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Guest post: DIY Christmas Tree


I am happy to jump in here at My Scandinavian Home this second Sunday of Advent. My name is Mette and my blog is called Make-Living which has a DIY focus.
This Christmas tree DIY idea came to me when I saw a picture of a similar one over at Tierlantijn but couldn't order it. It's similar to the one in shown in a Christmas post last year here on MSH and that has been doing the rounds on Pinterest. I Hope this little Christmas DIY inspires you too! :)
 








This Christmas tree is quite neat. You can make it as big as you like, and can have it both indoors and outdoors. And the best thing is that it lights up any dark space at home without needles all over the floor…..And you can use it year after year!!!   

What you need:
  • One wood panel approximately 7 cm wide for the tree trunk, which you can make as tall as you like ( mine is about 1 meter)
  • A number of 7 cm wide wood panels for the branches (I have used 7). Cut the branches in staggered lengths so that they form the shape of the tree you would like. I made a triangular template in the shape I wanted and then cut the branches accrording to this.
  • Nail the branches onto the trunk at an approximate distance of 5 - 7 cm
  • I used a special grey wood stain (not paint) to give the wood an old touch

All photographs Make Living

How about you? Do you have any plans for Christmas DIY that you'd like to share with My Scandinavian Home and Make-Living? I'd love to hear your ideas.

PS. Thank you my lovely man for helping me put this Christmas tree together and thank you Niki for letting me share my Christmas DIY here on My Scandinavian Home.

Happy 2nd Sunday of Advent to you all!

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The Tale of Anna Truelsen's Swedish Home at Christmas

It wouldn't be Jul (Christmas) without sharing the charming home of Swedish interior stylist Anna Truelsen, right? And this year it's as cosy and festive as can be! I caught up briefly with Anna to find out more about what Christmas means to her and her ethos behind the yuletide touches in her country home! 

What does Christmas mean to you?
Christmas means so much to me! I like to decorate in a simple way using what nature has to offer. I dress up chandeliers with lingonberry twigs and make garlands from fresh pine. 

When do you bring in the Christmas tree? 
We put up the tree on 1st December, and then a few days before Christmas when my daughter comes home from Lund University, we decorate the tree in a Nutcracker theme. We have watched the Nutcracker every Christmas together since my daughter was a child. 

Your Christmas table looks beautiful!
For me, food means a lot at Christmas and I love picking herring and baking bread. 

How do you celebrate Christmas? 
We always celebrate on Christmas Eve at home. We start with a special breakfast and sip coffee before 'Tomten' (Father Christmas) arrives to hand out presents. And then we enjoy a a 'Julbord' (Christmas smörgÃ¥sbord) in the evening. The day ends with midnight mass at the church. 

I love the sound of your Christmas Anna, thank you so much for sharing your story with us!

You can see more pictures from Anna's home on her instagram, and also see a tour from a previous December here

I have to say, I love the idea of having decorations from the Nutcracker, how about you? My Mother used to take me to see the ballet every Christmas when I was little! 

How do you decorate your tree (if you have one / celebrate Christmas)? Do you a have a theme? or perhaps your tree is decorated with an array of nostalgic items collected over the years. I'd love to hear more!  

Today in Sweden is a very special day - it's Lucia! A celebration of light which brightens up the darkness, Lucia involves girls in white with a bright red sash and crowned with candles, followed by a procession of characters who are equally resplendent! Usually performed by children in schools across the country, we're treated to songs, saffron buns and glögg (spiced mulled wine)! It's one of my favourite events of the year! 

Happy Lucia!

Niki

Photography: Jonas Lundberg
Styling: Anna Truelsen
Shared with kind permission

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My home: Christmas tree

I hope you had a lovely weekend! Here in Sweden we were in for a treat - SNOW! According to tradition my little family and I went out to a sustainable forest and chopped down our own tree which we celebrated with glögg and hot chocolate (it was minus 5 after all BRRRRR!). Here are a few pictures of our shiny new Christmas tree!




 

Photographs: My Scandinavian Home

Altogether now 'Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree, how lovely are your branches....!´:) Notice how much our tree is leaning in the photo with my little girls in their PJ's! TIMBER!

What did you get up to this weekend? Did you celebrate the first day of advent or are you not quite there yet with the festive season?!

PPS Don't foget to enter the Christmas GIVE-AWAY! :)

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42

A Beautiful Copenhagen Home Full of Festive Cheer!

Christmas is a time for visiting old friends. And I feel we're doing exactly that today. You might remember earlier this year I took you on a tour of Mette Helena Rasmussen's art-filled Danish home. The date was 13th January - which marks the final day for taking down Christmas decorations in Scandinavian calendar, - and her home was looking fresh and ready for the year ahead. Today, I thought it would be fun to revisit her home and see what it looks like all decorated for Christmas, after all, the Danes have such a wonderful sense of style! And boy, is it full of festival cheer! Think figurines perched on picture frames, little decorations hung on the wall, stars, candles, red berries, and a big tree festooned with pretty pieces. And best of all, many of the pieces were bought second-hand. Welcome to Mette Helena's home in Amager, Copenhagen which she shares with her two children. 

Paper stars are a popular choice in Scandinavia - and you can choose to leave them plain or add a lightbulb so they glow at night.

This brown paper star* is similar. 

