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Christmas Home Tour 2015

Welcome!

I am elated that this day has finally arrived.  I’ve been busily and excitedly preparing + waiting for weeks to give you a tour of my home decorated for Christmas…  And today is the day!

I can not believe it is my 3rd year (check out 2013 + 2014) on the Jennifer Rizzo Holiday Housewalk and I am thrilled to show you lots of new spaces.  If you are following along on tour (start the tour here), I am house #19 and the first on the tour for today.  If you’re continuing through from yesterday, then you just hopped on over from Restoration House.  Wasn’t Kennesha’s house just beautiful with all her fresh greenery?!

holiday housewalk Restoration house, stop 18

Amidst a big renovation (we ripped out our kitchen…), I ‘m shocked that I was able to pull ‘Christmas’ off this year.  I think without this Housewalk Tour planned, decorating for Christmas would have gone to the wayside.  So thank you ALL for the nudge to create this years magical space.

Without further ado, grab a cup of joe or your favorite hot chocolate, put your feet up, and enjoy.

Let the tour begin…

Christmas Home Tour at JennaBurger.com

Our beautiful boxwood (by the way, it’s faux…) welcomes us + guests into our home.  It adorns the apple green colored front door and a red burlap bow gives the perfect layering contrast.

Come on in…

Christmas Home Tour at JennaBurger.com. Come on over...

Not overly large, but well-thought out + functional, our foyer is decorated with hues of golds and reds.

My approach for holiday decorating, especially at Christmas, is to add in seasonal layers amongst the everyday decor.  Accessories are changed out, but our family is still hustling & bustling all day, everyday, so the main elements are still in use.

My new favorite addition to this years holiday decor is the adorable vintage red bicycle pillow created by none other than the fabulous Jennifer Rizzo.  Snag one for yourself at her Society 6 shop!

Christmas Home Tour at JennaBurger.com. Come on over...

The beautiful gold dresser (which holds the kids shoes) is still the main focus of our foyer.  I swapped out the pictures above and added in a chalkboard printable that was created by my sweet friend KellieMay you days be merry & bright, And may all your Christmases be white.  Above it I added a simple gold glitter wreath.

Christmas Home Tour at JennaBurger.com. Come on over...

Atop the dresser, I filled a large vase with branches from the yard and hung medium sized ornaments in shades of chocolate. hmmm. I love the height & ‘drama’ the branch arrangement gives our entry.

Christmas Home Tour at JennaBurger.com. Come on over...

Other seasonal favorites fill the dresser top including small trees, wrapped presents, and DIY creations like the JOY ornament that I made using a gold Sharpie.

Christmas Home Tour at JennaBurger.com. Come on over...

Since making our CHRISTMAS BLESSING card holder a few years back, I seem to find a ‘new home’ for it each holiday season.  This year it fit perfectly in this spot of the foyer & beautiful cards from friends + family have already started to trickle in.

Christmas Home Tour at JennaBurger.com. Come on over...

Pretty paper in patterns of houndstooth, stripes, and a reindeer silhouette were used to wrap presents.  Then ribbon, ornaments, and rosemary were used to dress them up. I love giving a present that smells just as good as it looks…

Christmas Home Tour at JennaBurger.com. Come on over...

Christmas Home Tour at JennaBurger.com. Come on over...

Christmas Home Tour at JennaBurger.com. Come on over...

Let’s head from the foyer to the dining room where you can finally get a glimpse of our tree…

Christmas Home Tour at JennaBurger.com. Come on over...

Do you see it?  Do you see it? White twinkly lights reflected in the glass…  We’re getting closer…

My beautiful Craigslist-found china cabinet is draped with beautiful magnolia garland (again it’s faux) along with a simple strand of pom pom garland (sent by my friends at Minted).

I wish I could show you more of this space, but honestly it’s still kind of a construction zone.  I guess I could put bows on all the boxes & add them tot the tour, but I’ll spare you, lol.

Let’s just keep looking for the lights.  I see another glimpse…

Christmas Home Tour at JennaBurger.com. Come on over...

There it is.  Our Tree. Our beautiful Tree decorated for another Christmas season.

Christmas Home Tour at JennaBurger.com. Come on over...

And the lights off for a different view without the lights…

just snagged that copper Merry Christmas garland from Target & I love it!

Christmas Home Tour at JennaBurger.com. Come on over...

Yes the tree is a material object, but it symbolizes so much.  It tells so much about our family.

Who we are.

Where we’ve been.

What we love.

I can honestly say, other than putting the garland + ribbon on, I had no part in the creation of the tree.

All the credit goes to these 2 …

Christmas Home Tour at JennaBurger.com. Come on over...

It might not be the prettiest or ornately decorated (hands down, I know it isn’t), but I don’t care.  My kids l-o-v-e decorating for Christmas and since I have control of creating beautiful vignettes around the house, they have the tree.  Complete ownership goes to them!

No joke, this is me watching & enjoying as they took over…

Christmas Home Tour at JennaBurger.com. Come on over...

To me, FAMILY + MEMORIES is what Christmas is about.

I’m in love with how the family room came together for this Christmas.  It was enjoyable having a new palette to work with since renovating this space earlier in the year.

Christmas Home Tour at JennaBurger.com. Come on over...

Again, our everyday is layered with our seasonal favorites, family keepsakes, and DIY creations…

I shared our Christmas Mantel earlier this week, but it got a slight revamp since then.  Check out what’s inside the fireplace…  A lot of logs that my husband laboriously cut (not, it just looks like that – tutorial coming soon).

The look of the logs gives a beautiful focal point to the fireplace especially since we rarely have a roarin’ fire going.

Our stockings are definitely hung by the chimney with care…

Christmas Home Tour at JennaBurger.com. Come on over...

Christmas Home Tour at JennaBurger.com. Come on over...

This space is our hang-out-do-everything room, so it has to be comfortable + inviting + functional. It’s not stuffy or inhibiting, but instead relaxing, enjoyable, AND most importantly reflects US!

