Happy New Years!!

Happy new Years...

Here are a few pictures of the livingrom and kitchen. They are decorated for New Years. I hope they give you a few ideas.

To all a Happy New Years...

New Years

Here is the last of the Christmas ideas...

If your going to spend all the time wrapping gifts you might as well make them beautiful. Its as easy as tying your shoe.

I buy gift wrap to match my trees. The silver is for the tree upstairs and red belongs downstairs under the tree. I wrap them and take a piece of ribbon and tie it around them. Easy. fluff the bow and add a tag.. For the red I bought picks at the craft store, after Christmas last year. They were $.10 much cheaper than the paper bows you can buy. All I did was tie the bow and twist the wire around it. Easy..

I think they look nice and everyone loves to get packages that look like you put a lot of time into them. You really don't though...

Hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas.

Merry Christmas!!!!!!

last room to decorate...

Here's a few pictures of the bathroom...

Yes I know, I can't help it. I think I really like the black and white photos. I realize you can't see the color of the bathroom but I still really like the way the pictures look.

The bathroom is a blood red color so I decorate in red and green. I place greenery over the windows, pictures and even mirrors. Then I use battery operated l.e.d lights. They work well in the bathroom because there isn't any electric involved. I use lots of red poinsettias and red and green ribbons.

I decided to spray snow on everything. Lesson learned... The snow is fun but after a while it gets really weird looking from the steam.. If you want snow just spray it the day of your party or the day you have company coming...

This year I decided not to add my tree. It always ends up knocked over anyways... I think they hit it with the towels or something.I do miss my tree in the bathroom so next year it will return.

I add lots of Christmas towels, peppermint soap, and a few cranberry candles. The bathroom is done.. It doesn't take but a few minutes and it looks great.

Happy Holidays!!!!

Yet another tree...

Here is yet another tree... I told you I have a tree in every room. This tree is down stairs in the family room.
For this tree I used ribbons, pine cones, and flowers. There isn't ornaments on this tree. I decided to change this one last year. I really wanted to use some reds and golds. I went to the dollar stores and bought most of the items. i went to the craft stores and bought small red cardinals and gold poinsettas. I found some really neat curly gold sticks and put them everywhere. I love how much fun it is... The pine cones are cinnamon scented. They make the whole basement smell wonderful. My husband loves colored lights, so this tree is for him. It may be my favorite at the moment...
I decorated the rest of the room in red and gold ribbons, and metal sleighs. I added lots of red and gold poinsettas. I love the simplicity of it...
Later this week I will show some simple wrapping ideas to match your trees.
Happy Holidays!!!

Its Christmas in the bedroom. What do you think of the black and white photo? I am thinking about changing all of my photos on my blog to black and white. I think I like it. Let me know what you think. I would enjoy your comments...

As you can see there isn't a room in my house safe. I will decorate everything possible for every holiday. I love to wake up and see the holidays. It really makes my day.

The tree in the bedroom is very special to me, because I don't use ornaments. Everything on my tree is jewelry from my grandmas and my husbands grandmas. I love to collect old costume jewelry from our families. I put it away until the holidays and bring it out for the tree in my bedroom. Every year I say I will wire the jewelry to the tree but I can't seem to make my self do it. I am afraid that I may want to wear it sometime this year. I might really, I might.

I hope you have some ideas. You really can use anything for your tree. I have seen wine glasses, antique toys, and even teddy bears, so use what ever you love. You will have a wonderful tree, and you enjoy it more than if you would have spent lots of money on ornaments you didn't love.

Happy Holidays!!!

Here are a few more pictures of the living room. I am not sure why I didn't post them last night. I didn't even think about it until today.

I love to add greenery and lights to everything as you can tell. I buy really cheap and I mean really cheap greenery. I think the greenery over the window was $3.99. I then add lots of other cheap items to it. I added cheap lights, bead garland $1.00 and some pretty ribbons, left from last year. I bought the snowflake from a craft fair for $7.00 a long time ago, added a few dollar store ornaments and there you have it...

Here is a picture of the same table and lamp that I decorate for everything. Its the same thing just a different holiday. You can see what I have done. Its just a few simple changes for each holiday.Nothing exciting...

I hope you have gotten a few new ideas from me.

Happy Holidays!!!

Heres a few pictures of my livingroom.

As you can see I love silver and white Christmas decorations for the livingroom. Every few years I change one color. This time I added a little black. I am beginning to love the black and white color scheme for every room. The tree in my livingroom has pretty much been the same for 20 years. I have always used white lights with silver and white ornaments. The tinsel has changed and the ornaments have become better thru the years but it has remained almost the same.

I removed the pictures in my black frames and added old christmas cards. I placed a few word plaques on the shelves and added a silver box. I really love these frames. I think I am going to leave them for a while and see what I can add for all the other holidays...

