handmade christmas week 1 – choose a theme

For those of you who followed my Handmade Christmas challenge last year, you know the first step is to select a theme. That’s right. I’m insistent on having an original theme around which to build your seasonal karma. It can be a color scheme, a mood, an item… the possibilities are endless!

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If you decide to go with a specific color palette as your Christmas theme, don’t limit yourself to reds and greens. Mamie Eisenhower didn’t. She loved the color pink, from her gown to her bathroom (which was said to be pink down to the cotton balls!) to her Christmas tree.

Your theme need not be limited to a color scheme, however. You can read my post from last year about selecting your holiday theme here. Also, I’ve gathered some vignettes to show you just how fun decorating with a theme can be!

Why not an all-white theme with a flocked tree, a vintage ornament wreath, gifts wrapped in white embossed paper, and mini snowflakes trees (instructions here.)

Or go rustic with a reclaimed wood tree (Funky Junk Interiors), burlap ornaments, a woodland wreath, and a folksy homespun garland.

You probably already suspected that I would whet your appetite with some Bohemian Christmas touches… pom pom garland from Anthropologie, a patchwork tree skirt, painted wooden stars, and these funky repurposed sari cloth stockings (from Hand & Cloth.)

Have some fun with jingle bells! Silver bell cone trees, bells on brown paper packages, bell embellished flatware, invitations, and charming little jingle bell wreaths.

And let’s not forget the mercury glass theme I used last year… shiny glass ornaments, a looking-glass pinecone wreath, and a silvery boho tree skirt.

So now that I’ve given you a dose of inspiration, your homework is easy. Start scrolling through Pinterest and your favorite magazines, think about a theme that would breathe new life into your Christmas decorating, and download this free SELECT A THEME WORKSHEET to make your task a bit easier.

What’s my theme this year? Take a peek at my inspiration board. Since I’m celebrating the holidays in my new Florida condo, I thought a whimsical snowbird theme might be fitting. Birds…burlap…whimsey…goin’ coastal!