When your guests arrive this Thanksgiving, greet them with a banner of Thanks.

It is easy to make this banner and it will enhance any fireplace mantel. You can be creative and use different types of material to get the same festive look. If you don’t own a sewing machine, don’t fret. You can easily get the same look by using scrapbooking paper.

MATERIALS NEEDED

• 4 colors of felt or scrapbooking paper
• Jute twine
• Assorted Buttons
• Glue Gun

Easy Directions to Follow…

Cut one color of felt into ten 6″x9″ rectangles.
Cut out letters spelling “GIVE THANKS.”
Trace out leaves on different colors of felt.
Cut the shapes out and glue or applique them onto each rectangle.
Once this is complete, you can glue or appliqué a letter on the top of the leaf.
Cut a piece of jute twine the length of the mantel, add a couple extra feet.
On the top back edge of each rectangle, hot glue the twine.

Now you can embellish each letter with buttons.

Attach the ends of the banner to the mantel — now it’s time to relax by the fireside and enjoy your creation. This holiday take time to enjoy the season with family and friends and reflect on the many things that you are thankful for.

Sherry loves to be creative….from decorating her home to making custom aprons. Visit her blog at creationsfrom myheart.blogspot.com to view some of her latest creations.

Here’s my little secret that helps keep me sane during December when there’s so much to keep track of and a party around every corner. Plan for the unexpected with a Holiday Box.

Save yourself extra trips to the store and having to purchase more expensive last minute items by being prepared ahead of time. Put all of these times in 1 box so you’ll have them at a moments notice. The plus side is that if you don’t use them this year, you’ll have them for next year and you’ll know where they are. {{wink}}

December Birthdays: I have 4 family members who have birthdays in December, so planning ahead really pays off. This also goes for your kids friend parties. Stock up on a couple gifts and have them handy in case of an invite.

School Parties: It seems like the kids have a couple book exchanges for school or pre-school each year. Stock up on a couple books so you have them handy.

Ornament Exchanges: Buy these early, before mid November, so you’ll have the least expensive but most fabulous ornament to exchange. Also buy the wrapping for it the same time you buy the ornament. This way it will fit and your packaging will be just as fabulous as the ornament. It will also save you a ton of time the night of the party.

Teacher gifts: Plan them, make them, or buy them now.

White elephant gifts: Do you attend a party every year that has a white elephant gift exchange? Take some time to think it through and buy one that’s extra fun. Also, keep this in mind while you’re doing your shopping. If you find something that will work, get it then. Don’t wait.

Emergency Neighbor gifts: Have you been in a position where a neighbor or friend comes over to give you something and you don’t have anything in return? Oops. I have and it’s uncomfortable. Be sure to add this to your list and have a couple extra things in your Holiday Box already wrapped that you can pull out at a moment’s notice.

Forgotten Thank You’s: Don’t forget to do something for your bus driver, crossing guard, and other people who make life a little easier for you and your kiddos. Be sure to add them to your list in your planner so you won’t forget next year either.

Write it Down: As you make your purchases be sure to write down in a log or put them in your Christmas Planner. This way when last minute events happen, you’ll know at a moments notice what gifts to grab.

A little extra planning ahead before Thanksgiving will save you time, energy, gas, and cash! So find a fabulous box and start stocking up.

Laurie Turk is the creator of Executive Homemaker and is a complete Tip Junkie. She tries to embellish her life with fun and creative ideas while managing a household of all boys.

A kitchen light fixture doesn’t have to be ordinary. Be creative! There are some quick and easy things you can do to your existing light fixture, to give it that one of a kind look.

Here’s some tips to get started….

• Add decorative trim to the light shades. Use your glue gun, it’s quick and easy.
• Cover the light chain with fabric. I will feature this quick and easy trick in an up coming post.
• Add a ceiling medallion.
• Enhance the light fixture with a garland of crystal berries.
• Change the color of your light fixture, by using a simple spray paint. It’s fast and inexpensive.

