Christmas Decorating Dave Ramsey Style ... Take Two

I just got home from a fabulous White Elephant Gift Exchange... you will seriously die when you find out what I came home with.  You.will.die.

But for now you will have to wonder and wait until Thank God Friday when I show off the most amazing White Elephant gift this world has ever seen.
You.will.die.

We are back to decorating for Christmas on a budget.  This is one of my favorite Christmas traditions that anyone can do no matter what their budget looks like.

My third tip that Christmas decorating shouldn't be left solely to merchandisers.

For the last 3 Christmases I've had our Turkey Bottoms draw a Christmas tree.  They have varying artistic skills and abilities and with age comes added skills ... at least I hope so, or we will forever mock Lumpy and Mo-Mo for their trees! ;)

After they draw their tree I frame them in similar wood frames, but not matchy matchy ones.  I take the one from the new year and place it on top of those from previous years. Mainly because I cannot be trusted with putting them some place where I will remember.  By the time they graduate from high school the frames will be bursting.

Some day down the road I will make professional quality copies of them and give them to each child to do as they wish.  But, I imagine going through them when they're adults and laughing together at how far they have (or haven't) come in their Christmas tree skillz.  These decorations are truly more valuable than any of the ornaments I've ever bought.  I just hope that when they're going through their rebellious years that God will place it on their hearts to still do this for their Mama.

 Our Turkey Bottoms have a new found love of making snowflakes, in all colors, shapes and sizes.  I have to admit that I get a little twitching with these also.

I try to get them to cut their paper into a square so as to eliminate all of the rectangular snowflakes, but sometimes they "forget"... and I take a deep breath and let them tape it to the window anyway.

I have even let Chubba have black snowflakes this year.  Which lead other children astray and now we have orange, yellow, and green as well.

I know, I know.  I am the greatest mother in the entire universe for allowing these below par decorations to make it into my windows, where everyone driving by will judge me on my "unnatural" snowflake designs.  Don't think I haven't considered the ramifications of having odd shaped and colored snowflakes in my windows and how it will certainly ruin any chance I have of one day realizing my dream of being a decorator on HGTV.

I tell ya, the things I do for my Turkey Bottoms.

On a serious note, some day they won't make snowflakes with me.  They might make me feel silly for asking them.  Just thinking about it makes me tear up a little bit.  So, I say bring on the weirdo snowflakes because someday comes too soon.

My next tip is one that you're all probably doing anyway...

Use ideas from blogs and Pinterest!

After all isn't that what Pinterest if for?  Ideas that inspire?  Most bloggers find that your version of their great idea is flattering and the reason they put it out there for the world to see. 

I'm going to mention a few blogs that I've been reading lately that I would highly recommend that you visit for some great ideas.

My friend, Amy, from Create-Play-Homeschool has a great series going right now on the 12 days of homemade holidays.  My favorite is an easy decoration made with Mason Jars and other items you probably have laying around your home ... check it out here.  Make sure you let her know that Mama D from the Fiscal Misfits sent you! :)

Another great site is SaltTree where Amber will teach you how to make "Yarnaments", Felt gingerbread house ornaments and miniature light up snow globes.  I lurve them! You can find her cute stuff here.
More recommendations to come!

For now remember that the Internet is your friend, but the real magic happens when you get the involvement of the people that you love around you.  You may not have a Martha Stewart Christmas, but even black rectangle snowflakes have their place in making a wonderful Christmas wonderland!