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Back to Basics Turn to pine cones and tangerines to make this holiday season cozy  Image courtesy Land's End Arts and crafts are fun for all ages, especially around the holidays when there are so many different things that need decorating. So when it comes to tips, talk to the expert: Marcie McGoldrick, the crafts and holiday editor at Martha Stewart Living. Not only does she love Yuletide adornments, she tries to find ones that are eco-friendly. Here are some of McGoldrick's ideas for spreading holiday cheer throughout your home. Colorful Centerpieces McGoldrick is a big fan of fruit-filled centerpieces, especially those that are dominated by citrus fruits. "What's great about citrus for centerpieces is that it comes in so many different scales, and they're all in season at the same time," she says. "You've got kumquats, you've got lemons, you've got tangerines, you've got clementines, you've got oranges and grapefruit. So you can make a beautiful display and fill in tiny gaps with smaller fruits. It's very easy and very seasonal and festive at the same time." Pine-Cone Pals To create ornaments and vignettes that have a classic, rustic feel to them, McGoldrick recommends using pine cones and acorns as a base material, crafting with glue, paint and a dash of creativity. Mice, penguins and all sorts of critters can be constructed. If your plan is to have a winter scene under the tree or on a table, small birch logs can be used as perches, along with some fake snow for flavor. Re-Tree Speaking of recycling, while McGoldrick is a fan of turning Christmas trees into valuable mulch when the lights go off, she mentions something that's even more pro-environment - reusing the tree itself. When you head to the nursery to pick out the tree of the year, choose a "root ball" tree - one that has its root system and some soil attached to it. That way, when it's time to take down the decorations, it can be replanted in your backyard for use the following Christmas. This involved some additional care; for example, the tree must be displayed in a galvanized metal tub, with rocks and bricks supporting it, and it must be watered, though not overly. "You don't want it to be soggy," McGoldrick says. "You just want it to be moist." Also, the tree should be replanted within 10 days - and, depending on where you live, you may want to dig the hole in your backyard beforehand, before the ground freezes. "And keep that dirt in the garage," McGoldrick says, so it doesn't freeze either. |
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