days. Don’t miss a single day — they are all different and promise tons of holiday cheer and inspiration! Enjoy…

Join us for the 12 Days of Christmas Ideas Series along with eleven other talented bloggers. We’ve rounded up the best of the best Christmas ideas to make your holiday season more festive and fun.

Every day December 1-12th we will be sharing a new collection of Christmas Ideas rounded up from our best blogging friends around the web. That’s a total of 144 awesome Christmas Ideas to make your holiday season easier and more fun! Some of our topics include Decor, DIY, Organization, Food, Games and so much more. We don’t want to spoil the fun by telling you too much. We want you to be surprised! Now is the perfect time to subscribe so you’ll be the first to know!

Meet The Hostesses

Shirley of Intelligent Domestications ~ Erlene of My Pinterventures ~ Lindsay of Crazy Organized

Michelle of Our Crafty Mom ~ Stephanie of The Tip Toe Fairy ~ Lorelai of Life With Lorelai

Katie of The Organized Dream ~ Amanda of The Kolb Corner ~ Marie of DIY Adulation

Megan of C’mon Get Crafty ~ Sara of Twelve On Main ~ Kim of Made in a Day

12 Days of Christmas Ideas – Christmas Printables

Day 9

Welcome, Marie from DIY Adulation.

The holidays can be crazy stressful. Between budgets, social obligations, and gifts it is no wonder that you are exhausted come Christmas day. One of the easiest ways to prevent holiday overwhelm is by utilizing free printables. Since I’m passionate about making your life even easier I’m helping you out by rounding up the best Christmas printables this year. These printables will have you covered from holiday parties to kids’ games.

These Christmas printables will have you covered from holiday parties to kids’ games. #twelvedaysofChristmas Click To Tweet

Photo Credit: Shirley (Intelligent Domestications)

Christmas Light Scavenger Hunt Game

If you are looking for a great way to connect with family over the holidays then this Christmas Light Scavenger Hunt Game from Shirley at Intelligent Domestications is perfect for you! Her family uses it to build up excitement before the big family Christmas but this would also be a great way to feel closer to family members that don’t live close. A fun variation on the game would be to create teams based on state. See what state is superior this season!

Deer Gift Tags

Don’t settle for boring gift tags this year. Instead, check out these Deer Gift Tags from Kim at Made in a Day. They are an easy and classic way to adorn your gifts while allowing you to keep track of recipients.

“Merry and Bright” Printable

Dress up your walls with simple and elegant Christmas décor like this “Merry and Bright” printable from Sara at Twelve on Main. This is a perfect fit for farmhouse décor or if you like clean lines for the season.

Photo Credit: Lorelai (Life with Lorelai)

Candy Cane Legend with Printables

I have always loved the Legend of the Candy Cane. It brings so much more meaning to a holiday staple. Get a free printable to attach to your candy canes this year with the Candy Cane Legend with Printables from Lorelai at Life with Lorelai.

Hipster Holiday Free Printable Gift Tags

If traditional isn’t really your style then you have to check out these Hipster Holiday Free Printable Gift Tags also from Kim at Made in a Day. These are so adorable I can promise you that anyone would love getting a gift adorned with one.

Letters to Santa

Make letters to Santa a breeze this year with the free printables from yours truly! Don’t worry. There is an option for older kids and another for non-writers. Let everyone get in on the fun and be prepared to chuckle at you children’s wants this year.

Free Rustic Christmas Party Printables

What if there was a printable set that made throwing your holiday party a breeze? These Free Rustic Christmas Party Printables from Emily at My Love for Words do just that. She seriously has you covered from wall invitations to décor. These are fabulous!

Christmas Guessing Game Printable

Get a fun and easy game to keep the kiddos entertained at your holiday party this year with this free Christmas Guessing Game Printable from Sarah at Must Have Mom. This is such a cute game that even you won’t mind playing a few rounds. This would also make an awesome Christmas-themed family game night.

Elf on the Shelf Report Card

Do you rock Elf on the Shelf during December? This Elf on the Shelf Report Card from Meagen at Just2Sisters is a fun addition for your tradition.

Advent Calendar

Advent Calendars do not have to be accompanied with gifts and sometimes we can forget that. If you’re just looking for a cute and decorative countdown to the holidays then this Advent Calendar from Amy at A Bird and a Bean is perfect. A modern design with two color options will keep the “When is Christmas?” whining at bay this year.

