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lindyhunt · 6 years ago

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Amazing Bangkok

Bangkok claimed the title of “World’s Most Visited City” according to the 2017 Mastercard Global Destination Cities Index. No wonder almost 20.2 million international tourists flocked to the City of Angels. When it comes to wish lists, Bangkok ticks most boxes. Cultural attractions and rich history? Tick. Great food? No doubt. Good shopping? Yep. Fabulous spas. Nothing beats a Thai massage. Vibrant nightlife? A resounding yes.

Welcome to the capital of the Kingdom of Thailand where east and west, ancient and modern, exotic and erotic, calm and chaotic, clash and collide in the most delightful ways. Here’s how get the most bang for your baht. Note: all prices approximated in Canadian dollars.

The “you only live once” splurge list

Seduced by The Siam Arriving at The Siam hotel via the hotel’s vintage riverboat transported me into a unique and tranquil world onto its own in the middle of bustling Bangkok. My debonnaire butler, Paul, escorted me along a path past a swimming pool to the antique carved wooden doors of my villa where I had a courtyard with my own plunge pool.

The Siam is the brainchild of Bangkok rock and movie star, Krissada Sukosol Clapp who built the hotel in 2012 as a retreat and place to house his and his mother’s vast collections of antique Thai treasures. They hired American architect Bill Bensley who incorporated the clean bold lines of Art Deco, glass, water features and lush garden landscapes with the carefully curated art and antiques.

If you enter the Siam from the street you find yourself in a garden pavilion with a lotus-shaped fountain in the centre. The piece de resistance is the soaring central atrium where a glass conservatory-style roof brings light to a reflection pool surrounded by tropical foliage. Off to one side there is a library and screening room. Upstairs in the Vinyl room, complete with grand piano and vintage posters, you could well expect to spot Noel Coward tickling the ivories in this jazz-age setting.

The Siam offers some unique guest experiences. You could work with a trainer and learn the art of Muay Thai kick boxing (the national sport) in the gym. If that’s too demanding, head to the Opium Spa for a Muay Thai deep tissue massage. You can also opt to have a Sak Yant ceremonial sacred tattoo.

The hotel is located in the Royal Dusit district of Bangkok. Your butler will help you arrange your day and reserve a place on the hotel shuttle yacht for excursions along the Chao Phraya River. But chances are good that you won’t want to leave The Siam.

Spice of Life I joined The Siam’s sous chef, Thammarach, for a Thai cooking lesson. We started our morning with a tuk-tuk ride to a local market where chef pointed out the remarkable range of produce and bought some herbs for our class as we dodged shoppers on motor scooters. Back at the hotel we donned aprons in the private cooking class kitchen overlooking the river. Chef demonstrated how to tackle each ingredient, from bruising lemongrass to chiffonading kaffir lime leaves. He also explained that Thai food contains five major flavours: sweet, sour, spicy, salty, bitter. Each dish should have a least two of those tastes and the key is getting the right balance. Hence the need to keep testing as you cook and add more chillies, more fish sauce, more coconut milk or more palm sugar as your palette dictates. We concocted Tom Yam Goong soup, a fiery broth with jumbo shrimps topped with fresh coriander and drops of chilli oil. Then we tackled pork with red curry, a marvellous melange of all of requisite flavours. For our last dish, the green chicken curry, chef taught me to make curry paste from scratch pounding the toasted coriander and cumin seeds, garlic, shallots, coriander roots, chillies, galangal and lemongrass with a mortar and pestle. Hard work but worth the effort.

Star Spangled Bangkok The red Michelin Guide has published its first 2017 guide to Bangkok listing a kaleidoscope of dining options—from slurping street food noodles to enjoying a multi-course tasting menu in a five-star hotel or glitzy shopping mall. At the one-starred Paste, chef Bee creates dishes based on ancient recipes that once delighted the royal family. Among the highlights of her delicious repertoire is a Thai crab omelette with 31 flavours.

Smooth as Silk Thai silk is famous and now at the Divana Spa you may indulge in their signature Organic Golden Silk Royal Pampering treatment. Golden silk thread is rich in protein while the mulberry leaves, the feed for silkworms, contain significant vitamins.

