Gift Box Decor Repurpose

Here is a close-up of the green shelf floor flanking decor:

 

This area is always a challenge each year to decorate.  It has to be something with height and fairly symmetrical.  The idea of large wrapped presents came to me and seemed like a good solution but I didn't have any spare boxes or so I thought....

Wait a minute!  I sure do!

I wrapped all the boxes that the original vintage Christmas decor comes in!  I even did it in a way that the boxes can be accessed to put away their original contents without ripping off the paper. As long as the wrapping paper doesn't get scuffed up in storage I can reuse them again next year!

Holiday Front Door Decor

I went "wild with allspice" on our front stoop this year for the holidays.

 Usually it's just the lights, a wreath, the styrofoam Santa head wedged into the round rack, and a holiday ribbon scarf on the porch spider.

This year I made the spider (who really needs a name...) a Santa hat, a nailed up a tray on the wall, put up some garland, put big blow mold Santa outside, and added several new pieces.  The little silver trees were from Dirt Cheap, only one buck each so I bought 6.  With the new addition of the melted popcorn snowmen I added my Santa one I already had to the set.  Next year I think I may add some decorations to the mini trees, a pair of somethings to the round rack next to Santa, and something to the bottom section of the door.  Just thinking out loud...planning and scheming...Griswold with a little Cousin Eddie styling is always the goal.

Christmas Tree Cake

I made this here cute Christmas tree sheet pan cake for us this week ( template here).

 I didn't use the recipe given by Country Living.  I didn't even realize they had a recipe until I was setting up the link back for this post.  I just came across the image as inspiration on pinterest and did my own thing.  The weird thing about this cake is it's baked on a cookie sheet, kinda like a jelly roll.  I looked through my Betty Crocker 1956 Picture Cook book and decided to use the following recipe for Dinette Cake since it sounded like it would be a small and it turned out to be the exact amount needed for the 13x9 inch pan:

And of course it was good...it's cake!

4 PC. Holiday Bath Ensemble Ad

I bought this neat 4 pc holiday bath ensemble at an estate sale back in 2017.

I just found the ad listing for it!

It was from a catalog called Greenland Studios 1969.

{image source}

For the long neglected "Johnny room"?  I have never heard it called that.  Maybe that's like The John but the kid's bathroom? "Listen for the hilarious reaction."  I used to have another vintage toilet seat cover that had Santa on the lid saying "Ho Ho Ho!" but when the lid was lifted and the user saw the under side it had Santa holding his nose saying "No No No!".  Now, that always got a reaction!  I unfortunately got rid of that cover years ago because it was too small for the lid in the next house I lived in...I mean what a doofus thing to do!  I could have hung it up on the wall in the bathroom as decor....

The website I found this ad on has more scans of items for sale and they are some kooky doodads.  Perfect for the person who has everything, because there's no way they have a Schnozzle warmer or a live sea monkey in an aquarium necklace.

Check it all out at Flashbak.

 

2021 Holly Boy Sightings

Last year I told you all about The Holly Boy . (Seen above is my DIYed version.)  He is a wreath turned boy turned holiday emotional support elf for a little overthinking kid named Linda in a story from 1955.  The marketers really tried to get him into the legends group (Santa, Frosty, Rudolph) but he just didn't have what it took I guess.  There was apparently a song, a story book, a figurine, and other paraphernalia on the shelves to get him out in the public.  "Merch" as the kids call it.  It's this merch that I like to try to uncover out in internet land.  I didn't seek out holly boy too much this year but still had a few sightings on ebay.

I found this set of drinking glasses for 25 bucks:

(Right now on ebay is another set of glasses with paper coasters going for 87.50...down from 250.00)

I found this set of "Snack mats":

I can't remember the price that was being asked, 12 bucks feels about right though.

 

{Here is the back of the box with cute mid mod graphics!}

I also came across one of the original story books (15 bucks) but didn't save a pic.

 I see alot of these items being tagged "Made in England".  I'm thinking that after Holly Boy didn't make a splash in the states they shipped him overseas for a go.  For all I know maybe he has a following over there...