As you can see I have lost the battle with the television on the mantle. I have begged, cryed and even threatened but the television hasnt been hung on the wall. I really would like to have my mantle back to decorate. Oh well, I guess I will just make do and decorate around the horrible black box.

I love Christmas. It takes days and weeks to decorate for it, but it really is worth it... I look forward to it every year. I hope you enjoy decorating for the holidays as much as I do, and I hope I have giving you a few ideas. There plenty more ideas to follow.

Happy Holidays.

Fun in the kitchen for Christmas

Heres a few photos of christmas in my kitchen.

I love lots of trees. I put them in every room. This year I decided to put three in the kitchen. I am so glad I did. Its so much fun. I added lots of red, silver, and white ribbons and ornaments. I put candy canes and candy everywhere.

On the tables and counters I put lots of goodies for everyone to enjoy. Cookies just make everything more fun. I used nuts and candies everywhere.

I love to decorate everything in the kitchen with fun things, and fun colors. I hang ornaments from the ceiling and put them everywhere that needs a little sparkle. I use quilt batting for snow and throw in a little glitter and let the fun begin...

Happy Holidays!!!!

Upon request... I was asked to put this on my blog, so here it is....
This is the cheapest and easiest idea with the most impact..
Go to the nearest cheap store around and buy a clear or white shower liner. Go the craft store and buy black cherry acrylic paint. Take the shower liner and hang it outside.. ( Hint: Don't do this over concrete. Even if you wet down the concrete it will not come off easy.....) Place a small amount of paint in a tray and place both hands in the paint. Grab the liner with both painted hands, drag your hands down as if you were standing behind the curtain and falling.. Wipe the rest of the paint on the curtain in different areas. Now put your fingers back in the paint and flick the paint so it runs down like dripping blood.....
I spent $3.47 on the liner and $1.07 on the paint. I spent ten minutes painting it and 24 hours letting it dry.. Under $5.00 for a lot of fun.....
If you like you can hang the curtain early in the morning before anyone gets up. Let the fun begin... Get ready for the squeals... Please don't do this with small kids, but please do this with teenagers.... My girls have decided this was just too far, and very demented... That makes it that much more fun...I love it...
Happy Haunting...

I am showing another before and after so you can see how a few simple changes can make a big difference.

I changed the tablecloth from a fall design to a black spiderweb cloth. I changed the candle to a candlabra, added a silver skull, and hung a scary skull above. I also added a book about ghosts for a little something extra. I took away the sunflowers and now I have a scary table instead of a fall table.

Just changing these few things can make your home room look well decorated for halloween!!!

The cost of these changes was hardly anything. I paid $9.99 for the hanging skull, $3.99 for a yard of fabric ( after Halloween sale-50% off), The book was a dollar at a garage sale. The candlabra was $2.00 at the antique store and $5.oo at the dollar store for the candles, skull, and the crow. $21.00 total..... Just think if you could spend $20.00 a room and have a well decorated house it would be worth it...Wouldn't it?

Happy Halloween Decorating......

For a simple way to decorate the living room..

I have kept all my frames and shelves the same. I changed from the photos that were in the frames to drawings of graveyards. I left the white mats and then added black paper behind the small drawings to look like double mats. I then changed the flowers to black silk instead of real flowers. You could use dark red flowers instead. I then added tombstones and a skull for the accessories

If you use simple black and white frames and shelves it makes it really easy to change for each holiday.

Instead of tombstones you could use jack-o-lanterns with bright orange mums. For the art you could use pictures of pumpkin patches or even fall trees if you like.. I have old post cards for Halloween that would really look good also..

I haven't added cobwebs, spiders or bats yet, I will before it is over...

Happy Haunting...

Fun cheap and easy...

Cheap and easy ideas..
Fun- Make a halloween banner, Buy fun black, orange and white papers for scrapbooking. Cut large triangles in alternating colors. Use large letters ( bought at scrapbooking stores) in opposite colors to spell out fun phrases. Happy halloween, trick or treat etc. Glue your pendenats on yarn, ribbon or even rope.. Hang them over doors, windows or wherever you need a little Halloween.
Scary- Buy lots of black paper and cut out lots of silohettes of bats, mice, spiders, or even of large scary monster ( trace a child and then add wings or horns,etc) Tape them onthe walls in places you would see a mouse or bat. This can be a lot of fun. Make a bat cave, or line of spiders running up the walls, or even a trail or mice along the base boards.
Extra- All haunted houses have broken windows. Cut black paper to look like slivers of broken glass. It is lot easier than its sounds. Trust me, it is.. Tape them to the windows and add a black light behind them... This is a cool effect for halloween night...
These ideas are all cheap and so easy.. If you mess up or don't like your final result you haven't lost much.. Good luck and happy haunting...

Kitchen before and after

This is the before and after of my kitchen. I only had about two hours after work today and I used it to change my kitchen over to Halloween.. I am sure this area will change several times in the next month but for now I am happy with the transformation. I am showing you the before and after so you can get some ideas for your own home.. I will show several more in the weeks to follow... I hope you find a few good ideas to use yourself.

