Give Back This Holiday Season in Kansas City, Mo.

Posted on December 21, 2012 by jpalmer

This holiday season, give back in Kansas City through these volunteer opportunities.

Are you a new arrival in Kansas City, Mo.? Want to use your talents, skills and expertise to make a difference this holiday season? You’re in luck! There are plenty of organizations in the Kansas City area who are looking for caring volunteers just like you. Here’s how to find them.

Voolla.org
Do you have a specific skill that you want to put to use to help make the world a better place? This website matches you with people needing those skills, and the money they pay goes to charity. Register your skills for free today and get started.

Volunteermatch.org
Find tons of volunteer opportunities in your area. Many organizations in your own backyard need help with everything from party planning to data entry.

Youth Volunteer Corps of Greater Kansas City (www.yvckc.org/)
This is a great resource if you have kids who want to volunteer. The YVCKC offers youth between the ages of 11 and 18 the opportunity to improve their community by volunteering. They offer plenty of after school, holiday, weekend and summer volunteering projects that are sure to fit you and your child’s schedule.

Volunteer Opportunities in Kansas City (www.americantowns.com/mo/kansascity-make-a-difference)
Part of Americantowns.com, this site links you up with local volunteer organizations in more than 27 categories. This is the one-stop shop for volunteering.

The Kansas City Zoo (www.kansascityzoo.org/Volunteer) has plenty of volunteer opportunities for you animal lovers out there. If you love working outdoors in all kinds of weather, you just might be a good fit for this great organization.

Church or School Organizations
Check with your child’s school or your church for places you can help out. If they don’t have any openings, they will almost surely know of someone who does. So get out and ask around!

Finding volunteer opportunities in a new city can be scary, but with a little patience and diligence, you’ll quickly find something that fulfills you while giving something of value to your new community of Kansas City, Mo.

Photo credit: iStockphoto/PinkTag

Holiday Gifts for Fido

Posted on December 17, 2012 by sroman

Keep your pup happy this holiday season with these gifts.

For dog owners, this festive season would not be complete without a cold nose or wagging tail amid the holiday hustle. Whether our dogs are begging for a bite of Christmas cookie or enduring a few embarrassing photos in a sparkly sweater, Fido and Fifi are part of the family and deserve some thoughtful holiday gifts.

Healthy treats for dogs
Although we may try to watch our waistline at the holidays, it’s also important to make sure we’re not handing out too many treats to our four-legged friends. To keep your dog from adding empty calories, try to offer only treats made from 100 percent natural ingredients. Three Dog Bakery makes dog biscuits from peanut butter, apples and oats that are both tasty and nutritious for your pet. Visit www.threedog.com for locations or to shop online.

Canine-friendly cleansers
If you’re planning to host family and friends during the holidays, a bath might be in order for your pup. Why not use a new organic shampoo to keep his coat cuddle-ready? Both Kiehl’s and many pet specialty stores carry organic dog shampoo and conditioner, or you may want to ask for a referral from your vet. Using a gentle cleanser can help prevent your dog’s skin from getting too dry in winter weather.

Join the neighborhood light display
Show off your dog’s holiday spirit on your next evening walk with a new LED leash and collar. Not only will these illuminated accessories keep him safe and visible to cars, they can also be a festive fashion statement in red or white. Make Clark Griswold proud!

Not a creature was stirring…
Winter is also the perfect time to bring home a cozy new pet bed for your dog. Choose a soft fleece or cotton fiber lining that will breathe while your pet snoozes after a hard day of opening presents. When the festivities are over, and the wrapping paper and gift boxes have been sufficiently pounced upon, Fido will be happy to sink his paws into a plush new bed.

The holidays are an exciting time of year for both people and dogs. Remember that animals can be sensitive and may need some quiet time away from new guests, noise and additional stimulation. Allowing for sufficient down time will also give them the chance to dream about their new toys and gifts. Happy Howlidays!

Photo credit: iStockphoto/cmannphoto

How to Create DIY Holiday Vases

Posted on December 14, 2012 by tpham

Repurpose old ornaments and display them in beautiful glass vases for a simple centerpiece.

One of the best parts of the season is decorating and spreading the holiday cheer. This year, creatively get your apartment ready for the holidays and the New Year without stress. We’ve come up with a few ideas on creating fabulous centerpieces and holiday vases for your space. Read on for our ideas.

