Little Touches That Make a Holiday Home

I love Christmas, in part due to the way the whole world seems to break out all the stops and decorate for the season. There's lights, ornaments, garlands and candles every where you turn. I love decorating for the holidays, but I don't have a lot of time to invest in going all out, so here's a peek at a few small projects that take very little time and still make the house feel like a holiday home.

Tablescapes: I love using glass vases and apothecary jars around my house, changing the contents for each season. For Christmas, I create little landscapes and use them for table centerpieces, tucked on the mantle or bookshelf, or even nestled next to the Christmas tree. By the season's end, I'll probably have a half dozen variations scattered throughout the house. They're simple to make: grab any wide-mouth vase or jar, sprinkle fake snow on the bottom, and then get creative with your still life.

Hi little birdie!

Santa vacations in Texas!

Holiday Cards: We get a ton of holiday cards, and I was never sure how to display them all nicely until I hit upon this idea last year. We decorate our kitchen dining area with festive garland, then attach our cards to it as they come in the mail throughout the season. I use large gold paperclips to attach them -- the clips are hidden behind the cards. It's fun to watch the garland go from plain to overflowing by New Year's.

Before...

As the Season Goes...

Ornament Party: Ornaments are always fun to make, and they can really help personalize your tree, particularly if you customize them for your family. Glass ornaments are very inexpensive at craft stores, and easy to personalize. Here's a few I made in just a couple of minutes using Uppercase Living vinyl or you can use stickers, rub-ons, or even paint. Leave them empty or fill them with fake snow, glitter, or other small objects. My favorite is the Seven Blessings Ornament (shown as Joy) -- simply decorate a plain glass ornament, then fill it with 7 strips of paper with written blessings for the coming year (Love, Abundance, Good Friends, etc. -- make them personal!)

Many wishes for Joy and Peace this Holiday Season!