WELCOME TO A LITTLE COUNTRY CHRISTMAS ON THE FRONT STOOP!

Welcome so happy to share a little Christmas with you......grab a cup of Cocoa or wine and follow me.....

 Our theme is snow this year.....ya all know how much snow we get here in S.W. Florida?? Lots!

 The stoop is colorful and bright a great place for elves to gather and sing Christmas Carols!

 A magical place where snowballs never melt!

A welcome little poinsettia burst into color in the garden!

Santa can sit a spell and eat cookies and drink milk!

 

 

The magic shovel to the right is ready for work! So happy you could stop by please come back for some more Christmas here at Sweet Tea N' Salty Air!

 

THE CUTEST LITTLE BURLAP CHRISTMAS TREES EASY TO CRAFT

Hi, so happy you could stop by. As I was shopping at Joanne's for some materials I saw these cute burlap trees and quickly gathers some burlap and bells and cording and went home to make my own.

 

 

With just some lightweight cardboard I saved from some food boxes, burlap, cording  a few bells and what ever else you like you can create these little shabby vintage looking trees.

I made some to add some Christmas to the Bealles cottage that was given to me many years ago from my mom, so I cherish it and it appears in my décor year round.

Just bend the cardboard in to a cone cut and trim and glue with hot glue. The next step is cutting the burlap covering the cone and hot gluing at the seem.

 

I used cording and bells on some and some pretty light pink opaque ribbon on some.

 

 

I am sure the fairy's that dwell in the Beall's cottage are ready to celebrate Christmas!  This is a very inexpensive craft that even a beginner would have some fun with. Happy crafting to you!!

Join me at the following parties for some wonderful holiday inspiration!
http://shabbyartboutique.com/2014/12/shabbilicious-friday-and-christmas-link-party-4.html

http://www.oursecondhandhouse.com/12/2014/home-matters-linky-party

The cutest little faux vintage tree

Happy day after Thanksgiving, welcome to Sweet Tea N' Salty Air. I was cooking for 2 whole days but it was well worth it just looking at everyone enjoying the food and good company it was a wonderful day except some of my children live up North so I was missing them.

Natalie and I were scanning the thrift stores for an easy set up tree for the dining room and we found this cute one piece about 31/2 ft pine tree. The box was vintge and had the name "Pam" on it. So Pam if your reading I gave this tree a very good home. We paid 4.99 for it, a great buy! I knew we wanted to go with the woodland theme so I found these plaid flannel pants that I was eager to cut and make a garland out of. So off we went home to deck this cute tree out!

This little tree is tucked in the corner of the dining room along side a vintage wooden duck and a Halloween owl turned snow owl with a lick of paint.

 

 

Red and white birds along with some white paint dipped pinecones.

A HANDY KITCHEN CENTER TO HELP ME GET THREW THE HOLIDAYS !

Welcome friends, so happy you could stop by. I don't know about you but I spend about 75 % of the Holidays in my kitchen creating all the magical holiday treats and eats! I was trying to come up with a more efficient way to get through the holidays so instead of fumbling threw cabinets I decided to put all the kitchen items that will be used on a daily basis on a nice stainless steel kitchen shelf.

 No more rummaging and wasting time. Even the frequently used spices fill a big bowl for easy grabbing. An extra micro /convection oven is ready for breads and pies. Dish towels at my hands along with flour ,sugar and large whisks and spoons etc...

I also decorated it with garland and some pretty blue lite snowflakes.

Everything is plugged in for easy using such as the coffee pot , can opener and mixing bowl. I really dislike all the things congesting the countertops, Now the counters are free and clear.

 For some whimsy an old trolly its on the toaster oven.

 Grammas cheese grater hangs on a hook for easy access.

 Loaf pans sit waiting to be filled with delicious cranberry and pumpkin mixes.

 

This set up may not be for everyone but it will be put to the test on Wednesday , that will be food prep day for pies, cakes , sweet potato casseroles, fresh cranberry sauce, doe for breads and what ever else is thrown my way. Are you cooking this Holiday? Have fun with it!

