Merry Christmas! Wishing you so much joy!

Holiday Keepsake

Make a stunning Christmas wreath from old ornaments.
This front-door beauty is sure to become a treasured holiday keepsake.

A handful of eye-catching ornaments are simply set in a background of inexpensive tree balls, all attached to a foam base. Easy but elegant, this perennial performer will never wilt or drop needles on the carpet.

You need
• Cylindrical Styrofoam wreath base, 14-in in diameter, 2-in thick
• Approx seventy-five 2-in diameter ball ornaments
• Approx thirty 1-in diameter ball ornaments
• Approx 20 vintage ornaments (such as 2- to 2-1/2-in diameter glittery, mirrored or painted balls, or odd-shaped ornaments and decorations such as angels, birds or beasts)
• Loose glass beads recycled from tree garlands or costume jewelry (optional)
• 1.00 m wire-edged satin ribbon, 2-in wide
• Glue gun

To make:
1. Fold ribbon in half so ends are even, forming loop. From back of base, thread loop through wreath, then slide ends through loop and tighten at top; secure loop to base with dabs of glue. Tie ends in bow to make hanging loop.

2. Working counterclockwise from top and leaving spaces to accommodate vintage ornaments, glue 2-in balls all over sides then front of base (glue balls to each other, as well as to base, to secure); arrange vintage ornaments as desired, then glue on. Glue 1-in balls (and, if desired, beads) into spaces in between.

3. Trim ribbon ends, then shape bow loops and ends as desired.

Designer's tips:
• Before gluing ornaments around sides, place small pieces cut from corrugated cardboard or clean Styrofoam meat trays under ornaments, to position balls slightly forward of base back and prevent breakage when the wreath is hung against a hard surface.

Shop Target for GREAT picture frames!

All pictures by Linabell Photography

Merry X-mas

Cookie Swap

Giving Thanks

More ideas for hanging pictures

Hanging multiple framed pictures so that they look orderly can be a challenge. The secret is to divide and conquer: Mark a horizontal mid line on the wall, and hang all pictures above or below it.

The line can be made with a strip of painters' tape and then removed once the pictures are in place. To unify the group, choose a single color for all frames and, if displaying photographs, stick with either all black-and-white or all color shots.

Picture Hanging How-To

Unfurl a length of painters' tape (ours was 1 1/2 inches wide) horizontally across a wall, making sure tape is level.

Determine nail placement for frames above the mid line by measuring from the bottom of a frame to its bracket. (If the frame hangs on wire, pull the wire taut, and measure accordingly.)

For frames below the mid line, measure from the top of the frame to the bracket. Use additional strips of tape, positioned vertically, to create even spaces between pictures arranged next to each other.

When all frames are in place, remove tape from wall.

Two Parallel Lines

Similar to the hallway arrangement above, this approach creates a unified look by arranging artwork in straight lines. Arrange the frames so that the tops of the frames that make up the bottom row are at the same height, and the bottom of the frames that make up the top row are also at the same height, about two inches above the bottom row.

Here's a way to plan a display of framed pictures without making a single needless nail hole. First, trace around frames on craft paper to make a template for each piece of art; cut out. Pull hanging wire on frame taut; measure distance from top of wire's arc to top of frame. Make a corresponding mark on template. Lay picture hook on template so bottom of hook is on mark; make another mark where nail hole will go. Use drafting tape to hang templates. When you're satisfied with placement, hammer nails through picture hooks and into wall over the marks on the craft paper. Rip off the paper, leaving nails and hooks in place, and hang your frames.