A new favorite this season is this Oh-So-Warm + cute down blanket with the most adorable vintage car pattern.  It’s put us to sleep many-a-nights on this sofa with the TV still on at 3am…

Christmas Home Tour at JennaBurger.com. Come on over...

The Ho Ho Ho knit pillow is another addition this season and makes such a pretty layer on the sofa.

Christmas Home Tour at JennaBurger.com. Come on over...

On a typical day, most things that sit on the coffee table get knocked off (thanks to the busy hands of a 17-month old), but for the tour I jazzed it up with gorgeous gold glitter cone trees + a few of our holiday books we love to read as we countdown to the BIG 2-5!

Christmas Home Tour at JennaBurger.com. Come on over...

Christmas Home Tour at JennaBurger.com. Come on over...

Along with our special keepsakes to decorate with, I also love incorporating elements from nature.  Cut branches and greenery are all around us so where I can, I’ve layered branches + greens on the bookcase tops, the mantel, and in front of the TV…

Christmas Home Tour at JennaBurger.com. Come on over...

Christmas Home Tour at JennaBurger.com. Come on over...

Christmas Home Tour at JennaBurger.com. Come on over...

And on the windows I added three small boxwood wreaths.  They are just the cutest…

Christmas Home Tour at JennaBurger.com. Come on over...

Lots of old mixed in with a few new festive treats, like this pillow that I just couldn’t resist from Target.

There is a definite reindeer ‘theme’ this Christmas…

Christmas Home Tour at JennaBurger.com. Come on over...

Well there you have it.  Thank you so much for taking the tour of my home decorated for Christmas.  A lot of thought + love went into this years seasonal space, but important of all it’s meaningful to our family.

I hope I’ve inspired you with what I’ve created + shared.

Now on to the next house, At the Picket Fence, which is stop #20 on the Holiday Housewalk Tour.

You are in for a treat…

holiday housewalk tour, At The Picket Fence

Christmas Home Tour at JennaBurger.com. Come on over...
Thank you to Joss & Main and Good Housekeeping magazine for partnering with this years Housewalk Tour.  Also a big shout out to Garnet Hill + Lowe’s, who I collaborated with for this years Christmas spaces.  Their decor is gorgeous and I love showcasing their beautiful goods in my home!

Merry Christmas

Christmas Mantel

Christmas Mantel filled with old & new. Created by www.jennaburger.com

The Holiday season is underway – yay!

Since Friday – the day after Thanksgiving – we’ve been hustling + bustling indoors and out decorating for Christmas.  This year has been a bit tricky with the kitchen renovation (walls are still being painted & the hardwood floors are still curing), but we are making do with the areas that we can add our festive favorites…

One area of our home that’s been decorated for a few weeks is the mantel.

I got the Christmas bug a few weeks ago after making my way into the Christmas section of Lowe’s and leaving with a handful of new fun finds.  They’re selection of seasonal decor this year is stellar.

I incorporated a lot of new with the old…

Christmas Mantel filled with old & new. Created by www.jennaburger.com

Christmas Mantel filled with old & new. Created by www.jennaburger.com

I had such a fun + relaxing (well kinda in my OCD way) time creating this years Christmas mantel.  It was enjoyable to have a different backdrop to work with since this room, specifically the fireplace wall, got a revamp for burnt orange to black earlier this year >>> check out the living room transformation

The new black wall – color: Valspar Black Heron – was the perfect backdrop to layering contrast white elements.

Christmas Mantel filled with old & new. Created by www.jennaburger.com

I stumbled upon these adorable white houses – in varying sizes – and couldn’t resist incorporating them in the mantel.  The same houses come in red as well, but I loved the crisp white with glitter roof.

Christmas Mantel filled with old & new. Created by www.jennaburger.com

As the base of the mantel, I used a faux greenery garland and added in real cut magnolia leaves that I got from the tree in my yard.

Adding in real leaves amongst the faux, gives such a great look.  It is a nice idea to create a realistic-looking garland without the headache of drying branches + can be used year after year.

I also added a few magnolia branches to a tall white vase to introduce an organic element + height to the fireplace.

Christmas Mantel filled with old & new. Created by www.jennaburger.com

Christmas Mantel filled with old & new. Created by www.jennaburger.com

The sparkly reindeer is another new + fun find and if I could put my finger on a ‘theme’ for this years decor, it would be reindeer…

I snagged a few reindeer elements and I just love what they represent… a woodland, outdoorsy, winter feeling.

Christmas Mantel filled with old & new. Created by www.jennaburger.com

On the face of the fireplace, I draped several strands of differing garland.  I picked up a beautiful pinecone garland – which was a pleasant surprise because I thought they were individual pinecones which I was going to pile in a bowl – and hung it them from end to end on the mantel.

Then using red bead garland – that I got from Dollar General years ago – I hung a longer swag from edge to edge, and finished it with a silver snowflake garland across the front.

Hung by the fireplace with care are adorable knit red + white stockings.  I just love the oversized tassels!

Christmas Mantel filled with old & new. Created by www.jennaburger.com

Christmas Mantel filled with old & new. Created by www.jennaburger.com

Christmas Mantel filled with old & new. Created by www.jennaburger.com

Recognize the mirror?  I used it for my Thanksgiving table, then decided to use it as the focal point above the fireplace and mounted a beautiful berry wreath on the face.

Giving height and grounding each end, I added in my one of my seasonal favorites, the glitter cone-shaped trees in silver + white (check out similar ones here).  I have gold too and they’ll be someplace else in the room.

Christmas Mantel filled with old & new. Created by www.jennaburger.com

My reindeer ‘theme’ also continued with the wrapping paper I chose.  Check out this paper with the reindeer silhouette – I couldn’t resist.  I loved pairing it with the houndstooth + striped paper.

Christmas Mantel filled with old & new. Created by www.jennaburger.com

Christmas Mantel filled with old & new. Created by www.jennaburger.com

Throughout, I layered in new + old ornaments that added sparkle + shine.  These wood laser-cute ornaments were a surprising find this year and I grabbed a similar wood reindeer ornament version as well.

