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11 December, 2011

My Vintage Santa Postcard Tree

I have a new Christmas tree to show you this year…my vintage Santa postcard tree! I don’t do a big tree any more now that many of the festivities have move to my daughter’s home for the grandchildren, so each year I do several small trees instead. This year’s decorations are a little more rustic, so I decided that a vintage tree would be just what I needed!

006 Of course, our faithful co-host Baby Kitty was only too happy to lend me a hand…er…paw!

230 First, I found a series of lovely vintage Santa postcards here...many of which were French.

042 Next, I printed them in a size to fit shipping tags that can be found at any office supply store and used rubber cement to attach them since it doesn't wrinkle the paper.

045 I decorated them with glitter glue from Dollar Tree…three different colors for only…what else…$1.00!

049 Finally, I added some red ribbon to make them a little more festive. Aren’t they wonderful? Most of the postcards I chose represent a French-style Santa or Saint Nicholas wearing long robes…

046 …but I did add an American-style Santa with his traditional red costume.

044 On the back of each one…vintage sheet music found here to which I added the words Joyeux Noël.

085At the base of the tree…a wicker tray found at Goodwill several months ago filled with almonds, tangerines and apples…reminiscent of what my sister and I used to find in our stockings on Christmas morning.

078 And at the top of the tree..a special corn husk Madonna and child that was the tree topper on the very first tree that I had on my own almost 40 years ago!

082 Something was still missing, though, and I knew when I saw this vintage-looking table runner at Target that this was just what was needed...my one splurge! I love it! Almost everything else was already on hand...so... free!


220 Beside the tree is a favorite little wooden Santa and his team of reindeer emerging from a little forest of miniature trees that I have been collecting.

051 Also on the table…a three wick candle topping a rustic stand…the bottom half of a recent find from Joss & Main. I will show you what I did with the wire cloche that goes on top in another post! I added holly from my yard to brighten it up.

tree And there you have it…my vintage Santa postcard Christmas tree! I love its nostalgic simplicity! Stay tuned because I still have lots more to show you!

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you enjoyed a little peek at my Christmas decorations!  Please visit these wonderful bloggers and their beautiful blogs to see what they are up to and to find a list of this week’s participants!
Stephanie Lynn at Under the Table and Dreaming for the Sunday Showcase Party
Kate at Centsational Girl for the Holiday Craft Link Party
Sarah at Thrifty Decor Chick for Before and After Monday (first Monday of the month)
Mary at Boogieboard Cottage for Masterpiece Monday
Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday
Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for Tabletop Tuesday
Beth at The Stories of A2Z for Tutorials and Tips Tuesday
Linda at Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Kim at Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesdays
Judy at DIY by Design for Fall into Fall
Sarah at Thrifty Decor Chick for a Christmas Tree Party 
Jill at French Cupboard for Voila!French Inspiration on Thursdays
Gina at The Shabby Creek Cottage for Transformation Thursdays
Sherry at No Minimalist Here for the Open House Party on Thursdays
Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday
Courtney at French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday
Honey at 2805 for the Bloggers Block Christmas Tree Party
Diann at The Thrifty Groove for Thrifty Things Friday
Debra at Common Ground for Fabulous Fall Fun
Sherry at The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday
Jen at Tatertots & Jello for the Weekend Wrap-up Party
Donna at Funky Junk Interiors for Saturday Nite Special
See you next time! A la prochaine!

60 comments:

  1. Deb! Love love these! I want to come to your house for Christmas, it looks so amazing!! You are my DIY heroine!!
    Merry Christmas!
    kathysue

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  2. Oh I love this, the vintage cards are wonderful, the red/white table runner is perfect and just love the fruit as an accent! I like doing smaller trees, so much easier! xo

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  3. Lovely. The cards, fruit, and that wonderful runner. Love all of it.

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  4. I love this--you are so clever! I have a bunch of Clapsaddle postcards--I will give it a try!

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  5. All are good old things. Bring us the sweet old days.

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  6. I love those tags! The whole tablescape is beautiful.
    ♥Linsey

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  7. Beautiful tree!I adore the Madonna and Child sooo precious.


