Giving gifts is a big part of the holiday season. Besides decorating and spending time with loved ones, it's my favorite thing to do. I absolutely love giving presents and wrapping them makes it even more fun.   Here are some easy and unique ideas that will make your gift wrapping experience quick and fun. Eco-Friendly For all those green people in your life, why not express their love for the Earth by presenting their gift in an Earth friendly package? Try using brown packing paper or simple white recycled printing paper to wrap it. You can even get the kids involved. Have them draw and …

Since Christmas is near, decorating season is surely here. Hanging ornaments on the tree is a big part of the holiday season. Here is an easy and affordable way to create your own ornaments and add that crafty touch. You can also hang them around the house. What you will need: decorative paper, scissors, pencil, stencils or paper punches and string. First, choose the paper you want to use. It can be holiday themed or simply have a nice pattern. The best paper for this project is some type of cardstock or a thicker-weighted style. Check out the paper selections at RVC Stationery on N. Park …

If you're hosting Thanksgiving this year, creating a beautiful tablescape is important. You want the table to be decorative, but not overbearing. Here are a few ideas you can play around with for this season and they all embrace the beauty of nature. Simple & Modern For a modern take on the holiday, use lots of white so the table feels clean and fresh. White plates and napkins will do the trick. Silver instead of gold will keep this theme looking just right. By placing a plant or flowers in the middle that has white in it is the cherry on top. See what Masters & Co. Florist on S. Village …

I love when I get to host a dinner party or gathering. Putting smiles on people's faces makes it all worth it, but I find a lot of fun in decorating the space and styling the food. Since Thanksgiving is right around the corner, this is your chance to wow your guests with something fabulous. A thing to remember when you are serving food of any kind — it's all in the presentation. If you just throw stuff in a bowl and lay it out, it will look that way. It's nice to show you care and want everything to be special for your guests. So why not jazz it up a bit and really put on a show? The Crown …

Halloween is right around the corner, so it's time to get those cards out in the mail. Instead of buying a pack of holiday cards this year, why not make them yourself? Here is a cute way to design handmade cards that are easy and quick. You can even get the kids involved. Materials: pencil, scissors, glue stick or craft glue, cardstock paper, newspaper or old book pages, buttons. First, decide what size you want the card to be. I chose a 5x7 inch white flat card. Saving on paper when I can is always a plus! Visit Jenny’s Stationary on Brower Avenue and The Crowne Shoppe on Sunrise Highway to …

Color is an essential part of life. From its importance in art and design to fashion, it helps if we all understood it a little better. The first step is to find inspiration and then analyze how the colors work within a particular scheme. Lastly, knowing how the colors make you feel will allow you to create something extraodinary. You can find inspiration everywhere you look. Don't take anything for granted. When you are running errands, stop and take in the architecture of the buildings around you. What colors do you see? Examine how the light affects the surface of the building. How do the …

Planning a wedding can be very stressful if you aren’t prepared. As I plan my own DIY wedding, I thought it would be great to share some things I’ve learned as well as give tips and advice for all you newbies out there doing the same. Even if you're not getting married, you can share this info with someone you know who is or even use it for other events you plan on having in the future. The first thing you must figure out is your budget. Having a large budget for your big day can make things easier because you can hire help and choose places that include it with their services. However, what …

Fall is right around the corner and that means a new school year and a fresh start. Now is the perfect time to get organized. Here are some tips to liven up your space, clean out the clutter and take on a new season with ease. Keep your home free from clutter by creating a space for everything. Utilize the space you have and make the most out of it. Keep closets in order by storing items you rarely use on top and important products at eye level. Use clear containers to see what you have and label items if you rather have stuff hidden away. Add some unique elements, like using ribbon to tie …

I've been working with color expert Kate Smith and she has inspired me to think more about color. In a past article, I wrote about color theory. Today I'm going to focus on the color you already have in your home and introduce the natural palette. What makes you truly relax? For me, nature is my true love. So I take colors from Mother Earth and bring them inside my home. I find that most people feel the same. You can find some more inspiration at the New Leaf Garden Center where you can find tons of color palettes nature has to offer. Now, this natural palette isn't just an inspiration for …

Picking decor and a color scheme for your home are the first steps to its design. Then you have to figure out how to arrange your furniture and other items to fit the space. In one of my last articles, I talked about negative space and making sure the rooms in your home have plenty of it. Now I want to get into the real fun stuff — arranging accessories. Everyone has knick knacks they cherish, artwork they want to display or beautiful items they would like to show off. But you also don't want to just stick something on a wall or place it on a table. There are certain methods and key elements …

