Happy First Day of Winter!

Courtesy of Mandi Woodruff

Hi Friends,

Facing colder months without a fat wad of cash in your pocket might put a damper on any hopes of feeling festive.

There's constant pressure to run up your charge card so your kids get those must-have toys they'll probably break by New Year's Eve and you've got relatives coming out of the woodwork expecting you to show them a good time.

The good news is, you don't have to open your wallet to build lasting memories this winter.

Karen Carlson, director of education for InCharge, a nonprofit that helps debt-ridden consumers, says buying splashy gifts should be the last thing on your mind.

"Remember, many big spenders are even bigger debtors," Carlson says. "Turn off the conspicuous consumption from others. Ignore your friends' Facebook statuses from the mall."

We tapped Carlson and a few others for their tips for fun freebies that will bring you closer to friends and family without breaking the bank.

Here are 10 Awesome And FREE Things You Should Do This Winter...

1. Make your own festival of lights...
If you can't make it to the top ten cities for the best holiday light shows, look no further than your own front yard.

Host a "lighting ceremony" with your friends and family at home, then pile into the car to check out your neighbors' handiwork, Carlson says. Use last year's lights or borrow extras from family or friends.

The suburbs are known for friendly holiday decoration wars, with frosted yards filled with more LED-lit reindeer and blow-up Santas than you can shake a peppermint stick at.

If you really want a show, hit up the wealthiest 'hoods in your town. If homeowners are crazy enough to enlist professional decorators to deck their halls for $1,500, why let all their hard-spent cash go to waste?

2. Winter games...
If you're lucky enough to live in snow-friendly parts of the U.S., grab your gloves and a couple of able-bodied friends for some good old fashioned snow games. Find a good hill for sledding or hit the lake for ice fishing.

For those in warmer climates, ice rinks often offer free admission as long as you bring your own skates.

3. Host a film festival at home...
Movie tickets can cost up to $15 a pop these days, but your home is far cozier, comes with your own parking spot and – the best part – all the snacks are free.

Carlson tells her clients to try hosting a film festival from their living room. You can stream Netflix DVDs straight to your TV or, if you've nixed cable from your monthly budget, invite friends to bring their own flicks.

Pop popcorn, make hot chocolate (or some grown-up egg nog for the 21 and up crowd) and curl up with people you know, rather than rows filled with gibbering strangers.

4. Find some culture...
Take advantage of federally-subsidized central heating and hit up all the best public exhibits your city has to offer this winter. Check community board listings or your local newspaper for new exhibits.

Washington, D.C. resident Shannon Mouton says colder months are the best time for locals to enjoy the best city sights without swarms of tourists underfoot.

Smithsonian exhibits are always free, but you won't have to fight dozens of other oglers to get the best view of the penguins at the National Zoo, which is also free and open to the public.

5. Lend a helping hand...
It's easy to feel down and out when you're facing mounds of debt during the busiest shopping season of the year. Get some perspective by helping out those needier than yourself.

Before you sign up to dish out spaghetti at the local soup kitchen, try lending a hand to an elderly neighbor by stringing lights or shoveling their driveway.

Plenty of community organizations will need volunteers for holiday shows and food drives and you can get your whole family involved. But steer clear of scams by checking out charities with the Better Business Bureau first.

6. Get your wino on...
Before you head to a holiday concert or museum, get your juices flowing with a free wine or beer tasting.

Wineries and breweries often offer free tastings on certain days of the week, when patrons are encouraged to circulate and sip without the pressure of purchasing a pricey bottle to go.

If the business is really classy, they'll have some finger foods on hand, too, so feel free to chow down – within reason.

7. Take in a holiday concert...
You don't have to blow hundreds of dollars on Broadway tickets to get your holiday concert fix.

Look no further than your local community playhouse. Participants are sometimes truly talented entertainers who might volunteer in their spare time, so don't shrug off local events as amateur hour.

Churches and college campuses are sure to have holiday schedules packed with musical events, so keep an eye on community list for dates and times.

8. Hit the great outdoors...
Campsites offer dirt cheap or free rates during the winter for obvious reasons, so if you're up for a challenge, take a weekend camping trip or a day hike.

You'll get back to nature and the lack of outlets (i.e.: no distracting smartphones or computers) will bring everyone closer together.

If you're not up for a multi-day arctic adventure, try having a picnic on the lake or at the beach in chillier months.

