I’m either going to get Buddy the Elf-level enthusiasm or bah humbugs in response to today’s post. Because we can officially start talking about Christmas, right? Right?!
I really love fall, and part of me is sad to already start pulling out the evergreen branches before Thanksgiving, but apparently blogging requires you to be an early bird about this stuff. (Being an early bird for anything is uncharted territory for me.)
Ever since breaking our rule two years ago about #noChristmasbeforeThanksgiving though, I’ve discovered I really love getting my holiday to-do list done early because then Robert, Olivia, and I can just enjoy our family time throughout the month of December without schlepping through crowded malls and unraveling tangled lights.
So today, I’m joining in with Kristen of Ella Claire Inspired for her annual Christmas Printable Hop with a group of some of the most talented home bloggers in blogland! (You can see last year’s here too.)
Ever since I came up with this botanical gallery wall earlier this year with summer greenery prints, it’s become a seasonal tradition to swap out our prints for botanicals that reflect our foliage. (If you’re still Team Fall and are in Thanksgiving decorating mode, I shared a set of fall botanicals in September too.)
So of course, a winter botanical set HAD to happen!
(Some affiliate links are provided below for convenience.)
You can snag the set yourself by clicking here to subscribe or click this button:
If you’re already a blog subscriber, you should have already received the free downloadable printable set in your email (or just click the printable library link with the password that’s at the bottom of all of my emails).
I love that they’re simple, fresh evergreen botanicals without any red so that they can stay up all the way through February even.
I put them in these 16×20 frames I got at Michael’s earlier this year for around $12 each on sale. They look just like wood frames, even in person, but they are actually plastic poster frames. (And they come in black, white wood, and gray wood too.)
I keep all of my seasonal sets of botanical prints in the frames- summer, fall, winter- and just rotate them whenever I feel like it, so it takes up no storage space at all. Maybe, in March, I’ll whip up a set with spring blossoms to round it out for the year.
To print them in the 16×20 sizes, I send my images to Staples to have them printed on color engineer prints for about $3 each. (But if you want to keep it easy, just printing 8×10 size right from your own printer works too.)
Print Directions:
- Download the botanical prints from the Bless’er House Printable Library (password in your email).
- Go to Staples.com
- Click “shop services” -> “print services” -> “engineering prints” -> “18”x24″ -> “design now” -> “engineering prints in color”
- Click “add files” and upload the botanical print images
- Click “orientation” -> portrait
- Click “add to cart” -> “proceed to checkout”
- In the notes section on your order, write “do not scale to fit” to keep the image at 16″x20″ because sometimes Staples will do it even when you don’t specify.
I’ve had a few people tell me that their local Staples won’t print these on engineering prints for some reason, but I’ve never had an issue, so it varies between locations, and I have no idea why. Walgreens will print 16×20 poster size too, but unfortunately, they cost more than $3.
You can choose to print them directly from your computer as 8x10s to put in 8×10 frames, or if you want large frames, you can mat the 8x10s.
So much technical mumbo jumbo, but I wanted to make sure to help any of y’all who might run into issues with getting the larger prints. Totally worth the effort! I’m sure I’ll be using mine for years on end.
I set up the rest of our $35 Craigslist bench (wish I could find another one like it online for y’all but no luck) mostly with pillows, baskets, and faux greenery I already had.
I love sticking to mostly neutrals from my decor wardrobe capsule like these lanterns, plain white/canvas pillows, and water hyacinth baskets we use for storing shoes.
And I just threw in a punch of Christmas with this red throw I picked up at Target and this pillow cover from Linen and Ivory I used on an insert already in my stash.
I really hope to keep all of the “stuff” to a minimum this year by just using what we already have. But we’ll see how good I am at sticking to that. I get way too excited. 😉 (I just like to smile. Smiling’s my favorite.)
I found these $12 boxwood wreaths at IKEA on my last visit that were just too good to resist. They are perfect for adding some Christmas to our living room’s wall of French doors, but I have a plan to jazz them up even more. See? I’m already not doing so great at this “use what we already have” goal. Sigh… A for effort? Haha!
Here are all of the sources I used in this space, in case you want to know:
- “Wood” gallery wall frames
- Red cable knit throw blanket
- Cream pleated pillow
- Canvas pleated ruffle pillow (similar… mine was around $20 at HomeGoods)
- Lanterns
- Water hyacinth baskets (similar)
- Water hyacinth tray (similar)
- Birch logs (similar)
- Faux cedar garland
- Faux boxwood wreaths (you can only get them in person at IKEA, but these are similar to order online, if you don’t have an IKEA near you. Just not as cheap… darn.)
- White curtains
- Wall paint color: Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee
- Door paint color: Benjamin Moore Wrought Iron
Are you ready to start decking your halls? Or are you savoring fall for a while longer? I really couldn’t tell you which I love more.
