Tag Archives: decorations

How Do You Decorate for the Holidays?

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We just got through Halloween, and now, Thanksgiving Day is quickly approaching. After that it will be Christmas – as we all know!

Some of us do not like to be rushed into the holidays – and many don’t care for seeing the decorations a little too early at the retail stores either.

But because my work involves planning events and classes to learn how to dress up the home for the holidays with evergreen decor and more, my decorating starts rather early, and so does information about upcoming holiday crafting classes.

Former Posts on Holiday Decorating:

To see some of ContainerCrazy CT’s blog posts on holiday decorating, just go to the red search bar on the right side of this blog and type in Holidays.

You will see results of ideas for decorating pumpkins to using mesh ribbon to create holiday decor in and outside the home, and of course posts about the annual class held by Cathy Testa of ContainerCrazyCT on making evergreen creations in December. Look for photos there, or by going to the top of the blog page for Cathy T’s Classes menu.

Search Bar - Red on Right

Search Bar – Red on Right

The “5th Annual Kissing Ball and Holiday Creations” Class on December 6th, 2014

Large Full Size Kissing Ball created by an Attendee!

Large Full Size Kissing Ball created by an Attendee!

For those who have not attended this class before – Well, let’s just say it is a “Do not miss type of event” if you enjoy creating with FRESH greens — and a large variety of them – There will be 14 different types of evergreens to work with when you make your holiday decor item of choice.

Things you can make at this class:  

A large or regular size Kissing Ball to adorn your front steps, a Wreath to hang on your door, a beautiful long and wide Candle Centerpiece for your holiday table, or even a Mailbox Swag to drape over your mailbox with beautiful, colorful and fresh evergreens.

Getting Ready:

As I prepare for this event, I start going thru my holiday decor to dress up the house.  It includes tossing out old holiday decorations too – or donating them to Good Will, thus me tossing out an old tree! But the goal is to make the environment as festive as possible and to provide more space for our growing group of KB Makers in Cathy T’s classroom located in Broad Brook, CT.

Cathy T tosses old decorations out the window to prepare for new festive decorations!

Cathy T tosses old decorations out the window to prepare for new festive decorations!  Image courtesy of Bitstrips.

Getting Started Early:

In a way, offering this class makes me get started a little bit early for the holidays – it puts me in the spirit.  Just the act of taking out decorations made me want to open a bottle of wine!  And because it is offered early in the month of December, it will get you into the spirit too – your decor will be enjoyed all month long before the hussel and bussel of the holidays.

Four Week Countdown:

The class is about 4 weeks away, on Saturday, Dec 6th.  So, if you haven’t pre-registered, now is the time.  Join a great group of KB Makers, a festive environment, light snacks provided by attendees, and some festive beverages.  All while learning how to make your creation of choice with evergreens.

To Sign Up:

Visit www.ContainerCrazyCT.com and fill out the contact form or reply here at containercathy@gmail.com.

To confirm your seat after pre-registration, a check must be mailed for the item you wish to make at class by next week, so don’t delay.  Once registered, you receive full details.

Onto Thanksgiving:

In the meantime, I will be also focusing on preparing for Thanksgiving (only one week before this class), and a Container Gardening Design class I’m teaching at the Tolland/Vernon location for the Master Gardener’s Program.  The Nov 19th evening class is open to anyone.  To learn more and register, visit http://mastergardener.uconn.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/703/2014/08/AMG-F14final.pdf.

Note the MG Container Gardening Design class indicates a Sept date in the above PDF link, but it is on Nov 19th, Wednesday.

Thank you – Cathy Testa

KB Class Attendees working on their Kissing Balls with Evergreens

KB Class Attendees working on their Kissing Balls with Evergreens

Barbed Wire Wreaths and Bows for the Holidays

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My Evergreen Creations Class being held tomorrow will include various decorations for my attendees to dress up their Kissing Ball, Wreath, Candle Centerpiece, or Mailbox Swag – whichever item they choose to make in the class.

And, I can not imagine not adding bling, glam, or organic decor to a holiday creation made with a mix of fresh evergreens for it would not make it complete.

However, sometimes less is more.  Like in this photo below, Dianne, my good friend, and also a class attendee, showcased wreaths and bows made from barbed wire on her horse barn one year.

Decor for Evergreens_0009

There was a major snow storm that day when we visited her home – but we made it anyways, because we knew her event would be worth the trip!

She had setup a big fire outside to keep us warm, or we could sit in her cozy home filled with holiday touches and friends.  Either way, we had a great time and made it home safely with our four wheel drive truck when it was time to head out.

One of the best parts of decorating for the holidays is adding your own unique style to your items. In Dianne’s case, she is really into the horse and animal world, and it shows at her cozy dwellings. She had some curtains hanging from vintage styled wooden horse apparel, old wooden crates filled with fresh evergreens and decor, and touches of classy country in her home.  I remember feeling honored we were part of her holiday event, and especially wanted to capture the mix of barbed wire wreaths on her barn wall in a photo, even if it was snowing like heck outside.

As you can see, the wreaths were simple with little decor – which worked, especially with her beautiful barn as the backdrop to the barb wire arrangement.

But in other case, more is more – you may have a style of maxing it to the fullest with decorations! Or, you may have a color theme in mind to suit your home. For example, this year I ended up with some candy cane colors in one room.  And — of course, the organic and natural decor, the brown and tans of pine cones, pods, raffia, dried mushrooms or fruit, with a splash of gold, red or white to add just that bit of that must needed holiday sparkle is another style.  Who can resist bright red or gold berries on a wreath or candle centerpiece?!  All of these types of decorations will be available at my class tomorrow for the attendees.

Decor for Evergreens_0006

And per the weatherman, we will have a light dusting of snow in the morning, which I think is just perfect.  It makes the day feel like the holidays are approaching.

Thankfully it is not a major snow storm like we experienced when we went to my friend Dianne’s house that year.

Decor for Evergreens_0004

See you all tomorrow ladies.  One more day til the annual “Evergreen Kissing Balls and Holiday Creations Class.”  Get your crafty juices warmed up – we will be creating soon.

Written by Cathy Testa