Christmas in July. . . . .Holly Jolly, Merry and Bright

Ho, Ho, Ho. . . . .

we LOVE Christmas at Shabby Chicks. . . .

and it wouldn't be July if we didn't have Christmas in July!

Today's theme is a Bright, COLORFUL,

Holly Jolly Christmas theme.

But first, welcome to my blog readers AND my facebook readers.

If you haven't stopped by facebook.com/shabbychicksnaples, 

please do!

Alrighty then, let's do this:)

While this theme isn't for everyone. . . .

(it is non-traditional and some don't like that)

it IS fun and festive.

Here is a simple way to add the brights to the Holidays...

simply frost those sugar cookies with pretty, bright color.

Who says Santa has to wear red!

What about a lime green Santa?:)

Okay, okay. . . .no haters.

To each his own, right?

What about the tree?  

You can add beautiful bright ornaments to any tree.

But if you have a big white tree like I do. . . . or like the one in this picture,

look at what you can do:)

You can make ornaments or buy them in brights or jewel colors.

All stores carry them these days.

This is what we did one year to add a punch of color. . . .

I had some bright glass bulbs and supplemented with a bunch of plastic 

bulbs from the dollar store.

Put them in a large glass vase with white twinkle lights and voila. . . .

instant, easy decorating.

Here are a bunch of other looks.

a few more ways to add color. . . .

colorful pompoms. . . .strung on fishing line or strong thread and they make a cute garland.

Colorful paper rings. . . .another of our traditions.

Who says snowflakes have to be white?

Cut out some colorful paper snowflakes:)

 I love this idea. . . .gift wrap wall hangings!

You could wrap current framed photos or art and hang them up as packages, 

or buy some blank canvases in various sizes.

After Christmas, unwrap the canvases and mod podge

 some favorite photos from the Holidays on them.

painted pine cones, brightly colored ribbon and colorful felt ornaments are cute ideas too!

You've probably seen tons of sites teaching how to make these

ornament wreaths.  If not, there are a couple of ways.

If you want a smallish wreath, you can un twist a wire hanger, 

thread ornaments on to it and twist back up.

Instant ornament wreath.

If you want to make a bigger, fancier ornament wreath,

here is a link for a you tube how-to video. . . .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjHKsG-L4Z8&feature=youtu.be

hint. . . .it's really easy:)

one of my favorite finds this year is the ornament "Ho Ho Ho".

This could be done so many ways. . . .threaded on wire or

glued on over sized letters.

Notice the colorful packages above and in the following pictures.

See these trees?

They are made from cupcake liners!

here's the link with instructions. . . .

http://papercrave.com/how-to-make-cupcake-liner-flower-tree/

here are two fun snowman ideas. . . .

on the left, wrap 3 cardboard boxes in batting and using hot glue, stick together.

add a scarf, some black pom pom buttons, a black hat and HELLO. . . .Frosty!

Don't you LOVE the snowman appliances?

These are window decals that you can find in various stores around the Holidays.

SMILE:)

don't forget the brightly colored gift tags. . . . .

Ready for some FUN Holiday treats?

Okay, I will say that today's theme calls for fun festive treats that are a bit

on the kid side:)

Most are self-explanatory too. . . . . .YAY!!!

Rice Krispie Tree. . . .

Color those Krispie treats green,

add m & m ornaments and you have an easy, yummy tree.

 Dressed in colorful candy scarves and top hats, these stylish, easy-to-make snowmen are sure to liven up any holiday gathering.

What you'll need

bag of 8-inch pretzel rods

• 1 cup white chocolate chips
• mini chocolate chips
• orange decorators' gel
• fruit leather (various colors)
• gummy rings
• gumdrops
• How to make it:  Melt 1 cup white chocolate chips as directed.  One at a time, dip the end of one 8-inch pretzel rod in the melted chocolate and use a plastic spoon or knife to spread the chocolate two thirds of the way down the pretzel.  Place on waxed paper and press on mini chocolate chips for eyes and buttons.  Use orange decorators gel to add a carrot nose.  When the chocolate has hardened, stand the pretzels in a mug or glass and tie on strips of fruit roll-ups for scarves. For each hat, stretch a gummy ring over the narrow end of a gumdrop and secure it on the pretzel with a dab of melted chocolate.
• source...spoonful.com

This is an oldie but goodie that we always did when my girls were little. . . .

and an awesome idea for a kid's party.

Frosted Christmas Trees!

Simply use ice cream cones, tip them upside down and frost with green icing.

then DECORATE:)

This one is SOOOO cute and delicious!

Santa Hat Brownies!

Make the brownie recipe of your choice, top with your choice of white icing or cool whip, then a Strawberry for the hat.

Really cute, don't you think?

And having a ballerina in the family,

I really love the "Sugarplums":)

cause what kid wants to eat a regular sugar plum:)

Dip a marshmallow in tinted white chocolate and add sprinkles.

Yum. Cute. Genius!

Do you make a gingerbread house?

We do. . . .or lately we've used the gingerbread mini house kit.

Well, it might take a bit of searching on your part but if you buy

 pastel or non-traditional candies,

look what you could make!

Okay, this is it.

Last idea for today.

My favorite "gift" for the neighbors.

My girls took these gifts to neighbors for years andit was always a hit.

Only thing we did different was we eventually quite making the cookies from scratch

and bought them.

And our tag read "From our family to yours. . . Merry Christmas"

Get it?  Our family to yours?  Gingerbread family???

heeheehee

Okay, but it is a good idea;)

Check back tomorrow to see what the theme will be.

Pink Christmas?

White Christmas?

Rustic Christmas?

Traditional?

Beach Christmas?

Hmmmmmm. . . . .

See Ya!

xoxo. . . .Suzanne