December 1st, 2007 · 1 Comment

If you don’t feel like tackling gingerbread, defer to the wonderful old standby of hanging candy canes on your tree and along your mantle. For the pooches, consider decking the tree with beribboned dog biscuits. Got kitties? We’re not sure it’s a good idea to put a catnip ball on your tree, but cat shaped ornaments might appease the feisty felines. Might.
ELEGANT ECO-FRIENDLY TABLE SETTERS
Nobody does it better than the doyenne of decorating. Of course we mean Martha Stewart, whose website features how-to tips for elegant table-toppers that won’t hurt the environment.

By re-using cylindrical glass or ceramic vases that you have tucked away in your pantry (or may we suggest cleaned, recycled coffee cans?), you can fashion a holiday tableau fit for royalty. It’s simple: Choose your vessels (Martha suggests three of differing heights); wrap with birch bark (eBay has birch, but some of you may prefer parchment or heavy recycled paper), vellum (arts supply stores) or leftover swaths of silk or velvet (our idea); secure with glue gun; finish by encircling vessels with thin ribbon strips or knotted twine. Fill vases with poinsettias, amaryllis or other seasonal blooms, then ensconce your arrangement among thick, swagged ribbon or festive fabrics. Scatter with pine combs or holly berries. Et voila!

Martha also suggests letting children cut up old Christmas cards to turn into ornaments for the tree. These can be simple circle shapes or more elaborate airy balls made with strips of reused card stock. See the how-to at Martha Stewart.com.

LIGHTING THE WAY FOR SANTA’S SLEIGH
For centuries, many Latin American and European cultures have used luminarias for simple festive décor, placing them along sidewalks and driveways during the holidays. By using candles made of soy or other eco-friendly materials, you can update the tradition. There are various ways to create luminaria containers, the easiest being cleaned, stripped tin cans or aluminum soda cans, recycled milk jugs (clean thoroughly and cut the upper half off) or small paper sacks rolled down at the top (recycle or compost after using). Buy sand from your local nursery and pour enough into each container to weight it down, then “install” with votive candles. Line driveways and windows to light the way for erstwhile Christmas carolers. Maybe they’ll help guide Santa to your home, as well.

See Canadian Living for a how-to on making your own paper bag luminarias. Mother Earth News also has an article with tips about luminarias. An article in Family Fun Magazine features a neighborhood that makes luminarias out of milk jugs to make a runway for Santa’s landing. Fun.

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