A flurry of newspaper creations sparkle delight for a budget - conscious homeowner who picked up her scissors — and could n’t put them down .
Janet Kwan
Every holiday season Wendy Lau ’s love of workmanship and decorations kick into gamey gear . She ’s up and down ladders , dangling newspaper snowflakes and adept from ceilings and draping miscellany across doorways . As much as she tries to show restraint , a little always turns into a mess , and shortly she ’s decorating her Toronto home with abandon . “ There ’s a lot of cardio for me at Christmas , ” she says .
Credit:Janet Kwan
Her decorating aerobics can be traced in large part to thesnowflakes she snips from brown and bloodless tiffin old bag . They now number in the century and are her creative scheme for a mellow - impact feeling . “ I ’m the paper - base princess , ” she jokes . gross flourishes such as dry moss ( Wendy ’s reusable and easygoing - to - depot alternative to fresh verdure ) and handcrafted papier - mâché mushroom ornaments affix those statement makers .
If there ’s one affair Wendy know , it ’s how to make the holiday special , even on a budget . “ To me , Christmas is a homecoming , ” she says . “ It ’s all about the cosy . It ’s all about the nostalgia . But it ’s also about affordability . ”
Her theme - cup of tea world , which she hang from her stair railings with sportfishing line , were an other pandemic task after she was laid off from her job as a flight attendant . ( Her Instagram accountdrew so many followers that when she was call back to piece of work , she shoot a leap to become a full - clock time social media content God Almighty . )
Credit:Janet Kwan
The 18 tote bag she lugs up from the basement each year are filled with a mix of her hand-crafted palm , helping hand - me - downs from her mom , after - Christmas markdowns , and thrift depot and roadside finds . She ’s always on the hunting for clear glass bud vase , cloches , and container she can use to impart wintry glisten or turn into nose candy globe .
Three now - tattered paper Garland that spell " fa - la - lah " and other phrases are sentimental favorites . Her married man , Kwan Chan , surprised her with the garlands early in their marriage so Wendy had something festal in their little cellar apartment . " I smile every metre I put them up , " she says .
When create her seasonal wonderland in the house the couple has lived in for two years , Wendy watch herself as a shopkeeper . “ I pretend I ’m decorating a shop windowpane , but for the enjoyment ofus and our node , ” she says . “I like to consider of my house as an installation . ”
Credit:Janet Kwan
That bulge out in the entryway , where snow bunting emphasise with fairy lights blanket the staircase . “ They ’re impactful , but I do n’t know if I was going for encroachment as much as just thinking , Wow , what am I go to do with all these?”she allege .
Elsewhere , snowflakes and purchased stars form arches that become charming backcloth for holiday photos of the brace and their supporter . Above the dining table , more drawing string lights shine from a canopy Wendy forge by snub and piecing together unlike lengths of atomic number 29 tobacco pipe . “ I always attempt to take advantage of vertical space , ” she says . She setsa wintry tablewith candles , baby ’s breath , and methamphetamine hydrochloride vessel .
And while her overall look is disingenuous , it ’s also unproblematic and uncluttered — even with hundreds of paper snow bunting . “ I have to include them , ” Wendy says . “ These things have become a big part of my story . ”
Credit:Janet Kwan
The clear , open kitchen connects to the family way . Draped garlands draw attention to the windows and views . During the holidays , the island becomes a preparation - and - package station for homemade marshmallows , Wendy ’s signature delicacy for her hot cocoa bar . " I always sum gay touches to my kitchen . Everyone seems to end up there , and it make cook and broil more fun , " she say .
On undefended shelf she built herself , Wendy stages a hamlet with her appeal of ceramic and tin house . A used hutch expose Christmas classics , include bottle - light touch tree diagram . Wendy tops cabinets withreusable faux garlandsrather than investing in refreshing unity every year .
Wendy infuse her dwelling with holiday spirit each yr with simple decorate mind like craftinghomemade ornamentsand garlands . gentle - to - make papier - mâché mushroom cloud ornaments and pommy - pom Garland clear up the tree .
Credit:Janet Kwan
Dried moss appears in displaysand serves as table runner and Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree skirts . The only clean greens are a few evergreen plant sprigs Wendy clip from her yard for accent . Her holiday floral of pick is baby ’s breath . Typically a corsage makeweight , it go away solo in bud vessel . “ It has that Plectrophenax nivalis effect , ” she says , and it dry out nicely so it has longevity .
Guests know to see for surprises in Wendy ’s displays . A mouse curry as a chef named Gus Gus is one of them . “ It ’s playfulness building tiny inside caper , ” Wendy tell . “ It ’s just playful and nonsensical . ”
Credit:Janet Kwan
Credit:Janet Kwan
