Readers submitted 375 photos of their vintage Christmas decorations via last weekend’s uploader. There was so much deliciousness! It was a crazy difficult task, but I set out to choose 10 12 photos to spotlight TGIF today. AND, I put the uploader is ON again (now closed), so there are 200+ more photos to ogle. My own personal favorite photo from last weekend’s uploader, above: Bethany was able to literally capture the sparkle of an aluminum Christmas tree in the sun — yowza, nicely done — saying:
New (old) aluminum tree from ebay casting hundreds of light rays around my front room.
Above: Woah, ya gotta have a big living room to prep this one Merry Christmas sign. Lynne and Bob say:
Getting things ready for the yard display!
Above: Lots of folks marveled at the garland that Stacia made — what a creative idea! She explained:
Garland made from damaged vintage ornament boxes and vintage mercury glass beads. Stacia
For a project like this, using a paper punch (affiliate link) is goign to make your life a whole lot easier.
Above: You know how I love me my pine cone elves. I made a condo for mine. This reader cleverly put theirs on a cake stand:
My little elves! L. Gabriel
Above: Christy gets props for transforming her living room into a vintage Christmas wonderland. This is just one photo. She says:
Merry Christmas! Christy
Merry Christmas back at you, Christy, you certainly brightened mine!
Above: Don’t want to hot-glue-gun your precious vintage ornaments into a wreath? Nathan hangs his from some sort of vertical grid:
Vintage Shiny Brites suspended overhead. Tavern Gurley candles in background. Nathan Anderson
Above: Try making one of our Putz house patterns. Then, you’ll have the basic how-to to figure out how to make a Putz house based on your own home. Mystery reader did, saying:
Putz House modeled after our home!
Above: Golly I love this vignette. Lucia says:
MCM Storybook Ranch light-up house and candle hugger creations.
Above: Gotta lotta one type of thing? Stacy N. show us how to make the most of displaying them: “Mass” them (rather than scattering all around) for best effect. Nicely done, StacyN!
Above: Mystery reader has a ginormous snowman and Santa covering two outside windows. They must come from a former retail operation. This makes me so envious. Me. Need.
We didn’t get too many room shots (they are hard to get, don’t you think?) This one: Just lovely. Kristy H. says:
View of our living & dining room festiveness. I made the Joy and Peace felt banners this summer so I would have them ready in time! Kristy H.
Don’g forget to change out the record covers showing in your record cover displays. (See our story, 22 ways to frame your LP covers.) Peter in NJ says:
Since I missed the upload window last year, here’s a bit of my mid-century modern inspired decor from Christmas 2015. First up, a makeshift mantel with some vintage, storebought, and handmade knick knacks. Oh yeah, and some awesome vintage LPs, too!
Carol says
Ellen Bloom, “Abstract Painting Here” over the sofa. So clever, I’m still snickering.
pam kueber says
Yes, I loved that, too!
StacyN says
Thank you so much for choosing my Santa display for this post. It is always a favorite of friends and family. I especially enjoy it because half of the Santas came from my childhood–grandmas’ and my mom’s. Every year when I unwrap them from their tissue it is like getting a little hug.
Thanks again, Pam. I am a longtime reader/subscriber and love the blog so much. I can look around my home and see so many things inspired by posts I saw on RR.
pam kueber says
xoxo
Kristy H. says
Pam, thanks for featuring my room picture! They ARE difficult to take – I had to stand at a weird angle peeking around my fireplace to get the shot!
There were so many great pictures on the uploader, I just love seeing how everyone decorates and it is great to get new ideas. It’s funny, I got one little elf pine cone guy on skiis this summer at a thrift store, and I had never seen any before, I was surprised to see so many featured on the uploader! I guess I just never noticed them before.
Thanks so much for doing these features and letting us all share.
pam kueber says
I found four vintage ones — very old, I think — at an estate sale yesterday! WOOOOOOT!
Jamie says
Kristy: Can you share a link to the patterns for your felt banners? They are beautiful!
My house is feeling a bit meh this Christmas — we’ve been busy and stressed. And seeing your banners makes me want to dig out the felt madonna my mom made years ago and find a home for it this holiday season. Can’t wait to get home from work to do that!
Have a beautiful holiday!
Kristy H. says
Hi Jamie-
Sorry, there is no link to the patterns, I designed them myself.
I hope you post a picture of your felt Madonna – I would love to see it!
Lucia Henry says
Hi Pam!
I am the “mystery reader” with the Storybook Ranch Putz house and the Candle Hugger creations! I discovered your blog this fall searching for the perfect mid-century house to reproduce for my kitchen window vignette. Thanks for your inspirational blog!!
pam kueber says
xoxo LOVE IT!
Bethany Whitlock says
Pam! Thanks so much for sharing the photo of my tree with all of the light rays 🙂 I am a huge fan of your blog and have loved following everyone’s christmas decor.
Keep up the wonderful posts.
pam kueber says
Beautiful photo!!!! Thank YOU!
Mary says
It looks like it’s snowing in your living room! Also love your round chair.
Retro Astro says
I love this album of holiday mid century decor. Thank you for encouraging us to share.
Eliza says
I have those musical pinecone elves!!!! They are posted on our fireplace mantle for Christmas this year.
Rickie says
Pixies going camping is fabulous!
Markie says
Thank you- love my crazy pixies!
Lynne says
Hey! Those are my big Merry Christmas letters! I have been trying to get a night picture of them out in the yard. They all come out in a blur. Is there a trick to nighttime photos??
Yes, my living room IS HUGE! It’s like vacuuming a football field!
Carolyn says
Lynne, I’ve got a point&shoot camera and it recommends attaching your camera to a tripod to prevent motion blurs. It has to do with a longer exposure.
If you’ve got steady hands, hold the camera in place for like 15-20 seconds after you press the button. Or put the camera on a steady surface, line up your shot, and press the button (you don’t have to hold it down, just click.)
There may also be a special app on your camera – mine’s a Kodak C813 and I dial it to SCN (Scene) and choose from options. That’s what I used for that shot of the Reader’s Digest Condensed Book on the first uploader and the candles with angels to get the candles’ glow.
Lynne says
Thank you Carolyn. I’ll see what I can do. I am also thinking I may try before its totally dark outside.
Carolyn says
Pam, when have you scheduled your break for those of us that RR is our daily ray of sunshine? (And we can ration our viewing the uploader offerings to a few a day.)
pam kueber says
I’ll be taking the week off between Christmas and New Years!