Potted evergreens on the balcony help to add that touch of greenery we're missing at this time of year. Throw in a sheepskin*, blanket* and even some fairy lights and you'll create a a really 'hyggeligt' spot! 
Simple pinecones on each place setting add a warm earthy touch to the Christmas table, while mix and match chairs and a subtly creased white linen tablecloth* help to add a relaxed touch. 

Mini trees with one or two simple decorations help to add a festive touch to different areas of the home - or if you live small, are an ideal solution! Look closely at the side table and pictures frames and you'll see subtle touches everywhere. 

I can imagine finding 'forgotten' decorations until March - it usually happens in my home right after someone has clambered into the loft. Do you find this too? 
How pretty is this Christmas tree? I love that no two decorations are alike. 
Much of what this home so cosy at Christmas is the details. And this homemade garland above the door is exactly what I'm talking about. hearts, bells, candy cane and toadstools all play a part in the Scandinavian Christmas scene! 

In the children's bedroom a white jewellery holder has been used as a makeshift Christmas tree. I also spy homemade paper Christmas stars. My children used to make these at nursery school and we still hang them on our tree each year. 
Who says decorations need to be hung? Coloured baubles look equally pretty in a tray by the bed (or on plats or the windowsill as seen in this Swedish Christmas post). 

All in all, one truly inspiring Christmassy home. 

It makes we want to go all out on the detail this year, how about you? 

Is there anything that stood out to you? 

See more of Metta Helena's home and check out her shop Retro Villa

You might also like to check out these posts for plenty more Danish Christmas cheer!


Have a great start to the week, stay warm! 

Niki

Photography Tia Borgsmidt 

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Trend Alert: 5 Holly Jolly Christmas Danish Homes


Colours have been creeping into danish homes for a while now - so it makes sense that the Danish Christmas should be bursting with colour too. This is nothing new of course. Danes have been using their vibrant red and white flag as a tree decoration for hundreds of years. But there's something a little different about this Christmas - and it's all about the chintz! Think branches dripping with hand painted baubles in a riot of fuchsia, turquoise, silver and gold and green, and fun shaped ornaments featuring toadstools, snowmen, paper flowers and even avocados and skulls! Bright coloured candles with a twist (literally) and light up the darkness and there's glitter, plenty of glitter. Oh, and there's something else you should know, tinsel is back too. Naturally, the Danes carry it off beautifully with their innate sense of style, the bright colours popping against a backdrop of white, earthy pink and blue. Ready to feel inspired by a holly jolly Christmas - Danish style? Here are 5 homes that have captured my heart (snapped by Another Studio). 


1. Louise over at Mor Till Mernee is never one to shy away from colour in her home (albeit in a wonderful subtle way) - and her beautiful tree, covered in toadstools, snowman, hearts, baubles and the Danish flag, is a fine example! 


2. The Danish home of @papirkalas, purveyor of paper rosette garlands, is full of Christmas cheer. Think tinsel and alder tree branches adorned with shiny hand painted baubles, toadstools, bells and paper flowers in a riot of colours - against a serene white backdrop. 


Candle carousels have been popular in Scandinavia since World War II. Artilleriet sells a similar musical candle ornament with chiming bells! 






There's the tinsel folks. And in true Danish style, it looks fab!

Check out the finer details of her baubles and you'll spot hand painted glittery details too. 




3. In Sofie Boisen's early 20th century home it's colours a go-go with bright red candles, pastel coloured tree ornaments and a sprig of mistletoe against a dusty pink and blue backdrop. 

Whoever said all Scandinavians are minimalists?




Colourful glassware, Hay twist candles and a timeless Skultuna candleholder help the Christmas table to shine. 


4. Ida (@midtimeller) has gone for a Christmas tree with twist in her lovely danish home. These trees are not to everyone's taste, but there's something about the imperfection that intrigues me - plus they're perfect for small spaces. This one is looking resplendent with its bright coloured ornaments that catch the light. 



It wouldn't be Christmas without a wreath hanging from a glass cabinet door (see Helen's home) and I love Ida's tiny candle wreath!


5. In Tove's apartment in Frederiksborg, Copenhagen it's all about the pastels (check out her pale blue floor!) - and the tree is full of turquoise, fuchsia, yellow and pink touches. 

I love the casually draped stars too! 



Zoom in on Sofie's advent candle below and you'll spy a fabulous array of Christmas ornaments including avocado, rainbow and even a skull! 

What do you reckon? Could you imagine adding a little chintz to your home this Christmas? 

In the words of Burl Ives, it really does bring a 'holly jolly' feel, and when styled like the Danes, it doesn't need to be over the top either. 

I have to say, my kids would love it! They've got their eye on a tin of caviar, glittered unicornspink balloon pup and even a fun French set including a baguette, croissant and bottle of red! I quite fancy a set of the Hay twist candles (for the more daring among us, there's also these glittery candles on clips).

Looking for more Christmas decorating ideas this weekend? 

Check out the Christmas archive - it's full of 'jul' themed home tours, Christmas decorating ideas and cosy log cabins. 

Speaking of which we had a light snow fall in Malmö yesterday, you can imagine our excitement! 

It was perfectly timed with a birthday in the house on Sunday - MINE!!! I'm looking forward to cosying up with family and even doing a little cross-country skiing with friends - wish me luck, I'll need it! 

I hope you have some fun plans for the weekend too - stay warm and cosy! 

Niki  

Photography: Another Studio / @anotherstudio, shared with kind permission. 
First picture from the home of Sidsel Garsdal

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