Buffalo Check Printable

I absolutely LOVE buffalo check around the holidays. Krista at the Happy Housie has me covered this year with a ton of color options for her gorgeous Buffalo Check Printable! There is seriously one to fit your décor no matter what your color scheme is.

Hot Cocoa Printable

Another fantastic treat for the season is indulging in hot chocolate. Whether you are hosting a holiday party or just enjoying a cozy night at home, this Hot Cocoa Printable from Lauren at Bless’er House is an adorable piece of décor to dress up your hot cocoa station.

Don’t let stress keep you from enjoying your holidays this year. Use these printables to totally rock the season. Don’t forget to check out all of the other amazing Christmas ideas and tips to make this the best holiday yet!

12 Days of Christmas Ideas – Day 9 – Christmas Printables! #12DaysOfChristmas #Christmas #Printables

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Thanks so much for joining us for the 12 Days of Christmas Ideas Blog Hop! If you missed any of our fun collections just see the links below!

Day 1 -Intelligent Domestications ~ Hilarious Christmas Party Games
Day 2 – My Pinterventures ~ The Best Homemade Christmas Food Gifts
Day 3 – The Crazy Organized Blog ~ Christmas Decoration Storage
Day 4 – Our Crafty Mom ~ Christmas Tablescapes for Every Style
Day 5 – The Tip Toe Fairy ~ DIY Christmas Card Holders
Day 6 – Life with Lorelai ~ Christmas Traditions
Day 7 – The Organized Dream ~ Fabulously Festive Gift Wrapping Ideas
Day 8 – The Kolb Corner ~ Handmade Christmas Ornaments
Day 9 – DIY Adulation ~ Christmas Printables (You’re here!)
Day 10 – C’mon Get Crafty ~ Ways to Make Christmas Magical for Kids
Day 11 – Twelve on Main ~ Christmas Mantels
Day 12 – Made In A Day ~ 12 Beautiful + Unique Holiday Wreaths

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5 Tips for Hosting a Stress-Free Family Christmas Party

Hosting a Family Christmas Party can be stressful. You want everything to be perfect, full of family tradition and holiday spirit in order to create those magical memories that will last a lifetime. So, we have some great tips and trick that will help you host a stress-free family Christmas Party. Of course, these tips will help in planning and in hosting any party!

5 Tips for Hosting a Stress-Free Family Christmas Party

With winter holidays straight ahead and drawing closer by the minute, we’re all looking forward to lip-smacking Christmas banquets and family reunions, right? Well, not exactly. Every time the season comes for Santa to slide down the chimney and deliver gifts, busy moms start bracing themselves for second helpings of stress and hard work required to host a pitch-perfect at-home Christmas celebration. Nevertheless, the fact that your whole family will be coming together to welcome Father Christmas in a few weeks’ time doesn’t have to be a source of angst or dread this time around. All you need to do is arm yourself with tried and tested tips on how to throw an unforgettable, stress-free Christmas party and act on them without delay.

1. Invitations Nobody Can Say No To

Before dashing off to decorate the dining table and whip up food for the Christmas party, pause for a second to do a brief guest count. Draw up the guest list and seating plan to make sure your party goes down without hitches or unpleasant guest table quibbles.

With the guest list in place, it’s time to send out invitations (preferably in the written, not digital form). You should send invites at least two weeks ahead of the celebration to allow your guests ample time to RVSP. Expert tip: be sure the invitations are so lovable your invitees can’t say No to them. If you hate the idea of DIY invitation crafting, you can find various printable Christmas party invites online. Use them to cheat your way to bonus party turnout.

2. Decide on the Food and Drink Menu

The next point on the stress-free Christmas party staging list, the choice of food and drinks you’ll serve your guests deserves an extra dose of attention. As a general rule, the party bar should contain both alcoholic and soft drinks, just to stay on the safe (and relatively sober) side of the dining table.

If possible, it would be a wise idea to check with the guests if they suffer from any food allergies or follow special diet plans: such a precious piece of info will help you stock the party table with delicacies all invitees will relish. If you don’t want to go through the food prep hassle, you can look up the offer of best finger food catering services in Melbourne and pick tasty bites that fit the party budget and your guests’ dietary preferences.