Christmas Mantel filled with old & new. Created by www.jennaburger.com

I am so happy with how this years Christmas mantel came out.  I had no real plan when I started decorating, but as usual when the everyday decor came down and I was left with a blank canvas, the ideas started to flow.

With some changes + tweaks, the result is pretty fantastically festive…

Christmas Mantel filled with old & new. Created by www.jennaburger.com

I can’t let you go without sharing that the annual Holiday Housewalk hosted by Jennifer Rizzo begins today!  This is the 3rd year that my home will be on the tour along with about 30 others.  You will NOT WANT TO MISS IT.  My home is coming up later in the week, so I hope you will stop back.

Holiday Housewalk hotsed by Jennifer Rizzo

Have a blessed Christmas season and thanks for checking out my mantel.

DISCLOSURE: THIS POST IS A COLLABORATION WITH LOWES, BUT ALL OPINIONS ARE 100% MY OWN.

Christmas Mantel

Christmas mantel filled with old & new and lots of DIY creations!

Happy Friday!  Boy, am I glad it is FRIDAY.  It has been a heck of a week, how about for you?

I hope you enjoyed my Christmas Home Tour that I shared yesterday.  Thank you to all those that left the kindest, sweetest comments – I can not tell you how great they make me feel.  I am really loving how festive & warm our home feels right now and I hope I was able to convey that to you throughout the tour!

As I was putting the post of The Tour together, I was left with many more photos of the fireplace mantel.  Instead of making the post miles long, I thought I would create another post on just the mantel.  I am so smitten over how the mantel resulted this year, so let me show you around.

Come join me in the family room…

Christmas mantel filled with old & new and lots of DIY creations!

With our tree at one end of the room and the fireplace at the other, this is such a cozy, restful place.  The mantel this year is filled with a little old and a little new.

Christmas mantel filled with old & new and lots of DIY creations!

My approach for this years mantel was to lean and layerWhat do I mean?   From front to back, I added height with various items that I simply leaned on each other to give a layered (dimensional) look.

I started with the stained wood backdrop and added the pretty, glittery wreath I got from Lowe’s last year.  Leaning on it, I added the JOY pallet sign, which is really the focal point of the mantel.  Then I added a new chalkboard printable & the oversized wood snowflake (a roadside rescue).  It’s all about the layers!

Christmas mantel filled with old & new and lots of DIY creations!

The chalkboard printable is something new this year and it is a creation made by my friend KellieHow did I create it?  I saved the printable to a USB key, brought it to Staples and they printed it on blueprint paper for less than $4.  I then brought it home and framed it.  Easy-Peasy and it is a beautiful addition to the mantel.

https://www.jennaburger.com/2014/12/christmas-home-tour-2014/

For a bit of whimsy, the kids and I collected some branches from the backyard, which I used to fill a simple white vase.  It really grounds the fireplace.

Christmas mantel filled with old & new and lots of DIY creations!

When I initially placed the vase on the mantel, the brown branches got lost against the orange wall.  To make them stand out more, I took some white craft paint and painted them.  A few minutes later, they were finished and dry.

Christmas mantel filled with old & new and lots of DIY creations!

So pretty, right?

When decorating for this Christmas, I ended up changing the place of a few of our festive favorites.  One specific DIY creation that we all love & admire each year is the Christmas Card Holder.  This season, I chose to hang it to the right of the fireplace and it’s already starting to fill up.

Christmas mantel filled with old & new and lots of DIY creations!

On the other end of the mantel are a few more layered-in elements that give height & interest to the overall mantel.   For the last few years, my go-to favorites for Christmas are these modern cone-shaped Christmas trees from the Christmas Tree Shop a few years back.  We have them in a few different sizes in white and gold.  I just love how sparkly they are!  And how simple, yet glowing is a bowl filled with ornaments.  A 3-second creation that is beauty to the eye!

Christmas mantel filled with old & new and lots of DIY creations!

This years mantel would not be complete without a WOW.  The gorgeous cedar garland truly completed this years mantel montage.  I just adore how full and organic it feels.  My idea of being inspired by nature this holiday season really came to fruition with this garland.

Christmas mantel filled with old & new and lots of DIY creations!

I am so grateful to my friends at Lynch Creek Farm who sent me the garland, as well as the wreath for the front door.  And the smell…  I can’t even begin to explain how yummy our home smells.  I just wish you could dive through your screen to get a whiff.

Lynch Creek Farm

Here is a peek at the gorgeous wreath on the front door which you can see more of in my Christmas Home Tour.

Christmas Home Tour of Jenna Burger, one of the homes featured on the Jennifer Rizzo 2014 Holiday Housewalk

Back to the mantel…

I hung this beautiful cedar garland at each end of the mantel so it has a gentle swag in the center.  On the one side, I added a pretty red + black bow and on the other side, I hung 3 stockings that I just picked up from Lowe’s.

Christmas mantel filled with old & new and lots of DIY creations!

Christmas mantel filled with old & new and lots of DIY creations!

A few more views (I told you I couldn’t stop myself from photographing & sharing this mantel)…

Christmas mantel filled with old & new and lots of DIY creations!

 

Christmas mantel filled with old & new and lots of DIY creations!

Christmas mantel filled with old & new and lots of DIY creations!

From the kitchen to the dining room to the family room, you can see how the fireplace is a focal point in our home and we are truly admiring this years mantel creation…

Christmas mantel filled with old & new and lots of DIY creations!

Thanks for stopping by to enjoy my home decorated for Christmas!

Have you decorated your home for the holidays yet?

Christmas Home Tour 2014

Christmas Home Tour 2014Welcome!

I have been waiting for this day for so long.  Another holiday season is upon us and I am thrilled you are here to take the tour of my home decorated for Christmas.

If you are following along on the Jennifer Rizzo Holiday Housewalk (start the tour here), I am house #24 and you just came from Monica’s home at East Coast Creative.

east coast creative

Wasn’t it awesomely decorated?  She has such a creative style!  I am so happy to be on the tour for the second year in a row (click to see last years Christmas tour) and let me tell you… you are in for a treat!

