String these felt hearts together for whimsical decorations that you can hang outside or anywhere around your home.

You can even create a long chain to drape around door and window frames during the holidays.

Crafts and photos excerpted from Craft-a-Day: 365 Simple Handmade Projects by Sarah Goldschadt. Click here for more heart-felt valentine crafts.

Felt Heart Mobile The Saturday Evening Post

In the autumn, it’s hard to resist picking up fall treasures: leaves, seed pods, and even interesting rocks. But what to do with those collections once they’re in the house?

Here’s a creative way to use your findings to welcome autumn into your home.

Make Art with Fall Finds The Saturday Evening Post

Christmas accessories during the 1940s cost virtually nothing. Our tree-topping star was a cardboard cutout covered with wrinkled tinfoil. It looked loopy on the tree, but it was ours. My grandmother made it. Thank God she was a homemaker and not a surgeon.

Our lopsided star lived in a box with the other decorations: strings of lights, tinfoil icicles removed each year and saved for next Christmas, limp strings of tired tinsel, and colorful glass balls that would break if you glared at them. A handful of angels, stars, and Santas completed the cache.

My grandmother’s house was neither rich nor poor, and it also contained my grandfather (called Pop), my grandmother (called Mom), one aunt, my younger first cousin, and me.

Despite wartime dislocations, we had Christmas. And we decorated for it.

During the second week of December, Pop gathered up available family members and hauled us out into the country to saw down a tree, usually a six-foot cedar. We never used pine trees because they dried out and the needles fell off. The same was, of course, true of cedars, but somehow that subject never came up.

Once the tree was home, Pop nailed two boards to its trunk for a stand, Mom chose its best side, and decorating began. My cousin was two, and I was four, which made us less help and more trouble than a pair of Labradors. We could step on a bulb or two, but that was about it.

We wrapped the tree with strings of lights that were wired in series, meaning that if one bulb failed, they all went out. You had to unscrew each bulb and try a new one. When the string lighted back up, you knew you’d found the bad bulb. Our timeworn tinsel and recycled icicles went on the tree followed by ornaments. Pop ended the tree ceremony with his annual near-fall into the tree as he tried to position the star. Then someone plugged our festive firetrap into the wall, and magic lit the room.

We were ready for Christmas, and we’d got that way inexpensively—a word you use when you don’t want to say cheap. The total investment in decorations, beginning with the free tree, might have reached $20.00—a lavish sum spread out over no telling how many years.

Decorating today is an ornament of a different color. I Googled “Christmas decorations for sale” and looked at what’s available in modern Yuletide festoonery.

The trees are all artificial, and I guarantee they don’t smell like Christmas. A six-footer will cost you over $200.00. For $599.99 you can get a flocked version that hints at having been snowed on.

Traditional ornaments and tinsel ropes remain surprising bargains. Target offers 50 red balls for a giveaway $15.00, billing them shatterproof. Target must sell exclusively to childless homes.

One merchant, with “Recession Busting Prices,” has strings of lights for under $10.00. That’s so cheap you worry that Underwriters Laboratories may be asleep at the switch. But the same merchant also sells a giant pre-lighted artificial outdoor tree for a whimper-inducing $9,999.99. Pop would have sold the house for that.

For $13.99, you can have an 18-inch wreath for the door—a lighted “country twig” creation that looks like a white wire brush for your electric drill. A two-pack of artificial pine wreaths sells for as much as $169.99. But here’s the horrible part: the things come in colors beginning with traditional green and deteriorating to sky blue, sea foam green, and chartreuse.

It doesn’t end there. There’s a Santa suit with a 70-inch waistline, a foam-rubber Santa Claus beer cozy, personalized tree ornaments in birthstone colors, and enough Elvis ornaments to tacky-up Las Vegas.

There are also websites that help you make your own ornaments, but the first one I looked into announced it was going to teach me to make non-edible ornaments out of cookie dough. How much fun could that be?

Merry Christmas.

Hang That Tree Ornament and the Merchant Who Sold It to You The Saturday Evening Post

As featured in the Nov/Dec issue of the Post, creating your own holiday centerpiece using candy canes is easy with just a few simple steps: First, wrap a rubber band around a clear vase or cylinder from your cabinet or a craft store. Then, slip candy canes under the rubber band, either all around the container or just a few in front. Finally, tie a ribbon over the rubber band and place a sprig of holly or evergreen into the knot. Fill with flowers, a candle, or more candy canes!

