Holidays | Design Happens

ALL POSTS TAGGED "[Holidays]"

HGTV + Etsy Deck the Halls Together

by Kelley Walters December 6, 2011 251 Comments

We’re so excited to announce that we’ve partnered up for the holidays again this year with our friends at Etsy. (Remember last year’s amazing Christmas crafts?) This year, we’re featuring Etsy on an upcoming episode of Design on a Dime, airing Saturday, Dec. 10 at 8p/7c.

We’re all big fans of their Treasury. The Treasury allows you to create a collection of your favorite Etsy items and share it with your friends.

Making one is super-simple: learn how here. You can even browse our gorgeous Christmas decorating tips for inspiration.

Create your own HGTV-inspired Treasury with Etsy products, and we just might feature your creation on our blog!

How cool is this Color Splash collection?

Make sure to tag yours with “HGTV Treasury Challenge 2011″ and leave a link to your HGTV.com inspiration in the description.

Liz Gray's "Mad About Marigold" Treasury

Want to explore the HGTV Treasury Challenge 2011 collections? It’s a great way to see what other people have done and get excited about creating your own.

We’ll be browsing all the collections tagged with “HGTV Treasury Challenge 2011″ between now and when the show airs, and we’ll pick a couple of our favorites to post here on the blog next week!

As promised, here are some of our collections. We can’t wait to see yours!

Briana Mowrey, Decorating Editor and Daily Delight writer – Daily Delights

Liz Gray, Decorating Editor – HGTV’s November Color of the Month, marigold (PS Have you seen which color we picked for December?)

Leanne Potts, VP, Editorial – 2012 Dream Home location, Park City, Utah. BTW, the HGTV Dream Home tour just launched. Feel free to drool; we are!

Lili Zarghami, Senior Editor (and mom of twins) – Twin-inspired treasury

Tune in on Dec. 10 for Design on a Dime, Etsy style.

Daily Delight: DIY Fabric Flower Gift Toppers

by Briana Mowrey December 3, 2011 5 Comments

The part of the holiday season that fills me with the most anxiety and self-loathing is not visiting family, no. It’s wrapping presents. Things start out okay, but then somehow my corners are all crumpled, there are visible seams because I used a sheet of wrapping paper that was too small, and there are strands of my hair (eww, I know) stuck to every piece of Scotch tape. I give up and start buying lots of gift bags and tissue paper. THE END. This year I’ve got a new plan: Make beautiful fabric poppies like the ones I found on Creature Comforts and plant them atop every present to hide my wrapping flaws.

flower gift topper

They take about five minutes to make, and look how they glow against that simple brown paper! Plus, there are so many more holiday uses for them. You can attach them to pins or glue them to headbands for festive party accessories, you can use them on your table as decorative placeholders, or even make garland or ornaments with them. If you’re looking for even more ways to jazz up your presents, check out some of our ideas here. Cut! That’s a wrap.

Daily Delight: Selenite Icicle Ornaments

by Briana Mowrey November 27, 2011 5 Comments

We haven’t gotten snow here since Halloween (it still feels wrong saying that), and even though snow can be a pain, I always enjoy the first good one of the season. Good snow to me equals: A quick trip to Central Park to stroll around and watch kids go sledding, a mug of hot chocolate with marshmallows, snuggling on the couch for a festive movie or two. Oh, and icicles!

icicle ornaments

I love when these crystalline beauties reflect light outside my window. These hand-sliced Selenite Icicle Ornaments remind me of the first snow, slowly melting into silvery spikes. These would be gorgeous on a Christmas tree, but I like them as shown here, on a branch, perhaps planted in a jar. Plus, there’s no danger of these icicles snapping off from the tree and falling and injuring you, which is always a qualification of good design in my book. That’s nice ice, baby.

(Feeling crafty? You can make your own crocheted icicles with our tutorial.)

Daily Delight: Easy Pinecone Holiday Craft Idea

by Briana Mowrey November 23, 2011 6 Comments

I know, you’re probably thinking, Pinecones? The last time I crafted with a pinecone was in grade school. Are you going to tell me to smear peanut butter on them, dip them in birdseed and hang them from a tree? No, smart alecks, I’m not going to tell you to do that. How about you spray paint them neon colors and arrange them beautifully in a glass jar instead? How cute would these be next to this playful Tobi Fairley Christmas tree?

colorful pine cones

I spotted these neon delights on Under the Sycamore in a guest post by Julie of Joy’s Hope, but it turns out that our own Sarah Richardson has a video tutorial for similarly-bold pinecones right here! Sarah’s using a dip-and-shake method in lieu of spray paint, but both techniques are easy enough for the whole family to try. (With supervision, of course. Maybe in the garage, where the paint won’t end up on the couch, curtains and family dog.) Why not make it a post-Thanksgiving activity? And as Sarah points out in the video, the pinecones would also make adorable placecard holders for your next holiday meal.

