Illuminating Holiday Candles

When it comes to holiday decorating, I'm all about simple and elegant.  I love the look of these floating candles, not only because my dining room is red and gold with green accents, but because they are a fabulous addition to any table. 

Choose small mason jars to create individual candles for each place setting or larger jars for a larger centerpiece.  Add greenery of your choice to the bottom of the jar (plastic or real) and add a handful or two of cranberries. Pour water into the jar until the cranberries float to the top but leave enough room so that when you insert a floating candle, the water won't overflow.

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Critter Free Pinecones for Decorating

We don't have too many pine cones in Southern California unless we go up through the mountains, so when I came across this "Bake the Bugs out of Your Pine cones" I have to admit, I never thought of that.

I've picked up Magnolia pods for decorating and I'm sure it would be a very good idea to bake the bugs out of them too.

Basically, the House of Hepworths recommends pre-heating your oven to 200 and then putting in the pine cones or whatever goodies you might have, and bake for 45 minutes.  I'd take her advice too and only bake for 45 minutes. You might want to check on them every once in a while too as she had some burned ones after baking for an hour and a half.

Let us know if you baked the bugs out of your goodies from nature.

Mini Snowy Pine Trees in Mason Jars

We love the idea of mini pine trees dusted with Epson Salt snow in different size mason jars. You can pick up the mini trees at the dollar store and finish with twine and holly and berries.

These would be cute on a hutch as displayed here, a holiday centerpiece grouping or a fireplace mantle decoration.

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Flames in the Snow Candles

Dress up painted terra-cotta pots by coating them in glittering "snow," and add wax snow (made by whipping melted wax) to top off the candles.  Source

Red Velvet Christmas Stockings

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

and everyone's name was monogrammed there!

Beautiful red velvet Christmas stockings

Decorating Fireplace Mantle: Greens & Candles

Decorate your fireplace mantle for the holidays with candles in the same color family but of different sizes, add some greenery, and you've got a beautiful mantle for the season.  Source

Holiday Decorating: Candy Cane Place Card Holders

Little details add a lot to your holiday decorating.  We love these three small candy canes glued together make holiday place cards or holders for food labels on a buffet.  Directions

Napkins Folded into Santa's Helpers' Hats

A fun idea for your holiday table is to turn the napkins into Santa's helpers' hats.

Watch the how-to video to help you create this fun touch to your table.

Don't Get Your Tinsel in a Tangle

I love this saying for the holidays! It's so easy to get too busy and forget to breathe.

Cork Reindeer

Here's an idea of what to do with all your wine corks between now and the holidays, turn them into Cork Reindeer!

Do-it-Yourself Lacy Ice Candles

We made these Ice Candles in Girl Scouts and I still love the look of these lacy candles. They are so easy to make and you can use recycle old candles or candle wax and use candle dye to achieve the perfect color for your holiday display.

Glitter Transforms Toys into Holiday Decorations

Inexpensive toys from the dollar store transform with a little glitter into beautiful holiday decorations. 

1. Using a paintbrush, coat the toy with an even layer of white glue.
2. Put glitter into a bowl and use a spoon to coat glitter onto the toy. Gently shake excess glitter back into bowl
3. Repeat the process where you held onto the toy.
4. Touch up any bare spots by dabbing them with the glue and sprinkling on more glitter.

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Glitter Champagne Glasses

You'll love this easy step-by-step tutorial on how to make these beautiful glitter champagne glasses. Great for gifts or for your holiday parties.

Christmas Candy Floral Centerpieces

A fun centerpiece for your holiday tables, turn ordinary into extraordinary with red and white Christmas candy added to these floral arrangements.

DIY Sock Snowmen

These are too cute! You can find the do-it-yourself tutorial for these Sock Snowmen on the  Then She Made blog.

Santa Wreath Pattern

How cute would this be hanging on your door or was wall art in your home? Santa Wreath pattern from McCalls.

Create Snow Covered Wine Bottles Christmas Display

Easy instructions on how to create these beautifully decorated empty wine bottles for a Christmas display or holiday centerpiece.