If you follow me on Pinterest you may have noticed that I have been pinning pictures of Christmas garland like crazy. Here is the story of So, I Might Have Yelled At Some Christmas Garland.
So, I Might Have Yelled At Some Christmas Garland
Garlands that would finally make use of the 1000 vintage holiday ornaments I have been hoarding.
Garland for the kitchen.
Masculine garlands for Sweet Guy.
Felt daisy garlands for the Fashionista.
Garlands that make me wish I had a banister.
We won’t be able to have a tree this year as I mentioned in an earlier post. So my plan was to take garland I had on hand and drape it around each persons bedroom door, the kitchen, the living room, etc. and customize it. It was going to be GREAT! I was making the best of it. The universe would have to be by my side.
So why was I yelling at garland?
I had started in Sweet Guy’s room. As the youngest, he still really delights in Christmas décor.
I followed all the garland hanging (draping?) rules.
To protect the walls I used command strips. I had washed the walls to make sure there was no dust and I even let the hooks hang overnight before adding any weight to them.
Just like the package said.
I took the time to unbend and position each branch and wrap the lights around in a perfect garland to light ratio.
I made an awesome paper garland and attached it. Then, I began to hang all of his favorite ornaments.
I stopped to go to church and returned to this:
So I added another hook and added some more ornaments. Then the other side fell down.
Earlier today I came home and the entire garland was on the floor. One precious ornament was smashed to smithereens.
There were WORDS. Words were spoken
A lot of words were inflicted on that poor innocent garland.
I then read the packaging on the command strips. Apply to SMOOTH WALLS.
Look closely at my walls my friends. You will find these rough, bumpy “textured” walls in every single room in my house. As a matter of fact, you will find these walls in every single house in Arizona.
More WORDS!
Then came the hammer and some nails.
I am having garland, oh yes I am. Lots of garlands.
Stay tuned,
Laura
I hear you! Nothing worse than having decs come crashing down. And when ornaments get smashed…it's OK to use as many words as you have in your vocabulary. Some you can even use with exclamation marks!
I use cuphooks, screwed in discretely, at the top of door and window casings or even from the bottoms of some window sills. Some get left there from year to year. No body has ever entered a room in my house and exclaimed, 'Why do you have cuphooks all over the place?' Either I have very polite guests or they never notice them. I think they don't notice…
Now, I have to leave you to go clean up crack fill dust and try to find my sanity!
Hope your garland behaves for you! 🙂
Ugh! How frustrating!!!! We always use the good old hammer and nails … and then Spackle after the holidays! LOL!!
I can feel your “pain”.
I really like the garland idea.
(I'm going to try this cause we won't have a tree either.)
Don't give up!
I remember those walls – we had them in Southern California. I was glad to get back to smooth walls in the midwest. I am sure your garlands will be beautiful when you are done!
Don't you just hate these walls. I love your garland though, it looks fabulous. Hugs, Marty
I'm sorry your garland fell down and your beautiful ornament broke. A few years ago we had to go without a tree, and it was sad. Though I did set up something small and festive for my child.
Those garlands are all beautiful inspirations.
You know what else doesn't work? Sticky hooks… I think it is too hot for those to work.
I love my walls, but they are old and textured plaster. My mother forgot about the kind of walls they have in the west, and when she visited she commented how pretty mine were compared to her flat plaster.
Garland can be a pain to put over doors. Put some nails up high and twist some green floral wire around them and through the garland. I learned to stabilize trees, too, when one fell on top of me. Fortunately I had the phone in my hand and could call Mr. Magpie to come to the rescue. We only lost a few ornaments, but it was a few too many. And as I recall, there were WORDS then, too. The funny part was he had a partners meeting at his law firm, and he had to tell them why he was leaving. When he answered the phone as I interrupted him he was like, “What is Where???” A wee bit embarrassing, but it was a good catch, at least! 😉
Grrr… I don't like these textured walls we have here in AZ – I grew up with smooth walls in KS, why can't we have smooth walls here? My SIL's dad (here in Phx) is re-doing their guest bath and he's going to have smooth walls! I wonder if he'd come re-do my entire house… (Any update on your future plans? I'm praying!)
Garland is beautiful, but can be a nightmare. This year my mom and my 6 year old helped with the garlands. My mom was great, my daughter – well she only broke a few ornaments. It looks beautiful though!
Wowza! That garland with all the ornaments has me swooning. I am tired of dragging trees around. Would garland be any easier??? 😀 Great ideas. Thanks for sharing them this week while I'm still tweaking.
pam
I had a little trouble with command strips recently too. I wiped area with rubbing alcohol and still had a few that just would not stick. Go figure.;)
Ha! Laura those garlands were not going to win!! PS I am not thrilled with command strips myself!
xoxo
Karena
The Arts by Karena
So many wonderful inspirations Laura!!!!
So many wonderful inspirations Laura!!!!
You go girl! Hang that garland however you have too! Just catching up on your blog – so sorry for the stress you are going through with your hubby's job – but so thankful you have faith in our Savior to carry you through!
To get a good laugh right now, (I think you need one) watch the Eloise at Christmas movie with Julie Andrews. Count how many times her garland falls down! It will make you feel better. I live in CA and have textured walls too but I have had the Command hooks fail on smooth walls so it's not just your walls.:-(
To get a good laugh right now, (I think you need one) watch the Eloise at Christmas movie with Julie Andrews. Count how many times her garland falls down! It will make you feel better. I live in CA and have textured walls too but I have had the Command hooks fail on smooth walls so it's not just your walls.:-(
Laura, those things are useless! LOL And I have to tell you they don't work on smooth surfaces either, believe me, I had a few broken items last year. Your garland is beautiful!
I know your son will enjoy it.
A woman does what she must. You go, garland girl!
Happy highways,
Kelley~
So happy to have found you! I have a dozen garlands around my home and nails are the best bet! so sorry for your disappointment, but hope the rest goes up easily! Happy Holidays! xo Nancy
I've never been able to get those strips to work, smooth walls or no. My sister did get them to stick but they peeled paint off when she took them down. I guess I was the lucky one!
ugh, so frustrating. {and you are forgiven for the words, my friend!!} Loving your garland. I love nails, I do. Those little holes they leave? not so much. But really, a good nail takes the place of ten hooks!
xoxo Lidy@http://frenchgardenhouse.com/blog/