Woodland Style

 

 

 

I love all-natural, woodland style Christmas Decor. It is just so real, so authentic, and soothing to my heart. It’s just more me…more me than myself.

I was given the opportunity a few days ago to work with a brand that I have longed to work with for quite some time: Lamps Plus, and I almost blew it. I panicked…freaked….melted to a big rumpled puddle of anxiety. I imagined myself looking like a fish flopping around on the shore.

Lamps Plus and Hometalk have teamed up for a challenge to decorate this awesome glass lamp for the December holidays. Well…y’all know me…I love lamps, lighting, illumination of any shape, form or fashion. So, I just almost had a heart attack when they told me I was selected to participate. We were pretty much given free reign, with one guideline: December Holidays. Now, “December Holidays” says to me, Christmas or Hanukkah. Since I’m not Jewish, I went with Christmas, but how lovely would this be with a Hanukkah vignette?

I dreamt about it. I had daydreams about it. And, then the lamp came. What did I do? Yep, I froze. I initially thought, “Oh, I’ll do a woodland style vignette. ” I like to use a mix of elegant and rustic, natural elements when decorating, but I decided it just wasn’t good enough for Lamps Plus. So, I opted to go against my initial instinct.

I second guessed myself and drove the three hours to the closest place to buy Christmas decorations. I played it safe, and bought a bunch of pretty, actually gorgeous, decorations. I made sure they fit my Christmas decorating style just in case I had left overs.

I worked, fiddled, arranged, started over…and just plain ol’ failed at every attempt to make that lamp look right in my eyes…..

 

I didn’t know what to do. I was gonna fail at my first attempt at my “dream” project, and I’d never be given another chance…. :'(

I don’t know for sure why I’m out of sorts…maybe because I’m not at home…maybe because all my supplies are in Texas, and I’m in Montana….maybe because it is a three-hour drive to the closest craft store….or maybe because there is two feet square of space for working on projects….or maybe…just maybe….I just got wrapped up in my own self doubt.

 

What was a girl to do?

 

This girl turned to a friend; someone she admires and respects. She turned to a friend that would give her an honest opinion. And what did that friend do? Just exactly what she should have: she encouraged me to go with my first instinct. She assured me that it would be good enough. She advised me that if I liked it, it would be a hit. Thanks Sharon Hines @ Mrs Hines Class…..you saved the day!

The design of this beautiful glass lamp is awesome. It’s super easy to remove the bottom, and add your own personal style. I hope that my panic will help you to NOT do what I did.

Don’t be afraid, or doubt yourself.

If you love woodland style, you can make it like mine….or you can tap your own creativity and do something totally different. The cool thing is that you can change it every year, or every SEASON for that matter!. It’s really simple to do, just follow my lead.

To access the inside, you just turn the lamp on its side and unscrew that handy little wing nut under the base. This will allow you to pull the entire lamp rod out if you like. Just keep in mind when adding your decorations, that the rod has to go back in. So, leave room!

What I did:

• Went for a walk….kinda like I described in my Country Sunsets story that I shared on LCI last week. I just got out in the country and gathered all sorts of goodies that I liked.

 

• Started fiddling with all my supplies until I had a design I liked. Then, I photographed it to help me remember how to reassemble it. (I had to partially disassemble the design to place it into the opening.)
• Reassembled the design, and ensured that everything was placed securely. This might mean gluing some of it together, or using some styrofoam to attach it, which can be covered with ribbon or moss. If you plan on using your lamp for other seasons, I would be sure not to glue it so well that I couldn’t get it out later without destroying it. (Remember, when arranging inside the lamp you can use a skewer, or a stick, to arrange things like you want them.)
• Gently replace the base and the plate that goes between the base and the wing nut, and screw the nut back on…..

Here’s the base plate:

 

 

So…wanna see it?

 

 

Would you rather wait till December?

 

 

Nah, I think you should see it now!

 

 

I still used my bulbs, they are just surrounded in woodland bits and pieces.

My little bird found his way back in…with some extras. I found some wild roses growing near the river. They were covered in these gorgeous little rose hips. How perfect! Just a little bit of red berries for Christmas? Yes please!

 

I gave the lampshade some matching accessories, and a smaller, rustic little bird. (My canary Simon, is sitting right next to this…he DID NOT, find the humor in this…AT ALL)

 

Almost every project could use a touch of burlap, don’t ya think?

 

I’m so thrilled I got to participate in Lamps Plus’ and Hometalk’s challenge. Wish me luck…I think I should win….don’t you? 😀

 

 

Here are some other ideas for the Holidays that crossed my mind for decorating this cool glass lamp:

• Doll house Christmas setting…with a fireplace and Christmas tree…and maybe a family reading “The Night Before Christmas”
• Model train vignette….a winter scene with the tiny train running around the inside. I REALLY loved this idea…but after pricing it, it just wasn’t in the budget this year…but I REALLY want to do it…maybe next year.
• Painting the inside of the glass with semi-transparent paint…like “looking glass” paint and placing lights inside….
• Decoupage pictures or graphics onto the inside of the glass. It would be simple to remove with soap and water for the next year, or season. Just don’t forget to completely remove the cord and the rod for this! PLEASE!!
• Simply place ornaments inside like my “second guess”. How about some of your treasured, perhaps antique, ornaments.
• How about a small Christmas tree?
• Fabric….bunched up?

The ideas are endless…..

 

 

What are you gonna do with your lamp? You ARE gonna go get yourself one, aren’t you? Head over to Lamps Plus on Hometalk, and see what others came up with for this darling!

 

Did I mention….I won!  I was one of the winners of the Lamps Plus and Hometalk Challenge.  Yep…and I’m getting a $500 shopping spree at Lamps Plus!  How exciting is that?  I’m dreaming of all the ways I can use that!! WOO HOO!!! Love me some Hometalk and Lamps Plus! 😀