My therapist used a web of silk thread stretched tightly between her hands to stroke my skin in a spinning motion to improve circulation and stimulate new collagen and elastin. Next came a body and face massage using a silk cocoon-stuffed, yarn-like ball, followed by a silk serum moisturizer. Then I steamed a room scented with mulberry leaves. More potions included a facial mask made with ginseng and silk cocoon extract. Finally, I soaked in a bath of milk, cocoons and rose petals Cleopatra-style.

Red Sky at Night As Bangkok’s skyline soars, rooftop bars abound. Red Sky atop the Centara Grand hotel and shopping mall is a stylish spot with panoramic views from its 55th floor. Imbibe some bubbles at the Cru Champagne Bar along with some caviar and oysters. We’re talking sky food, not street food—with prices to match.

Silk Road Jim Thompson, an American who revitalized the silk industry in Thailand, was a U.S. military intelligence officer who went on vacation in Malaysia in 1967 and mysteriously disappeared. But his silk legacy lives on. His shops sell beautiful creations, large and small. You will also dine well at Jim Thompson Restaurant and Wine Bar located in Jim Thompson House Museum.

The “cheap thrills” save list

Down by the River Bangkok River is a collaborative project by business partners to encourage visitors to explore the neighbourhoods and shops along the Chao Phraya waterway. I took an informative stroll with David Robinson who works with the Bangkok River group. We began at River City, a complex housing several shops, restaurants, antiques and photo galleries. Along our walk Robinson pointed out several historic buildings, including the East Asiatic Trading Building and Grand Post Office, now home to the Design and Creative Centre. At P. Tendercool we admired bespoke furniture made from recycled opium den beds. Housed in a building that looks like a temple, Thai Home Industries sells handcrafted cutlery, pottery and cotton shirts. In the Creative District, several warehouses have been turned into design stores and cafés. British graffiti artist Banksy would surely approve of some of the street art. Check out the River Bangkok’s excellent website and take yourself on an informative walk.

Culture and Hedonism Bangkok has more than 400 temples but if there’s one must-see it’s the Grand Palace, a square mile of gilded royal temples and palaces. The ornate Wat Phra Keo houses the famous Emerald Buddha (actually it’s made of jade). Take a tuk-tuk to the neighbouring Wat Pho, famous for its enormous Reclining Buddha and it’s ancient school of Thai medicine and massage, so you can combine culture and hedonism in one visit. A one-hour massage costs about $16. You can also enroll in various massage lessons and become immensely popular with your friends back home.

Trip the Night Fantastic For those of you who loved hunting for treasures at the night market in Lumpini Park, the bad news is that is no long exists; the good news is that there’s a new even better evenings only attraction called Asiatique The Riverfront open daily from 5 p.m. to midnight. Catch the free 10-minute ferry from Sathorn Pier (Skytrain stop Taksin) across the Chao Phraya River. The refurbished 100-year-old sawmill has more than 1,500 boutiques housed in nine warehouses. Shop for anything from hip new fashions to traditional Thai handicrafts. I got some aromatherapy oils, silk scarves and some funky jewellery for just a few baht. Plan to dine at one of 40 eateries serving a variety of cuisines, including Japanese, Italian and pub fare. There’s also the Joe Louis Thai Puppet Theatre, Calypso cabaret and a huge Ferris wheel from which you’ll have fabulous nighttime views of downtown Bangkok.

Getting Around Bangkok is plagued with heavy traffic and lots of jams. Your fastest mode of transportation is the Skytrain, offering a bird’s eye view of the city in clean and blissfully air-conditioned cars. English is spoken at the ticket stations. The underground or MRT is another option. Fares range from .50 to $1.40 for both trains, or you can opt for a tourist pass.

Tuk-tuks are fun and noisy and make good photo ops. However, a taxi might be cheaper. If you hail a tuk-tuk, agree on a price before getting in and prepare to haggle hard. Beware of a cheap trip to a tailor or gem shop. The fast and frequent ferries along the Chao Phraya River are a good way to visit the many temples and palaces. From the main Sathorn Pier you can head upriver and stop at numerous piers all the way to Nonthaburi. Buying a tourist ticket) gets you one-day unlimited travel plus a guide to some of the riverside tourist attractions.

