*b* list of holiday budget tips…

i’m thrifty. although i really like quality things, i do like a bargain almost as much. so my approach to the holidays is this: create an atmosphere in our home that is cozy, festive, pretty, meaningful and as non-commercial as possible….spending as little as possible. this year, i haven’t spent any money on anything for decorating the house. i did buy a tree and ornaments for the loft for half price at michael’s. i rarely ever pay full price for anything seasonal. so, since i love a list, here is what i’ve compiled. i hope it inspires you!

• use what you have. this is basically the key to a bunch of sub-topics. as i’ve shared many times, the decorating book, “use what you have decorating” transformed my way of thinking of my home. going out and buying new stuff, doesn’t really fix anything, if you aren’t using what you already have effectively. so, i believe it translates well when thinking of seasonal decorating and particularly Christmas decorating. i’ll share a list of ways that i incorporate what i have-
• tree skirts: i’ve never owned a store bought tree skirt. i’ve used urns filled with sand or pebbles, tableclothes, fabric and quilts in place of a tree skirt. it’s not that i haven’t seen beautiful tree skirts, i’ve just never seen one that i’ve had to have. they are usually covered with piles of gifts anyway, right?

i bought this “cutting” quilt at an estate sale a few years ago for $12. i’ve used it for many craft projects and it’s still intact enough to use as my tree skirt! i love the look.

• glassware and serving pieces. i fill every possible glassware vessel in my home with vintage Christmas balls. i use cake stands for candles and other special decorations that i want to stand out.

the pink ornament atop the silver compote is one of my favorite ornaments. i paid $1 for it a few years ago.

• go through your grandparents or parents basement. before my beloved gram died, she encouraged me to go through her Christmas decorations and take whatever i wanted. typing that makes me cry. i miss her so much. and that is probably why her simple nativity set means what it means to me. my most treasured Christmas decoration. it was a part of her Christmas decor for as long as i can remember. it’s simplicity makes it even more special to me. this year, i couldn’t find it. finally, this morning, when i had just about given up, i asked tom to look. within 10 minutes, he found the box it was in! he is the best at finding lost things. i couldn’t believe how sad i was when i couldn’t find it. i’ll share a photo of it sometime this holiday season. (i’m still not really done decorating). the rudolph book pictured above isn’t my original copy, but i found it at goodwill a few years ago and snapped it up in a heartbeat! such memories.

i like something non-commercial on my door too. i took a frame that i painted cream, added a wreath that i bought very inexpensively and added hot pink tulle. different, but very me. ha.

i bought a large chalkboard at a garage sale this summer. one day, when i noticed how large my pile of “needing to be painted” pieces had grown, i asked tom to paint them. i wait until i have amassed a ton of stuff and then either he or i will paint them in one session. he does a much better job than i do. i’m not just saying that. when i bought the chalkboard, i wasn’t thinking Christmas in particular, but knew i could use it for a lot of different things…possibly on the front porch or at the loft as a prop. i like how it worked out for my mantel.

i’ll share a complete shot of my mantel when i finish it.

• gift wrap. i always buy either butcher paper in white or kraft paper to wrap the bulk of our gifts. i also buy wrap the day after Christmas at 1/2 price. i love a beautifully wrapped gift, but i don’t like to spend a ton on gift wrap.

i also use my craft/scrapbooking supplies. i used autumn leaves felt ribbon on some of our gifts this year (in the background of this photo you can see the red scallop felt around the blue gift). i usually print a sheet of contact photo prints to use as gift tags. i like to use photos in frame ornaments and on gift tags. another thing about the actual gift wrap, it seems like it’s fairly rare for me to like any of the readily available Christmas gift wraps, so when i do find one i like (like the black/white flocked wrap in this photo), i buy as much as i can the day after Christmas.

• ribbon. i typically buy ribbon in bulk. if you have a friend with a wholesale account with midori like i do, you can get the most amazing, quality ribbon at a great price! it’s a bit of an investment to buy in bulk, but it lasts for at least several seasons and i re-use it. when we unwrap gifts, everyone knows not to throw the ribbons and tags into the trash sack! we have a trash sack and a ribbons/tags bag. it’s really not that tough. eventually the ribbons get a little ragged or the color scheme changes, but it is gratifying to re-use for at least a few seasons.
• make it if you can. many of my seasonal decorations are handmade. much of that is due to my work for fiskars. each holiday (not just Christmas) i will typically make at least 3 seasonal home decor projects….canvases, framed pieces, garlands, etc… i made the garland above last year. my framed advent calendar was a fiskars project last year. because i’ve made so many Christmas canvases over the years, i thought it might be fun to hang one on each of our upstairs doors. when i was growing up, my mom hung a Christmas wreath on each of our hallway doors (bedrooms and bathroom). i sometimes forget or don’t bother to decorate upstairs…this year, i want to change that! i made the stockings that hang on our mantel many years ago from a cutting quilt.

the above photo was taken last year. the chalkboard i’m using this year is about 3 times bigger! i made the open book piece too.

• don’t forget grocery store items. apples, oranges studded with cloves, artichokes, pomegranates, holiday candy,  flowers….

we still buy a real tree for the family room. when tom trims it, i use the clippings. nothing goes to waste!

 i saw a great idea on the today show yesterday. they took a  styrofoam floral ball that fit on top of a mint julep cup, then cut grocery store carnations and covered the ball with the carnations for a really bold centerpiece. i will definitely be using this idea for our Christmas party.

• after Christmas sales. i always hit the after Christmas sales with a plan. i jot down all the things that i spotted and where i saw them. i do make a point to buy a new Christmas cd and book every year at the after sales. i’ve accumulated a nice collection of music and books this way. never paying full price. last year, i bought the sheryl crow cd last year, but didn’t find a book that i had to have. i’ve gotten some of my Christmas cottages after Christmas as well as much of my greenery and sprigs. it’s always fun to pull out my Christmas boxes with stuff i’ve never used before and i’ve usually forgotten i bought at the after sales.
• create atmosphere. simple candlelight, music (yesterday, i had satellite radio Christmas music blasting on both levels of the house all day), even baking fills the air with great smells.

i hope this list is helpful in some small way! i’m sure i’ve missed some things, but i will continue to share as i think of them and i’ll also continue to post photos as i finish decorating! now that the lost box has been found, i think i can finish up! i’d love to hear your thrifty ideas.

God bless your day!