Kicking off the 12 days of Christmas, I am here to share with you a little bit of Christmas cheer – rustic style 🙂 

Last year, I scored some uber-good deals after the holidays.  As Posh would put it – “it was major”.  Over at Target, they had some marked down items that were a little rustic in style but I couldn’t help but put them into my cart.

Okay.

Let’s be honest since we are celebrating baby Jesus and all. 

I pushed over a little old lady and then snagged these from her cart. 

BUT in my defense, she was wearing white shoes….after labor day. 

Besides, the deal was too good to not fight for. 

See?

You would commit geriatric abuse for this too.

So this December, when we pulled out our green & red bins, I was prancing around like it was Christmas morning.  Not only did I get to open new packages tied up with string…but the items inside were even CUTER than I remembered!  Let’s give Jesus a couple hundred points for that one, shall we? 

Ok – So I got to work laying out a bunch of stuff for our soon-to-be-rustic tableau.  I decided on the demilune console table in our living room as the perfect place to create a little ode to country Christmas.  It normally looks a little something like this:

But for the holidays, I threw out some more rustic lookin’ pillows and strung up some pinecone garland from our curtain rods.  I also gathered everything that I could think of that looked a little more ‘homespun’ to see if I could get my creative juices going. 

First thing I did was convince my pregnant-belly-lovin boyfriend to help me get the fake tree situated into the basket.  After we removed the legs, we used cd-file books to wedge (heehee….wedgies…heehee) the base of the tree down.  It actually worked like a charm.  And after we got the tree sitting up in the basket, I whipped out some fast country-ornaments to make the tree pop.

Sticking with a color scheme really helps me…so green, browns, tan and white were chosen.

As ornaments, I used most of the carved wooden reindeer and also some brand new cinnamon-scented pine cones.  They were just on sale at Michaels recently for $2 for a package…and boy do they smell good enough to eat. I also used some of my fall decor – namely the woven fruit that I have used as everything from tray filler to vase ornaments.

And going with our color scheme allowed me to work in some of the white poinsetta flower picks that I got for free (my mom cleaned out her Christmas closet last year….and I received many a holiday decor item as the angels in heaven sang the Halleluia chorus). 

And the fun rustic goodness didn’t stop there.

Oh no it didn’t.

On the table top, I decided to create my own little gathering of reindeer…as they warmed themselves by the fire.  Now that I think of it – it sortof resembles a scene from a movie where homeless guys gather round a fire in a trashcan.  Hmm.  Interesting how christmas inspiration can come from anywhere 🙂 

And behind our income-challenged reindeer…I did a little stack of books topped with the biggest pinecone in my $2 bunch. 

On the other side, I reused my brown-and-white-check-ribbon-adorned cake plate from the fall and topped it with a rustic bowl.  Inside the bowl (it might actually be a planter) is a few moss covered balls and a couple more pinecones.  And it was great to move this little planter from our fireplace hearth to a place of honor….I mean….how many times in your life are you gonna be put on a cake plate?!?!  Can I get an amen?!

And then down in front is another little horned fella with a pinecone and a votive.  And it looks like this one is keeping his carved wooden tail warm.  Good for him.

Above we have the pinecone garland that was just my favorite thing ever…especially since it has those cinnamon sticks…my gosh, why am I craving cinnamon now?

But besides the delicious scent – those little green hued balls and the bundles of sticks made me wanna jump for joy.  And don’t even get me started on pinecones. 

Sweet pinecones.  With your texture and your warmth.  you are my favorite this year.  just don’t tell the boyfriend.  he can be rather jealous at times 😉

So there you have it folks – one rustic christmas tree in a basket.  Dontcha just love the country feel?  It makes me wanna spend the holidays in a cabin.  and learn how to knit socks.  Sure I probably couldn’t have a whole house sportin’ the pinecone appeal…but this one little area in my home is perfect.  Dontcha think?  And I know that there has got to be some southern gals out there with a spot in their heart for the Christmas cottage look.  Any takers?  Or maybe you have a different style for the holidays?  Spill those holiday styles peeps.  And while you are at it…tell me, what is the best deal you have ever gotten after christmas?