I have a confession…I’m one of those people who will quite happily sit and watch those infomercials featuring the ‘Soft Rock Hits of the 60’s and 70’s’. I am a total sucker for The Carpenters and Barry Manilow, John Denver and even a little Captain and Tennille thrown in for good measure.
But, there is one song, one particular song, that will completely undo me each time. As in, turn me into a blubbery, weepy mess.
Somehow, Jim Croce managed to capture exactly how I feel about the passage of time and my desire to just make it freeze for a moment.
If I could save time in a bottle
The first thing that I’d like to do
Is to save every day till eternity passes away
Just to spend them with you
If I could make days last forever
If words could make wishes come true
I’d save every day like a treasure and then
Again, I would spend them with you.
At no other time of the year am I more aware of the passage of time than at Christmas. It’s almost like it becomes a mini time capsule of our lives and I find myself tearing up at the most random times. Just ask my kids who have found themselves rolling their eyes and saying “Mooommmm…are you crying again?!” and then I say, “But look at your little handprint on that paper ornament!”
Don’t get me wrong, there are a whole lot of ‘times’ that I do not want placed in a bottle. Like last week when I was fairly sure that my children were just out to wear me down until I waved the white flag and let them become the raggamuffins I know they really would like to be.
But, there are sooooooo many times, so many moments that I would love to just bottle up. And I think that is why I am determined to incorporate as much of my children’s growing up years into our Christmas decor.
So, this year, I took my sentimentality all the way to the top…of the Christmas tree that is!
I picked up 4 photo frames from Michael’s, 4 small hinges and turned to my favorite new paint, Americana Decor Chalky Finish. I knew that I wanted to go with something fairly neutral so I chose the colors ‘Whisper’ and ‘Timeless’.
I began by marking the spaces where the hinges would be attached.
Then I drilled the holes and attached the hinges to the frames.
I worked my way around until they formed a box. Just a heads up that the last frame will be a tad tricky and will require some contorting of your arms and hands to get it attached! 😉
Next, I put photos in each frame, using both recent and older photos of my kiddos. You could have fun with this and even do photos of your favorite Christmas moments throughout the years!
I alternated the colors on the frames with 2 of them painted in the American Chalky Finish ‘Timeless’.
And the other two painted in ‘Whisper’.
In the song ‘Time in a Bottle’ the line ‘but there never seems to be enough time to do the things you want to do, once you find them’ always stands out to me.
Because, there really doesn’t ever seem to be enough time! I feel like I have this constant voice in the back of my head whispering ‘slow down, slow down, slow down’.
And maybe that’s why at Christmas, the thing I most look forward to are those sweet, fairly uneventful moments. The ones where we’re just all hanging out together with no where to be and no expectations other than to just relax and enjoy our time together.
Those are the ‘times’ I most want to bottle up!
Actually, what I really want to do is just bottle up my kids and put the cork on top and keep them little forever. But, alas, somehow I think that they won’t really go for that idea. 😉
So, I’ll cry over their little paper ornaments and make photo box tree toppers and on those days when they are still willing to hold my hand I will remember to look down and stare at how theirs fits into mine and emblaze it on my mind.
And as they get older, I will celebrate and marvel at the wonderful humans they are becoming. I will realize that time captured in a bottle might sound good in theory, but in reality, I don’t want that. I want to be in THIS time. In THIS moment. Not looking too far back or too far ahead. Just being in the right here and now. Because it’s the sweetest time of all!
Now, how about a GIVEAWAY?!
One lucky winner will receive 8 Chalky Finish Colors of your choice, clear and dark creme waxes, soft touch varnish, waxing brush and 2 stencils of your choice!
Americana Decor Chalky Finish Paint is available at Michael’s in the wood and finishes aisle. Visit the DecoArt Chalky Finish website for more chalk paint ideas and inspiration!
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51 Comments on "Photo Box Tree Topper & Giveaway!"
I have a dresser I’d love to re-do with the paints! Thanks so much for the chance to win!!
Joey
I would paint something for my home or next creative project! Heck probably both.
Thanks for all your deco ideas too
Deanna
I love chalk paint and I am happy to learn Michaels has a line they sale. Love your tree!
What a great idea I have 8 grown kids, numerous grandkids and great grand kids. What a great gift to myself to do photo pictures of each family and make them as one men’s on my tree.
