HOLIDAY DECOR TIPS + TRICKS

As Derek’s mentioned, I thoroughly enjoy decorating for the holidays. But what I don’t enjoy is having a bunch of stuff in storage that is only used for one month out of the year. So, our look for the holidays leans towards the minimalist side of style. Here are two tricks we used this year… and some gingerbread house eating building fun.

“C” is for “CHRISTMAS” CLAMP
Have you ever realized that stocking holders are ridiculously expensive? And then I just imagined Mya accidentally pulling them off the mantel and them bonking her on the head. No thanks. I’ll pass. Since we love exposed hardware, C-clamps were the inexpensive and practical answer. No one will be as excited as me over this, but I think they’re great. Totally understandable if you don’t like the look– but how easy would it be to drape some greenery, full garland, or wide ribbon over these. These Christmas clamps could easily be hidden by other holiday decor… yet still safe for the little ones running around. So, the stockings are hung by the c-clamps with care:

Christmas-Clamp tips: We used 2 inch Husky C-Clamps. They are similar to these, but I can’t find the exact match online. The ones we bought have a black plastic cap on the end of the adjustable screw. I like this feature because it doesn’t mark-up our mantel. On the end of the “C” that clamps tightly to the mantel, I used some felt self adhesive stickers to make sure the metal would not mark-up the wood.

PRESENT PICTURE
You’ve undoubtedly seen this done before– the wrapping of hanged pictures. We didn’t have any wrapping paper that would span the large painting above our mantel, so I took a blank canvas and just added a bow.

WHAT YOU NEED
Wire ribbon: I got ours at Costco.
(1) Blank Canvas
Scissors
(1) Safety pin
(6) Flat tacks

We hope you liked our holiday decor tips and tricks! How are you decorating for the holidays?

Yet the best holiday investment thus far has been a $10 gingerbread house kit. Derek took care of the decorating, while Mya handled the marshmallow eating and frosting-finger licking.