Top 12 of 2012

Donna over at Funky Junk Interiors is hosting her weekly link party and this week's subject is your top DIY projects of 2012.  So, I decided to join in the fun since I have a lot of new followers recently who may have missed some of the projects from earlier in the year.  Some of them I knew were popular, some I was surprised about.

In the DIY category my top projects were...

#1 - Faux Galvanizing Technique

With over 8,500 views this was by far the most popular DIY post of the year.

Merry Christmas!!

                                                             

Christmas Stockings Makeover and a Feature

Ok, I have two things for you today my faithful readers!  

First of all, Dawn over at Creative Cain Cabin was sweet enough to feature my Christmas porch on her blog today!  So be sure to stop by her blog and share the love.  She has an incredibly amazing home!  Thanks so much Dawn!!

Now onto the 2nd thing, my last Christmas post for this year.  This is going to be a fairly quick post, nothing too fancy or completely amazing.  Just a quick little project I did yesterday and wanted to share with you.

My husband is the only one in our household that has a special stocking that he loves to use every year.  The rest of us have just been using the decorative ones I have.  They're cute up on the wall, but they're a pain to actually try and fill with stuff.  Plus, they're not "special" in any way.  After falling in love with some quilted ones on Etsy I decided that's what I want to do.  I want to make our stockings out of a quilt.  BUT...it was too late to try and accomplish that this year.  For one thing, I was running out of time to be able to finish them without mega stress, and for another thing I can't even get to my sewing machine right now thanks to this summer's yard sale treasures that have buried it.

SO.....in the mean time I bought these basic little fuzzy stockings from good ol' Wally World and a pack of variety buttons.  I already had the ribbon from a 60% off sale at JoAnn's.

About 30 minutes and a little hot glue later I had some "not so basic" stockings.

Rustic Nativity with Crates

Here's my "junky" version of the Nativity scene done with repurposed rustic crates.  It's almost identical to how I did it last year.  I tried to think up a new way to display it, but I couldn't think of anything I liked better than this so I just did it the same again.  We've had so many new followers lately that it might be brand new to some of you.

I've had this Nativity set since Hubby and I got married 10 years ago.  I got a great deal on it at a going-out-of-business sale.

"Junky" Christmas Decor Continued

Last time I skipped ahead from the inside decor to the porch outside.  So now, let's go back inside and continue on around the living room. 

We left off with the shelf and then the repurposed centerpiece on the coffee table.

A "Junky" Christmas Porch

Ok y'all, I've been almost giddy with excitement to show you what I came up with for the porch this year, so I'm skipping ahead from the inside decor to the outside.  I had so much fun rearranging things that were already out there for the Fall display and adding a few "new" things to make it Christmasy.

Normally, the red barnwood style bench sits under this main living room window, but I decided to move it elsewhere for the time being.  

I truly have a love for reusing/repurposing 2nd hand items.  The only two things on this entire porch that weren't thrifted or discovered treasures at yard sales are the little red truck from Hobby Lobby (though I did buy it last year during a 50% off sale) and the large glass jar which my mom gave me.

Perfectly Junky Christmas Centerpiece

If you follow me on my Facebook page you may have seen this red wooden tool tray I posted about the other day.  I found it at a local thrift store for 2.99 and fell instantly in love!  I couldn't wait to get it home and use it in my Christmas decor.

I already had a centerpiece on the coffee table that I liked a lot, but I knew this one I would love.  I pictured this the moment I spotted it sitting on that shelf...surrounded by more modern tools.  I almost missed this beauty!

After I got the greenery and candles placed I knew it needed a little "rusty bling," so I raided my box of  doo-dads and came up with a few things that I thought would work.

A Farmhouse Christmas "Mantel"

Hi everyone!  I feel like it's been forever since I've really truly posted anything.  Life here at the "farmhouse" has been speeding right along and we've already begun to enjoy Christmas traditions of the past (Advent calendar) and starting new traditions (Elf on the Shelf, with a twist).  I plan to blog a bit about both of those in the near future.  But for now, I'm ready to start sharing some of our Christmas decor.

I've mentioned before about us not having a fireplace or an actual mantel of any kind in this house, so this shelf above the couch becomes one of my main display areas.

It took me forever to pull this all together, I tried so many variations of things before I finally settled on this.  And I love it, it's very "me."

I brought back the star folding ruler from last year.  You may remember that I used it on our front door in the bicycle basket "wreath."

A stack of old levels mimic the shape of a Christmas tree.

They're topped by vintage toy blocks reminding us to find joy in the season.

Canning jars filled with Epsom salt "snow" and tea light candles give a cozy glow, and fresh greenery clippings from our tree fill in the gaps.  Faux berries give a festive pop of color.

The whole thing just makes me smile.

The Swedish style stockings are from Home Goods a few years ago and I love love love them.  I don't plan to ever part with them.

You may have recognized my DIY topiaries, I temporarily brought them down from our master bedroom.  If you'd like to see how I made them you can see that here.

Stay tuned for more of my Farmhouse Christmas decor coming up soon!

If you'd like to see more of my "junky" farmhouse Christmas style you can see a repurposed toolbox centerpiece {here},  a rustic crate side table display {here}, and my "junky" porch decor {here}.

                                               

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