Tuesday, October 6, 2009

A Decor How-To

I often hear people say that they don’t decorate for holidays simply because it’s too expensive or they don’t have anywhere to store it…and so on.  So, I thought I’d do a little post on that.  A little..reality check, if you will.

IMG_7590-1 As I was decorating my hutch the other night, I was thinking about how much I didn’t spend on everything.

IMG_7564 Shall I break it down for you?  My favorite place to buy holiday decorations?  The Dollar Store.  All the little signs around my house are from there.  All my pumpkins?  From there.  I simply paint them.

IMG_7513-1 Those skulls?  Yup.  Dollar Store.  My friend Bill?  You guessed it.

bill It’s always good to shop the house, as well.  The glitter skull below was a birthday present to my son.  It happened to come up “missing” from his room the other day.  Remember the glass orbs I bought some time ago?  Perfect there.

IMG_7586

Another piece of advice?  Buy stuff on clearance after the holiday.  Then put it away for the year and completely forget that you had it when you take it out. The tins above were marked down to .99 cents.  That’s cheaper than the dollar store!

IMG_7580

Something else you may notice is that I like to decorate for holidays with things that aren’t really meant for the holidays.  Am I making sense?  The “31” above is .99 cent numbers I bought at my scrapbooking store.  Stick ‘em on a clearance frame and call it good.

IMG_7579 My last piece of advice?  You’re still reading, right?  Feathers and glitter.  It’s just a little punch here and there, but it really makes a difference.  How easy is that?! 

Just so you understand how things work at this house…

As I was going through my pictures to pick which ones to post on here, my husband leaned over and said, “Whose house is that?”  Nice.

64 comments:

Aura said...

Cute! I love how everything is black. I decorate cheaply, too. I do half-off at Hobby Lobby all the time, and hit up all the sales after the holidays to stock up.

Linda@ Lime in the Coconut said...

Ha! love that last statement!

Yeah...But Girl...WHERE do you get the ENERGY to do all this? Dollar store or not?

I've said it before...but keepin' it real. We are slugsville here compared to you. Move just as quick as slugs.

Aren't you supposed to be grading papers or something?!

Rhonda Gail said...

I really love your black and white scheme. I usually hate halloween decor because it's so garish!

Jodee said...

Your hutch looks fabulous! I shop at the Dollar Tree every single week! I love it!

Courtney @ One Fine Wire said...

It's so true...you can find holiday stuff on sale all the time. I posted a blog not too long ago about shopping at Ross or Marshall's. They always have cheap decorations...and you can find some really great ones!!

Great post!

girl meets carpenter said...

I love the 31 sign! I'm going to steal that idea!! And thanks for the tip about the dollar store :)

Ruby said...

Thank you so much for sharing your ideas! Love the black and white theme.

Rachelle said...

"Who's house is that?"

Awesome.

:) Looks great! Don't you love the dollar store?

Rachelle

Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions said...

Ha! Husbands! You should have told him it was the home of a remarkably talented and patient woman! I love everything you did and since I know I got rid of some stuff earlier this year when we did a purge, and some stuff just had it, I will be checking out the dollar store and clearance items for next year's decorations. Your hutch looks beautiful! I love the pumpkin under the glass dome and the "31" {my birthday is on Halloween so that could be a good reminder to the family, too}.

Kim @ NewlyWoodwards said...

Very good ideas. I completely agree. I tend to believe that people say that decorating for holidays is too expensive or takes too much space to store just don't want to decorate for the holidays.

I grew up in a home where we decorated to the nines for holidays -so that's in my blood. I cannot imagine fall going by without leaves, candy corn and scarecrows.

I agree that decorating for the holidays can be very affordable. And, I esp. think it's important to find a few "key" pieces for each holiday (pref. on clearance) that you can use to anchor your decor each year. I have a few things that were more expensive that I love. Then, I can decorate aroudn those with more affordable things. =)

Great post!

Sherri said...

The hubby comment CRACKED me up! My fav finds are Dollar Tree, Ross and anything on clearance at Hobby Lobby and Target! LOL

Katrina said...

Liking those skulls - my boys would love a permanent collection of those in their rooms I am sure!

kh said...

Feathers and glitter... got it! :0) I do the clearance shopping after the holidays and when I unpack them the next year it's like Christmas.

Miss Mustard Seed said...

Great ideas and I love that you got so much of this from the dollar store! Good for you! I also love buying seasonal decorations after the season. I just have to remember I bought them the next year!

