Southern Lady Freshstyle Christmas 2012

Love came down at Christmastime, and that’s why we now spread it all around. Every card, carol, and decoration is a celebration. With our own two hands, we stitch, craft, and inscribe yuletide cheer into holiday preparations and presents— and we enjoy every moment. A revel in such merrymaking, this issue is packed with DIY ideas to help you make the season bright, and we used and reused items from flea markets, crafts stores, and even our closets so it can be done on a budget. You'll find projects for all ages, gads of gift ideas, advice from brilliant bloggers, and will even get a tour of my little 1920s cottage decked out in its holiday best (see page 50). We hope you enjoy these creative pages, and we wish…

1 Game On Up the ante on gift giving with bingo card coasters for the game night crowd. Kelly Wilkinson shares these directions in her book Weekend Handmade: Trace the coaster on the section of card you’d like to use; cut out, and trim if necessary. Apply a thin layer of decoupage glue to the top of the coaster, and place the bingo card cutout on top, smoothing from the center out to remove any wrinkles or air bubbles. Let dry, then apply a coat of decoupage glue to seal. 2 Fizz the Season Give dear ones the gift of relaxation with a customizable bath-time indulgence. Adapt the color and fragrance to suit each recipient, and package in interesting flea-market jars. For fizzie recipe and instructions, see page 110. 3 Festive Lights Interesting containers and…

Hanging Around Felt ornaments are fun! Use a drinking glass as a template; trace and cut out 2 (3-inch) felt circles for each ornament. Also, cut 3-inch pieces of rickrack and 6-inch pieces of ribbon. Fold the ribbon in half to make a loop, and glue the two ends to the top of 1 felt circle. Glue the second circle on top of the first to enclose the ribbon, then add rickrack. For more, see rufflesandstuff.com. Handy Décor Let children lend a hand in holiday decorating with a nostalgic art print you can hang year after year. Using a foam brush, cover one of your child’s hands with washable green paint. Help him or her place handprints on art-board canvas to create a Christmas tree out of graduated rows. Then paint a brown…

Read All About It Turn old volumes of verse into yuletide trees with a few simple folds. Fan out into circles, add beaded garland, and top with ornamental stars. You can also curl book pages into inward spirals and secure with twine to fashion a stand-alone decoration or turn upright to use as a pedestal (see page 83). No-Sew Noel This adorable Advent calendar requires no stitching. Use fabric glue or hot glue to adhere ribbon trim to the top and bottom of a large piece of fabric. Cut squares of burlap or widths of burlap garland for pockets, ironing the bottoms under and the tops over for “hems,” and attach with glue. Use your computer to print number tags onto cardstock, and secure with lengths of ribbon. Count down the days by…

Seasonal Sparkle Mix in Christmastime touches with already-in-place accents to create a look that suits your style and the season. Functional flea-market finds lend a vintage vibe—mercury glass containers become candlesticks and thread spools, pedestals. For an eclectic hint of holiday cheer, cotton bolls, shiny ribbon, faux feather trees, and a few glittery birds from goldbugstudio.com go a long—and merry—way. An Eye for Detail Create tiny vignettes throughout the room, like a silvery bird’s nest tucked into greenery and a flock of bird ornaments “flying” across an open frame. A pile of spools becomes a mini art installation, as does a single glittered pinecone displayed with a classic book. Tannenbaum Tips Keep the theme flying high with avian accents. A grapevine wreath cradles a natural nest—both embellished with crafts-store sprigs—to form a bird-friendly topper. Turn…

Light the Fire Spark the romantic feel of Aspen logs by spray-painting wood with white primer. Adorn the rest of your hearth and mantel with a collection of cottages and trees to create a snowy village that will delight all winter long. From charming cottages to fanciful trees, a collection of Cody Foster and Co. treasures adds gobs of glee to your holiday décor. Lend your own sweet touches with tiny gift bags, glittered with favorite sayings and filled with chocolate candies. Sparkle & Shine Make trimming the tree even easier by placing a faux fir in a painted lightweight planter. Surround the base with a bag of rocks, which can be camouflaged with colorful moss. Then bring on the beauty by hanging glittery garland, vintage ornaments, and other beautiful baubles. Sitting Pretty Spread holiday cheer…