Holiday Decorating

Holidays 2007

HOLIDAY
HOW-TO:
Decorate like
a design pro
Reinvent your
light show
Deck the halls
DIY-style
Create a card Imagine,
worth keeping
Shine the spotlight on
holiday collectibles Create,
Enjoy!
Let do-it-yourself ideas be
your guide to holiday décor

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Holiday Decorating | 2007

Holiday
Decorating
2007
Fetch those boxes stuffed with tinsel and bulbs, untangle the
mini lights and warm up the cocoa – it’s time to turn your
house into a winter wonderland. Prepare for the most won-
derful time of the year by incorporating your favorite holiday
icons throughout your home. ’Tis the season to be jolly!

In This Issue:
Handmade, Heartfelt:
Getty Images

How We Deck The Halls Now

Reinvent your holiday home with DIY decorations
for every room

Welcome to Your
Holiday Home
More intimate than outdoor lights that scream
down the block, front-door decorations invite
guests in with a hint of the holiday décor style yet to come

Get the LED Out

Reinvent your light show this holiday season with energy-efficient LED lights

Showcase Your Collections

’Tis the season for collectors. Holidays come but once a year, so here’s how to col-
lect and decorate in style

Tips From the Top

Holiday decorating doesn’t have to be a challenge. Here’s how to make it fun,
memorable and beautiful from holiday pros who know their way around a tree

All Shades of Green

No need to choose – there’s room in your home for both real and artificial green-
ery. Here’s how to spice up your holiday décor

Not Your Grandma’s Holiday Cards

Holiday cards are developing into an art, going beyond mere greetings, becoming
part of holiday décor with music, photos, pop-ups and more

Holiday Bookshelf
How-to Holiday: Festive ideas for spreading holiday cheer throughout your home

Stocking Stuffers
Stop dreaming of a red-and-green Christmas ... Show me the tree ... DIY holiday
decoration idea: Family photo mobile

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 Holiday Decorating | 2007
Handmade, Heartfelt:
How We Deck
The Halls Now
iStockphoto
Reinvent your holiday home with
DIYdecorations for every room
BY MARY K.FONS
CTW Features
W
hether it’s a popsicle-
stick reindeer, a cot-
ton ball snowman, or
a milk-carton dreidel,
being a kid around the holidays
means a lot of handmade holiday
crafts.
But why should the kids have
all the fun?
“Making my own holiday deco-
rations makes me think of how
joyful Christmas was when I was
younger,” says Shelley Yankus,
co-owner of Atlanta’s RELICbou-
tique. “It is so easy to become
Grinch-like around Christmas as
an adult. Listening to some Christ-
mas music, creating a decoration
from scratch, and feeling a little
slice of the happiness I enjoyed as
a child is good for my soul.”
This idea of sitting down for
some do-it-yourself decorating –
especially around the holidays –
has been gaining ground in the
past few years. “I think art and
music in general blossomed and
took on new meaning and impor-
tance after 9/11,” Yankus says.
“More people wanted to create
art; to unwind after working a 9-
to-5 job, to de-stress, to create a
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tangible thing of beauty. And
some people wanted a career
that meant something to them,
hence the upsurge in DIY cul-
ture.”
Michelle Dortch is owner of
Chel … Domestic Goodies, a
Chicago business she founded to
capitalize on her talent for craft-
ing. Dortch believes that hand-
made crafts don’t have to mean
that every last component has to
be made from scratch. “When it
comes to [DIY] decorating, it’s
about the combination of what
you find at retail and what you
create with your own hands. The
easy stuff is what you pick up –
what you create really speaks
about who you are, the care that
is behind the craft and how it is
customized for your home.”
“A lot of us tend to over-deco-
rate for the holidays, then won-
der why we get depressed when
it all has to be put away” says Fre-
ligh. “Don’t try to use everything
every year, no matter what your
family says.” For Freligh, “do it
yourself” means having total free-
dom to decorate in the way that
best fits you and your home.
“Instead of trying to copy dis-
plays from stores or magazines,
take ideas from them and incor-
 2007 | Holiday Decorating

Betty Crocker’s Happy Holidays

porate them into your home’s
style and your family’s personali-
ty. Use colors that go with your
current decor instead of trying to
make everything red and green.”
She adds that a creative DIY
decorator can find uses for items
that aren’t necessarily labeled
“holiday” in the back of the hall
closet. “Use hobbies as a basis for
holiday décor. Bring on the
quilts, dolls, bears and toy collec-
tions that you don’t
have out year-
Getty Images
of your white Christmas lights
and wrap it around the wood
bundle, leaving enough of the
strand to plug it in. Put it in your
fireplace if you have one, or set it
on top of a table or in front of
your tree. Plug her in and presto!
You have a faux fireplace!”
Decorations that also delight
one’s sense of smell – like ginger-
bread houses or candy-cane cre-
ations – are easy to create and
Gingerbread House
Prep Time: 2 hr 30 min
Start to Finish: 3 hr
Gingerbread
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup shortening
1 1/2 cups full-flavor molasses
2/3 cup cold water
7 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground cinna-
mon
Grease two 9-inch square pans and into gingerbread people, or save for
two 15 x 10 x 1-inch rectangular another use. Cool completely, about
pans. In large bowl, mix brown 25 minutes.
sugar, shortening and molasses
3. In medium bowl, beat all frosting
until well blended. Stir in cold water.
ingredients except food colors until
Stir in flour, baking soda, ginger,
smooth enough to spread, beating in
salt, allspice, cloves and cinnamon
additional milk if necessary. Leave
until well blended. Divide dough into
most of frosting white; remove and
three equal pieces. Press one piece
tint small amounts of frosting with
in each rectangular pan. Divide
food colors for decorating.
remaining piece of dough in half;
press in square pans. 4. Cover cardboard or serving platter
with foil. Use frosting to stand front
2. Bake one rectangular pan at a
piece of house on cardboard. Attach
time, then both squares together,
one side to front, then one back to

