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Happy 2014; Christmas 2013 Roundup

Christmas Collage/ Inspirations by Dcupcakes/ Inspirations by D
Our Christmas is not over yet, as we embraced the arrival of our Savior in our hearts and homes, we await the visitation of The Three Wise Men whom brought gold, myrrh and frankincense to Baby Jesus.  They sought  Him to pay Him homage, the King of Kings.  Happy Epiphany!

How to Make a Large Wood Chalkboard

DIY chalkboard
I finally have my large chalkboard!  It took a while, because I originally wanted the board to be magnetic.  I could not find a piece large enough to serve as the magnet board.  I'm sure they are out there somewhere, but I just got tired of looking, so I used wood for the board.  I will eventually get my magnetic board, but in the mean time, this will do.

I've posted before on how to make your own chalkboard using old art work.  Today I am posting on how to make your chalkboard from scratch using wood.
 
We used molding from the hardware store for the frame.
We cut the molding at the corners at an angle as seen below. 
We glued it with wood glue and nailed them together.  The red strap was used to hold it in place while the glue dried.
When it was dried, I stained it lightly with oak wood stain.
 
The molding is 3 feet by 4 feet as well as the board. 
I sanded the board a bit to smooth it out.
Then the board was painted with chalkboard paint using two coats.  When the paint dried, we nailed the board to the frame.
On the back we attached picture frame hardware in order to hang it on the wall and that was it. Now I can use it to write schedules for the family and help them keep organized.  I hope that you enjoyed and Happy crafting!

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Sale at Inspirations by D


Hello friends!  Just popping in to let you know that my little shop will close for the Holidays on December 21st which is this Saturday.  The shop will re-open again after the wonderful season is over.  We will see you again in 2014, so be sure to subscribe to the blog to know of the re-opening or sign up in the shop to get informed.
  
Any who, if you need some last minute stocking stuffers or gifts, now is the time.  Drop by the Inspirations by D shop now, we currently have imported handmade vintage items from Poland and Czech Republic, get 10% off every item in the shop with the code provided above. Come and check it out!

Christmas Home 2013


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I have been trying to make our home look a little festive this year since my focus has been on other things.  I am sharing my living room & dining room space with you today which is pretty much what I have decorated around the house.


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I used decor from years past, handmade and purchased ornaments are combined in this year's Christmas decoration.


We did not put up an Advent calendar, but instead, a Jesse Tree.  Are you familiar with the Jesse tree?  It is fun and educational for both children and adults.  The Tree of Jesse is a depiction in art of the ancestors of Christ.  My son loves it and looks forward to each day's scripture reading and devotion.  I made my own Jesse tree ornaments by printing out the symbols for each day's reading. We cut the paper out and added ornament hooks to hang on the little tree I got last year.


Depictions of the Jesse Tree are based on a passage from the Book of Isaiah.


"A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots."


Isaiah 11:1    NRSVjesse tree


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On my last post I showed you how I made my pom pom garland.  I used the garland to decorate the mantel, I added reindeer ornaments instead of regular ball ornaments for a different look and I like how it turned out.  You can basically add whatever you like to the pom pom garland for extra flare.  I placed the book page trees from last year on the mantel and added the stockings that I made last year as well.  You can find the tutorial for the stockings on this post.


Further down, I added a photo of the living room during the decorating process, the tree does not have a garland yet and my mantel was somewhat bare at the time.


For the dining room, I added a wreath with a layer of berries and a red vase that serves as a hurricane candle holder as the center piece.  To each side I added a gold wire reindeer and red candles.  Off to the side, I also placed my advent candles, but did not photograph it this year.


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Thank you for joining me today on this tiny tour.

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