Would love to try these. I’ve still only used homemade chalk paint!
I have tons of projects to paint….frames, candle holders, boxes…etc. I love your blog. Thank you for the wonderful giveaway.
I have a dresser waiting to be painted.
I love how the lights from the tree illuminate the pictures! Even smaller frames throughout the tree would look awesome.
Feeling the same way about bottling up my kiddos. I would if they let me!
I love this tree topper! What a fantastic idea!!
I do some upholstery work and would love to give this paint a try on the wood part of the chairs I reupholster!
I have this big mirror that I’d like to paint and this would be perfect. (And I get all weepy from that song too!)
I would create a Merry Christmas banner for the holidays
I have an old desk that I bought that would be beautiful painted with this!!
I love that you intentionally incorporate those childhood moments into your decorating Vanessa..and just reading the words to that song made me teary-eyed …this idea is absolutely brilliant!
I also love chalky finish paint…I’ve used it on TONS of projects already! xo
I would love to try this paint on a mirror I have!
i have a bench in my entry way that needs some love.
Oh my – EVERYTHING – it’s my favorite brand of chalk paint.
I think I would hoard this paint for our next house, since ours is currently on the market. I might be so bold as to paint some cabinetry a fun color once we are settled!
Here’s hoping I can win this set of paints and all the “fixin’s” as I have projects going all the time…..Merry Christmas everyone!
I LOVE this stuff! I recently re-did a nightstand in everlasting! I am so excited about this giveaway- fingers crossed!!! I have as garage full of furniture just waiting to be painted- this would help so much!
I love it! It’s going on my tree this year! My new love is chalk paint too:).
Thanks for such a lovely giveaway. I have just started with furniture and could use all the help I can get. Thanks for the chance.
I think I know who the voice is you hear . . . wink wink!!
I’d love to do my coffee table with this paint.
My breakfast nook table needs a li’l help and this would be a great way to make it come back to life.
Hpw clever, beautiful and meaningful! I absolutely LOVE it. xo
This turned out SUPER cute! I have some frames in my home that need to be repainted…would love to use this awesome paint for them!
This is so awesome I love it! I would use it on 2 wingback chair frames I am redoing!
Super Super Cute…love this idea…love the whole tree!!
What a super cute idea and I love that song too.
I would use it on an old mirror.
we just remodeled our dining room and would use to refinish some old picture frames
I found y’all on Pinterest and LOVE this paint!! So much fun and so many projects!! Thank you for the giveaway!
This project turned out SO SO cute! I love it. So personal and beautiful.
Love this!! I would use it on some frames that need some new life 🙂
I just bought an old sled that needs a few decorating touches before I put it on my porch so I can see these paints coming in handy.
I would like to paint some shelves in the living room.
I have a bookshelf that needs a total do-over this would be it.. TY
I have only used ASCP and homemade. I’d love to have the opportunity to give these a try. Thanks!
I love painting and love the photo idea !!!
My dining room table and chairs
Such a cute idea! I’ve been dieing to try out chalk paint.
I have four antique chairs from Germany given to us by our landlord years ago. We’ve moved them from place to place, but never used them because we’ve never had room until now. I’d really love to paint them and use them! Great giveaway! Thank you for the opportunity to win!
LOVELOVELOVE Jim Croce’s Time In A Bottle!!! If I won I would tackle my poor unloved bureau and then watch out! I will be a chalky painting maniac!!! Lots of projects are screaming out for these paints and I would be in Heaven if I won them! Thank you for the chance to!!
I have some end tables that I need to re-fab. this would be awesome.
great giveaway!! have a great holidays!
Beautiful project. I love it. Maybe I would try a project I saw once with picture frames too. You place them in a certain way and you can decorate them with paints and scrapbooking papers and embellishments. Thanks for the chance,
I’ve got a small book/magazine side table waiting for chalk paint!
Such a cute Idea! I could see doing something like this for my mom!
I love the chalk paint on your picture frame tree topper. I would paint frames I am using for a family gallery wall of our 4 kids, daughter-in-law, son-in-law, and two grand-daughters. I also am a sucker for songs of the 60’s, I like Jim Croche, but have to admit John Denver is my favorite. Merry Christmas to you and yours!
This is such a fun idea! Thanks for the giveaway.