Glitter Vases
These glitter vases will add glam to your space, and they can be repurposed for throughout the year. You’ll need:

Use a cylindrical vase, and apply a thin layer of Mod Podge on the interior of the vase using a foam brush. Next, dump a generous amount of glitter inside of the vase, and then roll the vase in your hands. Tap the side of the vase to get the glitter to evenly coat the Mod Podge. Dump out the excess glitter, and allow the vase to dry before displaying flowers.

Snowy Vases
Our infographic showed you how to create display-worthy centerpieces from recycled wine bottles.

Spray a coat of primer on three empty wine bottles. While drying, pour Epsom salt on a paper bag. Next, spray the dried empty bottles with craft bond spray adhesive, and then roll the bottles in the Epsom salt. Allow the adhesive to dry before handling. Display the vases on a silver platter. Add flowers or glittered branches to the vases.

Vegetable Vases
A lot of the holidays are centered around the feast, so why not create centerpieces with more food items?

Wash and dry your vegetables. Cut off a small piece at the bottom of each vegetable to allow them to stand upright. Then, cut off the top and get ready to core the vegetable. Core and dig out the middle. Repeat this with the rest of the vegetables. Fill your new vases with flowers and candles. Use a tray or a cutting board to keep everything together.

Ornament Vase
Bring all the elements of Christmas together with these simple ornament vases.

Use terra cotta pots that will fit your ball ornaments. Spray paint the pots with the metallic spray paint, and allow them to dry. Next, remove the hanger tops and fill the ornaments with water. Cut the poinsettia, and place the flower in the ornament. Nestle the arrangement in the pot. Instead of poinsettias, you can cut off a small piece of your tree to add to each of these ornaments.

Ornament Vase 2
If you have lots of leftover ball ornaments, here’s another idea for an ornament vase. You’ll need:

Cluster three tall glass vases together. Fill each vase with ball ornaments. Add character to each vase by adding various sizes of the ornaments. An optional step is to tie a bow out of shiny ribbon on the outside of each vase.

Photo credit: iStockphoto/lucop

5 Secrets for a Clutter-Free Holiday

Posted on December 12, 2012 by jgrimes

Keep your holiday neat and tidy with five organization tips that will keep your home clutter-free.

Since Christmas is such a sentimental holiday, it can also be a time of high emotion, particularly if you’ve overspent on gifts, your family is staying with you and your pets are getting into all of the shiny holiday décor. Lighten up this holiday season by getting rid of all unnecessary clutter before it begins, which will make you feel organized and leave more room for guests, gifts and all of their… baggage. Here are five secrets for making this one a clutter-free holiday.

1. Scale down the holiday décor
Do you have certain ornaments, knick-knacks and past-years’ gifts that you unpack every year and never use? Maybe it’s time to part ways with them. When you’re decorating or packing everything back up is a great time to scale down your holiday décor. Maybe the singing Santa and snowman-themed outdoor thermometer aren’t necessary anymore, and keep in mind that you’re not throwing out the holiday spirit with your unused décor items. Trash or donate what’s outdated, unused for the past two seasons and not important. Remember that to hit the holiday décor high points, all you need is one decorated tree, some garland, lights and stockings on the mantle and a wreath on the front door.

2. Organize your Christmas cards
It just doesn’t make sense to display your Christmas cards on a table, the piano or countertop. They’ll fall over when anyone walks by or uses the surface area, and you’ll have to move them each time you dust. Instead, throw away the envelope as soon as you receive the card (noting the return address first for your records, if necessary), and store the cards in a basket or hang them somewhere. After the holidays, decide which ones you’ll keep, store them in a large envelope with the year marked on the outside and keep them with your Christmas decorations or birthday cards.

3. Control your boxes and trash
Whether you stash all of your purchased gifts in the trunk of your car, the guest room or attic, put them all in one place until you’ve made all of your gift-giving purchases. Remove them from their shopping bags and throw the bags away immediately, reserving the receipts. If they arrived in boxes in the mail, set aside only which boxes you’ll need to wrap gifts, and break down the remaining boxes. Put them in the recycling bin or Dumpster immediately, and store the saved boxes in the same place you store your gifts.

4. Select a wrapping paper “station”
Various companies sell wrapping paper organizers, but you don’t have to shell out lots of money on specialized storage bins; you can keep everything together in a cheap, new (or clean) 13-gallon plastic trash can. Place the tape, tissue paper, scissors, gift tags and ribbon in the bottom and stack wrapping paper rolls on top. To keep bows from losing their shape, store them in a plastic shopping bag and hang it from one of the wrapping paper rolls, and hang gift bags from another roll. Stuff plastic shopping bags between the rolls to keep them from sliding around.