Get your Kicks The normally gentle Thai people are passionate about their national sport, Thai boxing. Join the locals as they cheer for and gamble as the athletes pummel each other using most of their body parts. Bouts take place at Ratchadamnoen Stadium on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday. Cost for a ringside seat is about $40.

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cheerfulcrafter-blog · 7 years ago

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15 Christmas Crafts that Look Expensive

Excerpt:

Hand Etched Christmas Ornaments

Contents

Hand Etched Christmas Ornaments Homemade Gourmet Dog (or Reindeer) Biscuits Handmade Perfume Homemade Bath Oil Whipped Peppermint Bark Body Butter Recipe DIY Hair Serum Muffin Tin Bath Fizzies DIY Christmas Soaps Homemade Potpourri DIY Christmas Crackers DIY Christmas Window or Doorway Decoration Themed Christmas Tree Giant Lighted Christmas Balls for Your Yard A Vintage Style Christmas Tree Garland Sparkling Iced Willow Branches

Hand Etched Christmas Ornaments

Some big, hand-sized dollar store (plastic only!) ornaments, a Dremel, and a steady hand are all you need for this project. You can even add a string of lights to make yours light up as hers did. Ensure that you get plastic balls that have a layer of shiny color on top and a layer of plastic underneath, because you'll be etching, not cutting out. When you first start doing it, it's a good idea to draw your design on the ball before etching, especially if you want these to look professional. You can Google things like "snowflake templates" and "alphabet templates" to find templates that you can print out, lay over the ball, then draw the shapes you want. Another handy source of templates is a paper doily; there are usually lots of shapes to choose from. Once you're more experienced, or if you want a handmade, rustic look from the get-go, you can simply start right in and etch with your Dremel; no preparation required. Kim used a Dremel Micro 8050 for her project. She chose the standard engraving tip, turned the RPMs down from 15,000 to 10,000 for better control. Approaching each ball at an angle (perpendicular to the ball), she etched hers freehand once she became accustomed to the process, but (see above) I would use a template and draw what I want first. After each ball was etched, Kim inserted it into the next light in her string. This is my favorite presentation of her project - the lights really kick it up a notch! (back to top)

Gourmet Dog (or Reindeer) Treats

Gourmet Dog Treats by Cassie of Wholefully If you've ever shopped in one of those dog boutiques, you know how expensive gourmet dog treats are. They're easy to make, and they make great Christmas gifts. If you're exchanging gifts with someone before Christmas, though, why not make these into reindeer treats for the kids to leave out with Santa's cookies? Gotta feed the reindeer, by golly! Here's a recipe from Cassie of Wholefully: Ingredients Cooking spray 2-1/2 cups whole wheat flour 1 cup wheat germ 1/2 cup ground flaxseed 1 tablespoon honey 3 eggs 1/2 cup olive oil 1 cup water 1/2 cup applesauce 1/2 cup pumpkin puree Instructions Preheat oven to 350°. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray and set aside. In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, wheat germ, and flax seed. Set aside. In another mixing bowl, combing honey, eggs, oil, water, applesauce and pumpkin puree until well combined. Pour into dry ingredients and stir until well-mixed. Form into a disc and roll out on a well-floured surface until about 1/4″ thick. Using a cookie cutter, cut out shapes and place on prepared baking sheet about 1″ apart. Bake in preheated oven for 25-30 minutes or until treats are very brown and very hard. Let cool completely before giving them to your pooch to try out. Store in an airtight container out-of-reach of your puppy. (back to top)