round.” Displaying Assorted candies about 15 minutes or until no indenta-

side, using frosting. Attach back
beloved knick- tion remains when they’re touched
pieces together at center with frost-
knacks alongside in the center. Cool 5 minutes; turn
ing. Attach remaining side to house.
hand-made crafts Frosting each pan upside down onto large
Attach trim along roof of house;
will quickly turn 6 cups powdered sugar cutting surface. Cut off any rough
attach door and shutters to door and
your home into a 1 cup shortening edges. Immediately cut one rectan-
window openings, using frosting. Fill
haven of holiday 1/3 cup light corn syrup gle into back and front pieces
warmth. 1/4 cup milk any gaps with frosting and small gin-
(including holes for windows and
“There is such a Red, green and yellow gerbread pieces if desired. Decorate
door), and cut other rectangle in half
great reward men- food color, as desired house using remaining frosting and
for side pieces. Cut one square into
tally and visually in 1. Heat oven to 350F. assorted candies, as desired.
trim and shutters; cut extra square
making something
with your hands,”
says Dortch. “We
are so time-
deprived, rushing absolutely amazing, tion pieces. I like to see folks open
here, running there and they’re better their cupboards and use “found
– when we take the than candles because objects” to add to their décor.
time to sit and you don’t have to Look for red caps, plaid blankets,
learn to knit or take remember to blow mittens, grandma’s old plates etc.
a sewing class, we them out!” Drape them, hang them on a
learn how to create Going DIY this sea- hook, stick them in a basket or
something magical son means thinking group candles on them.”
for ourselves. [It’s] “green,” too. Re- And if your finished product
a reward for hectic appropriating old dec- looks a little, well, homemade,
lifestyles.” orations and using that’s a good thing. “I don’t think
Dortch says one natural embellish- there is such a thing as a holiday
of the crafts she will always make leave a lasting impression. “I love ments looks fabulous and cuts decorating no-no,” Yankus says.
time for during the crazy holiday making orange and clove poman- the environment a break, too. “I think people should decorate
season is her “faux fireplace.” To ders,” Yankus says. “You can cre- “The biggest advantage to in whatever style makes them
create this DIY holiday decora- ate tons of different designs or using natural materials in decor is happiest. After all, aren’t the
tion, Dortch suggests buying a spell out words with the cloves. the scent, especially real pine and houses that are totally covered in
pack of pre-cut fireplace wood They look great when grouped eucalyptus, says Freligh. “Group lights and Santa paraphernalia the
from the grocery store. “Bundle together in a bowl as a center- [old ornaments] in baskets, buck- most fun to drive by? They’re hor-
up four to five pieces with natur- piece or hung from ribbons in ets, wooden boxes, or glass ribly wonderful.”
al-colored string. Get one strand windows. The way they smell is bowls. They’ll work as conversa- © CTW Features

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 Holiday Decorating | 2007
Images courtesy of Jeld-Wen
Keep it simple: Creative door
decorations help share holiday
cheer – and your personal style.
BY PATRICIA V.RIVERA
Welcome
CTW Features
L
eslie Linsley can’t imagine
a winter without enjoying
decorations on her front
door that in some way
to Your Holiday Home reflect the holiday cheer.
Even when she is pressed for
time, she will cut some branches
from holly bushes in her front
More intimate than outdoor lights that scream yard and tie a red bow around the
collection.
down the block, front-door decorations invite “It’s just way too easy and it
makes such a difference,” says
guests in with a hint of the holiday décor Linsley, a Nantucket, Mass., shop
style yet to come owner and author of dozens of
décor books, including “A Nan-
tucket Christmas” (Bulfinch,
2006).
Long ago, before front lawns
became North Pole light scener-
ies, the colorful decorations on
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the front doors livened up spirits
of passersby in the dead of win-
ter. Doorway decorations con-
nect to the human spirit. Wreaths
in particular have long symbol-
ized life’s triumph over the forces
of winter. Swags hold religious
significance for Christians.
“Nowadays, they’re a way to
celebrate the season regardless of
your religion,” Linsley says.
A front door, after all, is the
entry to your world. Make it
warm and joyful with options
that range from a few ribbons, a
twist on traditional wreaths or an
elaborate garland arrangement
that drapes around the entire
doorframe.
Think creatively about the nat-
ural resources that may surround
you, along with the overall theme
of your indoor holiday décor.
While developing ideas, repre-
sentatives at Jeld-Wen, Klamath
Falls, Ore., recommend that you
clean the door. Mix one teaspoon
of a gentle cleanser, such as baby
shampoo, with a gallon of water.
Dry thoroughly with a soft cloth.
Then, treat your door as a canvas.
Simple charm
Think simple but enchanting
… like doves. A sole felt dove can
reflect the peaceful holiday spirit.
More daring souls can create
dove-shaped wreaths out of wire
frame.
Or do as Linsley does at her
own home: Gather some fresh
greens, band them together and
place the creation on the front
door. The secret to transforming
a simple arrangement into some-
thing beautiful lies in the ribbon,
Linsley says.
 2007 | Holiday Decorating

“Since you need so little of it,
splurge and find the nicest ribbon
available,” she says. She prefers a
thicker, red, weaved ribbon.
Swags can be made in less
than one hour by wiring three or
four branches of varying lengths.
They can hold all sorts of goodies
like cones, ribbons, candy, ball
ornaments, etc.
Evergreen balls also look clas-
sic on a front door. Insert box-
wood twigs in a plastic foam ball
and later trim it with mistletoe or
holly. Floral design instructor
Richard Bedsole, founder of the
American Institute of Floral Arts,
Atlanta, loves tradition as much
as he adores playing with new
ideas. He suggests finding an eye-
catching oversized Christmas that comes to mind. Be sure to “The additional use of reed
stocking. Hang it alone or stuff it cascade the goodies over the balls also holding battery-operat-
with bubble wrap, foam peanuts front to hide the stuffing and ed candles become small luminar-
or recycled plastic bags. Cut thick foam. ies on the walkway as well to add
Styrofoam sheets and push them to the festive look,” she says.
down until tight and round at the © CTW Features
top. Then insert stems from artifi- Regional in nature
cial poinsettias (natural ones wilt The prospects with wreaths
as soon as they are cut), holly are endless. Often, they incorpo-
berries, bows and anything else rate the bounties of the region. In
the South, magnolia wreaths are
extremely popular. In the North-

Image courtesy of Richard Bedsole

east, sea lovers use scallop
shells on foam wreaths and

Traditional Greetings then fill it in with greenery.