Over the past year, I have made many changes to our beautiful abode and it has been enjoyable to put new touches on our latest additions.  Without further ado, grab a cup of something, put your feet up, and enjoy.

Let the tour begin…

Christmas Home Tour of Jenna Burger, one of the homes featured on the Jennifer Rizzo 2014 Holiday Housewalk

Our front porch + (new) front door are adorned this Christmas season with gorgeous greenery in a mix of cedars (thanks to my awesome friends at Lynch Creek Farm).  The garland on the front columns & the wreath on the door beautifully surround our entry and create the most perfect welcoming feeling.

We just had this new glass front door installed a few weeks ago and even though it’s only primed – yes the brownish red color is how it came primed – I am loving how much light in filters into the front entry.  I have more planned for this door (like a pop of color) but it’ll have to wait till Spring.  For now, I hung this beautiful wreath and I am calling in done!

Come on in…

Christmas Home Tour of Jenna Burger, one of the homes featured on the Jennifer Rizzo 2014 Holiday Housewalk

For seasonal decor, I don’t believe that every space needs to filled with floor to ceiling decorations.  Often a few small touches, are ideal and just enough.  Our entry isn’t overly spacious and with 5 of us, there is a lot of foot traffic throughout all hours of the day.

My holiday decorating approach for the entry/foyer space was to set the tone for the other spaces and to add a few festive layers to our everyday decor.  I loved the ornament tree (small colorful ornaments hung from tree branches found in our backyard) that I created for our buffet last year, so this season I reenacted a similar idea on the gold dresser (which isn’t only glamorous but actually is functional too holding shoes, keys, and lots of stuff), and brought in a few festive favorites.

Christmas Home Tour of Jenna Burger, one of the homes featured on the Jennifer Rizzo 2014 Holiday Housewalk

A few weeks back I mentioned my design ‘theme’ for this Christmas was to be inspired by nature.  With that in mind while decorating, I was able to hone in on what made sense and to not overwhelm the spaces with non-meaningful things.  The result being, we truly feel surrounded – inside and out – by many natural elements and things that we love most.

Along the stair railing, I hung a beautiful magnolia garland that I got from Balsam Hill – simple, but sophisticated.  It’s artificial, but it has a realistic look without the fuss.

Christmas Home Tour of Jenna Burger, one of the homes featured on the Jennifer Rizzo 2014 Holiday Housewalk

To the right of our entry is the office / living room.  I love how the room glows in the evening with our sparkly white tree…

Christmas Home Tour of Jenna Burger, one of the homes featured on the Jennifer Rizzo 2014 Holiday Housewalk

As you can see from the light that filters into the photo, this space is incredibly bright.  I chose to display our all-white tree in front of the stair railing this year and decorated it with colorful ornaments in shades of pinks, purples, browns, and golds. It’s beautifully lit with white lights and finished off with my easiest + fastest + cheapest tree skirt EVER!

Christmas Home Tour of Jenna Burger, one of the homes featured on the Jennifer Rizzo 2014 Holiday Housewalk

Christmas Home Tour of Jenna Burger, one of the homes featured on the Jennifer Rizzo 2014 Holiday Housewalk

A mirror turned horizontal makes for the perfect seasonal coffee table vignette. The festive montage is topped with a few Christmas favorites including gold trees (from the Christmas Tree Shop), the light turned vase filled with ornaments, and of course Santa.  Also displayed in a tray on the coffee table is a colorful poinsettia (fake artificial) in a bright yellow vase (which I typically have filled with a fern).  Pops of color all around…

Christmas Home Tour of Jenna Burger, one of the homes featured on the Jennifer Rizzo 2014 Holiday Housewalk

As we come down the stairs each morning, this is the view we are blessed with…

Christmas Home Tour of Jenna Burger, one of the homes featured on the Jennifer Rizzo 2014 Holiday Housewalk

As we continue on the tour, my living room/office leads us to the kitchen and dining space…

This is our main dining table for breakfast & dinner, so again the space had to remain functional for the every day, so a few seasonal layers were just enough to bring in the magic.

Above the sliding door, I added another (faux) magnolia garland and below is a simple boxwood wreath (last year from Lowe’s) hung from the door frame by a pretty gold ribbon.  Hanging from the chandelier are some colorful + bright ornaments and for the table centerpiece, I used the stained wood box that I recently made and filled it with small Christmas trees, greenery, and more ornaments.

Christmas Home Tour of Jenna Burger, one of the homes featured on the Jennifer Rizzo 2014 Holiday Housewalk

I love decorating with trays.  It makes creating vignettes so easy & moving them (especially at the dinner table) is a cinch.  There is no way a display like this directly on the table could be moved twice a day.

Here’s a closeup…

Christmas Home Tour of Jenna Burger, one of the homes featured on the Jennifer Rizzo 2014 Holiday Housewalk

Christmas Home Tour of Jenna Burger, one of the homes featured on the Jennifer Rizzo 2014 Holiday Housewalk

Christmas Home Tour of Jenna Burger, one of the homes featured on the Jennifer Rizzo 2014 Holiday Housewalk

For the recent Craigslist-found china cabinet the I transformed, I let the color stand strong and draped a simple paper garland from edge to edge.

Christmas Home Tour of Jenna Burger, one of the homes featured on the Jennifer Rizzo 2014 Holiday Housewalk

Using a round 1.5″ diameter paper puncher, I cut out circles from Christmas scrapbooking paper, and sewed them together with the method I used to make the crib mobile. So simple, yet festive.

Christmas Home Tour of Jenna Burger, one of the homes featured on the Jennifer Rizzo 2014 Holiday Housewalk

The Christmas Countdown pallet tree that I made last year is still gong strong and is still one of my most favorite creations.

Christmas Countdown Pallet Tree

Here’s an overall view of the entire space…

Christmas Home Tour of Jenna Burger, one of the homes featured on the Jennifer Rizzo 2014 Holiday Housewalk

As you continue from the dining room, the adjacent space is our family room where we put our feet up and chill.  It’s a comfy space with a big ole sofa and a fireplace to keep us toasty warm.

