So, Christmas… this year, I’m all about the snow. Since it seemed unlikely there’d be actual snow (*shakes fist at the sky*), I wanted to create my own little snowy scenes. Guaranteed snow if you will!
Add in a new obsession with terrariums – even the word is fun to say – and I knew I wanted to make some sort of mini magical display. Not having an actual terrarium (I did find one in a junk shop but it was (a) expensive and (b) larger than you’d expect), I decided to use a few large jars that we had in the flat.
And yes, there may have been a Game of Thrones inspired theme going on (you know Scotland is Winterfell right?).
Then I added sugar, glitter, a plastic wolf and some tiny trees (most of which came from Homebase, the others from a train model shop!).
And not to give up my obsession with foxes completely, I added an arctic fox into the mix too.
Now you if follow me on instagram, you might have already seen the above picture… this is the cautionary bit of making a teeny terrarium. I managed to drop some of the sugar on the floor and before I could clear it up, the fox-owl-cat gleefully rolled around it, purring like crazy, until she was one very sugar-covered cat! While all I could do was laugh…
Anyway… as well as the tiny terrariums, I thought it would be good to turn our living room window area into a sort of terrarium too. (I’m not sure if that makes any sense but it did in my head when I thought of it!)
So I bought a few paper balls from a budget-friendly party supplies website…
Except my ‘a few’ turned out to equal a lot. And they were bigger than I’d expected…
Which is why some are on the floor as ‘fallen’ snow…
(Also this year’s tree is squint. I’d love to say it’s a deliberate thing but it’s just how he likes to rock!)
And the others are suspended from the ceiling as ‘falling’ snow…
The main reason for the on the ceiling/on the floor thing is that putting up paper snow balls – using fishing wire which is pretty much invisible – is somewhat trickier than we’d anticipated. Especially when you have a really shaky ladder. (Why are they always so shaky?) And one of you wants to take photos instead of holding the ladder. Ahem.
And on the tree? (Who’s called Eric Nordman – after True Blood’s Eric Northman – and because he’s a Nordman fir. Last year’s was Bruce, the Blue Spruce!) Well, the army men made a comeback…
So along with a whole lot of ceramic stars that we made, there’s a troop of golden army men, guarding our tree!
Or intent on destroying things on the tree… I can’t quite decide!
And on our mantlepiece this year, my favourite thing is our Instax photos bunting…
Which is just some little golden pegs, a golden bit of string and a few pics from our travels this year. Simple but possibly one of my favourite crafty things ever.
And a bit more snow (paper snowflakes this time) above the couch… I did mention I was on a snow theme right?
And our wedding deer looking a bit festive too… since why not!
Hope you all have a sugar sweet Christmas!
And I wanted to say thanks for all your lovely comments, tweets and emails in 2012, you wonderful, brilliant, funny, amazing people. You really are what makes blogging such fun – and why I keep coming back here to share some random little pieces of my life. So, a huge thank you for always putting a smile on my face!
Here’s to an amazing 2013 xxx
beautiful, I love all of this, especially the terrariums. my kids would love them! what kind of sugar did you use?
Aww thanks Nic! Yeah I’m a little in in love with the terrariums, might have to think of something to do in the new year to keep doing them! The sugar was just caster sugar – a few bags of it actually, mixed with silver glitter. All easy until you drop some on the floor! Happy Christmas x
Woweee Zoe, this is so nice and snowy 🙂 The fox owl cat picture made me laugh, she’s getting into the spirit of course! Fingers crosaed we get some real snow too. Merry Christmas lady!
Thanks Sewing Sam! Yeah, maybe that’s what she was doing… I’m pretty sure cats have no sweet tastebuds so I have no idea why she did it. Yes, real snow! That would be very merry indeed, happy Christmas x
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! I am sooo with you on wanting snow. I totally covered my windows this year in the spray fake stuff! Adore the bunting idea too. Thanks for all your posts! x
He he, exactly Rachel! We still have a can of snow from a few years ago, might have to use it somewhere too. And thank you, happy Christmas!! x
Love GoT!!! Have you seen the 2nd series? I want a dragon for Christmas, well maybe.
Not sure if this is weird but also your home makes me think of Anthropologie! I’d buy it all! (And you have no tinsel to be seen!) Happy hopefully tons of snow Christmas x
Hey Emily, we may have watched it already – we couldn’t wait! Ha ha, yeah, a dragon would be interesting that’s for sure! And I’m taking that as a compliment, love Anthro’s shops!! Yeah, I’m not a fan of tinsel I’ll admit. Happy Christmas to you too x
Wow so cool, love all of your Christmas derfor especially the honeycombs snowballs, it looks stunning!! Have a wonderful Christmas and thank you for the inspiration!
Thanks Monsterscircus! Have a wonderful Christmas too x
i love the snow idea and might have to get some of those balls next year.
how did you print out your instagram photos? i want to print some of mine out and can’t decide to do it myself or just use a website.
