·

Rustic Elegance: A Christmas Tablescape

Rustic Elegance: A Christmas Tablescape by Just a Girl and Her Blog

Believe it or note, I’ve never done a tablescape before. I’ve seen and admired so many gorgeous tablescapes all over blogland, but I have never, until this day, created one myself.

True, I could have done a centerpiece or cute place cards or something like that, but since my “tablescape” on a normal day usually consists of the kids’ plastic plates and spaghetti splattered halfway across the room, I kind of got excited about the idea of doing something fancy.

Plus my mom was  here visiting the day I put this little guy together, and she has an amazing heart for hospitality and eye for detail, so I knew I could rely on her to help guide me through it!

A Rustic and Elegant Christmas Tablescape

Rustic Elegance: A Christmas Tablescape by Just a Girl and Her Blog

To come up with the concept for my Christmas tablescape, I first thought about what I already had.  Our everyday place settings are green, and I just happened to have a green tablecloth as well, so I used those as a jumping off point.

I was also excited to incorporate some family heirlooms that are very special to me– both the napkins and the silver belonged to my great grandmother. It was fun to have a chance to use them since I’m too paranoid that they’ll get ruined to actually let anybody eat with them!

Rustic Elegance: A Christmas Tablescape by Just a Girl and Her Blog

I deconstructed my DIY Christmas Centerpiece a little bit, spreading out the vases and surrounding them with real greenery, graciously trimmed for me by my dad the outdoorsman. I also added some metallic ornaments that I picked up at the dollar store for a little extra sparkle.

The table runner is just wrapping paper– I was so excited when I found a pattern that mimicked the pattern on my tablecloth. It was meant to be!

Rustic Elegance: A Christmas Tablescape by Just a Girl and Her Blog

One of my favorite elements on the table ended up being the little deer ornaments that I used to hold the place cards. Can you believe those were a dollar store find?! The silver plates they’re standing on were my “splurge”– $4 a piece at Target.

Rustic Elegance: A Christmas Tablescape by Just a Girl and Her Blog

I wasn’t sure what to do with the chairs, but I knew they needed a little something to dress them up. I ended up going with a simple silver ribbon and small sprig of greens, and I think it did the trick!

Rustic Elegance: A Christmas Tablescape by Just a Girl and Her Blog

Rustic Elegance: A Christmas Tablescape by Just a Girl and Her Blog

Rustic Elegance: A Christmas Tablescape by Just a Girl and Her Blog

And I couldn’t resist getting a shot in the dark with the floating candles lit…

Rustic Elegance: A Christmas Tablescape by Just a Girl and Her Blog

It was a lot of fun putting together my first official tablescape, though I have a whole new respect for you talented bloggers who do these all the time. There is a lot of work that goes into one little table! Kudos to you all for doing it so well!

After doing this post, I think I’m going to start a regular series called “Just a Girl and Her Mom.” 😀 My mom comes to visit us every Tuesday, and inevitably I rope her into helping me with some sort of project, and this one was no exception.

She was doing “Pinterest projects” before Pinterest was even invented, and I have no doubt that my love of all things creative comes from her. She is also celebrating her 29th birthday again tomorrow, 😉 and I could not feel more blessed to have been raised by such an amazing woman and mother. Love you, mama! Happy Birthday!

Are you a tablescaper? What tips do you have for those of us who are just beginning to try tablescapes?

Abby Lawson at Abby Organizes, justagirlandherblog.com

34 Comments

  1. Jeanie @ create&babble says:

    Just beautiful! I love everything about it, especially those glittery little deer! Nicely done!

    1. justagirlabby says:

      Thank you so much, Jeanie! You are so sweet! Hope you had a wonderful weekend!

      ~Abby =)

  2. Thanks for this inspiring post, Abby. Since my daily table scene sounds like yours, I’m still undecided for this project. What a great mom you have! Dee 🙂

    1. justagirlabby says:

      Lol! I’m glad I’m not the only one! My boys were so confused when they saw the fancy stuff out. They are SO not used to that! 😀 Hope you had a wonderful weekend!

      ~Abby =)

  3. ingrid@nowathomemom says:

    you have a lovely mom, it’s very nice that she helps you out with this Abby 🙂
    & I really like your elegant Christmas tablescape , the way you decorated the chairs is very nice too; very Christmas 🙂 & those deer ornaments are very pretty too!

    1. justagirlabby says:

      Thank you so much, Ingrid! Yes, I definitely appreciate her help. She is a keeper! 🙂 Hope you had a wonderful weekend!

      ~Abby =)

  4. Christy@Confessions of a Serial Do-it-Yourselfer says:

    Your table turned out beautifully, Abby! Those deer were a score for a dollar! 🙂

    1. justagirlabby says:

      Thank you so much, Christy! I couldn’t believe I found them either! It was a fun find! Hope you had a wonderful weekend!

      ~Abby =)

  5. I could not wait to see this tablescape blog Abby, especially after talking with your mom yesterday!! It is just beautiful!! I love to see all of your posts/blogs. You sure are one very lucky girl to be raised by such an inspiring, creative and spiritual set of parents, as I know you sure are aware of that! I pray one day I can have even an ounce of you and your mom’s creativity!! Thank you so much for sharing!!

