Oh What Fun It Is To... Decorate for Christmas!

I can't believe this is the last day of the Oh What Fun It Is link up! What fun it has been!

I cannot wait to see all of your beautiful homes, festive decor, and fabulous Christmas trees 

as you link up with my friend Erin, better known as Blue Eyed Bride. 

I want my Christmas decorations to be pretty, but still whimsical and full of cheer! 

I'm raising little ones and our house is anything but a "don't touch" zone.

I think, in my seven years of having "my" own Christmas tree, this year's is my favorite.

I was mostly inspired by the polka dot ribbon 

and a new set of 12 Days of Christmas ornaments this year.

 I blogged this week about the No-Sew Ruffled Tree Skirt I made this year. 

I have yet to finish it. C'est la vie. It's pretty cute though!

 We don't have a fireplace in this house... it's definitely on our "things to acquire" list! 

So for now, "the stockings are hung on the armoire with care." 

On top of the armoire is a handmade nativity that my mom's little sister made years and years ago. 

She has Downs Syndrome and at their "workshop" they do a lot of ceramic crafts. 

This is one of that she made for my grandparents, then my mom had in our home growing up, 

and it's now in mine. I love it so very much. It is up high and out of reach 

so I don't have shield it from tiny, curious hands all day long.

I picked up the JOY lamp at Marshall's a few weeks ago and love it! 

It casts the prettiest pattern on the wall when it's on.

Speaking of nativity scenes, Erin showed this plush set on Twitter a few weeks ago 

and my Christmas-loving, bright color loving, JESUS-loving heart practically leapt out of my chest. 

I had to have it. It is the cutest thing you ever did see and makes me smile a dozen times a day. 

I love it so much and will display it joyfully for many years!

We even awoke to find Cookie our "Elf on the Shelf" kneeling beside baby Jesus one morning.

See that Christmas print hanging on the wall? My friend Haley had the genius idea 

of creating a piece of art out of a gift bag from Target. Are you kidding? How creative!

Haley blogged the real how-to... but it's so simple. Get a gift bag that you love, get a frame from 

Hobby Lobby (using a coupon of course) and voila, you've got cheap and adorable Christmas art!

I made one (with her permission) and made an extra for my parent's back patio. I love it!!

The boys have a bright orange tree on a built in table at the landing of our stairs/playroom. 

It's got the salt dough longhorn ornaments on it that we made last year, some bright blue 

glitter peace signs I made last year and a cute scooter fabric for a tree skirt. 

 Our front walkway has a few cute yard art pieces... some from the Round Top Collection, 

some others I've found at local boutiques and the tiny presents I picked up 50% off at Hobby Lobby 

last week. I cut the boy's names with my Silhouette then Mod Podged them to the presents. I may 

or may not have made one for Miles. (And one for our to-be-determined fourth child while I was at it.)

... and last but not least a few other fun vignettes around the house!

We love our Galveston Memo Board we got from Callie/Willow House. I've been changing 

out the message every few days to different Christmas lyrics or scriptures about Jesus' birth. 

Right now it's got a little Santa hat on it which I love! Sitting there is our Thymes Frasier Fir candle, 

my absolute favorite candle on this Earth and the BEST Christmas candle you could ever own. 

You've probably already seen our Christmas card holder this week and our festive little message 

on the chalkboard table... but nonetheless, we're loving adding cards to our holder everyday!

DIY Christmas Light Bulb Magnets on the refrigerator... 

 I made this O Holy Night chalkboard out of a frame that once belonged to my grandparents. 

It's perched up on the shelves in our kitchen... I love that Christmas song, I love that the piece 

belonged to my precious Mamma and Pappa and I love that it has a new life in my home!

... Merry Christmas to all!

Be sure to link up your Christmas decorations with precious Erin and add this badge to your post!