But why stop with one holiday project? Here’s a Santa’s sack-ful of ways to celebrate with these tasty treats and their signature stripes:

Eat ’em: Sprinkle crushed candy canes on cut-out Christmas cookies, or add to batter or frosting. Use medium-sized bits to top ice cream sundaes or mix into crispy rice treats. To make peppermint bark candy, melt two pounds white chocolate wafers in microwave for one minute. Stir in one cup of crushed candy canes, then spread thinly on waxed paper. Allow to dry, then break into chunks. Store in closed container or individual treat bags. (Great for teacher gifts!)

Drink ’em: Break and drop candy canes into ginger ale, then add to your favorite punch recipe. Spoon crushed canes into hot apple cider or milkshakes. Use flavored candy canes (chocolate mint, cinnamon, or cherry) to stir up hot chocolate, tea, and coffee.

Give ’em away: Decorate Christmas presents with candy canes and a ribbon. For a special look, glue two canes together (hooked parts touching) to form a heart and tie to a gift bag.

P.S.: Only decorate with wrapped canes. (Bugs love ’em, too!)

Holiday Craft Magic The Saturday Evening Post

If your answer to that question was “No!” but you’d still like to update your holiday decorations, we’ve got some ideas for you: Make your own holiday decorations. It can be a wonderful family-bonding activity. You can save money around the holidays and create your very own, unique Christmas.

There are many different types of do-it-yourself decorations. We thought we would offer one craft in detail—making Christmas stockings. For this craft, you will need about a half-yard of one color of felt, and a couple of sheets of craft felt in other colors for decoration and embellishment. You will also need craft glue or a hot glue gun, scissors or pinking shears, newspaper for the pattern, some straight pins, and—for the finishing touches—sequins, beads or fabric paint.

First, take your newspaper and draw the stocking pattern on it. You can make a short, fat stocking or a long, narrow one. You could even make a giant stocking, but keep in mind that you will need more felt for that (and people may not go to the trouble of filling it up).

Cut out your pattern.

Now, take your big sheet of felt and fold it in half. This will be the body of the stocking. Pin your pattern to the felt and cut around it with your scissors or pinking shears (we prefer the shears because they’re more decorative). If you’re using a hot glue gun, plug it in now.

With your craft glue or hot glue gun, apply a thin bead just inside the edge of one of the stocking shapes, omitting the top (unless you don’t want any presents.)

With your craft glue or hot glue gun, apply a thin bead just inside the edge of one of the stocking shapes, omitting the top (unless you don’t want any presents.) Carefully align the second stocking shape over the glued one, and press down. If you are using craft glue, place a sheet of cardboard over the stocking and weigh it down with heavy books.

After the glue is dry, you may want to turn the stocking inside out and iron the edges. We like the exposed seams, but you may not.

While you’re waiting for the glue to dry, plan out your decorations. You might decide to go simple, with just a name at the top and stripes on the sock. You might decorate your stocking with an idyllic winter scene, maybe a snow-covered evergreen. You could decorate it with stacks of wrapped presents or a plateful of cookies, or any number of your favorite things. It’s your stocking after all.

Embellish the stocking further with beads, sequins, glitter, or fabric paint.

From the smaller sheets of felt, cut out the shapes of your decorations. Arrange them on your stocking without glue. Once you’re happy with the placement, start gluing down your felt decorations. From there, you can embellish the stocking further with beads, sequins, glitter, or fabric paint. Make it as wild or as restrained as you want.

Once your embellishments are all dry and set, you will have a wonderful, homemade stocking with a personal flair to it that cannot be matched by store-bought stockings. Get the entire family involved, and you’ll find that you’ve made family keepsakes for years to come.

Make Your Own Christmas Stockings The Saturday Evening Post

The Gifted Centerpiece
Wrapping up small gift boxes or candy boxes and placing them in a large glass bowl is a simple yet elegant holiday display. Of course, your guests will be extra pleased if the boxes contain a tasty parting gift.

Fired-up Fruit
What do apples and oranges have in common? You can turn both of them into festive tea-candle holders. For apples: Carve out a circle in the top of the apple that matches the diameter of the tea candle. Cut down only as far as the depth of the tea candle. Sprinkle the exposed flesh with lemon juice to prevent browning, and place the tea candle in the apple. For oranges: Cut the orange in half. Scoop out the insides, leaving the rinds in tact. Place the tea candle in the bottom half. Cut a hole in the top half of the orange and place it on top of the bottom half.

Make it Personal
Place several small boxes of various heights in the center of the table. Cover them with a festive cloth to create your own “center stage.” Arrange your family photos on top of and around the boxes.

