Innholdsfortegnelse for Christmas Celebrations 2015 i Southern Lady

The holidays are upon us, and for me that signals that it’s time to decorate! I love Thanksgiving and want to fully enjoy it with my family, but I’m so incredibly giddy the day after. Not because of shopping on Black Friday, but because of pulling out my boxes and boxes of ornaments and decorative accents. While others are standing in line at the department stores in the wee hours of the morning, I’ll be having my tea and toast and thinking through my strategic plan. For years I had a themed tree with white lights and ever-changing hues. But after my kids began bringing home such precious trinkets of love, I wanted to find a way to incorporate these pieces. Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t have…

CHEERFUL TRIMMINGS Hang a new kind of garland this year! Start by punching small circles out of cards, and then fold the circles in half. Use five folded circles to make each sphere, putting spray glue on the back flaps of the circles to hold them together. Then, punch holes in the spheres, and run string through them to make a garland. PERFECT PRESENTS Jazz up your holiday packages with wrapping paper and treasured cards from years past. Simply cut up your old Christmas cards to give your gift wrap extra pop. You can use the cut-up cards to make festive gift tags as well. JOYFUL DÉCOR For a quick-and-easy holiday decorating project, these cute coasters fit the bill. Find small ceramic tiles at your local home improvement store, and…

GRACEFUL TOUCH Bring a whisper of the season to quiet spaces by placing poinsettia blooms in bud vases and tucking into bookshelves or other little nooks throughout your home. They will also fit well on a bedside table or atop an end table in the living room. Enjoy creating spots for these soft, peaceful blooms. SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL Dress up your staircase or entranceway with traditional red poinsettia plants. Simply place in burlap bags, and tie a ribbon of your choosing around the plants. This is an easy project for adding Christmas cheer throughout your home, and they make perfect gifts for teachers, friends, or neighbors. GLAD TIDINGS For this cheerful arrangement, use ornaments as vases. Find ornaments with two halves, remove tops, and fill with water. Place poinsettia blooms in…

Create the Look: Set the scene with nutcrackers placed down the center of the table. We found plain wooden nutcrackers at a local arts-and-crafts store. We sprayed them with gold metallic spray paint and added a top coat of gold glitter spray paint. Surround the nutcrackers with a simple garland made of greenery mixed with baby's breath and aster. Create soft, feminine floral arrangements by filling mercury-glass goblet vases with spray roses, baby's breath, and hypericum berries. We placed some of the vases on top of colorfully wrapped presents to add height. To carry on the theme, use nutcracker paper plates and a candy-striped table runner. A flocked Christmas tree decorated with bright and cheerful ornaments reflect the color palette of the party. For a fun activity, have the girls…

TIME TO CELEBRATE New Year’s Eve is the perfect time to host supper club. Create a modern and stylish vibe by using a mix of metallics in your décor. Large shimmering numbers make a stunning statement when set upon the mantel with decorative garland and soft twinkling lights. As the countdown begins, make sure everyone has noisemakers and confetti poppers ready to ring in the new year. CHAMPAGNE MOJITOS Makes 6 servings ½ cup sugar½ cup water1 cup white rum½ cup ice1 (1-ounce) package mint1 (750-ml) bottle champagne1 teaspoon celery root bitters ONE In a small saucepan, combine sugar and ½ cup water over medium-high heat. Cook until mixture begins to boil and sugar dissolves. Remove from heat. Let cool to room temperature. Cover, and refrigerate for up to 5…

COVER 9’ Clear LED Prelit Grand Fir Christmas tree, Tree Classics; Cedar Juniper Magnolia garland, NDI; wreath, Balsam Hill; lanterns, Park Hill Collection; stockings, holly berry tree skirt, swirl mini ornament clusters in red, and glitter acorn ornaments, Mud-Pie; red dove ornaments, resin leaf ornaments, and resin crystal ornaments, Creative Co-Op; gold wave mold glass ornaments, Gramercy Fine Linens and Furnishings; glittered snowflake ornaments, red and gold glass ball ornaments, Linen and Boxwoods EDITOR’S NOTE Page 7–Women’s Cable Crewneck Sweater in White Canvas and Women's Mid Rise Slim Jeans in Merlot by Lands’ End; makeup by Jane Iredale CELEBRATE THE SEASON Page 12–Christmas tree decorated by AKT Designs; Page 13–Tree and mantel decorated by Harriet Alley of Hawkins-Israel Interiors; Page 14–Tree decorated by Hannon Douglas Interiors EASY RESTYLE…

