Budget Decorating Comparison: Real Life vs. TVWritten by Kathleen Wilson
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Extra Furnishings$15 (Tables made from glass rounds and clay pots, garage sale dresser painted by you for a side table, thrift store entertainment center with a great faux finish, done by you, of course!) Rug$16 (Floorcloth painted by you on a clearance piece of vinyl flooring, I even included price for a quart of sealant!)Grand Total The Budget Decorator’s way? $68. Now that is a difference of $437. I don’t know about you, but I have a whole lot of better places to spend my $437. A little creativity and a little work, and you can spread your expenses over time if you need to. And visit me at TheBudgetDecorator.com for more great ideas! Copyright 2002 K. Wilson
Kathleen Wilson is the editor of The Budget Decorator, a free ezine dedicated to the “budget”impaired” home decorator, and author of “Quick Decorating Ideas Under $20”. Visit her at http://www.TheBudgetDecorator.com for more great ideas and projects.
| | Halloween TidbitsWritten by Arleen M. Kaptur
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Your friendly critter can hold a white felt ghost or a green toad. Trace a pattern on felt and cut it out. Change your "pal" with seasons and yo have a great Holiday decorating item. ***************************** Using your Halloween cookie cutters, cut out shapes of pumpkins, ghosts, etc. out of cardboard, attach to a yarn or ribbon garland and intertwine with acorns, cut-out stars and moon shapes or whatever your creativity directs you to and finish off with fabric bows. Great on a mantel or from a shelf. ****************************** Aluminum pie tins can be spray-painted orange with black paint faces painted on. Eyes, noses, mouths with smiles, frowns, etc. whatever you choose. Hang several on a weather-resistant cord or rope and let wind "rattle and roll" these tins. ****************************** An old picket fence can be spray-painted orange or black and then appropriate faces pained on each slat. A green leaf or two can be added to top (painted green-use stencils or free form or trace a leaf pattern and fill in with green paint). Use your Pumpkin Screen around your shrubs, trees, or just as a decorative touch in yard or garden. ******************************* The weather, Season, and Holiday excitement - let them all bring your creativity to life and enjoy experience. Patterns and store-bought items can give you additional ideas - but make your own. Join in with children, friends, neighbors and have a "decorating" party. Everyone can think of things to create from cast-away items (such as old pails or pieces of fencing). Serve some mulled cider, apple juice, snack items - an instant get-together. ENJOY! ©Arleen M. Kaptur 2002 October
Author of many books, cookbooks, articles, and Holiday newsletters: http://www.Arleens-RusticLiving.com http://www.arleenssite.com http://www.webspawner.com/users/rusticliving
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