Christmas Holidays Celebration Over and New Year 2020

Christmas Holidays Celebrations Soon Over New Year 2020 with LilacsNDreams. Welcome, and glad to have you stopping by for a visit.

All the preparations of shopping, wrapping, decorating, buying food, cooking, and etc. All the time, and preparations spent making it a joyous time. Then, like that it seems like it’s all done, and gone. Of course the proof for holiday celebrations lingers with all the cleaning, organizing, removing decorations, and so on. 

Daughter and family left on New Year’s Day, hubby left the next day, and son headed back to base on Saturday. Here I sit looking at the piles of decorations I’ve removed inside and from outside the home, trying to reorganize the house, and my energy levels are not very high right now...lol! I have a set of lights in the arch of the kitchen entry, and the tree to bring down. Things are almost back in order. How are all of you doing? Hope it’s a little better than me. 

Below is a picture of a quick wrapping I did of couple of gifts for our granddaughter. The joy of watching her face light up with activities, and her surprises is very fulfilling. 

Below are 2 pictures of a couple of items I sold from my Shoppe at Etsy too. The Vera Bradley purse was wrapped as a gift, and shipped to her. That was actually fun to do.

The Christmas Holiday season was very enjoyable with all of our family together to celebrate this time. Trying to finish with bagging everything, and getting it all put away. I am ready to do some crafting, taking some pictures, and to spend time with filling my Shoppe at Etsy with more things too.  Hope everyone enjoyed the holidays, and are recuperating from all of it. 

Thanks so much for visiting with LilacsNDreams! Take care, and hope to see everyone again soon.

C

Christmas Holiday Handmade DIY Repurposed Home Decor

Welcome to LilacsNDreams! Christmas Holiday Handmade DIY Repurposed Home Decor. Christmas is a fun time with home decor, and all the fun things we can do. You can buy locally, online, or better yet some of your items you can revise to fit with what you want. That is something I enjoy doing too!

Last week I showed you some picture frames I got from the Dollar Tree Store. I took some simple black frames, and removed the backing, and the glass. I then painted the frames white. Nothing fancy with the painting just a simple white. I then added some decoration to each piece. Some ribbon bows, letter snowflake paper clip, and some ornaments. The second frame I did not have completed fully with my last posting. I have completed it, and changed a bit what I was going to use with it. 

Below you will see 3 pictures of the arrangement that I made using those frames that I hand crafted with. The window that you see in the middle of the frames was made by someone else who signed it, and had donated this one along with a few others to the thrift store. I picked it up because it was cute, and handmade. Wasn't sure what, and where I was going to put it. Tonight it came together for me as you will see. 

This picture shows the arrangement that I had grouped together on one of our walls in the dining room of our home. All 3 pieces have been handmade, or revised to make this arrangement. 

One of the picture frames that I had painted white, added a blue ribbon bow made by me along with a couple of tags for ornaments. I also clipped a letter snowflake on the bottom of the bow.

This is the second frame that I completed which was also painted white. I added the red and white ribbon bow I made to the bottom of the frame. I then added some ornaments to this piece too. 


I love my vintage collectibles, and I enjoy crafting with different things too. Some things I craft with might be with new pieces, and sometimes they might be with pieces that I have found thrifting or that I have had on hand for a while too. It's a good feeling to complete pieces, and be able to show them in our home. Sometimes pieces will be offered for sale as well too. 

I hope you enjoyed your visit, and happy to see you stopping by here. Feel free to contact me, leave a comment, and etc. 

Thanks for visiting LilacsNDreams! Have a beautiful week, and see you again soon.

Christmas Handmade DIY Repurpose Home Decor

Welcome to LilacsNDreams! Christmas Handmade DIY Repurpose Home Decor. Thanksgiving has passed, and I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving too. The belly has been filled, and the anticipation for the next holiday has expanded just a little bit more. I like many others are excited for the Christmas season.

