A Vintage Christmas Display With Handmade Nostalgic Decorations
Looking for some inspiration for vintage-style Christmas decor? Here is a nostalgic vintage Christmas display created with flea market finds, thrift store makeovers, and handmade Christmas decorations.
Welcome to my first Christmas tour this year. Today I am going to show you Christmas in my craft room. My craft room is my girly-girl version of the man cave. Here I can throw all caution to the wind and indulge in all things vintage, romantic, feminine, froufrou, and glittery. I get my ‘fix’ here, you might say, or perhaps I should say this is where I overdose on frills so that I am completely happy to keep the rest of the house ‘clean’ and natural.
The Noel paper banner I made hangs on a really vintage mirror found at a flea market. The shabby chic vintage mirror is a bit too shabby even for me, especially since someone did a very bad job of trying to fix it. But with lots of stuff hanging on it and in front of it, I think it looks wonderful all the same.
I placed the mirror on top of my library cabinet and created a little vignette in front of it. Let’s look at some details.
This snowman comes from a thrift store. Nobody wanted to buy it and I wasn’t very interested at first either. Until all the Christmas decorations started to pop up all over blogland and I got inspired.
This is the before picture of the snowman.
He was cute in theory, but had way too much going on — too many colors, too much shine, too many “extras.” I almost donated him myself until I started seeing all those adorable vintage-style snowmen popping up online. That gave me an idea.
First, I painted over his bright blues with a soft greenish shade (I was aiming for robin’s egg blue, but paint likes to surprise you). At first, I wasn’t convinced it would work — but I’ve learned that the trick with upcycling thrift store decor is to just keep going.
Next, I misted him lightly with off-white spray paint, which instantly softened everything and made him look older and more charming. A little brown glaze in the creases gave him depth and warmth, and a final layer of Mod Podge and glitter gave him that cozy, vintage sparkle.
Now, he looks like something you’d find in an old-fashioned Christmas shop — full of character and history.
The snowman took a little bit of work to make this cute. But the small cloche filled with gold tinsel and small Christmas balls only took me 20 seconds to make. Very easy, great effect.
This little snowman was made after a tutorial I followed online. He got a small altered box to sit on.
Here is another look at the vignette I am showing off here. The colors are gold, silver and white. I never would have thought that silver and gold go so well together, but I am really loving the combination. Let’s take a closer look again, shall we.
This little angel is sitting in a nest of gold tinsel. That idea happened quite by accident. I was looking for a way to make her stand (she is supposed to hang) and came up with a ball of twine to perch her on. And then I had to cover up the twine ball, and so the nest happened as a lucky accident. The attentive observer might have noticed that she is missing a wing. I’ll give her a new set of wings one day, but for now, she’ll just have to stay and sit in her nest.
The altered glittered deer is looking at two adorable French children. The deer started his life as a brass and rather plain and ugly one (you can see this Christmas deer thrift store makeover here). But a little spray paint and some glitter made him sparkle again.
Here is another look at my vintage Christmas display. I love this combination of thrift store makeovers, family heirlooms, flea market finds and some handmade Christmas decorations.
Speaking of handmade. Let me give you a close up of the DIY vintage style paper ornaments that are hanging on the mirror.
They were easy to make:
- Copy a ‘Fleur-de-Lis’ design from somewhere online
- Cut it out from cardstock and cover it in vintage music paper
- Draw an outline in glue on the edges and dust is with glitter
- Cut a Holiday message from a vintage postcard and turn it into a small label
- Glue the label along with a little embellishment and a small riboon to the card.
See? Easy!
I hope you enjoyed looking at my vintage Christmas display just as much as I enjoyed making it.
Wishing you a very merry Christmas!
If you like my ideas for a vintage Christmas display, then feel free to pin it to your favorite Christmas Pinterest board so you can come back to it at any time.
Het begin is er! Leuk he, dat begint altijd in etappes, maar het opruimen moet altijd in een keer,ppppppfffffffff!!!!!(lol)
Groetjes
Everything is so very, very pretty!
I love the vintage look and the glitter.
Rhonda
Oh so very pretty!!! The way you transformed the snowman is amazing–he looks so cute and icy now!! Same with the deer–love those two!! I love the angel with the one wing–Please don't fix it!! I think it looks really unique! I like the silver and gold too!
STUNNING! Everything is beautiful!
that looks so pretty Marianne!!! i love the little snowman you made he is adorable!!!
Wow, you have one classy and elegant studio for crafting!! I so love the silver and gold together. The little snowman is adorable and I love that vintage mirror with the banner draped over it!!
Big TX Hugs,
Stephanie
Angelic Accents
The vintage vignette is divine — starfish, silver, beads, noel banner and old photographs; a recipe for beauty.
Every thing is Lovely Marianne!
Very nice.
Ok, en dit is dus nog maar de zolder, ben benieuwd wat er verder komt. Vind je engel zonder vleugel erg mooi.
groetjes Lia
I love all your makeovers. Great job. The snowman you made is adorable and I love the glitterry reindeer.