5. Wrap everything at once
As soon as all of your gifts have been purchased or arrive in the mail, designate one day to wrap them. Then, you’ll only need to get out your wrapping paper supplies and clean up scraps of paper once. When you’re finished, place the gifts under the tree and store your wrapping paper station in the attic, home office or hall closet, wherever you keep the rest of your Christmas decorations.

Photo Credit: iStockphoto/daneger

Holiday Wishes Come True: The Ultimate Gift Guide for Her

Posted on December 11, 2012 by jgrimes

“Wow” her this Christmas with gifts she’ll love, including a sparkly phone case, dazzling jewelry and pretty bags.

The rumor is that women are hard to shop for, but as long as the gift is sparkly, vintage, stylish, pleasantly fragranced or practical, the lady in your life is bound to love it. Easy, right? Don’t worry; we’ve selected a number of gifts in a variety of price ranges to help you decide what to get the lady in your life, whether she’s a friend, girlfriend, sister, mother or spouse. No matter the budget, the perfect gift is available in your price range.

Under $15
Let her sparkle and shine this holiday season with all that glitters, particularly with the Glitter Notebook ($12.50), available in three colors, or the Glitter Case for iPhone 4 ($14.99 for pink), both from J. Crew.

Give a gal with a sweet tooth the gift of sugar with Fiona’s Candy ($12.95) from Williams-Sonoma. These 14-ounce vintage-style glass jars hold attractive, delicious candy in eight flavors, such as Champagne Bubbles, Gummy Flowers and Root Beer Drops.

It’s possible to give high-end cosmetics – when they come in cute miniatures. The Stila “Harvest” lip glaze trio at Nordstrom contains three flattering shades – one bestseller and two new, exclusive shades – for the bargain price of $12.

Under $30
The Voluspa “Maison Blanc – Pink Citron” two-wick candle ($16) at Nordstrom both looks and smells delicious. Any girl would love the vintage pink and gold container and the pleasant citrusy smell, and since the candle is 11 ounces, she can use it for a long time.

The sturdy, laminated cotton-canvas Printed Makeup Pouch ($20 and $25, depending on the color) from J. Crew is the perfect gift for the girl who craves style and organization. Sold in a black and white bow print and a red and pink striped print, this makeup pouch is also leak-proof.

For the gift that makes her say, “Wait, what is this?” and then “Cool, thanks!” check out the Charmed Hair Ties ($24) from Anthropologie. Sold in a set of three and in your choice of three coordinating colors per set, these jeweled hair ties are the perfect elegant accessory, and she’s sure to not already have them.

Under $50
The perfect wear-with-anything accessory, the Crystal Starlet Earrings ($35) from J.Crew will remind her of Old Hollywood. Whether she wears gold or silver, these earrings are designed to flatter with their dress-up or dress-down capability.

For the stylish hippie-chic chick in your life, purchase the Envirosax Market Bag ($39.95) from Red Envelope. This set of five attractive polyester, reusable bags solves the paper versus plastic dilemma, and each bag holds as much as two plastic grocery bags and up to 44 pounds. Plus, they’re machine-washable and waterproof.

Soft, feminine and universally appealing, the Philosophy Amazing Grace Layering Gift Set ($49.50) at Sephora is a great gift for any woman, especially one who frequently travels. The soap-and-water-scented set contains a combination shampoo, bath and shower gel, 2 oz. perfume and body butter.

Photo Credit: iStockphoto/sjlocke

Apartment Guide’s Holiday Gift Guide for Him

Posted on December 11, 2012 by tpham

Surprise the man in your life with one of these suggested gifts.

Whether you’re shopping for your friend, boyfriend, brother or dad, you know that he isn’t the easiest person on your list to shop for. He is easygoing and probably already has everything he could ever possibly want. But every guy deserves something special under the tree. Give it a little thought, and consider what he really needs or what he does for hobbies. If you’re still unsure, read on for Apartment Guide’s suggested gifts for him.

For the Sports Enthusiast
The Nike+ Fueldband ($150) tracks daily activity, including running, walking and various activities, as well as each step taken and calories burned. The user sets a goal, and the band’s LED display lights up to show your progress throughout the day. And to stay accountable, the user can share his activity and achievements on Facebook, Twitter and Path.

For the golfing man in your life, check out this palm-sized GPS unit ($180) to calculate distances on various golf courses. The data is simultaneously displayed on its monochrome LCF screen. The device measures the length of drives, and it automatically detects the golf course and hole you are playing from its preloaded database of 35,000 courses.

