Put sparkle back into holiday decor
BY MICHELE BESCHEN DIY Network

Fill your old Christmas stockings with pillow stuffing and toss them on your couch, chairs or bed for that added holiday touch.

"Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful"...Norman Vincent Peale

The holiday hoopla has begun! The vibe in the air at this time of year is magical. The tunes, the lights, the parties, the festive gestures! It's also the time of year to let your creative efforts shine brightly.

As I like to say "tis the season to B. Original with new, innovative ways to spread that holiday cheer." I mean, come on, there are so many creative opportunities that lie before us. There are the gifts, the cards, the food, the outside of the house, the inside of the house, the trees, the celebrations.

It can be exciting and overwhelming all at the same time, so don't feel like you have to exert new, creative energy into all areas. Select one or two that you feel could use some freshening up this year. A great place to start is with decorating your decorations.

Trimmings can get a bit tired and worn year after year, so instead of discarding or replacing them with new; gather up the wreaths, trees, ornaments and stockings that could benefit from a little love and get busy breathing new life into them. Here's how:

Gloomy wreaths: Artificial wreaths can be given a fresh new look by simply adding natural elements.

Fill them out with fresh greenery like evergreen branches or holly. Another easy way to add a bit of natural color is by purchasing a bag of holiday potpourri mix -- the kind that has the larger, dried elements.

Turn the larger elements into floral picks by gluing a bamboo skewer to them, wrap with floral tape and insert into your wreath.

Painted branches are another simple way to add color and flair. If your wreath is way beyond repair, a quick and easy way to create your own is by taking an empty wooden picture frame and adding bundles of greenery, either fresh or artificial. Simply bundle up your greens, wire together and hot glue or wire into place.

You can apply this same technique and frame out hanging mirrors. Display your wreath differently this year by placing it on the "horizontal" and use it as a table centerpiece or suspend it from the ceiling and hang ornaments from it. Looks great above a dining table!

Cheerless Trees: To liven up a sparse, ragged tree, fill it out with another airy material like inexpensive feather boas or tulle netting. Wrap either material close to the center of the tree and work your way around. It adds another interesting texture and creates fullness.

Shapeless Stockings: Dated stockings that just don't stir that feeling of loveliness anymore can look much better thrown about your chairs, sofas and beds. Simply fill them firmly with pillow stuffing and stitch close.

Embellish with buttons, broaches or patches and you now have swanky new holiday throw pillows!

Dreary Ornaments: Lackluster ornaments can regain their shine with a new coat of paint or a fresh sprinkling of glitter and sparkles. Old ornaments look great piled together in large, clear glass containers.

Try placing them under glass by filling up a cloche and placing it on top of a tray or mirror (you could even use those clear glass covered cheese trays as your cloche). Group together various sized containers and you'll have a beautiful centerpiece.

Changing how you display things is also an easy way to freshen things up. Play around with grouping things together as a collection. They'll stand out in a proud, new way!

And most importantly, don't let breathing new life into your old things drain the life out of you.

Keep it fun, do what you have time for and work hardest at enjoying every moment of the holiday season. That is what keeps the magic alive. Festive cheers to you and yours!

(Michele Beschen is creator of the B. Original series for the DIY Network. Contact her by email: Michele(at)couragetocreate. com, or visit www.diynetwork. com. For more stories visit scrippsnews.com)