Thanks to all of you for making my first ezine such a success. I really appreciate the feedback I have received. I will attempt to put some of your suggestions in place as we travel down the creative decorating path together.

In the meantime, be sure to visit my blog and use some of the suggestions to avoid some of the hassle and tension of this busy holiday season.

If you have children at home to share this time with you, enjoy their presence and excitement. Since my children have grown and left home, Christmas has never been the same. So if your children get on your nerves and their enthusiasm wears you down, stop and reflect that one day they won't be there with you. Love them for who they are and give them a little leeway during this special time.

To all of you I wish great peace and joy during this marvelous Christmas season.

Your friendly neighborhood (even if you are halfway around the world) Home Dec Lady, Gloria

The Creative Workshop:
Careful Observation and Questions Will Help Develop Your Creativity

If you read last month's issue, you know we discussed how to look at your possessions. You thought about what you owned, why you use it, and do you really want it. This month we'll go through questions to ask yourself should you decide you want to replace or buy an item for your home.

Since we used a lamp as an example in our last workshop, we will continue to follow through with this item. Don't run out and buy the first lamp you see because you like the color. Become proactive in decorating your home rather than just reactive by asking yourself the following questions:

What is the purpose of this lamp?

• Practical task lighting
• Decorative lighting
• General lighting

• Is this a table lamp?
• Is it the right height for it's purpose?
• Would a wall lamp be better?
• Would you prefer a floor lamp?

• Country?
• Traditional?
• Contemporary?
• Other?

• Solid?
• Pattern?
• Matching?
• Contrasting?

• Ceramic?
• Metal?
• Wood?
• Other?

After going through these types of questions, jot down your thoughts and ideas. Then and only then will you be ready to shop for the item you want to buy.

This is the general process to follow in order to develop your creativity in home decorating. Try it the next time you decide to make changes in your home decor. By observing your surroundings and giving thought to your purchase you may find yourself coming up with fresh new ideas that will totally amaze you.

The Creative Dozen

Each month I plan on giving you a dozen new decorating tips and ideas. Hopefully, out of this dozen, you will find one or two that will excite you and start your creative juices flowing.

Do one thing each month to improve your home surroundings and you will be surprised at the energy and confidence that comes from this small undertaking.

Not only will you be improving your home atmosphere, but you may find other areas in your life expanding as you stretch and grow in this area.

Below is the list of holiday decorating ideas. You may have already tried some of them, but hopefully you will find some new ideas and inspiration for the Christmas season. Enjoy!

1. Fill a favorite crystal container with potpourri. I like cranberry red ones for the holiday season. Insert a small string of battery run christmas lights, hiding the battery section well inside the potpourri and running the lights through the potpourri. When you turn on the lights you have an eyecatching centerpiece and the heat from the lights dissipates the scent from the potpourri.

2. Grapevines come formed in all shapes and sizes. In a nursery or craft store purchase different sizes of grapevine balls. Run a small string of lights through each ball. Hang them in the trees outside your home. (Be sure to buy the light strings with connectors at each end). When they are plugged in at night, you have beautiful balls of light throughout your trees.

3. Take a hint from grandma. On a cold and snowy day when the kids are driving you crazy, pop some popcorn. String the popcorn along with some cranberries. Bake and decorate some sugar cookies (Pillsbury slice and bake will do). Decorate a small tree and use to decorate a corner of your kitchen. After the holidays, move the tree outside by a window, add some suet balls, and watch the birds enjoy the fruits of your labor.

4. If you have a country kitchen, you can use a tall old-fashioned grater as a luminania (something you put a candle in or under and it shines through, cutomarily placed along walks at Christmas time). Place a large candle in the grater and the candle will shine through the grater holes. Place it on a decorative metal holiday tray for added attraction. Use care where you place these because they get really hot!! Keep them out of reach of children or pets.

5. Decorate your houseplants with small ornaments and/or small strings of christmas lights to help make them more Christmasy.

6. Remove books from one of your bookshelves or china from your hutch. Set up a display of bears, dolls, nutcrackers, etc interspersed with arrangements of holly and/or christmas ornaments.

7. It's great fun to decorate a Christmas tree with a theme. Place a small Christmas tree in a child's bedroom decorated with small toys, miniature dolls, or small sports items. Add twinkling white lights and you'll have a wonderful nightlight for the holiday season.

8. Bows look festive and the ribbons you choose should tie together with the rest of your decorating. Tie ribbons using various types of bows to chair backs, candlesticks, picks in plants, wreaths, garlands, basket handles, drapery tie-backs, stair railings, and doorknobs. Attach jingle bells along with the bows to doorknobs for a festive sound.

9. For a festive family dinner, turn off the lights, use candles and play your favorite Christmas music softly in the background.

10. Start a collection of antique Christmas stockings. Create a collage of antique stockings on your mantle, a shelf or the wall (even if you don't stuff them). The more the merrier.

11. Purchase an inexpensive mail box. Spray paint it red or green. Use craft paints to add simple Christmas shapes or attach store-bought ornaments with a hot glue gun. Use it to create a tabletop display to hold your Christmas cards.

12. Fire-starter pine cones: Mix sawdust with one of the chemicals listed below in a large can. Melt paraffin in a double boiler. With tongs, dip a pine cone into the wax, then into the sawdust/chemical mixture. Put aside to dry, then fill a basket with the pine cones, and add a festive bow. These make great gifts for friends and family who use a fireplace. Chemicals (from chemical-supplies store):

• Copper sulfate will create a blue flame
• Borax will create an apple green flame
• Trisodium chloride, or table salt, will create a yellow flame
• Potassium chloride, or salt substitute, will create a violet flame

Happy Creating and Decorating!

Dare to Dream, Dare to Hope, Dare to Believe, Dare to Live!

About the Home Dec Lady:

If you enjoyed this newsletter, visit my website and learn to develop your creativity and create the home you dream of by using my **free** online home decorating workbook.

If you would like to know why and how I am building a web business visit the Mysite/Myself page on my website. I am having fun and building a good income at the same time. If you would like to do the same, check out this page while you are visiting my online home

Do you already own a website? Is it producing income for you? If you would like some hints to increase the income from your site download this *free* Affiliate Masters course. Read what other website owners are doing to increase their monthly income.

All products recommended on this site have been actively researched and used by me. I only recommend products and services I use myself, and hope you find some new and interesting ideas for developing and using your God given talents and creativity.

Your feedback is always welcome and appreciated! Feel free to email me and let me know of your comments and suggestions now while your thoughts are fresh in your mind.

Please feel free to pass on this issue to friends and associates --just keep the entire message intact and unaltered.

Published Monthly “Creative Home Decorating" is a newsletter geared to the individual who dreams of creating the perfect home atmosphere of peace, harmony, comfort and relaxation.

Designed to help the frustrated decorator and creatively challenged, this ezine will inspire you to jump in and take a chance on your inborn talents. By doing this you will grow from the inside out.

Sign up today and receive a *free* Ebook, “101 Romantic Ideas"

Legal Stuff: How did I get on this list? You subscribed to this newsletter through a double opt-in feature. I never add names to my list except by request. I hate *s*p*a*m* as much as you do. If you need to make changes in your subscription or wish to unsubscribe, click the link at the bottom of this newsletter. This only takes a minute, and by making these changes yourself, you can be sure the information I receive is correct.

I never rent, trade or sell my e-mail list to anyone for any reason whatsoever. You’ll never get an unsolicited email from a stranger by joining this list.

Gloria Daniels, Publisher
http://www.home-decorating-room-by-room.com