xmas decoration ideas

Fresh loose greens, large pinecones and red pears give a compote a natural look. Tuck in antlers for a rustic touch.

Fill a bowl with red cranberries, and stick a single red rose in the center. Put the stem in a florists water tube to keep the flower fresh. A few evergreen sprigs provide accent color.

Top silver candlesticks with silvery painted pinecones for an elegant display. Group several on a tray, and add some blue or silver ornaments for even more impact.To paint pinecones, apply several thin coats of metallic silver spray paint.

To make a showy centerpiece, place solid color ball ornaments inside a clear glass vase and serve on a silver tray. Sprinkle faux snow over the display, and wrap it up with matching ribbon.

Transform a cloche into a snow globe with a few crafts materials. Set a snowman ornament on a layer of fluffy snow. Cover with a bell shape cloche embellished with rhinestone gems. Scatter snowflake confetti to complete the arrangement.

For quick holiday color, surround a cranberry color candle inside a glass cylinder with fresh cranberries. Add a few sparkly ornaments around the base, and you

While tulips are typically considered a spring flower, they make a stunning Christmas arrangement if you can find them. Arrange red tulips alongside pine branches and snowberries (or any white berries) for maximum contrast. Place the arrangement in a metal pail and garnish with a white ribbon.

Trim the dinner table with paper trees in gleeful holiday colors and patterns. For the simplest tree, shown in fuchsia, wrap paper around a foam cone. Trim to fit, and secure with pushpins. Overlapping circle cutouts create the scalloped look of the chartreuse tree. Make shapes with a circle punch (available at scrapbooking stores); then attach with glue. For the apple green looped tree, fold a sheet of paper in half, securing with spray adhesive. Cut 1x5 inch paper strips. Starting at the bottom, layer looped strips, securing with pushpins, to cover the foam cone. Grouped trees form a striking centerpiece.

Make family photos the focus of your centerpiece. Choose pics from Christmases past for a trip down memory lane. Place two photos back to back on memo clips, so youll be able to see a picture no matter where you sit. Set photos on a cake stand or plate using frosted gel memo cubes or clay.

Encircle glass hurricanes with carnation wreaths for a pretty Christmas tabletop. Create the wreaths with florist foam wreath bases, scarlet carnations and small ball ornaments.