Ceiling medallions can be purchased at your local home improvement store. They come in various sizes and most are paintable, so it’s easy to match your trim or ceiling color. The medallions are lightweight and easy to install.

Adding crystal berries bring a touch of elegance to any lighting fixture. They can be used year around. For the holidays add some greenery and pine cones and you will have have easily added a festive touch to your light fixture.

Adding a bit of glamor to any room can be easy and doesn’t have to have you running to the store for a new lighting fixture. Just make a few changes to the one you have for a whole new look.

Sherry loves to decorate. Home definitely is where her heart is. Visit her blog at creationsfrommyheart.blogspot.com and see her many creations.

It was once said that in selling your house it was location, location, location. Things have gotten a little more complicated these days. Of course in part this is due to the economy but there are other factors that contribute to my new list.

Place:
Of course this is still very important but when you go to sell your home that factor is already established and you have to work with where you already are. As neighborhoods change this can be very frustrating as what once was a beautiful place can change over time. There is little we can do about how our neighbors care for their property although it totally affects the sale of our homes. We also have little influence over new construction around us that can take its toll as well.

Price:
Many people think they can set the asking price for their home. Actually this is not the case. The comparable sales (comps) in the neighborhood actually set your asking price. If you have a good agent you will not be asking more than what the market will bear. There is a tendency to think our homes are worth more than they are, especially since the bubble has burst!

It is not always the best idea to go with a friend or relative as your agent, as they may tend to want to go along with your wishes even when the asking price is too high. Professionalism and friendship do not mix well. If you do use someone you know well make sure there is an understanding in advance of the listing. If you do not like the price of course you do have some recourse, as you ultimately decide to sell at the lower price or remove the house from the market. But if your real estate agent is worth their salt (and many are), you don’t get to say, “I want to ask $1,000,000 for my house because I think that is what it is worth!” when the market will only bear $650,000.

If you are over-priced your house will sit on the market for a long time and you will lose the golden opportunity to sell during that incredible first few weeks when the house is fresh on the market. Once your listing becomes stale it is hard to recapture enthusiasm for it in the real estate community. The rule is the longer the house sits~the lower your selling price will be.

Presentation:
This is the place where you actually have some real control. The market is very competitive and the expectations of people are high. It is industry standard now to have your home professionally staged for sale. Did you know that homes sales are based on emotional decisions most of the time? People want to improve their lives with a better house, better, neighborhood, etc.

They are often exhausted from the work they have just completely on their own homes and want to move into a great, “work free” environment. Of course we all know intellectually that all homes require a lot of work but they do not want to think about that when they tour your home.

The words flooding their minds should be fresh, clean, beautiful, comfortable, inviting. You don’t want them thinking, paint, updating required, needs new landscaping, fences are falling, terrible carpeting, etc.

Of the three P’s this one is where you can really make a huge difference in the money you put into your pocket as you turn over the keys. Make your home shine like a diamond and you will dramatically optimize your chances for a great sale!

You can find Bonnie on her design site http://www.interiorsbydesigndefined.blogspot.com where she offers various plans for helping you solve your design questions online.

My favorite seasonal decorating ideas can flow easily
from one season to the next with little effort.

With that in mind, I found some great wreaths from Better Homes & Gardens as inspiration to share with you today! These wreaths would work well right now and right on through the holidays into winter.

Here are four quick tips for changing and updating wreaths:

• Add faux fruit (it will last longer than fresh!) for a burst of color
• Change ribbons or bows for a new festive new look
• Tuck seasonal decorations, leaves or twigs in to jazz up plain wreaths
• Make your own creative wreath out of a uniquely shaped wire or wood frame

Have fun finding ways to stretch your holiday decorating through more than one season!

Melissa Michaels is supposed to be getting ready to move. But instead, she is searching the web for pretty photos and having way more fun than she should. Come see what she is finding for holiday inspiration at her personal blog, The Inspired Room.

photos: BHG