Friday, December 12, 2014

63 IHeart Holiday - Let it Snow

I mentioned earlier this week that we are keeping things very, very simple in the Christmas decorating department this year.  Especially on our main level where the construction will be happening. 

I am honestly really excited to keep things on the simplistic side, and only plan to empty out half of the Christmas bins this year.  Back to the basics I say!

So this is not by any means an earth shattering holiday project, but it was one that caused my little ones to ooh and ahh so I thought I would still take a few minutes to share it.


Earlier this week, the boys and I turned on Elf, whipped up some hot cocoa, and got to work making snowflakes galore.  Now, we did cheat a little and use my Silhouette machine to cut most of the different options out of cardstock, but the kiddos took turns selecting their favorite shapes, scraping the scraps from the Silhouette mat and punching out the small pieces within each flake after they were cut.


After Elf, we were still going strong and put in Frozen.  Instead of singing, "Let it Go" we went with "Let it Snow"!  That evening we only took a break for a yummy omelet dinner, and cut almost fifty different snowflakes.


After the boys went to bed, I strung all of the flakes with thread and hung them all the way down the hallway with clear tape.


The following morning, the boys were welcomed with a hallway filled with snow!  It was just a magical way to start their day, that we were all a bit giddy about inside.  And since we really don't have much real snow on the ground (say what?!), this was a nice whimsical touch to celebrate.


The rest of the decorating is in progress downstairs, so hopefully I will have much more to share next week!  But for now, this was a sweet and subtle way to kick things off and create a little magic in the most traveled area of our home.


The pictures really don't portray the fun feeling this super quick and easy project has created, I think I may leave them up all winter long.

What is the easiest project you have done while decorating your home this holiday season?



63 comments:

  1. That is so whimsical and magical! What a great idea. :)

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  2. How did you attach them to the ceiling? They look great! Where did you get the snowflake files? I have a Silhouette so would love to cut some of these.

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    1. Ooops! I suppose attaching them is a key part of the process I should have mentioned. Updated the post - just used clear tape. :)

      I just searched the Silhouette store for "snowflake" and found an endless variety to select from.

      xoxo!

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  3. How did you affix them to the ceiling?

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    1. I just used very small pieces of clear tape. I forgot to mention in the original post - it has been updated. :)

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  4. They look beautiful! How did you fasten them to the ceiling?

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  5. So sweet! Simple yet elegant and magical at the same time. What did you use to stick them to the ceiling? I'm guessing you didn't use thumbtacks that would leave 50 holes

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  6. I love this! It's so pretty and elegant. I just might steal this for my own home :)

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  7. Beautiful snowflakes--keeping it simple is sometimes the best

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  8. That is super cute!! What did you use to stick the thread to the ceiling? I would be afraid it would pull off the ceiling plaster....

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  9. So simple and yet so gorgeous!! What inspiration! We finished making snowflakes literally seconds before I read this email! Thanks!

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  10. So lovely, I need to find some premade snowflakes bc we don't hAve a silhouette...we do have a long L-shaped hallway that they would look lovely in! If you don't mind telling us, where are your son's super cute pj's from? Thanks!

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    1. Thanks Amy! The pajamas are a few years old now since we have been handing them down, but I believe I originally found them at Lands End.

      xo!

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  11. Very pretty. I really need a Silhouette!

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  12. What a fun idea!! Did you use the cameo silloutette? My kids would love this!!

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    1. We did use the Cameo, however, we cut all the flakes from standard size cardstock so the Portrait Silhouette would have worked just as well. :)

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  13. So beautiful! My daughter wants to have a "winter wonderland" birthday party this year so this will be perfect! I know you said you used clear tape, but have you had trouble with it peeling your paint off? I like to use washi tape to hang things up but in this case a clear option would certainly be better. Thanks so much!!

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    1. Hi Angie! We have primed and painted ceilings and I tested a piece and didn't have trouble. It may just depend on types of tape and types of wall paint and finishes. Washi tape is definitely the safest option. xo!

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    1. I am happy to answer any specific questions you may have, but it really was just as simple as cutting snowflakes from white cardstock and using thread and small pieces of clear tape to hang them in a random pattern down the hallway. xo!

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  15. We made paint chip Christmas tree shaped garland! And this weather is totally crazy! We are going to be near 50 this weekend and it's usually 20 below right now!

    Http://tisourlife.blogspot.com/

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  16. That is really beautiful! We live in an area where we will have snow, but probably only after christmas, in January - so this will be my solution for the last days of December. ;) It is beautiful!!! Only I don't have a Silhouette so I will cut some snowflykes by hand.

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  17. Super cute!!! And it IS hard to believe, but the Minneapolis area may NOT have a white Christmas!!! That was one of the 'sure thing' perks of living here that we were promised by the realtors! LOL Rosie

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  18. We've been doing the same thing all week at our house, too! We've been cutting them out the snowflakes and taping them to my daughter's wall with glittery silver washi tape. She keep walking into her room and saying it looks just like Frozen in there!

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    1. Love that! Frozen is my youngest boy's favorite movie and he has been making the reference also. So darling!!

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  19. SO much fun Jen! My little guy would LOVE it!!!

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  20. This is so cute, Jen. I love the photo with your little monkey. :) Ben would be awestruck too. I should get my silhouette busy! Maybe our Elf could decorate over night. ;)

    Pretty simple decorating here too. The village never made it up out of the basement.