Staying hydrated is crucial, so motivate him to drink more water with this insulated, wide-mouth stainless steel drinking bottle ($20). It is insulated with a double wall, which keeps drinks cold for more than 24 hours or hot for at least 12 hours. It doesn’t have that plastic taste, and the bottle never sweats.

To keep him in-the-know, consider purchasing a subscription to a sports magazine. View a list of the top-selling magazine subscriptions on Amazon. Subscriptions range from $5-50, depending on the magazine. A few suggestions include ESPN The Magazine, Sports Illustrated, Golf Magazine and Outdoor Life.

For the Cocktail Connoisseur
Keep his spirits high and cold with non-diluting whisky cold stones ($40). These stones keep your drinks chilled without diluting the flavor like melted ice. Each set comes with 12 stones that will never lose their cooling ability.

A remote control cooler ($80) is the perfect gift for any guy. If he can’t miss any minute of the big game, this cooler will keep him in his seat while delivering a cold brew. The cooler holds and keeps cool up to 12 drinks in ice, and the four wheels makes it easy for the cooler to glide over indoor floors and carpets, as well as outdoor surfaces.

For the Techie
For the techie in your life that is connected in every way possible, get him a mobile power station ($41). IOGEAR’s power station will give up to two devices a reliable charge while you’re on the go. When you’re back home, plug the power station to a wall power outlet to charge the station before heading out again.

A new pair of headphones makes a good gift for any music lover. These Id America Spark In-Ear Headphones ($35) are compatible with iPhones, various Apple products, as well as most devices with a 3.5 mm jack. They include an advanced in-line microphone module, feature a unique design and provide good comfort.

The washable keyboard ($36) by Logitech features an easy-to-clean design. The keyboard has drainage holes that makes it easy to hand wash and dry. Twelve shortcut keys give you instant access to email, Web browsers and the music player. This is the perfect gift for a germaphobe or someone who eats and drinks regularly while at his/her computer.

Photo credit: iStockphoto/justme_yo

Protect Your Holiday Gifts with a Home Inventory

Posted on December 7, 2012 by jgrimes

Planning on racking up the gifts this holiday season? In case of emergency, inventory them and the rest of your belongings with an app on your phone.

Will you be receiving new electronics, jewelry or other big-ticket items as gifts this holiday season? And (hint, hint), will you also be getting the receipts?

The holidays are an ideal time to take a home inventory and make sure all your pricey new gifts will be protected in the event of a loss: a fire, a burst pipe due to freezing, a natural disaster or even theft.

A home inventory of all the items you own with information about their value is a good way to prove ownership in the case of a loss. The inventory will assist your insurance carrier if you ever need to make a claim. Yet, according to an Allstate Insurance survey conducted in January, only 39 percent of Americans have ever made a home inventory.

If you don’t fall in that category, here are simple tips and resources that can make the task of documenting and protecting your holiday gifts — and everything else you own — a lot easier than you think.

Start with an app or checklist. A smartphone app can streamline the process of taking a home inventory. Allstate’s Digital Locker helps you quickly photograph and capture descriptions of all your possessions, and then stores the data in the cloud. You can also do it the analog way, with a clipboard and a household inventory checklist in tow.

Go from room to room. Organizing by room will keep you on track. Start at one end and catalog everything you see as you walk through; write detailed descriptions of each item, down to the make, model and serial numbers; and take pictures or a brief video. Don’t forget those new holiday gifts and any items tucked inside drawers, closets and cabinets.

Note what stuff is worth. Part of a home inventory is noting the cost and purchase date of each item. And while receipts are always your best bet, holiday gifts don’t typically include them. Take heart: Interactive tools like What’s Your Stuff Worth? can help you estimate the value of those new possessions along with the value of what you previously owned.

Keep your inventory safe. Once you’re done, find a good spot (or more than one) to store the inventory, along with receipts and any related documents. It should be safe from an event that might invite a claim, like sources of water damage, theft and fire, but also easily accessible enough to retrieve in the event of a claim. If you used an app to create the inventory, consider cloud storage or a thumb drive. Hard copies can be safely stored in a safe deposit box or with a family member or friend.

Now that your inventory is complete, you have a ballpark figure of what it would take to replace your belongings. (Is it more than you thought?) Use this figure as a starting point for a conversation with your agent to make sure you have the right coverage on your renter’s policy.

Also, make a mental note to update your home inventory any time you come into any valuable new possessions. After all, Valentine’s Day is just around the corner.

