I can’t take any credit for today’s Christmas decor project.  I totally stole the idea from Belinda over at The Happy Home.  What was the idea?  Well, basically I saved up a bunch of toilet paper tubes {and a few paper towel ones too} and created a wintry hanging centerpiece.

Pretty clever idea, huh?  You can get the full tutorial here.  Here’s a picture story of me making mine. {I used leftover paint from our powder room to make the gray ones and on-hand gloss white paint for the white ones.  Instead of a peg or toothpick, I just put 2 fingers into the tube to rotate it.}

Originally, I hung the glittery chandy above our kitchen island with masking tape.

But our ceilings are textured matte plaster and the bigger tubes {the paper towel tubes} fell down after a few days.  The smaller ones were fine but I decided to move them all together.  I tied them to our dining chandy.

I think next year I’ll stick to just the toilet paper tubes {the smaller ones} and hang a whole bunch above the island for bigger impact.  But, for now, I’m mesmerized by these shiny beauties.  They reflect the light and glisten so beautifully.  Oh, and did I mention I made them for FREE? That’s right, I didn’t spend a dime.

I hope you’re getting a few ideas for inexpensive Christmas decor here on H*T this week.  If anything, you should know by now to check out The Happy Home and to hang a bunch of stuff around your house with fishing line.  {Handy Hubby got clotheslined the other night by our floating Christmas tree words when he went to unplug the lights.  Hehe.} I still have a few more Christmas-y posts to share with you {like where the heck are the stockings?!} so check back soon!

FYI – See what else I’ve done with salvaged toilet paper tubes here.

images:  all Dana Miller for House*Tweaking