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At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

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December 21, 2011

Fun and Easy Tinsel Wreath and a few more decorations

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Before I show you this fun and easy wreath I created and some few remaining Christmas decorations, I’d like to thank you all again for your sweet, kind comments regarding the loss of our grandmother! We were overwhelmed by all of your care and concern.  It mean more to us than you could know! We are looking forward to all being together in a few days, to celebrate her life.
I first showed a glimpse of this fun wreath when I revealed my dining room decorated for Christmas.  I wish my photography could do this wreath justice because it really turned out great!  Every year I place lighted wreaths in our front windows, but this year I wanted white ones in the dining room, and I didn’t want to spend a lot.
While shopping at Michael’s I came across this fun white and silver snowflake tinsel, which was very inexpensive at 50% off.  I didn’t want to purchase wreath forms, so I dug up some old worn out pool noodles and cut one in half to use as the two wreath forms.  Here’s a tutorial collage to see how really simple it is to put these wreaths together.
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And here they are hanging in my dining room windows…during the day
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and at night…
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I mentioned in my Christmas in the Kitchen post that I had found these great silver pedestal trays at The Goodwill.  I used the smaller one under my kitchen Christmas tree.
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The second larger one I used for my coffee table centerpiece
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I filled it with pillar candles of varying heights and layered in ornaments and beads
Here you can see the beautiful details of the tray
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I added a DIY Dollar Tree hurricane and a footed glass bowl that I picked up at the Goodwill for a dollar. 
 I placed my cherished crystal Precious Moments nativity on a small ceiling medallion painted gold and fitted with a round mirror and placed atop a gold candle base from the Dollar Tree. Our dad gave both Vanessa and I these nativities one Christmas, and they are a special part of both of our Christmas decorating.
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A sweet friend brought me the gorgeous pink and cream Poinsettia that I placed in clearance flower pot.  I love how my coffee table turned out and find the color palette soothing and fresh! 
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One other fun project I created for my living room is my Christmas Card Tree.  I added some painted branches to a plastic urn I painted silver and filled the base with ornaments.
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I placed tiny clothes pins in a piece of vintage stemware and as the cards come in I can pin them to the tree.
I hope you’ve enjoyed seeing some of my additional Christmas projects.
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We’d also love it if you’d take a moment and pop over to visit us at Houzz where we have our latest Ideabook posted: 
 
Jewel Poinsettia Napkin Rings, Peacock eclectic napkin rings
Blue is such a popular color this season, and we invite you to see our favorite product picks to have a “Blue Christmas”!
Praying your week is one full of family, friends and most importantly FAITH! Thank you for joining me today…At The Picket Fence
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23 Comments Filed Under: Christmas, Crafts, Decorating, Good Ideas, Holidays, Wreaths Tagged With: Christmas, Christmas craft, Christmas decorating, wreath

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Comments

  1. Jessica @ O. Alouette says

    December 21, 2011 at 4:41 PM

    Love your wreath!! The tinsel is such an easy way to make a wreath and it looks awesome!

    Reply
  2. Shelia says

    December 21, 2011 at 4:41 PM

    Hi Heather! How in the world do you come up with these wonderful ideas? I love your beautiful white wreath you’ve made! Now I want to copy cat you! 🙂 Your coffee table top is gorgeous too! Love those stands you’ve used and your soft colors. The little Precious Moments Nativity is darling! I cross stitched so many little Precious Moments and gave them away! 🙂
    Everything is so pretty. Merry Christmas, Dear One, and you and your family will be in my prayers this year.
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia 😉

    Reply
  3. Pam - diy Design Fanatic says

    December 21, 2011 at 4:45 PM

    Your white wreaths are so gorgeous! Love your other wonderful decorations, as well!

    Reply
  4. Tanya@takesix says

    December 21, 2011 at 4:59 PM

    Your wreaths are gorgeous! Love that they have lights on them as well. Your thrift store raised platters are perfect!!! Have a very Merry Christmas!

    Reply
  5. Carol says

    December 21, 2011 at 5:10 PM

    What a wonderful wreath! Thank you for sharing the idea!

    Merry Christmas,
    Carol

    Reply
  6. Ruby Jean says

    December 21, 2011 at 5:11 PM

    Oh I LOVE it all…But that Precious Moments Nativity is just so VERY VERY precious…. I also just shared your Beautiful Candy Wreath on my FB page… Thank you again for linking up to my linky party… I pray ALL the best for you and your family this Christmas… Blessings
    Angelina

    Reply
  7. Robin says

    December 21, 2011 at 5:22 PM

    Your tinsel wreath is so pretty. what a great idea. I love it.

    Reply
  8. Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions says

    December 21, 2011 at 6:21 PM

    Very pretty, Heather! Love how your coffee table turned out! Ornaments and candles, so simple and everyone’s got them. I’ve been seeing so much Christmas stuff on clearance already, but I’m going to really think about what I’d like to have for next year before I buy anything!