Mystik Christmas Home Decorations

{New Xmas stuffs 2021}

Mr. Husband got this little vintage craft idea booklet for me for Christmas last year.  I freaking LOVE it!

It show a multitude of different designs one could do using Mystik brand tape.  The ideas can still be done using other tapes, construction paper or party streamers in modern times

I scanned all of the pages as a Christmas gift to you all!

Enjoy!

Christmas Ideas from Gulf Service Station

{New Xmas Stuffs 2021}

Mr. Husband got this little vintage Christmas craft booklet from Gulf Service Station for me for Christmas last year.  I LOVE this kind of stuff.  Little papery booklets with vintage graphics and/or crafty stuff.

I scanned all the good ideas here for you to enjoy!

Of course the wrapped carton of cigarettes with a cigarette studded bow is my favorite!

Remember our nicotine themed holiday from 2014?

Light up the Holidays 

Smoke Ring Wreath

 

Cutesy Deeries

 {New Xmas Stuffs 2021}

I can't get enough of the cuteness that is this set of retro metal deer yard stakes.  I just don't find very many retro items that get it right but this reindeer line at Joann is most precious.  And yeah, I did cough up 20 bucks....each for them.  I know.... That's like my entire thrifting budget for the year!  But I haven't been out a'thrifting too much for the past 20 months and I am counting them as a Christmas gift. They measure 2 feet tall and 1 foot wide.  I can play mind games with myself and think I got them on "sale", since they were originally 40 bucks each, but we know how sales work at Joanns... There are several other items featuring these cuties...wrapping paper, paper plates, tins, storage boxes, a stocking, dish towel, and small unfinished wood crafting plaques.  

The bows on their necks are separate pieces of metal that are attached by tabs... Could be removed and replaced with bows or fabric bandanas representing other seasons of the year....these darlings are too sweet to not be enjoyed all year.

Melted Popcorn Snowman

 {New Xmas stuffs 2021}

I found this cute set of vintage melted plastic/popcorn snowmen at the thrift for 2 bucks each.

Christmas Pixie chimes

{New Xmas stuffs 2021}

I found this dusty and kinda decrepit pixie chimes at the thrift for a buck.

 

Santa Felt Christmas Card holder

 {New Xmas stuffs 2021}

I found this at the thrift during the summer at their "Christmas in July" sale.  Gave a buck for it.

Season's Greetings glass dish

 {New Xmas stuffs 2021}

Mr. Husband found this at an estate sale for two dollars.

Season's Greeting coin bank

 

{New Xmas stuffs 2021}

Mr. Husband got this vintage little paper promotional coin saver for me for Christmas last year.

Santa Claus Conquers the Martians comic book

 {New Xmas stuffs 2021}

Mr. Husband got this for me for Christmas last year.  It is dated 1966 but the movie came out in 1964...I guess that's just shows it's a "Movie Classsic"!

See our themed Christmas from 2016:

Santa Claus Conquers the Martians Christmas Tree

Merry Christmas from Mars Fam Photo

Wreaths on Mars

Santa Claus Conquers the Martians props

Hoooray for lobby cards (SCCTM card)

Santa and his reindeer posse

{New Christmas Stuffs 2021}

 This was something that I inherited from my mom.  I didn't even know she had it until going through her stuff.  She apparently bought it off of eBay in 2014 and paid waaaaay the hell too much for it.  It's made of plastic and measures about 6 feet wide.  I found it in a bag and I don't think she ever set it up.  It also has a strand of white bulb lights and reflectors but I took them off (or they fell off)  to take the photo.  It was originally meant to be an outside decor item and has some plastic tabs that you can jab in the ground.  Since it's vintage I wouldn't put it out in the elements now though.  When I came across it there was a paper attached which was a printout of part of the original eBay listing and that's how I learned that she paid.....100 bucks!!!!! (not including shipping)!!!!!! for this.  I wouldn't have paid more than 10.  There are numerous spots of glued back on broken parts and it was absolutely filthy. 

