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10 Great Holiday Decorating Ideas...On a Budget!

Author: Kathleen Wilson

1.First things first. Set a plan or a theme for your Christmas decorating. It doesn�t cost a thing to have a good plan, and when you are working with budget ideas, this is what pulls your ideas together, and makes everything you do look purposeful, and personal. Some theme ideas for Christmas? The rustic lodge xmas, a toyland xmas, countries around the world, Victorian, country, santa, snowmen, old fashioned, the list goes on and on!

2. Make garlands out of felt scraps. Cut Xmas shapes out of felt in miniature, mini stockings, holly leaves, mittens, and string together with needle and floss or strong fishing line to hang all over the house. Remember when you string each shape, tie a knot on both sides of the shape to hold it in its place. You can add more dimension to the shapes by cutting two of each, stuffing them lightly, them sewing the two together. Glue would work also if you aren�t a sewer. Saved used dryer sheets are perfect for this kind of stuffing, or even tiny fabric scraps that are too small for other uses.

3.Drop a tealight candle in your cleaned out glass mayonnaise jars, tie a holiday ribbon around the neck, and you have a beautiful candle with xmas charm. You could nestle the candle in peppermints, nuts, or even sand if you wish. Try grouping several together for a dramatic evening effect. These also make great luminaries.

4. Start a Christmas collection. This can be a great tradition to initiate in your home. My girls and I starting collecting Santas 3 years ago, and it�s something they look forward to, choosing our yearly Santa together. I know it will be a fond memory for them, and I plan to let each child choose a Santa to take with them when the day comes that they leave the nest and start their own home. By the way, this doesn�t have to be expensive, or even store bought. Try sewing or crafting a new decoration each year together for even more memories! Or check out your dollar store�they have some really cute ceramic holiday decorations for a buck or two. Remember, it�s the memories you�re interested in here, not a collectable based on monetary value.

5. If you are looking to do a toyland theme for your Christmas decorating this year, try searching out teddy bears and dolls at your local thrift stores. Wash them in a pillowcase and put them in your dryer for at least 20 minutes, then dress them up with ribbons and holiday fabrics. Group them under your tree, on mantels, and on windowsills. Stack small squares of cardboard together and wrap as a tiny present, then tuck them under a teddy�s arm, or wrap an empty box and use it as teddy�s seat by the front door.

6. Place a few inexpensive glass balls in a bowl and embellish with a few sprigs of greenery or some leftover ribbon. If you don't have an extra bowl (it is the holidays, after all!) try decoupaging a box with leftover Christmas wrap, or cover with a little fabric and glue.

7. Take down your pictures and wrap them like a gift, then hang them back on the wall for great holiday cheer! You don't have to do this all around the house, how about just in the entry, or maybe the dining room?

8. Tie greens or ornaments to the chandelier with a little Christmas ribbon, just make sure they don't hang low enough for any candles on the table to catch them on fire.

9. Make your own gift tags out of leftover paper. Ok, this is not a new idea, but try punching it up a bit. Add details by layering shapes over the base paper, use paper punches and scalloped scrapbooking scissors to add style, use a gold calligraphy pen to add names. Or use the scalloped scissors to make old holiday cards into tags.

10. Sponge stars or other seasonal shapes on your window with paint! No, I�m not nuts. Just add a teaspoon or so of liquid dish soap to acrylic craft paint, (I like white or gold metallic) and after the holidays you should be able to wash it off with window cleaner. Use a non- scratching dish scrubber if you come across a stubborn spot.

There it is, the 10 best budget decorating ideas for Holiday decorating! Always remember the most important reason we celebrate, and the reason we take the time to make our homes warm and inviting�our loved ones! Have a wonderful holiday season!

About the Author

Kathleen Wilson is the author of �Quick Decorating Ideas Under $20:The Budget Decorator�s Bible� and the editor of The Budget Decorator, a free ezine dedicated to the �budget impaired� home decorator. Visit her at http://www.TheBudgetDecorator.com for more great ideas.

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Scrapbooking

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10 Great Holiday Decorating Ideas...On a Budget!

Author: Kathleen Wilson

1.First things first. Set a plan or a theme for your Christmas decorating. It doesn�t cost a thing to have a good plan, and when you are working with budget ideas, this is what pulls your ideas together, and makes everything you do look purposeful, and personal. Some theme ideas for Christmas? The rustic lodge xmas, a toyland xmas, countries around the world, Victorian, country, santa, snowmen, old fashioned, the list goes on and on!

2. Make garlands out of felt scraps. Cut Xmas shapes out of felt in miniature, mini stockings, holly leaves, mittens, and string together with needle and floss or strong fishing line to hang all over the house. Remember when you string each shape, tie a knot on both sides of the shape to hold it in its place. You can add more dimension to the shapes by cutting two of each, stuffing them lightly, them sewing the two together. Glue would work also if you aren�t a sewer. Saved used dryer sheets are perfect for this kind of stuffing, or even tiny fabric scraps that are too small for other uses.

3.Drop a tealight candle in your cleaned out glass mayonnaise jars, tie a holiday ribbon around the neck, and you have a beautiful candle with xmas charm. You could nestle the candle in peppermints, nuts, or even sand if you wish. Try grouping several together for a dramatic evening effect. These also make great luminaries.