Pack thermoses and bring warm foods for a picnic. If it's legal in your area, lug along a pile of fresh cut wood to build a bonfire and keep warm.

9. Throw a holiday party...
Don't let the word 'party' fool you. You don't have to blow your budget entertaining guests with champagne fountains and other ridiculous bells and whistles to have a good time.

Invite friends over for game night or a potluck dinner. They can bring their own games and a dish to share and everyone will leave feeling satisfied.

If your friends are crafty, exchange homemade gifts in lieu of pricey presents.

10. See Santa for free...
Shopping malls are asking a pretty penny for photos with Santa these days, but you can skip the hassle of waiting in line by tracking down a free one-on-one with the big man.

Community events often feature Santa lookalikes, Carlson says, so check your local newspaper or online message boards for listings.

These awesome ideas will get you started for the Winter and it won't take all of next year to pay for them...

Enjoy!

Check back for more great ideas and Happy First Day of Winter from your friends at Interior Design!

Your kind contribution will allow us to continue sharing great, no cost and cost saving ideas for your space. Click the "Donate" button below to make a contribution. Thank you!

Live well,
Yvonne

Stylish Holiday Gift Wrap Ideas

Courtesy of H. Camille Smith and Briana Mowrey

Merry Christmas Friends,

You spend so much time carefully selecting just-the-right present for everyone on your list; give your gifts a professionally-wrapped look with these tips. Take a Cue From Your Tree - if you're going all out with an unusual color palette continue the scheme under the tree, too. The wrapping paper may have different patterns, but the consistent palette keeps the look harmonious.

Make It Sparkle
Metallic wrap and ribbons make any gift shine. Trendy metals such as gold, silver, copper and bronze add seasonal sparkle when paired with other colors or used alone for a monochromatic scheme. To keep your gifts from looking too matchy-matchy, combine metallic papers in fashion-forward patterns — like chevron, damask, trellis, pin stripes and polka dots.



Cheap and Chic
Recycled brown Kraft paper (which can be found in big rolls at your local craft, office supply or dollar store) is a great anytime gift wrap. Tie with twine and embellish with a pinecone and evergreen clippings from your backyard for gift wrap that's easy on the environment and your wallet.



Accentuate Your Decor
Coordinate gift wrap with your home's decor for a designer look that's easy to achieve. When selecting paper, choose stripes, solids and patterns in the same color family for a polished and fuss-free look.



Keep It Simple
Rate My Space user mrsculater prefers to limit her gift wrap to four or five paper choices max. In her words, "Creating a theme with your papers and ribbons accentuates the tree in many ways and becomes part of the entire picture."



The Holidays are perfect to get your creative juices flowing and the energy going - check back with us for more great decorating ideas...

Happy Holidays from your friends at Interior Design.

Merry Christmas!

Your kind contribution will allow us to continue sharing great, no cost and cost saving ideas for your space. Click the "Donate" button below to make a contribution. Thank you!

Live well,
Yvonne

How to Make a Votive Candle Runway for Santa

Courtesy of By Janell Beals, Isabella & Max Rooms

Merry Christmas Friends,

Light the way for Santa by lining entry steps with glowing votives.

Materials Needed:

• several glass cylinders or mason jars
• rock salt
• votives
• length of garland
• matches

Gather Supplies
Select glass cylinders or jars and gather votives and rock salt.



Fill Containers
Pour rock salt into each container, filling approximately 1/5 full.



Place Votives
Arrange votive in each container, pushing votive down into salt to secure in place.



Light Candles
Light candles, arrange along steps and enhance with a length of garland.



Wait for Santa to Arrive
Enjoy your handiwork, set out some milk and cookies and get ready for the man in the red suit to make an appearance.



Give our best to Santa...

Check back for more great ideas from your friends at Interior Design.

Merry Christmas!

Your kind contribution will allow us to continue sharing great, no cost and cost saving ideas for your space. Click the "Donate" button below to make a contribution. Thank you!

Live well,
Yvonne

Make Christmas Ornaments From Old Shirts

Courtesy of HGTV

Merry Christmas Friends,

Recycled clothes lend a well-dressed touch to your holiday tree. Get creative and mix it up a bit for your space but most of all get the family involved for some quality time and lasting memories to share in the future. Below are the materials you'll need and instructions to get you on your way to decorating in style.

Materials Needed:

• old shirts
• foam balls
• straight pins
• floral wire
• scissors

Steps
1. Find vintage shirts patterns that work with your holiday theme.