Linsley shares in her book,
“A Nantucket Christmas,”
Richard Bedsole, the chief instructor at The American Twist the wire in another regional tradition: a
Institute of Floral Arts in Atlanta, finds few wreaths as the back around cranberry wreath. She inserts
traditional as the Williamsburg-style holiday wreath. the wired wreath fresh cranberries to the wreath-
The colorful fruit placed in eye-pleasing symmetry also frame until it is form with a long pin stuck
provides a wonderful fragrance of evergreen and citrus. secure. Push the through the center of each
ends of the wire This Williamsburg-style holiday berry. The cranberries should
He starts with a 16-inch wire frame with a 22-inch diam- wreath provides a colorful and be tightly packed circles to
back into the
eter. He uses fruit in sets of three except for lemons; the sweet-smelling welcome. cover the entire front of the
evergreen so that
six lemons distribute the color and serve as a strategic form. Leave the back bare, as it
it won’t scratch
weight in spots. Other fruit selected: fresh red and green will be placed against the front
the surface on which it is resting. Follow this process for door. Then hang with a loop of
apples, green pears, bright orange tangerines and cran-
each piece of fruit carefully and strategically. monofilament or fishing line.
berries. Small pineapples may also be used.
Use one bag of fresh cranberries to string them together Susie Buchanan, an artist for
Place the fruit in a pattern directly on the top or front side Jeld-Wen, says that curvy South-
with a monofilament (fishing line) and a needle. Once
of the wreath. His pattern features a red apple between west architecture often lends
you have one long string of berries or several shorter
a green apple and a green pear to break up the color. He itself to using garland that drapes
strings, wrap the strung cranberries around each piece
alternates the orange tangerine placement with the red around the doorway in the form
of fruit, or simply establish an attractive pattern of your of an arch. She crafts it from indi-
apple. He “clocks” the lemons by placing them in a circu-
own creation. Using the same monofilament-type line, vidual clustered bundles of
lar pattern.
cut several pieces to wrap it around the string of the madrona foliage wired together
The only way to attach heavy fruit to this wreath frame is strung cranberries and feed it through the front of the and over laid onto a floral thick
with wire. Use an 18-inch, 21-gauge wire, cut a sharp wreath around the cranberry string and through the green rope.
point on one end of the wire with a pair of wire cutters. evergreen. Tie it in the back of the wreath around the Decorative elements that are
Push the sharp end through the piece of fruit directly in frame. This will secure the cranberry string and prevent glued into the garland include
the center and through the middle. them from falling loose around the fruit. natural wrapped birch cones,
which double as holders for bat-
Lay the fruit on the face of the wreath and pull the wire Use a very strong metal hanger to secure the wreath to tery-operated candles. Green
around the wire frame of the wreath and cinch down (but the door. Enjoy for several weeks. moss can cushion the lights. To
not too tight, otherwise the wire will rip through the fruit). © CTW Features enhance the presentation for
guests and family, place more
candles in the entryway.

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 Holiday Decorating | 2007

IStockphoto
Get The
LED
Out
Image courtesy of Gatlinburg Department of Tourism

Reinvent your light show

this holiday season with
energy-efficient LED lights
BY LISA BERTAGNOLI
CTW Features
Holiday spirit, inside
now uses LED lights instead of and out: LED lights
traditional incandescent bulbs. bring holiday décor into
“We’ve heard comments that sharper focus anywhere

E
very year, Gatlinburg,
Tenn., goes all-out during
the holidays, festooning
downtown trees, lamp
posts and storefronts with mil-
lions of glittering, colored lights.
This coming holiday season,
the lights will look even more
dazzling than they have in years
past. That’s because Gatlinburg
they’re more attractive and
classier than the traditional
lights,” says Dave Perella, execu-
tive director of the Gatlinburg
Dept. of Tourism.
Light-emitting diodes have
been around for about 30 years,
and until recently have been
best known for supplying the
light for the numbers on digital
you want to spread
seasonal cheer.
alarm clocks and the displays on
televisions, DVD players, stereos
and other appliances. In the last
five years though, technology
has created LED light bright
enough, and polychromatic
enough, to work as holiday
lights.
“They used to be just indica-
tors, and now they are illumina-
tors,” says Jordon Papanier,
marketing manager at Ledtron-
ics, a Torrance, Calif.-based man-
ufacturer of LED holiday lights.
For homeowners, there’s
good news, and not-so-good
news, when it comes to using
LED lights during the holidays.

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 2007 | Holiday Decorating

The good news, especially for
environmentally minded home-
owners, is that LED lights use 70
to 90 percent less energy than
their predecessors. A string of
incandescent holiday lights con-
sumes 157.5 watts an hour,
while the same string of LED
lights uses 12.5 watts per hour,
Perella says. Their construction
– a semiconductor chip encased
in epoxy, compared to an incan-
descent light’s thin shell of glass
around a delicate filament – also
gives them a long life. In fact,
LED lights last 50,000 to 100,000
hours, compared to 2,000 for a
traditional bulb. (In other words,
chances are you won’t pull LEDs
out of storage, only to find that
half of the lights have expired
over the summer.)
Less energy and longer lives
mean that LED
lights are cost-

Image courtesy of Ledtronics

effective, espe-
cially for
homeowners who

Tree Tips love to use lots of

lights. Another
benefit: Because
they use less ener-
Butterball offers bewildered cooks help gy, the lights are
at Thanksgiving, and now there’s a hot- cool to the touch,
line for holiday decorators who’ve and therefore
found themselves tangled in lights. safer.
LED lights are
Ulta Lit Tree Company, a Glenview, Ill.- weatherproof,
based lighting company, has launched its holiday hotline: 1-888- and perform well
both inside and outside. Out-
ULTA-LIT. Early-bird decorators can call the hotline from 9 a.m. to 5 side, they look better if there’s
p.m. (CST) weekdays before Thanksgiving; it will be open seven not a lot of competition from
days a week beginning the day after Thanksgiving. Operators will landscape lighting or street-
be equipped to help callers repair holiday lights. lights. Inside, use them the same
way you’d use a string of incan-
Meanwhile, follow these tips from John DeCosmo, president of Ulta descent lights.
Lit, for a sparkling, brilliantly lit holiday tree. The lights can be somewhat
difficult to find, and they’re
• Make sure the wire between the lights doesn’t show. To do this, more expensive than old-fash-
position a bulb at the end of the branch. Wrap excess wire down that ioned incandescent lights. LED
branch, then up the next branch until you get to the tip. Position the bulb, holiday lights can cost up to $30
and repeat. DeCosmo says lighting experts use strands with at least six a strand, compared to $6 or $7
inches of wire between bulbs to achieve this affect. for traditional lights. And,
Papanier cautions, you get what
• If using incandescent bulbs, work over a carpet to minimize breakage. you pay for: Less expensive LED
strings feature red and yellow
• Plug in the lights before putting them on the tree. This way, you can bulbs, not the more costly
see if any lights are out, and you can also keep track of how well you’re greens and blues.
covering the tree. © CTW Features
• Use strings of light. Resist the temptation to throw a net of lights over
your tree. They’re designed for outdoor use, and won’t adequately light
your indoor tree.
• Use enough lights. The rule of thumb is at least 100 lights per foot. So,
a 7-foot tree needs, at minimum, 700 lights.
• Top down or bottom up? It doesn’t matter, DeCosmo says. But, put on
the lights before festooning the tree with ornaments, tinsel or garland.
• Be safe: If you have a real tree, turn off the lights before bed and before
leaving the house. And remember to water the tree religiously: A dry
tree is a dangerous tree.
© CTW Features

