Ain't got No Money Decorating Blues

The holidays are always tight money-wise, and for a lot of us, they're darned near impossible. For a parent, the impression, the appearance of levity and plenty can mean almost as much as actually having enough to "do it right". The drive to decorate the home and provide a festive atmosphere despite a lack of funds often drives less affluent parents completely nuts.

Here is my holiday offering unto you: Frugal holiday decorating tips ala Whimspiration.

* Greenery can be had by salvaging fallen bits from the tree lots. At least you can get some needles to add to a few pinecones and red beads in a bowl for festiveness.

* Bake a pretend loaf of bread or three in different baskets (flour well) or shapes (long, flat, round, square, etc) and freeze for 24 hours without any packaging. Remove from freezer and let thaw naturally. Display with candles on a table in the kitchen or dining room.

* Bring out the oil lanterns and light in the evenings indoors, in the windows, or even hang a lantern outside at dusk for a warm "Dickens-type effect".

* If you don't have a fireplace, some brown paper grocery bags, newspaper, milk crates, a chunk of plywood, some cardboard, tissue paper, and some paints can do wonders to fix that problem (and make a nice fake fire too!)

* We have a lovely bush outside, and we string cranberries and air-popped popcorn all over it for the birds and squirrels.

* We save our fat from cooking and mix it with a bit of peanut butter and birdseed and make suetballs.

* Hard candy is cheap & easy to make, and makes great decorations around the house and gifts too!). Make lollipops, candy drops, whatever you'd like, and wrap in plastic wrap. Small candies look great made into a wreath made out of string and a coathanger too...

So here's the deal; I don't have the time to do all of these ideas and post them here before the 25th. I'll do a post and instructions for three of the items here, but you have to tell me which ones you want to see by posting in the comments. I will accept comment-votes until Monday night 7pm CST.

I can't wait to see what I will be posting! *grin*