September 30 2009

Today is the day to remove any and everything that is not Halloween. I have went thru the house and taken down pictures, plates candle holders, and even curtains. I want you expect the inevitable, plan on vistors while your rooms are bare... As soon as you make a mess you will have company. Trust me that is what always happens to me.... People will come in and stare at the nails on your walls.. It will be alright, just know tomorrow it will look great..
For a quick scary craft project - Use white candles, it doesn't matter what kind and light them( i have found if you do this project outside they will drip better) Let them burn down a little preferably dripping alot. Now take a red candle and drip it down the sides like blood. ( The cheaper the red candle the better) I think this a really realistic look for Halloween..
I hope this will get you started and everyday from now to Halloween I will geive you hints, tips and even ideas for crafts, decorating and even menus...
Happy Halloween !!!!!

Sept 26 09

Livingroom in the Fall..
To make your rooms look and feel warm and confortable, add lots of items and fabrics in dark jewel toned colors. ( Dark greens, burgandy, gold, purple or even burnt oranges) Remove all the fabrics that are light and breezy or light colored. Replace your curtains with dark or heavy curtains. Add a few heavy throw rugs. Don't forget to exchange your throw pillows for darker and more comfortable ones. It is the time of year to add a throw on the chairs or couch..
For the art, exchange it for darker frames or even darker art work. Use art that reminds you of fall. Use leaf prints or even fall sceneries. For some reason pictures of covered bridges always remind me of fall..Use what you have or even love.. If you can't exchange your art at least change the frames to black or dark brown or even forest green..
Now just add a few books, a candle or two in warm smells, and a basket or two and you will have a wonderful fall room.
I took down my white lace swags above the windows and replaced them with black. I brought up my rug with lots of dark colors. I used baskets for my magazines. I placed lots of pumpkin candles everywhere. They smell so good even when thay are not burning.. If you would like to purchase some let me know.. I make them and sell them, just leave your info on the comment line...I then exchanged my throw pillows for black ones instead of blue and added a fauz black fur throw.. It feels and looks warm and confortable in my livingroom.
I hope this gives you several ideas and helps you to warm up and make your rooms very inviting for fall.. Good Luck.. Leave comments and ideas Please..

Wednesday September 23

Today, lets go thru the kitchen and put away anything that looks summer... Butterflies, pastels, bright colors, or even lacy or light weight fabrics... Replace these items with heavy weight, or dark jewel tones fabrics. Replace the rest of the items with pumpkins, leaves, baskets, or any rustic type items..
I removed one plate from the kitchen and replaced it with a leaf. I added a dark colored runner and added a few pumpkins. My kitchen now screams fall.. The simple changes really do alot for decrating a home..
Good luck and enjoy fall........

Spider eggs...

Happy Fall!!!

I have began decorating for fall today.. I have used red, orange, yellow, and forest green all over the house.. I don't completely decorate for fall yet.. I will only do a little to waste time untill October 1st. Then it becomes a scarefest in my house..

I have finally taken pictures of my spider eggs.. They took forever to dry. The rain can ruin just about any craft project...They are done... Tell me what you think. Last year I made them with gauze, next year I will make them that way again.. The webbing isn't as easy as I thought it would be. Here they are.. They are what they are..

Finished flower pots

These turned out to be alot more fun than I even expected... I planted my chives in the vampire and parsley in the witch.. I have decided I should make a ghost and even a werewolf... I will say they took alot longer to dry than I expected, the rain can really slow down drying time... I will try to get pictures of the spider eggs uploaded later this week.. They are really taking forever to dry...
I hope you enjoy these as much as I do and I hope they get your imagination working... Let me know what ideas you come up with...

September 18

Today I am going to start crafts for Halloween. I start them now so you have time to finish them before you need them... I start them every year early and never finish them in time, ever... This year I plan on beginning now so I have time to finish them... I have two ideas, One fun, and one scary... I plan on using these two themes for the entire month of decorating...Choose the one you prefer, and run with it.....

• Fun Craft - Vampire pots - Buy plastic flower pots, paint them blackor green, paint simple vampire faces or frankenstien faces on them. Spray the pot with acrylic clear paint. Fill with soil, and plant grass seed, or chives or any long green plant. Use your imagination and use your ideas for this one... You could paint ghosts or witchs or anything you like....
• Scary Craft - Spider eggs - Blow up several balloons to different sizes. Mix 5 parts of white glue with 1 part of water, mix well, dip either gauze or spider webs ( buy them at any store, they are really cheap, don't use the colored ones, they bleed everywhere) in the mixture and wrap around the balloons.. Set the balloons on a cup with ends dripping down into the cup..(tyed end down) You may need to wrap the ballooon several times.. Let dry, pop balloon, use fishing string to hang. Add fake spiders everywhere, use hot glue ot affix them. Tie a few pieces of fishing string to the bottom of your egg and hang spiders from them...

