A FREE bi-monthly home decorating ezine!
published by KatieDid Design
December 2000
brought to you by:
KatieDid Design
www.katiediddesign.com
mailto:contact@katiediddesign.com
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November 27th, 2000 - December issue
Hello Dear Readers!
I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I did. We had almost all my husband's family together, and it was lots of fun. (I've known the family since I was a kid, so we don't have any in-law problems or anything.) Christmas is next... less than a month away now! It's going to be lots of fun this year with a 2-year-old and an almost-4-year-old. They're both pointing out 'pretty lights' on homes at night when we go anywhere, asking when we'll get our Christmas tree, and getting excited. Kayla is old enough to realize that she will get presents under the tree, so she's started informing us that she wants baby dolls and baby doll diaper bags and bottles "inside her presents." :-) I hope that you all are looking forward to Christmas, too!
Well, this is my 12th issue! Over one year in business already! It's kind of hard to believe. Thank you all for your support, encouragement, and referrals. I wouldn't be in business without you all, and God.
Congratulations go to Regina of ... I don't know! My first drawing winner never responded. Regina was the second name drawn, and I just got her response today! She was the lucky winner in the free drawing among the October subscribers! The prize was a free Fabric-Covered Fan! She's decided that she'd like hers to be a Christmas fan in burgundy and green colors.
This month's prize will also be a Fabric Covered Fan. I'm going to offer this as prize again, since they are so popular! The winner will get to choose colors and style. So forward this to your friends, or send them by the site to subscribe so they get their chance to win! All those subscribed at the end of the month are automatically entered. For more information on the drawing, see my drawing page.
Fabric Covered Fan:
http://www.katiediddesign.com/fa-fan.html
Drawing Page:
http://www.katiediddesign.com/ezine.html
Also, if you want to win the drawing, please make sure that you check your e-mail soon after the first of the month! The winner has only 10 business days to reply and claim their prize.
IN THIS ISSUE:
1. THIS MONTH'S SUBSCRIBER'S SPECIAL
- Candle Rings
2. TIPS & TRICKS - guest tips
- Napkin Folding
3. FEATURE ARTICLE
- Inexpensive Christmas Decorating
4. CHALLENGE OF THE MONTH
- Relax!
1. THIS MONTH'S SUBSCRIBER'S SPECIAL
- Candle Rings
All candle rings are all sale 10% off through December 31st! This discount applies to both regular floral candle rings and Christmas candle rings. Prices for three standard sizes are listed on the site -- but since everything's custom, I can design other sizes and shapes if you'd like! Let me know what you need for your decorating!
And don't forget... there's still a few days left to take advantage of the November special on Christmas items! This is actually a double incentive to get your orders in now, because you may not be able to get what you want in December even at regular price! ... some supplies are always running out of stock by then! So figure out what you'd like right away and get your order in! In addition to the items on the website, I can also do Christmas tree skirts, Christmas Floral Baskets, and plenty more... just let me know what you're interested in!
These offers are available to anyone who is already a subscriber, or who subscribes when they place their order. Just tell me what you'd like and mention that you're a subscriber! If you have something in mind right now, drop me a line and ask!
mailto:katie@katiediddesign.com
2. TIPS & TRICKS -
- Napkin Folding
This month's Tips & Tricks is on the web, so you'll have to follow my link. About.com has got a wonderful tutorial on napkin folding complete with photos! They've got instructions on how to do the traditional fold, goblet fan fold, stand up fan fold, pocket fold, tulip fold, and more... 12 in all!
Here's the link:
Napkin Folding
Have Fun!
Do you have a tip or trick that you'd like to share with us? Write! We'd love to hear!
E-mail:
mailto:contact@katiediddesign.com?subject=share_tip
3. FEATURE ARTICLE
- 10 Ways to Decorate Inexpensively for the Holidays
We all love to have our home beautifully decorated for the holidays. But sometimes it's staggering to total up all we could pay to get all those ready-made decorations! Besides, half the time, they're not really what we'd prefer to have!
I can solve the second problem for you by custom-designing decorations. You can see a lot examples and suggestions in the Christmas section of KatieDid Design. I'll be leaving it up year-round so you can refer to it anytime. (It may not be possible to fill some Christmas orders until the seasonal supplies are available again, however.)
For the problem of high costs, here is what I have to offer you right now. Most of this can be easily done, so it's not too late for this year!
1. Replace the candles in your candlesticks with Christmas colored candles. You can now get candles in almost any color of the rainbow PLUS many other patterns and finishes.
2. Get several spools of wired Christmas ribbon in your personal Christmas colors. Then have fun decorating with bows! Tie them around your hall coat tree, your bannisters, your candlesticks, your patio door handles. Tie them under your door knobs, on your door knocker, on the back outside spindles of your chairs. Just about anything can benefit by a tasteful bow. Be creative!
