Things You'll Need:
- Decorations, time and money to purchase or the ability to make some home-made festive decorations!
- Some new decorations and some that are passed down through our families are items with which I like to decorate my home
- Creativity (it will help you save money)
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Step 1
This year, I began decorating during Halloween because our neighborhood was having a "porch tour" so I was a step ahead in that I hung white lights around the roof of our porch. I suggest that at the very least, you have SOME outdoor lighting.
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Step 2
If you do not like traditional lights, you may prefer something more crafty like the "Star of David" candle holder that I made to hang from my shepherd's hook (Please see article on "How to Make a 'Star of David' Candleholder" as one of your outside decorations. This is placed to the right of my stairs and leads one to my next display--a natural looking basket filled with pine cones, bark and sweet gum balls that have been accented with glitter, gold thread and red and green yarn. Below that, I have a metal sleigh that I bought at a sale (for almost nothing, so if it is stolen, I'm not out a lot of money nor will I miss a family heirloom! It, too, is filled with pine cones and sweet gum balls.
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Step 3
This is a photo of my Grapevine Holiday Tree - Please seeMy next stop is my Grapevine Christmas tree (Please see "How to Make a Holiday Grapevine Tree") with colorful lights at night and red bows and beads that make the tree look festive during daylight hours. My father started making the Grapevine trees years ago and made them for himself, my sister and me. Then he began taking requests.
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Step 4
This is my front door - decorated for the holidays!When you look at the door, I have an artificial evergreen wreath that I embellished with red berries in the center, red ribbon with gold trim and a gold trumpet.
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Step 5
A photo of my Christmas tree complete with Nativity scene!When you walk into my home, you are greeted with an angel hanging over the doorway of my entryway into the living room. My Christmas tree is to your right, complete with antique glass balls, candy canes and a mix of more modern ornaments. Under the tree sits a large porcelain Nativity scene made by my mother (my father made the manger). The tree skirt is a simple green with holly berries around the edges. On the top bookshelf sits a small twig Christmas tree that remains decorated with ornaments and lights year-round. I've added a few trinkets (like a red candle and a small brass Christmas tree) to the other bookshelves.
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Step 6
Two stockings hang from my mantle, one for my husband and the other for me!In my front and side windows, I have placed groupings of white electric candles. In the front window there is also a Santa who sings and dances to "Twist and Shout." My mantle is decorated with a collection of old and new Christmas novelties. In my left upper stained glass window, I have filled a large vase with both medium and small glass balls that I inherited from my grandparents and do not have room for on my tree. I have two handmade (I made them when I was about 14) stockings, one for my husband and the other for myself. He has not yet caught on to the idea of filling mine.
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Step 7
This is my dining room table decorated for the holidays!Through the French doors, which are framed with this year's Christmas cards, you walk into my dining room. I have adorned the table with a red a green woven scarf (I didn't have a table runner) and layered on top is a white doily (made by my grandmother) with red flowers around the edges. A small arrangement of artificial holly and berries surrounded by red tapered candles (surrounding a smaller candle) is centered on top.
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Step 8
A bit of tradition joins a bit of whimsy on my antique bookshelf!I have placed my husband's grandmother's ceramic tree (with lights) on an antique bookshelf. Beside the tree is a ceramic tree door stop, and then there is a whimsical singing moose who sings "Santa Claus is Coming to Town."
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Step 9
I have collected Christmas decorations since I was a child and my family went to Frankenmuth, MI each year during the holidays. Each year I would add to my collection. Then, when I graduated from college and was interviewing for reporting jobs, I bought an ornament from each town I visited. My husband told me, our first year together, that he had no Christmas decorations (he looked very sad), so each year, I purchase a new ornament either for him or us. This year I added a golden lamb from the restaurant where we dined with his parents for Thanksgiving.
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Step 10
A small, flashing tree sits atop my computer!I have even decorated our bathroom with Santa lights and our bedroom has our old lights hanging above the bed. It makes it unnecessary to turn regular lights on or off because they create quite a bit of light! In my kitchen, I have a white woven bowl with Christmas towels and I have Christmas "kitty" oven mitts and pot holders.
Not even my computer is safe! -
Step 11
There are decorating ideas all around! If you see a display and decide that you would like a piece of it in your home, just do it! In my opinion, there is no over-decorating when it comes to Christmas!
Comments
Susang6 said
on 10/20/2008 I love all Holidays but this article gets me in the mood for Christams.