Each year, when the holidays are over, it seems to take forever to take down and pack away the decorations. And some are always missed. (There's a Nativity in an upstairs bookshelf that hasn't moved in three years.) Yet, before all that, when the decorations are first being brought out and placed around the house, there never seem to be enough. Only a couple of little areas in the house have very much Christmas going on.
It's kind of sad. And not in the heartwarming Charlie Brown kind of way.
No, our house just seems sort of bare. Granted, there isn't much of a holiday budget this year, but aren't there nice, inexpensive ways to make each room feel Christmas-y?
Go out to the woods and get lots of greenery and put it in bowls and vases and mantles and drape on picture frames. Take balls of white and red and green and gold yarn and put it in clear glass containers. Use your Christmas cards as decorations. Knit tiny socks and hats and make a swag out of them. Not that I do any of these things but you can!!
ReplyDeleteOH and hang lights inside. And hang ornaments from light fixtures (I actually do that).
ReplyDeleteMORE IDEAS!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2068322/White-House-Christmas-Michelle-Obama-unveils-holiday-decorations.html
Definitely try the 'create your animals out of garbage bags' idea!
I'd forego every empty space if I could get Secret Service agents to just hang out here. THAT would be a Christmas.
ReplyDeleteTry Goodwill. I'd bet a lot of people get rid of stuff especially after the holidays. Or the dollar store might have some good loot. I'm always taken in by the cool Christmas goo-gaws at Pier One etc, but there's no way I'll spend that much for something that is going to sit out for only a few weeks.
ReplyDeleteThough most people go for elegantay, I have to admit that we have a lot of the cheapo, cardboard decorations that you can buy at drugstores or dollar stores. They are Christmas-y and make me happy when I see them.
ReplyDeleteAlso, just lighting, candles - even regular ones you have around - makes it seem festive to me.
I just finished an Advent Calendar garland, and the pattern was free - it's little hats and mittens, and really fun to make! You wouldn't even need to make the garland to have some cute little decorations.