A mum-of-one has gone viral after showcasing her latest DIY project, a makeshift “winter wonderland” in her living room.
Claire Edwards, 29, from Arkansas, US, has left TikTok users stunned after revealing her home’s transformation just in time for Christmas, and it’s straight out of a movie.
Growing up, she recalls eagerly anticipating the festive season and while her parents didn’t go “crazy” with decorating, there was still a memorable “childlike” excitement feeling every year.
Soon, the “magic” started to disappear and often, she felt like Christmas had “snuck up” on her. She began to feel stressed, rather than joyful about the holiday.
After giving birth to her little girl, Goldie, one, who she shares with her husband, Gray, the mum quickly found her “inner child” and decided to deck out their home in all things festive.
In a clip uploaded on TikTok, which has racked up 10.3 million views and three million likes, Claire shows viewers a tour around her homemade grotto.
While many are in awe at her creation, with lights and ornaments encompassing the space, lots of people are questioning if it’s all worth it – especially due to the cost of living crisis.
“I’m often told: ‘Just wait for that electrical bill’ and I always say that it’s an associated cost of my Christmas cheer and to me, it’s totally worth it,” she said.
“In the spirit of transparency, I will be updating all my followers with how much extra our November and December light bill turns out to be. The inspiration for this year’s theme came from seeing a video of Rolf’s in New York, an over-the-top Christmas-themed restaurant. In previous years, I have decorated pretty minimally, where we would put up the tree and a few lights. That’s all. Now, it’s amazing how having a child of my own has completely brought back the magic, perhaps even more".
She also said: "Creating the cosiest, most over-the-top and special environment for not only her, but myself, has brought out my inner child and it has been the most fun project for me".
Claire begins with assembling an impressive garland to her ceiling, which cost $200 (£166) from Home Depot, and adding lights collected over the years for an extra pinch of magic.
However, one of her tricks for creating a “winter wonderland” abode on a budget is wrapping her walls with cheap patterned gift paper, which only cost her $3 (£2.50).
In total, she spent an estimated $613 (£499.15) on the transformation, with around 20 hours clocked in overall for the DIY masterpiece.
In the video, she begins by walking down her staircase as the magical theme tune from the festive blockbuster, Elf, plays in the background.
As she turns the corner, a Christmas tree-themed garland has been wrapped around banisters and draped across the ceiling, with matching candy cane fairy lights brightening up the space.
While her magical tree sits in the center of the room, there’s also a red bow and two pictures covered with wrapping paper that are warmly lit.
Other impressive features include a tartan-wrapped wall, multi-coloured lights and mini trees decorating the fireplace and mantle piece, along with tinsel found in every corner.
In a bid to pay attention to the finer details, there’s also a miniature village set up, complete with cotton wool snow and little figurines purchasing hot cocoa.
Users flocked to the comments to share their reactions, with many left in awe at the “masterpiece.”
A mum-of-one has gone viral after showcasing her latest DIY project – a makeshift “winter wonderland” in her living room.
Claire Edwards, 29, from Arkansas, US, has left TikTok users stunned after revealing her home’s transformation just in time for Christmas – and it’s straight out of a movie.
Growing up, she recalls eagerly anticipating the festive season and while her parents didn’t go “crazy” with decorating, there was still a memorable “childlike” excitement feeling every year.
Soon, the “magic” started to disappear and often, she felt like Christmas had “snuck up” on her, where she began to feel stressed, rather than joyful about the holiday.
After giving birth to her little girl, Goldie, one, who she shares with her husband, Gray, the mum quickly found her “inner child” and decided to deck out their home in all things festive.
In a clip uploaded on TikTok, which has racked up 10.3 million views and three million likes, Claire shows viewers a tour around her homemade grotto.
While many are in awe at her creation, with lights and ornaments encompassing the space, lots of people are questioning if it’s all worth it – especially due to the cost of living crisis.