This year we have a new (artificial) Christmas tree that is the focal point of the room.  Our previous tree hit it’s life span.  Of course once the old tree went curbside, the big debate of choosing between white or multi-color lights for the new tree began.  Well this tree is the perfect solution… It has both!  As easy as you can change the lights with a scroll of the mouse, is as easy as we can change from white to color with a click up a button.  When in life, can you make everyone in the household happy???  Well I did it with this great find!

white…

Christmas Home Tour of Jenna Burger, one of the homes featured on the Jennifer Rizzo 2014 Holiday Housewalk

and

color…

Christmas Home Tour of Jenna Burger, one of the homes featured on the Jennifer Rizzo 2014 Holiday Housewalk

Here is the overall space with a roaring fire and all!  The Mister is a master at making the best, toasty fires.  Me?  Not so much.  I attempted to make a fire a few weeks ago and forgot to put up the flue.  Enough said.

That cute, colorful yarn garland hanging over the window is a recent creation that I used this tutorial to make.  I love how whimsical it looks.  Here is another glimpse of it hanging on my fireplace that I shared on Instagram.

Christmas Home Tour of Jenna Burger, one of the homes featured on the Jennifer Rizzo 2014 Holiday Housewalk

As you continue in the room, our fireplace is decked out this year with a little old and a little new!

Christmas Home Tour of Jenna Burger, one of the homes featured on the Jennifer Rizzo 2014 Holiday Housewalk

The fun, vintage JOY sign is something I made a few years ago and is a favorite of mine as the focal point of the mantel.  The wood sign made of pallets is layered in front of a larger espresso stained wood sign/backdrop.  A few other glittery, sparkly favorites like the wreath, trees, and ornaments are scattered about.

Christmas Home Tour of Jenna Burger, one of the homes featured on the Jennifer Rizzo 2014 Holiday Housewalk

Christmas Home Tour of Jenna Burger, one of the homes featured on the Jennifer Rizzo 2014 Holiday Housewalk

To the side of the fireplace, I hung our Christmas Card holder.  It’s a new spot for this DIY creation and I am really loving it.  The cards are starting to arrive and before we know it, this card holder will be all filled up.

Christmas Home Tour of Jenna Burger, one of the homes featured on the Jennifer Rizzo 2014 Holiday Housewalk

Here is a separate post with more pictures of the mantel!

And that’s a wrap.  Thank you for stopping by for my Christmas Home Tour 2014.  And don’t forget to give a little jingle, jingle on your way out…

Christmas Home Tour of Jenna Burger, one of the homes featured on the Jennifer Rizzo 2014 Holiday Housewalk

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Home Tour of Jenna Burger, one of the homes featured on the Jennifer Rizzo 2014 Holiday Housewalk

I hope you take the time to continue on the Jennifer Rizzo Holiday Housewalk.  Next up is the home of Between You & Me

between you and me

I wish you a happy holiday season!

You may also be interested in checking out my Christmas House Tour from last year >>>

Christmas Home Tour 2013

As well as ALL the creations I’ve ever made for Christmas time (5 years of seasonal projects) in my EVERYTHING CHRISTMAS post >>>

Everything christmas - All Christmas and seasonal creations in one post!

Everything CHRISTMAS {all posts in one place}

Another Holiday season is upon us!

I didn’t want to bombard you with Christmas posts before celebrating Thanksgiving, but I couldn’t hold off anymore.  Since Thanksgiving is tomorrow, I thought some of you would be starting the holiday decorating over the long weekend and could use some inspiration.

To make it easier and be inspired by all the Christmas creations that I’ve made over the 6+ years that I’ve been blogging, I am putting this post together with EVERYTHING CHRISTMAS.  All the posts I’ve ever shared pertaining to Christmas will be in one spot.  How great + easy?!

We’ll start with the home tours…

Christmas Home Tour - JENNA BURGER DESIGN

Christmas Home Tour 2015

Christmas Home Tour of Jenna Burger, one of the homes featured on the Jennifer Rizzo 2014 Holiday Housewalk

Christmas Home Tour 2014

Christmas Home Tour 2013

DIY: Tutorial on how to make a FAUX STACKED LOG FIREPLACE SCREEN. check out how-to make it at www.JennaBurger.com

Creating a Faux Stacked Log Fireplace Screen (we keep it up all year long)

Christmas Buffet & Ideas for Holiday EntertainingChristmas Buffet & Tips for Holiday Entertaining

Gold Wood Black Candle Holder {DIY tutorial}Wood Block Candle Holder {DIY tutorial}

J-O-Y Sign using pallets & paint {DIY tutorial}J-O-Y Sign using Pallets + Paint {DIY tutorial}

Christmas WrappingChristmas Wrapping with Duct Tape {DIY tutorial}

1Let There Be Peace On Earth sign {DIY tutorial}

Inspirational Christmas InteriorsInspirational Christmas Interiors {Project Roundup}

Log Centerpiece cradled in branches, pinecones, berries, and ornaments - a simple centerpiece arrangement for the holidaysLog Centerpiece

Christmas Card Holder: DIY project using 2 x 10 and clothespinChristmas Card Holder {DIY tutorial}

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Have a wonderful + blessed Holiday Season!

Chalkboard Wood Garland

Can you believe it’s November?  I’m breaking away from the bathroom for a bit (the remodel has taken over my life) to start thinking about this years seasonal decor.

Every year, we enjoy displaying our Christmas favorites, but at the same time we like to introduce new elements & of course, make some fun festive creations (like last years pallet Christmas Countdown).  Even though we typically start the process of unpacking the holiday boxes before Thanksgiving arrives, we certainly don’t overlook the beautiful Holiday of giving.  For that tricky time when we’re transitioning from one holiday to the next I have created this pretty & nature-inspired Chalkboard Wood Garland.