    Reply
  9. Judy says

    December 21, 2011 at 6:39 PM

    You are definitely the wreath Queen. Another awesome idea for a wreath. They look so nice in your windows. I love all of the blue Christmas accents you have going on. You and your sister and your whole family continue to be in my thoughts and prayers.

    Reply
  10. Susan S. says

    December 21, 2011 at 9:02 PM

    SO pretty! I especially love the pretty, glimmery wreaths. That’s a definitely copy cat project for me for NEXT year. 🙂

    Reply
  11. Becca says

    December 21, 2011 at 9:39 PM

    You rock, Heather! I LOVE all of your projects … the wreaths are beautiful lit up in your windows … I love how you used clothespins to attach your sweet cards to your branches … and, your pops of blue are, again, amazing! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  12. Rosemary@villabarnes says

    December 21, 2011 at 10:11 PM

    Your wreath is absolutely gorgeous. Love it, and all of your decorations. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

    Reply
  13. Kelly says

    December 21, 2011 at 11:29 PM

    I’m so impressed with your homemade tinsel wreaths in your dining room! I can’t believe they were made using pool noodles of all things. Now, that’s creative! I love how you added the lights to them too. Your card tree is another cute idea too. I love using branches inside.

    Reply
  14. janet says

    December 22, 2011 at 1:09 AM

    The wreaths are gorgeous..
    Merry Christmas..

    Reply
  15. Debbiedoo's blogging and blabbing says

    December 22, 2011 at 1:43 AM

    I love your tinsel wreath! How pretty lit up too. I am heading over to Houzz now!

    Reply
  16. Vivienne @ the V Spot says

    December 22, 2011 at 2:09 AM

    Beautiful! And I love that you used pool noodles! I think I need to give that a try next year. (And yes, so sorry to hear of your grandmother’s passing.)
    🙁

    Reply
  17. Gypsy Heart says

    December 22, 2011 at 2:45 AM

    Just beautiful! I love the white and silver. The wreaths are gorgeous! I would have never thought about starting with a pool noodle. Great job!

    Pat

    Reply
  18. Happy To Be/ Gl♥ria says

    December 22, 2011 at 3:15 AM

    CHRISTmas Blessings from my mountain top to your home…May it be the best one ever..Hugs and Love Gloria.

    Reply
  19. Goa says

    December 22, 2011 at 4:21 AM

    Merry christmas and happy new year

    more info visit :GDD Coffee Bar Brisbane …….

    Reply
  20. Sonya@Beyond the Screen Door says

    December 22, 2011 at 4:51 AM

    Heather, your wreaths are just beautiful! So simple and easy but such an impact!
    Merry Christmas!

    Reply
  21. Courtney ~ French Country Cottage says

    December 22, 2011 at 1:57 AM

    Beautiful! Sending love and hugs.

    Reply
  22. Carmel @ Our Fifth House says

    December 22, 2011 at 3:50 PM

    I love love love those lighted wreaths! They are so beautiful!

    Reply

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  1. Hanging out at Goodwill | atightsqueeze says:
    November 1, 2012 at 11:18 PM

    […] found this on Pinterest and pinned it a while ago but it is from this post on At the Picket Fence. Leaving it green will make it a little bit less subtle/elegant but, spoiler […]

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Front door wreath….✔️ The very last Christmas dec Front door wreath….✔️

The very last Christmas decorating to be completed and one of the most important since there’s nothing I love more than welcoming people into our home this season.

I bought the wreath for $15 from a wonderful local vendor, reused my favorite bells and added a velvet bow in the color I’m carrying throughout the house this year.

Do you buy a fresh wreath each year or do you use a faux wreath on your front door? 

#frontdoorwreath #christmaswreath #christmasporch
The first day of December and the first Sunday of The first day of December and the first Sunday of advent. As we enter into a month that can be filled with stress, anxiety, worry and even sadness, let us turn our hearts towards the ONE who came as the ultimate, undeserved gift. Because it’s all about Him. 

“Who can add to Christmas? The perfect motive is that God so loved the world. The perfect gift is that He gave His only Son. The only requirement is to believe in Him. The reward of faith is that you shall have everlasting life.” (Corrie Ten Boom)
“I would maintain that thanks are the highest form “I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.” ~ G.K. Chesterton

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours dear friends! 🍂
Its that time of year again. I share this recipe e Its that time of year again. I share this recipe every November because it’s JUST.THAT.GOOD! 

And I have a confession ...I’d rather have cranberry sauce smothering the turkey on my plate than gravy any day!! And this, this right here? Well it’s the best (and easiest!) cranberry sauce ever!! I eat on crackers and sandwiches and sometimes just by the spoonful. It’s so yummy! And I’m just so very thankful for all of you that I’m going to leave the recipe right here instead of making you go to the blog to get it. I promise you won’t regret having this on your Thanksgiving menu but be warned...you may find yourself up in the middle of the night sneaking some helpings of this deliciousness. Or maybe that’s just me!

Ingredients:
2 pounds fresh or frozen cranberries
2 oranges
2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup white wine.

