Thursday, December 6, 2012

DIY Christmas Ideas + A Giveaway

**This is a sponsored post for 3M via Digital Parents Collective
As always, all opinions are my own.**

I love Christmas and I absolutely love decorating for Christmas!! All year round I pin ideas and count down the days until I can crack out the decorations :).

This year I was planning a really rustic and nature inspired Christmas, but with a new baby, a full on three year old and my little shop keeping me busy I ended up with a mix of last years beachy decorations and some new (handmade) rustic ones. The end result is a fresh, fun and laid back Christmas style.

The biggest change this year is that I let Sean and Max decorate the tree. Those of you that know me well will know that is a *really* big deal. I'm normally an absolute control freak when it comes to decorating! They did a really good job though and watching them work together to decorate the tree was absolutely priceless.







You might notice the shell and starfish garland from Max's party is still hanging along the window. It looked perfect with the blues, whites and silvers of the Christmas tree so I decided to keep it up. I hung it using the small 3M command clear hooks. I love that they're completely clear (including the pull down tab), when you stand back you can't even see the hooks, so the focus stays on the garland.


My favourite decoration this year is a rustic burlap and linen wreath that I DIYed. I've been wanting to make one ever since I saw this post, and I'm so glad that I finally got around to it. The wreath makes me smile every time I walk up to the front door! It was super easy to make too.


I started out with a 15 inch foam wreath form, some soft burlap, off-white linen, scissors, hot glue and a paint-brush.


I cut my fabric until little squares, mine were each about 4cm square.



 

To make the wreath I folded each piece of fabric over the end of the paintbrush, added a dab of hot glue to the end and then poked it about one cm into the wreath.





Then I kept going until the entire wreath was covered (with a few breaks along the way to feed Lincoln, my very hungry 5.2 kilo monster baby!!). I love how it turned out!

To hang the wreath I hot glued a long ribbon onto the back of it. The using a small command clear hook (upside down on the back of the door) I looped the ribbon up over the top of the door and then tied it to the hook. Once I was happy with the height it was hanging at I added a sheer silver ribbon over the top of the hook. The 3M hooks are absolutely perfect for using on my big timber door, when it's time to take the wreath down the hook comes off cleanly without taking any of the finish with it. An absolute must in my opinion... I cannot imagine having to re-stain the door, it would be an epic task!










To finish off my decorating I decided to tackle another DIY that I originally saw on pinterest. Using my 3M hooks I made a string tree in our (previously very bare) entry way.



At the point of each 'branch' I used a small command clear hook and then I hung each of the decorations using the decorating clips. I filled the tree with a collection of small baubles and handmade decorations. It was so much fun to make and I love how it fills up my entryway with festive cheer! This is another DIY that I wouldn't have considered with out the 3M hooks, I love that I can put the decorations up without a single nail hole in the wall. Once the 1st of January rolls around you won't even know the string tree was there!

For the DIY decorations I used a combination of these pinwheels that I first saw over at Ella Claire, these ornaments that I debuted over at Chibi Run and the star topper is just made from cardboard, scored and folded and then spray painted silver.





So there you have it, my Christmas decorating done and dusted!

The 3M hooks that I used for my decorating are available in a range of sizes suitable for different weights – including the Mini, Small and Medium hooks as well as the Utensil and Decorating Clips priced from $6.99 (RRP). To see how easily they come off the wall check out this quick 1 minute youtube video (it even has a super cute decorating idea included!).


You can buy command clear hooks at all leading supermarkets and retail outlets across Australia. Or.... you can enter my giveaway and score yourself one of 5 prize packs valued at $36.35 (total value of over $180!).

All you have to do to enter is tell me in 25 words or less what your favourite style of Christmas decorating is. The winners will be drawn at 5pm on the 13th of December and entry is open to all Australian residents. The winners will be contacted by email and have 48 hours to respond, so please make sure your comment links to your email address (or include it along with your comment).  {This giveaway has now closed. Thank you to everyone who entered, the winners will be announced shortly.}

Good luck and happy decorating!!

(If you would like to see my decorating from previous years you can click here, here and here.)










50 comments

  1. Love your string tree... Wish I had a wall to do it on.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Marlys, I'm really happy with how it came together :)

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  2. From the outside to the inside of my house, My Christmas Style is Colorfully Cheerful. Christmas colors abound throughout making it cheerful and bright.