Christmas is my favorite holiday to celebrate, share, and enjoy. It has much meaning for many people. It's a time of year that the weather changes, many festivities are scheduled to celebrate this holiday, and the mood changes a bit for many too. 

If I was doing my online sales...like I use to...I would be busy right now with that too. People buying for gift giving, and some are treating themselves to special gifts. Many are filling their homes with  decor for the season or just because, and many are also getting things together to craft with as well. 

I enjoy my vintage collectibles that I collect, or sometimes will sell too. I also enjoy decorating, and crafting some of the decorations that I find. Last week I showed you a glass vase I had decorated with different things. Since I shared that I have also added some white fairy lights to the arrangement. The soft glow of the light brings out some of the blue, and glitter a bit more too. 

This week I am going to share with you my latest project I have been working with. I'm almost done. I have enough to share one completed item, and to share some of the things being used for the second item too. I love the Dollar Tree Store. I can purchase many things there to add in with decorations, and to craft with too. For this project I bought some 8X10 picture frames. I already had the spray paint at home. I had some Christmas ribbon, I purchased some ornaments, and I found some Christmas gift tags from another store to use too. Step in a little closer to have a look at the pictures below showing my progress so far. 

I bought 2 of these 8X10 pictures frames that you see. 

I removed the plastic wrap, the glass, and the backing. Once that was done I spray painted both sides of this a white color. 

In this picture you can see 1 of the picture frames completed. After the paint had dried on the frame. I glued in the corner a blue glitter ribbon bow that I made. I made this one simple, and just added 2 different gift tags, and a snowflake letter clip to the bow. 

In this picture I am showing the complete picture frame again along with some extra items at the bottom of the frame. While the other frame is drying fully for me to work with I prepared a red ribbon to put on that one. The second picture frame is white also. Now, after I attach the bow I have some decisions to make about what else to decorate with. The ornament is a green, and silver bulb with a pine cone design on it. Next to that is another older ornament that has mini pine cones, a mini white lace doily behind that, and some red ribbon that has some old gold bells at the bottom of them. I'm also considering using some gift tags again. Not quite sure how it will turn out yet. Don't want to make it too heavy that it won't hang right either. 

I enjoy the Christmas season. I so enjoy adding touches to things I already have, or maybe restyling some things I find within the Dollar Tree, and Thrift Stores too. Sometimes it's a gift for someone else, and many times it's for my pleasure too.

Now to see what else I can get into for crafting with this wonderful holiday. I know some people are bahumbug with the season, but sometimes I feel like I come alive with some of my creative juices.

Thanks again for visiting with LilacsNDreams! I enjoy your visits, and look forward to you dropping by again. Take care till the next time everyone. 

  

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year to All

Happy Holidays and a Very Happy New Year to All!

This is to wish you all well, hope your holidays have been good to you, and wishing you all the best in the new year . . . . 2014! Enjoy all this time off from things with family, friends, relaxing, lounging, and taking a holiday break for just a bit. It's been a year, and soon will be to the end of 2013. 

Wishing you all the Merriest of Christmas Holidays, and here is to a wonderful New Year Everyone!!

Thanks for stopping by LilacsNDreams, and hope to see you all again soon. Take care ! ! !

Christmas Holiday Weekend is Here

Christmas Holiday Weekend is Here!

Welcome to LilacsNDreams everyone! Here it is Friday, and the start of our Christmas Holiday weekend. Whew! This time has gone by fast don't you think? For me the rush is on this weekend to get all things finished with cleaning, dusting, and preparing the house for everyone. I found some of my round table cloths I added as skirting on 2 of my trees, I put up another 2 foot tree in front the dining room window, and put a round table cloth over that stool holding it. We now have a small tree in front of 2 living room windows, the dining room window, and I have one on our freezer in the walk way as you come in. I also put a small square tablecloth around that base too. In front of dining room window facing road I have our bigger tree sitting there. Then....on door window in dining room I hung a lighted wreath, and there is a lighted wreath in our kitchen bay window too. I like things lit up:) 

Once Monday comes I am on the run getting our son from Army Base to bring home for about 10 days. Get him home then hubby should be rolling in, and Monday afternoon/night turkey gets pulled out, Tuesday I start making all the pies, peeling potatoes, and setting things out for the next day for food preparations, and for everyone to arrive. 

