Christmas Decor Tour - Handmade Cards and Gingerbread Disaster

In this video I am showing how I decorated my mantle for the 2023 Christmas season. I'm sharing a great story about why I make my own Christmas cards and my Mom and I build gingerbread houses for the first time. Spoiler alert - they were a disaster
0:00 Intro
0:17 Mantle decorations
4:35 Hand carved Christmas cards
6:20 Gingerbread houses
7:20 Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays
Newsletter sign up
gardenmoxie.com/
You can sign up on my website home page. The newsletter sign up is the first thing you'll see on the homepage. I send out my newsletter every other week and will be focusing on a return to gardening basics with an emphasis on growing plants from seed, propagating plants, and dividing the plants already in the garden. I share tips, plant recommendations, and discuss historic gardeners who can still inspire us today. The newsletter has content that cannot be found on my other public channels. I hope you'll join me.
gardenmoxie.com/
If you are interested in getting supplies to carve your own stamps for handmade cards, I added the supplies I use to my Amazon affiliate store. I earn a commission on sales and appreciate you supporting my shop.
www.amazon.com/shop/gardenmoxie
Thanks for watching.
🌿 Blog: gardenmoxie.com/
🌿 Instagram: / gardenmoxie
🌿 Pinterest: / gardenmoxie
📩 [e-mail]
#christmas #housetour #holidaydecor #zone6a

[@nancynoascono747]

Those houses are so beautiful to be remembered and treasured.

[@GardenMoxie]

Thank you. I love when little things remind us of the story behind them and the people that made them, don't you?

[@mdorn6592]

Something very enchanting about miniature homes and villages during the holidays...European Christmas markets with their lights, decorations and food are so festive maybe engrained in our DNA...unfortunately we are only exposed to small bits of that here in the US. Thank you for sharing your artistry...lovely

[@GardenMoxie]

Thank you. You bring up such a great point. I have always loved the tiny little village displays during holiday time. There is nothing quite as beautiful as those European Christmas market is there?

[@bluesky7226]

What a beautiful tradition to make those cards! The little houses are a treasure! ❤

[@GardenMoxie]

Thank you!!

[@angelacross2216]

Gingerbread houses are so much fun. I used to make them with my Cub Scout den every year…from scratch. They were always so thrilled to get their hands in the flour ,molasses, spices etc. even more than the decorating.

[@GardenMoxie]

They were fun to make. I need to do a better job with the icing next year and try it again.

[@dawndawn6946]

Beautiful wreaths and decor. My daughter and I used hot glue for our gingerbread houses after 20 years of steuctural failure. They came out beautifully!😂

[@GardenMoxie]

Thank you and thanks for that tip for improving the structural integrity of my Gingerbread houses. I will definitely keep that in mind for next year.

[@klk12399]

Your decorations are beautiful, and love the story of the cardboard houses!

[@GardenMoxie]

Thanks so much. I was so glad we inherited those wonderful houses.

[@PeggyMills]

Amazing that the cardboard houses made it. So glad you get to cherish and appreciate them. Merry Christmas.

[@GardenMoxie]

Merry Christmas Peggy!

[@JL-hw5hu]

Good morning the yellow is very pretty such a lovely fireplace and memories. Thanks for allowing us into your home. Merry Christmas.

[@GardenMoxie]

Merry Christmas and thanks for watching. Are you all set for the holidays?

[@vtgardener5327]

Good morning Sue. The decorations on your mantle are stunning and I love the subdued color palate you chose. Thanks for sharing the story behind the little houses. What treasures! Many years ago I made linoleum block printed Christmas cards too and now you’ve inspired me to try it again (next year). Merry Christmas to you and your family!

[@dawndawn6946]

Grandpa's Village is amazing!❤

[@GardenMoxie]

Hey thanks. I was amazed at those little cardboard buildings.

[@GrandmaSandy]

Oh my gosh your home inside is just as beautiful as the outside. You’ve done a wonderful job decorating everything for the holidays.

[@GardenMoxie]

Thank you so much!