DIY: Wood Disc Garland with Chalkboard center - perfect to hang from the mantel, on the front door, or on any wall! Good for the holidays or any time of year.

As the Holiday prep begins, I wanted to make something that would give our family a little reminder to slow down (especially this time of year) & to truly enjoy the moment when everything around us is hustling & bustling.

For now, I thought the word blessings really sums up how we should be feeling and to be thankful for all we have – this time of year and always!   This is why the best part of the creation was the chalkboard layer – anything can be added and just as easily erased.

How To Make Wood Garland

To make this wood disc garland, I headed straight to my backyard to grab a big ole’ log.  I actually first sent the mister on the hunt and he returned with a fallen branch about 1″ round.  That wasn’t going to do, so I threw on my boots and headed for the woods.  I returned with a log about 3.5 – 4″ round.  He was skeptical we could cut it, but I put our circular saw to the test and it cut like butter.

We created 10 discs about 1″ thick.  More or less discs can be cut depending on the word(s) you want to spell out.  I thought 10 would be ideal and if one or more discs aren’t used for letters, a pretty picture can be added instead.

DIY: Wood Disc Garland with Chalkboard center - perfect to hang from the mantel, on the front door, or on any wall! Good for the holidays or any time of year.

Once all the discs were cut, I took my chalkboard paint from Lowe’s (left over from the chalkboard wall)  and freehand painted a circle on each disc.

DIY: Wood Disc Garland with Chalkboard center - perfect to hang from the mantel, on the front door, or on any wall! Good for the holidays or any time of year.

After they dried, which took about 2 hours, I drilled 2 holes about 1″ apart on the wood section of the disc.  These holes are for the twine to thread through in the next step.

DIY: Wood Disc Garland with Chalkboard center - perfect to hang from the mantel, on the front door, or on any wall! Good for the holidays or any time of year.

Then I threaded the twine through.  Twine seemed like the right material since it’s a natural feeling and looks rugged like the wood.  Though any type of string or ribbon could be used, it just depends on the look you want to achieve.

Since the drilled holes were kind of small, I attached an unfolded paperclip to the end of the twine and wrapped it with duct tape (superman duct tape to be exact, lol.  But any tape will do the trick).

DIY: Wood Disc Garland with Chalkboard center - perfect to hang from the mantel, on the front door, or on any wall! Good for the holidays or any time of year.

I added my letters for the word blessings.  I didn’t use any fancy fonts, just what came to mind…

DIY: Wood Disc Garland with Chalkboard center - perfect to hang from the mantel, on the front door, or on any wall! Good for the holidays or any time of year.

And voila… a beautiful festive garland was created.

DIY: Wood Disc Garland with Chalkboard center - perfect to hang from the mantel, on the front door, or on any wall! Good for the holidays or any time of year.

Perfect for the mantel, the door, or any wall in the home, this new wood garland can really be used all year round.

DIY: Wood Disc Garland with Chalkboard center - perfect to hang from the mantel, on the front door, or on any wall! Good for the holidays or any time of year.

DIY: Wood Disc Garland with Chalkboard center - perfect to hang from the mantel, on the front door, or on any wall! Good for the holidays or any time of year.

DIY: Wood Disc Garland with Chalkboard center - perfect to hang from the mantel, on the front door, or on any wall! Good for the holidays or any time of year.

DIY: Wood Disc Garland with Chalkboard center - perfect to hang from the mantel, on the front door, or on any wall! Good for the holidays or any time of year.

I also tried it on the front door along with a pretty red wreath…

DIY: Wood Disc Garland with Chalkboard center - perfect to hang from the mantel, on the front door, or on any wall! Good for the holidays or any time of year.

Something unique, right?!

DIY: Wood Disc Garland with Chalkboard center - perfect to hang from the mantel, on the front door, or on any wall! Good for the holidays or any time of year.

DIY: Wood Disc Garland with Chalkboard center - perfect to hang from the mantel, on the front door, or on any wall! Good for the holidays or any time of year.

This creation has been such a great break away from the bathroom renovation.  Even though I love diving into a big DIY project, sometimes simple + quick is much more gratifying.  Now I feel inspired & ready for the Holidays.

Have you started thinking about your seasonal & holiday decor?

When do you start decorating?

Lowes Creative Ideas Team Member

To gather even more unique, fun, and creative ideas for your indoor and outdoor Winter spaces, I would definitely suggest downloading the Lowe’s Creative Ideas app on your iphone and/or ipad.  I’m always checking out the FREE app for great seasonal + do-it-yourself inspiration.

 Also consider following Lowe’s on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram as well.

Disclosure: I am part of the Lowe’s Creative Team and was provided with a Lowe’s gift card to purchase items for my project.  I was also compensated for my time to use the products.  No one told me what to create, what to buy, how to use the product, or what to write.  All opinions are 100% mine!

DIY: Personalized Word Christmas Ornament

One week to go and Christmas will be here. Can you believe it?

As you know, my home has been decorated for quite a few weeks, but I have still been working on new holiday projects here and there to add to this years decor.   Once the house is ‘set’, I still enjoy adding new and unique touches for the season.

Since adding in a second tree this year, which is more of a pretty tree versus the sentimental traditional tree we decorate as a family, I’ve had fun with the gold + brown theme.  Along with the ball ornaments, I’ve added in some gold feathers (yes gold + feather in one combo: heaven) and just this past weekend, I jazzed it up even more with my latest DIY creations, word Christmas ornaments

DIY: Word Christmas Ornament using a Gold Sharpie by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

Super fun, right?!  I got the idea from seeing a beautiful vignette in the Garnet Hill catalog.  I didn’t see the ornaments for sale (not like I would buy them anyway because they’d probably be $10+) and decided to create my own version.

I started off by grabbing a box (set of 6) of clear bulbs and a gold Sharpie marker at AC Moore.  With my 50% off coupon, I ended up getting both items for a few cents over $6.  Not bad for 6 ornaments, which = about $1/ornament…

DIY: Word Christmas Ornament using a Gold Sharpie by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

Before putting pen to glass, I wanted to find the perfect font and words to write.  I decided on the words Joy, Peace, Shine, Merry.  All words that are meaningful around Christmas.  For the font, there was a toss up between Jenna Sue and Channel.

