Thursday, December 14, 2017

“Evergreen Swags”

My new favorite decoration! I usually buy a fresh evergreen wreath for my front door but this year I have swags!

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I stopped at the Crossroads church nearby that has a Christmas tree lot this year and asked if they had simple wreaths. No, but they had an area with branches they had trimmed from the trees. So I asked if I could have some bare branches. He asked how many and I said, how about $10 worth!

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Then I went inside to visit with the lady there and find out more about their mission to help those in Puerto Rico. The lady out front is from Puerto Rico and her family is still without electricity. It’s good that we continue to remember them in our prayers.

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Next thing I knew, I had a garbage bag filled with freshly cut branches!

I placed one branch on top of the other and used a big wire twistie to hold them together. Then made a loop with a piece of wire and Voila! I grabbed a bow from another ‘project’ and it was done!

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But I had more branches so I made another one for inside the door!

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We have a glass door so most of the time during the day, our big door is open like this!

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So it’s nice to have something pretty on each side!

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Walk around…

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Oh but I STILL had more so I put them in a big basket and placed a perfect pine cone from one of our hikes on top. PERFECT!

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I wish I had ‘scratch and sniff’ on my photos so that you could smell the wonderful evergreen scent. Do you have some fresh greenery in your home this season?

I’m joining Thankful Thursdays.

31 comments:

Susie said...

Diane, I love the things you made. Plus your money will help others. win-win. I usually cut the hangy-down things from our pines to decorate with...but this year it's been so windy, I just have done very little outside for décor. So my clean up will be easier this year too. LOL. I love the scent of pines. Blessings to you, xoxo, Susie
p.s. I just can not leave our door open like that...it's 17 degree this morning.

Butterfly 8)(8 Bungalow said...

I love greens. I really love them in the basket and they are pretty on the doors as well. Merry Christmas! xoxo Su

eileeninmd said...

Hello, I like what your did with the swag and pine branches. The basket with the pine cone is pretty too. We have lots of pine trees in and around our yard. Happy Thursday, enjoy your day! I do pray for the people in Puerto Rico!



Karen thisoldhouse2.com said...


We have the greenery all around our farm :-) Great accent for your home, and you contributed to aid in puerto rico- hard to fathom still no power for some. Awful thing.

Jeanie said...

I need to get more branches. I love your criteria -- $10 worth!

Debby Ray said...

Beautiful, Diane! I love decorating with evergreen branches. When we had our cabin, I made fresh green swags with red bows and attached them each side of the stairs coming up to the porch. Nothing quite says "Christmas" like they do! Enjoy the season...HUGS!

Tom said...

...less is often more, enjoy this Advent season.

Lauren @ My Wonderfully Made said...

There really is nothing like the scent of fresh greenery! Our Home Depot gives the cuttings for free. I just didn't get over there this year! How lovely to have a door IPEN in December!!

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

Your swags look great!

The Joy of Home with Martha Ellen said...

I know your home smells wonderful, Diane. Your swags looks so pretty on your door. You are so right we need to think of the folks in Puerto Rico. They have been through so much and so many still have no electricity. Contributing to their need is the true spirit of Christmas. ♥

Sam I Am...... said...

I just caught up reading all your posts that I missed! I love your fresh greenery decorations. You did a great job.

Linda @ A La Carte said...

The swags are so pretty! I should do this and I know the Home Depot gives the trees branches they cut from trees away free. This would be such a good idea and give me some pine scent without the live tree! I'm ready to enjoy the days leading up to Christmas. Hugs!

Red Rose Alley said...

Your evergreen hanging on your door is pretty, Diane. Nel made one for her front door this year too. And it's nice that it smells of evergreen. I like your big basket filled with them too. Oh, your house must smell dreamy. What a wonderful mission to help those in Puerto Rico. : )

~Sheri

Vee said...

What a bargain! 🌲 You made good use of them and I know your home smells like Christmas!

Anonymous said...

Diane, you did such a lovely job with the pine branches! Your home must smell heavenly!

Lynn said...

Very pretty and I bet the house smells great! Enjoy:@)

Michelle said...

I love what you did with the branches and I know it smells so good...like Christmas! Thanks for linking up today and have a great weekend!

happyone said...

The evergreen swag on the door is very pretty. Great job. Also like the basket of greens.
I don't have any in the house but our property has huge evergreen trees on two sides of it and I smell them year round.

Carla from The River said...

You did a great job creating with the evergreen.
I bet it does smell wonderful.
Thank you for reminding us about P.R., goodness, to still be with out power. That is hard. I will continue to pray.

Terri D said...

What a GREAT idea to use the branches as you did! I love the look and just know that scent is wonderful!

Cherdecor said...

I love the smell of fresh pine at Christmas. Last year I bought some, but I probably will not buy it this year. I will light my Pine scented Yankee Candle this year. I do love the swags that you made and that basket of pine is so lovely. Enjoy the holidays!

Linda Walker said...

Diane,
these are so lovely and I can only imagine the scent. I always get a candle with evergreen scent this time of year. We've had a fake tree for years and I really do miss that scent. I don't miss the mess though!!! The swags were a great idea and you did a great job! xx
Linda

EL RINCON DE CHELO said...

Preciosa decoración navideña!!!!

NanaDiana said...

There is nothing like fresh cut greens at Christmas. I have done swags for years, too, and love the way they look and how fast they go together. Didn't do much of anything this year as we prepare for spring move. xo Diana

Ricki Treleaven said...

LOL I wish you had scratch and sniff, too! ;P
I love how you have swags on both sides of the door. Such a pretty idea!

Latane Barton said...

That certainly was a great find and you did such gorgeous things with all those branches. Merry Christmas!!

Celestina Marie said...

Hi Diane, Oh I just love this and your swags look amazing. It really is nice to have one on both sides of the door. The basket filled with the greens and pine-cone is a great touch. I can imagine the beautiful scent these all give throughout your home.
Thank you for stopping by and your kind comment on my once a month post. I truly appreciate you taking the time to visit. Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas. xo

Annesphamily said...

Mrs. Clever and Crafty, that is you! What a stunning arrangement of evergreen branches you have displayed. Wow! I had to stop by and say hello. HUGS

Deborah Montgomery said...

How pretty! And what a clever way to use leftover branches. I just love the smell of fresh greens. Our tree, alas, is fake. xo Deborah

Arlene G said...

Nothing like the smell of fresh evergreen at this time of the year!!

The Bear's Blog said...

Beautiful.