Western General Store

  This will be my last blog post for a while. I love to create but after doing this on a schedule for 8 years, I need a little break. If I create something I feel the world needs to see, I will post it! Included here are most of the Christmas creations I've done over the years. Most, but not all, are on the Blog. Enjoy! The 1st photo is a Grapevine Wreath . Holiday Lariat Basket Candle Lantern Christmas Lariat Wreath Christmas Tree Horse Ornament Tool Caddy Horseshoe Wreath Western Boot Key Chain ornaments Horseshoe Swag Horseshoe Hanger Western Cutouts ornaments Red Horse Maybe these photos will inspire you to create your next Christmas Decoration! Have a great Holiday Season and a very Merry Christmas!

This is a tutorial on how to make a Christmas Lariat Wreath. First step: Find a used lariat. That's easy for me since I live in the middle of cowboy country! A zip tie at the top secures the rope. Tuck the tail into the rope strands. The ribbon was for a hanger, but in the end, I used wire. Some may want to use this idea. This is an old swag from my mother's decorations. I decided not to go this route. Wrap about 3 foot of garland  at the top. This provides fullness and a place to stick greenery. Stick in greenery. Add a bow. There are lots of videos on the internet on how to construct a bow. I used a pipe cleaner to attach. I attached red ball ornaments with wire. This would be complete unless you wanted to add a horseshoe. One idea is to use a glue gun to wrap ribbon and include a horseshoe. I chose to attach a horseshoe with a pipe cleaner. I tied on a bow, or you could glue it. The size of this wreath is 21 inches across. Have fun making your wreath! Merry Christmas!  

I thought it would be fun to make a horse ornament so I cut a horse out of plywood or you could use stiff cardboard or whatever material you have or can find at the craft store. I rubbed Light Brown Briwax on it and cut 2 pieces from a rope and unraveled it. I glued the pieces to the back where the tail and mane would go and drilled a hole for a wire hanger. You can use for a Christmas ornament or decoration on a wreath. Paint it any color you desire and brush a little paint on the mane and tail. Bling it or glitter it. Try using suede fringe, ribbon or whatever you have for the mane and tail. When the holidays are over hang it on the wall to run wild and free year round.

If you have any antlers, they can be incorporated into your décor for a rustic Christmas. I made and tied a burlap bow onto the base of an antler and placed greenery underneath. I added a pine cone and a couple of flameless candles. This could be a simple center piece for the table. In the glass bowl I added greenery, large pine cones, a large flameless candle and a deer antler with a red ribbon tied on the base.