I researched it on the internet to help me out a little bit with freezing bananas. Every year I make a very simple banana pie, and everyone likes them. It has become habit that I make them, and they all expect it too. Over time I end up making more of these than I do the other pies. Yep, at least 4 banana pies, an apple pie, and a pumpkin pie this year. See what kind of energy I have maybe I will throw in another kind of pie too....we will see...LOL:) 

So, in preparation for the banana pies, and trying to cut a little bit of time for me, I peeled, and cut up the bananas tonight. Yikes, right? Not to worry. After doing this I then put them into freezer bags, and have put them into the freezer. Prior to use I will pull them out to thaw, and that is one BIG step I have saved in doing this. The rest of it is easy. Line the crusts, and pour in the banana pie filling, and into the frig to chill. Hmmm.....I might be getting hungry already!...LOL:)

So, what does everyone have planned this weekend? Anything special? Will you be celebrating on Wednesday, or is there another designated time for you due to families, work, schedules, etc etc? Whatever you are doing this weekend I wish you well, be safe, and happy travels to you. Thanks for sharing your time with LilacsNDreams. Enjoy the weekend everyone, and see you all again soon!

                           MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!!

Holidays Thanksgiving Christmas Are We There Yet

Holidays Thanksgiving Christmas, Are We There Yet?

Happy Holidays Everyone! How are we doing so far. Thanksgiving will be here in a couple of weeks, and it's about 5? weeks till Christmas, right? Where the heck is the time going, and it really is moving along at a quicker speed now too. 

Every year is different on how the Holidays are being treated, which one is getting more attention, and if we want to consider it all festive as it use to be, or just another day. I remember when I was younger (yes, I was there once) being excited for Thanksgiving, all the food, seeing family, spending time playing on the farm, seeing this grand parent & that one too. Then, there was Christmas to be all excited about as well. The trees, the lights, the festivities, the preparations, Santa, and searching for them hidden gifts parents would hide away from us. I actually liked winter, and the snow then too.

Now as each year goes past it seems like the holidays are not quite what they use to be. Some of the fun, and much of the meaning has been taken from it. I feel as though it is pushed upon us, and has become something more of a retail holiday than what the true meaning of it all is. A little bit each year seems to get lost with all the hustle of things. 

So, anyway, how do you celebrate and are you ready for all this? How do you celebrate Thanksgiving? Each year it seems to be the same thing, but this year we are working on maybe trying a few things just a little differently. You know, trying to add a little of the fun back into it all. Christmas will be more festive as our son will be home from army base for about a couple of weeks...unless he changes his mind. Be nice to have some company around the house again, and to be sharing all the fun stuff with family as well. Course we will be thinking of those who are no longer with us, and knowing that they too are celebrating right along with us as well. 

I have been blessed with a few sales the past week, and a half. I am thankful for this, and know that most of the items are being used for preparations in festivities for others as well. I just cannot believe how the time has flown, so much to do around here, and was curious how others were handling this as well. 

Thanks so much for sharing time with LilacsNDreams, and always happy to hear from all of you too. Take care, and drop by again soon. Have a Happy Day!

Do It Yourself Gift Wrapping Creative Ideas

Do It Yourself Gift Wrapping Creative Ideas. 

Welcome to LilacsNDreams everyone! Christmas almost here, got all the gifts you want to buy, and now the part of gift wrapping. Do you like to gift wrap? If so, do you buy your own rolls of paper to use? There are some pretty papers out there to choose from, but once in a while they all start to look alike don't you think? This time of year we sometimes like to put our own personal touches to the gifts as well too. So, why not be creative with your gift wrapping, and make it fun too. 

