Happy Friday!

Since getting the digital cable, I have been watching television and staying up past my bedtime. Whilst I dance around to my new music channels, I have been decking the halls. I celebrate the season of Christmas differently than I used to, and my decorating style has changed over the years. Sometimes I go for the "less is more" variety, and that's what I'm doing this year. Here are a few tips to allow yourself to be festive without going overboard.

Sometimes putting your very own reindeer antler/Santa hat headgear on a favorite stuffed bear, makes for a cute decoration. (Don't worry, he'll let me wear it later)


Draping white lights over your hubby's collection of glass chickens looks quite festive...


The addition of a few Christmas ornaments on a low shelf, next to a night light looks cute, also.


Of course, Christmas wouldn't be the same without the traditional songs, sung to the traditional Holiday Rat...


Don't forget the kitchen (that's were we spend a good deal of our time, anyway). Just hook an ornament onto the curtains and you have an easy decoration. Add some holiday dish towels and you have decorated your house in a festive, but in my opinion, somewhat understated way.

Yes, my kitchen is purple..

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I enjoyed all the ideas that you gave me for the rubber stamps and I have tried several things. One of the things I did, was a picture using the rubber stamps as holiday elements and drawing a little house, and just coloring in with markers and inktense pencils.

I had fun doing it and as my late Mom used to say, "it kept me off the street". We weren't wild kids at all, but for some reason, she always thought this was extremely funny to say.

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In addition to decorating my house for Christmas, I always wear Christmas jewelry. Here are some of the things I have been given over the years...

And here are some of the things that I have made

(edit: not all this year, though)

If you are a jewelry maker, you already have the main components for holiday jewelry. Jewelry findings, such as pin backs and clip or pierced earring wires are a must. Add some jump rings and perhaps an inch or two of chain and you can make quick, easy and pretty snazzy jewelry.

You will see that I found a skirt pin with some loops on it, that made a good sweater pin, but remember to always check and make sure the pin won't leave a big hole in your favorite garment. I usually test the pin part on a similar piece of cloth, or in a seam or area that isn't visible. If the pin has a burr on it, a bit of sandpaper will take care of it.

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I sometimes use miniature Christmas tree ornaments for earrings. You can usually find them at the hobby or craft shops and by removing any string or wire that is already on them, you can easily attach them to a jump ring and an earring post or wire.




Polymer clay is perfect for making holiday jewelry, you can stack red, green and white sheets of conditioned clay and form into ribbon candy. You can swirl red and white clay into all sorts of candy cane type things and, since I am into wreaths, I fashioned a little red wreath and added some green leaf cane slices.

The possibilities are endless, as this post seems to be. Sorry for rattling on and on, I'll do better next time. Anyway, remember you can make your house and yourself seem festive and get everyone in the holiday spirit and not have to spend a great deal of money. Take care and keep posting all your decorating ideas, I'm having a ball reading them.