CasaSugar

Roundup: Let It Snow

CasaSugar — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 13:00:07 -0800

The holidays are over, but there's still plenty of Winter weather to be had. Even when I'm not hibernating, I love the look of snowflake motifs and minimalist snow-inspired accents. They lend a pretty, modern vibe to feminine or masculine rooms.

This West Elm Lilac Winter Print ($89) would look chic in a simple bathroom or quiet dining room. Or, why not pick up some modern snowflake ornaments on sale and use them to decorate well into Winter?

DIY: Easy Snowflake Chandeliers

CasaSugar — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 14:00:22 -0800

This weekend my fiancé and I threw a holiday party at our house called a Feuerzangenbowle, which features a flaming rum punch (and YumSugar has the recipe if you want to make some).

By the time we finished cleaning, cooking, and organizing, I didn't have a lot of time to spend with intricate holiday decorations. This is often an issue when you're entertaining at home. But I still wanted to create some fun, festive holiday decorations that didn't take a lot of time, and my mind instantly jumped to paper snowflakes. For my easy snowflake chandeliers, I was definitely inspired by memories of grade school Christmas projects past, as well as the Anthropologie holiday window displays. They're also an excellent project to try with children.

Here's What You Need

Magazines, newspapers, or craft paper

Ribbon, yarn, or thread
An embroidery hoop
A pushpin
Scotch tape

To find out how to make your snowflake chandelier, just read more.

Rip out pages from your magazine or newspaper. Fold and cut six to ten snowflakes. (If you can't remember how to fold and cut snowflakes, check out this tutorial.)
Cut three pieces of yarn/ribbon to the same length.
Tie the three pieces of ribbon onto the embroidery hoop, equidistant from each other.
Gather the three ends. Tie a very loose knot midway up the three pieces of yarn. With one hand, hold the embroidery hoop down on a flat surface. With the other, gently pull at the knot. This will help to keep the three pieces of yarn the same length. Pull the knot tight.
Hang embroidery hoop from doorway with the pushpin. Makes sure that the hoop is hanging straight. If not, readjust lengths of yarn/ribbon.
Tie six to ten varying lengths of yarn/ribbon around exterior of embroidery hoop. You can also tie one piece from the middle knot.
Scotch tape corner of each snowflake to end of each piece of yarn/ribbon.
Rehang your snowflake chandelier around a light fixture, in your favorite corner, or above your dining room table.
Happy holiday decorating!

View 5 Photos ›

Do You Look Forward to Holiday Window Displays?

CasaSugar — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:00:29 -0800

Some stores just add some fake snow and sparkly snowflakes to their normal display, while others, like this Christmas window at Fortnum & Mason grocery store in Piccadilly, London, go all out.

DIY: Domino Snowflake Ornaments

CasaSugar — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 06:15:42 -0800

Domino has a no-sweat tutorial for making whimsical, snowflake ornaments from paper, which has amped up my holiday spirit. These ornaments remind me a lot of the Modern Paper Ornaments that Grace from Design*Sponge posted. It amazes me how you can do so much with a few sheets of paper! On that note, you should also check out my Easy Snowflake Chandelier DIY. If you get motivated to cut and tape these snowflake ornaments, please share photos!

Here's What You Need

3 sheets of 8½" by 11" heavyweight paper (construction paper will do)
1 sheet for the larger loops (shown in red)
2 sheets for the smaller loops (shown here in gold)
X-acto knife
Ruler
½" double-sided tape
18" piece of ribbon

To learn the steps, read more

Cut the paper into 1-inch-wide strips. Cut seven 8-inch-long strips for the larger loops, and twelve 6-inch-long strips for the smaller loops.
Using your double-sided tape, make all of your strips into loops, or for extra strength, secure the outside with regular Scotch tape.
To make the spokes of your snowflake, use double-sided tape to attach two small loops to a large loop - one attached to the inside, one to the outside. The one large loop remaining is the center of your snowflake.

Arrange your spokes around the large leftover loop and attach them with double-sided tape.
Attach the sides of your spokes together using double-sided tape.
Cut your ribbon to the desired length, loop one of the spokes, and hang!

