Recently, I sliced and dried red pear and orange slices for simple holiday decorations. Soon after, I realized that the dried fruit would look pretty in a bowl of potpourri, too. It is so simple to make, y’all! Therefore, I decided to share how to make a potpourri mix with y’all.
Making potpourri is fairly easy and a great way to add a seasonal scent into a room. Plus, it is an inexpensive, eco-friendly gift idea for friends and family. Simply, place in sachets or jars and tie with ribbon.
Spritz. Store. Enjoy.
How to Make a Potpourri Mix
Potpourri is a mixture of dried, naturally fragrant plant materials displayed in a decorative bowl or basket. There are many different kinds. Therefore, you can choose from this list of suggested materials what goes into your potpourri. First, choose any greenery, spices, or herbs for natural scent. Then, add color with dried flowers and fruit. Woody materials are absorbent and will hold the scent well. Lastly, extra oils will elevate the scent.
What You Need:
Dried greenery – pine, eucalyptus, bay leaves
Dried fruit – sliced citrus, apples, pears
Dried spices or herbs- cloves, cinnamon sticks, star anise
Dried flowers – rose buds or petals, lavender
Woody filler – pinecones, nutmeg, driftwood, sola wood flowers
Essential oils in spray bottle or oil based room spray
Airtight container or gallon ziplock bag
How to Dry Oranges
You can find more ways to use dried oranges and tips to drying fruit on my friend Susie’s blog. For example, click here to read “How to Dry Oranges” or this blog post for beautiful Natural Gift Wrap Ideas.
1. Preheat oven to 170°F.
2. Cut oranges into 1/8 inch slices.
3. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper or a baker’s mat. Then, pat orange slices with a paper towel to dry. Next, lay them on the cookie sheet in a single layer.
4. Bake for approximately 4-6 hours or until dry. To ensure the slices dry evenly and not curl, turn them over every hour. Remove from oven and allow to completely cool before using.
The rose buds are dried from Valentine’s Day years ago.
Essential Oils
You can use a combination of your favorite essential oil scents like citrus or cypress. I purchase essential oils from Doterra, because I know that they are pure and high quality. In addition, I love the Krumpet’s home sprays for the holidays. Find them, here. My favorite scents are the cinnamon, ‘Christmas’ (sweet berry) and shiplap (woodsy).
When working with oils, be aware that some may stain or can be irritable to skin and eyes. Therefore, it is a good idea to wear gloves when handling materials directly covered in oil. However, I wash my hands thoroughly after this project. In addition, I do not spray directly on my wood table or use containers that are used for food.
What You Do:
Gather your materials and spread them out on newspaper or in a flat bowl. Spritz your materials with 15+ sprays of your choice of essential oil.
Wait a few minutes to dry, and store mixture in an airtight container. For example, a lidded jar or ziplock bag works great. Leave this to ‘marinate’ for 48 hours.
Then, pour mixture into a decorative basket or bowl to enjoy for weeks. Once scent begins to dissipate, simply respray.
You can use my code CUTER10 for 10% off everything in the shop, From: Susie.For instance, I display my potpourri in this vintage bread basket that Susie and I found in Round Top, Texas.
If you enjoyed this learning how to make a potpourri mix, save this to your Pinterest board for ‘Things to Make.’ Happy crafting, y’all!
Welcome to the Home for the Holidays Christmas Tree Challenge with Decorator’s Warehouse. I am so excited to share this year’s elegant, rustic christmas tree with y’all!
Decorator’s Warehouse challenged 12 talented home decor bloggers to design a Christmas tree exclusively with decorations from the store. If you have ever shopped online or visited Decorator’s Warehouse in Arlington, Texas, then you know that the hardest part is choosing just one theme or color scheme. Consequently, there are so many different styles of Christmas decor from rustic to whimsical and elegant which can be found in a variety of trendy, traditional, or neutral color palettes.
Use code CUTERTUDOR for 10% off everything at Decorator’s Warehouse except Christmas trees and resin.
Rustic Christmas Tree
My decorating style is a combination of rustic and casual elegant design. For example, rustic feels distressed, aged or natural. Similarly, materials that exude a rustic feel include burlap, jute, weathered metal or raw wood. It may appear in farmhouse or coastal style homes. As far as the elegant side of the design, I incorporate a little sparkle into my home during the holidays. For instance, think velvet ribbon, glittered balls or stems and twinkle lights. However, I always want my home to feel relaxed and welcoming.