These are both very inexpensive ideas. Both ideas take a little time but are well worth it... I will show pictures of them in a day or two when I finish the projects....

Back to school..

I have an idea... I have decided it would be fun to decorate for back to school.. I haven't tried it yet but I will..
Things to use and colect..

bright colors- school bus yellow, blue, and red..

anything with letters- plates, material, paper weights, etc.. anything you can find. I have seen lots of letter items lately. Try to use ABCs

For the kitchen use bright yellow flowers, plates with abcs, bright blue candle holders, red place mats, red dishes, whatever you have..

In the livingroom use lots of bright flowers, pictures of children on the first day of school in bright frames (buy wooden frames and paint with spray paint, add small wooden letters) add lots of red yellow and blue candles add some pillow covers with abcs

I think this sounds like fun... I will try it and add pictures when I can.. I will also add more ideas as I can...

See I told you its pretty boring.. Thats okay it will change soon enough.....

Plain jane....

Here are a few pictures of plain jane... Boring..... Its all okay because in just a few weeks I will be decorating for birthdays.. If you don't have birthdays in August and September you can decorate for Labor day... I will give ideas for Labor day later.. For now I will just show you my boring home...

Plain Jane.....

From now until late August my house is very plain jane.... For the moment I am just cleaning everything and putting all the stray holiday things away.. My home is sooo boring right now.. I am so looking forward to late August so I can begin decorating for birthdays, then Labor Day , and then on to one of my favorite holidays..Halloween... It has to be one of the most fun holidays to decorate.. You will understand when the 1st of October comes. I will show lots of pictures and lots of ideas... Untill then you will have to bare with me, Its gonna be a bit boring for a while....

Here is a few things you can do for the livingroom, familyroom, or even a den.

• Go to your nearest grocery store and buy a small boquet of flowers. I bought one for $6.99 and used in 3 small vases.. It was white daisies, red carnations, and dyed blue mums. Add in a few flags and a few 4th of july picks. They look wonderful on the mantle or even on shelves, or tables.. It is a very cheap idea with a lot of impact..
• Cover all of your throw pillows with homemade pillow cases (check back to mother's day for instructions on how to make them.) cut some fabric for tableclothsor runners. If you like you can even make a scarf for your windows...
• Add some artwork with flags or even the capital. Whatever you can find that reminds you of the 4th..

I hope this gives you a few ideas.. Tomarrow I post a few pictures of my familyroom and hopefully they will help you with even more suggestions...

Just a few more 4th of July ideas..

Tonite I will add a few more ideas for the kitchen and then the rest of the week I will add ideas for the rest of the house...

• On the table fill a white and blue bowl full of red apples. If you want you could fill a bowl full of poppers. Use a clear vase and fill with the colorful paper sparklers.( Don't light them!!!!)
• 4th of July pot holders and dish towels are easy to find. Look at retail and dollar stores. Just switch these few things and you will see the difference...
• Use red white and blue tablecloth..

I hope this helps you to come up with a few ideas to make your kitchen scream 4th of July...

A few ideas for the Fourth of July

Here is a few simple ideas for the Kitchen.

• add stars from the ceiling ( hang paper stars from the ceiling with fishing line from small hooks- if you like you could just tape them )
• change your art work to pictures of fireworks or hang plates of stars or flags. If you don't have these items, use what you have, such as red or blue plates or even art with daisies. Daisies just remind people of summer and the fourth of July.
• Add small flags everywhere.

I hope this will give you a good start at decorating for the Fourth.. I will continue the ideas but for now this is just a few tips... Happy Fourth of July...

Forth of July... It's time again!!! Pack everything up and start again.. Start searching for anything red, white, and or blue.. You will be surprised at how many things you already have in these colors. Tablecloths, vases, bowls, whatever will work. Bring out all of these things and don't forget flags and even old firework casings, if you have them. Start with thses things first, and then begin to add to them... Happy decorating for the forth of July....

Happy Father's Day!!!! I hope all of you father's enjoy the day..

Today I will give you some ideas for the front porch.

• Use a grape vine wreath and add lots of fishing lures, small tractors( the ones you buy in the toy section), small tools ( the toy section), anything that says dad. Add a ribbon that matches the items you added, and call it wonderful decor on the front door or even the back door..
• Add a green plant in an urn or even a vase of cut grasses on the front porch or even the back porch..
• Take a wooden sign bought from the craft store, add a stake, paint the sign whatever color matches your house, write Happy Father's Day on it and place it by the front door....

This will make Dad proud when he comes home, He will know that this is for him, and just him. Happy Father's Day....

Here is a few ideas for your bedroom.

• Use a plaid comforter, or denim, or even a dark color. Navy blue, forest green or even a dark gold would work perfectly for the comforter or even sheets..
• Use some throw pillows such as fish, wolves or even computers, whatever reminds you of a dad.
• On the night stand place a picture of dad, and a vase with some cut grasses, add a few dark colored candles, and then some type of trinket that says dad..

