Add Christmas Cookie Cutter Cheer to Kitchen

Add Christmas Cookie Cutter Cheer to Kitchen

Dashing to send off a post today as I continue to deck the halls, craft, bake and prepare to celebrate the holidays. Happily, the shopping, wrapping and cards are finished. How about you?

hanging-Christmas-cookie-cutter-gingerbread-man

When I first began collecting large Christmas cookie cutters, the plan was to decorate whimsical cookies — wrapped in cellophane bags — as table favors. Instead, for several consecutive years, I gave duplicates as Christmas gifts to family and friends. I imagined they (or one day I) would bake giant cutouts for a cookie decorating activity with kids or grandkids.

Fast forward, and I’ve finally gotten to a decorating idea that’s been in my noggin for several years — hanging the oversized holiday cookie cutters on my upper kitchen cabinets.

Not that it was a difficult project to do. But, it did mean finding extra time to get organized and put them together. Last year, I was wearing a giant boot and getting around on crutches, so there was no climbing on a stepstool to hang them!

Let me show you my Christmas cookie cutter collection, and how festive they look decorating the kitchen.

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Craft Marbleized Pumpkins Using Nail Polish

Craft Marbleized Pumpkins Using Nail Polish

Just a quick post today to share my latest marbleized pumpkin project before I pack them up for our holiday trip across the state.

blue-marbleized-pumpkins-group

This second group of decorated pumpkins were made as a gift for our youngest son, who is hosting Thanksgiving at his 101 year-old, Philadelphia row house. D had planned to have everybody last year, but the pandemic upended our plans.

Originally, I envisioned arranging the marbleized pumpkins as part of the Thanksgiving centerpiece on this year’s table. They were meant to compliment another gift — a blue table runner appliqued with pumpkins and gourds in shades and patterns of gray.

I gave them a trial run in my dining room for the Liberty Blue Thanksgiving Table & Turkey Napkins. But, the blues and styles of the marbleized pumpkins didn’t “play nice” together with the runner and vintage dishes. So I pulled the pumpkins from the centerpiece and went another direction for the tablescape blog hop.

However, I still think several small groupings of the seven pie and faux marbleized pumpkins will look festive with our son’s midcentury modern furnishings. Blue and metallic silver and gray colors, should go nicely with his home’s decorator accents in dark navy and deep golden yellow shades.

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Modern Style, Fall Floral & Twig Wreath

Modern Style, Fall Floral & Twig Wreath

Sharing the decorative floral and twig wreath I made as a housewarming gift for my eldest son.

We’ve just returned from helping him with a big move.

After many years living in the Upper East Side of Manhattan, R decided it was time to move out of NYC. He relocated across the river to charming Hoboken, New Jersey.

Both he and his girlfriend will continue working in Times Square and One World Trade Center (formerly the Freedom Tower). R returned to work full-time at his company’s headquarters back in May. While V is still working a hybrid model; going into the office a couple of days each week.

So as to not spoil the housewarming gift surprise, I’ve had to keep their twig wreath under wraps.

Suitable to display throughout the fall season — September through Thanksgiving — it’s different than any wreath I’ve ever made before, with a modern vibe and sculptural style.

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DIY Fall Decor: Grapevine Cornucopia Wreath

DIY Fall Decor: Grapevine Cornucopia Wreath

With Thanksgiving coming up, I thought I’d share the bountiful cornucopia wreath I made as a hostess gift. After all, ’tis the season for being grateful!

fall-seasonal-cornucopia-gravevine-wreath

Sometimes project and design inspiration comes from an unexpected find.

While shopping for craft supplies at Michaels, I spotted it — a grapevine wreath ring with an incorporated cornucopia basket.

Initially, I was there looking for a few faux florals and leaf clusters to fill-in and finish the mesh and ribbon DIY Dollar Tree Pumpkin Truck Fall Wreath.

But then I discovered the grapevine wreath! I instantly knew it was a have-to-do project, and creative gears began spinning in my brain. So, I quickly grabbed one of only three forms off the rack and put it into the cart.

Right away I decided it’d make the perfect thank you gift for relatives who were hosting us at their lovely home in Northern Virginia. Because of the pandemic, it had been a very long 13 months since we’d seen each other. We were suppose to spend last Thanksgiving with them. So, I couldn’t be more happy and grateful to be together!

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Easily Marble Pumpkins for Fall & Table Decor

Easily Marble Pumpkins for Fall & Table Decor

Today, I’m sharing how I made the marble pumpkins included in the Gone Batty, Black and Purple Halloween Table centerpiece.

Halloween-centerpiece-marbled-white-purple-pumpkin

During the fall season, I am always impressed and intrigued by the wide variety of crafted or decorated pumpkins, shared both online and in magazines. Much of the inspiration comes from fellow blogger friends and link-up parties.

They can be carved or embellished real pumpkins, or faux gourds made of fabrics like velvet and flannel. Some are crocheted or knit from yarn. While others are weaved and twisted from twine or other materials

In years past, I’ve created several styles of my own faux pumpkins, using a variety of techniques. Like the marble pumpkins, they were crafted to incorporate in either Halloween, fall or Thanksgiving vignettes and centerpieces. Some did double-duty as table favors for dinner guests.

First, were Easy to Make Fall Decor: Sweater Pumpkins. They were made by recycling a favorite but worn sweater and socks. Later, DIY Eerie, Elegant Black Pumpkin Decor were embellished with everything from eyeballs, to lace to old rhinestone jewelry. Can you guess how and what I used as “paint” to marble pumpkins?

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DIY Dollar Tree Pumpkin Truck Fall Wreath

DIY Dollar Tree Pumpkin Truck Fall Wreath

Kicking off the season with a new fall wreath. It’s actually one of two I made recently as gifts for family members.

As regular followers know, I love crafting holiday, seasonal and party decorations — wreaths and door hangings in particular! Because of that, my home is decorated to the nines and there is simply no more display space, or room to store them.

For several years, I sold my creations via DebbeesBuzzBoutique. Last fall, however, I decided to close the Etsy shop. Offering domestic free shipping and packaging became prohibitive for a small time operation like mine. Add to that the pandemic and foot surgery curtailing shopping for supplies, and it just didn’t make sense anymore.

Instead, over the past year I’ve made wreaths for family or friends; either as gifts or by special request.

Let me show you how to make a pumpkin truck wreath in seven easy steps, using some inexpensive materials found at Dollar Tree.

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