My cold is finally gone!  My energy level is almost back to normal!

Being under the weather has really impacted my decorating schedule….but I FINALLY got the stairways done!

I always love looking at all the ideas for elegant banisters in the magazines…Aren’t these lovely?

 Then reality sets in!

• the decorations have to last through the season…so live greens are not an option!

• We don’t have a way to add lights without extension cords laying across traffic areas….no lights for us!

• We actually hang on to the railings when we go up and down the steps….go figure…so the rail needs to be exposed!

I kind of like how they turned out this year….Read on to see!

Remember the Magnolia leaves on the dining room for Thanksgiving?
The ones I was conditioning in glycerine to use for Christmas?

Well….when they dried out…even in the glycerine, they were UGLY!!!

OMG…I spent 12 dollars on something that I was going to have to throw away….
OR NOT!

I separated all the UGLY leaves….got out some bronze craft paint….and made them pretty again!

Our family room and kitchen are tones of gold and brown…so I stay with that color wave for the Christmas Decor.  It can be elegant or rustic….depending on my MOOD!

I used the glue gun and glued bunches of the bronzed magnolia leaves to a clipping of artificial greenery…twisted that on to the swag going up the banister.

The swag is tied underneath to leave the banister free for a safe hand rail…..

Since burlap is “all the rage”….I used strips of it to make simple bows!