Thursday, December 27, 2007

Twas the Days After Christmas

Hello fellow bloggers! I hope that everyone had a wonderful holiday. Though things have calmed down, we are still in entertaining mode here. We are hosting a small family gathering today and a small gathering on New Year's Eve. Thankfully I have the week off from work! Santa was very good to me and it was wonderful to spend time with the family. Looking forward to visiting everyone and catching up in between parties over the next few days!
I did have an opportunity to sneak a few craft projects in right before Christmas. I wanted to try bleaching the bottlebrush trees as so many have been showing. I can't remember where this idea originated but yay to the blogger who discovered this trick! After bleaching I used some glass and silver glitters to spice things up. I also had these fun cutouts that I hadn't had a chance to use. This piece became a perfect fit for our powder room, which was lacking in holiday decor.
I used a vintage jewel to top the center tree.



As I was running around the day before Christmas Eve, my good friend called and asked if I could make a Victorian style ornament for her to give as a gift. I couldn't pass up the opportunity - good thing I had more of these cutouts! This is the piece I came up with for her. It was fun to take a break from cleaning and baking and sprucing to get one more crafty thing in!


I like to have unique place cards every year. This year, I took an idea from Kari and Kijsa and gave each dinner guest a Christmas quote tied to an angel ornament. As we started dinner, each person read their quote aloud. I tried to use quotes that spoke to the true meaning of the holiday.


This little guy was a big hit. It is a tree made entirely of cheese with parsley and tomatoes used to complete the look at topped with a yellow bell pepper star. It tasted good and made a cute presentation!

Have a wonderful day!



19 comments:

Jenn said...

That is such a cute tree! Sounds like you are still having tons of Holiday fun! We were pretty busy leading up to Christmas and now we are the opposite extreme....LOL Have a fun, safe and healthy New year!

Jenn

Susie Q said...

What an adorable cheeseball tree!!
See how creative you are at everything?! : )

Love your special treasures and the place cards...I love that you used the same quote that I had used on my blog! It is a favorite of mine too!

Have a sweet rest of the week. 2008 will be a special one for you I know!

Hugs,
Sue

Heidi said...

The quotes (beautifuly displayed) at your guest's settings are so sweet! And your cheese tree was cool! I'll be they all hated to eat it...but managed witht that task in the end! Glad you had a nice Christmas! I loved seeing your pictures!

Flea Market Queen said...

I love it all!
You are so creative...
Happy New Year,
Priscilla

Bristol said...

Karla- Love the cheese ball, great idea. Everything you made looks wonderful. Glad you had a wonderful holiday!!
Bristol

ShabbyInTheCity said...

I enjoyed this post Karla~ That cheese tree is adorable! The K and K inspired angels with quotes are nice and your Victorian crafts too...I was also trying to remember who started bleaching the trees...I think it was "the other Karla".

Anonymous said...

The cheese tree is fantastic!
The place cards are true treasures too!
Enjoy the rest of 07, Best wishes and good health in 08
tamy/simplymein

karlascottage.typepad.com said...

Your trees turned out wonderful. I also agree, whoever's idea it was first, YAY to them!!! I must have bleached over 100 of the little cuties.

Your cheese tree is wonderful too. Yummy1

Anonymous said...

So happy to read you had some time to relax and enjoy your week off! The bleached bottle brush trees are gorgeous! Loving the cheese tree, how creative is that!! Happy New Year Karla! Jenn and Jacqui

Merci-Notes said...

I agree! To make something for someone is THE BEST!!! it is what drives me...! AND who would not want to give your ornament as a gift!!!! or keep it for oneself~ :)
I have not seen that tutorial about bleeching!!! perhaps because I have not been able to get out visiting! boo hoo for me! But NOW I AM HERE yippeeee!!!!

....~~**Happy*New*Year**~~....
....~~**Karla**~~....

Hugs, Mry

Anonymous said...

Karla,
I love your Cheese ball Christmas tree, I have to make one next year for our Bunco Christmas party. Adorable.
I love the gift you made and your darling place cards.
Happy New Year, :) Bren

http://benzy55.typepad.com/my_weblog/

Anonymous said...

Oh, I believe the one that first blogged about bleaching the bottlebrush trees was Sarah from "The Misadventure of Mama and Jack at http://mamanjackjack.blogspot.com/
I got the idea from her blog last month and so did many others.
:) Bren
http://benzy55.typepad.com/my_weblog/

Charmingdesigns said...

Now if I could just find some trees to bleach!! Love yours!! Laurie

Boxwood Cottage said...

Oh I adore what you did with the trees and the gorgeous cut outs Karla and your Victorian ornament is very beautiful too! I'm a big fan of most things Victorian. Also the idea for the eatable tree is just fabulous!

Well seeing that I'm too late to wish you a Merry Christmas I'm here to wish you and your loved ones a very Happy and Healthy New Year 2008!

Warmest wishes from Germany sends you Carol xox

Susan said...

Wow, your ideas are inspiring. I think the cheese tree looks delicious. Have a safe and Happy New Year.

Susan K.

Anonymous said...

those trees look so cute with the vintage cut outs! I want to gooble up that cheese tree! yummy! I Hope you have a wonderful new years!

Vicki Chrisman said...

Oh Karla, everything is just beautiful! Love your bleached trees and that "yummy" tree is just toooo clever! The places cards BEAUTIFUL! Happy New Year friend!

Anonymous said...

Miss Karla~ I do believe a wonderful year has gone by since I met you via blogging...what I remember in the beginning was your quest to be more creative...well, my amazingly talented girlfriend, I do believe you have found your inner Picasso! As one year closes and the next one approaches...I wish you continued love, prosperity and CREATIVITY! Thank you for sharing all your delicious ideas. I can't wait to see what you will do in 2008!!! Happy New Years my friend! Miss Mari~

Anonymous said...

That cheese tree is absolutely AMAZING. You're brilliant!

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