A TOUCH OF WINTER COMFORT AND JOY FOR THE CHAISE LOUNGE!

Welcome! been busy prepping and shopping for Thanksgiving hard to believe it is just a few days away. I will be hosting dinner for about 15 and this year we will be doing a sitdown instead of a buffet  I attached another farmhouse table to the existing one so now I think we will be able to sit everyone down. Although I spend most of my day in the kitchen I think I enjoy watching everyone laughing , appreciating all the wonderful foods and enjoying family that's what it's all about.

We recently acquired a chaise lounge and I want to say it is the most comfortable piece that I have ever sat in, I'm just loving it. So after doing a little thrifting I found this incredible twin heavy duty flannel plaid fitted bed sheet so for 2.99 I swooped it up. My mind scanned a bit about just what was I going to craft out of this beautiful piece........so I thought I would do a throw for my chaise.

 

 

EXPRESSO FAUX PAINTED WOOD FLOOR

Hi friends.........wow is it cold outside!  Here in southwest Florida this kind of weather is not expected by "Tourists" , They come to beach, boat, fish and see the sights but with this very cold weather I feel sorry for them.  I'm a northern girl so I know cold only too well but the true natives here in Florida have a rough time with the cold. Many will be wearing heavy coats and hats today, many will be indoors not even wanting to go outdoors at all.

As I had said in a previous post we had to replace subflooring in the bathroom and kitchen hallway. So I needed to have flooring for the  kitchen hallway. I had shopped for flooring and found a pretty dark espresso color so I got to thinking I just may be able to replicate the look myself. So with some prep work such as filling in any nook and craney and sanding I began the process....

Here is the start.

I used Rust-o-leum  espresso color.....this paint is tough and durable and leaves a smooth finish, I used a wood graining tool to achieve the wood look and a random stick was used to draw the panel lines.

I used a non sharpened pencil for the lines.

The color on the wall is gingerbread and the theme is also Gingerbread not only for Christmas but I love to collect Gingerbread items.

 

 

 

I also used the rust-oleum to darken the doors a bit.

 

 

 

I did paint a few coats of non shiny polyurethane to protect it but it feels great to walk on . If you do decide to paint a wooden subfloor good preparation is advised. I only used less than half a can of paint so this was an inexpensive floor fix and the results were great!

 

 

 

Thank you so much for coming by today ! Stay warm

 

Hark The Harald Angels Sing

Welcome to Sweet Tea N' salty Air, I'm feeling some Christmas spirit how about you? Christmas  has so many celebrations first and far most the birth of Jesus.  For many it includes special times with family and friends and pets. I myself love all of it but it also includes memories of Christmas's  past mainly with my mom and dad whom have past away. My mom was a lover and collector of Angels and as I was once again cleaning bins and straightening out the back shed I found a box of Angels. They all are different and beautiful in there own way....so I started thinking what could I do to incorporate them into the Christmas décor .

 So your not going to believe this but I decided to give them a coat of white chalk paint, this way they would somehow all "sing" with each other. I felt like mom was looking down on me with a frown....hopefully not though, she knew that I could hardly never leave anything alone with out putting a touch of myself in it. Some are praying and some with open arms.

 I left some peeks of darkness to show through just a bit.

 Now they seem to sing the same hymn.

 They sit atop the fire place surrounded by greens , berries and pinecones.

"Hark the Harold Angels sing.......glory to the new born king............

 Peace on earth and mercy mild

 God and sinners reconciled. Joyful...........................

I think mom would approve

Hopefully mom is looking down with a big smile on her face . Mom is missed but her love is my heart every day . Perhaps you have some things in your home that may not be your cup of tea so maybe you can change them with some paint or material etc. Come back and join me for some more Christmas decorating all month long that will include the very cutest woodsman  thrifted Christmas tree , a winter owl , my crafted wooden box all decked out for Christmas!  Thank you so much for letting me share mom's treasured angels with you!