Traditionally, my family has always had a Christmas feast on the night before Christmas, so tonight, the dining table must be merry and bright. For my Christmas decor, glittered pinecones are the stars of the show as they drip from the chandelier above our table. On the body of the chandelier are silvery green leaves and swags of ivory ribbon cradling larger glittered pinecones.
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If I've spent the time to find the perfect gift, I want to give that gift the perfect wrapping. And it all starts with the wrapping paper! For a blank slate, I love to use brown wrapping paper...it allows me to create designs directly onto the paper, emboss stamps or drawings, and add virtually any color ribbon or accoutrement I desire. Here are simple DIY directions for wrapping the perfect gift:
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As with most things in Nora's Nest, I'm always searching for nature-inspired, glamorous ways of approaching decor and lifestyle. Christmas gift wrapping is no different! This Christmas time, I was inspired by the usual suspects: pinecones, pine-needles, and holly for nature, and glitter, satin, and silver bells for glamour. I've created three lovely gift wrapping ideas to give your Christmas presents an extra punch of natural-glam. Using brown wrapping paper (or brown butcher paper) as a neutral base for all three gifts, the wrapping world is your oyster!
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DIY instructions on how to make a Silver Holly Garland
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I love making beautiful Christmas decorations that can be used year after year. This year, I made glittered star garlands that adorn my antique mirrors, trying to replicate the vintage glass chard ornaments I often find in antique stores. Make these shining stars for a garland, or use them as ornaments in your tree. DIY instructions are below, and may your home be starry and bright!
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Four years ago today, I married my husband in a winter wonderland wedding. My family, husband-to-be, and I worked for months to glitter five-thousand pinecones, creating Christmas tree ornaments, pinecone wreaths, and table accoutrements for the wedding day. Today, many of the beautiful pinecones adorn our home for Christmas decor, their presence always reminding me of our sparkling, magical moment. Happy 4th Anniversary, Padraic, my love!
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If you enjoyed the handmade paper mache (or papier-mâché) mushrooms featured in my last post, Paper Mache Mushrooms, here are DIY step-by-step directions to make your own!
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Even after Halloween is long over, I cannot bear to throw away my beloved pumpkins. Here, I've repurposed them for the holidays. By marbleizing the pumpkins with silver metallic paint, I've transformed them into shimmering jewels fit for November and even December. Gold, bronze, and other similar tones would be beautiful as well. DIY using step-by-step directions below!
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This time of year, autumn leaves and branches are bountiful on sidewalks and in parks. And when nature provides such beautiful displays, it's hard to "leaf" them behind!"** In addition to the falling leaves hanging from my chandelier (please see my last post: Falling Leaves), these easy-to-make leaf bouquets are displayed on my entrance tables, dining tables, and mantles.
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When I saw autumnal leaves fluttering and falling to earth at a nearby park, I knew that some of them must be brought back with me for a home decor project. I decided to hang them from my chandelier and recapture their fluttering fall -- it's natural, glamourous, and so easy to do!
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Creating your own paper bats for Halloween isn't only a fun craft project; it's a personal touch to your home that can be used for many Halloweens to come. I love all sorts of bats...the bold, the beautiful, the crazy, and the silly. So adults and children alike, make some bats for your home and let your Halloween spirit fly!
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What’s not to love about succulents? They range in color from dusty blue to glossy black, have an unearthly aesthetic, and are impossibly easy to care for. Not only are they lovely outdoors, but bring them inside and you have a natural, structural element to admire in your home.
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