These few ideas should make your bedroom say Happy Father's Day.. Wouldn't it be nice to be Dad and wake to a room that says We are thinking of you!!!! I think it would be a wonderful feeling to be a Dad in a room decorated just for me...

Iam starting think this blog may be a complete waste of time!!!! I am beginning think No one is reading it!!!! I really love Holidays and was hoping others did tooo! I haven't had any comments and only one follower ( Thank you Rachael, I really do thank you) and my count has not changed in quite awhile.... I guess I will continue for a little longer in hopes of something-- anything... If you have suggetions please, please tell me so I know what to change to make this blog better....

So heres a picture of my fireplace mantle. i know its kind of plain but it may change between now and father's day... Ok it will most likely if it does I post a new picture...

Tonight Iam going to giving ideas for the livingroom, den or familyroom.

• Use wooden, wrought iron or jewel toned candle holders. Add lots of candles to match your decor
• For art use pictures of deer, bear, fish, or anything you can find to say dad's day. If you look you will find all typea of art that will work. If you can't find anything that works, why not try pictures of dad, grandpa, husband, or kids in matching frames. I prefer black frames with black and white photos...
• Use lots of potted plants and even cut grasses in vases..
• Use fabrics with computers, fish, cars, etc. for curtains and pillows. If you look you can find pillows in shapes of cars, fish, and even computers...( yes I have seen pillows that look like computers. You just have to look hard for these items...)

Add a few of the collections around that remind you of dear old dad and you should have a wonderfully decorated room...

Here's the picture I promised to put on my blog.... Maybe next winter when I get laid off I will go take a photography class and then the pictures will be worth seeing....

See I always decorate very simple but it is always to the point.. Everyone comes in and says OH I guess its Father's Day..

So the moral of this story is.. Its so little effort for the holidays and anyone can achieve great results...

I only changed the flowers, the plates and the nickknacks to change the whole theme. The things I use only use a small amount of storage space and work wonders...

A few simple table decorations..

• use an old wooden tool box to hold utensils and napkins or even small vases of flowers.
• use a bowl for of clear glass balls to look like bubbles, add a set of fish salt and pepper shakers.
• use burlap for a tablecloth or you could use a fish net
• go to a resale shop and find fun salt and pepper shakers that remind you of dad.
• use wroght iron candle holders or even wooden ones (be careful with wood)
• add vases of cut grasses or lots of plants in a wooden bowl.
• fell a bowl with old tools or even old fishing lures. use any collection you may have even old coins or stones will work. You could even use seashells if you have them...
• use any old wooden handled utensils you have. and you could even use wooden chargers with your everyday dishes.

I hope this gives a few good ideas.. Just whatever you do make sure it is something you enjoy..If it isn't something you love it won't be worth the trouble..

Here is a few ideas for the kitchen...

• add some plants or cut grasses in plain vases everywhere you can
• change your plates for ones with ships, fish, deer, or even tractors, whatever you have or like.
• use demin or rustic fabrics for curtains, table runners, placemats, or even pillows on your chairs
• just change a few things to make the room say Father's day. I just added cut grasses in my vases instead of flowers and added a blue glass fish, You can tell its Fathers day in my kitchen.
• Don't forget lots of candles. I like candles that smell like mens colagne or even vanilla(it reminds me of a pipe- that reminds me of a grandpa) or even a candle that smells like pine. Use whatever smell that says father's day to you...

I hope this will give you few ideas for the day. I will add a picture of my decorating of the kitchen tomarrow morning, but for now I have to go to bed and be at work really early this afternoon..Yes I am on nights so this is bed time for me and wake up time for you... Bare with me for a few weeks untill I go back to living with the living again...

Instead of giving decorating ideas I have to tell you a story...
Today my teenagers came home from school and my oldest daughter (17) tells me something that makes me understand the whole decorating theme of father's day...She comes in and says I guess it must be father's day because every thing has become manly... I say what do you mean? Her words were stop it mom.. You know what I mean it has to be father's day. Shes right it is.. So the moral of the story is father's day is very manly... Look for any item to decorate with that is very manly and you will have a very well decorated home for father's day...

Today is the day we begin the Father's Day decorations.. Father's day is on Sunday, June 21, just 26 days away.... Today put away all your Memorial Day decorations and clean up the areas that you will be redecorating for Father's Day.
Look for items like fish, deer, bears, old tools or even musical instruments. Use what ever collections you have in the house or that you enjoy.. I like fish for Father's day. Thru the years many peple have given me fish so they work best for me. I love to cut fresh decorative grasses instead of flowers but you could just use plants. Decorate to make everyone think of Father's Day and so that its enjoyable.. don't forget lots of pictures of dad and grandpa and lots of candles.. It will look wonderful with very little effort...

Happy Memorial Day!!! Now get off the computer and go outside and bar-b-que something and enjoy the weekend.. make a red white and blue dessert or drink and have some fun!!!!!

