10 minute Christmas centerpiece

I was all done decorating for the holidays...and realized I had nothing Christmas-y on my table! I'm kind of a minimalist when it comes to Christmas decorations. I think less is more (except on my tree lol). However I've moved a few times in the past 3 years and in the midst of all that packing, moving, unpacking...you tend to rid yourself of clutter, extra things you don't really need, anything that doesn't hold sentimental value and can be replaced, anything overly heavy...you get the picture. I'm sure you've all been there! So here I was, no centerpiece (though my tech savvy, table hogging boyfriend couldn't be happier about that ;P) and I didn't want to go out and buy anything. Blah! So I looked around and came up with something that used things I already had and costed me nothing! My favorite kind of creations! :)

I had a decorative bowl that really has no use other than to look pretty on the bookcase, a few silver and white balls leftover from the tree, a bow that I had leftover (that I didn't have to make!! Phew!) a few holly berries, a pinecone and I snipped a piece of garland for a touch of greenery. Smacked it all together and laid it out on a table runner that I never use. Voila!

I think it turned out pretty good for 10 minutes and a little creativity! Excuse the photos, it's a Smart Phone day ;)

Wreath anyone?

I bought a pine cone wreath at the thrift store last winter. God love the ones that put all the effort and work into something and then give up on it and give it away. lol I picked it up as soon as I saw it, I knew I'd need a wreath by Christmas and I'm too cheap to buy one already done. So this was the best of both worlds. Cheap & unfinished but the hard part already done. :D

So I paid maybe $1 for this, then I bought a few silver/white leaves and holly berries for about $0.50 and a huge spool of wired ribbon for $3, all at the thrift store.

Dad was throwing out a bunch of old Christmas things he doesn't use and is tired of storing so I snatched up the wreath hanger. I put this wreath together in about 10 minutes (minus my thousand attempts and failures at a good bow) and in my haste, forgot how ugly the old brass hanger was (no picture was taken but I'm sure you've all seen them, terrible things!) So I covered it in ribbon, last minute kinda thing. Haha!

 And here's the result. I was going for a wintery, snowy kinda wreath...not too overdone or full of color. This picture reminds me of how bad I am at making bows. Ahh well! My first wreath! Come to think of it, it's a little small, next one needs to be much bigger! :)

So..how did I do for my first attempt? Did you ever make a wreath, if so how did it go?