3. It’s Time to Dress Up the Party Venue

After you’ve sorted out the essentials for the Christmas party, you’ll need to dress the venue for the gathering. The rule of thumb here is that ornaments in red, gold, and green are best-suited to the biggest event of the winter season, but you can also use violet, blue, and orange details as accents.

To achieve a festive yet suave tablescape, you should bring out finest silverware and porcelain crockery: after all, Christmas is precisely the type of a special occasion that calls for such displays of elegance and luxury. For final touches, you can top the Christmas party table with fragrant candles, string lights nestled in jars, and a centerpiece in the form of an evergreen arrangement with red and white ribbon.

4. Devise a Fail-safe Entertainment Program

To keep boredom at bay and avoid awkward party silences, create a special playlist and pick a few games you and your guests will play after dinner. Christmas Carol Pictionary, white elephant gift exchange, and other themed games are a great entertainment choice, but you can also opt for non-Christmassy activities if your party crowd isn’t exactly a major fan of traditional festive amusement.

As far as music is concerned, you shouldn’t leave out Christmas melodies from the playlist, but you can structure it around handpicked non-seasonal tunes such as jazz, blues, R&B, and classic rock. Expert tip: melodies that make your guests’ ears prick up and set the mood to merry are a good choice of music for the Christmas party.

5. Party Favors, the Hospitable Hosts’ Way

No Christmas party is complete without gifts, but the Christmas tree shouldn’t be the only place for your guests to find tokens of appreciation, caring, and love. To bring home the medal as the most hospitable host ever, make cute party favors before the big event which you’ll place at the dining table.

Gingerbread cookies, lollies, tree ornaments, and chocolates in Christmas wrappers are just the tip of the party favor iceberg. If you want to go pro with the Christmas party staging, you can present the guests with personalized favors such as swag bags, printed mugs with funny slogans, spa and massage coupons, and creative cookie tins or favor bags which you can order online for bonus stress-free party organization.

No fret, no fuss – Host a Stress-free Family Christmas Party with these 5 tips! #Christmas #Party

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All set? Don’t forget to put on your finest party clothes, don a wide smile, and have tons of fun –after all, joy, laughter, love, sharing, and positive mood are the whole point of winter holidays. Enjoy your family Christmas party to the fullest. Merry Christmas!

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Christmas Tablescape Ideas – 12 Days of Christmas – Day 4

You are going to love this round-up of festive Christmas Tablescape Ideas. There’s something for every style from the 12 Days of Christmas Ideas Blog Hop. Don’t miss a single day — they are all different and promise tons of holiday cheer and inspiration! Enjoy…

Join us for the 12 Days of Christmas Ideas Series along with eleven other talented bloggers. We’ve rounded up the best of the best Christmas ideas to make your holiday season more festive and fun.

Meet The Hostesses

Shirley of Intelligent Domestications ~ Erlene of My Pinterventures ~ Lindsay of Crazy Organized

Michelle of Our Crafty Mom ~ Stephanie of The Tip Toe Fairy ~ Lorelai of Life With Lorelai

Katie of The Organized Dream ~ Amanda of The Kolb Corner ~ Marie of DIY Adulation

Megan of C’mon Get Crafty ~ Sara of Twelve On Main ~ Kim of Made in a Day

This post contains affiliate links. This means if you click the link and buy something, I may receive a percentage of sales at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting Our Crafty Mom!

IT’S DAY FOUR AND WE’RE SHARING

12 Christmas Tablescape Ideas For Every Style

Welcome, Michelle from Our Crafty Mom.

I love to decorate a pretty table as so many of you do. It really is fun to see the different decorating styles that people have and how they decorate their tables for Christmas. Today I am not only sharing my Christmas Tablescape, but 11 other beautiful tablescapes in different styles so you have plenty of options for your own Christmas Tablescape. I would classify my style as Rustic Glam which basically means lots of glitz and glam!