This guest post comes from the editors of The Allstate Blog, which helps people prepare for the unpredictability of life.

Photo Credit: iStockphoto/tadamichi

Don’t Be an Angry Elf: Watch the Top 10 Holiday Movies

Posted on December 6, 2012 by jgrimes

Would you adopt this Christmas tree? Charlie Brown felt sorry for one just like it in “A Charlie Brown Christmas.”

Few things make us feel the holiday season is upon us like seeing our favorite holiday movies, coupled with decorating the tree and sipping on hot chocolate or egg nog. These movies invoke a sense of tradition, calm us and remind us of Christmas memories with songs, humor and touching moments. Listed from newest to oldest release, here are our picks for the top 10 holiday movies.

Elf (2003)
When Buddy the Elf (Will Ferrell) finds out he’s not actually an elf, he leaves the North Pole and Santa’s Workshop for New York in search of his dad, a not-so-kind publishing executive who’s on the Naughty List. While trying to win his father’s affection and put him on the Good List, Buddy meets Jovie (Zooey Deschanel), his coworker-turned-love interest, and teaches New Yorkers how to have Christmas spirit again.

Love Actually (2003)
Ten different storylines intersect in this British comedy centered on the five weeks until Christmas, in which romances are revealed and hearts are broken. The new Prime Minister has feelings for his catering manager, a struggling novel writer falls for his housekeeper, a man is in love with his best friend’s new wife and two people employed as body doubles find a personal connection even when they’re in awkward situations. Through these stories and more, learn why “love actually is all around.”

Home Alone 2 (1992)
You may not believe it, but Kevin (Macaulay Culkin) has once again been left out of his family’s Christmas travels, except this time he wasn’t left at home; he boarded the wrong plane. While the rest of the McCallisters go to Miami (“where they don’t have Christmas trees; they have palm trees”), Kevin is off to New York. He deviously checks into a swanky hotel, befriends a homeless woman and soon runs into the former Wet Bandits, now the Sticky Bandits. Thanks to his aunt and uncle’s home being renovated, Kevin manages to save Christmas and reunite with his family in true New York style.

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)
Clark Griswold, the ultimate family man, wants the perfect Christmas tree, decorations and family gathering. Unfortunately, the multiple eccentric members of his extended family and two snobby neighbors threaten to ruin his plans, while his penny-pinching boss may thwart his mission to give his family the ultimate gift – an in-ground swimming pool. Thanks to comedic relief by Cousin Eddie and holiday décor that refuses to light, Clark’s Christmas is both hilarious and touching.

A Christmas Story (1983)
So popular that one channel plays it for 24 hours straight on Christmas Eve, “A Christmas Story” follows Ralphie Parker (Peter Billingsley) in his pursuit for a Red Ryder BB gun. Despite repeated “You’ll shoot your eye out!” warnings and a series of mishaps that threaten to thwart his plans, including a run-in with a mean Santa Claus, Ralphie manages to have a good Christmas with his family.

Dr. Suess’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966)
In the original cartoon version of Dr. Suess’ tale, a grumpy green grouch looks down on the noisy, joyful Whos of Whoville below, who delight in Christmas spirit and song. The Grinch enlists the help of his happy dachshund Max to steal all of the Whos’ Christmas presents and decorations, in hopes of snuffing out their holiday cheer. Instead, the Grinch catches some of that Christmas spirit himself.

A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
Charlie Brown is depressed about Christmas becoming so commercialized, and his friends are doing nothing to prove him wrong – Lucy wants the biggest, fake tree for the Christmas play, the kids in the play want to modernize it and Snoopy is trying to win a neighborhood lights and decorating contest. When Charlie Brown rescues a scrawny baby tree, the only live one in the lot, the other kids laugh at him, but once he recites the second chapter from the gospel of Luke, the kids come around to the true meaning of Christmas and help Charlie Brown’s tree look fantastic.

Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
When Kris Kringle (Edmund Gwenn) takes over the job as Santa at Macy’s flagship New York City store on 34th Street, he does such a great job that visitors to the store begin to question if he really is Santa. When Kris insists he is, a witch hunt ensues to prove Kris is mentally unstable and dangerous, while Kris works to restore Christmas spirit in Susan (Natalie Wood), the young daughter of Macy’s event director Doris (Maureen O’ Hara), who leads the charges against him.