When decorating my home, I I love the look of neutral colors, such as beige, white and grey. In addition, I always gravitate towards cool colors like blue and green. This color combination feels very calming and approachable.
Consequently, my style has not changed from last season. I still love blue mixed with neutrals and creating a rustic elegant vibe that reflects my coastal style. Plus, bells are one of my favorite things to add into my holiday decor. Specifically, I used the large rustic jingle bells on my tree and mantle last year. You can find my previously decorated tree and Tips to Decorate a ChristmasTree, here.
I found these natural fiber deer and pair of trees in Decorator’s Warehouse.
How to Decorate a Rustic Christmas Tree
Basically, there are three things that I incorporate into decorating a tree: floral picks/stems, ornaments and ribbon. However, I used a variety of each to showcase different textures, colors and contrast.
Assuming your tree is pre-lit like mine, the first step is to fluff the branches of the tree. For example, make sure you touch every branch, pulling each towards you and spreading it out to fill in any gaps.
Start with the Spray Topper
Secondly, decorate the top of the tree with a ‘spray topper.’ A spray topper is an assortment of different artificial floral sprays and seasonal stems grouped into a bouquet on top of the tree. In addition, florals, bows, bells or seasonal elements can be added near the base of the topper. For this tree, I push frosted branches, pine and berry style sprays down the top center of the tree, as close to the pole as I can. Next, I add floral sprays in clusters. Lastly, I hang a set of three white washed bells off to one side. These bells have a round circle which I pushed through the tip of a branch before bending upward to secure.
For 9+ foot trees, I remove the top section, place it in a bucket, decorate it using tie-wraps to secure before returning it to the tree. Since, this tree isn’t too tall, I just used my step ladder.
Bells are one of my favorite things to decorate with during the holidays. I have collected many different styles and sizes of bells over the years. However, this set of white washed bells is a recent find from Decorator’s Warehouse. I knew when I saw them that I had to have them. They are so versatile to decorate with. For instance, I hung these on the top and side of the tree. Then, tied a pair on the garland hung on the fireplace mantle. However, they would look great hung on the stairwell or front door or sitting on the coffee or dining table for a unique centerpiece.
Weave Ribbon into the Tree
I prefer to use three different kinds of ribbon with at least one having a bold pattern or texture. For instance, I chose two shades of blue velvet ribbon in two different widths, but added the birch bark ribbon for contrast. Plus, it added another natural element to this rustic Christmas tree.
Wired ribbon is the easiest to work with. It allows you to ‘pop’ the loops out to create more depth. Plus, it can be rolled up and used year after year. Another key factor to working with ribbon is to cut it into controllable increments. For instance, most of the ribbon on my tree is cut between 2-4 feet long. I highly recommend viewing Decorator’s Warehouse tutorials on YouTube for excellent step by step directions to add ribbon to the tree.
Basically, ribbon is added with a series of loops and tails. To create ‘tails’, cut the end at an angle. However, I prefer a ‘dovetail’ by folding the ends in half and cutting a diagonal from the center to the outer edge. To create loops, leave a tail, twist ribbon to create an 8 inch loop to ensure the top of the ribbon always shows. Then, repeat to create either another loop or tail. Simply twist ribbon between the tree branches to secure.
These table top pine trees in galvanized pots look so real. When tied with velvet ribbon, they are a perfect mix of rustic and elegant.
Fill with Floral Clusters and Filler Sprays
Floral clusters are a bouquet of floral, textured, and leaf style ‘sprays’ or stems. These are the basic elements when creating a floral arrangement, as well. Decorator’s Warehouse has a beautiful selection of Christmas flowers in an assortment of materials, colors, patterns and sizes. I chose the grey sugar poinsettia, burlap faux fur edge poinsettia and a green velvet poinsettia with glitter detail.
For winter, artificial ‘leaf’ stems may be cedar, spruce or pine needles and frosted or snow covered branches. Textured stems are usually three dimensional and may include those with faux berries, pinecones, glittered balls or ornamental details. You can shop for both, here.
Therefore, layer at least 3-5 different sprays, including at least one floral, textured and leafy stem. For instance, place a poinsettia over a dewberry pick, frosted branch and pine spray. Then, hold in one hand and with the other, grab the end of one of the more flexible stems, and twist the bunch together. This will allow you to easily push the floral cluster along a branch on the Christmas tree while securing with a tree branch. Make at least one floral cluster per foot of tree.