Jenna Sue and Channel font

In the end, I decided on the Channel font because I thought bigger and bolder would be better, plus it’s a little more forgiving – I’ll tell you why in a moment…

I started out by copying the script font from the computer screen to the ornament.

The result…  Not exact, but pretty close.

DIY: Word Christmas Ornament using a Gold Sharpie by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

For each word, I started out with one line, then embellished each letter with thicker lines.  This type of font is more forgiving because you can layer and add onto each letter instead of it being a ‘one shot deal’.

DIY: Word Christmas Ornament using a Gold Sharpie by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

Once the first layer of gold Sharpie was dry, I added another layer for a second coat.

DIY: Word Christmas Ornament using a Gold Sharpie by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

Each ornament took about 8-10 minutes, so within about 40-60 minutes, I was done with the project.

DIY: Word Christmas Ornament using a Gold Sharpie by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

All 4 unique and personalized ornaments would be perfect for a gift.  Any words could be used.  Maybe each ornament could say a member of the family or something silly about the holidays…

Once I was done, the ornaments were ready to immediately hang since Sharpie’s take no time to dry.

DIY: Word Christmas Ornament using a Gold Sharpie by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

DIY: Word Christmas Ornament using a Gold Sharpie by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

DIY: Word Christmas Ornament using a Gold Sharpie by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

DIY: Word Christmas Ornament using a Gold Sharpie by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

DIY: Word Christmas Ornament using a Gold Sharpie by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

  So what do you think?  A project you’d consider tackling?  What type of project does it inspire you to make?

Cozy Adirondack Christmas Porch

Christmas is officially less than 2 weeks away.  It’s crazy how the season is passing us by so quickly.  Are you ready?

So I’ve got another surprise for you today…  Yes, another secret!

Since I shared a tour of the inside of my home last week, it’s time to take you outdoors… to my newly decorated Cozy Christmas Adirondack Porch.

Welcome…

I’m usually so focused on decorating the interior for the Holidays, that the porch often gets little thought and sadly neglected – are you like that?  Well not this year!

On a way-too-cold-to-be-outside day a few weeks ago, myself and the troops (a.k.a The Mister and the kids) ventured outdoors to decorate.  After a few hours, way too many decorating edits, broken bulbs (and they were brand spank-in new), and a couple of trips to Lowes, I was finally satisified with the result of this year’s cozy adirondack-style front porch. And I have to say, it’s our best yet.

Thankfully I can say that I live in the adirondacks, so having a front porch with a rustic, natural aesthetic is so apropos.  (my interior doesn’t really reflect the same look, but that’s okay).

I didn’t start off the porch with a specific idea in mind, but as the family and I started decorating, it all came together (over many cold hours) to create a cozy outdoor haven.  We began the transformation by removing some of the porch furniture that we have out for the summer.  We left the pretty lutyens bench though, draped a blanket over the back, and added a few pillows – it was the beginning of the adirondack porch.

In front of the bench, I positioned a round table (which is actually an electrical cable spool that I found on the side of the road) and added some festive elements including “dressed-up” mason jars, a lantern, and some pine and berry sprigs.

I said to the Mister that afternoon, “Let’s get some hot chocolate, cuddle under the blanket, and enjoy our newly decorated porch”.  Well we all ended up being too chilly and unfortunately ‘sitting and enjoying’ hasn’t happened yet, but it sure looks so inviting.

Would you stop over and have a cup of-something with me?

On the other side of the porch, I created a small festive vignette.  I stacked two large slices of cut logs and topped them with a poinsettia and a small pile of pinecones. As a larger and taller anchor, I brought in the potted boxwood (which sits throughout the year next to the garage), two lanterns filled with a large candle, and another poinsettia.  The varying heights and sizes of the elements, plus the differing textures, in the vignette, create an interesting composition.

Behind the poinsettia and pinecone vignette, I wanted even more height and added a leftover piece of pallet scrap, which I added a quick coat of white paint to and wrapped with twine.   A super simple 3 minute project!

Of course, we needed some greenery on the porch and I surely didn’t fail in that department.

On either side of the front door are two small (3′ high) faux trees decorated with petite ornaments and twine for garland.  Plus we added more greenery on the columns with a garland mix of pine and cedar.

The last element that we added to the front porch are the hanging ornaments.  This was the last addition and definitely my favorite!

The overall porch…

And alittle more ornament action…

And of course donned on my front door is my whimsical winter wreath that I made a few years ago.  Still a favorite.

Thanks so much for taking a tour of my newly decorated cozy adirondack front porch.  The porch and/or entryway of a home sets the tone for what’s to come inside.  Whether you have a simple wreath on your door or you go all out with lights, festive decorations always bring happy cheers and smiles.

Christmas Home Tour 2013

Surprise!

Jennifer Rizzo Holiday House Tour 2013; Stop 17, SAS Interiors

A secret that I’ve been keeping for too long can now be shouted from the rooftops.

I am one (#17 to be exact) of the 25 homes on the amazing Jennifer Rizzo Holiday House Tour.  I am so excited not only to show you around my home but to be amongst a great group of Bloggers who are opening their doors this Holiday season.

If you’re new here, you just headed over from the house tour by Vanessa of At the Picket Fence.  Wasn’t it amazing?!  She has a beautiful home and opened her doors for all to see in the Creating a Meaningful Home series earlier this year.  She is just the sweetest person ever!

Jennifer Rizzo Holiday House Tour 2013; Stop 16 - Vanessa of At the Picket Fence

Ok, well let’s get this tour started.  Are you ready?

Welcome.  Grab a cup of coffee (or tea, if you prefer) and stay awhile.  Let me show you around.

