The stockings were hung ...

We finally (or, I finally) got all of the Christmas decorations up. Wanna take a peek?

We have two fireplaces, though this one does not have a mantle (a project for another time). Good place for our (2) stockings, though.

Also, I'm pretty proud of these logs! Faux bois, as Martha would say. I really wanted to do this plaster of paris faux log project from Design Sponge, alas I had no cardboard and no plaster of paris. So ... plan #2 ... google "faux bois paper" and Paper Source to the rescue! I wrapped the paper around random tubes and bubble wrap and smushed it up. Kinda cute?

Crafty project numero dos: felt garland! I saw this on Pinterest via Etsy and thought I could probably give it a go. I made the wreath last year and had felt leftover, so one random day last week I was off work and Ellen was at school. I sat down and cut all those little circles by hand and fed them right through my sewing machine. It was much faster than it sounds and, I think, kind of festive! (I also MacGyvered four draft blockers for my doors out of old fabric, 50 lbs. of rice, 16 lbs. of pinto beans and a greeting card. It was a productive day.)

And, crafty project 3!! (Do you catch my theme? It's "Thrifty Holiday") I also saw this on Pinterest via Better Homes and Gardens. (As an aside, my Pinterest feed is broken somehow and I get almost no new posts. It is terrible. Don't you hate it when you become addicted to something that you never knew existed and then you can't have it? Gah.) I made 4 of these card wreaths for the two sets of french doors. Yes, I am the person that saves every Christmas card for the last 5+ years. "Why?" Erik asks .... well, duh ... this is why. I did not cut these by hand, in case you really thought I was that crazy.

This crafty project I cannot take credit for. It is a Caroline and Betsy special from a few years ago, courtesy of Ms. Stewart. Super cute, if not a little melty and crusty in places. It is a full time job keeping Ellen away from these. (There are 3 more in the family room - what was I thinking?)

I finally thought this was the year to put our big tree up, last seen in 2007. Ellen has been very good and hardly touches it. I let her decorate the lower foot with non-breakables and everyone is happy.

Well, hello, Nicholas the Elf. Nice to see you here. (Yesterday he was hanging out on the stove cooking and the day before he was up late reading Ellen's library books.)

Bright? Yes. Calm? Well, that one may be a lie.

Can't forget the outside! We aren't big lights-on-the-house type people. (To clarify: I love looking at other people's, I'm just too lazy to do my own.) This is a smidge of a hodge podge effect, but the best I could do with what was on hand. If I was really smart I would try to find something nice on clearance after the holidays for next year. I'm probably not that smart. Is it painful to anyone else to spend money after December 25th, even if it is the deal of the century?

Happy Holidays to you and yours. Bring on the festivities!