Thursday Thrifty Throwdown: Holiday Countdown! 9 Weeks!

[HeatherNYC]

Um, do you see the above? We are down to single digits, ladies...only nine weeks left til December. Yes, Halloween is before that as is Thanksgiving, but we all know, even before the last of the Halloween candy is munched, the stores will be showing ornaments, stuffed elves and garland made of felt Santa hats.

Yes, winter and holiday décor will be all around us...and make us all get into the spirit. Before you grab a bundle, try some of these cool ideas that you can make yourself - not only will they be original, but they will also help that family piggy bank.

-- Pinecones and ribbons. Send the kids outside to gather some pinecones. Grab that white spray paint, give them a spritz. Once they are dry, tie some red or gold or blue or whatever color you want ribbon around them. Hang them from doorknobs, banisters, the front door...so easy and so inexpensive.

-- Winter in a jar. I love this one from Elisa McLaughlin - all you need are a few Mason jars, some salt and little trees and glue and you can make a gorgeous mantle arrangement or centerpiece.

-- Wool ball garland. Seriously cute and so simple. You wet the wool roving, ball it up, let it dry and then tread them together. Again a perfect decoration for a banister or over the stockings on the mantle. The blog According to Kelly has pics and easy-to-follow instructions.

-- Paper trees. Bits of scrapbook paper, scissors and glue are all you need. Check out the hints and how-tos at Making Lemonade blog.

How do you decorate for the holidays? Do you make your own? Let's share pics! 

©iStockphoto.com/ jsnover 

[KristinRox]

My kids did this last year at school. The pinecones were covered in glitter, and they were very pretty. 

Quoting michiganmom116:

I love the painted pinecone idea! I've got plenty of cone "sources."

[daerca574]

 I love to decorate!  I just found a few items yesterday at a thrift store that I am super excited about.  I do make my own sometimes too!

[AzariahsMother]

I will buy most things or things I have collected over the years.  Don't have any pictures to share at this time. 

[AzariahsMother]

I'm loving those colors.  That's kind of what my tree was last year puprle, pink and teal.  This year I think I am going to splurge and buy new stuff because we have had the same colors for about 12 years now...sad.  All the stuff I have was from right after DD was born. 

Quoting yvonne37:

This year's colors :))  cant wait to go pick the tree ;)

 

[goddess99]

We used to make our own when dd was younger. But now it's pretty store bought things along with the homemade things from years ago.

[Madelaine]

We are going to make our deco this year.

[lalasmama2007]

We have a tree, lights outside and Dept 56 houses on the mantel.

[jessicasmom1]

Tree.,garland, stockings yes we make decorations

[Larisa72]

9 weeks???  can I throw up now???   Ugh....from childhood experiences, this is when the stress rises...trying NOT to make it that way for *MY* children.....deep breaths...I can get through this.....

[jbyrd898]

what great ideas.