For many people, budgets are tight this Christmas. Those that want to express their holiday cheer are finding that their pocketbooks don’t quite stretch to buying that festive sweater, silly hat, or holiday tablecloth that would make the season merrier. The thing to remember is that there are alternative, i.e., cheaper, ways to decorate besides buying ready-made items at department stores and specialty shops.
Crafting has experienced a revolution over the last decade. It’s no longer the province of grade school kids and grandmothers. Anyone and everyone can pick up a glue gun, a bag of holiday Appliques , and start creating their own Christmas (or Hanukkah or Kwanzaa or New Year’s) magic.
It’s easy enough to search online for step-by-step instructions on how to decorate everything from clothes to curtains to tree covers. However, it’s much more fun to buy the raw materials and create your own original works of art. By avoiding the cookie cutter approach, you can have unique and beautiful decor that expresses your own personal style. You’ll still want to research the basic how to on stitching vs gluing appliques or other techniques. Just make sure that the actual patterns and projects are your very own.