retro christmas Archives - Retro Renovation

12 funny, unique and creative holiday decorations from readers’ houses 2012

Posted by: Kate • December 21, 2012

“Santa the Damned?” … and more

After nearly an hour of sifting through each and every one of the newly uploaded holiday decorations photos from our recent uploader — 700+ reader photos of their holiday decorations — it is quite obvious that all of you absolutely love to decorate for the holidays. I was super impressed by the wide range of vintage holiday decor — and the extent to which some of you collect Christmas decorations. Time and time again there were photos showing hundreds of shiny brites, vintage santas, snowmen and even trees — like this gorgeous seven foot Imperial Arctic Star aluminum tree from the Tomar company out of Chicago. Mystery reader, your tree is a thing of beauty — I could spend hours just admiring it. Read on to see the rest of my top 12 reader holiday decor picks — our 2012 “Hall of Fame”.

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Comments 19

5-minute Kitschmas: Make a mini Evergleam Peacock tree out of pipe cleaners

Posted by: Kate • December 19, 2012

This holiday season has been a particularly crafty one at my house. Between making the three mini putz houses, the yule log centerpiece, and the shiny brite ornament tree — I’ve been busy. But with Christmas only a week away, and one more great idea for a quick and easy holiday craft dancing around like sugarplums in my head, I just had to make one more retro crafty video to share with everyone.

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Comments 14

A Christmas (Tree) Story, inspired by Retro Renovation

Posted by: pam kueber • December 19, 2012

Today, a story from reader Jana – we looked at her cheery kitchen remodel a ways back. She writes:

A Christmas (Tree) Story

Inspired by Retro Renovation

Ever since I was very young, my mother and I shared a special love for Christmas and all of the traditions that it brings. One of these traditions was decorating our Christmas tree. It was the prettiest Christmas tree on the block (and the only aluminum one, too). My parents purchased a 7 and a half foot sparkling Taper Tree from Sears in 1959. (Back then, we got everything from Sears). One of the special traditions that my mom and I had was that we were the only two members of the family who would decorate it. My dad’s responsibility was to bring the box and the ornaments up from the basement the night before the decorating was to be done and my sister’s responsibility was to stay out of the way and leave us alone. That was fine by her because she did not share our enthusiasm for Christmas traditions.

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Comments 18

Make an adorable Shiny Brite ornament tree in just 5 minutes – Adorable DIY video, too!

Posted by: pam kueber • December 17, 2012

Golly, this is Kate’s cutest darn video yet. And the project — Genius! Are you a blogger? Or active on Facebook or Twitter or Google+? Can you help us make this one go VIRAL? It really deserves it! Read Kate’s instructions after the jump:

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Comments 30

700+ reader photos of their holiday decorations in our gallery — Upload your photos, too!

Posted by: pam kueber • December 14, 2012

It’s finally here – readers have been asking — our Retro Renovation holiday tradition: The Uploader turned “on”. So let’s see your holiday decorations. Who’s got it going on?! Upload away — and next week, I will name our first 10 “Holiday Decorating All Stars.” And, in this post, be sure to scroll on down — there are 425 photos from 2011 and 2010 uploaders all there the ogle, too. Put on your sunglasses, though, if you fear twinkle twinkle sparkle sparkly overload. Above: I love to see our readers, hi, Anne, Mike and Bailey — and thanks for uploading your 2013 holiday greetings! Upload photos of your holiday decorations — Tips:

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Comments 51

Readers share their glitter house designs — Uploader is “on” — let’s see yours

Posted by: pam kueber • December 11, 2012

Back when the first Levittown was built, all the little Cape Cod exteriors were pretty cookie-cutter similar. BUT, as soon as homeowners moved into their own little pieces of the American dream, they began customizing the exteriors — so pretty soon, no two houses looked alike. Well, the same thing has been going on with our mid century modern glitter house designs: Ever since my first retro putz house pattern was posted, I’ve been getting emails with pictures of the awesome, personalized houses that you — the busy bee readers of Retro Renovation — have been busy constructing. For example, above, Sandi used our pattern to create a Hanukkah house — complete with tiny menorah. (Don’t call these “putz” houses, though, because the word means something altogether different in Yiddish.) Happy Hanukkah, Sandi, and to all our readers who are celebrating this holiday through December 16!