Sunday, November 23, 2008

Doncha Wish Your Garland was Hot Like Me!

"Doncha wish your garland was a freak like me?


Doncha!?"


Those are the only two lines I know so I just kept singing them over and and over for the two hours it took me to put this lovely mess together. That one red leaf is bugging me, too. I'm going to pluck it out.


I was peer-pressured into getting a jump start on Christmas this year by my decorating friends. And the Nester was kind enough to put up a tutorial on how to turn 4 strands of that wimpy $1.99 garland and other stuff I already had into this garland. My only expense ($5) was all the grassy, feathery stuff which I picked up at 90% off at Hobby Lobby.


That picture will come down and be replaced by a big wreath. And I plan to put some bows on each end of the garland.

Two questions:

Those are my year 'round urns and I am aware that they are starting to look tired. I'll get to that after Christmas. In the meantime, should I leave them on the mantle or is it too much with the garland?

Any ideas about what I can use to camouflage the fishing wire that's holding the middle up? You can see it in the first picture.

UPDATE:

The Pussycat Dolls are trashy! You already knew that, huh? Imagine my surprise when my sweet little nine-year-old niece rambled off the names of the PD songs that she likes. They failed the chaste test when we tried to watch one of their videos on You Tube and we had to turn it off because those innocent eyes were entrusted to me for the afternoon. Apparently I've been under a rock for the last five years.

This here garland, though, it's family friendly! Thanks for the comments and compliments! I took the advice and made some changes.

I'll be putting the wreath and the pictures of Only Child up after Thanksgiving. But the garland is finished! (I raided all the arrangements in the house to find more stuff to stick in to there.) I can't promise I'll stop messing with it, but here it is.

Let me come over and help with yours?

21 comments:

jmt said...

I'm sooooo not a decorator!! Decorater? See, I can't even spell it with certainty....good luck. It sounds like you have lots of crafty peeps at your disposal. :)

The Nester said...

Yes I wish my garland was hot like yours. Only hot in the good looking sense. Not on fire.

IT LOOKS GREAT!!!!

And I love that you spent only a few $$ and used what you had!!!

For the wire--raise your garland up to that point! No big deal but that will add more height to the garland anyhow and should look fine. I know that you are thinking that is above your mantel but, the nature of the garland is so thick that it shouldn't matter! So I would just adjust that wire so that the garland comes all the way up to where it's attached to the wall.

Heck, I'd wrap a piece of garland around that nail or whatever is securing the wire! Extra insurance that it won't fall!

Great job honey!!! Love the feathers!

American Homemaker said...

I'd take the urns down for Christmas. The garland and a wreath would be simple and pretty. And yes... your garland is hot :)

Girly Stuff said...

Your garland is hot! Nice and "phat"! I like the red thing.

The urns will be a bit much once the wreath is up. You need some apothecary jars full of ornaments instead. And some cute pics of Only Child at Christmas up there.

I couldn't see the fishing line. Could you stick some feathery stuff to cover it or weave some greenery around it?

chiara said...

Agree with GS about the urns. I think there's a lot going on and probably would find them a new home.

Fishing wire... more garland would work. Or cinch it up closer to the wall and fluff up the garland to cover it up.

Looks great, by the way. I wish we had Hobby Lobby over here in California.

American Homemaker said...

I'm glad you like my recipes :) I'm all about simple, easy and delicious. I don't mind if you blog about them. Those pumpkin-oreo muffins were great, weren't they? I've made them a couple of times and everyone that has tried them has loved them.

Michelle said...

The garland is beautiful but I agree with the others that said to remove the urns. BTW/you did a great job!

Unknown said...

Wow! You are QUICK! I read Nester too, and have been wokring on my version of her tutorial, but it may take me awhile to complete it!

Anyway, I think your garland is fantastic.

Oh, and I think I will have that little garland tune in my head all. day. long....

Happy Wednesday!

TupeloLove said...

That garland is awesome!! You're a total pro, I would hire you to do mine if I were rich! I am hoping to have mine come out halfway decent, so thank you for some inspiration!

Stacey @ The Blessed Nest said...

HI! Saw you were featured at Nesting Place, and wanted to tell you how pretty your garland looks :)!!

Chris said...

I love it! It's absolutely gorgeous! Looks like you already took the urns down, and I love the candlesticks in their place!

Jen - Balancing Beauty and Bedlam said...

Yea - it LOOK HOT, and yes, I wish mine were, but it's not, so I'll wish. :)

Thrifty Decor Chick said...

You're title had me cracking up!! I think this is beautiful and love the candlesticks with it! Great job!

Girly Stuff said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Megan said...

Very nice... you put my non-garland trimmed mantle to shame!!

CMB said...

Found you through the nester's party...your garland looks great...love the artichokes!

Amber B. said...

That looks great! You did a great job with the feathers and all. I still haven't figured out how to do that well.

Lamp Tramp said...

That is really beautiful, you did an exquisite job!
Lamp Tramp

Marci @All Things Wonderful said...

It's beautiful!

The Style Sisters said...

Nice job on the garland. I love the artichokes. Very unique and fun.

Unknown said...

Your garland is AMAZING! You did a GREAT job on it!

You are hilarious with the song!