Our Crafty Mom-Silver & Gold Christmas Tablescape

Up To Date Interiors Feminine Christmas Table

The Crazy Organized Blog-Christmas Tablescape

Twelve On Main-Farmhouse Christmas Dining Room

Sondra Lyn At Home Merry & Toile Tablescape

Monica Wants It All-Black, White, Gold & Red Tablescape

Pink Fortitude-Rustic Christmas Tablescape

CCMcAfee Perspective-Christmas Home Tour

Pink Peppermint Design-How To Set A Beautiful Christmas Tablescape

Windgate Lane-Home For The Holidays

A Purdy Little House-Christmas Tablescape

C’mon Get Crafty-A Simple Christmas Tablescape

12 Days of Christmas Blog Hop-Day 4 Christmas Tablescapes from Our Crafty Mom

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Thanks so much for joining us for the 12 Days of Christmas Blog Hop!

Happy Holidays!!!

12 Days of Christmas Ideas – Day 4 – Christmas Tablescapes! #12DaysOfChristmas #Christmas #Tablescapes

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Thanks so much for joining us for the 12 Days of Christmas Ideas Blog Hop! If you missed any of our fun collections just see the links below!

Day 1 -Intelligent Domestications ~ Hilarious Christmas Party Games
Day 2 – My Pinterventures ~ The Best Homemade Christmas Food Gifts
Day 3 – The Crazy Organized Blog ~ Christmas Decoration Storage
Day 4 – Our Crafty Mom ~ Christmas Tablescapes for Every Style (You’re here!)
Day 5 – The Tip Toe Fairy ~ DIY Christmas Card Holders
Day 6 – Life with Lorelai ~ Christmas Traditions
Day 7 – The Organized Dream ~ Fabulously Festive Gift Wrapping Ideas
Day 8 – The Kolb Corner ~ Handmade Christmas Ornaments
Day 9 – DIY Adulation ~ Christmas Printables
Day 10 – C’mon Get Crafty ~ Ways to Make Christmas Magical for Kids
Day 11 – Twelve on Main ~ Christmas Mantels
Day 12 – Made In A Day ~ 12 Beautiful + Unique Holiday Wreaths

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Leave me a comment… I’d love to hear from you!

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~Lorelai

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Decor Storage – 12 Days of Christmas – Days 3

Today, we’re talking organization and Christmas Decoration Storage at the 12 Days of Christmas Ideas Blog Hop with a group of fantastic bloggers. You are going to love all of the Christmas goodness that is headed your way over the next several days. Don’t miss a single day — they are all different and promise tons of holiday cheer and inspiration! Enjoy…

Join us for the 12 Days of Christmas Ideas Series along with eleven other talented bloggers. We’ve rounded up the best of the best Christmas ideas to make your holiday season more festive and fun.

Meet The Hostesses

Shirley of Intelligent Domestications ~ Erlene of My Pinterventures ~ Lindsay of Crazy Organized

Michelle of Our Crafty Mom ~ Stephanie of The Tip Toe Fairy ~ Lorelai of Life With Lorelai

Katie of The Organized Dream ~ Amanda of The Kolb Corner ~ Marie of DIY Adulation

Megan of C’mon Get Crafty ~ Sara of Twelve On Main ~ Kim of Made in a Day

12 Days of Christmas Ideas

Creative Christmas Decoration Storage Ideas

Welcome, Lindsay from The Crazy Organized Blog.

It’s day three of the 12 Days of Christmas Ideas Series and it’s my turn to share! Since I’m a sucker for a great organizing solution, I’m sharing the 12 Most Creative Christmas Decoration Storage Ideas on the web!

Thanks so much for joining us for the 12 Days of Christmas Ideas Blog Hop! If you missed any of our fun collections just see the links below!

Day 1 -Intelligent Domestications ~ Hilarious Christmas Party Games
Day 2 – My Pinterventures ~ The Best Homemade Christmas Food Gifts
Day 3 – The Crazy Organized Blog ~ Christmas Decoration Storage (You’re Here!)
Day 4 – Our Crafty Mom ~ Christmas Tablescapes for Every Style
Day 5 – The Tip Toe Fairy ~ DIY Christmas Card Holders
Day 6 – Life with Lorelai ~ Christmas Traditions
Day 7 – The Organized Dream ~ Fabulously Festive Gift Wrapping Ideas
Day 8 – The Kolb Corner ~ Handmade Christmas Ornaments
Day 9 – DIY Adulation ~ Christmas Printables
Day 10 – C’mon Get Crafty ~ Ways to Make Christmas Magical for Kids
Day 11 – Twelve on Main ~ Christmas Mantels
Day 12 – Made In A Day ~ 12 Beautiful + Unique Holiday Wreaths

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Share using our Hashtag!

