• Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
    • Collaborate
  • Blog
  • Parties
    • Children’s Parties Ideas
    • Holiday Parties
    • Adult Party Ideas
  • Holiday Ideas
    • Christmas
    • Easter
    • Fourth of July
    • Spring
    • Thanksgiving
    • Valentine’s Day
  • Seasons
    • Winter
    • Spring
    • Summer
    • Autumn
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Beverages
    • Desserts
    • Main Dishes
    • Side Dishes
    • Soups
  • Project Gallery
    • Crafts
    • Decorating
    • DIY
    • Good Ideas
    • Tutorials
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Bloglovin
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

Where Ideas for your Home Meet Inspiration for your Heart

  • Book
  • Speaking
  • Meet Vanessa
    • Featured

December 12, 2011

Chalkboard Frame Tree Topper

029-1
Whew! Anyone else feel like their head is still spinning from all of the fun last week?
I don’t think I have ever written more adjectives in my entire life than when I was leaving comments for all of you. Words like…
Gorgeous! Creative! Beautiful! Clever! Fabulous! Fantastic! Elegant!
Crazy! Scatterbrained! All over the Map….oh wait…those last ones were just adjectives describing 
ME last week!
Winking smile
You are some seriously talented folks and it was such a pleasure to get to have you share that talent with us. 
And, there is still time for you to share some more!
We will be leaving the links to the Christmas in the Kitchen Party and the Doors and Porches Party open all week long so please come on over and share some more of your gorgeous, creative, beautiful, clever, fabulous, fantastic, elegant selves with us!
And there is plenty of time to enter to win one of 8…count ’em 8 incredible prizes at the Giveaways for each party. You don’t even have to link up to enter so get on over there and do it!
Now, how about a fun and easy way to customize your Christmas Tree?
This is my Chalkboard Frame Tree Topper!

031-1

We have 6 Christmas Trees in our house. Small ones in each bedroom and playroom and then our real tree in the Living Room which we go chop down each year.
This slim “faux” tree has been dubbed our “Family Tree” as it is filled with all of the paper angels and snowflakes, candy canes and even ornaments from my childhood and my hubby’s too.
Plus, it’s in our Family Room so it kinda makes since, right?

Here is my sweet boy setting up the train around the base.
I love this tree so much and pretty much want to cry every time we pull out the decorations for it. So, it seemed only fitting to create something extra special for the top.
I also wanted something which could be updated and reused year after year!

077-1

This could not be more simple!
I purchased 2 (since we have 2 kids!) wood frames from Michael’s and gave them each a coat of
Chalkboard Paint.

074-1

I then added the pictures of each of my rascals (fresh from their baths) decorating this exact tree this year and wrote their names on the bottom and the date on the top.

A ribbon wrapped around the frame and tied off with a bow finished it off and then it was tied onto the top of the tree. I seriously love the ribbons I found this year! 

078-1

And there you have it. 
Sweet
Simple 
Sentimental

080-1

My idea of the perfect Tree Topper!

I promise I don’t have a popcorn ceiling in there even though it looks that way in this picture!
Who edited these anyway? Sheesh! 

I just had to throw this one in for good measure.
I can show it to them the next time they are getting on each other’s nerves!

Thanks so much for joining me today at the Fence,

1553F4F30A9801A6AFB3E9C624118E7B

This post will be partying here this week:

holiday home button centsational girl


My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia: Tuesday’s Treasures
Coastal Charm: Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Ruby Jean’s: Sew Crafty Tuesday
Stuff and Nonsense: Friday’s Unfolded
DIY Showoff: DIY Project Parade
You’re Talking Too Much: Meet Me on Monday

20 Comments Filed Under: Christmas, Crafts, Decorating, Holidays

Subscribe

Get the latest goodness straight to your inbox!

