christmas touches in the kitchen

Do you remember the glass jar I got at a yard sale over the summer?
and the silver balls?



I just spray painted the top a yummy red and put the glass balls inside. I also painted the lid of another glass jar with the same red and filled her with apples. So, what red did I use? My favorite red I have ever found in a spray paint. It is Rustoleum American Accents in Colonial Red satin. I have used it for my kitchen barstools, and lots of other projects, especially around Christmas. It's a perfect cross between a cherry and brick red.
The cinnamon sticks are from the dollar tree as well~and those in the jar are just one pack. Perfect for filling glass jars and can't beat $1.

Then, back at the dollar tree, I found these big, fat peppermint sticks for 2 for $1.

They were perfect to fill my big glass jar with. I bought 10=$5. And had to tell my kids they're not real so they won't touch them. Bad mom, but so far it's worked.

And the "canisters"? They are also from the dollar tree~they were just paper maiche gift boxes that I was going to use for preschool, but didn't end up needing them. So, I just took the colonial red to them again, added some leftover knobs to the tops, and little scrapbook labels that say cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. That's not what is in them, but I thought it looked cute and festive and makes me look culinary or something. :) The little green sparkle balls on the plate are also from the dollar tree~they come 5 or 6 in a tube for what else? $1

My little kitchen corner is ready for Christmas...

So, the total for my little kitchen touches for Christmas is :

Glass jars from yard sales: $1.75

cinnamon sticks: $1

glass balls from a yard sale: $1

big peppermint sticks: $5

little canisters: $3

green balls: $1

Total: $12.75

Blast! I didn't come in under 10. And, the spray paint is just leftover, so I didn't count that. Oh well, it was worth the over budgetness. :) I should start a category that says, "almost $10 and almost an hour for those that don't quite make the cut.

Oh, and speaking of paper maiche boxes, you've got to check out what my blog friend Carrie did for her advent calendar. It is amazingly cute:

I absolutely loved it, but I am so done with projects this month. I will stash it in my idea notebook though. Happy Monday!