Jennifer Rizzo Holiday House Tour 2013; Stop 17, SAS Interiors

The new addition to this year’s Christmas decor is our new white Christmas tree.  Wanting to have a bling, bling pretty tree, this new beauty sits in the blue room, a.k.a. my office / family room.  With the dark hue on the walls, the white tree with varying shades of gold & brown ornaments, is the perfect contrast.  This room is a favorite of mine in our home because of all the light that comes shining through from dawn to dusk.  The filtered light accents the golds + my new disco ball just right!

Jennifer Rizzo Holiday House Tour 2013; Stop 17, SAS Interiors

Jennifer Rizzo Holiday House Tour 2013; Stop 17, SAS Interiors

The coffee table got a quick festive makeover by using a round mirror as the centerpiece topped with a montage of Christmas favorites – gold trees, ornaments, the light turned vase that I created earlier this year, and of course Santa.

Jennifer Rizzo Holiday House Tour 2013; Stop 17, SAS Interiors

Also on the coffee table is my newly created Nate Berkus knock-off wood block candle holder.  What do you think?  I love how it adds so much height to the vignette.

Jennifer Rizzo Holiday House Tour 2013; Stop 17, SAS Interiors

Transitioning to the dining room, I used a few similar ideas by using another mirror – the clock turned mirror – as the dining room centerpiece topped with more gold trees (that I scored from the Christmas Tree Shop last year) and a small tree adorned with miniature ornaments.

Jennifer Rizzo Holiday House Tour 2013; Stop 17, SAS Interiors

Simply, but elegantly set, our Christmas table is filled with a whole lotta candles – one of my favorite items to decorate with.

Jennifer Rizzo Holiday House Tour 2013; Stop 17, SAS Interiors

The buffet is set with treats for all to enjoy.  As I shared earlier in the week, the sidebar / buffet in the dining room is filled with varying sized glass jars, ceramic houses, and other festive decor.  My favorite element of the space is the charlie brown tree with colorful ball ornaments.  Okay, well it’s really not really a charlie brown tree, but instead branches from my backyard put into a glass jar to bring height to the overall space.  It would make a great table centerpiece too.

Jennifer Rizzo Holiday House Tour 2013; Stop 17, SAS Interiors

Jennifer Rizzo Holiday House Tour 2013; Stop 17, SAS Interiors

Jennifer Rizzo Holiday House Tour 2013; Stop 17, SAS Interiors

Jennifer Rizzo Holiday House Tour 2013; Stop 17, SAS Interiors

Also in the dining room is my kids favorite part our home tat the Holidays, the Christmas Countdown Tree that I made using pallets and leftover scraps of wood.  It’s such a whimsical, colorful handmade creation!

Jennifer Rizzo Holiday House Tour 2013; Stop 17, SAS Interiors

Jennifer Rizzo Holiday House Tour 2013; Stop 17, SAS Interiors

Heading over to the last space in our home, the living room.  Our hang out space…

Jennifer Rizzo Holiday House Tour 2013; Stop 17, SAS Interiors

And there is a peak at our other Christmas tree…  The tree that is filled with our family’s sentimental ornaments that we’ve collected, made, and bought over the years.

The main wall of the living room features our mantel and it’s totally decked out for the Christmas season.  A large wood panel is set as the backdrop with my newly created vintage-inspired  J-O-Y sign as the focal point.

Jennifer Rizzo Holiday House Tour 2013; Stop 17, SAS Interiors

Jennifer Rizzo Holiday House Tour 2013; Stop 17, SAS Interiors

Other pretty festive elements adorn the fireplace and the creme de la creme are the felt + dropcloth Christmas stockings that I made a few years ago.

Jennifer Rizzo Holiday House Tour 2013; Stop 17, SAS Interiors

Another handmade element that we love + adore is the Christmas Card Holder where we treasure and enjoy all the cards and photos that family and friends send throughout the Christmas season.  How do you display cards sent to your family?

Jennifer Rizzo Holiday House Tour 2013; Stop 17, SAS Interiors

Well that’s the end of the tour.  I wish it wasn’t over, but I really hope you enjoyed our home decorated for Christmas.

Jennifer Rizzo Holiday House Tour 2013; Stop 17, SAS Interiors

Hasn’t the Holiday House Tour been fabulous?!  We’re only on day 3 of the tour, and there are many more houses to see.  So don’t stop here!  Grab another cup of joe and head on over to my friend Roeshel’s house at The DIY Showoff.  She is an amazing creator and surely won’t disappoint.  ENJOY and Merry Christmas!

Jennifer Rizzo Holiday House Tour 2013; Stop 18 - The DIY Showoff

 

Christmas in a Minute: Vintage-Inspired JOYful Sign

Happy Monday!  What a busy week upon us with Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, and the official start to the holiday season.  As the crazy Christmas sprint begins, I’m thinking simple, easy, and quick.  So this weekend, I created this fun + easy vintage-inspired JOYful sign.  Scraps of wood and a little bit of paint makes this a simple and very inexpensive creation.  It would be great for the mantel, outside patio, or as a gift.

Here’s the breakdown…

Christmas in a Minute: Vintage-Inspired JOYful Sign created by @Jenna_Burger, WWW.JENNABURGER.COM

Simple-to-follow tutorial on how to create a JOY sign

1. Cut the wood to your desired height and width. I used leftover pallet scraps to create this sign, but you could also use new wood instead.  I like the old pallets because they’re free, plus they have a distressed, worn look, which means no “beating up” the new wood.

2. Create the sign and sand.  If you have more than one piece of wood, you’ll need to attach them from the back.  Across the two pieces of pallet boards, I nailed two smaller pieces of pallet scraps on the back so the sign stayed together. Then I gave the wood a good sanding on the top and sides.

3. Paint the sign.  I painted the base of the sign with plain ole’ white paint leaving some of the raw wood to show through.

4. Outline letters.  I freehand sketched the letters J – O – Y on the sign.  You could use a stencil or silhouette if you wanted.

5. Paint the letters. Then I filled in the letters with red craft paint.  I used about 3-4 coats, but it dried quickly.  To give an even more distressed look, I gently went over the surface with a piece of sandpaper (by hand).

And that’s it.  Pretty simple, right?!

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