Share & Win Holiday Decorations for the Home

I love making ornaments with my children. As they get older, the decorations have become more elaborate, and it gives us a chance to create a collection of ornaments each of my children can use when they are older and move away from home. I am hoping it is a tradition they will continue with their own families one day.

I make a lot of my own decorations. I also look to HGTV, Martha Stewart, and BH&G for inspiration. We use an artificial tree, but in a few years we'll start using a real tree (we are planting Christmas trees!) I always have some king of candle burning that makes the house smell Christmas-y.

One of the best cost-saving ideas I have is to re-use artifical wreaths and garlands every year. To make them new again, I buy fresh bags of cut cedar and pine sprigs, pine cones, and tuck them into the artificial wreaths or garlands. I also add small ornaments that will handle the outdoor weather. Then I hang the garlands and wreaths outdoors and decorate with the new battery operated LED lights for the wreaths, and plug-in LEDs for the garlands. Inexpensive premade bows and plastic ornaments are a nice touch for some extra color.

I change the fireplace mantel each holiday,using white pillar candles in hurricane glass, but use candycorn in the base, or jellybeans, or mini ornaments to change the decoration for each holiday

One great way to make decorating fun for the holidays is to get the whole famiy involved. Let the kids decorate the tree while you put out some wreaths and garlands and let everyone decide where the little holiday knick knacks go to create a great looking holiday home. Afterwards, enjoy the delight of your decorating with some hot chocolate and cookies.

For an easy Table Centerpiece decoration - Take a large clear bowl or vase - place inside Christmas tree ornaments - using a variety of colors to match your table setting. This look fabulous! Add tinsel or evergreen, pine cones, or candles. Glass or Crystal ornaments make the centerpiece pop.

I try to find unusual glass containers (mercury glass and colored vases work especially nice) and then I fill them with same color Christmas ornaments. I place them all around the house. It's a great way to add sparkle to every room and use all of the many ornaments I have collected.

My holiday "secret" is christmas music and games! It keeps everyone in a holiday mood!

i love a victorian christmas tree but ornaments were so very expensive that i created all mine. i think they are beautiful and as nice as the store bought ones using things i would have thrown away .. every christmas i have my entire family over and they bring something to add to the table. after dinner we play the crazy santa game out of gifts that everyone had to make. that is the only stipulation is that it has to be handmade. christmas is way to commerical its about spending time with the ones you love. for my dinning table i have shopped for low cost malamane dishes for each holiday because they are light weight come in alot of colors so i have a set for all holidays. i have on my table now a brown leaf designed charger (wal mart) a orange square bowl and plate homemade napkin rings made from plastic canvis & $ store napkin rings, brown napkins finished off with utencel holder from (cracker barrel) in shapes of scarecrows

I make crafts for the Holidays like ribbon fish and hang them in various ways. But, I also make cards to send as thank you for any day that we get invited anywhere. It seems to be a lost art to hand write and send cards, but especially important when people are making an effort for you.

Ok this is REALLY nerdy, but my boyfriend collects action figures. Last year he declared he wasn't "into " Christmas (lots of family stress) so to make him smile I bought lots of those tiny christmas trees you can find in Rite Aid or Walgreens and tiny gift boxes you can find at Michael's and I made little christmas scenes around the house with his action figures - so dorky, I know, but it cracked him up and made him a little less Grinchy. I figured moms could do the same thing if they're tired of tripping over their kid's toys! Happy holidays everyone.

I love the idea of painting white plates for the holidays. There are so many amazing holiday decor, but I love the DIY the most!

I normally stick to solid color "back-drops" and use accessories with holiday specific details!! Like orange table cloth with Jack-o-lanterns for Halloween which get "fall harvest pumpkins" after for Thanksgiving. I have solid red for Christmas as well as valentine's day and I just switch out candy canes for hearts and so on, and so forth.. It works well, since we have a small home, I can't have too much for every season!! good luck to all, I'M really enjoying all the tips!!

I am huge on saving while decorating so I always hit the stores after Christmas for all the great clearance! We also love to use wrapping paper to wrap all our pictures on the wall. It is an inexpensive way to decorate in every room!

I love the smell of Pumpkin pie and peppermint in the winter time. I get glade winter collection candles to make it smell warm and good in side. I like getting inspired from everywhere. It might be the mall, target or a show.