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A little old-fashioned Christmas charm! Remember

A little old-fashioned Christmas charm!

Remember those gorgeous ribbons I showed you from @spotlightstores? Well, this is what I made with them!

On a road trip to Stanthorpe, my bestie and I spotted some beautiful old-fashioned Christmas paper chain bunting and decided we absolutely needed to make some of our own.

Then I saw my lovely friend Ang @styling.our.home making hers, which gave me even more inspiration!

Traditionally, these Christmas chains were made from paper, but I wanted to make much larger rings, so I decided to use wired ribbon instead. And I'm so pleased with how they turned out! ❤️

They're surprisingly easy to make, so here's a quick tutorial.

How to make your own ribbon Christmas bunting:

1. Cut your wired ribbon into 25cm lengths.
2. Fold over approximately 10mm along one short edge of each piece to create a lovely neat finish.
3. Form your first piece into a ring, overlapping the ends and securing with a hot glue gun.
4. Thread the next piece through the first ring, form another loop and glue the ends together.
5. Continue until your bunting is the length you want, alternating ribbon patterns as you go.

Because I used quite wide wired ribbon, the finished chain was a little tricky to hang from my small hooks. So I added a coordinating narrow, non-wired ribbon to make hanging it easier.

And you know what? I think that extra ribbon added even more charm to the finished bunting!

I love projects like this. They're simple, inexpensive and bring a little personality to your Christmas decorating.

Save this one for a Christmas crafting afternoon! 🎄

#ChristmasDecor #ChristmasDIY #HandmadeChristmas #VintageChristmas #FestiveDecor

There are a few things that are non-negotiable at

There are a few things that are non-negotiable at our Christmas celebrations, and baked ham is definitely one of them! 🎄😂

I serve it at every Christmas gathering we host, and I think there would be an absolute uproar if it didn't make an appearance!

I've been making my ham the same way for years, and it's honestly so easy. No complicated glaze or fancy ingredients, just your favourite jam and a little patience. The secret is in the slow cooking, and the result is absolutely delicious.

And one of my favourite things about cooking a big ham? The leftovers! Ham sandwiches, fritters and all sorts of delicious meals for days afterwards. Anything that gives me a few days off cooking after Christmas is a winner in my book!

I've shared my full recipe, along with all my tips for getting that beautiful sticky ham, over on the blog.

https://ajoyfulordinarylife.com/how-to-make-the-best-baked-christmas-ham-with-jam/

#ChristmasHam #BakedChristmasHam #christmasrecipes🎄 #christmasentertainingmadeeasy #EasyChristmasRecipes

Thankful Thursday Another lovely week filled wit

Thankful Thursday

Another lovely week filled with some of my favourite things — time with family and friends, a little self-care and the beginnings of Christmas magic!

This week I'm grateful for:

1. Haircut day! Is there anything better than walking out of the hairdresser with freshly cut hair? It's the little things that make you feel good!

2. A wonderful day celebrating my bestie's 60th birthday! Delicious food, a beautiful atmosphere, fabulous massages and the very best company. Such a lovely way to celebrate a special milestone;

3. Getting two gym workouts in this week. I'm really enjoying my strength training and feeling grateful that I'm making the time to look after myself.

4. A lovely family brunch, including some precious time with Em and our sweet little Hazel. Family catch-ups are always good for the soul, especially when there are baby cuddles involved! 🥰

5. Making a start on Christmas! I absolutely love this time of year and always look forward to bringing out the decorations. I know some people think it's too early, but I love having everything set up so we can enjoy the twinkling lights and that wonderful festive feeling for as long as possible. Why save all that joy for just a few weeks?

It's been one of those weeks that reminds me how much happiness there is to be found in the everyday moments. A little pampering, time with the people we love and something lovely to look forward to.

I hope you've all had a wonderful week too! Are you someone who loves decorating for Christmas early, or do you prefer to wait until December? I'd love to know! 🎄

#thankfulthursdays❤️ #feelingblessed❤️ #feelingblessed❤️ #gratefuleveryday❤️
#thankfulthursday🙏

Gratitude • Thankful Thursday • Joyful living • Everyday moments • Finding joy in everyday life

From mismatched op shop finds to beautiful brass c

From mismatched op shop finds to beautiful brass candlesticks!

I had my heart set on a collection of brass candlesticks in different heights to run down the centre of my Christmas table. Sounds simple enough!

Well, finding them turned out to be a little harder (and more expensive!) than I expected. 😁

So I decided to get creative and make my own!

I collected a whole lot of mismatched candlesticks from op shops, gave them a little makeover and I’m so happy with how they turned out.

I actually think I love them more because they’re all different. They have that lovely collected-over-time look that I always gravitate towards.

And of course, they’ll be perfect for entertaining long after Christmas is over.

I’ve shared the full DIY tutorial over on the blog if you’d like to try this yourself. ❤️

https://ajoyfulordinarylife.com/two-easy-christmas-table-crafts-for-a-beautiful-festive-tablescape/

Sometimes a little imagination is all you need!