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Festive Florals A lush arrangement sets the tone for a beautiful table. Our centerpiece includes roses, freesia, dianthus, hypericum berries, and ming fern. Seasonal Details Mix Christmas china with year-round chargers to keep things simple. Make place cards by writing names on red gift tags with a gold pen, and then tie the tags to sprigs of hypericum berries. MERRY AMBIANCE Everyone will get in the holiday spirit with this cottage table setting. Place green glassware alongside traditional clear glass to add interest, and use vintage flatware for a rustic touch. To complete the look, flank the centerpiece with a mix of antique brass candlesticks. SWEET TOUCHES Fold red linen napkins in the shape of a tree, and add gold star stickers to the tops for the perfect detail. A…

Create the Look: Create a natural table setting, layering handmade ceramic stoneware atop dressy metallic chargers. We collected flatware and glasses from flea markets and local thrift stores to give the setting a perfectly mismatched look. To carry on the rustic theme at the table, we snipped long, narrow pinecones into thirds, fashioning flower-shaped pieces. Then we hot-glued the “flowers” onto place cards with guests’ names. Fashion a beautiful chandelier made of greenery to create a stunning impact. Using jute or rope, tie from four different areas of the wreath. Bring each strand together in the middle, tie, and then hang from the ceiling. Complete directions at celebratemag.com. Our snowy centerpiece included birch-wrapped containers filled with eucalyptus, dusty miller, assorted white poms, and other flowers. As an alternative to a…

It’s the holiday season, and that means it’s time for the festivities to begin. But that often leaves people wondering what is appropriate to wear to each type of event. From formal black-tie affairs to festive parties with friends, here are some tips to help you enter every celebration with grace and confidence. Many holiday invitations request black-tie attire, which has specific but clear rules to follow. The requirement for men is a tuxedo, and a black floor-length dress is the standard for women. Sparkly earrings and a rhinestone bracelet will look fabulous with the dress of choice. Cocktail parties, by definition, are a notch down from a black-tie event. Men typically wear a dark-colored suit with a white shirt and a solid-colored tie. Cocktail dresses are generally knee-length and…

FULL & FRESH Welcome your holiday guests with a beautiful live wreath. Accent a simple wreath form of cedar clippings with magnolia leaves and blossoms, as well as assorted floral sprigs, to create the perfect greeting. RUSTIC ELEGANCE Popcorn garland, cotton blossoms, and ornaments in natural tones meld beautifully with metallic accent pieces like nutcrackers. Make your gifts part of the décor by choosing two or three complementary colors for the wrapping paper and ribbons. CLASSIC TOUCH Sentimental baubles in bright colors take center stage when paired with pearl and gold balls. Repeat these hues along the mantel to enhance the space. Fresh garland perfectly completes the jovial ambiance. GILDED GLAM Get creative with tree toppers such as oversize pinecones for a charming addition that plays beautifully with a monochromatic…

Set the Mood Decorating the mantel and the hearth of the outdoor fireplace makes the setting feel even more special and romantic. A few pieces of greenery and a couple of seasonal prints add personality and delight to this charming outdoor supper. I hope you are inspired to dine alfresco this season, despite the chill in the air. Seasonal Style In creating this scene, I began with a small table to encourage intimacy and closeness. (It’s cold out after all, so the closer, the better!) A ruffled burlap tablecloth serves as the base of the setting. A plaid blanket forms a tablecloth overlay and anchors the scene. Antique silver trays become chargers for the dinner plates, while a lace-trimmed napkin gathered with a bit of plaid ribbon and a petite…

With her warm smile and bubbly personality, Bridget Edwards will win you over with the constant stream of fun and unique ideas you’ll find on her cookie-decorating blog, Bake at 350. Bridget has been blogging since 2007, when she launched Bake at 350 to share the simple tricks and tools she uses to create her cookie designs. Through lots of trial and error, she has perfected the art of cookie decorating. But on her blog, she shares techniques for cute cookies that anyone can master. From holidays to the everyday, Bridget has a cookie for any occasion, big or small, and she is always coming up with new ideas. Her books, Decorating Cookies: 60+ Designs for Holidays, Celebrations & Everyday and Decorating Cookies Party: 10 Celebratory Themes/50 Designs, contain recipes…

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