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Holiday Decorating
BY KATE SULLIVAN
CTW Features
W
hen mixing holiday
season and senti-
ment, traditional dec-
orating rules get
buried in the snow. Come holi-
day time, the scrooge gets nostal-
gic and the spendthrift start
splurging – suddenly purchasing
one more Mr. and Mrs. Claus set
becomes a no-brainer. The holi-
days bring out the collector in all
of us, tempting us to splurge on
extras – Christmas trees through-
out the house, a menorah collec-
tion bright enough to light up
the block, snow globes as far as
the eye can see. In the spirit of
© 2007 Content That Works – All Rights Reserved • contact us at 866-6CONTENT or CONTENTTHATWORKS.com for licensing information.
| 2007
Showcase Your
Collections
’Tis the season for collectors.
Holidays come but once a year, so here’s how
to collect and decorate in style
joy and festivity, ’tis the season ily traditions and fond memories
to let go of reason. grow with each generation.
What makes holiday time spe- Tim Shanahan, of Chicago,
cial to all are the rituals associated remembers how the collection of
with getting ready for the season. holiday Hummel figurines dis-
Festive collectibles reinforce fam- played at his grandmother’s
house kicked off the season’s fes-
tivities. Evoking fond memories,
her legend lives on in the pack of
porcelain pieces. “Each year
someone would give her a new
one. We would add it to the table
in the living room that quickly
became the centerpiece for our
Christmas celebration.”
Part owner of the Hummel
Gift Shop of New Springfield,
Ohio, Fran May’s experience in
the holiday-collectible market
spans 30 years. For her, senti-
ment drives the season’s busi-
ness. “People start a collection
and continue for years to come.
Parents begin one for their chil-
dren so when the kids are grown
and move out, they can begin to
decorate their own home at the
holidays while also keeping
childhood memories in the mix.”
May recommends beginning a
collection when a child is born,
and adding to it with each birth-
day. From Lladro bell ornaments
to Department 56 holiday vil-
lages, May watches designer col-
lections grow year after year and
looks forward to her visits from
her annual shoppers.
When it comes to shining the
spotlight on your season’s best,
it’s about mixing your personal
style with your collections. You
can deck the halls and parade
pieces throughout a home or
dedicate an entire section of the
living room for a display, like the
Shanahan’s Hummel family. May
recommends going to a store to
observe their set-ups. Are they
showcased in a cabinet or taking
center stage in the foyer? “Cus-
tomers get inspired when they
see different ways they can dis-
play their holiday favorites.” May
and her team even have a wall of
pictures that customers have
sent in with their home displays,
encouraging others to expand
their decorating designer minds.
For younger generations, the
idea of holiday collectibles may
feel like something more for the
ghost of Christmas Past. But May
sees the modern day consumer
 2007 | Holiday Decorating
Image courtesy of Martha Stewart Collection, exclusively at Macy’s

Create a DIY Collection

On a budget or just particularly crafty? No reason to steer clear of
creating your own collectibles. Become one of Santa’s elves with
a few easy do-it-yourself decorating tips.

Multiple Wreaths
Go beyond the front door and bring the classic welcoming indoors.
Celebrate diversity with a variety of the round regular. Traditional ever-
green, pinecone, gold, silver or metallic balls or wood highlighted with
bows and ribbons will add seasonal sentiment with minimal effort.

Pinecones
Large and small, dip edges of the cones in colored glitter. Keep it classic
by choosing one color, like silver or gold to give your home a glow. Line
pinecones up and down a solid red, green or blue table runner in your
dining room for an instant centerpiece upgrade. Or toss them in a large
solid-colored mixing bowl, adorn with a big, luscious holiday ribbon and
display in the foyer.

The beginning of a tradition: All collections start off with one treasured item.
Find your holiday gold – be it a mini tinsel-laced tree, a jolly snowman or a
gingerbread house – and let your imagination run wild.
Silver Balls
Add a twist to the traditional “Silver Bells” jingle and use silver balls
instead. Most craft stores will have plain metallic balls of all sizes. Toss
in vases, votives, bowls and baskets – this is one easy way to say
“happy holidays” across the faith borders.

catching on. “While our grand-
mothers still love the Hummel
figurines, it’s the young newly-
weds that are buying up the
more affordable holiday villages
and Snowbabies from Depart-
ment 56.”
Whether you have a single
Santa head or a village of little
ones, here’s how to call attention
to your collectibles.
The Village People
An easy way to go holiday is to
start with a village collection.
Most festive villages share com-
mon themes like snow-covered
miniature buildings with bun-
dled-up characters straight out of
anything from the Victorian peri-
od through the early 1900s. And
who can forget the classic image
of a toy train circling the town?
Not ready to build the communi-
ty? Starting with one piece on a
fireplace mantle or in the foyer
makes for a scene worth celebrat-
ing.
Hide and Seek
Pick one theme, from Santas
or ornaments to bells or candles,
and keep this idea consistent
though out the household. Many
designers, like Lladro and Royal
Dalton, create an ornament or fig-
ure of the year entirely dedicated
for the holiday season. Combine
homemade creations, like the
Santa that your third-grader made
in art class, with a timeless piece.
This is a great way to incorporate
treasures from the past with new
modern ones.
© CTW Features
Let There be Light
Not sure of which collection
to commit to? No worries. Can-
dles create festivity in any house-
hold with minimum effort.
Choose one color or color palette
and display candles throughout
your home. In groups of three or
as a solitary pillar, these candles
will unify a home. Highlight with
evergreens, holly or poinsettias.
Let the Spirit Move You
Keep the meaning of the holi-
days present in your home with
subtle yet classic holiday high-
lights. Multiple menorah sets illu-
minated throughout a home
bring light to the season. Think
beyond windowsills and use
tables, china cabinets and book-
shelves. Collectible dreidels also
call attention to the meaning of
Hanukkah while conjuring up a
celebratory mood. Nativity
scenes will inspire the spirit of
Christmas to come to life.
If ever there is a time to be
above the top, spilling over with
joy, ’tis the holiday season. Say it
loud, share the cheer and display
your family’s holiday spirit. Start
collecting the memories.
© CTW Features

