| Want to avoid accumulating more Christmas | | | | This can be enhanced by adding bits of curly |
| decorations that will likely end up packed away in | | | | ribbon throughout the display. Golden ribbon with |
| boxes or thrown out in our landfills? Consider | | | | red or green apples make a particularly elegant |
| making decorations out of items that you have | | | | decoration. |
| around the house. Rather than making decorations | | | | Nuts are a great holiday snack. Place these in a |
| out of plastic or tin, turn to nature. Food can | | | | crystal long-stemmed glass and tie a red or green |
| make great holiday decor. Sure, gingerbread | | | | bow to the stem. These are great to place |
| houses and cookies with red and green sprinkles | | | | throughout the home on coffee tables, end tables, |
| are festive, but do not overlook the power of | | | | or on the mantel. Roasted pumpkin seeds, also |
| natural foods, like fruits and vegetables. | | | | called pepitas, are green seeds that taste great |
| The holidays seem to center around eating. | | | | and look fabulous when paired with dried |
| Natural food not only tastes great and makes | | | | cranberries. White chocolate complements this |
| you feel good, but it is full of natural beauty. | | | | fruit-and-seed combination when placed in a clear |
| Cranberries, cherries, beets, and pomegranates | | | | glass bowl together. |
| are rich in red color. Asparagus, leafy greens, and | | | | Do not underestimate the power of cranberries |
| Brussels sprouts come in many of shades of | | | | as a Christmas decoration. These little red fruits |
| green. The apple may be red, green, or golden. | | | | are affordable and last a long time. You can float |
| These items are likely in your kitchen right now, | | | | these in a glass bowl partially filled with water, and |
| so you can start building edible holiday decorations | | | | they may last as long as a week or more. Adding |
| without any planning. | | | | white flowers to the floating cranberries makes a |
| Natural foods can be used to create grand | | | | calming and peaceful decoration. Filling a glass vase |
| centerpieces. A bunch of asparagus can make a | | | | with some cranberries is a great idea too. If you |
| great rustic centerpiece. When the spears are | | | | do this, try adding some medium-sized gold or |
| bunched together with a rubber band, they stand | | | | white ornaments to the vase as well. You will be |
| upright quite easily. The bunch can be set in the | | | | amazed at how nice it looks. |
| middle of the table. A small ornament can be | | | | Of course, you can always string popcorn. Maybe |
| secured to the rubber band that holds the spears | | | | you want to get a little more creative this year |
| together. From there, you wrap garland around | | | | and string some cranberries with that popcorn! |
| the base. This looks particularly natural and festive | | | | Although gumdrops certainly are not a natural |
| with an evergreen garland, although any type of | | | | food, they sure make good stringing, and nothing |
| garland can be used. The garland acts as a | | | | looks better on a white Christmas tree than a |
| disguise to cover the base of the vegetables and | | | | string of multicolored gumdrops! |
| the rubber band. Because of its rustic nature, this | | | | Get creative this Christmas, help save the planet, |
| centerpiece would be a great choice if your home | | | | and save some money by making your own |
| is located in a rural area near the woods or if | | | | decorations with food. They are fun, inexpensive, |
| your are celebrating the holidays at your cottage | | | | and you can eat them! Go to your kitchen now |
| or cabin. Placing large fruits in a bowl or on a cake | | | | and get started! |
| pedestal makes a great holiday centerpiece too. | | | | |