2. Cut all the seams off the shirt, including the collar, cuffs and yolk. Then, take off the buttons. This will ensure you get as much fabric as you can.

3. Use different-sized foam balls and straight pins.

4. Lay out a piece of the fabric. Roll one of the balls with the piece of fabric to find out how big the strips need to be to cover the foam. Cut the fabric this length so you have a big strip.

5. Fold the strip up lengthwise four times and cut different widths.

6. Take one end of the fabric and wrap it around the ball and pin it. Continue this process until the entire ball is covered. A second set of hands is helpful.

7. Use floral wire to adhere the ball to garland, a wreath or a tree.

Happy decorating and Go Green...

Check back for more great ideas from your friends at Interior Design.

Merry Christmas!

Your kind contribution will allow us to continue sharing great, no cost and cost saving ideas for your space. Click the "Donate" button below to make a contribution. Thank you!

Live well,
Yvonne

7 DIY Christmas Ornaments

Courtesy of Kate Doherty and Amanda Kingloff (producers)
Credit: Aaron Graubart/Studio D (crafting, Jocelyn Worrall)

Merry Christmas Friends,

Featured is the Mini Yarn Wreath. Wind two pieces of yarn in different colors around a wood curtain ring. We used Bonbons yarn in lime from the Brights set and green with emerald sparkle from the Jingle Bells set ($8 for each set of 8 mini skeins, lionbrand.com). Knot the yarn and trim excess. Hot-glue the knot to the back of the ring. Pull a thread from a new piece of yarn and tie two bells to the ring. Tie a ribbon into a small bow. Hot-glue it above the bells. Hot-glue a ribbon loop to the back of the ring to hang.

Winter Scene


Use a crafts knife to cut a half-liter plastic bottle in half. String a ribbon through a wood bead and knot into a loop to hang. Hot-glue the bead to the spout. Trace the cut end of the bottle onto a piece of cardboard and a sheet of cotton batting. Cut out both circles, making the cardboard one 1/2-inch larger than what you traced. Hot-glue the batting to the cardboard. Glue tinsel around the cardboard’s edge and around the bottle’s spout. Cut tree shapes out of thin crafts foam. Cover in glitter, then hot-glue the trees to the batting. Hot-glue the bottle’s cut end to the cardboard circle.

Washer Snowflake


Super-glue a brass washer on top of a larger zinc washer. Flip it over and glue eight smaller washers around it. Flip it back over and glue eight large washers to the small ones. Flip it over again and glue eight small washers to the large ones. Loop a ribbon through a washer to hang, then cover the ribbon with an adhesive rhinestone. Stick rhinestones on the front of some of the other washers.

Toy Car With Tree


Hot-glue a mini sisal bottle brush tree ($2 for 2, factorydirectcraft.com) to the top of a toy car—we used a die-cast Mini Cooper S ($9, amazon.com). Thread a ribbon through the car windows and tie it into a bow on top of the tree. Thread another piece of ribbon under the bow and knot into a loop to hang.

Nail Polish Globe


Remove the hanging hardware from a clear glass ball ornament. Pour in nail polish and swirl it around. Let dry a few minutes, then repeat with another color. (We used Maybelline New York Color Show nail lacquer in Pink Shock, then Bold Gold). Set the ball upside-down over a paper cup to dry, then replace the hardware.

Birdhouse


Hot-glue an empty half-pint carton closed. Trace the four sides onto scrapbook paper—we used Recollections in Green Pin Dots (59 cents per sheet, Michaels stores)—then cut the pieces out and hot-glue them to the carton. Cut out two circles—one brown paper circle and a slightly larger one in another color. Hot-glue circles to each other, then to the front of the carton. Cut a skewer to about 5 inches and push it through the carton below the circles.

To make the roof: Fold a 5 1/2-inch-by-4-inch piece of heavyweight paper—we used Pearl Wrap ($9 for 2 sheets, smockpaper.com)—in half. Unfold and make a 1/4-inch crease along one of the longer sides, then cut a slit at the halfway mark. Punch two holes through the top of the roof and thread a ribbon through to hang. Hot-glue the roof to the carton’s top. Hot-glue the bottom of the carton to a square of patterned card stock. Make a bird from red pom-poms and crafts paper, and hot-glue it to the skewer.