    Blessings to you and thanks for visiting today.

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  8. i love your Santa tree. I especially like the fruit at the base. Reminds me when I was young and we got an apple and orange from church each Christmas. Kids that would get that today would look at you, like you were in crack, I'm just saying. Richard from My Old Historic House.

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  9. I like the idea of several smaller trees, and the tags are so cute. I really must make some tags this year instead of the store bought variety. I need to stop at Target to see if they have any more of those runners left!!! Love it.

    p.s. Please stop by to enter my Range themed giveaway. :@

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  10. Debbie, I love your tree. You and I have the same silver tray. Have a super week.

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  11. Love this, Debbie! It's totally charming!

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  12. Great idea using smaller trees Debbie. The cards on this tree are just darling and I love the little bits of glitter you added. Thanks for sharing.

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  13. Beautiful decorations! I love the little vintage postcards and tags!! So pretty! Merry Christmas!
    Miss Bloomers

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  14. This is a beautiful tree. I love your base it is amazing!

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  15. Love it! I especially love the fruits around the tree...that was my stocking on Christmas also...maybe a chocolate candy bar if I was really lucky!!

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  16. This blog post is perfect timing! I've been wondering what type of gift tags to make this year and I'm stealing your vintage Santa idea. I can print the Santas on the tags I already have. Perfect! Thanks for the inspiration and for the link to the Santas.

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  17. Very cute, Debbie. Pretty neat diea too...Christine

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  18. What a charming little tree, I love vintage postcards too! These made great tags.
    Karee

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  19. Deb -- Another wonderful Christmas creation! You've outdone yourself this year with all your pretties.

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  20. Deb this is so cute and clever! Love the table runner also! hugs, Linda

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  21. Love this tree! What a great idea with the santa tags...I love them! The fruit around the bottom is the perfect touch...my dad always put oranges in my stocking :) I also love your candle stand...very nice!

    All the best,
    Rachel~

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  22. Love the tree with the new/old tags, wonderful. I have collected santa gift tags over the years. Laura

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  23. Debbie I love these tags and how you decorated that darling tree using them!! You are so creative!

    bee blessed
    mary

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  24. Your tree is soooo cute, I love vintage postcards too!!

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  25. Dang Debbie! You come up with the cutest ideas! Thanks for sharing your sources. You're the best. I love your vintage Santa cards and the red work runner.
    Have a great week.
    Hugs,
    Babs

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  26. What a great idea. I love the idea of several small trees. Thanks for sharing, Cindy

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  27. That is so clever and so adorable Debbie! I love the feeling it invokes and isn't that what Christmas is partly about!
    Are you sure you weren't an art teacher too? Your so creative!
    Cindy

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  28. Debbie, adorable! Love th French vintage Père Noel - sweet! My fav is the way the tree sits in the round basket surrounded with almonda and fruit - beautiful touch. My sis and I used to get an apple, an orange and some pecans in our stocking. My grandies would gag if they got that! Times have change! Linda

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  29. The vintage cards are wonderful but I especially love the fruit at the base of the tree! I think fruit at Christmas has lost its importance. We too always received an orange, apple and walnuts in our stockings. My dad used to tell us when he was small, he and his ELEVEN siblings waited for the Sears catalog so the could dream of a toy. Then Christmas would come and they would get an orange and nuts. It was the only time of year they had oranges. In his entire life he received 1actual toy but he said the fun was always in the wishing. Your tree reminds me of a much simpler time.

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  30. Debbie I LOVE that tree, you just inspired me for next year! Love the candle wrapped in holly too. The whole vignette is beautiful! Martina

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  31. I love your tree, the ornaments are perfect! I was just thinking last night that I need to do a smaller tree, as we spend most of the holidays away from home. Your tree is perfect!
    Debbie

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  32. Debbie I adore your vintage cards tree with the fruit!! Lovely. Isabella and I did cloved oranges this weekend and wrapped them in netting!


