How to Decorate Your Apartment for the Holidays

by M.E. Gray
Apartment Christmas Decorations
Shutterstock / Halfpoint

Decorating an apartment for the holidays differs from trimming a home you own and have free reign over. In a rental, you can't haphazardly nail stuff to the wall. You're probably dealing with a smaller space or odd physical obstacles (like no mantel, or too many mantels!). And your landlord might even have restrictions on real trees or lighting candles. All these hurdles just means that the earned end result is far more satisfying. Personally, I think apartment Christmas decorations are the coziest of all, because you can really play into the quirkiness of a smaller space and the coziness of the season. So grab a hot drink, take notes, and get ready to transform your rental into a holiday wonderland.         

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Decorate with "Merry Christmas Ya Filthy Animal" Bunting

by Holly Wade
Decorate with "Merry Christmas Ya Filthy Animal" Bunting
Photo: Holly Wade

Home Alone will forever be one of my favorite Christmas movies because it was an important piece of my childhood! Of course, we can't forget the iconic line from the fictional movie Kevin watches in the sequel when the character says "Merry Christmas ya filthy animal" after shooting someone. If you're looking for a quirky addition to your Christmas decor this year that will fulfill your 90s nostalgia, this colorful "Merry Christmas Ya Filthy Animal" bunting printable is for you! Cut out each flag and arrange them on string to decorate your walls, a bar cart, a door or a food table for a holiday party!

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How To Decorate A Christmas Tree With Ribbon

by Faith Provencher
How To Decorate A Christmas Tree With Ribbon | Curbly #christmas #holiday #ribbon #nontraditional #unique
Photo: Faith Towers Provencher

I love a unique Christmas tree. Don't get me wrong, a classic evergreen tree with white lights and red ornaments is great too... but there's something so exciting about a non-traditional tree with interesting colors and unusual decorations. So today I'm going to teach you how to decorate a Christmas tree with ribbon! Read on to check out my tips and tricks for creating a stunning, colorful ribbon tree.     

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$5 DIY! Personalize Stockings with a Simple Embroidery Stitch

by Holly Wade
$5 DIY! Personalize Stockings with a Simple Embroidery Stitch
Photo: Holly Wade

If there's one thing that I think needs to be personalized for everyone in the family, it's Christmas stockings! Come Christmas morning and everyone is swapping stockings, it's the perfect way to organize whose stocking belongs to whom (and to make sure that Santa doesn't get confused, of course). With this simple embroidery stitch, it's easy to personalize stockings for only $5! Whether you're sewing your own Christmas stockings or buying your favorite color at Target, the personalized embroidery makes them elegant but cute for everyone in your house!

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The Final Countdown: Make a Hanging Ornament Advent Calendar

by Holly Wade
DIY Advent calendar
Photo by Holly Wade

Are you ready to start the countdown?! Come December 1st, it's time to break out the advent calendars and find a little surprise every day as you count town toward Christmas. Advent calendars were a staple of my childhood, so I still try to make a DIY advent calendar every year to make the countdown more fun! This time, I used plastic fill-able ornaments to make a hanging ornament advent calendar that's easy to open and reveal a candy or small trinket inside (my parents often used to use give my pennies). With a variety of sizes and colors, you can use materials that fit your style and hang it anywhere in your home for a Christmas decoration that's functional and FUN!    

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Make This: DIY Palo Santo Holder

by M.E. Gray

Palo santo holder

As winter approaches, so does more required time indoors. All that time inside makes my home feel stuffy, cramped, and stale. In essence, my house feels like it's full of bad energy. I recently discovered palo santo, and I'm really enjoying the way it seems to cleanse the spaces around me, and even purify my own energies. Keep reading to find out more about this holy wood, and how to make a minimal palo santo holder.          

