A Lauer Christmas Home Tour - Oh, Holy Night - Entry way, Banister and Front Room - Part 1

Merry Christmas Everyone!

This year I am doing something a little different. I will be showing you inside my home this holiday season with a series of posts (Second post - Kitchen, Bath and Dinning Room). We all know the true meaning of Christmas is Christ's birth. This room and space is dedicated to our Lord and Savior. This is a photo heavy post so grab your favorite cup of coffee or tea, cuddle up with your warm blanket by the fireplace and welcome into my home.

 

I would love to give a HUGE thank you to Michelle over at Shelstring who organized this Winter Wonderland Holiday Home Tour blog hop.

Click on the link for A Lauer Christmas Home Tour - Part 2 - Kitchen, Bath and Dinning Room

EDIT 12/18 - Today I am honored to be a part of a second Parade of Christmas Home Tours! This home tour has been well organized and generously hosted by Up To Date Interiors. Thank you Kathryn for allowing me to be a part of your special on Bloggers Best homes. 

The Entry Way

Welcome to my home! The holiday spirit is alive in our house the moment you step up to our front door (the outside will be another post) 

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Sometimes all it takes a few small items to spruce up what you all ready have. This vintage mirror was already hanging in our entry and I added some flowers and a crystal ornament. It also happens to be in a good position to reflect our tree in the front room.

This year we changed up the exterior decor and my normal door hanging didn't match so I flipped it around and put it on the inside. It makes for a wonderful welcome to the inside entry.

Our stockings are hung with such care on our banister since our new home doesn't have a fireplace. 

My Hubby left these boots at the front door, probably with no thought of it, when he walked out that door almost three months ago to serve overseas. They have not left this spot. I put an angel on them to remind us to pray for his protection and a magnolia flower which represents "life force" and for him to come home to us here in the South.

The Front Room

In the front room we have our "biggest" tree. We loved this tree in our old house as it stood 9' tall in a two story room with a base of 6' diameter at the bottom. However after our move this year we had issues with it actually touching our ceilings here. So our glorious angel was not able to sit atop our nativity themed tree. However she is on display in the room and we still loved how it turned out.

These lil' decor items hanging from my curtain rod on each side of the window were thrown together with mostly Dollar Tree items and some clearance ribbon from a few Christmases ago. The dollar store had these fantastic clip on magnolias that are all over our tree and since we are now living in the south they have replaced our larger white poinsettias.

We love our books around here so we just could not part with packing them up to have more room to decorate so they have little trinkets, flowers and LED candles mixed right on in. Our favorite book and one of many of our book readings Holiday Tradition is the Polar Express, displayed here next to our angel tree topper that would not fit atop the tree this year in our new home.

The bookcase is adorned with little poinsettias and sweet nativity pieces.

I wanted something a bit different this year then in the past and bringing some scrub oak tree branches from outside in was the perfect thing. These were limbs that were dead already and I took some white spray paint and dusted them all over, added them to the galvanized steel pot and some Dollar Tree poinsettias into the branches. 

We don't have a mantel in our new home so this is where I decorate our "mantel". 

One of my favorite parts in this room aside from the tree is my chalkboard sign and my angel announcing the coming of the Christ Child.

This book page tree is one of the items that are hand crafted. I am a window designer for a book store where I make art and home decorations out of books and this is one of my favorite trees I have made. Just had to keep it. 

The second post to this one is found here: A Lauer Christmas Home Tour - Cardinals, Candy canes & Burlap - Kitchen, Bath and Dinning Room - Part 2

If you want to see more of my Holiday Book Page art and ornaments please check out these links.
2014 Book Page Holiday Creations:

• Poinsettia Book Page Ornament for your Christmas Tree
• Child Book Page Ornament Tutorial 
• Glass Book Page Square Shaker Ornament 
• Book Page Snowman
• Angel Wing Christmas Tree Ornament
• Table Top Christmas Trees
• Golden Star Book Page Christmas Tree Ornament

I hope you enjoyed this part of my home tour. Another post with the Living Room, Bathroom, Kitchen, Dining room and Outdoor Decor will be posted up later this week. I hope you return and join me again. Have a happy holidays and a...

I am so honored to be highlighted in this blog hop right along side of these fantastic homes. Please take a moment to relax and view this beautiful Parade of homes with all sorts of styles and colors. Merry Christmas!