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  3. That wreath is gorgeous and that string tree is absolutely adorable! Love the light and airy feel of your Christmas decor!

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    1. Thanks so much Laura, it's so hot here that it feels good to keep it light and airy :)

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  4. My Christmas decorating style would be
    Bright, colourful, a little quirky
    Those that know me would surely agree
    My style sounds like I'm describing me!

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  5. I love modern classic... modern, clean lines with traditional colors and not cluttered at all.

    jessicarwarfield at gmail dot com

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  6. I like traditional reds and greens with a rustic look so lots of my decorations seem to be made from wood or metal this year. I have a real (small) tree inside which tops off the look. I also love adding a little Christmas to every room by placing decorations and ornaments in nooks and crannies around the house.

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  7. Love it! My decorating style is to do what you do but one year later and hope no one notices. Clearly not working this year!

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  8. I love your tree skirt! It's so beautiful! I should probably make some of those pinwheels and use them as garland. They are awesome.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Amber, I whipped that one up last year after seeing it on Pinterest. It took me hours and about 50 glue sticks, definitely worth it though!

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  9. Beautiful! I am your newest follower. I would love for you to follow me back and share this at my link party. I also have an awesome blog design giveaway going on too!
    http://www.blissfulbucketlist.com/2012/12/flaunt-it-friday-24-blog-design-giveaway.html

    Sarah@
    www.blissfulbucketlist.com

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Sarah, I love the giveaway your currently hosting!

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  10. im a matching colours person it sad but true red, silver and gold with background of white and green.
    operationhotmother@hellokitty.com

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  11. Handmade, old, lots of memories, treasured Christmas ornaments are my favourite decorations!!

    Kim m
    galwayst@hotmail.com

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    Replies
    1. My Mum's tree is like that Kim full of handmade and one-off ornaments that have been collected over the years. I love it!

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  12. Hi Tamsyn,
    I love that wreath but it must have taken hours. Looks stunning.
    Kylie x

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    Replies
    1. Thanks so much Kylie! I did take a while, but it was totally worth it :)

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  13. My maiden name was 'Snow' so I base all my Christmas style on snowflakes and snowmen. Corny but pretty fun!

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  14. Love the wreath! So effective. I plan on getting my 2 year old to help with the tree next year- this year he was too focussed on eating the gingerbread cookie decorations.

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    1. It's so much fun once they start to 'help out', although I'm sure if I had gingerbread cookies on offer Max would have preferred those too :)

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  15. Over the top with decorations and my 2m tall Christmas tree will be camouflaging the presents. :)

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    Replies
    1. Oh my goodness, I would love to have a tree that tall!

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  16. There's no one style here, but one thing MUST be... We love having a fine-smelling, bud-lit REAL CHRISTMAS TREE!

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  17. I love decorating with my kids' arts and crafts!

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    Replies
    1. I always said I wouldn't decorate with daggy kids Christmas craft, but then the first year that Max made some I had them proudly on display the minute he handed them to me!

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  18. My style is hanging things high up so the two little terrors cant touch them!! arballantyne@dodo.com.au

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  19. My Christmas decorating style,
    is designed to give my children a smile.
    Festivities blend with cartoon cats and men
    like Wiggles, Hello Kitty, Dora and Ben 10.

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    Replies
    1. I love that you keep the kids interests in the mix :)

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  20. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  21. My style is minimalist.

    But my partner & kids prefer Clark Griswold "Bring down the power grid with the Christmas lights" style

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  22. I love a trash n treasure tree, filled with homemade decorations from myself and my kidlets. Every decoration has a memory and feeling attached!

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    1. That would make for such a beautiful and meaningful tree Elise :)

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  23. My favourite style is red, green and gold tinsel on the tree with lots of gold baubles and gold reindeer decorations around the house!

    djchilds@hotmail.com

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    1. There's nothing else quite like a traditional Christmas theme :)

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  24. I love picking a theme of two colours to focus the decorations on each year! I also love the look on the kids faces when the lights go on for the first time.

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    Replies
    1. Me too with the lights, Max asks me to turn them on each night as soon as it starts getting dark!

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  25. Tamsyn I've just discovered your lovely blog! I'm in love with your Christmas wreath :) Thanks for sharing your ideas! I'm going to get making!

    Sophie xo

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