• For the livingroom I have a few ideas that might help your imagination. You can decorate very 4 simple and still have the same effect.. ( bare with this blog my 5 year old newphew is helping me and he doesn't unstand when I remove the letters he hits.... so bare with me...) k Zachary..

Use red roses in a blue vase

Add lots of red,white, and blue candles in clear holders.

For your curtains add some red, whie, and blue fabric for a scarf over your curtains or you can make curtains if you likezac kk

Throw some pillows on the couch and chairs (mred white and blue of course)

Use lots of framed pictures

Now you should have a wonderfully decorated living or family room

As you can see I decorated very simple for this Memorial Day usually I decorate a lot more but under the circumstance I figure at least I did something.

COMING SOON- candles for every holiday to sell.. Right now I am working out the bugs..

Thanks again for baring with Zach he was having a lot of FUN....

Some ideas for any room that needs a little attention...

• add some photos of family members in their uniforms. If you haven't any photos to use you can go to the internet and find military advertisements.. Frame them in nice frames and put them everywhere you can..
• buy lots of small flags on sticks, you can find them in dollar stores or even grocery stores. Fill vases with them or stick them out of plants wherever you need a little something extra..
• find red, white, and blue fabric and cover pillows, make curtains, or use fabric strips added to your towels.
• bring out anything you may already have that is red, white, or blue. Dishes, towels, pillows, sheets, etc. Iam sure you have something in one or all of these colors.Use these items before you buy anything.. If you already have them they must be useful or have some meaning to you..

I hope this will give you a few ideas to use. Memorial Day decorations are very simple just because there isn't much you can find in the stores so you must use what you have.. If you know where to find Memorial Day decorations please leave me a comment on to where they may be!!!!

I am so sorry I have not wrote my blog in over a week. I have attended a funeral and worked long hours. I know this is not a very good excuse but somehow I found time to decorate for Memorial Day but not time to write about it... I promise to work a little harder at writing this blog.Okay some ideas for the kitchen.

• a simple idea is red and white flowers in a blue vase.

a red, white, and blue scarf or bandanna on the tables or shelves.

red, white, and blue candles in pretty clear candle holders

hang small flags from the ceiling or just fill a vase with small flags that you find in the dollar store.

use red white or blue dishes with red, white or blue glasses add a bandanna for a place mat , and throw in a few candles and some pretty flowers for the best Memorial Day table...

I hope this will give you a few quick ideas. Use them to help you come up with lots of your own ideas.. This holiday I decorated really simple but it is still the same effect.. I really didn't have much time so I just added flowers, candles, and bandanas..

Well now its time once again to put everything away, and start all over... I am now putting away all my Mother's Day and bringing out Memorial Day..
I really don't do a lot for Memorial Day but I do some decorating...
Search your home for red, white and blue, any old photos of family members in the military, or any war type art.. Don't forget any flags you may have collected.
Have fun searching for any items that will say Memorial Day...

Happy Mother's Day!!!!

Hope all the moms have a very wonderful day!!!!

History of Mother's Day

The earlist of Mother's day celebrations, go back to the Egyptians. They held festivals to honor the goddess of Isis. She was said to be the mother of the Pharaohs.

In the 1600's in England, the celebrations for mothers really began.During Lenten Sunday, the servants and trade workers were allowed to return home to visit family.On this Sunday they were allowed to stop fasting and have a large family feast.

In the United States the first Mother's Day took place at Andrews Methodist church in Graton, West Virginia on May 10, 1908.

The United states congress approved the holiday in 1914. They designated the 2nd Sunday in May.

Now more than 40 countries now celebrate Mother's day, on th 2nd Sunday in May..

Don't forget to decorate the bedroom. Its the first and last place you see each day.

• On your night stand and dresser add lots of pictures of mom, grandma, and kids. Make sure you use frames you love because this will make Mother's Day special.


• Add lots of flowers. Carnations are the official flower for Mother's Day.


• Use lots of candles everywhere.


• Don't forget floral throw pillows.

Use anything in your room that will make you wake on Sunday and be proud to be a mom, or proud of your mom...

Hey, I think for Mother's Day you should decorate the bathroom. We all know that is the only room in whole house where you can lock everyone out and enjoy the peace and quiet.. Okay it sounds like a good idea even know we all know that doesn't work....

• Put lots of good smelling candles around the tub, add lots of your favorite flowers everywhere, and add a few pictures of your loving children..lol.(caution.. the moisture may ruin your pictures so use copys.)


• Add pretty hand towels. You can make your own by using fabric glue to add trim to a plain colored towels. Add lace or floral fabric or even ribbons. Use whatever you have or like.


• Add some really pretty soaps on an old tea cup saucer.. You could just use a liquid hand soap that has a nice smell that you enjoy..

Remember this holiday is for Mom so dont't worry about anything but making Mom Happy..