[@sherrikeir-lg7zt]

I look forward to your youtube presentation...this one was much fun! Thanks for the tour! God bless you now and always 😊

[@GardenMoxie]

Thank you for the encouraging words. I am glad to hear you liked the video. God bless you now and always too.

[@shelleymolinaro5866]

How special that you and your mom worked on the gingerbread houses! Your Christmas card carvings are beautiful. Merry Christmas Sue!!!

[@GardenMoxie]

Merry Christmas Shelley and thanks for watching. We had a lot of fun making gingerbread even if the houses were a disaster.

[@thequarrygardener5578]

How amazing that the cardboard village houses have survived after all this time, the tiny details on the buildings are incredible. Beautiful wreaths on the mantle, the creamy white poinsettias are my favourite colour. You’ll remember this Christmas baking disaster with your mum so much more than if it was a total success, sometimes a failure creates a beautiful but funny memory. Hope you have lovely Christmas 🎄

[@GardenMoxie]

You are right about remembering the Christmas baking disaster. It is already making me laugh every time I think of it. Thanks so much for your note and for checking out the video. Merry Christmas!

[@Mo-mr8vv]

Those houses are amazing and so are your Christmas cards! The gingerbread houses looks like my attempt at a homemade cake today. At least it tasted good. 😂

[@GardenMoxie]

Ha ha....sometimes baked goods are there to keep us humble, right? Thanks so much for your note.

[@joannereinauer7532]

Merry Christmas

[@GardenMoxie]

Merry Christmas to you too and Happy New Year. Time is just flying...

[@bherrera1915]

The tiny houses are incredible! I would never have guessed they were cardboard. Such detailed designs & they've lasted so long. Have a Merry Christmas ❤

[@GardenMoxie]

I was amazed myself. I wish Tom's Grandpa was still here so we could ask him how he made such wonderful houses. Thanks for watching.

[@vickiemifflin2854]

Love your decorations and the little toy houses are amazing. What a treasure. Also such a treasure making gingerbread houses with your Mom. Thanks for sharing.

[@GardenMoxie]

Thanks so much Vickie!

[@dustyflats3832]

I loved making block prints in school. I also had a chance as a kid to get familiar with silk screening Christmas cards at local convent. Fun stuff! Thanks for sharing your memories. Love your formal garden. I edge on cottage and formal gardening, but with all the deer here I have to fence all of it. I just recently took a gamble on planting arborvitaes as a backdrop for statues and it’s looking terrific-not done yet, but coming together. I had no clue what to ever do with the front yard and after many years Finally took the step-with fencing of course.🙄. I think I may have found a way to disguise the fence by using either green or black and some 1x1 trellises. It will still be closed in, but not have 7’ silver wire and look like a zoo. Z5a, WI.

[@GardenMoxie]

Way to go on the new garden! Deer are the ultimate challenge. That sounds like a great garden to add to our community tab if you ever want to send me a photo, I'd love to see it and share it on the community tab. It sounds awesome! I'm glad to hear you also had the pleasure of block printing in school. That was one of my favorite projects. I always thought it was fun.

[@mrsrover8997]

Merry Christmas! I made block print cards this year, but just a simple snowflake design. Yours are beautiful and have inspired me to get more creative next year. Thank you for sharing your Christmas traditions.

[@GardenMoxie]

I love block printings and a snowflakes sounds like the perfect image for a card. Thanks for watching the video.

[@mooreacrestxgardenening4979]

Those houses are amazing. How precious and wonderful family memories.

[@GardenMoxie]

Thank you. I love the happy memories too. I decorated the Christmas tree with my Mom yesterday and unwrapping all the ornaments with all their stories is so much fun. Does decorating bring back happy memories for you too?

[@jcrane45585]

I love this video! Lots of ASMR vibes

[@GardenMoxie]

Thank you!

[@jasminelouisefarrall]

Absolutely stunning Sue 🥰 Have a wonderful Christmas and New Year ❄️🌺❄️

[@GardenMoxie]

Thank you Jasmine. I hope you have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year too. Thanks for being here!

