DIY Holiday Wall Decals

DIY vinyl holiday wall decals are perfect for adding some festive touches to existing decor during the holidays. Great for making new decor too! Last year I added gold vinyl lettering to a large mirror (Glory to God in the Highest).

Christmas Dining Room 2012

Christmas mirror

I also love using vinyl lettering to create signs or to place directly on the wall.

Reindeer Games Sign Tutorial

DIY chevron Christmas Reindeer Games sign

But this year, I have a large world map in the family room. I tested the vinyl on the canvas and it didn’t cause any damage so this project got the ‘green light’ for me! Yay! (Please do your own test before applying vinyl directly to canvas or art work.) If it didn’t work, plan B was to use vinyl lettering on a wood plank sign for above my canvas. or to add vinyl lettering to a laminated map poster. 

before {family room makeover}

family room makeover

MaterialsI used:

Tools: 

  • Silhouette Cameo

What I did:

I created my lettering for “Joy to the World” using my Silhouette Studio software.

Joy to the World Christmas lettering

*Incidentally, there is a nearly identical ‘world shape’ as shown on my canvas, so you could also cut out vinyl continents in any color and apply directly to the wall or onto a large piece of plyboard to create your own overall “Joy to the World” wall decals. 

Load the vinyl into the Silhouette Cameo color side up. 

Happy Crafters Tutorial

Adjust the blades as needed and send design to “cut”. 

Remove vinyl from machine and weed away negative space around lettering and centers from the letters o and e.

Joy to the World vinyl wall art

Place transfer paper over the design and rub with a credit card. 

Joy to the World vinyl wall art

Peel away waxpaper backing from lettering. If letters are sticking to the wax paper, replace transfer paper and rub again. Sometimes I have to use my thumbnail to help the vinyl transfer.

Place vinyl design with transfer paper onto the canvas.

Tricky! Rub the design without stretching the canvas. I supported the back side of the canvas with a book before rubbing. 

Joy to the World vinyl wall art

Peel away transfer paper. 

Joy to the World vinyl wall art

All done!

The best part is that I can remove the vinyl letters after the holidays without damaging my printed canvas (remember to test your art before attempting this – or create a specifically designated piece for the holidays). 

Joy to the World Christmas wall art

I also added “peace on earth” to my globe to help camouflage the area where numerous price tag stickers removed the map paper…

peace on earth globe

How are you adding vinyl to your holiday decor this year? 

Joy to the World Vinyl Decals on Map

*This post is sponsored by Happy Crafters. Tutorial, experience and opinion is my own. 

HClogopngsmall

Getting Holiday Ready & Giveaway

How the heck do you get ready for the holidays when your home is under DIY construction and chaos? Well, I’m not sure but I can tell you how it’s going for me. When I have a lot going on, I’m a list maker. Seeing what needs done and checking things off helps keep me on track.  Otherwise, you know something’s going to get forgotten. This year, with being a part of the Lowe’s Creative Ideas team, Lowe’s has played a large part in halting my holiday home procrastination.

mercury glass centerpiece

Here is how my list goes:

  1. First priority is to finish up existing projects like bigger tasks so that I can breathe, relax and enjoy the rest of the year. So, I’m pushing to get some projects like our window installation, open pantry makeover and laundry room makeover complete. You may not see those makeovers until January, but my deadline for finishing them is a real life holiday home tour on 12/7.
  2. Cleaning and de-cluttering. In order to prep for digging out all of those bins filled with holiday decorating goodness, I need to start with a clean slate. That means piling up existing decorative accents (to be stored in the empty Christmas bins) and dusting, vacuuming, sweeping, scrubbing. 
  3. Re-arranging the furniture. I decorate three trees for Christmas so moving furniture around to make room is one of my favorite parts of decorating. I love a fresh new perspective from the usual arranged room, don’t you? 
  4. This one I usually start the weekend after Thanksgiving: Hauling out the Christmas decor bins and decorating! Pump up the volume on those Christmas tunes and deck the halls! 
  5. Sending out Christmas cards to family and friends. DIY Christmas Card Tree Display
  6. Holiday shopping. I’ve started a little shopping the past month or two but this is the time I take to get it done. I love giving gifts! Do you wrap as you go or pile it all up or wrap all gifts at once?  I love to be organized about it and wrap it all at once. Blasting the Christmas music in the background, singing along, ribbons and bows and paper and scissors and tape all within reach. It’s a huge wrap-fest! A party for one. 
  7. Holiday baking. I don’t do much baking but hoping to change that a little this year. I’d love to have a variety of cookies to go with my hot cocoa. chevron wooden table runner{chevron wooden table runner tutorial}

Call me crazy but I’m {unrealistically?} optimistic! Check back with me next weekend and I may be in a panic. Because #1 on my list is a doozy. But if I don’t have everything crossed off my list this week, I do have next week before Thanksgiving and the weekend after to fall back on. Having a deadline puts the pressure on to get things wrapped up…and I’m not even talking about the presents yet!rustic vintage glam christmas centerpiece

A few weeks’ back when I first started thinking about getting my home ready for the holidays by following the Lowe’s Holiday Showcase, I had the opportunity to play around with some decorating. Just enough to get me excited to get the projects done in order to get to the reward:rustic Christmas mantel

…really decorating for Christmas.rustic metallic vignette

Christmas vignette

That was a couple of weeks ago. Remember when I said I’m working on completing some bigger projects and a house under DIY construction? This is my dining room table now…{keeping it real!}dining room mess

Yikes! Not for long. According to my list, I’ll be clearing that table off today! Hurray!rustic glitter Christmas decor

I hosted a small get together with family and friends and we discussed holiday decorating and plans

holidayreadyhome

Putting together a list this time of year really helps keep me on track as well as ensures I don’t forget something with so much going on.