Below you will see examples of some gifts done in a creative way. These ideas hopefully will also help you to maybe think of other ideas not mentioned here as well. I found this list with Country Living. 

Mix Tape by using some festive masking tape, or consider some washi tape too. Alternate the tapes horizontally, vertically, and so on. As in this picture the tape mimiced the ribbon used. The snowflake was fashioned from some frayed candy cane colored paper straws. Neat huh? This comes from Joy D. Cho

Box O' Joy can be just as fun as the gift inside too. Use subdued tones, maybe some fun prints, polka dots, and etc. Buy boxes already decorated, or maybe decorate some of your own with scrapbook paper, material, an old shirt, maps, and etc to create your decorative boxes. These are from Paper-Source.com 

 Use an adorable musical theme. This is done with some repurposed Jingle Bells sheet music to give this some festive cheer. Enlarge music on copier, and then print it onto thick paper. Use a satin bow of course, and the jingle bells provides the finishing touches. Comes from Grapevine Invitations

Another creative idea is to use ready to wear. Put some new life into a thrift store shirt you found, add a brooch to the package. Not only is this an adorable idea which gives a person more gifts when unwrapped with the brooch, and the shirt, but this also makes it eco-friendly too. This came from Jenn Playford


These are all wonderful ideas shared by others, and there is still so much more out there to consider using as well. Many many ways to have fun wrapping those gifts for under the tree. Use craft paper, yarn, ribbon, buttons, tissue paper, use wall paper samples to maybe make some letters, old maps, magazine pages, fabric, etc. 

For gift tags you could also have fun creating too. Consider using a twig, ornament, glitter buckles, buttons, playing cards, etc. Make some pretty velvet flowers, or paper flowers to add another touch as well. 

So, do you like gift wrapping, or are you bored with it? I would suggest you consider making it fun to wrap by using some fun things from around the home, and giving your gifts a special little touch of their own from you. Fun, creative, and special.

Thanks so much for sharing your time with LilacsNDreams today. Take care, wishing you all a wonderful holiday, and see you again soon.  

                          Wishing everyone a very MERRY CHRISTMAS ! !

Have a Holly Jolly Christmas Everyone From LilacsNDreams

Have a Holly Jolly Christmas Everyone From LilacsNDreams!

Hello, hello, hello, and how is everyone doing? WOW! Just a few more days, and christmas is officially here for us. Is everyone ready for this? I have most of my things done, house is pretty much in order for everyone to arrive, and stay. Busy, busy, busy. I will be ready for a long break after this season though. Time to slow it down, and work on some projects too.

I did get a chance to stop at a local store of ours that has relocated into a new building. Did it more, or less to see how the bigger place was, look around a bit, and see if their prices had changed much with this new building. Pictured you will see a Big Jar I found with the lid, has the rope & Santa decoration around the neck of the jar, and inside the jar the strand of red lights came with it too. I just could not refuse this piece, and love it on my kitchen counter top. Yep, got home I checked to make sure the lights worked, cleaned the jar out, cleaned the lid, and lit this baby up. When I got to the counter is when I found out that all christmas items were 50%. So, for $3.00+ I could not complain with this item. 

Anyway, I do believe I have all the food for our dinners we will have. Now, wish me luck in the morning as I have to get up extremely early due to the snow we all of a sudden are getting here. Snow, snow, and more snow. It hasn't quit, but yet oddly enough there are a few areas I can still see some of our grass peeking through. I just hope we don't get too much so I can get through it in the morning. Living on a farm someone was usually here to run the tractors, and scoop the snow. No one here right now, and am hoping I can get through it till I get back home. Picking son up from airport as he is on his leave for holiday till the 3rd. Daughter, and grand baby here by Sat. morning. Dinner on Sunday, and Dinner, left overs, and some other goodies brought in for a day of family again. 