I signed up to follow and subscribed as well.
Cheru
Absolutely beautiful!
Gorgeous! You've inspired me to remake some of the Christmas decor that I don't bring out anymore, because it doesn't work in this house. I am in LOVE with you mirror 🙂
rue
Wat heb je je zolder toch prachtig zeg……
Dit smaakt naar meer. Je spiegel is ook zo mooi verweerd.
Ik snap't niet ik volg je wel en toch ben ik hier, volgens mij, al lang niet op bezoek geweest….???
Ga eens even bijlezen…….
Maar ik wens je een fijne week
LOVE the VINTAGE look you have going on…looks outstanding! Thanks soooo much for sharing all of your talent with us. Hope you have a FUN day!
Blessings,
Linda
that old mirror is FABULOUS!
love the patina~~
happy holidays~
chasity
I love the vignette with the mirror, Marianne! Just beautiful. I also love that Noel banner you made.
xo
Claudia
I love seeing all of the sweet vintage girlyness you've created in your special room! Merry Christmas.
Be a sweetie,
Shelia 😉
This is so pretty and I love that you decorated a place where you spend a lot of time! I love your snowmen. I have a few myself {and some I still haven't found yet}.
Everything is gorgeous. I'm especially loving your Noel sign. Fabulous!
So pretty and ethereal.
Love the deer transformation!
Everything looks so wonderful. I love all of your vintage items.
Love the vintage look! Very pretty.
I really enjoyed all your vintage ornaments. They're displayed so nicely. The snowman and the banner are wonderful!
Stop by for a visit soon.
It all looks gorgeous! My craft room is covered in fabric and elastic and string!
The vignette with your snowman is just beautiful. Nice job on him by the way. He's very cute. Thanks for sharing your lovely home.
Karen
My Desert Cottage
Just adorable. I've got to admit that I've never thought to decorate my craft area (er, closet). I love how you re-crafted things. Very inspriational.
– The Tablescaper
Heerlijk dat je je hier zo uit kunt leven! Bij mij staat het inmiddels zo stampvol dat er echt geen plaats meer is voor Kerstversieringen. Ik vind je spiegel ook juist mooi! Maar op de foto's zie je geen onhandige restauraties, dat scheelt misschien. De kerstman naar een tutorial van Dawn vind ik geweldig! Ben alweer benieuwd naar je verhaal waarom hij/zij Marianne heet! Geniet van je heerlijke plekje en al je decoraties!
Love the cloche…, I attempted something similar with my Christmas in a Jar, but I think the cloche really brings it up a notch.
Love, love the silver and gold.
Jean in Virginia
I'm speachless! That is your craft room? Wow…it's beautiful.
What a beautiful holiday home! En ik kan het allebei lezen, wat dubbel leuk is. I just finished my own Holiday Home posts, please visit…I'm serving French Champagne, but if you bring spekulaas I'll make warme chocolade melk. xoxo Lidy
VERY pretty! Lovely to meet you…..
The sign and vintage items are charming!
Stop By and Happy Holidays to you!
love,kelee
Love all the silver and gold! My tree is actually a combination of both.
Wonderful things! My craft area looks like a hurricane went through…yours looks like heaven!
Breathtaking & exquisite! Marianne!
Can't wait to see more of your home! xoxo & Merry Christmas!
Sure do like your Noel banner and all the silver and gold do go well together. The mirror is beautiful with its silver wearing away. Things that are worn away, tarnished,and weathered carry memories and what they could tell….
Linda
Robin's Egg Blues
What a beautiful room. I am glad that you made your special room so beautiful…especially since you spend so much time there! THe garland is beautiful. Merry Christmas.
Hi, Marianne, I love all of your beautiful gold & silver decor. Gorgeous! Love the NOEL on the mirror and all of your pretty sparklies. Thanks for joining the party!
Gorgeous!! Just gorgeous..with all the gold and silver and vintage looking things. Great job!
I am hosting a giveaway on my blog for some Belgian Chocolate. Come on by and enter to win by leaving a comment.
Karin
Helemaal leuk je kersthuis tot nu toe. Ik had nog wat post te lezen maar het ziet er allemaal zo sfeervol uit.
Je kerstman vind ik zo leuk geworden, en de krans van lapjes is ook al zo leuk. Misschien niet zo origineel mijn reactie maar wel heel erg gemeend.
Ik ben benieuwd naar nog meer foto's.
groetjes en een heel fijne week.
Marja
Your home is beautiful! Merry Christmas!
GORGEOUS! I love vintage mirrors and sell them on eBay so of course I'm going to love your vignette using a mirror! I especially adore the silver tray and all the pretty beads and bobbles around it! Thanks for sharing and for inspiring me for this year!
Big TX Hugs,
Stephanie
Angelic Accents
L
O
V
E
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!
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Especially the tinsel and balls under the cloche! Yum!
I "stole" your pictures and put them in my Christmas Idea file.
Hope you don't mind!
I was inspired by you!
Thanks!!
Hugs and blessings,
~me