[@richbishop7896]

Happy Holidays to you and your Family! Bonny

[@GardenMoxie]

Happy holidays to you and your family as well. Thanks for being here!

[@YalisCommunity]

Sue your home decor is sooooo pretty! I love it all from the homemade moss wreath to your flower wreath and then the nice touch of your homemade letters (I saw this in your newsletter, and I absolutely love it!). Grandpas' village is spectacular!!!!! wow wow wow so much detail in those small carboard boxes, truly majestic and then the nice scene of your Mom and you making gingerbread houses. Is so wonderful to be able to enjoy a bit of your nice warm home and family. Also, what works for me to keep the gingerbread together is melted chocolate and then icing to cover it.

[@GardenMoxie]

Thanks so much for your kind note and your tip on the gingerbread houses. I am going to try that next season. Happy New Year!

[@JoAnnBlondin]

Love those little houses. Grandpa's village is gorgeous and so full of love and sweet memories. The green and white theme is stunning. Oh my... those gingerbread houses....lol...next year! Do the stamp blocks dry out over time or can they be reused each year?

[@GardenMoxie]

Hi Jo, thanks so much for watching. The gingerbread houses were hilarious. They didn't turn out, but what a blast we had! The stamps are made from a rubber carving material and they will last and can be reused.

[@bunnyfrancis7006]

Thank you for sharing all your treasures. Your mom is a cutie. Merry Christmas from Pa.

[@GardenMoxie]

Ahh...thank you. I will send my Mom the message. Merry Christmas!

[@GrandmaSandy]

You did a great job decorating that fireplace mantle loved it

[@GardenMoxie]

Thank you so much 😀

[@GrandmaSandy]

Thanks so much for another great garden tour today. Always enjoy coming over and seeing your beautiful garden. You put so much time in love into it

[@GardenMoxie]

You are so welcome

[@maureenmanning223]

Grandpa's Christmas Village is a treasure! Yours is a channel I look forward to reverting, and enjoy each time. Wishing you, and your family, a blessed and Merry Christmas.

[@GardenMoxie]

Thanks so much for the kind words of encouragement. I am wishing you and your family a blessed and Merry Christmas too. Thank you.

[@Linda_Reed]

I loved this. Thanks for sharing!

[@GardenMoxie]

Thanks so much!

[@HookedandRooted]

So beautiful, Sue!! You are so very talented, my friend. Merry Christmas!! 🎄

[@GardenMoxie]

Thanks so much for checking out the video Steph. Merry Christmas friend!

[@rebeccat4331]

I simply love the stamped cards! Happy holidays & a joyous 2024!

[@GardenMoxie]

Thanks so much. Making Christmas cards is one of my favorite parts of the season now. Thanks for watching the video.

[@dianaford9040]

Loved it!

[@GardenMoxie]

Thanks so much!

[@judymiddleswart9350]

This is priceless!! Thanks!!💕🎁🎄

[@GardenMoxie]

Thank you for you note. I appreciate you being here!

[@patriciaterry5539]

Absolutely beautiful…just saw this late!

[@GardenMoxie]

Thanks so much for your kind note.

[@user-ii4hb3yg8d]

I just love your videos, nice voice, interesting teal and so inspirational! I live in southeastern MI also and can’t wait to plant something new. Will subscribe!

[@GardenMoxie]

Thanks for the kind note and thanks for subscribing. I'm so glad you are here.

[@englishwithanerudite]

I (almost) never decorate anything for the festive season, if I had a choice, I wouldn't do it at all :-) These days I only put out some ornaments for my students' sake. Each to their own, I suppose. Your mantlepiece looks delighful and you are such a classy lady! Btw, I must admit I have visited a few real-life Weinkellers in my life ;-)

[@GardenMoxie]

Ha ha...I learned a new term...thank you...Weinkellers. Thanks so much for your note and watching the video.

[@dianaford9040]

I did not see a link for your newsletter??

[@GardenMoxie]

Sorry about that. I moved email providers. You can sign up on my website gardenmoxie.com/. The very first thing on the home page is the newsletter sign up. I apologize for any inconvenience.