Previous Post: « Doors, Porches and Kitchen Highlights from the Christmas Block Party!
Next Post: Banisters and Foyers~Welcome to Vanessa’s Home »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Tanya@takesix says

    December 12, 2011 at 2:43 PM

    I always tell me kids (who fight alot) as I’m taking their picture together on Christmas Eve, “Just pretend that you love each other!” ;0)

    Your tree topper is a treasure, Vanessa! I love it! Thanks for sharing it with us!

    Reply
  2. Savvy Seasons says

    December 12, 2011 at 2:57 PM

    The kids are A D O R A B L E!! Love their jammies. What a great idea for a tree topper. I never would have thought of that, but it really is special. Thanks for sharing, I may have to steal this idea for next year. =)

    Happy Holidays! xoxo ~Liz

    Reply
  3. Honey at 2805 says

    December 12, 2011 at 4:03 PM

    It’s adorable! Love the frames and your children are precious!

    Reply
  4. Pattie says

    December 12, 2011 at 4:24 PM

    How cute and a great idea…

    Reply
  5. Linda @ A La Carte says

    December 12, 2011 at 4:30 PM

    That is so cute! Great idea! Love the pic of your kids. hugs, Linda

    Reply
  6. Maria Elena says

    December 12, 2011 at 5:41 PM

    Beautiful idea! Your kids are so adorable! Enjoy them! They grow so fast! 🙂

    Reply
  7. Becca says

    December 12, 2011 at 5:57 PM

    Aw, Vanessa … the last picture melts my heart … so, so sweet! I love your tree, and the picture frames at the top are such a wonderful, sentimental idea. You guys are so blessed! xoxo

    Reply
  8. Judy says

    December 12, 2011 at 6:38 PM

    Love the tree topper…but I especially love that photo of them in their pj’s hugging. That’s sooo cute. Beautiful family.

    Reply
  9. Honey at 2805 says

    December 12, 2011 at 7:06 PM

    I adore the tree and the tree topper! The little rascals are so adorable!

    Thank you for linking to the Christmas Blogger’s Block Party Christmas Tree Party (in progress). You add even more dimension to the fabulous inspiration!

    Reply
  10. Richella says

    December 12, 2011 at 7:44 PM

    SO cute! Aren’t they darling?! And your tree topper is just right. I’m assuming that you’ll use this next year with photos from 2012–unless, of course, blogging inspires you to create something new! 🙂

    Reply
  11. michelle says

    December 12, 2011 at 7:46 PM

    What a great idea and it is perfect. 🙂 Oh my gosh girl 6 trees!!? You were very busy putting up all your decor. I bet they are so beautiful and my kids love having their trees in their room too. 🙂
    xoxo

    Reply
  12. Laura says

    December 12, 2011 at 8:57 PM

    Wow! You are a Christmas crafting genius! So glad I found your project via Centsational Girl.

    Please stop by for a visit to my blog. I am currently in the midst of a Gifts to Make series.

    Be Merry and Bright!

    Reply
  13. ℳartina @ Northern Nesting says

    December 12, 2011 at 10:11 PM

    What a fabulous idea Vanessa, I love it!! Your kids are adorable and I love their pj’s! Love the ribbon you used for the top too. Martina

    Reply
  14. Kelly says

    December 12, 2011 at 11:58 PM

    What a cute idea! I love being able to write on those frames like that and know that it can be changed if needed too. Chalkboard paint is so great, isn’t it?

    Reply
  15. Laurel says

    December 13, 2011 at 12:19 AM

    Love this!! Great idea…I’m thinking our kids look like the same ages, boy/girl same too 🙂 chat soon, laurel

    Reply
  16. Michele Smith says

    December 13, 2011 at 1:10 AM

    I LOVE this, what a fantastic idea. Your kiddos are adorable too, love their little jammies. Love chalkboard paint too!

    Reply
  17. Linda@Coastal Charm says

    December 13, 2011 at 5:32 AM

    Thanks so much for sharing with us at NIFTY THRIFTY TUESDAY!!!