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. Winner is JD who commented: Paint! I’ve had paint chips up in the bedroom and bathroom for months now, and we have a nursery to do now too! Congratulations, JD! You’ll be notified by email!

$50 Lowe’s GIVEAWAY

How do you get your home holiday ready? How about a $50 Lowe’s giveaway to finish up some home improvement or to start shopping for the holidays? 

To be entered to win, simply leave a comment below telling me how you’d spend $50 at Lowe’s right now. I appreciate your shares! Leave a comment telling me how you shared as well for another chance to win. 

*Giveaway runs now through Wed., 11/27/13 at midnight EST. Winner will be chosen randomly from the comments and announced shortly after. Giveaway is open to US residents 18+ only. 

See more fun DIY ideas at Lowe’s Creative Ideas, follow Lowe’s on InstagramPinterest and sign up for the Creative Ideas magazine and app! You’ll see my DIY foldable luggage rack for getting guest room ready in the November digital issue! So exciting!

LCI winter

*Disclaimer: I’m a member of the Lowe’s Creative Ideas Creators and Influencers network. I was compensated for hosting a Holiday Ready Home party and supplied with a gift card for some Lowe’s holiday decor (shown above). All opinions are my own. 

Michaels Dream Tree Challenge – Ombre Christmas Tree

You: “Hey, Roeshel! Um…it’s barely November!

Me: I know! When Michaels set the date for the Dream Tree Challenge my first thought was “It’s the day after Halloween for goodness sakes!” But my second thought was “With all that’s been going on around here, I need a happy distraction and hey, a head start doesn’t hurt.

Michaels Christmas Dream Tree

For me, holiday decorating definitely fit the bill. I wanted to decorate a tree! Christmas is my favorite holiday and I feel all organized by getting an early start. Get comfy, my friends. I have a lot of holiday cheer to spread around!Ombre Christmas Dream Tree Michaels provided me with a beautiful pre-lit 7 ft. artificial pine and a gift card for decorating to participate in the dream tree challenge to kick off the decorating season in the DIY Show Off house. Decorating early will definitely help ease my holiday-stress.ombre tree skirt

Last year, I made a beautiful no-sew ombre tree skirt and I knew I wanted to continue with an ombre theme in the family room. ombre ruffled tree skirt

{easy sew or no-sew ruffled tree skirt tutorial

Non traditional star orb tree topper:  I painted assorted sized wooden stars and embroidery hoops in ombre colors with a spray of Krylon glitter blast and let them dry. I assembled the hoop orbs using hot glue. Next I drilled a hole in the top of each star, laced stars and hoops with fishing line, tied on some ribbon bows and hung from the ceiling using small Command hooks. Christmas star mobile

DIY hanging tree topper 

And Michaels had everything I needed to assemble my non-traditional sparkly ombre dream-tree theme starting with cool wintery mint…Mint Ombre Christmas Tree

sparkly sky blue…blue ombre Christmas tree

happy cheerful aqua…aqua ombre Christmas tree

my favorite,  a deep rich turquoise…turquoise ombre Christmas treeturquoise Christmas tree

to a beautiful royal blue…royal blue ombre Christmas tree

Everyone: “Ooohhhh! Ahhhhh!ombre tree skirt

Glitter sparkle everywhere! Love it! #bling!ombre ornaments

This tree is nice and full but I start by filling in an artificial tree with the HUGE assortment from the floral department first…poinsettias, pine branches, large flowers/accessories with glittery leaves, beaded sticks and feathers – all just tucked between the branches. Then I finish up by adding in traditional ornaments, birds, ribbon and pinecones. Ombre Tree

Someone is certainly fascinated by it…

She takes after me…just can’t stay away from the glimmery shimmery beauty. Ombre Christmas Tree

Traditional Christmas just doesn’t work in this room with my beautiful colorful curtains but this gorgeous ombre tree in blues and greens is perfect! I decorate three trees, one that’s traditional, one that’s more natural and now this non-traditional ombre tree to light up our eclectic colorful family room. Fun! blue-green ombre Christmas tree 

I’ll be hosting the DIYShowOff annual Christmas tree link party this year as usual starting December 1st. I normally start my holiday decorating the weekend after Thanksgiving. How about you? 

Ombre Christmas Dream Tree

Disclosure: I received a 7 ft. pre-lit tree and gift card for trimming the tree from Michaels in exchange for sharing the Dream Tree Challenge. Tree theme, opinions, experience and decorating are in my own words. 

DIYShowOff ombre Christmas tree

For more holiday crafting and decorating information: 

  • See my experience with shopping at Michaels.
  • More great tips for Christmas tree decorating.
  • The Michaels Décor Guide has tons of ideas and projects to make spreading the holiday cheer throughout your house easy. Navigate through the online versiondownload a copy, or pick up one at your local Michaels!
  • Michaels is offering a holiday helpline this year! Now through Christmas Eve you can call 1-800-MICHAELS Monday throughFriday from noon until 5 p.m. CST and be connected directly to Michaels crafting experts. You also can send craft questions via email to holidayhelp@michaels.com or by using the hashtag #askmichaels on Facebook and Twitter.