Painted Cube


Stick a piece of painter’s tape diagonally across each side of a wood block ($12 for 10, createforless.com). Use crafts paint to fill in one triangle on each side; let dry. Tape off a thin stripe next to each painted triangle and paint with a different color. Twist a small screw-eye into one corner of the block to hang.

Create memories as you put together these DIY ornaments - have fun...

Check back for more great ideas from your friends at Interior Design.

Merry Christmas!

Your kind contribution will allow us to continue sharing great, no cost and cost saving ideas for your space. Click the "Donate" button below to make a contribution. Thank you!

Live well,
Yvonne

Free Christmas Party Invitations

Courtesy of HGTV, Bird's Party and The TomKat Studio

Merry Christmas Friends,

Tell friends and family about your holiday party in style with one of these free printable Christmas invitations.

Featured is the Handmade Holiday Dinner Party Invitation with all the trimming. Get creative with some embellished invitations that will help set the tone for the party to come. Anything goes, from burlap trim to buttons, yarn, sequin and glitter — the idea is to add your own handmade "stamp" to a simple printable invitation. To create a matching envelope liner, trace the shape of a 5-by 7-inch envelope onto scrapbook paper and cut around it, a third of an inch smaller. Then secure it to the inside of the envelopes with double-sided tape. Punch out a 2-inch printable cupcake topper with a 2-inch round paper puncher to use as an envelope seal.

• Click HERE to download the printable Handmade Holiday Dinner Party Invitation
• Click HERE to download the printable cupcake toppers

Pet Party Invitations


A holiday party for your pet? Yes, it's possible! Start the party by inviting favorite four-legged friends and their human companions to a pet-focused bash with these fun printable invites.

• Click HERE to download printable Pet Party Invitations

Candy-Wrapper Invitations


Delight your guests from the moment they receive your invitations with these printable candy wrapper invites. Simply print, cut and wrap around your favorite candy bar!

• Click HERE to download printable Candy-Wrapper Invitations

Gingerbread Party Invites


Throw a kid-friendly party complete with a gingerbread-decorating station. It all starts with this cute printable invitation. If hand-delivering invites, attach each card to a freshly-baked gingerbread cookie.

• Click HERE to download printable Gingerbread Party Invites

Enjoy...

Check back for more great ideas from your friends at Interior Design.

Merry Christmas!

Your kind contribution will allow us to continue sharing great, no cost and cost saving ideas for your space. Click the "Donate" button below to make a contribution. Thank you!

Live well,
Yvonne

How to Make a Boxwood Kissing Ball

Courtesy of Marian Parsons, Mustard Seed Interiors

Merry Christmas Friends,

A Christmas tradition, the kissing ball, can be made out of more than just mistletoe. Use preserved boxwood sprigs, magnolia leaves or even fresh evergreens to create this holiday party decoration.

Materials Needed:

• 6" foam sphere
• 8-10 preserved boxwood branches
• wire cutters
• scissors
• 1 1/3 yards double-sided ribbon
• 6-7 quilting pins

Trim Boxwood Sprigs
Pull or trim sprigs off of a large preserved boxwood branch. Trim sprigs down even further to about 1-2-inch pieces. Cut just above a row of leaves for the best look. Tip: To expedite the project, clip all sprigs at one time.



Insert Sprigs in Foam
Gently push sprig stems straight into foam sphere. Arrange sprigs close together to hide the foam, and leave about a 2-inch circle uncovered as a place to attach ribbons for hanging. Tip: Insert glittered Christmas decor picks or other decorating accessories to customize even further.



Cut and Attach Ribbons
Cut four 12-inch lengths of double-sided ribbon. Line them up and stack one on top of the other. Lay center of ribbons over the bare spot on the foam sphere. Insert 6-7 quilt pins at an angle in the foam to secure ribbon (Image 1). Lift kissing ball by ribbons to make sure they're secure. Fill in remaining bare spot around ribbons with boxwood sprigs (Images 2 and 3).





Tie Ribbons
Knot two ribbons together, tightening the knot against the sphere. Repeat with two more ribbons (Images 1 and 2). Tie the final ribbon in a bow to hang the kissing ball. Trim all ribbon ends at an angle in similar lengths. Hang from a doorway, arch or ceiling. Tip: Lightly mist fresh or preserved greenery to extend its life.




Have fun...

Check back for more great ideas from your friends at Interior Design.

Merry Christmas!

Your kind contribution will allow us to continue sharing great, no cost and cost saving ideas for your space. Click the "Donate" button below to make a contribution. Thank you!

Live well,
Yvonne