    Blessings,
    Linda

    Reply
  18. Debbie says

    December 13, 2011 at 2:20 PM

    The chalkboard paint is downright inspired. Why, you could post it on your own Friday party! I love the topper. BTW, that Ian is just plain cute to me. I still remember the video he did explaining the game for the giveaway. If I had a son, I would have wanted one like that. Maybe a grandson…

    Reply
  19. Ange says

    December 13, 2011 at 10:46 PM

    What a great idea! So easy and cute too. I love the last picture of sibling love, so sweet. You need to do a post on how to tie a bow because if that was my tree it would look like a rat’s nest of ribbons! 😉

    Reply
  20. notes of sincerity says

    December 14, 2011 at 12:40 AM

    Oh so cute! :o)

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Search This Blog

Get the book!

Invite Vanessa to speak at your event!

Stay updated!

  • A New Look for the Family Room

    A New Look for the Family Room
  • Honey Tea Cake Loaf with Lemon Glaze

    Honey Tea Cake Loaf with Lemon Glaze
  • The Slow Exit

    The Slow Exit
  • Honed Quartzite Kitchen Counters Reveal

    Honed Quartzite Kitchen Counters Reveal

Sign Up and Never Miss A Post!

Must Reads

Latest Recipes

Honey Tea Cake Loaf with Lemon Glaze

Apple Bread Pudding

Grandma’s Banana Bread

view more recent recipes

Recent Posts

  • Winter Decorating Ideas January 27, 2023
  • Nostalgic Christmas Home Tour December 10, 2022
  • Vintage Inspired Hot Cocoa Bar November 21, 2022
  • Autumn Home Decor Tour October 7, 2022
  • Built In Shelving Makeover in Family Room August 31, 2022

Footer

Stay Connected!

Instagram

Yesterday on the way home from school I had the ra Yesterday on the way home from school I had the radio tuned to my daughter's favorite station and a song that was playing had a line in it that really stood out to me. It made reference to a 'season of the sticks' which I think its safe to say must mean winter. I thought that was such an accurate, albeiet kind of depressing, picture of this time of the year.

While we definitely have more than our fair share of evergreen trees here in Oregon, we also have plenty of trees and bushes that are reduced to sticks during the cold months. But, this morning as I looked out my kitchen window, greedily sipping from my mug of coffee, I marveled at the beauty of the winter sunrise. The sky was all pinks and oranges with frost on the rooftops and a little bit of fog. And, I realized that part of why it was so amazing is because I could see it more clearly through the sticks. The bare branches allowed me a view that I wouldn't be able to see if those same branches were covered in leaves. Being stripped down to almost nothing revealed something magnificent.

We have seasons of the sticks in our lives too, don't we? Times when we feel as though we've been stripped bare and left exposed. It's easy to think that this is a place where all is ugly and dark. And yet, just like the winter sunrise was more visible because of the bare branches, the vulnerability we feel in the winter season of our souls allows us to get a glimpse of beauty that we wouldn't see otherwise. In the lush, warm seasons it's so easy to become comfortable. But in the bare, cold seasons we recognize just how much we need to rely on the One who placed the stars in the heavens and is sovereign over all.

If you feel like your soul has been stripped bare and you've been left exposed and vulnerable, may I encourage you today to ask the Lord to help you to see the beauty in this 'season of the sticks'.

“Answer me quickly, O Lord! My spirit fails! Hide not your face from me, lest I be like those who go down to the pit. Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul." Psalm 143:7
I just went to make my mid-morning protein shake a I just went to make my mid-morning protein shake and grabbed a banana out of the freezer and was about to put it into my shake before I realized it was a frozen egg roll. Sooooo that's how my day is going so far! 🤪How about you?