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  21. Oh, I LOVE that you hung them while your boys were asleep. That's the mark of a good parent - keepin the magic alive! :)
    http://www.youtube.com/sparklesandsuch26

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  22. Dear Jen,

    You have a gorgeous home and a knack for making it even more so. My husband and I are thinking about buying our first home and hope to build it into something much larger same as yourself. However we have no experience whatsoever. We love how you started with a ranch style house and built the basement. Do you have any tips on getting started?

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    1. My best advice is to just read, read and read some more. There are a number of wonderful websites and forums with DIY advice. In our process of selecting layouts and appliances for our kitchen, we have been reading a number of threads on the subjects to really weigh pros and cons and to research things we may not have initially considered. Also, if possible, utilize the help or expertise of any family or friends that have a bit of construction experience. Almost all we have learned has been from my husband's very DIY oriented family.

      Best of luck to you!
      Jen

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  23. Where did you get your hallway light fixture? It's so unusual.

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    1. Hi Carinna!
      Our light fixtures are actually candle holders :) You can read about the update here: http://iheartorganizing.blogspot.com/2014/01/a-little-glitz-glam-in-hallway.html

      xo!

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  24. This is a great idea, especially for those of us without snow. This Texas winter is very warm, like a Midwest summer. You show your kids you care about them in so many ways. They will be great men one day. Happy holidays! God bless!

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  25. Great idea and so simple too - I love the idea of using a cutting machine so will now be even more tempted to treat myself for Christmas! thanks for sharing and Happy Christmas!

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  26. Snowflakes in the hallway is a great idea! My daughter made some for her room and her brother's room, but we never thought about putting them in the hall. Thanks for the idea.

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  27. It really looks so beautiful! Captures the magic of the snow falling really perfectly, great idea.
    And isn't this just so perfect about a snow day that everything is calm and white and yes, simple? (Apart from driving, of course...)
    Love, love, love it!

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  28. This is such a cute idea, it looks beautiful!

    www.alemint.net

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  29. What a darling idea and I love your son in his pj's!

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  30. So gorgeous! Super simple but so gorgeous. Must have been so exciting for your boys.

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  31. I love the snowflakes. A Silhouette machine has been on my wish list for a while now, and it's nice to find yet another project I can work on once I get one! Thanks for sharing your pics and your idea.

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  32. The snowflakes look so awesome. I want them in my house!

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  33. I don't know how in other regions, but it is rainy period in the Baltics, therefore white snowflakes decorations at home is just perfect solution, if you want to bring some Christmas spirit. This small hall looks very cozy and stylish, all stripes, bright walls, perfect, I would say!

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  34. Oooh I love it ...And the first picture, in black and white, is really beautiful.

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  35. Oh my goodness! I LOVE this idea!!! So fun and easy. My kids would go crazy if I did this!

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  36. LOVE this! We're definitely going to try it. I think we'll also make a paper village to put in the windows. :)

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  37. Hi Jen, I read often but rarely comment, but felt drawn to send you a little note for some reason. As much as I love your blog for the stylish decor ideas, UNBELIEVABLE organizing inspiration, and happy, uplifting writing style, I think what I admire most is the fact that you seem to put so much thought into carefully selecting what you buy, what projects you take on, and how you choose to spend your time. Everything you do is so intentional, so well planned and so well done. When I find myself in the trap of trying to do a little bit of everything I see on Pinterest, or having that bit of blog envy, I find your blog to be a very refreshing reminder that we don't have to do it all or have it all, and that less is definitely more, whether it be home decor, clothing, family activities, or stuff in general. You exude the motto "Quality, not quantity". Merry Christmas to your sweet family from a Minnesota neighbor. : )

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    1. I am so happy that you took the time to comment Angela. In fact, I really needed this, because what you stated has always been my underlying goal (in life, in our home, with this blog). With the small amount of holiday decorating that I am taking on this year, I was almost letting myself feel discouraged. So thank YOU right back. :)

      xoxo!

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  38. Beautiful decor! Can you please tell us where you got that rug? I love it. Thanks K

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    1. Thank you! The rug is Dash & Albert. I purchased it quite awhile ago now and it has really help up wonderfully to our boys and traffic.

      xo!

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    2. Thank you so much!

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  39. We live in Southern California in an area that never gets snow. My mom used to do this with snowflake ornaments when I was younger; in fact, she would leave them hanging in the hallway well past Christmas! :)

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  40. Hi Jen, any trouble taking down the snowflakes with the clear tape you used? My hubby said I could hang the snowflakes, but definitely not using tape so I was reduced to hanging them from our Christmas lights that were hung on our bookshelves. Would love to hear if you had any "special" tape that would not harm the drywall/paint. Thank you!! Happy 2015!!

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    1. Hi Corrinne,

      We still have our snowflakes up, however, we have primed and painted ceilings and I tested a piece and didn't have trouble. It may just depend on types of tape and types of wall paint and finishes. Washi tape is definitely the safest option, white mounting putty may work also? xoxo!

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  41. I wanted to do this in my living room this year, but didn't want to hand cut the snowflakes. Would you consider selling a set or two of these? If so how much?

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  42. We add MORE (handcut) snowflakes each year. Our ceilings are textured and we do well using WHITE thumbtacks.

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