Lottie recently posted..so this is what the next couple of days are going to be full of…
Thanks Lottie! They’re actually instax photos (the fuji version of polaroid). I have had some moo cards made up out of photos before which could be an option for instagram photos? (Or there’s http://printstagr.am/… never used it but I’ve seen it on blogs?) Happy Christmas x
for,your place looks festival fabulous!merry Christmas!
Thanks Robyn! Merry fabulousness to you too x
I love it all – particularly the over-sized snow in the bay window. It’s amazing that your bay window looks exactly the same as mine…..tenements across Scotland are so similar.
Have a great Christmas!
He he Di, yeah it’s one design fits all isn’t it? I have friends in Glasgow who have the same window too. Thank you and merry Christmas! x
Merry Christmas Zoe! x
Lisa recently posted..Festive 5: This Girl Is…
You too lovely lady! x
So pretty!!
Thanks! x
Merry christmas and all the good things for you in 2013. Thanks for being here, I love reading your adventures and taking glimplses into the crafts and stuff you make.
I wish you all the best, enjoy the family, friends, board-game playing, delicious food and fun times.
I hope you get some snow (we had some at the beginning of the month, but not anymore).
I love your decorations
Hugs
PS: If you send me an email with your address I will happily send you some pandan essence 🙂
Amanda recently posted..The tree
Aww, thank you Amanda! This comment made me smile so much!! And that would be amazing on the pandan essence – then I definitely have to make some x
Terraniums are really fun – thsoe pom poms look spectaular too and I love the giant snowflakes.
Happy Christmas! I hope you have wonderful relaxing time xx
Siobhan recently posted..Monday Music – Positively Charged
Thanks my dear! You too xx
We’ve had similar fishing wire-related problems (with the clouds) the MOST FRUSTRATING THING EVER x
It is GLORIOUS. The army men are my fave!
I love it!! We’re having less success. Tree lights broke 3 days after the tree went up and tree itself is dying rather quickly
yyaaay
So fabulous! All of your decorations look wonderful Zoe. Have a lovely xmas 🙂 Kx
p.s. been loving the instagram pics… any pic of fox-owl-cat makes my day 🙂
Kylie recently posted..Happy Holidays!
Thanks Kylie! Hope you had a fab one too xx (And glad to hear that, I do post way too many of her!)
Love your home and how everything looks! The wolf and of course Mr. Sugar cat steal the show!
Giova Brusa recently posted..A Christmas Gift
Thanks Giova! Yes, she definitely does!
I love love LOVE the terrariums! And yep, its a pretty great word to say too. Up there with ‘orrery’ as one of my favourites.
Have a great Christmas and New Year!
Oooh orrery is a great word, Tonia! Hope you has a lovely time too x
Love the Game of Thrones theme! 🙂
domestikate recently posted..Christmas cocktails
It all looks so lovely!c The jar terrariums are awesome!
Looks amazing!
LandGirl1980 recently posted..Thrifted Decs and Fairy Lights
Lovely decorations! I love the snow theme, especially the giant snowflakes! Hope you had a fab Christmas, and Happy New Year!! xx
Polly recently posted..A Year in Blogging {July – December}
Thanks Polly – and you too! xx
Beautiful decoration, love the terrariums! Merry Christmas!
Good lord – this is totally amazeballs!!!! You should be styling in a magazine!! I know that I’m using an impolite number of exclamation marks but you’ve got a BRILLIANT imaginination!!! hope you had an excellent Christmas and that tonight is equally wonderful! Ali x
alison cross recently posted..Hestia and the end of 2012
Aww, thank you Alison, that’s a ridiculously nice thing to say! Hope you had an ace Christmas too! x
Zoe Pearson recently posted..Happy New Cheer… or how I’m almost sort of maybe possibly accepting it’s January
Happy New Year! Lovely decorations, I have the same paper balls, although I have some purple ones as well as the white. I have ruined the ceilings with sellotape though 😉
A blog friend did similar jars, although she used salt – maybe less attractive to kitties!
x
New Year’s Resolutions of the Stars!
Lakota [Faith hope and Charity Shopping] recently posted..New Year’s Resolutions of the Stars – 2013
Ah yeah selotape is not the friend of a painted wall Lakota! Ooh, what’s your blog friend’s address? Would love to see them too x
Wow! Bit slow with this comment but love all your festive decorations, your house looks so beautiful! Love the big crepe balls and the terranium, such great ideas! Might need to copy some of them for next Christmas 🙂
x
Aww, thanks Lianne! I’ve been a bit slow this year so more than allowed! Next Christmas though… eek!
I love your posts, they make me smile. And I love your Christmas decor, even loved to read about it now that the holidays are over (which always makes me a bit sad). Eric made me laugh out loud by the way (we called our tree Denny (‘Denneboom’ is Dutch for that kind of tree). So funny!
Thanks Marlous! You know how much I love your blog of course too! Denneboom is a good word x
I love what you did for Christmas. Also the paper balls. Loving your decorations! (and thanks for the link, think that is the cheapest I’ve seen them sold for)!
Marianne @NordicBliss recently posted..Guest blogging on My Scandinavian Home