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Holiday Decorating | 2007
Image courtesy of Walt Disney World
Extravagant and over-the-
top: A life-size angel is
perched above the
entrance to Walt Disney
World’s World Showcase
in Epcot.
Holiday decorating doesn’t have to
be a challenge. Here’s how to make
it fun, memorable and beautiful
from holiday pros who know their
way around a tree
BY CHUCK ROSS
CTW Features
I
f the idea of holiday decorat-
ing fills you with dread, try
putting yourself in Brett
Beaudette’s boots. As head
visual designer for the Mall of
America in Bloomington, Minn.,
he’s faced with hanging enough
lights, wreaths and ornaments to
make the 4.2-million-square-foot
facility feel warm and festive. And
then there are the Christmas
trees – more than 400 of them,
two of which top out at 44 feet
tall.
Despite the impressive statis-
TIPS
tics, however, Beaudette faces
many of the same challenges
homeowners experience when
planning his holiday displays –
just on a slightly larger scale. He
and other holiday decorating
FROM THE
experts say any successful
design, large or small, is built on
the same basic principles of
TOP
scale, color and creativity.
Focus Your Efforts
Beaudette approaches his annual
decorating duty with military pre-
cision – a natural for him, since
this Army Ranger also is a mem-
ber of the U.S. Army Reserves.
For maximum efficiency, he con-
centrates his team’s efforts on
areas where they’ll make the
biggest punch. For example, the
© 2007 Content That Works – All Rights Reserved • contact us at 866-6CONTENT or CONTENTTHATWORKS.com for licensing information.
two 44-foot trees are erected in
the mall’s main entrance. And the
facility’s 7-acre indoor park, a
favorite family gathering spot,
features 400 live trees decked out
in 750,000 lights. He says a simi-
larly focused approach also can
be successful in home-decorating
efforts.
“I think it’s important to priori-
tize your rooms,” he says. “If you
design by creating little vignettes,
you’ll be able to provide more
impact than by spreading [deco-
rations] all over the place.”
Have a Holiday Theme
Creating a theme for your deco-
rating plans is another idea pro-
fessionals promote. As with
Beaudette’s vignette idea, a unify-
ing concept gives even modest
home displays a professional
sheen. For Barney’s New York,
the annual holiday theme
becomes a governing backdrop
to all the retailer’s marketing
efforts during this time of year.
“The holiday theme impacts
so much of what we do at Bar-
ney’s – the shopping bag, cata-
log, merchandise – that we need
to plan, plan, plan,” says Simon
Doonan, Barney’s creative direc-
tor and the mastermind behind
the store’s famous window dis-
plays. “The ideas come from the
zeitgeist – I try to zero in on
what’s in the air.”
 2007 | Holiday Decorating

Image courtesy of American Christmas

One-track mind: It’s

okay to have tunnel
vision when planning
ative officer of Bronx, N.Y.-based
your holiday décor. In
fact, it’s almost prefer-
able. Choose a theme
American Christmas, Fritzel over-
sees holiday designs across the Packing it up
country for such customers as
and stay true, whether
Saks Fifth Avenue and Blooming-
Storing holiday decora-
it’s traditional trees and tions can be a chore,
dale’s, and suggests thinking of
lights, a town celebra-
tion complete with toy
your decorations as jewelry for even when you have a
your home.
soldiers or the life and
“I don’t want the decorations
54,000-sq.-ft. warehouse
times of Andy Warhol. at your disposal. Lisa
to steal the focus,” he says. “I want
Clockwise: the foyer of
the New York Palace
to add an ambience. In a way, a Borotkanics, Walt Disney
family’s decorations are their
Hotel, part of the décor
Christmas card to their guests.”
World’s holiday services
at Walt Disney World’s managers, has some tips
When determining the scale of
Magic Kingdom and a
Barneys New York holi-
any single decoration, Fritzel con- for keeping decorations
siders how close a viewer will be
day window.
when admiring the piece. So,
safe – and easy to find
large and simple makes sense for next year.
Image courtesy of Walt Disney World
Image courtesy of Rick Barroso / Barneys New York

outdoor decorations, which will

– Don’t store plastic foliage in
probably be seen at a distance,
attics or sheds that can overheat
while intricate details make more
sense with interior tabletop dis- because the plastic can melt in
plays. the summer heat.
– Stuff ribbons and bows with tis-
sue paper to help them keep
Pros at Home their shape when packed, so
So how do these professionals
tackle their own holiday decorat- you can spend less time getting
ing? Doonan, who’s already think- them ready to go next year.
ing about Barney’s 2008 plans, – Be sure to store painted glass
prefers simplicity. He plants two ornaments in dry, well-venti-
ornaments from Las Vegas’ Liber-
lated locations – moisture can
ace Museum on his mantle – still
cause the paint to crack.
in their original boxes – and calls
This year, the air, itself, has separate plans for every his efforts finished. Both – Print out labels identifying the
caught Doonan’s attention, so Bar- park area and resort Borotkanics and Fritzel prefer tra- contents of every box you pack,
ney’s plans will focus on environ- property. For example, ditional approaches, with the Dis- so you don’t have to open them
mental concerns. The designer Christmas in the “Pirates ney designer favoring a keepsake
all next year to find a favorite
was mum about many details, but of the Caribbean” area theme and Fritzel opting for a tree
collection or tree-topping star.
noted that a certain sleigh-bearer takes on a distinctly dark filled with European hand-blown
will figure prominently in dis- tone, with black Christ- glass ornaments. © CTW Features
plays. mas trees covered in Beaudette has spent several
“We have a giant reindeer bags of coins and tele- holidays on duty overseas – in
made out of tin cans,” Doonan scopes. fact, he’ll be spending this Christ- diers, but he still makes sure to
divulges. “Rudolph the Recycling “We just wondered, ‘What How Much is too Much? mas on base in North Carolina bring some holiday cheer wher-
Reindeer!” would a Christmas tree look like One question home decorators before heading back to Iraq in ever he may be stationed.
Few places understand the for a pirate?’” says Lisa Borotkan- often ponder is, just how much is January. He often must take a “I tell people, you can laugh all
value of a theme as well as Walt ics, Walt Disney World’s manager too much this time of year? Kent more creative approach to the you want, but I’ve still got the
Disney World in Orlando, Fla. of holiday services. “It would carry Fritzel says this is really a matter season’s decor. He may take best-looking foxhole in Iraq.”
There, designers come up with all the treasure they had found.” of personal taste. As chief cre- some ribbing from his fellow sol- © CTW Features

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Holiday Decorating | 2007

iStockphoto
Greenery – real or
not – adds a wel-
coming warmth
and a touch of
character to holi-
day décor.

iStockphoto
No need to choose – there’s
room in your home for both
real and artificial greenery.
Here’s how to spice up your
holiday decor
BY PAIGE BOWIE
CTW Features

N
othing conveys the holidays like festive green-

All
ery. But while real evergreen trees, pine bough
swags and mistletoe kissing balls are all great in
theory, the cost and maintenance aren’t terribly
practical.
“The ideal is always fresh cuttings,” said Kathy Peter-
son, a do-it-yourself expert and author of “Kathy Peter-

Shades of
son’s Great Outdoor Decorating Makeovers: Easy,
Elegant Transformations on a Limited Budget,” (Watson-
Guptill , 2004). “But it’s not always affordable. Let’s face
it, it’s expensive. And, of course, it doesn’t last. “
The alternative is artificial greens, but they have
drawbacks, too.

