My sweet friend, the Nester, has inspired us to share our glorious garlands in all of their gorgeousness.
Why has it taken me 15 years to figure out that I could take my fake, wimpy, little garland, mix it with another cheap ($2), pathetic looking Goodwill garland, shop my home for embellishments, and have the final product be one that stands alone in all of its blazing garland glory? Well, maybe not quite, if you go look at the others, but I’ll take what I can get.
I LOVE THIS LADIES! It’s so easy!
And you can do it too…right now…ready, get set….GO!!
Do not worry if you have to open your laptop to make sure you copy everything correctly? There are no rules!!
I had to put my son in his place when he inquired,
“Why do you always copy her?”
“That’s what she’s there for…it’s not copying,” I retorted.
Since I was leaving for Florida within two days of of getting my Christmas decorations down from the attic (yes, some boxes are waiting for me when I return…that’s depressing), my one goal was that I desired to create this without ANY purchases. I needed to be able to shop my home, and yard for all necessities.
I started with this.
(picture of pathetic skinny fake garland)
OK, LADIES….I am confessing….
I worked my tail off to get this darn garland done ( I mean…..glorious garland) before I left for my sons’ football championship. I even had it fall once and recreated it when I should have been packing, cleaning or any numerous other things. I have been writing the post while here at Disney, and just waiting for my hubby to give me the card out of the camera.
WHAT….YOU TOOK THE OLD CARD OUT AND REPLACED IT WITH A NEW ONE right before we left?
ALL OF MY PICTURES THAT I TOOK JUST SO I COULD DO GREAT CHRISTMAS POSTS ALL WEEK LONG, including my garland pictures and EVERY SINGLE ONE of my 24 Jesse Tree ornament pictures (yes, 24 handmade ornaments and I photographed them all) ARE NOT HERE?
IT’S MINUTES BEFORE MR. LINKY COMES UP AND I find out what?
I feel like I am all dressed up for the prom and my date has stood me up!
Are you feeling for me? I want to cry.
Well, I guess I shouldn’t over a blog post, but seriously.
Nester is calling this a SHOW AND TELL, but we all know it’s a total Party.
I am not one to miss a party, especially with my favorite gals, and I am not about to now just because my hubby left the camera card at home.
Anyhow, just how many garlands do you really want to look at….hundreds that link up? This is different….just imagine!
I did the work, it’s glorious, and I do have a sneak peek.
I am at Disney, for goodness sake…..the place where DREAMS COME TRUE!!
I have been dreaming of showing you all my garland. I even posted the teaser last week.
SO dream with me, ladies…dream……pretend you’re visualizing the final result…pics are ahead.
I went hunting on foot through my woods and found a bunch of fresh pine branches and pine cones pictured below. Remember, I couldn’t spend any $.
(Dashing through the snow….)
If you live in a subdivision, just pull over on the side of the road somewhere…you’ll find plenty.
(In a one horse open sleigh...well, maybe it’s horsepower and it’s a mini van, but we’re dreaming…)
(Ore the hills we go…well, it was many hills and a neighborhood yard sale)
(Laughing all the way..oh yea, giggling…I hit the jackpot).
I grabbed the bunch of berries that I bought for $1 and started cutting away, and then sticking them in the wimpy garland.
The berries left over I stuck in the $1 glass jar pictured here.
(Bells on bobtails ring…
well, they are little gold bells and ivory ribbon woven into the garland)
(Making spirits bright…yes, it’s amazing what a little Christmas decor does for ones emotional stability)
Then I started adding the fresh pine and holly leaves that I cut off of my own personal bush into the wimpy garland, winding gold things that I found scattered around the house, and adding, adding and adding.
(What fun it is to laugh and sing a sleighing song tonight….
yes, I must say, I am doing much better now, thank you…this has been very therapeutic)
My sneak peak….
Since I knew I was leaving to go out of town I didn’t want to come home to a fallen glorious garland (her feelings would have been so hurt if no one was there to pick her up), so I left out a few of my additional embellishments until I returned.
The gold reindeer was made by my sis in law who passed away from breast cancer….it’s always such a wonderful reminder during the holidays.
OH, and I AM SO EXCITED…my husband found the missing card.
I can do the big reveal after all!!
Well, I can dream, can’t I?
Thanks for playing along…does my heart good to know you girls love me anyhow….garlandless and all.
Sing with me…Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells…Jingle all the way!!
Disney does Christmas decor right….wow, had I known the card was gone, I would have shown you some REAL GARLAND…every where at Magic Kingdom.