One last idea for the living room.

Go to the closets, basement or even the attic and find all the old scarves, handkerchiefs, or linens that your mom or grandma just knew you had to have... Bring them out, wash and iron them( Yes iron them. It takes all of two seconds and you only have to do this once a year..) Place them on tables, mantles or even drape them over your curtains.. Where ever you can use them, Do. Besides that when grandma, or mom see them, It makes them sooo happy.

Okay back to Mother's day decorations... I couldn't help but throw in May Day, I just couldn't resist...

Lets move to the livingroom...

• Add lots of pictures of your children, mother, or even grandmother.. Use all matching frames for a dramatic look. For a fun look try using bright colored frames..
• Don't forget lots of candles and your favorite flowers in pretty vases..
• Add a few sentimental items like a collection of old toys, vases, or even art work your children have made.

This should make your livingroom, den, or familyroom remind you of Mother's Day.

Happy May Day!!!

May day hs been celebrated since before the birth of christ. It has some pagen influences. The druids and even the Romans used this day to celebrate the beginning of a New year (spring) Then the Puritans took over England and frowned on this tradition. Even in the beginnings of America, the Puritans stood in the way of this celebration. It has now become a day for the children.

My daughters have decided I should make a post for the teenagers or even college students in dorms who wish to decorate for the holidays.. I guess each holiday I shall give a few ideas for a single room with the help of them.. For Mother's Day the idea is real simple even know most teenagers or colleage students could care less about decorating for their mom.. Its worth ashot..

• Find one spot that everyone can see as soon as you walk in..The floor does not not count (lol)


• Place a photo of your mom, grandma , or an important person in your life that reminds you of a mom in this place.. Use a simple dollar store frame.. If there is more than one person use more than one framed picture..


• Place a silk flower or even a real one nest to the photos.


• use a dry erase marker to write Happy Mother's Day on the glass. It will wipe off with a paper towel when mothers day is over..

See even a simple room decoration does count and means alot without spending alot of money..

Here is a picture of one of the neatest mother's day ideas...
You can buy plates, mugs or even candle holders that your kids can put permanent art work on. They can be found at craft stores or even some department stores. They aren't very expensive. I found them for 6.99 each..
Just follow the directions and they are so very simple.. Display them around the house or hang them with other plates like I did. The kids love to do them and there really isn't a mess.
Wouldn't be fun to make them every year and have a whole collection of art work from your children...

Mothers Day in the Kitchen

• For the kitchen curtains - use antique aprons, hankerchiefs, or old lace tabletoppers. Tie them to the rods with pretty ribbons or even use silk flowers and twist the the wire stems around the rods to attach the material.


• You can use lace for the table or old hankerchiefs under each setting for a fun idea. Use old place settings from your grandma or moms china. Add a few old salt and pepper shakers in shapes like houses or flowers or any thing that makes you think Mothers day.. Add a pretty vase of your favorite flowers and even some small frames of your children or mother, or even grandma

I hope this will give you a few ideas to get you started decorating for Mother's Day. I know to most people it is odd to decorate for Mothers Day but I think moms work hard all year and we deserve a special day too.. Besides that Iam always looking for an excuse to change my house around..

Now is a horrible but wonderful time....
It is time to go thru the entire house and put away everything birthday. Clean up whatever mess there may be and start again....
Now for the wonderful part- Mother's day decorations...

Some ideas

• Anything that says mom, mother , grandmother, etc.
• Anything your children have made for you
• pictures or items of your mothers.
• For right now just put away birthday and tommarrow I will begin the fun ideas for Mother's Day...

Some History

• After the rise of Christainity, Only the wealthy celebrated Birthdays. It was believed that they were the only ones important enough to celebrate their birth...
• Birthday cakes date back to the middle ages, the English would hide symbolic items inside. Agold coin meant you would become wealthy, and a thimble meant you would never marry..
• The song "Happy Birthday" was originally named " A Good Morning To All" composed by 2 sisters, Mildred and Patty Hill in Louisville, Kentucky in 1893
  
  

I think tonight Iam gonna give some ideas to decorate the room of the person whom the birthday belongs to..

• Hang a wreath or sign on the door to their room, stating Hey Its My Birthday.... Just a birthday sign or wreath will make them feel extra special for the day or week..
• Make a throw pillow case or two for their bed. It will make the room look well decorated.
• My favorite thing to do on the night before their birthday is blow up as many balloons as they are old (this may take a while- lol) and throw them in on the floor so in the morning when they wake there are balloons everywhere...

These ideas will make the birthday person feel really special because you put the time into it and thought of them.. Trust me even if they act like they don't enjoy it, they will.. Everyone claims to hate surprises....

I think now would be a good time to talk about the first thing people see when they walk up to your house, the front door and porch.

