Wednesday, November 6, 2002

Spend More Time Enjoying Family and Friends this Season: Easy and Natural Holiday Decorations

Getting your home ready for the holidays can be time-consuming and expensive; nerves can get frazzled in what is supposed to be the "merriest time of the year." Previously, there hasn't been a lot of choice in holiday decor, but now there are a variety of holiday decorations to choose from that are beautiful, inspired by natural materials and easy to use.

"I used to create my own holly and pine garland, and by the time I was done, I was too tired and broke to have anybody over," says Ali Dickerson, an interior colorist from Charlotte, Vermont. "Now I'm impressed with the quality and ease of using a variety of lights and faux decorations so I can spend more time with my family."

If you want some greenery for the holidays, Alpine Trees, with natural wood trunks and snowy branches, can be used to decorate an entry or corner of a room. The trees are sold separately and come in three different sizes, 3, 4 and 5 feet. The trees can be used indoors or out, and several could be used to light up a path. If you've always debated on purchasing an artificial tree, the exclusive Artificial Blue Spruce with Lights will fool any visitor.

Here are some other easy, festive ideas from the experts at Gardner's Supply:

Decorating with unusual lights on mantles and windows can also add holiday sparkle to your home. Magic Poinsettia Lights consist of velvety red poinsettias that sparkle with hundreds of tiny lights made of fiber-optic sprays that are safe and cool-to-the-touch.

Pinecone Lights are especially appealing on a mantle providing a golden glow, enhanced by a dusting of glitter. The distinctive starburst shape of the Moravian Star Lights was inspired by the Moravian stars carried by 19th century missionaries as a symbol of hope. Rattan Star Lights are a blend of folk art with modern lighting. Each star is natural rattan woven onto a durable wire frame, with two sparkling lights inside.

Snowflake Lights can be enjoyed from both sides of the window, each 15-inch star holds 36 sparkling lights. Snowflake Luminaries can be used outdoors or in, and unlike other luminaries, the sleeve lifts off the candle base so you don't need to worry about burning your fingers when you light the candle. Each is made of shiny galvanized steel so they won't blow away, tip over or rust.

Nothing symbolizes warmth and welcome like the new exclusive Electric Candle. It's a huge improvement over the department store plastic lighted candles. It has a built-in timer that lights for 8 hours and then repeats itself every 24 hours.

Garlands are a simple way to take existing fixtures such as lamps, shelves and mantles and give a home a holiday feeling. Faux Winterberry Garland and Faux Holly Garland make a superb accent for the mantel or to frame a doorway. The Faux Holly Garland is deceivingly lifelike with sprays of two-tone berries and detailed fabric leaves. Both look good year after year without fading.

Spread the spirit of the season with J-O-Y spelled out as an unusual alternative to a traditional wreath. Faux berries, wild apples, ferns and leaves -- all woven onto a natural grapevine frame -- look fresh year after year.

The Balsam Oil and Diffuser looks like an ornament, but it will fill the air with the aroma of freshly cut balsam fir. No one will know that the petite terra cotta urn on your tree holds a few drops of essential balsam oil.

For more decorating ideas, please visit www.gardeners.com or call (800) 955-3370 for a free catalog.

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