Love it! LOL! You make me smile almost everyday. Gosh I wish we could share a diet coke together, or you a coffee and me my dc. I wish I could come over and check out the nice country living and maybe even hear you sing some songs at church! Oh well for now I’ll just live and laugh and sing with you in your blog! Say Hi to Mickey for me!
HAHAHA! The place where dreams come true! I love it, Jen. I can’t wait to see the garland when you get back. I hear you, feeling like you’re all dressed up for the prom but your date stood you up.
It could be worse: your date could show up, but you could have forgotten to put clothes on. Always good to look on the bright side.
Hope your vaca is wonderful!!
I can’t wait to see your finished garland. So far it looks great! I hope you are enjoying yourself at Disney!
Your post is so much fun. The garland looks beautiful and I love your green walls. Christmas blessings to you and your family!
Oooohhh, I feel for you. I would have wanted to SCREAM!!! But your post was wonderful – sooo funny. Love the song intermingled. Have fun! I’ll be back to see the big reveal.
Shannon
Cracking up at you!
Girl, the date showed up–you dress was what was missing. I guess that makes me your date? And the garland is the dress…
It looks fantastic! Missed you Sunday but loved seeing your mom, sil and niece!
I can see it, I can see it! (I’m dreaming with you.) And it’s oh, so beautiful! And what a fun sleigh ride?!
Why do husbands do those things?
You are just too funny. I can’t wait to see the garland when you get back, but seeing Magic Kingdom all decked out for Christmas must be amazing. Hope you are having fun!
I like your blog!! Thanks for sharing!
Glad you found your card!
I like the red berries in the vase with the pine cones and greens!
Oh no! Great post though! I can’t wait to see it when you come back! Have fun!
I can tell it’s gorgeous…sorry about the camera. Have fun in FL!
Your garland is SOOOOO lush and pretty. I absolutely adore it! 🙂
What an entertaining post. Thanks for sharing. I can’t wait to see more of your garland pictures when you return from Disney Land! I always enjoy stopping by your blog
Love this! LOL! I had to cheat today and show someone else’s. ;=)
And I do love the mantle… so pretty!
XO,
Sheila
I can’t wait to see that garland! I am sure it is just gorgeous!!! I love the Nester’s philosophy!
Carrie
I can see it in my mind, and it’s breathtaking!! 🙂 So glad you’re having a good time in FL, and can’t wait to see the garland in it’s full glory when you return!
Ha Ha! And the garland turned out beautifully!
Such a fun post to read, very pretty decorations. Will you show the missing garland?
Lamp Tramp
Afterall the trouble, you garland is super!
Hi Jen, I enjoyed this post, garland or not! LOL! It was pretty funny! Can’t wait to see the garland when you get back. I scrolled down and it looks like it is going to be well worth the wait! Hope you are having a fabulous time in Disney! I know several families (actually bunches!), that have been to Disney, or will go…this month! If you meet anyone from the east coast of NC, tell them I said Hello! It may be some of that bunch! LOL! ~hugs, Rhonda 🙂
I can’t wait to see the finished project! But until then – enjoy your Disney adventure!
You are so funny! The photo from Disney was pretty!!!! I love going there for the Very Merry Christmas Party! Have fun!
(Ignore the gecko photo –my son uses this account!)
-Kim
http://www.foreverwherever.com
Hey Jen~ We believe you! and can’t wait to see the big reveal. Blessings to you and your family – hope you’re having a blast!
you are so cute and funny..love the pictures!
-sandy toes
You are so great! Just hang in there, enjoy Disney and we’ll all still be here when you return! Kelly
The garland looks fab! The little angel is a great touch.. kind of like “I Spy” in the garland! Thanks for the adventure in garland making. You’ve got such a great way with words and a quick witt!
I’ll check back for part 2 (hopefully your garland will still be where you left it and not on the ground in an “I Spy” mess:)… Hopefully there won’t be any reposts from our garland party on fallen garland! LOL.
Hope you have a blast!
Girlie, you’ve got enough energy for the earth to spin on!
You’ve made me laugh … again!
Can’t wait for the big reveal. Next week?
Hope you are having tons of fun with Mickey and friends.
Love the sneak peeks! It looks beautiful!
Can’t wait to see it hun!
I’ve got Jingle Bells in my head now!!! 😉
Merry December~ Les
I see it, I see it! It’s just GORGEOUS……bad husband for taking out the memory card 🙁
ENJOY DISNEYLAND!
It’s a big Christmas tree here. Have got my one through Domestications.