Brown paper packages tied up with string

One of my favorite parts of the holiday season is decorating. Since it's my first year of having a house to decorate (my house was a torn up mess, with a broken furnace at Christmas time last year)

I didn't go all cuckoo crazy with decor, I don't have a whole lot yet... just a tree and some ornaments, really. Nor do I have the extra cash lying around to spend on new stuff. My mom gave me some of her old decor and I DIY'ed a few things too but I'm really happy with how it all looks!

The red frames were just Goodwill cheapies I tore the artwork out of and spraypainted, the origami star garland is from a local store that sells fair trades goods, the white candle stick was a dumpster dive find and the Believe sign I made myself with stencils, glitter and old barnwood!

I think my favorite piece is my Christmas tree though. It looked like such a sad little Charlie Brown tree when I first put it up.

But with a little love, a lotta burlap I am now in LOVE with it!

To make my garland I just roughly cut 2" strips of burlap and knotted the ends together. Super simple and I loved how it turned out!


Ok, I totally lied though. My absolute favorite are the gifts. I wrapped gifts in newspaper and washi tape the past couple years but this year I went with kraft paper and yarn. I used a chalk marker to write the receiver's name. Not to toot my own horn, but I adore the way they look all bundled up under my tree!

(For all who have asked: I got the Kraft paper at Staples, look near their shipping supplies. The ChalkMarker is from Joann's and I just bought 3 different colored skeins of cheapo yarn there too.)