Why pay for decorations when you can make them yourself? You don't have to be an artist or a crafter to create something fun, beautiful and professional looking. I'll guide you through the easy steps of making a decorative garland. They are perfect for any occasion and can be personalized to any event. Let's get started! Materials: string, card stock, glue, paper cutters or scissors and a hole puncher. Your choice of: markers or colored pencils or use your computer. First you need to know where you're going to hang the garland. Then you'll know how long you need the string to be. You can use …

When designing your home, there are a lot of factors you must take into consideration. One of them is negative space. This is one of most important elements and yet most don't understand it. All of the free open areas that lie around tables and rugs and in between furniture and accessories can make or break a room. There is one thing to remember: your decor needs to breathe and so do you! If you feel suffocated in a room, there are a few things that are going on. One, the furniture is too big for the space. Two, everything is too close to each other. Three, there are too many things in the …

Maintaining, organizing and keeping memories close to your heart is an everyday task. There are plenty of ways to protect and preserve the things that really matter in your life and scrapbooking is one of them. Not only is it a great way to tell your personal story but it is a unique way to tell someone else you care. A handmade or printed scrapbook makes an excellent gift. There are a few elements to this craft one must know in order to successfully create a collection of keepsakes. Once you are aware of them, the process is much easier. Think of these tips as a guide to inspire, motivate …

I'm sure you remember making pinwheels when you were younger. They're certainly a craft that brings back memories for me. Whether they're handmade or seen on lawns spinning in the breeze, these nostalgic objects always seem to add a touch of whimsy. All you need are a few items to create them and it's something you can do with your children as well. Mine are meant purely for decoration and would be perfect for any gathering or party. You can sit them in vases, jars or baskets and even hang them if you want. They really allow you to get creative and wow your guests. Materials: Decorative card …

Now that spring is here, what better time to take advantage of the sunny weather? Surround yourself with plants and create an indoor garden display. Not only will it bring a smile to your face, but it will brighten up any room in the house. First off, pick a sunny spot by a window so it's guaranteed your living lovelies will get enough light. Once you do that, decide on what you're going to use and what kind of plants you want. Take a step back and try to imagine what will look cool in the space. Get creative and have fun! While deciding on what plants to choose, pick ones that match your …

Everyone wants a nice looking home, but not everyone has the money to do it. However, you can have a stylish home and not pay tons of money. Sometimes just changing up the scene is enough to update any room in your house. With a little work, creativity and guidance, you can have a fresh space in no time. The best and most affordable way to update a room is to figure out a new floor plan. You don't want to know how many times I've done this. I might be a little crazy but seriously, by just moving furniture around, your space will feel new and exciting. Here are a few tips to guide you along …

For a quick redesign of a corner or space on a wall, why not spice up a simple shelf? I happen to have some extra shelves lying around the house, so I decided to put one by my pantry area. I needed a little space to keep vitamins, pads and other small items. Since the wall was bare, I figured a shelf would do the trick. You can do this project with any shelf, but raw wood will work best. Use any fabric you want. Even old shirts or pants would be cool to use. Have pillowcases or sheets you don't use anymore? Recycle them for this project. It takes about 10 minutes or less and you only need a …

Easter is right around the corner. I'm not a religious person, but I do love Easter. Ever since I was a little girl, it has been my favorite holiday. My mother always created a basket filled with goodies and treats, and hid it for me to find. So much fun! Even though I live on my own, we still carry on that tradition. Now that I'm older, I focus more on subtle ways to design my home for Easter. I came up with something really cute that is so easy to do, you can get your kids involved. Not only is it affordable, but it brings you closer to nature as well. Materials: Two large branches, pencil…

I've always been in love with books and had an interest in mixed media. So it made a lot of sense that scrap-booking would eventually become an interest. Whether it was a class I took in school or a private journal, I've always put in 100 percent of myself. Even when it wasn't expected. Currently, I have a nice collection of handmade scrapbooks. One is my philosophy journal from school, another filled with inspiration for my dream house and then a small compilation of events from my relationship. All are creative, unique and carry important information. Well, now there is one more book to add…

When I was in school, I took bookmaking classes which really helped me understand the basics of creating handmade books. I realized it wasn't that hard after all. Plus, it's fun to make something with your hands. It really gives your project that handcrafted feel you just don't see much of anymore. I want to share how to construct a book from scratch. You can choose any size you want and pick whatever materials suit your concept. There are a few ways to do it but this one is easy, affordable and doesn't take much time. They make great gifts as well. Materials 2 pieces of thin cardboard or …