DIY

The Busy Wo/Man’s Guide to a DIY Modern Holiday Garland

12.22.14

The road to crafting hell is paved with ambitious DIY plans.

I had a really glamorous holiday project in the works for you. It involved copper and wire and tools and magic and all things good. Alas, the post office has yet to deliver my supplies, after TWO WEEKS of waiting, grumble grumble.

So what do you do when your original idea is foiled by unforeseen Acts of the Universe and you only have 3 days ’till Christmas?

Improvise.

DIY Modern Holiday Garland by Jade and Fern

All you need to make this DIY Modern Holiday Garland are greenery and about 20 minutes of time. Which means this is the perfect holiday decor idea for the Busy Wo/Man.

Which is pretty much all of us, assuming you don’t have a horde of obedient children helpful elves to run errands for you.

DIY Modern Holiday Garland by Jade and Fern

DIY Modern Holiday Garland by Jade and Fern

This garland is so easy that I didn’t shoot process photos. But since I used the word “guide” in my title, I’ll break it down for you anyways.

DIY Modern Holiday Garland

Skill Level: The Easiest.

Time: 20 minutes once you have all the supplies.

What You Need:

  • a bunch of greens. Check your local groceries and tree lots for pine branches, magnolia, eucalyptus, and boxwood. Or if you live in a foresty area, take a walk with some shears!
  • a branch or dowel for hanging
  • twine, cord, or ribbon
  • scissors

Step One – Tie a piece of cord to both ends of the branch/dowel so you can hang the completed garland.

Step Two – If necessary, thin the greens so you can separate them into bunches. Arrange the bunches in the order you want to hang them — this is totally subjective, just play around until you like it!

Step Three – Tie each bunch to the dowel using the twine. You can also tie extra greens along the top of the dowel for a dose of fancyness (see the close-up pic above).

Step Four – Hang. Admire. Add string lights and a couple candles. Holiday decorating complete.

DIY Modern Holiday Garland by Jade and Fern

See now, wasn’t that easy?

DIY Modern Holiday Garland by Jade and Fern

DIY Modern Holiday Garland by Jade and Fern

I got a little engrossed shooting the pretty pretty greenery, and ended up shoving our couch to the side and lying on the floor with my butt against the wall and my head propped on a pile of books to get the shots I wanted. Which left Jax puzzled.

Jax the Cat - via Jade and Fern

It’s ok, Jax, I just like the pretties.

Oh god, I just talked to my cat through my blog. Is it too early for a stiff vegan eggnog? That’s appropriate around the holidays, right?

DIY Modern Holiday Garland by Jade and Fern

DIY Modern Holiday Garland by Jade and Fern

What’s left on your holiday to-do list?

I’m still sewing up stockings for our mantle. Because I’m apparently a crazy person who can’t heed my own words about crafting hell.

But good food with good people makes the frenzy worthwhile. Or so I keep telling myself…

Merry Everything, everyone! Enjoy your celebrations, whatever forms they take, and give yourself time to breathe it all in.

See you on the other side of my annual food coma!

DIY Modern Holiday Garland by Jade and Fern

Inspiration

Make it Friday: Last Chance Holiday DIYs

12.19.14

This is it, folks. Hanukkah has started, Christmas and Kwanzaa are imminently approaching, and New Year’s is just a blip on the radar away.

Which means, this weekend is really your very last chance to make those holiday DIYs you keep intending to get to. Let’s roll up our sleeves and pull out the glue guns!

And drills, paint, clay, twine, tissue paper…

Make it Friday: Last Chance Holiday DIYs

Eye am in love with these trendy-but-fabulous clay eye ornaments by Almost Makes Perfect (tee-hee!). They look like they only take about half an hour to make—perfect for the crazy days ahead.

Ok, this beautiful branch candelabra is not a DIY, it’s actually an expensive decor accessory from West Elm. BUT it’s an awesome idea and would be totally easy to recreate! Just glue some simple candle holders onto a sturdy, branchy branch (copper caps as in The Merrythought’s DIY candles would work nicely), and light it up.

For you leather-loving makers, Delia Creates made a stunning leather Scandinavian ornament. You’d need a leather punch tool, but it looks like a quick and easy project.

I don’t even know what to say about this rustic menorah centerpiece by Francois et Moi, it’s too pretty for words. Just make it, already.

The Merrythought wins again with their lovely and EASY hanging chalk canvases—use them to add holiday charm to your decor, then re-use them any other time you need a chalkboard.

Hurray for time-saving printables! A Piece of Rainbow is sharing a good one with this paper village luminary craft. Cuteness to the max.