Lastly, set aside about one dozen each of 3-4 different kind of sprays, as well. These individual sprays will be the last thing that you add to the tree. Basically, these are used to fill in any empty spaces and repeat color and pattern throughout the tree.
Add an Assortment of Ornaments
For a 7. 5 foot tree, Decorator’s Warehouse recommends to use 6 different styles of 5 balls. Then, add 12 different styles of three specialty ornaments. However, this is just a recommendation and you should always decorate in a way that you love.
When choosing ornaments, be sure to consider a variety of different finishes, colors, textures, and sizes. For example, select matte, shiny, natural, glittered, rough, smooth, detailed, big and small. If you enjoy a monochromatic color scheme, simply choose different shades of one color. If you prefer modern look, lean towards smoother textures and cleaner lines, but choose matte and shiny metallic finishes.
Continuing the same elements in the room is great way to make a room feel cohesive with the holiday decor. Last year, I styled a nine foot Belgium pine garland on my fireplace mantle. I loved it so much that I decided to do it again this year using the same beautiful ribbons, bells and floral, berry and leafy picks as the tree. Additionally, I decorated a wreath to hang above the mantle.
In addition, you can use floral picks and sprays for floral arrangements, centerpieces or garlands hung on the door or staircase.
Think outside the box.
If you find something you love, but it doesn’t fit your plan, can you make a simple change to create something perfect for you? Perhaps, you cut some of the larger sprays into smaller pieces for floral arrangements.
Or, like me, I found a garland of beautiful green glass ornaments tied together with jute. It was the same shade of green as the velvet poinsettias. Therefore, I untied the ornaments from the long jute and retied the ornaments in clusters of two. This allowed me to hang them on the tree as ornaments and repeat the color I love. Or, lay it across the coffee table for an easy styling solution with potted trees, like these I tied ribbon around.
Use code CUTERTUDOR for 10% off everything at Decorator’s Warehouse except Christmas trees and resin.
Looking for more holiday inspiration?
Take the tour to see the rest of the Christmas trees in the Decorator’s Warehouse Christmas Tree Challenge. You will find so many different ideas to decorate your tree in a variety of color schemes and styles.
Today, I am sharing how I styled an easy Christmas candy tray using a few of our family’s favorite treats and pieces from the Lenox holiday collection. This may be the sweetest DIY that you do this holiday season. By the way, this is the 4th DIY of the 12 DIYs of Christmas.
How to Make a Christmas Candy Tray
First, set out your favorite Christmas tray. I am using a beautiful silver metal platter from the Lenox holiday collection. The pinecones and holly leaf design is perfect for holiday gatherings all season long.
Next, make or buy an assortment of your favorite holiday candies and treats! Include a variety of chocolates, peppermints, gummy candies, cookies and white chocolate covered popcorn and pretzels.
Its as easy as 1, 2, 3
Step 1. Use decorative bowls to hold small candies like gummy bears, m&m’s, cherry sours or Red Hots. If necessary, use small pedestals to add height. Begin by placing the largest bowl on the tray, maybe off center. Then, add smaller bowls around it on the tray.
Step 2. Next, place larger individual treats like cookies, peppermint sticks, licorice and chocolate reindeer onto the tray.
Step 3. Last, fill in with bite size treats like mints or white chocolate popcorn (my recipe is here).
1. Place small candies in decorative bowls.
2. Add larger treats & cookies.
3. Fill in with bite size candies.
Dessert for Dinner
As my kids get older and outgrow certain traditions with sneaky elves and stories of Santa Claus, it has been hard to keep the excitement of Christmas alive. Therefore, I thought it would be fun, and really unexpected to initiate a new a new Christmas tradition… ‘dessert for dinner!’ Of course, we had a meal afterwards, but it was still fun to enjoy dessert first!
Paper accents for the table are from Hester and Cook, including the paper Santa placemats and Christmas tree place cards. They are so fun and festive for holiday tablescapes.
Old and new traditions are what bring families together! This was a wonderful feast, y’all!
The 12 DIYs of Christmas
I hope you enjoy this 4th holiday inspired DIY in the 12 DIY’s of Christmas. If you missed the first days of the 12 DIYs of Christmas, you can see how I made a set of berry garland napkin rings for $1, here, a countdown calendar here, and a DIY snow globe lamp, here.