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Thanksgiving Crackers: Conversation Starters that Really Snap!

by M.E. Gray

Thanksgiving cracking bon-bons

When it comes to the holidays, there are lots of things that I look forward to. The seasonal desserts, the quirky traditions, and the festive decor, just to name a few. There is one thing that I dread, however, when family and friends gather: small talk. Maybe it's because I'm an introvert, or maybe it's because chatting about the weather makes me want to barf and yawn at the same time, but the idea of casual chatting-while-eating gives me anxiety. Now, the whole notion of conversation starters might make you want to groan, but what if those conversation starters were paired with a bit of mystique and excitement? Enter these Thanksgiving crackers.         

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DIY No-Sew Felt Wine Glass Coasters

by Faith Provencher
DIY No-Sew Felt Wine Glass Coasters
Photo: Faith Towers Provencher

Drinking wine and crafting are two of my favorite pastimes, and today I'm combining them into one fun, super simple DIY project. I'm sharing an easy no-sew felt wine coaster project that functions as both a coaster and a wine marker so you don't drink someone else's wine by mistake. Win win! Keep reading to check out the full tutorial... it's surprisingly easy!   

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Where to Find Scandinavian Style Staples Even If You're Not in the Nordic Countries

by Rachel Jacks

Scandinavian Style Staples

Perusing online tours of beautiful Scandinavian homes can be an addictive, and envy-inducing, pastime. Though you may not be able to import their high ceilings, period features, or masonry heaters (those cylindrical white corner fireplaces that I endlessly covet), you can certainly create your own replica of the Scandinavian look with the right furnishings. Figuring out where to find certain pieces can be tricky, so I'll round up some popular Scandinavian-style pieces, and tell you where you can buy them in the US.     

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DIY Some Self-Care: How to Make a Soothing Chai Spice Tub Tea

by Marlene Sauer
How to Make Chai Spice Tub Tea
Images by Marlene Sauer

It's the most wonderful time of the year.

No, I don't mean the Big C. My absolute favorite time of year is -- fall!

Every year when autumn hits here in New England, my senses come to life. Crisp, clear air; leaves to crunch through; snuggly scarves; cozy lit windows on dark, chill nights; there are so many little daily luxuries to savor.

And this year I'm adding another one, which will also help in my goal of better self-care: DIY chai spice tub tea!

Keep reading to see how easy it is to make your own chai spice tub tea!          

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How to Upcycle an Old Sweater into a Cozy Knit Pillow

by Rachel Jacks
Upcycled sweater pillow
Photo: Rachel Jacks

Now that the weather is getting cooler in most places, you may be pulling your sweaters from last year out of the back of your closet. And maybe there are a few that you decide won't be making it into your wardrobe rotation. Before you get rid of an unwanted sweater, consider whether it could have a new life as a sweater pillow. Here's how to add a bit of knit texture to your decor by sewing your own sweater pillow.    

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Renter-Friendly DIY!: Make a Hanging Herb Garden

by Holly Wade
DIY hanging herb garden
Photo by Holly Wade

Renting can be a real buzzkill sometimes, but we find ways to deal with the non-permanence of it all. In my case, I got stuck with one of the only units in my apartment complex that doesn't have a window over the kitchen sink, leaving me without a windowsill to display the indoor herb garden I've wanted for years and cats who would attack my garden anywhere else. Since above the sink are kitchen cabinets that I cannot drill through (for fear of losing my deposit), I found that a tension rod was the perfect solution to my problems! By planting my DIY indoor herb garden in a hanging flower box, I could hang the garden from a tension rod resting between two cabinets for a drill-free DIY!          

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Fall Style Guide: The Cutest and Coziest Fingerless Gloves

by Amber Dickson
Fingerless Gloves
Source: Martha Stewart

When the air starts to crisp up, wearing layers is key to being comfortable.  Fingerless gloves can be a fun and practical addition to your fall wardrobe.  They add warmth, style, and keep your fingers free for devices and other dexterous tasks.  Read on for a roundup of DIY, buy, and up-cycled options.  You will want to get this kind of cozy into your life.       

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