Leave me a comment… I’d love to hear from you!

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~Lorelai

Sign up today, and don't miss anything! Enjoy EXCLUSIVES, FREEBIES, and FUN.

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Contact Lorelai at Lorelai@LifeWithLorelai.com

DIY – Not-So-Wicked Sign

Regular Contributor, Deborah Ward, has done it again! She’s brought us a fantastically fun Halloween DIY project that will make you giddy with ghoulish delight. Enjoy!

DIY Not-So-Wicked Sign

A Ghoulishly Delightful Halloween Project

While I would never label myself as cheap, I don’t really enjoy spending excess money on stuff that I don’t absolutely have to have. I guess you can call me frugal. However, I really want to have a nicely decorated home when the Holidays roll around. Hmmm…what’s a girl to do? Shop sales and think creatively, of course!

Every year I set a specific budget to purchase new decorations. Since that budget is somewhat low, I try to find things I can make myself using craft supplies I already have. As a result, I was able to make this adorable “Wicked” sign for around $5. You can’t find a completed sign this cute for $5 in a store! If you are buying all of your supplies for the first time, expect to pay more, but this can still be a cheap craft.

I found this cute little cardboard sign at a popular nationwide craft store. It retailed for $9.95, but was on sale for half price. They also had others that said things like, “Trick or Treat.”

Something (not so) Wicked This Way Comes! #Halloween #DIY project – a ghoulishly delightful sign.

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What You’ll Need:

Cardboard sign (OR…You can get super crafty and make one out of wood)
Acrylic paint (one color to compliment the paper you will use)
Cardstock (one piece for each letter)
Craft glue (the kind you can use as a glue and sealant)
Scissors
Ribbon, Twine, Wire (Whatever you want to use for the bow and to hang it)
Hot glue and Hot glue gun

Step One:

The first thing you’ll need to do is give your sign a nice coat of paint. Front, back, top, bottom, sides, and inside. Allow to dry thoroughly.

Step Two:

After the paint has completely dried, grab your first sheet of cardstock, and flip it over so that you only see the back side of the paper. Then, place the front side of the sign down on top of the paper. So, basically, it’s like you are looking at the sign from the back. With a pencil, trace the letter on to the paper, and then, cut it out. Set aside and continue with the other letters.

Step Three:

Now that you have your letters cut out, one at a time spread glue on to the sign, and place your cut out paper pieces on top. When you have all letters glued down, allow to dry, then spread a liberal (but not too thick) layer of glue on top, paying close attention to the places where each letter connects. Set aside to dry completely.

Step Four:

To make the bow pictured above, I used three different things: white tulle, black ribbon, and orange twine. Take the ends of each element you are using and hold them together in your hand. Measure out how much you want to use. For a thin bow, use less. For a fuller bow, use more. I used approximately three feet.

Holding the ends together, start looping the ribbons (like you would an extension cord) so that you have a circle about 5-inches or 6-inches wide. Holding the center tight, tie and knot a piece of ribbon to secure it. Fluff out the ends to achieve the desired look.

Step Five:

Now that you have all of your elements ready to go, plug in your hot glue gun. Once hot, place a dollop of glue down where you want your bow to go. For fun, I cut six, 6-inch long pieces of colored craft wire to go below the bow. I carefully placed the wire into the hot glue. Then, add another small dollop of glue, and press your bow down on top of it. Allow to dry.

Measure out another piece of ribbon or twine about 12-inches long. Once dried, flip the sign over, and decide exactly where you want to place your hanger ribbon. Add some hot glue, press the ribbon into it, and then, add a top layer of hot glue. Do this to both sides. Allow to completely dry before hanging.

Re-fluff the bow, curl up the wire a little, and display your new sign proudly! Having cute decorations in your home doesn’t have to cost you a fortune. If you are willing, the only real cost is your time.

Get Wickedly Crafty with this adorable handmade sign. #Halloween #DIY #Craft

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Here are a couple of other ideas for Halloween decorations on a budget:

Dollar Tree Wreaths

Halloween Decorations on a Budget

Visit Deborah at her blog, Kentucky to Cali!