It's honestly fairly representative of my state of mind these days as I can't seem to make the date on the calendar match the date in my spirit because it feels like it should be January 45th. Every year this month drags on and every year it seems to surprise me for some reason. In addition, my heart just feels heavy as I witness a lot of darkness and sadness around me. So, I'm choosing to control what I can control by making my house feel as cozy as possible, relishing the sunshine whenever it dares to peek through the clouds, gathering inspiration for warmer weather projects and, most importantly, resting in the comfort of the sovereignty of my Father.

“God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding. He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’ So that everyone he has made may know his work..." Job 37:5-7
What if you could do something at the beginning of What if you could do something at the beginning of your day that would be a gift to yourself later on? That’s what we’re talking about on this week’s Tip Tuesday! #tiptuesday
The sun decided to make another appearance today! The sun decided to make another appearance today! It’s been such a lovely Sunday. Chocolate croissants for breakfast followed by church then naps/football/reading/etc and soon we’ll be heading out to dinner with friends. These are my favorite kind of weekends. Hope yours has been lovely too! 🌿
Yesterday was stormy and cold but today the sunshi Yesterday was stormy and cold but today the sunshine is breaking through the fog and my house just seems happier. We definitely needed to see that light streaming in through the windows and it’s a gift I don’t take for granted.

And yes, there are still twinkle lights on my mantle because those help when the sunshine goes away again. ✨
Happy weekend! The rainy and gloomy weather here i Happy weekend! The rainy and gloomy weather here in the Willamette Valley has me feeling less frustrated about my migraine forcing me to just snuggle up indoors and these flowers in my kitchen are lifting my spirits. What are you up to on this holiday weekend?
It’s time for TIP TUESDAY! This week, I’m offe It’s time for TIP TUESDAY! This week, I’m offering a gentle reminder from my own parenting experience after feeling my heart pricked with conviction about what was waiting for my daughter every day after school. I hope it will encourage you! 🌿#tiptuesday
The day after Christmas I found myself laundering The day after Christmas I found myself laundering and folding all of the linens we used the previous night as we hosted my husband's side of the family for dinner and other festivities. As I laid out each cloth napkin and folded them one by one, I couldn't help but be struck by what a simple, yet meaningful, task it was. It's such an honor and privilege to be the hostess and, at this stage of my life, I realize that this has almost one hundred percent become my role now. Our parents are in their 70's and have either downsized significantly or simply don't have the energy to take on hosting duties for a large group. I could resent this. I could feel overwhelmed by it. But, instead, I'm choosing to embrace it knowing that, someday, I too will pass the hosting torch and I hope that I will be welcomed with love and attentiveness. So, I fold the linen napkins, taking pleasure in the way all of the creases line up and how neat and tidy they look in the drawer of my dining room buffet. These seemingly simple chores are part of the lifeblood of homemaking and my attitude towards them can either be one of gratefulness or grumbly-ness (yes, I'm making up words now). 

And I’m choosing gratefulness. 

“This job has been given to me to do. Therefore, it is a gift. Therefore, it is a privilege. Therefore, it is an offering I may make to God. Therefore, it is to be done gladly, if it is done for Him. Here, not somewhere else, I may learn God’s way. In this job, not in some other, God looks for faithfulness.” (Elisabeth Elliot⁣)
Welcome to Tip Tuesday! I’m so excited to be kic Welcome to Tip Tuesday! I’m so excited to be kicking off the year with a brand new series! Each weekly installment will feature a tip for everything from your home to faith to parenting to family life and so much more. My goal for 2023 is to have far more personal interaction with this community while continuing on with the mission of weaving together all things heart and home. I hope you enjoy this first tip and I’d love to hear from you about whether or not you decorate for winter! 
#tiptuesday #organizing #winterdecorating
“He has made everything beautiful in its time. H “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” 

Here’s to beginnings. Happy new year friends! May you experience the majesty and sovereignty of the Lord in 2023 like never before! ✨
Load More... Follow
Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2023 · Divine theme by Restored 316

Copyright © 2023 At The Picket Fence