DIY Perfumes and Colognes

Egyptian perfume bottles Set/ 10 hand Blown Decorative Pyrex Glass Vials on Ebay Have you ever thought about making custom perfume? There's a bit of a trick to picking the right scent for someone; some people wear bright, sharp, citrusy scents well, whereas others are more suited to warm, leathery, sandalwood or lavender aromas. When I give someone a handmade gift, I'm always sure to ask them to regift or donate to charity if it doesn't suit them, because you just never know when something you and everyone else thinks is just wonderful just isn't the recipient's cup of tea. Let them share the love! First, try your hand at one or more of these recipes, and if you like the results, find some beautiful bottles at your local Goodwill or thrift shops, or on Ebay. Imagine receiving perfume that someone was thoughtful enough to make just for you in one of these beautiful bottles! Or you could get really fancy schmancy with this cologne bottle or crystal perfume decanter from Amazon. I'm definitely doing this project for a few special people this year. Here are some recipes for men's colognes from Christina, the Hippy Homemaker. Since you can't smell your computer screen, seek out an aromatherapy set next time you're at Target, Walmart, Bed, Bath, and Beyond, etc. When combining more than one scent, it's better to be conservative than to overdo it with too many scents that may clash. Sandalwood is a good, warm, sophisticated scent for men, which can be softened further with a little lavender or made more rugged with a little clove and/or citrus oil (like lime essence). For example, I think I'd start out by trying 12 drops of sandalwood, 5 of lavender, and 1 or 2 of clove. For a women's perfume, I'd use a lot of lavender, a little sandalwood, a hint of clove, and I'd like to see if a drop or so of orange would work with that combination. Hmmm... I've got to get a set of essential oils so that I can experiment! First, decide whether you want an oil-based (for a decanter to be dabbed on) or water-based (to be sprayed on) perfume or cologne. If your mixture is strong, go with dab-on and give it in a decanter with a stopper. If it's mild to medium, go ahead and put it in an atomizer. Here are Christina's recipes, modified so that you can invent your own blends or use hers. *Note: carrier oils are (usually) low or no-scent base vegetable oils that can be used to dilute the strong essential oils. Carrier oils "carry" the essential oils to the skin. Oil Base Ingredients

H&D Crystal Art Deco Vintage Style Perfume Bottles Empty... on Amazon 2 Tbsp. grapeseed oil 15-25 drops of your essential oil blend 20 drops vitamin e or other carrier oil* 1 oz. glass dropper bottle Add essential oils to the glass bottle, follow with a carrier oil to fill. Cap and gently swish to combine. To use: dab a couple drops of cologne to your pressure points (i.e. nape of neck, wrists, behind the ears, etc.) Water Spray Base Ingredients

Riverrun Large Perfume Cologne Atomizer Empty Refillable... on Amazon 1 Tbsp. witch hazel 1 tsp. vegetable glycerin (optional) 1 tsp. aloe vera gel (optional) 30-50 drops of your essential oil blend 2 oz. spray bottle filtered water to fill Combine ingredients in a 2 oz. spray bottle and add water to fill. Shake before use! Click here to visit Christina's page and scroll down for her recommendations on which oils to blend for certain effects. Stephanie Gerber of Hello Glow shared her recipe for California Citrus Sunshine Perfume, and she reminded her readers how important it is to make and store homemade perfumes in glass rather than plastic. I wouldn't have thought of that.

California Citrus Sunshine Perfume

California Citrus Sunshine Perfume by Stephanie of Hello Glow Ingredients 1 tablespoon jojoba oil 2 tablespoons pure grain alcohol or vodka 30 drops of essential oil. She used sweet orange, grapefruit, peppermint and a lavender/chamomile blend. 1 tablespoon distilled water Note: It is important to use glass, not plastic, when mixing the perfume as the essential oils will eat through the plastic. Instructions Step 1: Start by adding the jojoba oil to the glass container. Then add the alcohol. Step 2: Add the essential oils in this order: Base Note – 10 drops of grapefruit Middle Note – 10 drops of sweet orange and then 5 drops of peppermint Top Note – 5 drops of chamomile/lavender blend. If you don’t have a blend, then just use lavender. Step 3: Add distilled water with a dropper. Mix well and transfer to a dark glass container to store for 48 hours or up to six weeks. The longer it sits the stronger the scent will be. Step 5: Transfer to a pretty perfume bottle after it has reached the desired scent. Click here to visit Stephanie's page with the above recipe. Here's where a variety of essential oils becomes a good investment, because now you can make bath oils, fizzies, soaps, lotions, hair serum, potpourri, and all kinds of other things with those same oils! (back to top)