Friday December 12th

Sew a Fine Seam

Domesticability

Kreative Creationz

Sisters, What!

Saturday December 13th

Down to Earth Style
Dragonfly and Lilypads

Shelstring

Sunday December 14th

Uniquely Grace

Beauteeful Living

Frug Elegance

Monday December 15th

Bargain Decorating with Laurie

I Am a Homemaker
Red Cottage Chronicles
365 Day Crafts

I would love to hear from you! Please leave a comment below, pin an image you like or share with a friend. Thank you for your support and I hope you enjoyed this post.

Find me on...
Facebook: Uniquely Grace
Twitter: Grace Lauer Artist @gracelauer
Instagram: @gracelauer_henna_artist
Pinterest: L. Grace Lauer

Book Page Poinsettia Ornament for your Christmas Tree

Since I was a little girl I loved the story of the 

Mexican Legend of he Poinsettia

I was so thrilled when I was able to design an ornament this year that was in the shape of one. I was able to make these in three colors. Gold, Silver and White. What do you think? Please let me know in the comments below.

According to www.appleseeds.org here is the legend:

SOME TIME AGO, I heard a lovely Christmas story about Maria, a young girl who lived on a poor family farm in a small village in Mexico. It was a custom in the village to glorify the Christmas season with special events to celebrate the birth of the Christ Child, Jesus. Everyone took part in the preparations by festively decorating the village church and the piazza in front of it. Even the children helped by making gifts to give to the Baby Jesus on Christmas Eve.

Maria wanted to make a very special gift. She had helped her mother before with the loom, so she tried, on her own, to weave a colorful blanket. But Maria was too inexperienced and the yarns became an entangled mess. Maria was heartbroken. She wanted so much to be able to march in procession with the other village children, but she had no gift to give to the Christ Child.

Finally it was Christmas Eve! The villagers gathered in the piazza. Some whispered that they thought they could hear angels singing tonight. Everyone was ready. Holding lit candles, all the villagers began to process down the aisle amid joyous music and singing.

All except for Maria, who hid in the shadows, watching with tears in her eyes as the procession to the church started.

"I don’t have a gift for the Baby Jesus," she sniffled softly. "I tried and tried to make something beautiful, but instead I ruined it."

Suddenly, Maria heard a voice. She looked up and saw only a bright star in the sky; it seemed to hover and shine over the village church. Was it this star that spoke to her?

"Maria," she heard the voice again, "The baby Jesus will love whatever you give because it comes from your heart. Love is what makes any gift special."

With that, Maria stepped out from the shadows. Nearby she noticed some tall green weeds. She rushed over and quickly filled her arms with the weeds, covering them with her manto. Then she ran swiftly to the church.

By the time she arrived, the candles were ablaze and the children were singing as they walked down the aisle carrying their gifts to the Christ Child.

Padre Francesco placed the figure of the baby Jesus in the manger, with the children’s gifts all around it.

Suddenly, Maria was scared when she saw all those people dressed in such beautiful clothes, and she was dressed so poorly. She tried to slip behind one of the big pillars, but she was too slow. Padre Francesco saw her.

"Maria, Maria," he called out. "Hurry girl, come, bring up your gift!"

Maria was terrified. She wondered, "Do I run away? Do I go forward?"

The Padre saw her apprehension and coaxed her more gently, "Maria, come up here and see the Baby Jesus. There is space left for one more gift."

Before she could think, Maria found herself walking down the main aisle of the church.

"What is Maria carrying under her manto?" the villagers whispered. "Where’s her gift?"

Padre Francesco stepped down from the altar and walked with Maria to the Christmas crèche. Maria bowed her head and said a prayer then opened her manto and let the weeds tumble out.

Voices gasped, "Look! Look at those glorious flowers!"

Startled, Maria opened her eyes. She was stunned. For each weed was now topped with a flaming, bright, red star.

And outside, too, every weed now bore a bright red star. Maria's Love had created a miracle.  

www.WhyChristmas.com also states:

The shape of the poinsettia flower and leaves are sometimes thought as a symbol of the Star of Bethlehem which led the Wise Men to Jesus. The red colored leaves symbolize the blood of Christ. The white leaves represent his purity.