Nicole said...

Very cute! I NEVER buy my decorations from anywhere but the 99 cents store, the dollar store, and Big lots! and the are always adorable! there is no excuse for not decorating =D

roseylittlethings said...

super cute! So sad that I can not put out my hween decor since we are moving in a few weeks... SNIFF! Next year it will be really exciting like all new stuff:)

Unknown said...

I am so addicted to your sight!!! Keep on bloggin!! BTW Go Cardinals!!! Sorry had to go there.

Carmen @ Life with Sprinkles on Top said...

"Whose house is that?" hahaha Good to know he pays such close attention, huh? :) The dollar store has been my best friend this year for Halloween stuff. I have to go back this week too to pick up a few more things. And I love after-holiday clearance also! All of your stuff looks really cute.

Jaime @ A Place Out West said...

I LOVE end-of-season clearance. It's like opening gifts the next year when you find the stuff you stashed away.

All of your decorations look great; I feel like such a slacker!

Melinda said...

Great thoughts--it really isn't hard. One just needs the motivation to do it. It has helped to have my blog this year.
Because I might want to post about it I've done more decorating this
year than I have since my Mom passed away. Also, I have finally learned that a little bit is OK!
You DON'T have to go overboard.

Melinda

Michelle said...

Super cute display!

Moore Minutes said...

Very helpful and good tips!! Looks fabulous. I like the simple colors.

Quick Q for you! ;) I hope I didn't offend you by using your peg board idea tutorial?...I'm going to go with the idea that you've been extra super busy...and hope I didn't upset you by copying your genius creations!

Debra Lea said...

Love your blog, and love the dollar store! You just never know what you might find there. ...I also love the advice about buying after the holiday and then packing it up for next year..I always look forward to what I got myself the yr before bc I always forget, so it's totally a gift! :0)

BLJ Graves Studio said...

It all looks great! I have those same skulls from the dollar store. You should have seen my hubbys face when I put them in a glass jar on the table. :-)

Kathleen said...

I have those same little skulls from the $ store! Love all your fun ideas.

mommynoodles said...

I hear ya about the good 'ol $ store!! Love that store! I just found heavy plaques there from Hallmark,the sticker on back said 19 something!! Go me!! I love when they get odds and ends from big name stores.I love the 31 sign you did,and that could be done w/ different holidays! That was funny what your hubby said.You got'ta love him! I guess!! lol lol
Natalie,

Molly said...

Love the decor!
So funny your hubs said that. Ha!

Print Brochures said...

I like the "Witch Way?" sign. It is so cool. It'll still be cute even if the season is finished already.Thank you for sharing this.

{Bellamere Cottage} said...

Men....they can be so observant, can't they?

Love the glitter...I would never have thought of that...and I'm going to the dollar store tomorrow. I must be missing something...you gals are always finding the great stuff there.

Blessings,
Spencer

Becky @ Our Sweet Peas said...

Looks great and I am cracking up at the husband comment :)

Carla said...

Love my local Dollar Tree! I hit all the time for seasonal decor. Even if it's just not "right", I've always got stuff on hand to make it better, dress it up . . . teak it a bit. Good post!

Tracey said...

Love the dollar store.. It's fun, easy, and inexpensive. Love what you did and you gave me the boost to get going on my own decorating!

Danielle and Clint said...

HEY! You stoel my idea! I was going to do the same thing with the green glitter skeleton head and hands! :-)

Anonymous said...

Great advice!! you're so creative!

G.B. said...

I don't do halloween stuff...but oh so cute. You have such a nack for decorating...love your stuff...and your husbands comment...priceless. He sounds just like mine:)

Brittney said...

I love how you decorated your hutch. The Witch Way sign and 31 are my favorites! I'm heading to the dollar store ASAP!

Mom's Place said...

LOL! I love the observance of husbands! I often feel like asking mine where he lives, because I often feel like he has been hiding under a rock!

I love seeing pictures of how you decorate! It gives me a lot of inspiration!

Amber Filkins said...

Ooooh, I loved this post!!! You have such CUTE decorations. I love how some of them are all spooky-ish, but it's very Pottery Barn.

I absolutely ♥ the 31 in the frame. VERY Pottery Barn.

Your little friend in the dome is so cute.

I love getting things on clearance after the holiday and then pulling them out the next year! Last year, I bought some cute little ceramic pumpkins at Walgreen for $.25 each. They're sitting on the place settings at my dining room table.