Making my list of what items I still need. Not sure where my head has been, but I have to wrap gifts, and haven't gotten the wrapping paper yet! Plenty of tape, but no paper...LOL:) I do hope this finds everyone doing well, and everything is being done in your preparations for the christmas season as well. Thanks so much for sharing your time with LilacsNDreams everyone. See you again soon, and have a wonderful, fun, and enjoyable Christmas!
       MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE ! !

Bottle Brush Trees Pink Vintage Ornaments Glitter

Set of 3 Itty Bitty Pink Bottle Brush Trees This is a listing that I found at Ebay by tobibritt. She does some really nice things using vintage pieces, and making these creations.

Vintage Ornaments Bottle Brush Tree This is yet another creation that was done by the same artist for her listing at Ebay as well. Oh, did I mention that she signs, and dates her creations that she does too?

Vintage Ornaments Bottle Brush Tree Santa Baby is also another listing done by the same artist. You need to visit to see this person's creations, how they do it, and what they are using too. She does quite well with selling these beautiful creations of hers too.  


Bottle Brush Trees, Pink, Vintage Ornaments, Glitter, and fun!
Welcome to LilacsNDreams everyone, and hope you are enjoying the pictures, and links being shared to you by a seller that I have found at Ebay who goes by the name tobibritt. If you like bottle trees, the creations of them, glitter, pinks, using some vintage pieces, and having some lovelies showing in your home, I would give her a visit. I also found that she has a shop at Etsy, has a blog, and has a website too. With these last 2 places mentioned you can read a little bit more about her, and follow along with her journeys of creating. She shares other things as many of bloggers do which makes it fun, and interesting to pop in now, and then for a visit. She appears to keep things upbeat, festive, and is enjoyable to visit from time to time as well. 

I enjoy finding these bottle brush trees, am in awe of some of them that are created, and of course have it on my list to work on, and do some for home along with selling also. Most of the trees I have found have been adorable, come with the general stands, are displayed in little villages, and etc. With this seller she caught my attention with how she does these just a little bit differently making these pieces unique, and attractive for those who buy them as well. 

So, if you like bottle trees with a little bit of glitter, some ornaments, and want something just a little bit more unique stop by to visit the places mentioned for this creative seller. 

Also, I would like to note if you would like to follow along with some of my posts with my blog, and with my page for my shoppe blog you will find the RSS feed buttons in the upper right with a few other buttons you see there for G+, FB, Twitter, Flickr, and Email Me. Give them a click, and give them a follow. I mention this because some people like to follow these RSS feeds to be updated with things, sometimes feel spammed by emails, and I hope that maybe you will want to follow along with LilacsNDreams, and LilacsNDreams Shoppe with my feeds.  

It has been great seeing you here, and I appreciate you sharing your time with LilacsNDreams. Thanks for the visit, and hope to see you again soon!   

Christmas Decorating With Lights Trees and Fun

Blue Christmas Tree, White Lights in Kitchen Bay Window

White Christmas Tree, and 3 lighted gifts all on floor in this picture. Since this picture I have moved the white tree up onto the end table next to it at left, have the tall glass vase holders with pink, white, and silver bulbs in them on each side of the tree. In front of tree is a glass candle holder with christmas print on it, and sitting on each side of that candle holder is a red rocker ornament that says Grandma with a pillow, and a green rocker ornament that says Grandpa. Picture below this is without the flash showing the lighted gifts again.                                                                                                  

White Christmas tree on other end table in living room with different pink ornaments hanging on it, and colored lights as well. 

Same White Christmas tree from above, but tried it without the flash this time. Sorry, got a bit blurry, and my editing could not fix all of it.   


