| Let me say this is my favorite reason to decorate! | | | | the couch, and add a lot of holiday spirit to the room! |
| Here you will find the reason this issue is so special, | | | | (Hint: use old blankets as batting- if you don't have any, |
| great ideas for the holidays, all of them easy on the | | | | check your thrift stores. Just be sure to wash in hot |
| pocketbook, and some of them are free! Have a | | | | water, and dry at least 20 minutes in your dryer. White |
| wonderful holiday, and remember to stop every day to | | | | flat twin sheets on sale make great backing fabric.) |
| "smell the roses"!For a beautiful outdoor wreath(or | | | | Cut two of a simple holiday shape from felt, then sew |
| indoor) without spending a fortune on craft supplies, try | | | | or fuse them together, decorate with permanent |
| to remember you need not cover the wreath with | | | | markers or fabric paint (if you wish), and hang all over |
| decoration to make it special. Try just a few craft | | | | the house! Some very simple shapes could include |
| store "picks" in one corner, with a big bow. Or get | | | | stars, packages(glue or paint on some ribbon), mittens, |
| some wire star garland (.69 cents at my store)and just | | | | snowmen, boots, Christmas trees, stockings, candy |
| wrap it loosely around the wreath. Hot glue some | | | | canes, gingerbread men (trace them from your cookie |
| found pinecones to a corner, or try some old wooden | | | | cutters) and the list goes on! If you have a rustic |
| ornaments. You also don't necessarily need to buy an | | | | theme this year, it's not necessary to embellish them at |
| expensive evergreen wreath to decorate, and | | | | all!Place a few inexpensive glass balls in a bowl and |
| inexpensive grapevine or straw wreath can be | | | | embellish with a few sprigs of greenery or some |
| dressed up as well. Spray paint clay pots and saucers | | | | leftover ribbon. If you don't have an extra bowl (it is the |
| a metallic gold for sparkling coasters and utensil or | | | | holidays, after all!) try decoupaging a box with leftover |
| candle holders for the season.If you have extra lights | | | | Christmas wrap, or cover with a little fabric and |
| after stringing the tree, wind some through your potted | | | | glue.Take down your pictures and wrap them like a |
| plants for a special way to bring the sparkle throughout | | | | gift, then hang them back on the wall for great holiday |
| the room.For a simple but beautiful centerpiece, set | | | | cheer! You don't have to do this all around the house, |
| three or five candles of different heights in the middle | | | | how about just in the entry, or maybe the dining |
| of the table on a tray, then surround the bases of the | | | | room?Place votive or pillar candles on a small mirror |
| candles with seasonal items. Low cost ideas? Cuttings | | | | used as a tray. Tie sprigs of greens or cinnamon |
| from your Christmas tree, or from evergreen | | | | sticks on the candles with ribbon or raffia. Be sure the |
| trimmings in your yard are a great first layer. Then | | | | flame is far enough away from the |
| how about shiny apples, glass ornaments turned | | | | embellishments!Make paper trees out of a square of |
| hanger side down, found pinecones, nuts, wire star | | | | pretty paper, preferably use a paper that is a little stiff. |
| garland, leftover ribbon... By the way, the same idea | | | | Simply roll the paper into a cone, and glue the edge |
| can be used for Thanksgiving, just substitute fall | | | | with a hot glue gun. Perhaps some gold glitter or |
| leaves, squashes, mini pumpkins, etc...Buy those bags | | | | squiggles of paint to dress them up, and they will be |
| of cranberries when they go on sale for $1, and fill | | | | beautiful on your mantel or as a centerpiece with |
| bowls that hold pillar candles, or fill a simple glass of | | | | greens. Try experimenting with different colors and |
| water with them to just a few inches below the top, | | | | textures...this would be a great place to use leftover |
| and put a floating candle in. Nuts can work the same | | | | cardstock or handmade paper! You could also do this |
| way, but they tend to be more expensive. However, is | | | | with a piece of stiffened fabric.Tie greens or |
| you have a nut tree in your yard...Hollow out the center | | | | ornaments to the chandelier with a little Christmas |
| of an apple as a candleholder, and tuck a few tiny | | | | ribbon, just make sure they don't hang low enough for |
| greens in between the candle and the apple. Just be | | | | any candles on the table to catch them on fire.Above |
| sure the flame never comes near the twigs. A little | | | | all, be creative, and have a wonderful holiday with |
| lemon juice sprinkled on the cut part of the apple will | | | | those you care about!Kathleen Wilson is an author, |
| help keep it from browning as much.Have a lot of | | | | columnist, and editor of The Budget Decorator and |
| scrap Christmas fabric from years past? Use it to | | | | other popular websites. |
| make a simple square patchwork quilt as a throw for | | | | |