Getting a head start on the holidays

Hard to believe that the holidays are upon us!  Honestly, where does the time go?  This year, as with the past years, I always try to get a head start on the holidays by decorating first.  Well, my intentions are to try my best.  In the past though it seems that I get behind anyways.  Does this happen to you too?

I decided to play around with ideas of what I want for my Christmas table setting this year.  So far I think I am off to a good start.  I found 2 yards of faux white fur at a second hand store for $6 bucks.  In trying to cut costs, I decided to make my own faux fur placemats.  In the stores they want $20 bucks or more for just one!  So what I did was cut each placemat into a 15″wide x 20″ long piece.  I wanted some to hang over the edge of table.  There was no need to do any sewing.  The backs of the mats had material already and the fur hid the cut edges just fine for this gal!  I fluffed them up with my fingers after I cut them and I am pretty pleased with them.  I am guessing since I cut 6 placemats, I probably used 1 yard.

 

 

I also found these Christmas dishes with gold snowflake patterns on them.  A set of 8 for $4.00.  Now if that wasn’t a deal I don’t know what is!  They are made by Royal Ironstone.  I love them, simple, yet elegant.

 

 

So now that I had my place setting with my fury placemat and dishes along with my vintage wine glasses, I can move on and see what I come up with for the center of the table.  I had several tarnished brass candlestick holders that I found recently in a second hand store for 2 bucks and less each.  They worked great as they played off of the golden snowflake dishes.  Next, I played with artificial pine branches and placed them around the candlesticks and fluffed them up.  I then added some deer antlers that were given to me by our neighbor.  I plan on asking him for a few more.

 

I needed something to bring up the height a bit on that middle candlestick, and found a small wooden pedestal which worked well and blended in pretty nicely.  Added a few gold ornaments that I could find (I have to dig around for more) and then sprinkled some fake snow that I purchased at Walmart for $2 bucks.  I also purchased some battery operated tiny twinkle lights too, They were around $4 bucks each.

 

 

 

See the twinkle lights?  Very tiny, and the wire strand is bendable which is nice when trying to blend them into the greenery.  This one is pulled out so that you can get a better look at it.  I also had from last year, 2 white ceramic deer which I purchased from Target for I think they were around $12.00.

 

So anyways, this is the start to my Christmas tablescape.  I plan on adding a few more things such as dried oranges, nuts, and possibly Pomagranate when I can get to shopping again.  I also am trying to come up with name tags and holders yet.  At least I am making headway on this project.  So stay tuned for further updates later!