If you want more Christmasy printable freebies, you can check out all of the gorgeous ones on the printable tour here:
O Holy Night by Ella Claire | Winter Botanical Gallery Wall Print Set by Bless’er House | Christmas Wrapping Paper by Craftberry Bush | Repeat the Sounding Joy by Nest of Posies | Christmas Star Garland by A Burst of Beautiful
Watercolor Wrapping Bow by Zevy Joy | Merry & Bright by Live Laugh Rowe | Joyeux Noel by So Much Better with Age | Snowflake Christmas Tags by Happy Happy Nester | Santa Ornament Gift Tag by anderson + grant
Lovely, Glorious, Beautiful Christmas by Making Home Base | Oh Come Let Us Adore Him by My Sweet Savannah | Peace on Earth by Maison de Pax | Holly Jolly by Shades of Blue Interiors | Christmas Gift Tags by Taryn Whitaker
Love is What’s in the Room with You by In My Own Style | Winter Favorites Watercolor by Finding Silver Pennies | Merry Christmas Gift Tags by Refresh Restyle | The Nutcracker Printable by My Someday in May | Oh Come Let Us Adore Him Watercolour by The Happy Housie
Christmas Cards by TIDBITS | Snowman Snacks Tags by Just Destiny | North Pole Cookie Co. by Clean and Scentsible | Nutcracker Watercolor Series by Nina Hendrick Design Co. | Watercolor Christmas Wreath Gift Tags by Home Stories A to Z
Bread Wrapper by My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia | Christmas Coloring Fun Page for Kids Table by Unskinny Boppy
Merry (early) Thanksgiving, y’all! Signed, a confused Southerner still wearing T-shirts and flip flops.
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Your prints are stunning and I love love love your foyer!
Gorgeous! Thank you so much! I’m going to put these on a wall in my bathroom!
Such a great printable and I just love all your decor! Yes, I’m Buddy the Elf! I love to work with paper, and my family totally agrees with my new name! I can’t wait to see the rest of your Christmas decor!
Love it! I don’t know why people are so passionate about what time Christmas “starts” lol. I understand not wanting to rush life, but I’m decorating for Christmas already too and you know what, fall is my favorite and Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday! I don’t think I’m skipping Thanksgiving by enjoying my football and turkey next to a gorgeous, sparkly tree! And you’re right, then I have more time to enjoy Christmas movies and nights of sipping cocoa with the kids instead of trying to get everything done in one month! “Buddy the Elf here, what’s your favorite color?!”
I was just crushing on the Fall prints and thought “wonder what she’ll do for Christmas?” Love these, I’m def going to copy this!!
Your space looks so lovely and festive! Thanks for sharing where to find the boxwood wreaths! I’m adding them to my list for the next time I make the trek to Ikea. 🙂 Such a great price!
I love botanicals hung like that!
Natch, I now need to head to IKEA for some boxwood wreaths!
They really knock it out of the park with their faux plants!
Just found your blog and absolutely love it. Am already forwarding your site to a friend so she can enjoy it. Can’t compliment you enough on the artwork and all the wonderful ideas you share with your fans. Count me as one of your biggest ones.
P.S. looks like my pantry will have some new labels after the holiday season is over.
LOVE these prints Lauren! And such a bonus that they can be left up past Christmas. The house always feels a little empty when the decorations come down, so it is nice to have transitional things that can stay out. Beautiful printable!
Lauren,
Thanks for the botanical prints of the pine branches. I look forward to using them all winter – until at least Valentine’s Day. I love the decor in your home and that red throw is to die for. Just beautiful.
What color are your walls and door? I have a red or crismon/khaki couch and don’t know what paint color to use with it. The last color I picked ended up being very yellow. Are the walls the same color as the walls in the picture of the cranberry bench? Thanks in advance! Love your home and decorating style!
Hi Nicky! Thanks! Our living room walls are Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee, which is a slightly creamy white, definitely not yellow though. It will go with anything and everything. The picture of the wall behind the cranberry bench is Sherwin Williams Simply White, which is a bright white. Hoping that helps! 🙂
Lovely prints and great idea! I love your place – looks really cozy!
These are incredibly beautiful. I love that you can leave them up for the winter.
wow, thank you. Your blog and your home are beautiful.
Oh my gosh I just love these botanical prints. They are so beautiful! What type of paper did you use? Thanks so much for the free printables. I’ve never tried decorating with botanical prints but love these! Your home is gorgeous!
Thanks, Debra! I just used engineer prints from Staples in regular computer paper thickness.
When you print the art on the larger paper size for the 16×20 size frame do you have to trim the paper once you insert them?
Yes, I had to trim my edges since it’s a 16×20 image on an 18×24 sheet.
I just stumbled upon this! Thank you so much for the printables (and the link to the affordable frames). I’m definitely doing this (and will have to catch up with past seasons as well)!
Glad you found me. Enjoy the prints. 🙂
I used these and had them printed but the background came out a bit red. Looking back on the file, the images are also a reddish hue. Yours are white. Any ideas?
Thank you so much for sharing your prints! They are stunning and add the beauty of nature, which I LOVE. Most charge to get the prints so I appreciate your generosity so much. <3
Love these so much but unfortunately Staples and now my Office Depot won’t print them for me like they did the fall prints. I’ve tried two different locations and they say they won’t print them on blueprint paper….they have to be done on poster board which costs significantly more, bummer!
Oh no! I’m wondering if a lot of people are printing these all over the country and because it’s so inexpensive for us to do, it’s costing them money. So bummed! My local Staples still lets me whenever I do it, but I wonder if they’ll one day tell me the policy has changed. I’m going to keep looking to see if there’s still a cheaper alternative out there somewhere than printing on poster board.
Lauren, thank you for your sweet words of encouragement to mamas everywhere! I have four children from 11 – 18 years old. When they were younger I remember those moments of not feeling like I had it all together like everyone else “seem” to. Although I am much better at it now, there are days that we all need reminding. Your words will have impact on the lives of others, way longer than beautiful pictures and home tours (although those are fun to look at!) Thank you for speaking “truth” while using your talent.
Thank you, Tracey, for taking the time to write such kind words. 🙂 It makes what I do worth it.
I absolutely adore these! I am trying to print on printer, but they come out a little on several pieces of paper. How do I change the size?
Hi Fanny, be sure to check your printer settings before printing. Change the printer setting to “fit to size or fit to page”. Also, click on print preview before printing to make sure it is on one page as well.
Thank you!