Homemade Bath Oil Recipe

4 tablespoons grapeseed or other carrier oil that's good for the skin and/or hair (olive, almond, jojoba, coconut, argan, or avocado oil, etc.) 20 drops lavender and/or other essential oil(s) Add 4-5 drops of food coloring (one at a time!) if you want to make your bath oil a pretty color. Angela of Savvy Homemade has some good specific recipes for bath oils, and she goes into the benefits of several kinds of oils. (back to top)

Whipped Peppermint Bark Body Butter Recipe

Whipped Peppermint Bark Body Butter by Kia of Fit & Fab Living Kia of Fit & Fab Living has a good recipe for refreshing peppermint bark body butter. You can use these ingredients for hand cream, too - just increase the shea butter and decrease the cocoa butter and coconut oil for the right texture. I made dozens of little jars of lavender-scented hand cream as wedding favors, and they were a hit! Ingredients ¼ C. cocoa butter ¼ C. shea butter ¼ C. coconut oil 2 Tbs. vitamin E oil ¼ tsp. peppermint extract Instructions 1. Measure the first four ingredients into a microwave-safe bowl. If you’re using the kind of cocoa butter that comes in a jar, like I did (as opposed to small discs), heat it in the microwave until soft enough to scoop out, about two minutes. 2. Microwave all of the oils until melted, about three minutes. If any small solid pieces remain, stir until melted and incorporated. 3. Stir in peppermint extract. 4. Place bowl in the freezer and cool for 15 to 20 minutes, until about ¾ of the oil is solid but soft. 5. Transfer oils to the bowl of a stand mixer or mixing bowl and whip with whisk attachment or electric beaters on highest speed for 5 to 8 minutes, until light and fluffy, scraping the sides with a rubber spatula every two minutes or so. 6. Transfer to a mason jar or other lidded glass container and store at room temperature. Enjoy! Pamela's note: add 1-5 drops of red food coloring - one drop at a time! - until you have the right shade of pink. Visit Kia's post to see her instructions and photos. If you like peppermint-themed bath & body gifts, check out this post with recipes for peppermint bath products by Tonia of The Gunny Sack. (back to top)

Hair Serum

Have you ever used Moroccanoil or Argan oil on your hair? I've been using Moroccanoil for years, and I love it; you just rub a teeny, tiny bit into the ends and leave it in. While researching this post, though, I learned that the argan oil doesn't penetrate the hair shaft as coconut oil does, so I think I'll switch to a mixture with coconut oil and a few drops of lavender or maybe sandalwood essential oil. Anyway, to make your own DIY hair serum to help define curls and control frizzies, mix some argan oil with just a little essential oil for a nice but light scent, and voila! Include instructions to use a dime-sized or smaller amount, rub between the hands, then gently work into the ends of the hair before and/or after blow-drying. I usually use less than a dime-sized amount after blow-drying; it really brings out the cut and waves or curls, and it makes your hair feel so soft! (back to top)

Muffin Tin Bath Fizzies (from Martha Stewart)

Muffin Tin Bath Fizzies from Martha Stewart Ingredients 1 3/4 cup baking soda 2 cups cornstarch 1 cup citric acid Spritzer bottles Food coloring Essential oil 2 small empty spray bottles (one per color and one for plain water) Strainer/sifter/sieve Baking molds Instructions Combine the baking soda, cornstarch, and citric acid, then sift the mixture to remove any lumps. Pour 1 cup of the mixture into a glass bowl. Fill the spray bottle with water and add 4-6 drops of food coloring. Spritz the powdered mixture once (broad sprays - you don't want the powder to fizz on you!), then stir. Repeat until the mixture is the color you want it to be. Once you have the color you want, see if you can shape the powder into a tightly-packed ball. If it's still too powdery, spritz and stir using plain water until it's firm enough to mold (this can take a while) Select an essential oil. Add 5 drops if it's one of the stronger scents (peppermint, lavender), 6 if it's a weaker one (lemon, grapefruit). Mix well. Firmly pack mixture into small baking molds. Martha's team used 1/4 cup for each fizzy, which is good for one bath. Allow mixture to set for 2 hours, then pop out carefully. Repeat with different tints for remaining powder. See full instructions and photos on the Martha Stewart website. (back to top)