Green
“They can look fake, “ Peterson says. “Even though
there are some great new artificial plants out there, they
sometimes still do have a cheesy look.”
On the other hand, artificial greenery is less expen-
sive and “will last much longer than real greenery, leav-
ing you to enjoy it all season,” says design coordinator
Kelly Edwards of HGTV’s “Design on a Dime.” “Some-
times if you buy the right things, they can last season
after season.”
Don’t write off the fake stuff as hopelessly unattrac-
tive, either, urges Debbie Terrell, a floral designer for

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 2007 | Holiday Decorating

Image courtesy of Michaels Stores Inc.

Michaels Stores Inc., Hurst, Texas.
“There are different levels of
quality [determined] by your
price point, but it’s come a long
way. Today’s selection is much
more diverse and realistic than
the types of things most people
associate with artificial greenery.”
Bear in mind, too, that people
generally have more tolerance
for artificial greenery during the
holiday season. “They under-
stand that it’s a special time of
year, so they’re more geared for
that,” Terrell says. “And it’s sort
of an investment, because you
can use it again.”
To warm up artificial greens,
Terrell suggests adding to them.
That accomplishes two things:
The greenery looks prettier, and
it’s obscured a little so it’s not as
obvious that it’s fake.
She likes adding ornaments,
ribbon and silk florals.
“A lot of times people have a
hard time figuring out how to
attach [greenery] to the mantel,”
Terrell says. “There are the 3M
adhesive hook strips you can
hook garland on. Or use suction
cups. Attach ornament clips to
the garland to fasten the
enhancements. That makes it
really easy.”
If you don’t want the hassle of
adding to garland, another
option is to buy pre-lit greenery,
an outgrowth of popular pre-lit
artificial trees. Choose from tradi-
tional light bulbs or fiber optic
lights that fade and move along
the length of the piece.
Your decorating effort should
start with a home’s entrance,
Edwards says.
“Always have a warm welcome.
A wreath on the door or a staircase
and mantel decorated with garland
is a wonderful touch,”
she says. “Wreaths or
green garland on a
mantel or a staircase
decorated with holi-
day berries or even
artificial fruit can
bring in that cozy,
homey feeling.
“Speaking of fruit,
I mean, at one time
this was a plant,
right? Making a
mistletoe out of fake
baby lemons or
inexpensive berry stems and
insert them in the plant. That
adds color, texture and height.”
Additional hybrids include
adding artificial berries to a live
wreath, or mixing artificial gar-
lands on a fireplace mantel with
fresh flowers.
“They don’t necessarily have
to be poinsettias,” Peterson says.
“It can be carnations or roses,
which are great because they
aren’t really expensive and come
in all kinds of differ-
ent colors.”
You can also
Festive on the Fly insert fresh-cut
greens and
Get crafty with a quick DIY project pinecones in artifi-
cial plants. “Pine is
great for that. You
Garland get a beautiful look
1. Attach (3) 3-M Hooks to mantle top. One centered, one on each end. and you get the
2. Drape garland across mantle as shown above, secure to 3-M Hooks. scent, too, which is
such a great way to
3. Embellish garland with favorite ribbon, floral, ornaments, berries, warm up a house,”
vines, butterfly clips, tassels, fruit sprays, etc. All above have been Peterson says.
attached to the garland using ornament clips. Remember,
some of those nat-
ural addendums
Wreath could be free for
1. Attach 3-M Hook to wall at desired height. the taking in your
own back yard, says
2. Secure wreath to 3-M Hook. Edwards.
3. Embellish wreath with ribbon, floral, ornaments, berries, vines, “Grab some
butterfly clips, fruit sprays, an angel, or whatever you desire. All above branches, give
have been secured to wreath using ornament clips. them a light coat of
white and glitter

“ Always have a warm

welcome.A wreath on the door
oranges with cran-
berries and limes
sprinkled in, can add
a nice splash of color and will
© CTW Features

ery are mutually exclusive. “You

draw your eye up to a very inter-
or a staircase and mantel esting work of art. Topiaries
made of fruit, too, always make
decorated with garland is interesting centerpieces.”
can always cheat a little and mix
it up,” she says. “It really fools
the eye if you don’t overdo it and
just fill in. It’s phenomenal.
spray paint and put
them in a vase on
your mantel or
table, “ she says. “They are a great
way to add height to any piece.
Or if you’re in need of some
color, holly branches are simple
and stunning, and you can swap

a wonderful touch.
” Author Peterson doesn’t
believe real and artificial green-
“Poinsettias are always popu-
lar at Christmas. Get some very
the real for the fake.”
© CTW Features

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Holiday Decorating
Not Your Grandma’s
Holiday
Cards
BY SALLY FARHAT KASSAB
CTW Features
E greetings,
-mail may be all the rage,
but people are still send-
ing cards this holiday sea-
son: 2 million, to be
exact. But that doesn’t mean
things haven’t changed. Cards
just keep getting better: more
creative, fun and personal. If
you’re thinking about doing
something new this year, per-
haps some of these trends will
inspire you. Here’s what’s new in
the holiday card world.
More Upscale and Modern
Traditional snowmen, Santas and
Christmas trees are still popular,
but the designs are changing.
“Santa is getting more sophisti-
cated-looking than the big bushy
beard,” says Sarah Stefany, the
manager for content strategy for
VistaPrint, a custom graphic-
design company. “He’s coming
into modern times. There’s really
this elegance and sophistication
to cards en masse.”
Catherine Breer, founder of
Maine-based Annie-Catherine,
which creates cards, calendars
and paintings, says some givers
are moving away from traditional
cards. Their cards offer a modern
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| 2007
Holiday cards
are developing
into an art, going
beyond mere
becoming part
of holiday décor
with music,
photos, pop-ups
and more
twist on old favorites, such as a
snowman throwing a peace sign
and messages such as “hip holi-
days” and “groovy new year.”
Purple, Anyone?
Sure, most cards are still red and
green. But there’s a surge in new
shades that don’t necessarily
scream “Christmas.”
For example, one of Shutter-
fly’s new photo cards comes in
icy blue with white snowflakes.
That light blue is one of the new
hot colors, according to Stefany.
“Eggplant purple is also a new
color I [am seeing] on a lot of
cards.” she says. “The traditional
reds and greens are becoming
lighter shades, and even going
into pinks and limes. I saw a lot of
nature, earth-tone colors like
orange and brown, silver and
gold.”
Kerry Amidon, marketing
director of card maker Checker-
board in West Boylston, Mass.,
said the newest designs are
inspired by runway fashions.
“For example, this season we
are going to see a lot of black-and-
Getty Images
The cards became so popular
that he quit his job in films to
open his own card company, It’s
A Keeper Cards. He’ll tell you
how to pose, then you choose
from templates or have him cre-
ate the cards for you.
If you’re
more of a do-it-
Cards for the yourself person,
keeping: consider pick-
Spread holiday ing up a card-
cheer spiked
with personal-
making kit.
Kellie Engle-
ity, from pop-
ups to music
hardt, spokes-
woman for
and special Close to My
effects to hand- Heart in Pleas-
made. ant Grove, Utah,
says those are
Image courtesy of Staples Inc.
selling well.
They come with
a preprinted
card base, coor-
dinating stick-
ers, ribbon, and
other embellish-
ments.
Mike Hogan
of Columbus,
Ohio really
wanted to be
unique. “I decided to send a
‘How to Make a Holiday Wreath’
greeting card,” Hogan says. “I
took a photo of one of the live
holiday wreaths I made, which I
white cards and metallics, as used as the photo. I included
opposed to the traditional red- directions on how to make a hol-
and-green cards with wreaths or iday wreath. People loved it.”
snowmen.” There are even new twists on
getting younger children
More Personalized involved. Paul Marciano, Ph.D.,
California special effects expert founder of Coloring Card Compa-
Howard Gersh became known ny, invented Christmas cards
for his computer-made holiday made for kids to color on. The
cards. One year, he and his family idea started when he asked his
were a rock band. Another year, godchild if she received his card.
they sat in a one-horse open The girl proudly showed him that
sleigh. Other cards featured them she had colored all over it. The
in a scene with 3-D dinosaurs. idea of Coloring Cards was born.
 2007 | Holiday Decorating