It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
Repeatedly honored as one of the best movies of all time, “It’s a Wonderful Life” is the two-plot story of how an angel earns his wings and a down-on-his-luck banker and family man learns to love life again. When George Bailey (James Stewart) tries to commit suicide on Christmas Eve, an angel shows him what life would be like if he was never born, and George realizes he had more influence on the good in his town and the world than he thought.

A Christmas Carol (1938)
Based on Charles Dickens’ novel of the same name, “A Christmas Carol” tells the story of wealthy-but-rotten Ebenezer Scrooge (Reginald Owen) as he reflects on his life, hosted by the ghost of Scrooge’s old business partner, who shows him his past, present and future. The past shows him when he was more innocent and kind, the present shows him how his treatment of employee Bob Cratchit has affected Cratchit’s own family and the future shows him dying alone and later being robbed and ridiculed. Overnight, the experience turns Scrooge into a generous, compassionate man, who embodies the Christmas spirit.

Photo Credit: iStockphoto/R_Koopmans

How to Create a DIY Winter Wonderland

Posted on December 4, 2012 by tpham

Get out your hot glue gun, glitter and ribbon, and you’ll be on your way to creating DIY holiday décor. From faux snow vases to a decked-out dreidel garland, use this infographic as a guide to fashion unique decorations for your home this holiday season.

<a href="http://www.apartmentguide.com/blog/how-to-create-a-diy-winter-wonderland"><img src="http://www.apartmentguide.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/diy-holiday-decor.png" alt="DIY holiday decor" title="Creating DIY Holiday Decorations" width="600" height="3516" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.apartmentguide.com/blog">Apartment Living Blog</a>

To add this infographic to your site, please copy the embed code from the above box and paste this code on your site.

How to Create DIY Christmas Wreaths

Posted on November 29, 2012 by tpham

This year, change things up with your Christmas wreath and use our suggestions as inspiration.

We’ve already learned how to make fall wreaths, but now it’s time to tackle wreaths for the winter season and for Christmas. Get creative and spruce up your front door by gathering materials from your own yard, upcycling materials and thinking outside of the round wreath. Grab your hot glue gun and use our suggestions below to create a beautiful wreath this season.

Woodsy Wreath
This eco-friendly design brings in elements of nature but still has a clean look and feel that will be a great addition to your front door or the fireplace. From the crafts store, purchase a 16 inch grapevine wreath and approximately 10 artificial small Granny Smith apples. Go through the floral section and select an assortment of seasonal flora. You can also head to your backyard and scoop up pinecones. Using a hot glue gun, affix the apples to the wreath, spacing them equally around the ring. Next, weave the flora into the grapevine, filling in the areas between the apples. If using pine cones, hot glue them to the wreath.

Upcycled Wreath
This wreath is an easy way to get a beautiful wreath while being environmentally friendly. Cut holly shapes (using a holly stencil) out of old holiday greeting cards to upcycle old materials. Use a hot glue gun to attach a toothpick onto the backside of each holly leaf to form a 1 inch pick at the bottom of each leaf. Insert the picks into a 10-inch Styrofoam wreath, and repeat until the wreath is covered. Fan and overlap the leaves to create a full-looking wreath.

Pine Cone Cluster/Wreath
To create a more nontraditional “wreath,” use this idea to spice up your décor during the winter. Head out to your backyard and collect three, five or seven pine cones. Pick a ribbon that matches your holiday décor and is approximately 2 inches wide, and cut out strips of varying lengths (6, 8, 10 and 12 inches). Next, hot glue the ribbon to the base of each pine cone. Once the glue is dry, gather the top of the ribbon and tie a bow. Attach to a wreath hanger to hang on your front door.

Monogram Wreath
Similar to the pine cone cluster, your holiday wreath does not have to be round. Purchase an MDF letter, holly berries and burlap garland or ribbon from your local craft store. Use your hot glue gun to attach the holly berries to the MDF letter, carefully filling in all of the spaces. Tie your ribbon or burlap around the top of your monogram, and hook it onto your door using a wreath hanger. Some letters may be complicated, so consider using hot glue or a staple gun to attach the ribbon to the back of the letter.

Wood Flower Wreath
You’re probably wondering how wood would work in a wreath. For this wreath, use tapioca wood flowers, which will help create a beautiful wreath this season and will last you for years. Attach tapioca wood flowers of varying sizes to a wreath form, placing the flowers as close as possible to each other. Stagger the size of flowers to create a more visually appealing wreath. Tie a bow in the ribbon and glue the center of the ribbon to the back of the wreath. Hang the bow on a wreath hanger on your door.

Photo Credit: iStockphoto/Riorita

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