3. Pull out all the vases that you have. Then go to a fabric or craft store and buy silk poinsettias to fill them. You can get them very inexpensively in the last-minute Christmas sales, and you can re-use them every year! Plus, you don't have to worry about kids or dogs eating them!
4. Place some table scarfs in holiday colors around on your side and end tables. You can buy these many places. If you can't find any holiday patterns you like, try using solid red or green. Or better yet, make some! Yes, even if you've never even sewn a button, you can do this. Go to a fabric store and pick out a material that you like. Buy enough to make the size square or rectangle you like. 1 1/2 yards will give you a nice square to put over your little round side tables. 3/4 of a yard will give you two 22" squares that will do nicely for your wooden or glass end tables. Then buy a package of double-sided no-sew or iron-on hem tape. The clerks can help you find it. When you get home, all you have to do it cut your sides nice and even (if they aren't already), press the hem tape along all four edges, peel off the backing, turn over your hem and press it down again! You'll be surprised how easy it is to add such a nice look! (I can sew some up for you if you'd like - let me know if you're interested)
5. Cover your existing throw pillows with holiday covers. I can sew these for you if you can't find them anywhere else. (see http://www.katiediddesign.com/accessories.html ) More than money, this tip saves SPACE! Who wants to have closet space filled up with holiday pillows all year long? This way, you just zip off the covers and fold them up for neat storage!
6. Bring out some of those throw blankets you have! Get one or two in Christmas colors. Drape them artfully over chairs and sofas. This helps with the warm and cozy look and feel that we usually want at Christmas. Besides, it's nice to have them handy on cold nights!
7. Decorate with your Christmas cards! Get some low-tack tape (so you don't mess up your beautifully painted walls) and put them up where you can enjoy them! Use only one piece of tape and hang them on a diagaonal. This way your vertical and horizontal cards can be hung the same way. Try up and over your doorways, up the stair, around a hall mirror... there's all kinds of places to pick from! Just find an empty section of wall and have fun! Keep some really nice ones from year to year and put them in some of your frames. It doesn't take any extra space or cost if you do this with existing same-size pictures. For example, take that card-sized print of flowers that you enjoy in the spring. Open up the back, and slide a Christmas card between the front of the existing picture, and the back of the mats. Use two small pieces of tape on the BACK of the mat to hold it in place. Keep your flower picture in there so you don't loose it. Now you have a matted and framed Christmas card to display and enjoy for the holidays!
8. Replace your curtain and drapery tiebacks with Christmas garlands. I can make some to suit your colors and styles (see http://www.katiediddesign.com/cd-garlands.html or you can cut down some ready-made garlands.
9. Go get a few of those brass horns that are so inexpensive. Then tie some of your bows on them, and hang!
10. Play Christmas music at all times! Even if you have hardly any visual decorations, this audio 'decoration' can make a tremendous difference. This may sound like either not much, or too much, depending on whether you like a quiet house or a merry one. If you like a noisy, merry house, then you probably do this already. If you're one of those who like a quiet house (like me) then go get a nice relaxing INSTRUMENTAL Christmas CD or tape. I suggest those displays where you get to hear a sample of a bunch of different selections. These displays are usually everywhere this time of year (Target has them here), and they're not too expensive. Just keep it playing softly in the background. It will actually help your home to feel MORE quiet and peaceful during the hustle and hastle of the holidays!
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This article Copyright 1999-2003 - Kathleen Peters, KatieDid Design. Reproduced with permission.
Kathleen Peters - 'Katie' - is a custom window treatment and bedding designer, and owner of KatieDid Design, her online shop. She is also the editor-in-chief of Decor, Decorating, and Design, a free bi-monthly ezine filled with articles, tips, and guidelines to help with your home decorating.
http://www.katiediddesign.com
4. CHALLENGE OF THE MONTH
- Relax!
My challenge to you this month is RELAX! Yes, this can really be a challenge can't it? If you haven't already gotten organized for Christmas, then go back to last month's issue and go over my step-by-step checklist for getting organized! It's much easier to relax when you know where you're at. (If you don't have last month's issue, just go online to http://www.katiediddesign.com/ddd-2000-11.html. )
Otherwise, take a few minutes each morning and each night to relax and enjoy the day. Play your favorite Christmas music, and have FUN shopping and baking and getting ready! You deserve it!
Remember, if your decorating isn't fun, it isn't worth it! So enjoy it!
-Katie <><
KatieDid Design
www.katiediddesign.com
e-mail: katie@katiediddesign.com
Custom Home Decor Design and Giftware
PO Box 381235
Murdock, FL 33938-1235
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