Handmade Christmas Soaps

Handmade Bath Soaps by Agnes Hsu of Hello Wonderful Another handmade giveaway that I made for my wedding was handmade oatmeal lavender soap. Unfortunately, with the recipe I used they weren't very pretty (although they worked and smelled great!) so we had TONS of soap for many months thereafter! "Real" soapmaking is a hot, steamy, smelly process, so I definitely recommend the melt-and-pour route. Why not, when you end up with fabulous soap! Here's a very simple, good recipe from Agnes Hsu of Hello, Wonderful. All you need is: Ingredients Melt-and-pour soap base 15-25 drops Essential oil(s) (optional) 2-6 drops Food coloring (optional) Soap molds Holiday-themed plastic trinkets (tiny plastic ornaments work) Body-safe glitter (optional) Instructions Following the instructions on the soap label, melt at 30-second intervals until you can stir in the scent(s) and color(s) you want. After melting the soap and stirring in the scents and colors, pour into molds. Sprinkle the glitter (you can swirl it around with a toothpick, etc.), and press one to three ornaments into the soap, trying to settle them towards the middle. Allow to cool, pop out of the molds, and wrap! Visit Agnes' post for her instructions and photos. If you want to go whole hog and make a full-on lye soap, here's a post on cold process soap making for beginners, a recipe for honey soap and another for Pecan Rooibos + Orange Soap that look pretty good. (back to top)

Homemade Potpourri

Homemade Potpourri by Julie Blanner This is a wonderful DIY for host/hostess gifts and your own home. The rustic look of the dried fruits and spices combined with the holiday baking scents they remind us of just make everything warm-fuzzy-cosy. Here are the instructions for making natural potpourri from lifestyle blogger Julie Banner: Ingredients cloves cinnamon sticks star anise oranges apples Instructions Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Slice apples and oranges thin, really thin. Place in a single layer on cookie sheets and bake for an hour and a half, check every half hour thereafter. Once dry, mix with your spices. Jar and allow to "marinate" for a day before gifting. Visit Julie's site for her post with this recipe. (back to top)

DIY Christmas Crackers

DIY Christmas Crackers by Kathryn of Craft Me Happy Have you ever pulled a Christmas cracker like Professor Dumbledore and Harry Potter did at Hogwart's? I was an adult the first time I ever even saw one, and I've been enchanted with them ever since! I cannot WAIT to make these DIY Christmas crackers! Imagine all the fun of figuring out what to put in them! Supplies needed A3 card stock (1 sheet per cracker in your choice of color) Scissors. .25 inch strong double sided sticky tape. Boning tool and scoring board (optional). Cylinder shape to size and shape the cracker, like a thick paper towel or toilet paper roll or a Pringles can 12 inch (or larger) cracker snaps Ribbon or string. You might also like to use - Tools and supplies for stamping and embossing (optional). Name or initial tags (optional) Small gifts, jokes, etc. to put in the crackers https://youtu.be/Pi3KRrMlof8 For further reference, here are some written tutorials on how to make the crackers along with the printable templates that are very helpful. Kathryn of CraftMeHappy has a good one, but keep in mind that her measurements are metric. Eleanna of EnvatoTuts also has a detailed tutorial with photos. (back to top)

DIY Christmas Window Decoration by Jaime at Hometalk.com

DIY Christmas Window or Doorway Decoration

Allow me to digress a little before I get into this specific DIY... I remember when I was a kid, and the doorway to my mom's dressing room had a curtain of beads that seemed so magical! Looking back, I can see that they were just strands of inexpensive beads artfully strung, but the visual effect was striking. Things don't have to be expensive to look expensive, and one of the surest ways to get that expensive look is to keep things simple... Arrange off-white candles of varying sizes on the mantle or in the fireplace (if you don't use it for fires) Display ornaments of similar shapes but varying sizes, or, conversely, different shapes of roughly the same size and color. Think in terms of "three." If you have a candle display on your mantle, have a couple of other similarly-themed candle displays on your coffee table, dining table, etc. Or, for another example, if you use white lights on the tree, also use white lights on the stair banister and in the windows. Your guests will perceive the consistency (consciously or unconsciously) and come away with a perception of well-planned harmony, which tends to make them feel homey and comfortable (without necessarily knowing why). The same goes with scents. If your holiday desserts run to apple and pumpkin pies with cinnamon, cloves, and cardamon and wassail with a bit of spicy orange, then have potpourri or scented branches or brooms with similar smells - subtly! - in the foyer and (very, very subtly) in the hallway near the guest bedrooms. Ok, now for the ornamental window decoration. For less than $10, you can hang ornaments from fishing line, border the top with an evergreen bough and a red bow, and it looks fab-u-lous! Materials Christmas Ornaments Curtain rod Evergreen garland A big, red, bow Fishing line, string, or yarn Instructions Tie one end of the fishing line to each ornament and tie or tape the other to the curtain rod. Vary the lengths or create a visually appealing pattern with some high, some low. Mount the garland to cover the curtain rod at the top, then add a big, red bow in the center to make the look complete. Voila! See Jaime's original post and instructions over at Hometalk. (back to top)