Photos Galore
With the reign of digital photos,
it’s no wonder that people are
sending more photo cards.
“At first, we expected photo
cards to be a nice trend that
would last several years,” says
Lynn Byrne, president of card
maker Cooper and Oliver in
Ridgewood, N.J. “But the
demand is growing every year,
with photos becoming an expec-
tation on the part of recipients. I
have heard more than once,
‘When I open a card without a
photo, I think, ‘What’s the
point?’ Everyone wants to see
how everyone’s kids are grow-
ing, even if they live just down
the street.”
Sending pictures is more con-
venient than ever, if you use the
computer. With CVS, for exam-
ple, you upload photos and
Image courtesy of Annie-Catherine
completely at home: The
Post-it Photo Card Kit, for
example, includes soft-
ware and sticky photo
paper to print out the
cards. Recipients can
peel and stick the card
anywhere – on the
fridge, a wall or mirror.
For something really
unique, allPopart makes
vintage illustrations and
silhouettes out of your
pictures – by hand. Ana Sanchez,
co-founder of the Hollywod, Fla.-
based company, says celebrites
such as Uma Thurman and Tori
Spelling are clients.
Flat No More
Staples sells pop-up cards by
C.R. Gibson Company, ranging
from a snow globe to a chilling
penguin pattern. And forget the
plain card – now a big trend is
embellishments: Fabric, crystals,
beads and foils.“It makes a hand-
made unique look, and is a gift in
and of itself. Anything that’s indi-
vidual or unique becomes more
valuable,” says Barbara Miller,
spokeswoman for the Greeting
Materials
Blue lightweight paper, 7 x 11
1/2 inches
2 pieces of dark blue card, 7 x
3 1/8 inches
Blue card, 8 1/4 x 5 1/2 inches
Scrap of patterned paper
Acrylic paint – pearl white,
sapphire blue (optional)
Glaze pens – orange, black,
brown
Sponge dauber or small
piece of clean sponge
Bone folder
Glue stick
Saucer
DIY Metal ruler or clear plastic
Holiday rectangular tearing template
Cheer Step 1
Personalize your holi- Fold the blue lightweight
day greetings with cre- paper in half. With the flat
ativity and charm that edge of a bone folder, press
your friends and family along the fold to make a sharp
crease. (You may want to
will want to showcase in
write your letter before folding
their homes.
the paper.)
Elizabeth Moad shares
Step 2
her DIY recipes and the
results in her new book Fold back one short edge to
“Quick & Clever Christ-
mas Cards: 100 Fast &
Images courtesy of © 2007, David & Charles, a division of F+W Publications, Inc.
the centerfold. Crease this Step 5
edge with the bone folder.
Using the glaze pens, add a
Turn the paper over, fold the
carrot-shaped nose in
other short edge to the centre
orange, and eyes, mouth and
fold and press with the bone
buttons in black. Use the
folder.
brown pen to draw in stick
arms. Cut a scarf shape from
Step 3
two pieces of patterned
Rub a glue stick along one of paper. Leave the pen marks
the shorter edges of the blue to dry.
paper and then attach to one
of the pieces of dark blue Step 6
card. Attach the other piece of
For a torn effect, a clear
dark blue card to the other
plastic rectangular template
end of the paper, blue side
was used as an alternative to
facing outward.
a metal ruler, as this allows
you to tear all four edges
Step 4
Place a small amount of white
easily. Position the clear
acrylic paint on a clean, plain
template over the snowman,
hold firmly in place with one
saucer. With a sponge hand and tear the paper
along the edges of the
template with the other hand.
If the template is smaller than
your image, just move it down
as you tear. Glue the
dauber or piece of sponge,
pick up small amounts of the
paint and gently dab in the
center of the blue card to
create three rounds, building
up the shape from the center

Card Association. Festive Cards & Tags” outward. Practice on scrap

design your card online, then go
to your local store to pick them
up – within hours. Shutterfly
will stamp and mail them for
you.
If you’re old fashioned and
want to slide in a photo yourself,
you’re not alone: Nine percent
of holiday cards sold every year
have photo inserts. Or, just use
your own printer and do them
Letterpress stationery, which
is made by hand with old-fash-
ioned type, is enjoying a renais-
sance even though the cards
may cost $3 or $4 apiece.
And Don’t Forget the Music
This season, American Greetings
is offering new lines of song,
sound and light cards. They play
tunes like “It’s beginning to look
a lot like Christmas” and “Santa
Baby,” cards featuring lights fit
for the most festive house and
even offerings with holiday
sounds, like Santa bellowing
“Ho, Ho, Ho,” and dogs barking
“Jingle bells.”
(David & Charles,
2007).
Here’s a quick how-to
sure to warm hearts.
Merry Christmas and
Happy Holidays!
While Kwanzaa, Hanukkah and
other holiday cards are selling, 98
percent of all cards are Christmas
cards, Miller says.
The two most popular say-
ings? “Merry Christmas and
paper first to gauge how snowman panel to the front
much paint is needed on the dark blue card.
dauber or sponge. Leave the
paint to dry according to the
manufacturer’s instructions.
Happy New Year” and “Seasons the way we portray it and
Greetings.” express it.”
“There is lots of tradition in © CTW Features
Christmas cards,” Miller says.
“They may be more sophisticat-
ed, and have shorter sentiments
inside, but as a whole, there is
still a very traditional feeling of
Christmas, and that’s reflected in

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Holiday Decorating | 2007

Show Me The Tree!