Source

Su Casa: Citygal's 2-D Christmas Tree

CasaSugar — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 07:00:29 -0800

Su Casa member Citygal, who has been preparing for her holiday party, brought a little festivity to her Manhattan studio by fashioning a two-dimensional Christmas tree on her wall out of tinsel and tree lights, inspired by a similar 2-D tree that she saw in this month's Domino. She picked up the tinsel garland (which has little candy canes on it!) at the dollar store, so it's quite the inexpensive, but still fabulous, decoration. Citygal also decked out her house by turning on a snowflake screen saver on her Apple TV. Quite the cheerful holiday home!
Have you posted holiday decorating photos to Su Casa? In case you forgot, this month I'd like you to share photos of your own holiday decorating with the rest of us in the Su Casa Group. You have all month to get your photos in, and feel free to add a caption, talking about how you achieved your festive look, where your accents are from, or what your holiday traditions are when it comes to decking the halls! Two lucky participants will win the CasaSugar swag of their choice, so it's definitely worth taking a snapshot or two of your home! I'm looking forward to seeing all of your inspired decor!

Link Time!

CasaSugar — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 14:00:05 -0800

Make these intricate paper snowflakes.- Craft
Prevent holiday fires! Water your Christmas tree.- Charles and Hudson
Win pillows and a cozy throw in this contest.- Shelterrific
In your quest to get organized sweat the small stuff first.- Simply Stated
Look! This CFL looks like a regular ol' incandescent.- Re-Nest
Try this twinkly holiday DIY.- SFGirlByBay
Have yourself a merry kitsch-less Christmas.- PointClickHome
Tour this adorable SF home.- AT:SF

Source

Cool Idea: From Bridal Bouquet to Holiday Decoration

CasaSugar — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 08:30:59 -0800

Since I'm asking you to post your holiday decorations for my Su Casa Challenge, I figured it was only fair for me to post a photo of a little of my holiday decorating.

This Summer, I had all of my bridesmaids wrap their bouquets in vintage doilies (which you can see in this photo, in my sister's bouquet) for my wedding. We also hung starched doilies from the trees at the ceremony site. Afterward, I saved the doilies because I knew I'd want to reuse them in some way; I just wasn't sure quite how I'd do it.

To see how I adapted these bridal doilies for the holidays, read more.

Since doilies look so much like snowflakes, adapting them was easy! I re-starched the doilies, attached them to satin ribbons, and then hung them from an overhead fixture that I'd festooned with clippings from our Christmas tree. Simple, sweet, and meaningful!

Link Time!

CasaSugar — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 13:00:09 -0800

Learn how to make this branch chandelier.- AT:SF
Then try your hand at this simple bird ornament.- Craft
If you have the energy and some extra paper, then these DIY snowflakes will add holiday cheer.- Re-Nest
What's your take lately on holidays, blogs, and money? - Shelterrific
Get inspired by the stylings of Anna Ranung.- Desire to Inspire
A clutter-free life can lead to good things.- Simply Stated
Find out who pays for television home show remodels.- Charles and Hudson
Mark Cutler goes over guestroom essentials.- PointClickHome

Source

Nice and New: Kate Spade Holly Heights Tidbit Plates

CasaSugar — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 14:00:07 -0800

You can count on Kate Spade to infuse full-on girliness into her holiday décor. Spade's candy-colored Holly Heights Tidbit Plates ($50) are good enough to eat! The set of two green/yellow and two red/pink plates has ample festivity for holiday entertaining, but the central starry snowflake pattern is subtle enough that you can pull off the plates all year long. I adore the little dove border and repeated diamond pattern. I think they'd make great jewelry catch-alls for your bureau or coasters even!

Link Time!

CasaSugar — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 15:00:56 -0800

Make a snowflake bookmark.- Craft
Discover ways to creatively reuse clementine boxes.- Re-Nest
Save energy by entering a contest to win this surge protector.- Danny Seo
Get tips on sharing your closet with a significant other.- AT:LA
Check out pretty tablescape pictures for Thanksgiving inspiration.- Charles and Hudson
Discover ways to beat back the Winter chill.- Forecast Earth
Peruse pictures of Gerri Williams's family-friendly interior design.- Desire to Inspire
Get the low down on granite countertops and their relationship with radon.- This Old House

Source

Frosted Branch - $24.00	Artecnica - tree light kit by tord boontje for artecnica - $80.00
Microloft Snowflake Sheet Set by Berkshire - $19.99	Gorham® Let it Snow Chip & Dip - $14.99
Faux Snow Vase Filler - $12.00	CLOSEOUT! Holiday Lane 4.5" Plastic 3-D Snowflakes, Set of 3 - $20.00
CLOSEOUT! Martha Stewart Collection "Novelty" Flannel Sheet Set - $50.00	Porcelain Snowflake Ornaments - $54.00
"Lilac Winter" - $89.00	Snow Field Shower Curtain - $98.00