#opshopmakeovers #DIYChristmasDecoration #brasscandlesticks #thriftedhomedecor #christmastablescapes

Happy Monday! 🌿☀️ Another week begins, and I'm ho

Happy Monday! 🌿☀️

Another week begins, and I'm hoping to find a little time amongst all the things on my to-do list to enjoy some of the things I love doing too!

I don't know about you, but I find it very easy to get caught up in everything that needs doing and forget to make time for the little things that make everyday life so lovely.

Whether it's a wander around the garden, a cuppa with a friend or simply pottering around at home, I'm a big believer that it's these ordinary moments that make life special.

Of course, with Christmas getting closer, my to-do list seems to be growing by the minute! 😂

I hope you have a wonderful week ahead, with a little time for something that makes you happy. ❤️

What have you got planned for this week?

#AJoyfulOrdinaryLife #simplejoysoflife❤️ #everydayjoys #simplelivinglifestyle #slowliving_ #findingjoyintheordinary

A little Christmas crafting! There’s something so

A little Christmas crafting!

There’s something so lovely about creating your own Christmas decorations, especially when they’re simple, affordable and add a personal touch to your home.

I gave a plain tablecloth a little festive makeover using Christmas tree stencils and fabric paint, and I just love how it turned out!

The best part? You don’t need to be particularly crafty to give this one a go. I used my Cricut to make the stencils, but you can just as easily use purchased stencils to create your own design.

I love that the trees aren’t all perfectly uniform, it gives the tablecloth that relaxed, handmade charm.

And it’s something I can bring out for Christmas gatherings for years to come! ❤️

I’ve shared the full step-by-step DIY tutorial over on A Joyful Ordinary Life, including everything you’ll need to make your own.

Head to the link in my bio for the full tutorial!

Would you give this Christmas DIY a try?

#christmasdiyideas #christmascrafts🎄#diychristmasdécor #christmastablesettings #handmadechristmas

DIY Christmas tablecloth, Christmas tablecloth ideas, Christmas stencilling, Christmas craft ideas, DIY Christmas decorations, handmade Christmas decor, Christmas table decorating ideas, Christmas tablescape, fabric painting ideas, Cricut Christmas projects, Christmas tree stencil, easy Christmas DIY, budget Christmas decorating, homemade Christmas decorations, festive table styling, Christmas sewing free crafts

Thankful Thursday I'm starting to think about ge

Thankful Thursday

I'm starting to think about getting some Christmas baking underway! I always start with cookies because you can make the dough ahead of time, pop it in the freezer and bake them closer to Christmas. One little job ticked off the list.

Well, it's been a busy one behind the scenes this week! Em and I have been flat out putting the finishing touches on our new Christmas Celebration Box, ready for its launch.

It's been a LOT of work, and there have certainly been some long days, but I've genuinely loved every minute of bringing our little vision to life, and I really hope you all love what we've come up with as much as we do!

Despite all the busyness, there have still been plenty of lovely little moments to be grateful for.

This week I'm thankful for:

1. A wonderful card-making night and sleepover with my bestie. A little creativity and lots of chatting 😂 Such a lovely way to spend time together.

2. Discovering that our favourite little French patisserie, where we get our Sunday croissants, now makes the most delicious macarons! As if I needed another reason to visit!

3. Getting to spend an evening with Em, Mitch and little Hazey over dinner. Nothing fancy, just family time, which is always one of my favourite things. ❤️

4. Spending some time with Dad and taking him for a quick visit to our two favourite girls.

5. Making our very first sale! Thank you Anny ❤️ It's not just about selling a box, it's knowing that something we've created with so much love is going to be part of someone else's Christmas celebrations, that makes me happy😍

It's funny how even in the busiest weeks, there's always something to make you smile if you take a moment to notice it.

I'm heading into the next week feeling excited (and perhaps just a little tired! 😂), but mostly very grateful that I get to spend my days doing things I love, with people I love.

I hope you've all had a wonderful week too. What's something that's made you smile this week? I'd love to hear.

#thankfulthursdays❤️ #feelingblessed❤️ #feelingblessed❤️ #gratefuleveryday❤️
#thankfulthursday🙏

I’m tired, but it’s the kind of tired I’m incredib

I’m tired, but it’s the kind of tired I’m incredibly grateful for. ❤️

Over the past few years, I’ve thrown myself into learning new things, trying new ideas and creating things that bring me so much joy.

Have they all been successful? Not necessarily. Have they all been worth it? Absolutely!

As I approach 60, I’ve come to realise that one of the greatest gifts I’ve given myself is the freedom to try something new without being afraid of failing.

It’s taken me a long time to get here, and it certainly hasn’t always been easy.

But I genuinely believe that everything I’ve tried, every lesson I’ve learnt and every unexpected turn has helped me become the person I am today.

And yes, sometimes I’m exhausted! But there’s something wonderful about being tired because you’ve spent your time doing things that excite and inspire you.

I’ve written a very personal new article on the blog about why I no longer believe in failure and why it’s never too late to change your life.

I’d love you to read it. ❤️

You’ll find the link in my bio.

#failureissuccess #ajoyfulordinarylife #RetirementReflections #ʀᴇᴛɪʀᴇᴍᴇɴᴛᴘʟᴀɴɴɪɴɢ #retiredliving

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