Holiday Season
Part of the fun of the holiday season — besides eating all the goodies — is decorating. With budgets tight, finding ways to decorate inexpensively can lead to creative holiday decor. To get some ideas on holiday decorations, check with local stores and get inspired to make your own seasonal holiday decor and pick up some holiday deals.
Thanksgiving
The holiday for sharing and giving thanks is the perfect time to decorate with traditional Thanksgiving decor. One of the easiest and most colorful decorations is the
cornucopia, also known as the horn of plenty. Filled with the "bounty of the season," these decorative horns add a splash of color as a centerpiece or as a table or counter decoration.
Supplies needed:
- A wicker cornucopia cone
- 1 bag of craft moss
- Several miniature pumpkins, squash, Indian corn, and small gourds, a handful of acorns, miniature pine cones, cinnamon sticks, and artificial grapes, apples and oranges
- Autumn-colored silk leaves
- Hot glue gun and clear glue sticks
- Large platter or tray
To construct:
- Place a layer of moss on the platter or tray.
- Line the cornucopia with moss.
- Situate the horn on to the platter.
- Optional: Adults only. Secure the horn to the platter using several dollops of hot glue.
- Begin placing fruit and vegetables inside the horn alternating and mixing colors.
- Continue placing the items outside the front of the horn so it looks like the fruit and veggies are spilling out of the cornucopia.
- Embellish with autumn-colored leaves throughout the arrangement.
- Adults can carefully use the hot glue to secure items to the side or bottom of the horn and to each other.
- Insert fragrant cinnamon sticks inside the horn.
- Optional: add pine needles, uncooked cranberries, and fragrant potpourri for extra decoration and aroma.
Christmas
Making holiday decorations is a project the entire family can do together. Children will enjoy decorating pine cones.
Supplies needed:
- Small, medium and large pine cones purchased from the craft store or gathered from the backyard or local park
- Gold or silver craft paint
- Artificial snow
- Glue or hot glue gun and glue sticks
- Red, gold and silver glitter
- Red, blue, and gold ribbon
- Miniature decorations such as bells and ornaments
- Scissors
To construct:
- You have two options to decorate the cones. First, paint the tips and a portion of the petals with gold paint. Once dry, brush a tiny dollop of glue on the tip of each petal and sprinkle a dash of gold glitter. Second, apply artificial snow to the cone, let dry, then brush the tips with glue and apply silver glitter.
- Insert miniature bells and ornaments to petals and secure with glue.
- Cut a piece of ribbon in the appropriate color, tie in a bow, then use regular glue or hot glue (adults only) to adhere the ribbon to the top of the pine cone.
- Place cones in crystal glass vases, in baskets lined with seasonal colored tissue paper, or fill a clear bowl with the colorful cones.
- Glue a gold, red or white pipe cleaner behind the bow, create a loop, and use to hang the pine cones on the tree, a decorative garland, or a mantle piece.