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday. Please leave a comment below and if you would like one of these ornaments contact +Books on Broad  or myself (see list below) and we can see what we can do.

Merry Christmas everyone!

2014 Book Page Holiday Creations:

• Poinsettia Book Page Ornament for your Christmas Tree
• Child Book Page Ornament Tutorial 
• Glass Book Page Square Shaker Ornament 
• Book Page Snowman
• Angel Wing Christmas Tree Ornament
• Table Top Christmas Trees
• Golden Star Book Page Christmas Tree Ornament

Find me on...
Facebook: Uniquely Grace
Twitter: Grace Lauer Artist @gracelauer
Instagram: @gracelauer_henna_artist
Pinterest: L. Grace Lauer

Stunning Glass Book Page Shaker Ornaments made from "The Hobbit" and "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer"

Hello fellow book, art and craft lovers! Here I have our third new #Handcrafted design of my #bookpage #Ornaments for the #2014 #holiday #season.

#Cardinals are very special to me as they remind me of my Grandfather. I have one of these hanging on my #tree right now at home. Having them around on #Christmas reminds me he is always watching from up above. #Blessings to you all this #holiday #season. These #Ornaments can be found at  in  not far from   

Here I have our third new #Handcrafted design of my #bookpage #Ornaments for the #2014 #holiday #season. This #square #glass ornament is filled with pages from a Tom Sawyer and backed golden pages from the Hobbit, then adorned in #gold and #red embellishments and trim. There are 6 of these available in three different #designs. One has #Noel, the other has #Holly and the third has a #Cardinal on the front. Get them while they last! You can find these on #display in the front window at Books on Broad.

If you like what you see please like my page Uniquely Grace and check out Books on Broad for more info on #bookstore and #artist events in#CamdenSC.

Have a fantastic holiday season! Blessings to you!

Bookstore: Books on Broad
Artist's Page: Uniquely Grace

2014 Book Page Holiday Creations:

• Poinsettia Book Page Ornament for your Christmas Tree
• Child Book Page Ornament Tutorial 
• Glass Book Page Square Shaker Ornament 
• Book Page Snowman
• Angel Wing Christmas Tree Ornament
• Table Top Christmas Trees
• Golden Star Book Page Christmas Tree Ornament

Find me on...
Facebook: Uniquely Grace
Twitter: Grace Lauer Artist @gracelauer
Instagram: @gracelauer_henna_artist
Pinterest: L. Grace Lauer

Winter Wonderland Wreath - Upcycled from plastic grocery bags

PHOTO POST! This one is about a up-cycled wreath I made this year. This wreath is made up of Plastic Grocery Bags, a dollar store wreath and some floral stems from the craft store. Enjoy this winter wonder land!

Certified Helmar Educator

May, your Arts of Christmas be stuck together with Helmar - Cone Trees

Hello Everyone and welcome to the Hemar and May Arts blog hop Day one! What is even more fun is that Hemar and May Arts are giving away TWO chances to win some great product on this TWO day Blog Hop!

May Arts will be offering two prize packages of winner’s choice of 2 spools of ribbon and Hemar will be offering two Arts and Crafts Starter packs!

Picture is a graphical representation only. 

 

 

So, how do you enter to win a chance at one of these grand prizes? Hop through with us and visit each designer’s blog and leave a comment on their Hemar and May Arts Blog Hop post. The first winners will be chosen on the 21st and the second winners will be chosen after the Thanksgiving Holiday weekend! You just came here from Charlene Driggs at Paper and Ink Play ground and you will be going to Alexcia Patterson-Schroll at Make and Mingle.  So let’s get started!

Supplies:
Helmar 450 Quick Dry Adhesive
Helmar Liquid Scrap Dots
Helmar Decoupage Craft Paste
Helmar V2 Vellum Adhesive - EMPTY
May Arts - String/Pearls
May Arts - Leaves
May Arts - Metallic Velvet
May Arts - Metallic Eyelash Wired
Mist Spray - Silver and Gold
Pearl Puff Paint
Gold Glittered Tulle
Glass Candle Holders
Paper Cones
Extra Tree Toppers (feather boa, jingle bell)
Book Pages

STEP 1:Use Helmar Decoupage Craft Paste to decoupage the book pages onto the paper cones. Let dry.