• Go to the craft store and buy a wooden plaque. Paint it whatever color you like ( bright colors look like birthdays). Drill holes in it. Hang it with curling ribbon in colors to match. Use a Paint pen in a bright color to write Happy Birthday. Its cheap and hand made, how can it be better...
• For another idea try buying a grapevine wreath an add lots of party favors or small boxes wrapped like gifts. Add lots of bright colored ribbons and even small birthday signs if you can find them.. If you buy a wreath you can change it for most holidays if you don't glue the items down but wire them instead.. Its like multi-tasking..
• On the porch you could stack several large boxes wrapped to match your decor. Add a few on the table or even in flower pots. Take a urn and place a box just big enough to lay flat on top, then start staking them in smaller versions untill it looks nice visually. don't forget to tie a pretty bow on top..

These ideas should help to make the front of your house say Happy Birthday! Hopefully my ideas help you come up with some of your own.. Then your house will really say Happy Birthday from you..

Tonight i am gonna tell a real simple secret, if you find birthday lights, they are usually on white or green wire. To make this disapear go to your craft store and buy a few strands of ivy garland. Tie the lights to the garland with bright colored curling ribbons, and add a few dollar store noise makers. This will hide the wires and make the lights look more expensive. Hang them in the kitchen or livingroom, or even the persons room to whom the birthday belongs to.

This time Iam going to tell a few secrets to make a livingroom, familyroom or even a den look decorated with out much work at all..

• Buy birthday material to match your decor. One yard should cover 2 throw pillows. To make pillow covers, cut the material 2 1/2 times the length of the pillow, 2 inches wider than the widgth. fold the material inside out so that the ends come together and overlap by at least an inch or two. Sew a 1/4" straight stitch along the top and bottom to form an envelope for your pillow. Turn it right side out and iron. Put your pillow inside and now you have a cheap throw pillow, that doesn't take up much space at the end of the holiday, its just a small pillow case to put away...



• For a fancy pillow cut 6 sqaure pieces of material 12", sew 4 sqaures together to form the sides of the box. sew on the top and bottom. Leave a small opening at the top to fill with stuffing. Hand stitch the small opening after filling. Tie a fancy ribbon on it make a present.. Solid colored fabric is best. Use whatever ribbon you like. Think of the possibilites. Red for christmas and birthdays etc..



• If all this seems like way more work than it is worth just tie pretty ribbons on the solid colored throw pillows you already have..

This idea makes any room seem completely decorated for any event. Its so simple to do with very little work. Besides you can be proud that you made it yourself and done it with very little money...

Please don't forget your counters and tables in the kitchen. Unless you have a faux birthday cake you will probably need to decorate your tables untill the day of the birthday...

• Fill your fruit bowl with lots of curling ribbons, and then fill it with fruit for an interesting look.
• Use lots of bright colored single flowers in bud vases. Place them in a single file order, down the center of the table or group them together.
• Add lots of candles in bright colored containers.
• Place a fabric remnent on the table for the table cloth
• Fill bowls or wine glasses with paper noise makers, birthday confetti, or even birthday picks that you find at party stores or dollar stores.

For now the table will be fun untill the cake arrives...Oh how I hate the wait...

Today I finished decorating the kitchen for birthdays. Or least for now because I always end up moving things around in a day or two. I can't help but change my mind... Here are a few ideas to use...

Buffet/china cabinet

• collect plates or dishes with birthday decor on them. Hang them with other plates or just place them on your buffet.


• For a table runner use a fabric remnent. ( you can find remnents at discount stores, fabric stores, craft stores and even sometimes at dollar stores.) You could either sew a 1/4 " hem around all sides, use iron on hem tape, or just iron a hem on material so that you can use it for something else the next time..


• For small decorations check dollar stores for balloon weights. They will have some that look like gifts, or cupcakes, or even birthday hats..


• Add some pretty fresh flowers or potted plants.


• Don't forget lots of candles

You should now have a cabinet or buffet that says Happy Birthday!!!

This will be my first post on a blog site. I am hoping to share the love for holidays that I have. It may even be a madness that I have. Whatever it may be, I'd like to share my ideas for holiday decorating. Every month there is a different holiday to decorate for, some months there are several. Tonight Easter has finished and I have already began putting Easter decorations away, now it is time to move to next holiday. I do believe Birthdays are a holiday, at least in our house. So now the next has began... Tomorrow the kids will say another holiday... Really MOM... They do enjoy it ( they just think I might get carried awayed- maybe just a little) I will try to put lots of inexpensive ideas for every room, a little bit of history for each holiday, and just show my love for all holiday decorating...

Birthdays

• buy large balloons, tie lots of curling ribbon to them and hang them from the ceilings. You could use small tacks or even hooks hung from the ceiling. I used C hooks that I painted the same color as the ceiling.. You really don't notice them when nothing is hanging.
• Look at birthday cards, find the ones that can be framed, If look hard enough you will find some that really do look like art. Frame them in a dollar store frame and place them around the house.
• Find one area, and decorate it well. I use the fireplace mantle. Add lots of framed photos of the Birthday person..