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~Lorelai

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Easter Mantle Decor 2015

Easter Mantle 2015

My life during the past two weeks has been turned upside down, literally. Rory and I are having to move out of our home. A home in which, I grew up, and have lived raising my children for the past almost 23 years.

So, yesterday, when I was moving boxes of holiday decorations, I came across some of my Easter things. It was just what I needed. The happy Springy decorations put a smile on my face, and reminded me of the many blessings that we do have. Luke was gracious enough to let me festoon his mantle…

Those are real roses from the yard. I love how they grew with a curve… perfect for my mantle display. I know I’ll have to change these out, but I love the way they look right now.

I just love vintage Victoriana!

These little egg-shaped boxes with their vintage images are fun to decorate with.

Some cute little Easter train pieces…

Beaded and Glittered Easter Eggs…

This lovely Easter Wreath was a clearance sale find at Armstrong Nursery last year just before Easter. Rory and I couldn’t resist the $12 price tag! It is what I have always been on the look-out for–beautiful pastel colors, glittery shine, and simple. I think it’s gorgeous.

Every time I see this mantle it lifts my spirits, and a little stress flies from my shoulders. I hope you have enjoyed my Easter Mantle 2015 too.

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How do you decorate for Easter?

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Do you have any favorite Easter decorations?

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Leave me a comment… I’d love to hear from you!

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~Lorelai

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Holiday Sidebar – Valentine’s Day 2015

Holiday Sidebar Decorations

Valentine’s Day 2015

You have seen my sidebar all decked out for Christmas with its snowy lighted village and mistletoe stick here. But I wanted to share with you my holiday sidebar decor for Valentine’s Day. I had so much fun putting it all together. I even created a special PRINTABLE frame that you can Download for FREE.

So, here it is…

The Valentine’s Day Holiday Sidebar

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Here’s what we’ve got going.

Above the Sidebar:

A Victorian Valentine wood plaque with a red rose heart wreath hanging below.

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The Sidebar Centerpiece:

I have been using this centerpiece for probably 15 years or more…yes with the same conversation hearts! I double bag the hearts in zipper-lock bags for storage. This is always a fun decoration, and brings lots of fun conversation each year. This year I set it on my new red charger plate.

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The Chalkboard:

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The Birdcage Candle Holder:

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The Flower Vases:

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The Valentine Pedestal Frame:

I really had a great time creating this photo graphic for the frame. You can Download the FREE PRINTABLE frame and add your own pictures to it for a special Valentine of your own.

Here’s a picture of the free printable:

Download FREE Printable here.

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I balanced out the sidebar and added a couple of Valentine candy dishes. I hope you enjoy it, as much as I loved decorating the Holiday Sidebar.

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How do you like to decorate for Valentine’s Day?

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Do you have any traditional decorations?

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Leave me a comment… I’d love to hear from you!

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~Lorelai

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~Lorelai

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Halloween Night 2014

Happy Halloween!

Hope you all had a wonderful fun-filled Halloween Night 2014.

Halloween Night 2014 was one of the best Halloweens ever! We had such an awesome time last night with our trick-or-treaters. The jack-o’-lanterns were a huge success. Neighbors were telling neighbors and sending them over to see it all. Our yard was the ultimate photo spot for the evening.

Here’s what the house looked like…

My neighbor gave me this gorgeous antique Victorian loveseat and two matching chairs this past Monday. It was perfect for relaxing in the courtyard and greeting our Halloween guests, and it really set the tone for our Halloween Night 2014. Luke drilled holes in my little black cauldron, so I could use my hanging plant stand for our candy.

We had tons of fun decorating for Halloween… here’s what the front of the house looked like.

Luke made special shelves for displaying my pumpkins. They attached to the wrought iron of the brick wall, and are completely reusable for next year!

We recycled these concrete bench legs from our DIY Courtyard Project as Pumpkin Pedestals. They really added a Gothic feel.

The pumpkin shelves were nearly invisible. It was such a cool look.

Everyone wanted to get up close and personal with the jack-o’-lanterns. To complete the mood for the evening, we had a collection of 23 versions of Grim Grinning Ghosts playing in the background. The music almost made the Singing Graveyard Busts come to life. All in all, it was a super fun Halloween Night 2014!