HOLIDAY DECORATING ON A BUDGET

There's nothing that I love more than a beautifully decorated home during the holidays. There's nothing that I hate more than spending a lot of money to do it!


Fortunately, there's a lot you can do with things you most likely have around your house already, or depending upon where you live, as close as your own backyard!




I happen to love candles. I love the enticing scents, the relaxing mood they create and the warm glow they emit. They can be incredibly expensive, though!




What I have done to save the expense is to create my own. I pulled an old, short flower vase out of my cabinet that I found and started setting aside the glass jars from things like pickles, mayonnaise, jelly, etc. from the refrigerator as we finished them.


Making sure the jars were completely cleaned out and dry, I was ready to add the candles. I used to have a lot of the tea lights that I had planned to use, but when I found the box, there was only one left. Determined to use only what I already had on hand, I found some old red taper candles that I cut into approximately 1 in. pieces. After the pieces have been cut, carefully take the tip of your knife and score a circle around the location of the candle wick to expose it. Light the candle to drip some wax into the bottom of the jar to hold the candle piece in place. Blow out the candle and place down into the jar into the dripped wax. Depending upon the size of your jar, this may or may not be easy! In my more narrow jars, I had to use tweezers to place my candle!


Finally, decorate your jars. Be creative with ribbons and bows, stencils, or whatever you have on hand. Just make sure that your embellishments stay away from the opening of the jar or your creation could become a fire hazard! Assemble one or two jars to sit around your home, or group several on your table to set the mood. Depending upon where in the country you are, you may have access to greenery from your own backyard to add around the bottom of your candle jars. Pine cones are a nice accent, too. Use your imagination!


The only thing missing when using taper candles is the scent. For me, part of the enjoyment of candles are the delicious aromas. So, heading back to my kitchen cabinets, I look for things like cinnamon (powder or sticks), clove, allspice, vanilla,(you get the idea), and from the refrigerator, oranges...orange peels have natural oils that smell wonderful! In a pot of water, simmer all of the ingredients, sit back, and enjoy all the wonderful smells drifting from your kitchen. And, as with anything else you might have going on the stove, you have to keep an eye on it! Check the water level often and add water as it evaporates.


Two very simple, inexpensive ideas to add holiday warmth to your home. And the best part is, no $$ spent to do it! What savvy ideas do you have to decorate your home for the holidays? Share them here!

TOMORROW - The Cookie Clause