This next picture is of our living room with the garland and lights in the archway, and showing the white trees with the flash on the camera. Our home is small, and after 4-1/2 yrs I am still adjusting with it. Only time I have hesitations is with decorating because I like to decorate for the holidays:)                

Here is a picture of the front of the house facing the road. You can see the small white tree lit in the window. On front of porch is a green wreath with red lights, and then green lights put around the porch rail. In the corner is standing Santa Claus. He use to move, sing, dance, but our grand daughter has worn him out...LOL:)

Coming from the front porch is our longer porch on the side of the house. In the window...which is our dining room is a wreath with lights. In the kitchen bay window is the blue christmas tree, and the porch rail has colored lights going along them.

Here is more of a close up of some of the longer porch with the colored lights on the porch rails, lighted wreath in the window, and again the christmas tree in the kitchen bay window.

Christmas Decorating With Lights, Trees, and Fun. 
I am one who enjoys Christmas, and all the decorations with it too. This year I still do not have as much done as I normally woud do, but was able to get some of it done to make it festive for company soon to be here. I generally have different blow ups that are in the yard, lighted moving reigndeer, and etc. For the first time I was doing this by myself too. Excuse the messes in the picture showing the living room. Whew! Had lights all strayed out testing them, moving things around to make room, and also trying to work on a few pieces that will be offered in my shops for sale too.

Christmas is not far off now. About 14 days away now. I am not done with things yet, quite a bit more to do, mostly getting ready for company to be here for a couple of days. Daughter, and grand baby will be visiting from out of state for about 3-4 days, son will be home from army basic training for couple of weeks, and the joy of people coming and going as they please, and get around. Christmas day will just be a lounging time for us as we are doing things a few days prior to that with all the schedules of everyone. Daughter, and grand baby will be leaving back home on that day. So, enjoying all that we can, while we can.

Thanks so much for sharing your time at LilacsNDreams today. Hope everyone is ready for this festive holiday, and able to do all that you are wanting to do. Take care everyone. Enjoy, have fun, be merry, and see you all again soon! Have a wonderful week, and MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL ! !

Christmas Decorating Colors Themes DIY Projects

Blue and Silver Christmas

Blue and Silver Christmas decorating

Purple and Silver Decorating

Purple and Silver Tree Decorating

Traditional Red, Green, and Gold tree decorating for Christmas

Red, Green, and Gold tree topper decorating

Snowman Themed Christmas decorating

DIY table runner done with ribbon that was weaved! How Neat!

Of course the Whimsical Fun Christmas is great too!



Christmas Decorating Colors, Themes, DIY Projects.

Christmas is not really much further away. Are you ready? Have you done your decorations, or any this year? I know, there are some that do not do decorating, and some this year have chosen not to decorate for different purposes. I have a hard time getting into the Christmas mood unless I have some decorating done myself. Anyway, if you decorated what did you do this year? Do you have certain colors you decorate with? Maybe you decorate according to a theme you have chosen. Along with decorating were you able to get some DIY projects done to decorate with too. 

For Me I use lights...inside, and outside the home. I use wreaths, I have a big standing Santa that my grand daughter wore out with dancing him all the time, and playing his music too. But, he is still a good decoration to have which I hung onto him for that. I have a small home, and to make sure I have room for everyone coming this year I have put smaller trees up around the house. On an end table which that one is white, and has lights and pink bulbs on it, on the floor another white one...don't know if that will stay there yet and it does have lighted box gifts with it, and I have one in the kitchen bay window too. That one is a blue tree with white lights on it. Sometimes I use traditional colors, and sometimes I will choose certain colors to use, or focus a color in one area. I generally put out vases, and have flower arrangements that go into them as well. Those I have not done this year. But, there is still time, and they might still come out....once I can see the table again with messes I have made:)

If you decorated, what did you choose to do this year? Did you choose a color, or a theme? Did you do some handmade projects for the occasion as well. If so, would love to hear what you did. Please share with us your fun decorating festivities. 

Thanks so much for visiting with Me today, and sharing your time with LilacsNDreams. Always happy to have you drop by. Take care, and see you all again soon.