“I’m often told: ‘Just wait for that electrical bill’ and I always say that it’s an associated cost of my Christmas cheer and to me, it’s totally worth it,” she told NeedToKnow.Online.
“In the spirit of transparency, I will be updating all my followers with how much extra our November and December light bill turns out to be.
“The inspiration for this year’s theme came from seeing a video of Rolf’s in New York, an over-the-top Christmas themed restaurant.
“In previous years, I have decorated pretty minimally, where we would put up the tree and a few lights – that’s all.
“Now, it’s amazing how having a child of my own has completely brought back the magic, perhaps even more.
“Creating the cosiest, most over-the-top and special environment for not only her, but myself, has brought out my inner child and it has been the most fun project for me.”
Claire begins with assembling an impressive garland to her ceiling, which cost $200 (£166) from Home Depot and adding lights collected over the years for an extra pinch of magic.
However, one of her tricks for creating a “winter wonderland” abode on a budget is wrapping her walls with cheap patterned gift paper – which only cost her $3 (£2.50).
In total, she spent an estimated $613 (£499.15) on the transformation, with around 20 hours clocked in overall for the DIY masterpiece.
In the video, she begins with walking down her staircase as the magical theme tune from the festive blockbuster, Elf, plays in the background.
As she turns the corner, a Christmas tree-themed garland has been wrapped around bannisters and draped across the ceiling, with matching candy cane fairy lights brightening up the space.
While her magical tree sits within the centre of the room, there’s also a red bow and two pictures covered with wrapping paper that are warmly lit.
Other impressive features include a tartan wrapped wall, multi-coloured lights and mini trees decorating the fireplace and mantle piece, along with tinsel found in every corner.
In a bid to pay attention to the finer details, there’s also a miniature village set up, complete with cotton wool snow and little figurines purchasing hot cocoa.
Users flocked to the comments to share their reactions, with many left in awe at the “masterpiece.”
“A MASTERPIECE,” one person commented, followed by three crying emojis.
Another person added: “TikTok’s have never made me cry until this moment. Once your daughter is older she is going to remember Christmas at mom and dads forever.”
“PLEASE keep doing this your daughter will always think Christmas is so magical,” someone else commented.
One user said: “It’s giving ‘home alone’ movie vibes.”
“CLAIREEEE. I feel like it’s just all of the OG Christmas movies combined in one giant warm hug,” another person added. [sic]
She said: “I didn’t expect the reaction it’s gotten. Almost ten million people have seen it now and my favourite reaction is people saying: ‘This is what Christmas felt like as a kid.’
“Apparently, several people are married to the Grinch, because I had comments about how their husbands would never allow such a thing – but mine loves it.
“I decided to share the process because I knew it’d be fun to watch and generally, the homemaker influencers have muted colour, neutral ornaments, which isn’t me.
“I wanted to recreate the feeling of visiting a mall during Christmas in the 90s and I thought, let’s go in the complete opposite direction.
“I don’t care if people think it’s too much, I want it to be too much.
“I’ll never forget the first year I realised the tree looked small to me and I missed that feeling of being a kid and staring up at it – it’s why as an adult I like to have a huge tree.”
Although she’s enjoyed her DIY project, the mum-of-one believes this will be a one-off transformation – especially while her little one is too young to understand.
Claire added: “I’ve always enjoyed decorating for Christmas and I’ve never come close to going this over-the-top before.
“Since I stay home with my daughter, I had time to put into this and I really enjoyed doing it, but I don’t think she’s quite old enough to care.
“However, I do think she feeds off my energy, which lately, has been extremely jolly.
“I’ll be documenting the full clean up process, but for now, I’ll be sipping my hot cocoa under the lights and feeling like a kid again.”
COST BREAKDOWN:
Garland – $200
Fairy lights – $100
Gift wrap – $3
Mini trees – $25
Christmas tree – $250
Miniature village – $35
Total: $613
ENDS
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