There are a few more holiday projects underway (aka: getting crossed off the list — woot!), so let’s dive right in. Last year I picked up four of these 3-packs of white felt tree ornaments from Target. I bought them about a week after Christmas when they were marked down to ten cents per set instead of a dollar, which left me with 12 mini felt trees for 40 cents total. They were perfect for making a casual banner that looks like hand-cut paper but is actually pre-cut felt — a total win.
I pulled a ribbon remnant from the leftover ribbon box in the closet and laid it out on the floor with the little trees underneath to check spacing. Each tree had a tiny gold string for hanging, so I simply clipped those off.
Then I grabbed 12 paperclips from the office supply drawer. Quick and easy. I could’ve sewn each tree in place or used smaller, cuter clips like mini clothespins, but I wasn’t in the mood to be fussy — I just wanted to make the window look festive using items we already had. There’s something deliciously casual and sweet about white felt trees, navy ribbon, and little silver paperclips. If you prefer, you could use tiny binder clips or teeny clothespins for a more polished look.
Behold… another mini tree!
Yup, our tabletop tree is back. You can see last year’s mini tree for reference, and I also made 38 homemade ornaments for a Pinterest Challenge last season. For now, just take in this year’s little beauty. Ignore the mangled gray pashmina I tossed under it temporarily — I’m thinking some silver faux fur would look amazing there.
As for the ornaments, our only theme is meaningful, sweet, handmade, and treasured. In Clara’s words, it’s full of our “special special favorites.”
We piled on a bunch of ornaments we love — whether they came from a local craft fair, like the Virginia ornament, or were gifted by crafty readers at book tour stops, like the sweet silhouette ornament of Clara as a baby.
Here’s a fun felt YHL ornament that someone made for us at a tour stop. So cute. Nearby you can spot John’s bike ornament that I gave him last year and an old Target disco ball from over five years ago, plus a small brass French horn — a nod to the instrument John played in high school band.
This quirky moose ornament might be our favorite — two newlywedded moose snuggling together. We picked it up in Alaska on our honeymoon. Cue the collective aww.
Another favorite is a burger ornament we bought a few years ago in honor of the Burg-meister. Above it hangs a felt owl made by a reader at a tour stop. Have I mentioned how crafty you guys are?
Basically, this tree is a charming collection of mismatched, meaningful treasures. Our homemade antlers, spray-painted animals, and glass bulbs filled with bright paint still have a spot, surrounded by everything from preserved gingerbread cookies to an Empire State Building ornament that reminds us of New York, where we met back in 2005.
We also brought our DIY chalkboard into the display. John bravely tackled his chalk-is-screechy fear and drew a Starbucks-inspired doodle complete with a snowman. He dipped the chalk in water before writing to get richer colors and less screech — a tip you all suggested that really worked, especially for colored chalk. You might have seen it on Instagram last week. I added some snowflakes, and Clara contributed “a pretty rainbow for Santa.” The family that chalks together stays together.
This formerly un-festive corner now makes me genuinely jolly.
On another note, the little ornaments I glued to magnets are holding up nicely on the magnetic board with three holiday cards keeping them company. They still look just as cute, and since we took the picture yesterday, three more cards have arrived. Woot! I love finding them in the mailbox — card nerd status: confirmed.
We also received an amazing advent calendar from our friends the Pohls in Germany. Their three-year-old daughter Clara is our Clara’s pen pal. This traditional German advent calendar includes small envelopes and boxes filled with tiny treats like dolls, candy, stickers, and even a small pack of colorful tissues. Clara has been loving opening one surprise each day.
So there you have our holiday updates.
set up the big tree (gradient, baby!)get a live tabletop tree again (like we did last year)decorate the mantel, the built-ins, and the entryway console- hang our outside lights & decorate the front porch
shoot a Christmas picture of Clara & Burger for our annual holiday cardmake an advent calendar for Clara? Ahh I’m behind already!- shop for/make all the gifts on our Christmas list (I’m about 90% done — can’t wait to finish!)
We still haven’t hung the exterior lights or finished all the shopping and wrapping, but maybe this weekend will be the one. What’s left on your holiday to-do list? What have you triumphantly crossed off already? Is there anything more satisfying than dragging a pen across completed items? Maybe I need List-Crossers Anonymous. Anyone else enjoying a tabletop tree, homemade banners, or other sweet handmade touches? Spill the holiday beans.
Update: You can check out all of our favorite holiday decor finds — many under $15!