Just A Little Christmas Decorating

Quite literally..."Just A Little Christmas Decorating"

   Since I am not hosting Christmas this year (Yea), I didn't go crazy on decorating.

My Christmas Tree is my dress form.   I saw this great idea at Shabby Story  You have to jump over and see the fabulous shabby decorating Lynn did......Trust me...You'll be drooling

I think everyone needs a dress form, I have used it in soooo many ways.  This dress form is from Barr Display altered or unaltered.  If you would like to age it yourself you can see my tutorial HERE

psst: would someone straighten the candles on the mantle..lol

These blinged up vintage candles were always a big seller in my booth.  The tutorial on altering them is HERE and HERE

This is my $8 thrift store find...It was all put together with the ornaments in the vase and complete with a bow...Yea!

I am soooo looking forward to Christmas with my family this year...I think there has been more time between Thanksgiving and Christmas than last year, which makes it seem less rushed

I have had a ton of fun going to holiday parties and hosted a 

"Hot Chocolate and Cookies Party"  

 The second weekend in December every year, the lake behind my house has luminaries lit all the way around the walking path 

 So.... I invited friends to stop over and grab a hot chocolate....Baileys.....Kahlua (Yum).  We walked the lake then came back for cookies....So much fun!

So....This is it kids...I am signing off for 2014 and will talk to you all again in 2015

I'm wishing a Merry Christmas to all of you dear friends around the world.

 You have enriched my life more than you will ever know!

Happy Creating

Carol

A Gift From The Teacher

If you follow me on Facebook I shared that my son started teaching school this year.  He is teaching honors history.....He loves it!   I asked if he was going to give anything to the students for Christmas because.......I had an idea!

I really wanted to do something for the kids and I saw a version of this on Pinterest.  

It has hot chocolate, marshmallows, and a candy cane to stir

We wrote "Warm Winter Wishes" since some of his students are of different religious beliefs   

He has 117 students in his 6 classes so.....I made a trip to the dollar store and it was only $35 for the supplies for 132 bags......Some extra bags for the staff.

We got busy....Assembly line style....It really went quick

 He said they loved them...Once he gave them out to the first class news spread quick and the other classes were excited to get their hot chocolate kits.

I dug out his first day of kindergarden picture and put it next to his first day of teaching picture

Don't you love that he has a name tag around his neck in both pictures

Happy Creating

Carol

How To Hand Paint A Sign

I've been busy finishing DIY Christmas presents.....Next up on the list was painting this sign 

 I could not believe my luck when I found these four shutters in the neighbors garbage can......Who throws this stuff out?????  They are so shabby perfect!

I first printed out the words on my computer....I know...... totally unoriginal wording...... 

....But since the wood had 2 squares I needed to think of something I could put in the little square.....5 cents was perfect!

I put some old tracing paper under the words...And traced over them with a pen

Then filled in the letters with white paint using a small brush and did the shadowing with a black paint pen.....I have no idea if I got the shadowing right.....But, it gave the letters some dimension

After it dried, I sanded over the letters and then applied some dark wax.....And I was done

  I did absolutely nothing else to the wood because it was perfect just as it was

I love it and I still have 3 more shutters...I think one will be perfect for over my kitchen sink

Humm....I wonder who will be getting this one for Christmas?  

Happy Creating!

Carol

Partying with My Salvaged Treasures

Mitten Ornaments From Vintage Lace And Fabric.... Take Two

I posted these cute little mitten Christmas ornaments three years ago, but I think they are so darn cute that they are worth another look!?  I hope you agree.

They are a great way to use torn and stained vintage linen and lace scraps 

I am always saving vintage hankies, and embroidered linen that is stained or has holes, I just can't bare to throw them out when some portion is useful

This is the perfect project to use some of those scraps

I drew a free hand pattern of a mitten 5 1/2" X 4 1/2", cut two, sewed them together and embellished

These were from old tablecloths and an antique quilt

And old hand towel, table cloth, and quilt

Hanky, hand towel, and tablecloth

I adorned these with vintage lace, buttons, flowers, and jewelry

 Great hostess gifts for the holidays.

I think I could call these "Second Hand Mittens"!

Happy Creating!


Carol

Partying with My Salvaged Treasures
Coastal Charm

Setting Up A Holiday Booth.

When I closed my booth of 13 years last spring to focus on the Polka Dot Flea I had 6 bins of vintage holiday goodies still in storage  

This is where my friend Terrie Ireland came in.  She just opened Vintage Living Marketplace in Rockledge Florida, a short 1 hour drive from Orlando.  Terrie invited me to sell my holiday wares in a small booth space at her market.

I am only going to be there through the holiday season

I apologize for the worst pictures ever.....I forgot my camera, these were taken with my iphone and my booth has no natural light

Vintage Living Marketplace is absolutely gorgeous.  The venue was previously a high end kitchen store, so each vendor is set up in one of the many rooms in the store.

Do you ever find yourself standing on your head trying to see price tags on other blogs......No secrets here at The Polka Dot Closet

What an honor to be in a Market with so many of the who's who in Central Florida vendors.   Here's a look inside some of their booths.

I had so much fun setting up a booth again.......Thank you Terrie for finding me a space at Vintage Living Marketplace!!!

 I am so thankful for how my world has been enriched and all of the wonderful friends I have made by simply pushing ......

I wish you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!!

Happy Creating

Carol