    More amazing giveaways to enter in The 12 days of Holiday Event!!

    xoxo
    Karena

    Art by Karena

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  33. I love Every Part, from table runner to top of tree;)
    A really Great job. You are so very inspiring to this old gal.
    Happ Holidays to ALL!!!

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  34. I always love to see what you do! I also love vintage postcards - but you have now taken it to a whole new level! Very creative!

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  35. Oh Debbie, is it Christmas yet? I want to come over with a thermos of hot chocolate to share with you! I love this post and I'll have some fun catching up on the last two months. Your creativity is amazing.

    On a personal note, thank you so much for your kind words on Sadie. Knowing that I have your support means a lot to me.

    Love, Bonnie

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  36. Debbie~
    Thank you for your comment! It was my first! And your decorations are lovely...that red-on-white table runner is just my style. Really a treat. I hope you try the cinnamon buns! I'm making two batches today!
    ~Jeannine

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  37. Debbie! This is so precious! I love those olden vintage Santies and love how you attached them to the tags! The table runner is lovely! Love your tree topper and how wonderful you've kept it all these years!
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia :)

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  38. Oh, I love these! So pretty!
    What great inspiration!

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  39. Love the tags and the fruit at the bottom and also love the runner! Kisses to the Staff!

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  40. This is so pretty and so wonderfully old fashioned, Debbie. I love it!

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  41. such a charming tree, debbie! love the vintage santas and the oranges, apples and nuts bring back great childhood memories:)

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  42. I love the embroidred runner and the tree card is awesome, what a lovely idea. Thank you for the nice coment. Have a good week.
    FABBY

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  43. Your Christmas decor is so beautiful, and I love your reference to the fruit and nuts in the Christmas stocking. We used to get that too when I was a child.

    I really need one of those runners, so I see a trip to Tarsjay on the agenda soon. Years so when I had a shop, I used to sell little cornhusk dolls, so that was another trip down memory lane for me. And that is what Christmas is all about.

    ETS

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  44. I love your vintage card tree! What a great idea!

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  45. The tags are gorgeous and I have to confess that I'm Jones-ing (does anyone even say that anymore?) over that red snowflake runner!! Everything looks mah-velous!!

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  46. Debbie,
    Adorable little Santa Tree! I adore the use of fresh fruit at the base. The table runner appears to be a homemade one similar to those we saw while living in GermanY! Your help has to be the most handsome in the Land of Blog!
    Fondly,
    Pat

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  47. Love the vintage Christmas post card tree.
    Audrey Z at Timeless Treasures

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  48. Hi Debbie, I love anything vintage, this is incredible. Love your tablerunner, goes on the "want" list. Oh how I wish Target and the Dollar Tree store was close to us, then again, my wallet is glad they aren't. lol. hugs ~lynne~

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  49. Debbie, your vintage postcard tree is adorable! And I love it even more because you made the card ornaments yourself. I wish I were that creative!

    Baby Kitty is looking lovely, as always.

    Hugs,
    Pam

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  50. I LOVE it! Great job. Happy holidays~ Kerri, A Pop of Pretty

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  51. A very festive Christmas tree! The postcard ornaments you made are sweet and look great!

    Nice visiting with you!
    Kindly, Lorraine

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  52. I really like the look of this little tree. The simple decorations make it interesting and fesitive. And of course, very thrifty! Thank you for sharing with us at TTF!

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  53. Your handmade tags are lovely Debbie.
    I'd love it if you could link this up at my Christmas Inspiration party at http://shabbyartboutique.blogspot.com/2011/12/inspiration-friday_16.html

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  54. Oh yea! I love them! You should take a look at my "Two Weeks Before Christmas" post, I did my whole tree in Santas and postcard hang tags this year!

    Amber @ junkaholicsunanimous

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  55. Cute tree, love all the postcards!

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  56. Very cute idea -- love the oranges and fruit you put in the basket!

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  57. I love your idea. These vintage Santas seem to be all the rage this year!

    I was wondering how you were able to print the postcards from Flickr? I can't figure it out. Thanks!

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Thanks so much for stopping by and taking the time to comment! I appreciate my wonderful readers!... Debbie