Sunday, January 21, 2018

Truly Is The Last This Winter




I'll bet you can't believe I'm still talking about Christmas! But, yes it's true. 

Rather than a Christmas Post, I like to think of this as a Crafts Post


And honestly, if you wait until next December to start thinking about making Christmas decor, it will be too late! I learned that lesson the hard way...many, many times over in fact.



As I said in this post, I plan to make more "Chair Bows" for my counter stools based on the one I bought a few years ago. 



I've been looking at the After-Christmas sales for unusual items to add to the bows, like the bells on the original Chair Bow.



I was able to find sets of bells exactly like that set. These sets of bells were on sale for $1.99 each after Christmas. Originally they were priced around $10 each.



I found this cute candy cane, with rusty bells attached, which is made from red and brown twine and a leaf made of stiffened green burlap. The original price was $6.99, but on sale after Christmas for $1.50 each.



I was thinking it would be easy to make additional candy canes to use on a wreath or such, but if you can buy them for $1.50 that's probably cheaper than making them.

Here's another cutie that I thought would look good hanging on a Chair Bow with some greenery. It's one of those things that can be described as "...so ugly it's cute..." 


I bought it before Christmas for around $7 knowing it might be cheaper after Christmas, but maybe not!

As it turned out, they were all gone when I checked during the After-Christmas sales. I only needed one anyway. I'll use the snowman with a set of the bells and some greenery to make one of the Chair Bows. 

Now that I've gathered up all the Christmas-oriented items I needed at the After-Christmas sales, I'm putting it all away until maybe July when some of the TV channels show Christmas movies for their Christmas in July month. 

Right now I'm more interested in organizing and renovating. I've been doing a little painting around the house that I'll be sharing with you soon. By July I'll be back in the Christmas mood again and making Christmas projects will sound like a lot more fun then.

How about you? Did you get any bargains in the After-Christmas sales or were you totally done with all things Christmas as soon as the new year started? 





Thanks for dropping by!


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18 comments:

  1. Great idea - collect the pieces now and in July watch Christmas in July TV while you make the chair back decorations. Keep cozy.
    Joy

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  2. I picked up one or two bits and loads of Christmas fabric. Like you I enjoy the Christmas in July films and will start a plan then.

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  3. Those were good buys. I usually pick up a bunch of stuff on the after Christmas sales but didn't this year because I didn't know where I might be planted next year and already have a bunch of stuff stored. xo Diana

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  4. Usually I'm in the States over the new year and I go to Big Lots and get some of their Christmas decorations that are reduced for my parcel wrapping, but as I was ill I didn't buy a thing.

    Sorry to sound a bit thick but what is that last thing photographed??

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    1. Does look a little hard to tell. It's a handmade snowman made of I think muslin with glitter, old lace, and embroidery. I'm a sucker for anything odd and out of the ordinary. I think it is meant to be a tree ornament. I've not been to Big Lots, but believe I'll drop by one here locally. I see a lot of interesting things bloggers have picked up there.

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  5. I didn't go to any of the stores and purchase any Christmas stuff. I need to get rid of alot of stuff here. Trying to down size.

    Have a great week.

    Mary

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  6. What great finds!! I hit a few of the after-Christmas sales, and my husband couldn't figure out why we needed another container to store everything in, so he doesn't suspect anything! :-) But I found some great "mitten garland" and found some fun socks that I gave as part of a January birthday gift and fun Christmas dishes too. I'll forget I have most of it, so it'll be fun to enjoy and rediscover in December!

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    1. Ah Kim, I love mitten garland. I may try to make some in July. I know just what you mean about the wonderful surprises we find when we open our Christmas decorations next year.

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  7. You did pick up a some good buys....I bought a few things from the after Christmas sales at 75% off. The birds I used on my woodland mantel were from the sales. Some of them I haven;t used and it will be a surprise come next year.

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  8. Smart lady! I didn't buy anything after Christmas. I have too much now, but during July, I will be itching to make some Christmas crafts, too.

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  9. Nothing new....only MAJOR sorting and streamlining of ornaments, etc. (I may regret it come next year, but I doubt it!)

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  10. Nothing new....only MAJOR sorting and streamlining of ornaments, etc. (I may regret it come next year, but I doubt it!)

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  11. Oh yeah. This is when I stock up on red for both Valentine's day and next year at 80 percent off. AND time to get things I'll use for holiday crafting. You are spot on when you say that you have to think about holiday crafting now and not later. Or else, you pay full price. I scored some decent things but the best was a big pack of bottle brush trees at 75 percent off -- perfect for dyeing for the fairy forest next year!

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    1. I'm sorry I didn't think like you did of buying red for Valentine's when they had the sales. Duh. I'll be remembering your tip next year Jeanie!

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  12. You are smart to make things when they are fresh in your mind.

    I love those chair bows and might copy your idea.

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  13. That's the way to do it! But not me. I've never been that smart. I see Christmas things reduced 75% off and I stand and stare and walk away. I love those chair bows you were showing us at Christmas.

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  14. Cute idea for the chair bows - love the 'ugly' snowman! I always want to get a head start on Christmas, but never do. Maybe this year......I didn't hit any after Christmas sales this year because I was planning a baby shower. I feel deprived now! Oh well, I've got too much stuff already. Except now I think I need chair bows! xx Karen

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    1. Karen, there really isn't a lot to them so you've probably got plenty of stuff that you can make the chair bows with anyway. That baby coming is such a special gift! I'd rather have another one in our family than any decor. You are so lucky!

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