Paper & Stitch came up with SEVEN simple ways to stamp your own wrapping paper, using common household objects. The results look like something you would buy for crazy monies at The Paper Source, don’t you think?

This flameless fire pit project from October June is already in the works in my house. Nothing says “cozy” like a crackling fire, and since I can’t have the real thing in our non-working fireplace, me and the cats will curl up next to this beauty. Good luck finding room, husband (muahaha).

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Funny story: I’ve been so scatterbrained with all the holiday craziness, writing wedding thank-you cards, getting the blog back on track, working erratic hours at Anthropologie, and trying to actually, you know, enjoy the holidays—that I never buckled my belt yesterday. Walked around all day with it just hanging there, unbuckled. Didn’t even notice.

Can I get a new brain for Christmas?

How are you all holding up? Who’s ready for the post-New Year’s hibernation?

DIY

DIY Mini Ornament Necklace for SheKnows

12.18.14

Shiny things draw me like a greedy magpie all year ’round, and especially so during the winter holidays.

It’s all the cold and dark, I need to shield myself in glittery gold sparkles of warmth. (You New Englanders know what I’m talking about).

This DIY Mini Ornament Necklace does just that:

DIY Mini Ornament Necklace by Jade and Fern

It’s like a little pendant of cheer to keep me from freezing (with extra help from 8 sweaters, 2 scarves, and a really good hat).

DIY Mini Ornament Necklace by Jade and Fern

The best part is, you can make your own with leftover holiday decor. Easy peasy. Hop on over to SheKnows for the tutorial!

DIY Mini Ornament Necklace by Jade and Fern

What’s your favorite trick to ward off the winter chill?

Read Watch Listen

Playlist — Volume 5: Love Songs

12.08.14

Helloooo! I’m back after my crazy birthday/wedding/Thanksgiving extravaganza!

And…I’m now a 30-year old married woman!

::squeals excitedly then faints in disbelief::

I’m so excited to share our wedding story with you, and to finally get back to making all the things. There’s a little DIY in the works that’ll be coming soon (sneak peeks on my Instagram feed).

While I finish that up, sort through all the wedding photos, and generally catch my breath, enjoy this little playlist A. and I put together as a favor for our wedding guests!

Playlist Volume 5 - Love Songs

[grooveshark width=”350″ height=”210″ class=”aligncenter” type=”playlist” id=”102915582″ skin=”p=0&bbg=000000&bth=000000&pfg=000000&lfg=000000&bt=ffffff&pbg=ffffff&pfgh=ffffff&si=ffffff&lbg=ffffff&lfgh=ffffff&sb=ffffff&bfg=666666&pbgh=666666&lbgh=666666&sbh=666666″]span>Volume 5 Love Songs by Marlene S. on Grooveshark[/grooveshark]
These are a handful of the songs that tell our story, and I’m so glad to get to share them with you and spread the sappy romance around!

That gorgeous photo of me and my man is by Joyelle West Photography—you can see a few more of our wedding snaps on her blog, and I’ll be sharing my favorites soon!

There are entirely too many exclamation points in this post!

Your turn, lovelies! How were your Thanksgiving feasts? Any good projects in the works? Who here wants to hire an army of assistants to take care of all of the holiday frenzy for you? (me me me)

Inspiration

Make it Friday: Modern Thanksgiving DIYs

11.14.14

So clearly “keeping the blog going” amidst the wedding countdown is not really happening. I love you guys, but something had to give.

However, I just had to pop in real quick to share these modern Thanksgiving DIYs because I am obsessed with them. Come to me, my pretties.

Make it Friday: Modern Thanksgiving DIYs

Y’all know I can’t resist anything involving copper, like these adorable copper cap candles by The Merrythought. If you’re in a rush (and who isn’t this time of year), you could even just buy votives to fit the copper caps rather than making your own candles. To the plumbing aisle!

I love the simple, no-fuss stripes on this painted table runner by Lovely Indeed for Poppytalk.

What a surprise—more copper. You’ll never guess the materials Oleander and Palm used to create her faux copper vase.

Design Love Fest absolutely killed it with this modern take on a holiday wreath that’s pretty enough to leave up year ’round.

And so we remember to pause our feasting and be thankful—printable I’m Thankful For place cards by Almost Makes Perfect. Fill them out before the big meal and then read them off drunkenly over dessert.

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Today I’m thankful that I live near so many craft stores. Let the wedding DIYs take shape!

Happy weekend, my dears. Oh, and better late than never—be sure to check out the Tina + Jimmy Jr. dance I promised you!

Tina Belcher + Jimmy Jr.