| Whether you are wealthy or not you probably | | | | embroidered on it or it can be a special pattern or |
| want to decorate your home or office for the | | | | even vintage cloth. |
| Christmas holiday. Decorations are a part of this | | | | You will simply make the cuff whatever size you |
| festive time of year. But it is true that | | | | like and sew it to the top of the stocking by |
| decorations can be very expensive. Not to worry | | | | placing the wrong sides of the stocking piece |
| though, you can have a beautifully decorated area | | | | together with the right side of the cuff fabric |
| while on a tight budget. Really, decorating for | | | | pieces. Then turn the stocking right-side out, fold |
| Christmas can be done inexpensively. | | | | the cuff down over the top and trim it out |
| Plus, by using your imagination and being creative | | | | anyway you like. You can hem the cuff or simply |
| your decorations will be uniquely yours. Consider | | | | fold and iron the edge under. |
| fragrances as part of the Christmas fanfare. We | | | | Christmas trees can be expensive but there is a |
| associate particular smells with different activities | | | | way to cut down on that cost. I suggest using a |
| and times of the year. An easy way to add a | | | | smaller tree, whether it is live or artificial. Even |
| wonderful fragrance and a decorating touch is to | | | | table-top trees can add a special holiday glow to |
| use cloves and citrus fruit. | | | | the room. This offers an easy way to create a |
| This is a quick and easy project. You can use | | | | wonderfully lavish vignette. You can wrap small |
| oranges, tangerines, grapefruit, or whatever | | | | empty boxes to place under and around the tree |
| pleases you. I suggest using a large embroidery | | | | or use collectibles that you already have. Consider |
| needle to pierce the fruit peeling. Try various | | | | filling a candy dish with small ornaments. |
| designs and patterns. Then all you have to do is | | | | Use Christmas cards as a treasured decoration. |
| insert whole cloves into the holes. Mix the fruit in | | | | Consider using long strips of wide ribbon as a way |
| a bowl or on a platter. You can add ribbons, | | | | to hang the cards. All you will need to do is cut |
| pinecones and other decorative touches. | | | | the ribbon to the length of your choice and attach |
| Fire light adds warmth and a welcoming effect to | | | | it to the wall or door. I use tacks for that. Then |
| a room. You can get that effect even if you do | | | | use a sharp knife point to cut slits into the cards. |
| not have a fireplace. Gather all your candles into | | | | You will simply weave the ribbon through the slits. |
| arrangements. Depending on the candles you may | | | | As you get more cards you can move them up |
| want to add some glue and glitter to the | | | | the ribbon and you can always hang several |
| container or base. Use garland, ribbon and | | | | ribbons together. You can add large glass beads |
| pinecones to add a more festive look at the base | | | | or other decorations at the bottom of the ribbons |
| of the candles. You can add actual tree | | | | as anchors. |
| ornaments as well. Adding colorful fruit also adds | | | | A little imagination and creativity really can go a |
| an interesting touch. | | | | long way to cutting costs. Look for sales on |
| You can easily create stockings to hang. Use any | | | | Christmas decorations a few days before and |
| fabric type available, choosing patterns and colors | | | | right after the holiday. Use any bargain items to |
| of your liking. Create your own stocking pattern, | | | | enhance your own touches next year. You will |
| then cut the two pieces for each stocking and | | | | get new ideas each year. Soon friends and family |
| sew them together. The unique thing about this | | | | will be requesting your advice when they |
| type of stocking is that you can add a cuff at the | | | | decorate. |
| top. This can be plain with a name painted or | | | | |