holiday Get-in-the-Mood Decorating Tips

Holiday Get-in-the-Mood
Decorating Tips…

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Fill your car with Christmas scent

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Call a childhood friend whom you haven't talked to in a long while

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Take out an old photo album and look through it with your family

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Wear red to bed

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Brew something wonderful - spiced tea or mulled cider with cloves to drink
while you wrap presents.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Send a video "greeting card" to a friend or relative,
they are fun to make and a refreshing pleasure to receive

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Give a gift of time or money to charity

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Answer the phone "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays"

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Christmas Stockings - parents get sentimental about trinkets that their
children leave behind as they grow up (old scout pins, charms from
necklaces and bracelets, favorite shells and pebbles, and other
memory-making little toys and baubles are hard to part with. Instead of
tossing these items, use them to dress up Christmas stockings. Stitch, pin,
or tie these treasures to the top, edge, body of the stocking and you'll
have a family keepsake to cherish and one they can treasure
and pass on to their children.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Bring out that favorite glass punch bowl you save for only special
occasions. Fill it with oranges that have cloves inserted all around them, holly leaves, apples and cinnamon sticks for a refreshing sent.
Variation: Fill the punch bowl with glass ornaments and
frilly fancy tree garland and pine boughs.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Have an old sled in the shed/attic? If not hunt one down at a garage
sale. Then decorate it with garlands of balsam or holly (the entire length
of the sled), add a strand of white lights placed on top of the boughs. Add
a broad Christmas ribbon at the top. Pine cones can also be added. This
sled adds a festive touch to any room when placed in a corner or leaned
against a wall (make sure you plug in the lights).

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Want to dress up a fireplace mantel, side table or piano for the
holidays, simply photocopy a selection of your favorite hymns or carols
from books you can find at the public library (the more elaborately designed the
pages, the better). Place them in small gold (fancy edged) frames. Place
about four side by side with some greenery and pine cones set in front of
them. Add some nice gold ball ornaments in the greenery as well.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Tired of finding a way to display your Christmas Cards - make a
beautiful display case by simply hinging together two to four louvered
wooden shutters (you can paint a festive color if desired). Then just slip
the cards in the slots. The rack can stand in any room, or buy small
shutters to set on a table.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Have a sunny window. Place an assortment of vinegar, wine and perfume
bottles filled with green and red colored water (use food coloring). This
gives a festive stained-glass effect.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Ice Sculpture Luminary.

Using a 5 gallon bucket, put a bowl in top, let it freeze. Remove both the
bucket and the bowl. In the hollow of the ice pillar, place a candle.
Place on the front steps where there is nothing to catch on fire and the light shines
through the ice for an added effect.
These can be made on a smaller scale using milk cartons and jugs
and are especially pretty for guests to walk past coming to your party.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Some Holiday Tips You Should Know

To freshen soiled holiday candles and artificial holiday florals, wipe
with rubbing alcohol.

To re-use gift wrap, turn paper wrong side up, spray lightly with
starch, and press with a warm iron.

Save pretty bows from packages in plastic bags. Blow the bag up before
tying it shut to keep the bows from being crushed.

Butter the outside cut on cheese to keep it from drying out in the
refrigerator.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Some of these ideas are from a fabulous site…
get set for fun when you visit
http://dcrafts.com/cmasideas.htm
and some ideas were submitted by visitors to our web site.
Thanks to everyone!