You should pop over to see my fall decor!!

Lynda @ SportsMadGirl said...

I see the husband is on the ball isn't he :)

Your hutch looks fab! I love all the black & white for Halloween.

I'm with you on the Dollar Store. Love it! Only problem is that those dollars add up fast :)

Love your blog! Thanks for sharing all your ideas.

Melissa {polkadot chair} said...

Love it...
funny , your husband sounds just like mine.

another tip I tell people, just buy one thing you love a year, after a while you've got a good stash of stuff.

Ali Mae said...

:D. . . at least it wasn't "Who are those people?" right? Little harder to read. Love the blog.

Richella Parham said...

Your decorations are great, and your advice is so good. Every year when I get out my holiday decorations, I'm so excited to see things that I've forgotten about. It's like going on a shopping spree in my own attic--but even better because all it costs is a little time to get things out of boxes!

I'm not very organized--oh, how I wish I were organized--but I do have boxes labeled "Hallowe'en," "Thanksgiving," "Easter," etc. I unload those boxes at the appropriate season, then load them back up when the season is past. Even a disorganized person such as I can do that. I can imagine that someone like you must have a wonderful system of organizing your holiday decorations.

Thank you for sharing your ideas with us!

Jen @ After The Alter said...

I'm amazed to read that you got most of that stuff at the dollar store! I am a HUGE dollar store fan but so far haven't been as creative as you when it comes to holiday decorations. They are beautiful!!!

Michelle, All Home and Love said...

LOL on your hubby! That is exactly something mine would say!
The decorations look great.
~Michelle

Joanie @ The Bright Side said...

Cute ideas, thanks! Your husband's sense of humor sounds just like my husband's!

Wendy @ Ramblings from the Sunshine State said...

It all looks lovely! What I wonder is, where does everyone put the thing they took down while the holiday stuff is up?

Sarah said...

I'm off to the dollar store in the a.m. Never even thought of painting the dollar store pumpkins-brilliant!

Unknown said...

Hey there! I just posted your hutch makeover on my blog! Thanks! :)

Steph @ Steph Runs On said...

I love all of your decorations. You're right about finding great deals at the dollar store or after holiday clearance. Most of my decorations are purchased that way.

Of course, mine are not nearly as amazing as yours.

The hutch looks awesome, by the way!

LWLH said...

Great tips, when I was at the dollar tree the other day, i thought of you! :)

Jamie said...

Great post! Let me just say again, you are so creative!!! Love that 31 picture. Awesome!

Niki Jolene said...

Great pics! I love your stuff, as per usual.

I was amazed the other day on a trip to Michael's when I realized that a lot of their stuff was the same as stuff I had seen over at Dollar Tree.

:)

Dream Mom said...

Wow, everything looks just great in your hutch! Very creative. You are so talented.

Love the husband's statement. LOL!

Ellie Mae's Cottage said...

I would have never thought to use black feathers in the way you did - so creative! I love it! -Jackie

BonBon Rose Girls Kristin said...

What a gorgeous display. LOVE the skull in the dome! I'm all about buying decorations after the holiday is over!

Rose Pressey said...

Love the decorations! Sounds exactly like something my husband would say.

Sharon said...

Great decorations ... it's not where you guy them ... it's how you put them together.

Nancy said...

Love your black and white theme. Feathers... totally awesome. My girls would love that. Thanks for the chuckle with your husband's comment. So funny!

Karen said...

I love shopping the house 'cause free is my favorite price. My favorite is the "31". You are one crafty girl!

Niki Jolene said...

Great post, as usual!

I've nominated you for a blog award---keep up the good work!

http://free2befrugal.blogspot.com/2009/10/one-lovely-blog-and-15-more.html

:)

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Grace @ One Craft Girl's Corner said...

I totally agree with you! You don't have to spend much money or have a lot of space to decorate. I've been a little lazy about decorating for Halloween, but I've finally put up some outside. I saw the styrofoam skulls you have in the jars at a Dollar Tree by my mom's house. I think I'll go back and get some. I used to really go all out in the classroom with decorations, and I think I should be better at home. It makes the days more fun. Thanks!

•stephanie• said...

thanks for sharing all these darling ideas.
totally copied your "31".
so cute.

Jessica said...

I have linked you up!
Love your site
http://myquarterlifecrisisjmu.blogspot.com/2009/10/halloween-round-up.html

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