Redefine how your home reflects the
holiday season starting with your
Christmas tree
Your Christmas tree doesn’t have to look

Image courtesy of Show me Decorating

like the boxes of ornaments, garland and
lights fell directly out of your attic onto it.
But no worries – you are not destined to
relive the décor of holidays past. There’s
still time to avoid Christmas tree clutter and
embrace your holiday home décor, cour-
tesy of holiday-decorating entrepreneurs
Becky McCraney and Kathy Harrison.

StopDreaming of a The Midland, Texas-based sisters have owned Miss Cayce’s Christ-
mas Store since 1984 and just released a DVD detailing the path to
tree-trimming bliss: “Show Me Decorating: Recipe for Holiday Tree

Red-and-Green Christmas Trimming.” Here are their words of ribbon-strung wisdom.

– Mary M. Murphey

This holiday season, unwrap some new hues

Red and green.
Stop believing those are the only color options for
holiday decorating.
Go for hues that exude a wintry feel without kitsch
or commonality.
Stop going green (and red).
Go white instead. The Arctic trend – white, white
and more white – is carrying on the snow-and-ice
trend that has become popular for the holidays,
says Michelle Lamb, editor of “The Trend Curve,” a
bimonthly newsletter for what’s hot in color, pattern
and design. Hints of blues and grays add color
accents to this icy theme. Santa? Replace him with
a penguin. Arctic has been all over the box office –
“March of the Penguins,” “Happy Feet” – and box-
office success is just one factor that pushes a trend.
Stop thinking everything has to go
on the tree.
Go to the table. These holiday color trends are
spectacular for tablescapes or runners, says
Lamb. And the Arctic trend is great for theme-
based accessories, she adds. “In everything, from
candles to table linens, it’s really pretty broad.”
Stop being dull.
Go for some shine. Opulence is another theme for
this winter, with gold as the heart of the look,
accented by bronzy tones, says Lamb. “Metallic
makes everything feel rich and warm,” she says.
Stop being bland.
Go for some spice. Like spicy colors – burnished
acorn, cider gold, toasted brown, nutmeg glow –
winter colors are very warm, says Lamb. This
includes mixing and matching, such as combining
different-textured surfaces, or bright metallics
alongside ones that are slightly less shiny.
Stop being scared.
“Consumers are so much more sophisticated,”
says Lamb. “There are many more opportunities to
explore color beyond [the traditional].” However, if
it’s those classic colors that are desired, Lamb sug-
gests using them in layers. Use the other sides of
the colors – brights and deeps – to give them a dif-
ferent look and feel.
Go for it.
– Timothy R. Schulte
© CTW Features
10 Steps to YOUR Perfect Christmas Tree
1. Determine the desired location in your home to place the tree. Measure
ceiling and available floor space to determine what size tree you need.
2. Decide whether you would like a fresh tree or a Permanent Pre-lit tree
that come in a variety of sizes and shapes, from pencil thin to slim and very
full to fat, and are set up in minutes.
3. If you picked a permanent pre-lit tree, put together the stand, shape and
fluff each section, plug in the lights and enjoy. For a fresh tree, light the tree
from bottom to top working from the back of the branches out to the tips
and back to the trunk and cross over to the next branch.
4. Choose a theme such as gingerbread in red and white with candy
delights, or you may want to match your home décor with rich jewel tones
for elegance, or feature a special collection or family favorites and have a
traditional red and green Christmas.
5. Select ribbons for bows to match, starting at the top use a diamond pat-
tern to place on your tree.
6. Fill in the diamonds with large-sized Christmas balls to coordinate.
7. Place permanent floral, leaf sprays or berries through out the tree to
enhance the theme or color scheme.
8. Now add the ornaments (new or family favorites).
9. Ice the tree with garland.
10. Enjoy all the compliments from family and friends!

© CTW Features

© 2007 Content That Works – All Rights Reserved • contact us at 866-6CONTENT or CONTENTTHATWORKS.com for licensing information.
 2007 | Holiday Decorating

How-to Holiday DIYHOLIDAY

DECORATION IDEA:
Family
Photo
Festive
ideas for Mobile
spreading Supplies:
-A sturdy stick (at least a foot
holiday long)

cheer -Photos
-Scissors

throughout -Colored yarn

-Hole punch

your home -Construction paper (optional)

-Hammer and nail

Home for the Holidays: Instructions:

Creative Ideas for
Making the Holidays
Memorable
by Heidi Tyline King
(Gold Street Press,
2007) $25
Christmas
Merrymaking
by Barbara Kissinger
(Pelican Publishing
Company, 2007) $19.95
A Cozy Quilted
Christmas: 90 Designs,
17Projects to Decorate
Your Home
by Kim Schaefer
(C&T Publishing, 2007)
$28.95
Kwanzaa: From Holiday to
Everyday
by Maitefa Angaza
(Dafina, 2007) $14
Holiday Hero: A Man’s Man-
ual for Holiday Lighting
by Brad Finkle
(Chronicle Books, 2007)
$9.95
Spirit of the Holidays: Decorat-
ing and Gift Project Guide
by Shady Oak Press
(Shady Oak Press, 2007) $14.95
Simply Sparkling Christmas
Beading
by Dorothy Wood
(David & Charles Publisher,
2007) $19.99
Holly Jolly Christmas in Plastic
Canvas
by Bobbie Matela
(DRG/The Needlecraft Shop,
2007) $24.95
Holiday Paper Crafts from
Japan: 17 Easy Projects to
BrightenYour Holiday Season
Get out that old box of family
photos that you’ve been mean-
ing to go through for years. Find
pictures with Santa, New Year’s
Eve party shots, and any other
photos that remind you of holi-
day seasons past.
Trim the photos into interesting
shapes (or glue them onto
pieces of construction paper for
quick “frames.”) Punch a hole in
the top of each photo.
Thread yarn through the hole
and tie the other end onto the
stick.
Repeat with as many photos as
you like, making sure that the
photos hang at varying lengths.
Select a good place for the
mobile, such as the corner of a
wide doorway, a window, or a
hanging lamp. If installing in a
doorway, hammer a nail into the
wood and then tie the mobile up
to the nail with a piece of string.
If hanging from a light, simply tie
a piece of string to the light and
then to the other end to the
mobile.
by Robertta A. Uhl
(Tuttle Publishing, 2007) Enjoy a great conversation
$16.95 piece and a slice of holiday fam-
ily history.
Creativity with Flowers:
Christmas: Creativity with – Mary Fons
Flowers
by Per Benjamin © CTW Features
(Stichting Kunstboek, 2007) $45

© 2007 Content That Works – All Rights Reserved • contact us at 866-6CONTENT or CONTENTTHATWORKS.com for licensing information.