Tiny Personalized Holiday Decor Gift

This tiny holiday scene is an easy personalized gift. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

Tiny Personalized Holiday Decor Gift

This is as close to holiday decorating in a box as I can make it. A friend moved into her first house earlier this year. She wasn’t sure she would have time to put up any holiday decorations so I thought about how I could help her have a little taste of the holidays. I was going to send her our Happy Holidays Cardinal Lap Quilt then remembered she doesn’t have a lot of room so I came up with this tiny personalized holiday decor gift.

I started with a tiny artificial tree, tiny garland and a set of small dog ornaments from our local hobby shop.

If you don’t have a hobby shop you can find tiny trees at any big box store. If you can’t find the traditional garland in a small size, the tiny Christmas tree garland can be anything from a small ribbon to a tiny necklace chain.

I added a few tiny cookie ornaments from my own tiny tree.

The dog ornament at the top has her dog’s name written on the back of the ornament.

Tiny artificial Christmas tree with dog ornaments. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

So that she can finish decorating the tree, four cat ornaments with personalized cat names on the back are in a tiny gift box.

Cat ornaments in a box so she can add them. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

I picked up a cute Santa at the fireplace photo frame at a local thrift shop and repainted it with more primary colors. The original frame had a pink Santa Claus, pink Christmas stocking and hard to distinguish books on the mantle top.

A little paint to brighten the frame and a personalized photo now makes this fireplace ready to place next to the tiny tree.

Repainted fireplace photo frame. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)

When I was looking for a gift box, I found the little dog ornament that barks “jingle bells” so I had to add that, even if it is not to scale.

Now she can either use this in her home or take it to the office to decorate her desk. Or she can take the singing dog toy to the office and keep the tree and fireplace mantle at home and she will be all set for Christmas!

Can you think of anyone on your gift list who could use a tiny holiday decor gift?

Charlotte

Make Your Own Fireplace Mantle Village

Fireplace mantle villages can be made with a collection of mis-matched but complimentary items.

Make Your Own Fireplace Mantle Village

For years, these were very popular holiday decor items. They could be purchased at major department stores, with new homes or business being released every year.

Mom and I collected a number on sale after Christmas and sent them next year to my brothers for their model train layouts. 

I thought about getting a set for myself but never got around to it. 

Then one year, I was given a couple of little gifts - literally - that inspired me to make my own little fireplace mantle village. Since cats are part of our family, the little mice family seemed like a natural addition to hang around the sleeping cat stocking hangar.

Another year, the little snowman gardener joined the snowman stocking hangar. As with most suggestions for decorating, start with a focal point and go from there. Each of these little fireplace mantle scenes have a little cardboard house that anchors them.

A collection of gift snowmen now have their own little corner in my fireplace mantle village.

The little village scene changes from year to year. Christmas cards get added in the back to add dimension and to be a memory marker of friends who have been part of our lives.

You can start by combining what you have and see if you can start your own little vignettes. If not, keep it in mind through the year as you treasure hunt antique malls and yard sales. The best time to buy Christmas decorations and decor is in the summer.

I refurbished this nutcracker by gluing missing parts and adding a bluebird on empty wheels.

Too much trouble? Have something special you already particularly like or holiday traditions you like to follow?

Start with that, or with a stocking holder, and look for things that can create a scene around them. Doesn't have to be complicated, this little Santa nutcraker got repaired and added to a fireplace mantle corner with a rocking horse stocking holder.

There were only wheels left for whatever vehicle Santa had but I took care of that by adding a bluebird. Looks very personal now, doesn't it, as if it was made just for me...

Charlotte