The Sustainable Spot

I am definitely a person who every year around mid-November becomes ignorantly giddy about the Christmas Holiday! Forgetting how stressful it is to organize family, decorate to the nines without my dog, Ranger, chewing every wire and ornament to shreds, and budgeting for presents that you are not even sure will be well received.  But hey, that’s the Holidays.

On the bright side, there is something about Christmas decorations that sends a multicolor twinkle light rush up my spine. But how to accomplish this feat without the hefty price tag or the hours spent unraveling the Christmas light coils that live in the back of the garage from January to Dec, you ask? Try bringing the outdoors in this season. With a little time, a pair of scissors, some glassware and some creativity you can make a memorable centerpiece without spending virtually any money.

Christmas Craft #1- Perfect Pine Centerpiece

For those of you who are lucky enough to live in a place that has abundant foliage on the ground then this is a snap. For the rest of us, Christmas tree lots are the perfect place to find Christmas tree trimmings that they will happily unload for a pretty smile!

1. Venture into the back yard, seek out any greenery that has a few branches to snip or gather what has already been shed. Seek out pine cones as well for over the fireplace, or to place on the table.
2. For perfect pine trimmings see the Christmas tree lot as mentioned above.
3. Pick out a variety of glassware to showcase these new finds.
4. Decorate accordingly- my faves include ornaments, tea lights, glitter, tinsel.

Christmas Craft #2- Tree Branch Decor

1. Take a similar venture into nature and gather some dead tree branches, hopefully some with a few pretty curves and knots.
2. Remove loose material from tree branches, follow up with a light grade sanding, and wipe clean with cloth.
3. Spray paint branches with your favorite Holiday shade (metallics like silver and gold really pop). Usually 2 coats will do, followed up by a coat of polyurethane. Let dry overnight.
4. Seek out a tall cylindrical vase to showcase the branches and anchor them with floral foam or stones or sand for a more beachy feel.
5. Decorate accordingly- I like strands of Christmas beads, ornaments, or artificial snow spray.

Bringing in the outdoors can create a fresh new Holiday look every year for less.

Love the green and blue color scheme