Ghost of Christmas Past – 7 Years of My Favorite Christmas Decorating Ideas

Back in 2011 I started this blog and during I’ve built up so much content over the years from DIY to gardening to recipes to seasonal decorating ideas.

I thought it would be fun to hop on Santa’s sleigh to take a journey with the ghost of Christmas past to see how my style has changed and to revisit some of my favorite creative Christmas decorating ideas that I’m still in love with today.

Be sure to click on each full Christmas home tour to see so much more!

Christmas 2011 was the year of my ladder Christmas tree (and also the year of bad photography)!

Creative Christmas Decorating Ideas - love this ladder Christmas tree strung with lights and candles kellyelko.com

It was a marshmallow world in the winter when I made this fun marshmallow wreath.

Creative Christmas Decorating Ideas - see how to make this DIY marshmallow wreath kellyelko.com

I made tons of these snowy mason jar candles.

Creative Christmas Decorating Ideas - set a table with snowy mason jar candles and marshmallows kellyelko.com

If you need a good chuckle, check out my 2011 Christmas Home Tour HERE (I warn you, I was put on Santa’s naughty list for the horrible photos).

Now let’s jump into 2012 and a simple branch holding vintage ornaments over my kitchen window.

Christmas Christmas Decorating Ideas - love a simple branch holding ornaments hung over the window kellyelko.com

My husband’s childhood shovel became my backdoor wreath.

Creative Christmas Decorating Ideas - love this vintage shovel used as a unique wreath kellyelko.com

Even my vintage dress maker form got decked out for the party.

Creative Christmas decorating ideas - vintage dress form filled with ornaments kellyelko.com

I really loved this mason jar Christmas tree including upside down mason jar tree topper and mason jar ornaments holding marshmallows and cookies.

Creative Christmas Decorating Ideas - love this white tree with mason jar ornaments and tree topper kellyelko.com

See my 2012 Christmas Home Tour HERE for more ideas.

Now we will move into 2013 and my winter snow globe jars.

Creative Christmas Decorating Ideas - love these winter village jars kellyelko.com

Blue mason jars turned into a cute Advent calendar for my girls.

Creative Christmas Decorating Ideas - love this mason jar Advent calendar kellyelko.com

Snowflake ornaments tacked to old windows made for a festive dining room.

Creative Christmas Decorating Ideas - love these old windows with snowflake ornaments kellyelko.com

See more of my 2013 Christmas Home Tour HERE.

2014 when I made these personalized grain sacks for my girls.

Creative Christmas Decorating Ideas - love these DIY grain sacks under the tree kellyelko.com

An old wagon under the tree holds a frosty winter village.

Creative Christmas Decorating Ideas - love this wagon with a snowy winter village kellyelko.com

Not a creature was stirring on my staircase.

Love this fun Christmas staircase kellyelko.com

See my 2014 Christmas Home Tour HERE.

Moving on to 2015 when I forced bulbs for a natural centerpiece.

Force bulbs for a beautiful Christmas centerpiece kellyelko.com

I whipped up this winter village wreath.

Creative Christmas Ideas - See how to make this DIY winter village wreath kellyelko.com

One of my favorite centerpieces tucked into an old Pepsi crate.

Love this Christmas centerpiece with mini tree in a vintage soda crate kellyelko.com

A bottle holder turned into a unique Christmas tree.

Creative Christmas Decorating Ideas - love this wine bottle holder turned Christmas tree kellyelko.com

Don’t miss my 2015 Christmas Home Tour HERE.

2016 brought about my name change from Eclectically Vintage to Kelly Elko and this winter wonderland on a tiered tray.

Creative Christmas Decorating Ideas - love this tiered tray filled with a winter village of bottle brush trees kellyelko.com

Fairy light jars are magical and the secret is these remote controlled lights so you hide the battery pack.

Creative Christmas Decorating Ideas - love these fairy jars and she shares the best lights to use! kellyelko.com

I loved these antique stocking stretchers on the banister.

Creative Christmas Decorating Ideas - love this banister with garland and antique stocking stretchers kellyelko.com

See my 2016 Christmas Home Tour HERE.

And finally, let’s transport to present day 2017 and my pair of sparse Christmas trees that showcase my vintage Shiny Brites.

Creative Christmas Decorating Ideas - love this pair of sparse Christmas trees for showing off ornaments kellyelko.com

These cedar placemats were the find of the year and make the table!

Love this Christmas table setting with cedar placemats kellyelko.com

I’m beyond thrilled to have my finally finished family room and this sectional sofa for family Hallmark Christmas movie nights!

Love this cozy Christmas family room in reds and blues kellyelko.com

See my 2017 Christmas Home Tour HERE.

Wow what a trip down memory lane.

I hope you got some decorating inspiration and didn’t laugh too hard at my horrible old photos!

Shop my House kellyelko.com

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9 Comments

  1. A fun visit to your past, Kelly! I’m relatively new to your blog, and you are one of my favorites. Merry Christmas!

  2. Kelly, I love seeing how your style has changed over years! And also how your photography has improved. Love your blog!!

  3. As always, you’ve shown us some great ideas for holiday decorating. Love them all, love your blog, Merry Christmas Kelly!

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