A Natural Solution
Use nontoxic spray paint to color pine cones. Arrange in a glass bowl filled with cranberries and pine needles for some earthy holiday decor. Or, for a tropical tablescape, fill several clear hurricane candle holders, preferable different sizes, with sea shells. Place in the center of the table on a small bed of palm fronds.

Save Room
For dessert! A tantalizing tiered dessert platter serves a dual purpose: It’s an appetizing center piece and a reminder to guests to save room for dessert. Alternatively, stock with fresh fruit and cheese and crackers.

Wreath Around the Roses
A small wreath adorned with holiday ornaments is perhaps the most versatile centerpiece. Fill the center with fresh flowers, small pumpkins, pine cones, gifts, or fruit for a bountiful center of attention.

Holiday Centerpiece Ideas The Saturday Evening Post

In the May/June issue of The Saturday Evening Post, Lisa LaPorta, HGTV’s interior designer for the hit show Designed to Sell, revealed top secrets for staging a home promised to put on a show for potential buyers.

But for those who don’t plan to sell, spring (after all that cleaning, of course) is the perfect time for a fresh new look in the home. Here, LaPorta shares some of her favorite budget-friendly guidelines and tips for sprucing up the place, just in time for summer entertaining.

Finding Your Style
It’s my job to help clients cross this bridge with what I like to call “transitional” style. People often tell me, ‘I like eclectic because I like lots of different styles’ or ‘I like open and airy spaces.’ We all like different styles, and who doesn’t like open and airy? What I like to do is help them find a nice balance of specific things they like. A favorite design exercise of mine is having them go through several magazines and point out what they like and don’t like. This way, we establish a pattern of colors and styles that appeal to them.

Color Coordinating
I can’t tell you how many people have color trouble. My advice to clients is to look at your wardrobe and how you might pair colors and styles. Think about how you might dress up a pair of black pants. … Would you wear pearls with plaid pants? Probably not. The same principles should be applied to styles and patterns around the home.

Keeping It Simple
The best way to keep your home looking up-to-date is to invest wisely from the beginning, which will also work to your advantage when it comes to resale. I like to buy big ticket items in classic styles and in colors that are earthy and natural. This lends to a versatile scheme for quick and easy updates. I like to shop at discount stores for throw pillows and lighting accessories. Just changing the pillows or lamp shades can make a big difference. If your furnishings have loud prints, commit to the pattern by working with the paint color on the wall. Note that slip covers for couches or chairs are tricky and don’t always fit properly. They require lots of primping and stick pins.

Kitchen Upgrade
Dated kitchen cabinets are a big turnoff. There’s a fine line between ‘classic’ and ‘old.’ If your budget doesn’t allow for replacing them, stain them. First, apply the stain in even strokes, going with the grain of the wood. Add some stylish new hardware, and your kitchen will have a whole new look.

Bathroom Update
There’s a simple solution for dated tile: coat the tiles with a high-adhesion prime and brush on a special ceramic epoxy covering. Pedestal sinks are a big hit because they show off square footage in small bathrooms beautifully. First, your old vanity has to go. Next, just hook up your new sink and your bathroom will have dramatic appeal.

Patio Refurbishment
Spray paint and a topcoat can go a long way when rescuing old patio furniture. Or sometimes it just requires a good cleaning. Vinegar and water is a resourceful and effective way to scrub outdoor furniture. If you have a red-brick patio, freshen it up by first rolling a light coat of paint onto the bricks. Next, gently spray them with water and dab to dry.

Also, there are some really nice and affordable outdoor fabrics on the market. Replacing old cushions and power spraying the patio is always a good idea for creating an inviting entertaining area.

Spring Home Makeover The Saturday Evening Post

I really like the basic (and low-budget) decorating ideas and tips at www.homedecoratingsense.com. Hmm, maybe it’s finally time to do something with the upstairs bathroom; the one that features silverish swirls on blackish wallpaper and a Hollywood-style light fixture complete with glaring round bulbs!

I’ll keep you posted on that possible endeavor. What project are you planning or currently working on?

Spring Fever The Saturday Evening Post

Gather an odd number of old or new glass bottles of varying size and shape. Purchase a pretty bouquet. Then, separate the blossoms and trim stems to desired height. Clean and fill the bottles with water and insert a flower into each one. Display the bottles in an eye-pleasing cluster on your dining or coffee table—or wherever you and others will enjoy it most.

Flower Power The Saturday Evening Post