
For the first time ever I've bought and decorated a Christmas tree. It was all quite fun even though I probably didn't actually have time to work on it. Oh well, we have been enjoying the scent and the festive decorations. Even though for 11 years at Martha Stewart Living I decorated countless trees, hand crafting hundreds of ornaments (double sided by the way, in case they spun around at shoot time) I never felt like expending the energy to do my own. It felt like work. Since I know longer am crafting Christmas for a living, I thought this should be the year to start. And that we finally have a proper living room! So here it is, I didn't want to do anything breakable because of the cat so I just went with paper and straw. Maggie is finding all the dangly sparkly stringy things VERY hard to resist. I picked up some ornaments at Ikea and then made a few, and used my sewn paper garland.
A few handmade paper ornaments. The 3D balls I did in MSL ages ago, based on an idea my grandma always did.

I had always wanted to try these German stars but had heard they were very tricky. I used a YouTube video and it worked great for a topper. Or Ikea sells them for $2.99 for a 6 pack, which is so cheap!

And finally a few holiday decorations. I made 4 candles into a advent wreath, although I guess it's actually four little wreaths. Each Sunday we light a candle until Christmas.

I hope everyone is taking time to enjoy the holidays and getting some decorating done!