    1. justagirlabby says:

      Thank you so much, Cindy! You are right– I was certainly blessed in the parent department! 🙂 I happen to know that you were blessed with the gift of hospitality too– we loved the meal you sent to us! Thanks again for your sweet words. Hope you had a wonderful weekend!

      ~Abby =)

  6. Samantha @ Five Heart Home says:

    I love how the natural look of the greenery is such a nice contrast to the sparkle, Abby…great job on your first tablescape! And happy birthday to your mama!

    1. justagirlabby says:

      Thank you so much, Samantha! (And thank you from my mom too! 😉 You are the sweetest! Hope you had a wonderful weekend!

      ~Abby =)

  7. Laura@JourneyChic says:

    Very well done for your first attempt! I love those little deer ornaments, too – great find. I always like the idea of a fancy table but my two monsters would wreck it in a second. Right now our table’s “centerpiece” is my son’s trick-or-treat pumpkin and assorted Thomas trains. 🙂

    1. justagirlabby says:

      Thank you, Laura! I totally hear ya– I put this one up just long enough to snap some pictures and took it right down. My boys would have been all over it! It was fun to look at while it lasted, though! 😀 Hope you had a wonderful weekend!

      ~Abby =)

  8. Crystal Green says:

    I love that table setting. That deer is so adorable. It’s definitely very Christmasy look. I love that night shot you too. I can see why you couldn’t resist taking it. 🙂

    1. justagirlabby says:

      Thank you so much, Crystal! You are so sweet! Hope you had a wonderful weekend!

      ~Abby =)

  9. I think your table turned out great!!! Love the deer too!!~~Angela

    1. justagirlabby says:

      Thank you, my friend! You are the sweetest! Hope you had a wonderful weekend!

      ~Abby =)

  10. Manuela@ A Cultivated Nest says:

    I think your tablescape turned out so good! I have tons of dishes (love dishes) and I never do any tablescapes!

    1. justagirlabby says:

      Thank you, Manuela! I bet you could have a grand old time tablescaping with all of your fun dishes! Hope you had a wonderful weekend!

      ~Abby =)

  11. How pretty! I love how you used the little deer to hold the place cards!

    1. justagirlabby says:

      Thank you so much, Maria! I like the deer too…and I LOVED that they were from the dollar store, lol! Hope you had a wonderful weekend!

      ~Abby =)

  12. Nancy @ Artsy Chicks Rule says:

    I think your table turned out beautifully Abby…no need to have been nervous! It’s wonderful. 🙂
    Happy Birthday to your Mom!

    xo
    Nancy

    1. justagirlabby says:

      Thank you so much, Nancy! You are the sweetest! Have a wonderful week!

      ~Abby =)

  13. Katie Goldsworthy says:

    Beautiful! ‘I love the deer and the plates! Thanks for linking it at Monday Funday!

    1. justagirlabby says:

      Thank you so much for hosting, Kate! Hope you’re having a wonderful week!

      ~Abby =)

  14. I love those little reindeer! Beautiful job, Abby! Now we’re all just waiting for our dinner invitation! haha 🙂

    1. justagirlabby says:

      Lol! We will have to have a virtual dinner across the miles! 😀 Have a wonderful week!

      ~Abby =)

  15. Krista @thehappyhousie says:

    Such a pretty tablescape Abby!! I love the reindeer and the way you dressed up the chairs too!!

    1. justagirlabby says:

      Thanks so much, Krista! It was fun to put together my first one! Hope you’re having a great week, friend!

      ~Abby =)

  16. Pingback: 10 Cheerful Christmas Tablescapes – Bright Ideas
  17. Pingback: Easy Thrifty DIY Yarn and Feather Mini Christmas Trees as Our Holiday Table Centerpiece | The Happy Housie
  18. I’m glad you mentioned that your ideas started with Using what you already had that you owned. I was browsing on pinterest during mylong hours of insomnia during the wee hours. I have not even given any thought to decorating for the coming holidays. Our decorations are stored in the rafters of our unheated garage in plastic storage tubs. My daughter just said to me over the phone a few nights ago, “Please don’t ask me to come take all that stuff down and have to come back after Christmas and put it back up in the garage rafters. That stuff is heavy to lift and hand down to somebody. We have to use a 7 ft. ladder and I understand what she is saying, so my goal in the summer months is to do some major re-arranging and organizing or get rid of some stuff we haven’t used for a long time or never used after it was purchased, so I can make room for the seasonal decorations in the wall cabinets instead of the garage rafters.

    I look at a lot of simple decorating ideas for the Christmas season on Pinterest and found some great ideas that inspired me. This week I hope to go to Dollar Tree, Home Goods, Joanne’s, A.C. Moore and Michael’s.

    I usually entertain my Sr. Citizens friends/neighbors for dessert parties to colebrate birthdays and they need to sit down instead of buffet style. We keep it simple but still make a fuss, bring out the good china, fine linens, etc. My linens are all washable and permanent press so that part is easy. If I have more than 6, I have to drag out the larger tablecloths and the table exstention and that’s a headache(table exstention). My husband had back surgery this year so he is not able to lift anything heavy..

    Thanks for sharing your Christmas tablescape ideas and photos.

    1. justagirlabby says:

      Sounds like you are very creative, Miss Betty! I hope your Christmas decor is coming along like you hoped! Your dessert parties sound absolutely lovely! What lucky friends you have! Thanks so much for stopping by!

      ~Abby =)

Comments are closed.