4. Start a Christmas collection. This can be a great tradition to initiate in your home. My girls and I starting collecting Santas 3 years ago, and it�s something they look forward to, choosing our yearly Santa together. I know it will be a fond memory for them, and I plan to let each child choose a Santa to take with them when the day comes that they leave the nest and start their own home. By the way, this doesn�t have to be expensive, or even store bought. Try sewing or crafting a new decoration each year together for even more memories! Or check out your dollar store�they have some really cute ceramic holiday decorations for a buck or two. Remember, it�s the memories you�re interested in here, not a collectable based on monetary value.

5. If you are looking to do a toyland theme for your Christmas decorating this year, try searching out teddy bears and dolls at your local thrift stores. Wash them in a pillowcase and put them in your dryer for at least 20 minutes, then dress them up with ribbons and holiday fabrics. Group them under your tree, on mantels, and on windowsills. Stack small squares of cardboard together and wrap as a tiny present, then tuck them under a teddy�s arm, or wrap an empty box and use it as teddy�s seat by the front door.

6. Place a few inexpensive glass balls in a bowl and embellish with a few sprigs of greenery or some leftover ribbon. If you don't have an extra bowl (it is the holidays, after all!) try decoupaging a box with leftover Christmas wrap, or cover with a little fabric and glue.

7. Take down your pictures and wrap them like a gift, then hang them back on the wall for great holiday cheer! You don't have to do this all around the house, how about just in the entry, or maybe the dining room?

8. Tie greens or ornaments to the chandelier with a little Christmas ribbon, just make sure they don't hang low enough for any candles on the table to catch them on fire.

9. Make your own gift tags out of leftover paper. Ok, this is not a new idea, but try punching it up a bit. Add details by layering shapes over the base paper, use paper punches and scalloped scrapbooking scissors to add style, use a gold calligraphy pen to add names. Or use the scalloped scissors to make old holiday cards into tags.

10. Sponge stars or other seasonal shapes on your window with paint! No, I�m not nuts. Just add a teaspoon or so of liquid dish soap to acrylic craft paint, (I like white or gold metallic) and after the holidays you should be able to wash it off with window cleaner. Use a non- scratching dish scrubber if you come across a stubborn spot.

There it is, the 10 best budget decorating ideas for Holiday decorating! Always remember the most important reason we celebrate, and the reason we take the time to make our homes warm and inviting�our loved ones! Have a wonderful holiday season!

About the Author

Kathleen Wilson is the author of �Quick Decorating Ideas Under $20:The Budget Decorator�s Bible� and the editor of The Budget Decorator, a free ezine dedicated to the �budget impaired� home decorator. Visit her at http://www.TheBudgetDecorator.com for more great ideas.

...

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I Didn't Know These Are Slowly Destroying My Scrapbooks!

Author: Palyn Peterson

Once you spend your precious time and energy creating a
scrapbook, make sure it lasts! There are a few simple
things you can easily do to ensure that your scrapbooks look
just as good as the day you finished them, for years to
come.

The first thing to avoid is paper that is not lignin-free.
You've probably heard that before, and it is true, but what
is lignin anyways? Lignin is a stiff component of a plant
that quite literally holds it together. Although lignin is
necessary for plants and trees, you want nothing to do with
it! After a while, lignin will cause photos, fabrics and
other paper that touch it to turn brown. Yes, lignin-free
paper does cost more, but it is a vital part of preserving
your cherished scrapbooks.

If the paper is not lignin-free, it will eventually discolor
your photos and other materials touching it. So when buying
paper for your scrapbooking projects, be sure to look for
packages that say "lignin-free," because if it doesn't say
it, then it most likely isn't.

Fabric is a big concern for preserving your scrapbooks, but
unfortunately it is often overlooked. Many people assume
that all fabrics are acid-free, but they aren't. Silk
actually goes through an acid bath during the manufacturing
process, as well as many tie-dyed fabrics. This isn't to
discourage you from using it, not all. Just try to make
sure that no photos directly touch fabric, and if you need
them to overlap, make sure there is a layer of paper between
the two.

Another consideration when using fabrics is if the color
will bleed off onto your page and other things touching it.
To test for this, cut a square inch off and soak it in a
glass of water over night. If there is no color bleeding
from it the next day, then there isn't any risk to your
scrapbook. But if you do see color in the water, or
collecting at the bottom of the glass then don't use that
fabric in your scrapbook at all.

When using glitter, be sure there is a top layer of spray
adhesive to lock them down, or better yet use special
glitter glue where the glitter is mixed right in. If this is
not done right the glitter will slowly fall off, and loose
glitter means scratched photos.

After you have planned the layout for your photos, be sure
that you are using the right kind of mounting tape for them!
Regular mounting tape is fine for buttons and bottle caps,
but when it come to mounting photos you need to use special
photo mounting tape which is completely acid-free. If you
don't, your photos will slowly discolor. The tape should
say "acid-free" right on the packaging.

These are just a few simple things you can do to ensure that
your scrapbooks last and last.

About the Author

Palyn Peterson publishes "Scrapbooking News"
Get more FREE scrapbooking tips, tricks and techniques.
http://www.Expert-Scrapbooking.com
Claim your free gift now!

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