Lantern Christmas Decorations

Christmas Lanterns

Have you ever gotten one of those pretty, lantern-style porch lights and had it burn out on you? Well, we did, but instead of tossing (or recycling) it, we painted and repurposed it into a candle holder. This idea is even better; remove the glass, repaint the lanterns in silver or gold, then replace the glass and fill halfway with Christmas ornaments of one to three colors (red, silver, and/or gold, typically), put a sprig of greenery and a bow on top, and they make a great display! (back to top)

Southern Magnolia Christmas Tree for Michaels' Dream Tree Challenge

Themed Christmas Trees

People are drawn to stories, whether they're visual, audial, or written. When you create a themed Christmas tree, it's sort of like making a story in that you're including references to those things recognizable within that theme. For a southern Christmas tree, magnolia and dogwood blossoms are great indicators that this is indeed a southern tree. And if someone points out that anyone is unlikely to find magnolia blossoms combined with certain spruce or pine greenery in nature, then just say, "pshaw! Christmas is as much about imagination as anything else!" (back to top)

DYI Christmas Light Yard Balls from Christmas Lights Etc.

Giant Lighted Christmas Balls for Your Yard

Put on some good gloves and take some chicken wire, a wire cutter, measuring tape, and some mini LED Christmas lights, and you've got giant lighted Christmas balls! The folks at Christmas Lights, Etc. put together a quick how-to for making these big beauties. Take a look and see if you'd like to dress up your yard with these big, beautiful ornaments. (back to top)

Vintage Style Advent Calendar Garland from HGTV

A Vintage Style Christmas Tree Garland

With some linen, freezer paper, free printable images, computer and printer, an iron, and some other household tools, you can make a vintage-style garland for your tree, window or mantle. Full instructions at HGTV. (back to top)

Sparkling Iced Willow Branches

DIY Iced Willow Branches by Dana of Make Them Wonder Simple is beautiful! This is a super easy project with an elegant effect. You can make these yourself with some acrylic diamonds, willow branches, and glue, or you can buy them directly from SaveOnCrafts. Dana of Make Them Wonder wrote out instructions for making them: Materials

Iced Branches from SaveOnCrafts Curly willow branches Aleenes Quick-Dry Tacky Glue 2 lb��4.5mm Acrylic Crystal Diamonds (4 packs) Diamond Dust (optional) Step 1. Place a sheet of newspaper down for a work area. Pour a pile of Colorfill Diamonds (and German glass glitter - aka "Diamond Dust" for extra sparkle) in the center. Step 2. Place tacky glue on the branches and smooth it out along the branch(not in big clumps). Then fold the paper slightly then roll the branch in the Diamonds (and glitter). Let set for about 45 minutes. Now work on the opposite side of the branch. Wait 1/2 hour and you have ice covered branches. Easy as that! See the original instructions on Dana's Make Them Wonder blog. Note: after shopping around for materials for this project for myself, I learned that low-priced willow branches with high ratings were few and far between. I found these Richland branches with Prime shipping (but no reviews yet), and these are what I plan to buy for my iced branches project. Who'd have thought branches could be so expensive! (back to top) Gosh, I hope you've found this list helpful for making your holidays lighter, brighter, and more economical. Let me know what you like best, and by all means share your photos and experiences with your projects! -Pamela

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