Daily Delight: Paper Snowflake Lantern

by Briana Mowrey November 20, 2011 4 Comments

I live in one of those households where Christmas decorations go up the day after Thanksgiving, how about you? Even then, it still doesn’t feel like enough time to enjoy all the glittering wreaths, ornaments and lights. Maybe that’s why I’m drawn to this Swedish snowflake lantern so much.

snowflake lanterns

After all, a snowflake is merely wintery, and can go up anytime it starts to either snow or get chilly. (So, in this year’s case, right around Halloween, oy.) It can also stay up long after the tree comes down. Another big selling point for me is that it looks festive and delicate whether it’s turned off or illuminated, so it’s almost like getting two decorations for the price of one! Plus, it would be a perfect pairing with our DIY snowflake curtains. I think I’ll be letting it snow in our place from now until at least February.

Thanksgiving Dessert Ideas + Free Printables

by Kim Stoegbauer November 15, 2011 7 Comments

Thanksgiving is right around the corner. Are you hosting dinner this year? We are! My husband is in charge of the turkey, I’m in charge of desserts (as always) and our family members are bringing the rest. In our feature, Sunflower Thanksgiving Dessert Buffet, I shared several ideas for delicious desserts. I’m definitely going beyond pumpkin pie this year and serving up a variety of mini sweets.

Cake pops are such a popular trend at parties and gatherings these days. Order or make them in flavors and colors that coordinate with your Thanksgiving decor. These mini pumpkin mousse parfaits were so delicious and really easy to make. I simply adapted the recipe for the mini parfait glasses.

Cupcakes are an unexpected dessert for Thanksgiving, but your littlest guests will love them. Dress them up with fondant sunflowers or paper cupcake toppers and display on a decorative cake stand. Pumpkin Spice Whoopie Pies are easy to make and the cream cheese marshmallow filling is divine. Display them in mini dishes for the perfect serving size.

I designed a full printable collection for you to use for your Thanksgiving festivities!

Check out the full Sunflower Thanksgiving story for more decorating ideas and to download the printables!

4th of July Party: 7 Sweet Desserts + Free Patriotic Printables

by Kim Stoegbauer June 21, 2011 22 Comments

How are you celebrating the 4th of July this year? If you’re attending a party or gathering, I suggest you volunteer now to bring dessert. I’ve collected seven easy, festive and delicious recipes. Plus, with the patriotic cupcake wrappers and party toppers I designed exclusively for HGTV readers, you’ll be sure to impress the host and other guests!
HGTV Exclusive From The TomKat Studio - Fourth of July Cupcake Circles & Wrapper - Free Printables

HGTV exclusive :: download free printable party circles

HGTV exclusive :: download free printable cupcake wrappers

I seem to always be in charge of dessert at gatherings with family and friends. I absolutely love to bake {when I’m not blogging}, especially cupcakes. Cupcakes are easy, cute and oh so popular.

New Year’s Party Plans

by Kayla Kitts December 28, 2010 6 Comments

While I always welcome the new year with a small gathering of my closest friends and family, I can’t help feeling I’m part of a giant cosmic party celebrating with billions of people all over the world. Whether you’re hosting a New Year’s party for four or 40, check out our favorite decorating ideas for ringing in 2011…with a bang.

HGTV Rate My Space: by mypointofview

Blog of the Week: Vintage, Pretty and Weird Christmas Ads

by Jackie McGilvray December 25, 2009 3 Comments

The one thing I hate to see go after the holidays is the Christmas ads and commercials. From the comical to the melancholy, it’s fun to see everyday products holidayized (my new word). I especially love looking at ads from 1950s and 60s – check out some of these posted on MomGrind.com.

Back in the 50s it was common to give bed pillows, bathroom scales and cartons of cigarettes as gifts.

(Framed vintage ads are a great way to bring a touch of mid-century mod to your home. Look for old magazines, cut out the pix and frame them.)

Planning a New Year’s party? Need menu ideas? Check out these ads/recipes from 1967. (If Spam and Bugles aren’t your thing, Sandra Lee has plenty of entertaining tips.)

How You’ve Decked Your Halls

by December 25, 2008 No Comments

Merry Christmas all!

In the spirit of the day, I thought I’d honor some of those hardworking holiday decorators over at Rate My Space. Below are a few of my favorite shots to get you in the mood. Be sure to head over there in a spare moment (if you can grab one) to browse, share and vote for more.

N onaterry transformed her living room into a vision of sparkling white – all from the odds and ends she “shopped” from her basement and attic (who says you need to buy new stuff every year?). The battery-powered LED lights give the mantel and glass coffee table a modern glow to bounce off the classic glitz.

A few oversized glass vases, brimming over with sparkly Christmas balls, make a simple but dramatic statement on Jefferylkemp‘s coffee table display.

We all know red and green, but red, white and black? In this case it works. Tamgypsy based her tablescape around Frosty’s top hat and picked up inexpensive dishware or used what she already had. The peppermint swirl placemats add nice texture.

Did you go classic or get creative this year? Go add your photos to Rate My Space and tell us about them below.