In truth, the style and look of it isn't my thing.  It's not cutesy enough, also it's really bulky to store so I may be looking for it a new loving home in the future.

Holt Howard Santa pitcher and mug set

 {New Xmas stuffs 2021}

I inherited this vintage 1960 Holt Howard ceramic Santa pitcher and mugs from my mom.  Unlike me who likes to collect vintage crap, my mom had started collecting vintage decent stuff over the past few years.  She really was digging Holt Howard and I inherited her pieces.

People must have had less thirst back in 1960.  The pitcher may hold a liter and the mugs are just big enough for 2 swigs.  Maybe it's meant to serve hard, super hard, liquor in, (homemade hooch?).  Something that's got to be sipped over the course of a hour or you just may find yourself waking up the next day 3 states away wearing a purple body leotard in a gas station phone booth.

Colortone Color Wheel

 

{New Xmas Stuffs 2021}

I inherited this color wheel from my mom.  She used it with her aluminum tree I had given to her as shown in yesterday's post.  She got it off of ebay and I'm not sure what she paid for it.  I have 2 other color wheels (one she bought for me) and this one is super silent and smooth running.   

Pom Pom Aluminum Christmas Tree

 

{New Xmas Stuffs 2021}

Kicking off the new stuffs for this holiday season is this tree.

I inherited this 4 1/2 foot aluminum tree from my mom.  It actually was originally mine and I gave it to her.  I found it at an out of the way small little thrift store back in 2000 on the floor under a dusty dark shelf that was blocked by some crap.  I looked down and saw part of the box.  I thought surely that's not what I think it is...  Ok, it's a Pom Pom box but it's just going to be full of crumpled Christmas bows...but it was a glorious-all branches there- and even the stand- aluminum Christmas Tree!   I was so excited over my find but I had to keep a calm demeanor when I brought it to the checker and asked the price...5 dollars!

My mom promptly proceeded to talk it away from me and into her house!  She had gotten me a 4 foot aluminum tree in 1999 which I put up every year.  Now we each had one.  Aluminum Christmas trees were kinda "our thing" that we enjoyed together.  We loved to visit the Aluminum Christmas Tree Museum in NC together and even showcased our themed ornaments on three of the trees for a couple of years (2015 and 2016).  

Here are the shiny past posts:

Aluminum Christmas Tree Museum (ATOM) 2005

ATOM 2015 (our trees in showcase room)

ATOM 2015 Andy Griffith Show themed Tree

ATOM 2015 Deck the Halls with Buddy Holly Themed Tree

ATOM 2015 It's a Wonderful Life themed Tree

Hope for Peace and Calm

 

Thank you for the kind and heartfelt words from my previous post about my burned meatball cookies aka life.  It is always my goal to have MHICty be someplace that brings people a laugh or some sort of enjoyment.  I, myself, feel like Clara Edwards, seeing my blog like her scrapbook:  

You don't paste sadness into it.  However I am going to tell some of my personal sorrow because there isn't an easy way for me to move forward into Christmas without sharing.  My mom passed away this past year.  Christmas was our holiday.  We both loved vintage Christmas stuff and really loved doing themed Christmas trees together.  We loved to plan out what could be an ornament and what we could use.  Last year's tree was the last theme that she and I discussed.  I haven't had the emotion to come up with a theme for this year.  I did minimal for Halloween and then a bit more for Thanksgiving.  I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about Christmas and decorating for this season.  I decided to just pull out the Christmas bins and take a look.  I have had a lot of these items for over 20 years and in that moment I felt a bit of joy and nostalgia in my life so I am now working on doing full fledged hall decking.  I am like Clara Edwards again, I try so hard every year to improve from last season.   I inherited most all of my mom's Christmas items and I felt it would be a happy and positive thing to share them on here as part of my "New Christmas Stuffs" that I typically do at the start of each holiday season.  Those posts will be up post haste.
During the duration I'll be working on the decor, going "wild with allspice"!

{Andy Griffith was also one of mine and my mom's things too.  Here we are at Andy Griffith's homestead in 2016}