easy Christmas projects and recipes

I’ve been contributing to Country Sampler Farmhouse Style for more than 6 years now, and today I want to share some of my favorite Christmas projects and super yummy recipes with you.

First up is this hot cocoa bar that was in the 2023 Winter issue. I wanted to create a sort of campfire vibe for this shelf in my kitchen. I gathered several vintage spice tins and plaid accessories as the start to this whole look.

My secret to delicious and easy hot cocoa is to just buy your favorite carton of chocolate milk and then keep in nice and warm in a small crockpot or “slow cooker” as they now call them.

 

If you don’t have the room or the budget for even a small Christmas tree, then this project is for you! It starts with a fun vintage crock, but any similarly shaped container would work.

The secret is to add a little pyramid shaped piece of floral foam, the wet kind, to the crock. Water it, and then add small little branches and cuttings of foraged evergreens and winter berries. I like to start at the top with a strong leader branch and then fill it in from there.

 

Covering a small crate with festive plaid wrapping paper is another fun project. I decided to create a little farmhouse winter scene in mine, complete with a cheery red barn and lots of bottle brush trees. A little moss around the bottom of the landscape finishes off this idyllic scene. 

Now for a couple of non-Christmas projects… they both involve thrifted treasures. The first one is a little lamp made from a small ironstone pitcher. 

The bottom of this lamp is actually a spare metal chandelier medallion that I had on hand in the garage. It was the perfect size for the base of the lamp. I bought a lamp kit online and put this little beauty together. The shade was an extra little chandelier shade I had left over from another project. 

During the pandemic, I found a whole box of Fiestaware on the curb that someone had set out for free. I took a long wooden board and decided to glue the cups and saucers on the board for a fun and colorful utensil holder.

 

A few little “s” hooks do the trick for holding whisks, wooden spoons and other kitchen gadgets.

 

recipes

I'm currently working on four more projects for the Autumn 2025 issue of Country Sampler Farmhouse Style, and then we head straight back into some winter and Christmas projects and more recipes for 2025.

 

What a surprise it was to have my picture selected for the Winter 2024 issue of Country Sampler Farmhouse Style...

 

Did you read this one? I have several projects and recipes in this one too! I’ll share those with you all in a few weeks’ time.

 

ciao fabiana

 

For lots of fun extras, follow me on Instagram!

 

 

 

You can check out some of my favorites here at “Tablescaping Essentials” 

 

 

 

Please note that this post may contain affiliate links.

 

gorgeous new table setting accessories

Fresh and lovely, these new pieces from Carolyn Bender Lifestyle have my heart skipping a beat. Check out these gorgeous Cabochon Agate napkin rings paired with luxurious dip-dyed linen napkins.

Pretty white plates, blue-grey water goblets and fun and funky Boho Placemats are all also from Carolyn Bender. 

So many great pieces for holiday table setting!

Setting my dining room table with fall inspiration started with a beautiful tablecloth from August Table, and then I added beautiful placemats, plates, blue glass goblets, napkins and candlesticks from Carolyn Bender Lifestyle.

 

To soften the center of the table, I added roses, cosmos, dusty miller and olive branches from my garden. A little bunch of dried grass helps soften the look.

 

Designated seating is oh-so important, especially at Thanksgiving, so why not make it beautiful?

These stunning turkey place card holders are from Arthur Court.

All that was needed was to add a few autumn details, like pumpkins and these adorable blue and white pumpkin appetizer plates.

 

I'll be using these goodies all season long and well into the Christmas holiday season too!! I love how versatile each piece is.

Just sharing an up-close and personal look at my new Finezza Dinner Plates, Bella Bianca Lace Salad Plates, Tuscan Flax Linen Napkins, Boho Placemats and these adorable Woven Orange Flower Napkin Rings, all from Carolyn Bender Lifestyle.  

 

I just couldn’t help myself with the fall décor today.

Orange taper candles are the perfect finishing touch!

 

I was so inspired by this Gayatri Peacock print tablecloth and napkins from Pacific & Rose that I knew I had to pair it with my gorgeous new Woven Orange Napkin Rings and Boho Placemats from Carolyn Bender Lifestyle.
 

ciao fabiana

 

For lots of fun extras, follow me on instagram!

 

 

 

You can check out some of my favorites here at “Tablescaping Essentials” 

 

 

 

Please note that this post may contain affiliate links.

 

this year's fall mantel

Sometimes I need a little push to get myself started on a new design task. This week, the little push was this gorgeous bundle of eucalyptus branches. It’s perfect for softening up the mantel and for creating a runner for my latest fall tablescape. 

So here it is... a beautiful bucket full of eucalyptus branches foraged from my neighbor's yard, ready to spruce up the house. Do you ever go out and find pretty branches to decorate with? 
 
Don't worry, my neighbor Maureen has given me her blessing to trim her tree a little here and there 😉 

The mantel update was pretty easy. To start, I cleared everything off except the two white ironstone pitchers. I pulled out these pretty lanterns that I got at Serena & Lily a few years back, and set them on each end of the mantel. 

 

I then centered one medium white pumpkin with two softly colored Cinderella-style pumpkins on each side of it. The vintage ceramic collie adds a touch of whimsy and has just the right colors for this look.  

 

I then added a trio of my favorite old advertising crocks. They’re small, but add interest. 

 

The final touches were a strand of large wooden gray beads I got at Urban Gardner, and of course, a few small branches of eucalyptus tucked in here and there.       

 

 

Aren’t these beads pretty? I might have to get another set! 

The collie is actually a cachepot, and I found it this summer while helping my neighbor Gary clean up his yard. This little guy was just laying in a box of junk in the backyard, and Gary let me have it. 

He's such a cutie! Well, the collie, not Gary. 😏        

 

I’m sure you’ve seen little advertising pots like this. They’re fun on their own, in a collection, or with a few little flowers in them. 

 

To the left of the mantel, I have a seascape I found at an estate sale last year. I must say that I just love how the colors of this painting compliment the colors of the portrait of great grandmother Nelle. And the frames look great together too! 

 

Above the seascape, I’ve got a few flat baskets adorning the top part of the high wall. The one on the right is from Ikea from several years back, and the other three are vintage. 

 

To the right of the mantel is our tv, and another collection of 8 similar baskets. 

  

Aren't the colors and details of this painting pretty?

   

As day moves into night, the candles get lit and create a cozy and beautiful mood.      

 

The bucket of eucalyptus sits on the table, waiting for me to set the table this weekend. The late afternoon sun is just so pretty in this room. 

 

When it comes to seasonal décor, I just love to keep it simple. 

How about you?  

ciao! fabiana 

 

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