Instructions:
Wash and pick over berries, removing any that are soft. Peel and dice oranges removing any seeds. Combine all ingredients in a large pot. Bring to a full boil. Reduce heat and continue cooking until cranberries pop open and mixture is thickening.
For best flavor, prepare and let stand for several days before using.

Gobble, gobble!! 🦃
It’s that time of year again!! Chex Mix will be ma It’s that time of year again!! Chex Mix will be made on repeat for the next month and I’ve figured out the secret to getting the BEST flavor.

Want to know what it is? It’s all about being EXTRA! 

Take the base recipe up a notch by using a full stick of butter, extra tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce and an extra 1/2 tablespoon of Lawry’s seasoning salt.

I guarantee you’ll never go back!

You’re welcome. 😉🎄

#chexmix #chexmixupgrade
Happy Friday!! I limped my way to the end of the w Happy Friday!! I limped my way to the end of the week and I’m feeling especially grateful for the twinkling lights around my home which give me so much joy.

The great debate on social media over whether or not Christmas decorations should appear before Thanksgiving is one I just let roll on past me. Because I am so unbelievably thankful for this life, my family, my friends, this country, this home and most of all my Savior. 

Having my home all ready to welcome the next sacred season doesn’t take away one iota from my ability to express gratitude on the official day set aside each year where we do that collectively.

And when the last slice of turkey has been eaten and all of the leftovers put away, I’ll be over here ready to be fully present in the month of December and soak up every bit of it! 🦃🎄
IKEA vs Heirlooms: Why we need family treasures “ IKEA vs Heirlooms: Why we need family treasures

“My children have grown up seeing antique books on a coffee table, vintage toys in their bedrooms and even pieces of furniture that were all passed down from one generation to the next. But as my nest gets closer and closer to being empty, I’m keenly aware of the fact that many of these cherished items might not be as welcome in the homes of future generations.”

*Read the rest over at @cleartruthmedia*
All of my CTM articles are saved in my highlights
Not too long ago, someone told me that they liked Not too long ago, someone told me that they liked it better when I just talked about decorating and didn’t mention anything else. This person preferred me to keep any opinions or convictions to myself and just focus only on content about home decor, crafts and recipes. Aside from the fact that I’m always astonished that people feel so free to say things like that, I do agree that it would be a lot easier and more palatable if I didn’t talk about things like a Biblical Worldview, apologetics and the nature of reality itself. For one thing, Instagram wouldn’t throttle my account with its algorithms that are skewed to diminish voices like mine. It would be much easier to be so tethered to this app that I change everything I post to fit into its preferred framework. I would be asked to be part of influencer groups and activities like I was years ago. But I’m not that person anymore. Yes, the core of this community will always be an emphasis on homemaking which will include decorating and recipes but I can’t separate that from the core of who I am as a follower of Jesus Christ.

It would be so much easier for me to just show you the latest Amazon products I’ve bought and tell you to “comment” to get the links. But I’m not called to take the easy path. Matthew 7:13-14 says, “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.”

I truly believe that so many have been lulled into thinking that the narrow gate wasn’t really all that narrow. But, it’s never been more obvious that it really is. And every day I seek to stay on that very narrow way.  More than ever before, I believe that our world needs to know that there is objective truth and a solid foundation to stand upon as we navigate our lives. My role as a homemaker is predicated on that foundation and everything else flows out of it. Talking about these things isn’t going to get me lots of views here. 

But I live for an audience of ONE.
The first time we hosted my in-laws for a meal was The first time we hosted my in-laws for a meal was in 1998. I was a new bride and eager to impress them. It did not go well. Let’s just say there was a bit of a garbage disposal mishap. 

It’s been over 25 years since then and I’ve learned so much about what really matters when it comes to hosting and caring for my family well during the holiday season. 

The peace we long for in our home begins with our hearts. If you want your home to feel more peaceful during the upcoming holiday season, I have five things to consider that will make that not only possible but predictable.

✨ Read the full article over at @club31women ✨

#club31women #wearethehomemakers
Here, in my little corner of social media, you won Here, in my little corner of social media, you won’t find a lot of unboxing of brand new items for Christmas. 

What I’m unboxing are the decorations in the attic that  I’ve had for years and figuring out how to give them a fresh look. I added new lights to an old pre-lit tree that no longer worked because I couldn’t bring myself to get rid of it. I’m putting out a different set of mugs at the hot cocoa station and the advent candles are arranged with greenery from outside.

As our feeds are filled with so.much.stuff, I want to offer you a reprieve. A place where you will find less emphasis on what’s happening in our homes and more on what’s happening in our hearts.

More than ever before, I can see just how much people are needing the hope found in Christ and that will always be the focus here. 

So, while you may not see me unpacking a massive, new tree or telling you to “comment for the link”, what you will see is encouragement to turn our hearts to what matters the most and let that reflect in every corner of our homes this season and all year long. 🌲

#wearethehomemakers #homemaking #homemakerschristmas #club31women
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