Seasonal Archives - Page 2 of 8

February 1, 2017

7 Easy DIY Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas (For Him & Her)

Don’t be the one who gives the boring, cheesy or lazy Valentine’s Day gift this year. Because nothing feels like your loved one didn’t try like a box of going-stale generic chocolates from the drugstore, am I right? Whether you’re giving gifts to your significant other, friends or family members, skip the greeting cards, boxed chocolates and stuffed bears this Valentine’s Day. Instead, with a little do-it-yourself effort, you can turn everyday items that your loved ones will actually use into Valentine’s Day gifts. Here are seven ideas. 1. Natural and organic beauty products Give your loved one a fancy lotion, soap, shampoo, moisturizer or other beauty product. I’m not talking Suave® here. Think more natural and organic products that feel spa-like. (My favorite natural brands that you can easily find at your local Target are Acure, Alba Botanica, Pacifica, S.W. Basics and Yes to.) Make the gift feel Valentine’s Day-themed by tying a red ribbon and twine around the bottle. 2. Everyday essentials in a cute container Whether you’re gifting a few beauty products or another assortment of items, like a coffee mug and a package of locally-roasted organic coffee, tie the items together by placing them in a...

December 23, 2016

Holiday House Tour 2016

Welcome to my home for the holidays this year. It’s actually my sister’s townhouse. What an amazing sister to let me live there while I’m house hunting. Despite her sometimes ‘bah humbug’ attitude when it comes to holiday decor, she also let me decorate her home for Christmas. (And, I might have gone a little overboard.) From a coffee filter wreath to DIY garlands to a few tchotchkes here and there (…and there…and there,) see how I decorated my sister’s urban townhouse for Christmas. It’s my holiday house tour 2016. All it takes is a few pops of red to make your home feel Christmas-y. Throw pillow covers, like these ones from IKEA, are easy to slip on when the holidays roll around—and easy to take off and store away once the season is over. A cozy, red blanket draped on the end of the couch (or over the back of it) is another simple trick to add holiday cheer. It’s also practical and not just for looks. My coffee filter wreath adorns the back of the balcony door. Along with a ‘Merry Christmas’ banner from the Dollar Spot at Target, it creates a festive focal point in the...

December 21, 2016

DIY Christmas Garland: Wood Chip Pompom Garland

DIY Wood Chip Pompom Garland | redleafstyle.com

This year, I took a cue from Scandinavian decorating to make a DIY Christmas garland to outfit my Christmas tree. (And it wasn’t just because I purchased the tree at IKEA.) Instead of a full tree dripping with ornaments, the IKEA Christmas tree encourages Scandinavian minimalism with its sparse branches. I’m not sure what it is about this look that works so well. But it does. Maybe fewer branches mean making more thoughtful ornament choices, since you only have so many branches to hang them on. Or, maybe it’s the deliciously rustic quality of it. As if it was a real tree—imperfections and all—chopped down just outside my door. Or, maybe the simplicity is what makes the tree. It’s not decked out in twinkling lights or shrouded in sparkly twine. Whatever it is, I needed an equally rustic and uncomplicated garland to drape on the tree. When looking at my craft supplies, I saw a bowl full of wood chips and a bag of pompoms and I knew I had to make a DIY Christmas garland using the two. Here’s how to create your own wood chip pompom garland. Gather your supplies together to make your DIY Christmas garland....

December 12, 2016

3 Festive Christmas Wreaths

Are you still decking the halls and putting the final touches on your Christmas décor? As Christmas gets closer, I keep finding ways to make my home just a little bit merrier. One Christmas decoration I can’t do without is a wreath. I tend to DIY my own every year. (I can’t stop at just one!) Wreaths are so easy to make yourself. And, you have so many DIY options. Cover it in yarn or fabric. Make a ruffled burlap wreath. Use candy canes, fake poinsettias or bows. There are so many ideas out there! If you need a Christmas wreath, then look no further. I’ve got you covered. Here are my three favorite festive wreaths that you can make yourself. 1. DIY Ornament Wreath for $10 or Less Add some sparkle to your front door with this ornament wreath made from dollar store materials. Besides saving money when you make your own ornament wreath, you can also customize it any way you want. You get to choose the exact color combination and size. Here’s how you can make your own homemade ornament wreath for $10 or less. Make your own ornament wreath. 2. DIY Coffee Filter Wreath Can you...

December 9, 2016

DIY Holiday Burlap Garland

You can certainly buy your own garland to hang over your mantle or wrap around your staircase railing this holiday season, but why not make your own? While garland made from real or artificial greenery is traditional, this ruffled burlap garland is more unexpected. And, it will add rustic charm to your holiday décor. Even better? You don’t need to be super crafty to make your own holiday burlap garland. It’s actually really simple. You’ll feel all cheery inside when you drape your completed DIY burlap garland along your staircase railing. Here’s how to make it. Made from 5-inch rolls of burlap fabric, there’s no cutting required. You’ll need just a few other supplies to get started. What you’ll need: – Burlap fabric roll (I used two rolls of 5 inch x 10 yards that I got at Walmart.) – String (a neutral color works best) – Safety pin – Scissors This is a great craft project to do while watching T.V. Once you get the hang of it, the repetition takes over, and you’ll be done before you know it! Step 1: Measure your string First, you need to determine how long you want your garland to be....

December 6, 2016

DIY Coffee Filter Wreath

Can you believe this fluffy, snow-like wreath is made from coffee filters? Bring a wintery wonderland vibe to your front door or above your mantle by making your own coffee filter wreath. This DIY coffee filter wreath has big style, but is low budget. Grab a stack of coffee filters, make a pot of coffee (you’ll need some caffeine to power through this DIY) and get crafting. A while back I bought a pack of 700 coffee filters from Costco. At $2.59 total, I thought it was a deal that was real, and I figured they would get used up over time. Well, even with my coffee-guzzling habit, at least 500 of those coffee filters were still around after about a year. Whether you’re like me and need to use up an ill-advised bulk purchase of coffee filters or you want to make a wreath for cheap, this DIY coffee filter wreath is the way to go. You’ll need just three more supplies (besides the coffee filters) to complete the project. What you’ll need: – Wreath form (I used a straw wreath form) – Coffee filters (200-300) – Hot glue gun – Hot glue sticks Before you get started,...

November 3, 2016

A Bright & Happy Fall Front Porch

The front porch is the welcome center to your home. You see it every time you leave and it’s there, welcoming you, after a long day at work. Shouldn’t your front porch feel warm and friendly? And, what better time to spruce up your front porch than when guests start arriving? After all, it’s that time of year. Fall gatherings. Football watch parties. Thanksgiving. Before fall’s over (why does it happen so fast!?) I wanted to share my front porch all decked out for autumn. Dressed up with just a few fall essentials, my front porch is bright, happy and welcoming. Add some fall mums In pops of bright yellow and deep burgundy, fall mums add festive fall color to your front stoop. Pop the plants into unexpected containers, like woven baskets or my plastic pumpkin planters, and your plants will be anything but boring. Bring on the pumpkins No fall porch is complete without a display of pumpkins. Orange and white pumpkins keep it classic, but you could also add in green pumpkins or warty pumpkins. A place to sit If you have the space, a simple wooden bench makes the perfect spot to plop down, read a...

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Category: Seasonal