Save this to your Christmas Dessert Pinterest Board by tapping the red pin in the top left of this pic!
I love snow globes, y’all! There is something magical about looking into a snow filled scene! If you love them too, check out last year’s DIY Snow Globe blog post. I created snow globes with everything from ornaments to lanterns. This year, I am creating snow globes in lamps!
What you need for DIY Snow Globe Lamp:
Fillable glass lamp, hot glue gun, glue sticks
Faux Snow
There are so many different types of faux snow available online like Amazon.com and at craft stores, like Michael’s or Hobby Lobby. For example, there is fluffy ‘buffalo snow,’ styrofoam bead snow, and glitter faux snow. Any of these work!
Figurines
Bottle brush trees are my favorite. However, deer, Santa, and snowmen figurines are cute, too. Group items in three, like two trees and a Santa.
Directions:
First, remove the lamp shade from the base.
After choosing an arrangement for the figurines and trees, hot glue the bottom of the figurines to the inside base of the lamp. Often, the lamp bases are curved upward. so this will secure them in place. If the base is flat, there is no need to glue.
Add any kind of faux snow to cover the bottom of the lamp base.
Lastly, replace the lamp shade. Enjoy your snowy scene during the holidays.
So easy, right??? Before long, you will want to make every glass container into a DIY snow globe.
Be sure to follow along all month as I share the 12 DIYs of Christmas! Plus, more decorating ideas and holiday tours of my home decorated for Christmas on the blog this December.
I have always loved to mix antiques with new pieces in my home. Especially during Christmas, I love to use my collection of vintage silver finds to hold Christmas decor. Therefore, I am sharing a few of my favorite ways to display vintage silver for Christmas. Then, I will share which of my photos featuring a vintage silver tray ended up in a magazine! Twice!
Vintage Vessels
Vintage silver serving pieces and old trophies always catch my eye while I am out junkin’. Consequently, I have collected quite a few pieces over the past three years. When I see them for a great deal, I can’t pass them up. Can you believe that I found this fluted silver bowl at Goodwill for less than $5. This Christmas, I added my Wallace silver bells and flocked pinecones in the bowl. Furthermore, vintage silver bowls are great to display extra ornaments, beaded garlands, pinecones, etc…
Vintage Silver Trays
I may stick bottle brush trees everywhere for Christmas. That is to say that I just love the nostalgic feel of these trees. Some of the new glammed up versions look charming, too! Vintage silver platters make a nice backdrop on book shelves or cabinets. Often times, I lean them against the shelf. Other times, I use vintage silver platters to style a vignette on my coffee table or to round up smaller vintage finds. Whether you use just one vintage silver piece or show off your entire collection, add contrast with color or texture. Lastly, I use silver trays as wall decor. They are easy to hang with these plate hangers from Hobby Lobby.
Magazine Feature: Reclaim
A few months ago, my friend Cassie, a fellow blogger at My Thrifty Life by Cassie Fairy and magazine contributor in the UK, asked me to share one of my vintage Christmas photos for a magazine article that she was writing. Consequently, Cassie and I share a love for repurposing old items into something new, and giving new life to vintage pieces. She is the sweetest friend and shares lots of creative DIYs on her blog. I feel kind of cool being friends with someone from the UK. Anyways, Cassie sent me a photo of the magazine cover and the page that my picture appeared on. You can see it on the bottom right side of the page of Reclaim magazine.
Before that, Cassie wrote an 8 page spread over my DIYs and repurposed projects in my home for Reloved magazine. (issue 50) If you want a digital copy, you candownload it here. Y’all, I was so honored to be in a magazine. If you are wondering how Cassie and I met, let me tell you! INSTAGRAM! Social media makes it easy to connect with people from all over the world, based on similar interests! As much as the algorithm of instagram drives me crazy, I love being able to meet new friends who share similar passions on Instagram. Behind those squares, are real people! That is to say, people are what make Instagram what it is!
Photo courtesy of Cassie Fairy
Photo courtesy of Cassie Fairy
Here is the photo of some of my vintage finds styled last Christmas in Reclaim magazine
Thank you for stopping by the Cuter Tudor! If you are looking for more Christmas ideas, just search ‘Christmas’ in the sidebar on the right side of the screen. For example, I have several room tours with my holiday decor on the blog, like this one! Lastly, you can find me on instagram @cutertudor or come pin with me on Pinterest! Above all, have a wonderful day, y’all!