STEP 2: Mist cones of your choice with Color mist sprays. Let dry.

STEP 3: Adhere May Arts Ribbons to cones in a spiral with Helmar 450 Quick Dry Adhesive, because it dries clear, drys fast, adheres to almost anything and won't leak/bleed through fabric ribbons.

STEP 4: Adhere May Arts - Metallic Eyelash Wired, a piece of feather boa or a jingle bell to the points of the cone trees with Helmar 450 Quick Dry Adhesive, because of it's properties discussed above and it's permanent, strong hold once dry.

STEP 5: Gather supplies in the photo below for large tree. Take larger cone and your empty Helmar V2 Vellum Adhesive.

Run a bead of Helmar Liquid Scrap Dots along the bottom of the can.

Insert can bottom side up into large cone.

 Line top of clean candle stick with Helmar Liquid Scrap Dots, which I chose for it's strong hold on both plastic and glass. Place the lid of the Helmar V2 Vellum Adhesive can centered onto the candle stick. Straighten tree wild glue is still wet. For best results let dry over night.

STEP 6: Using Helmar 450 Quick Dry Adhesive adhere tulle to the inside lip of an empty ribbon spool (that has been tested to fit inside the very bottom of the small tree.
Run a bead of Helmar 450 Quick Dry Adhesive along the bottom of the inside of your tree's cone.

Insert Spool with tulle (completely dry) into bottom of tree. Use Helmar Liquid Scrap Dots to adhere the bottom of the tree to the glass candle stick.

STEP 7: For middle sized cone I used a broken ribbon spool and a 6" tulle by the yard spool. Taking my Helmar 450 Quick Dry Adhesive  I ran a bead of it along one side of the 6" tube and adhered it to the center of the inside of the broken ribbon spool. Then once set, I ran a bead of Helmar 450 Quick Dry Adhesive around the top of the 6" tube and adhered this center into the middle cone. Once set I used Helmar Liquid Scrap Dots to adhere the bottom of the tree to the glass candle stick.

 Hope you enjoyed this tutorial! We here at Helmar LOVE May Arts Ribbons! It's a match made in heaven! To enter our Giveaway leave a comment below with a way to contact you... so we can tell you if you won one of our fantastic prize packs! (photos and prizes listed below)

PRIZES:

MAY ARTS PRIZE

2 winners will get their choice of 2 rolls May Arts Ribbon.

 

 HELMAR PRIZE

Two starter packs will be randomly drawn from US, Canada, or Australia Fans for this Starter Pack.
***Hemar picture is a graphical representation only. Actual products are listed on website.***
 

Day 1 – November 19th

• Charlene Driggs: http://www.paperandinkplayground.com/ 
• YOUR HERE --> : http://www.gracesscrapattic.blogspot.com  
• Alexcia Patterson-Schroll: http://makeandmingle.wordpress.com/
• Kate Vickers: http://www.scrapsation.com
• Christina Colón: http://www.thetwistedmuse.com/
• Jen Matott: http://arttalk-sigmagirl.blogspot.com/
• Gini Williams Cagle: http://www.ginicagle.blogspot.com/
• Carisa Zgloblicki: http://ladyguineveresinkyfaeries.blogspot.ca/
• Emily Lanham: http://createserendipity.blogspot.com/
• Jen Shears: http://jenshearsdesigns.blogspot.com/
• Jingle: http://www.justjingle.blogspot.com/

Day 2 – November 20th

• Karen Baker: http://thebalddragonfly.blogspot.com/
• Martha Richardson http://themermaidscloset.blogspot.com/
• Kendra Wiggins: http://scrappincricut.org/
• Lisa Wilkinson: http://www.createfor7.blogspot.com
• Leah Farrar-White: http://1alabasterowl.blogspot.com/
• Sally Lynn MacDonald: http://www.sallylynnmacdonald.com/
• Monica Edwards: http://scraps2treasure.blogspot.com/
• Amy Lassiter: http://sparklinggnome.wordpress.com
• Nicole Martel: http://www.nicolemartel.blogspot.com/
• Virginia Fynes: http://www.fynesdesigns.com/

Thank you so much for Hopping!!!! Enjoy the rest of the projects!Don't forget to leave your comment below and fallow my blog for future projects! Happy Thanks Giving!