| A "homey" cottage look can be created by | | | | of your family, travels, and life events. It |
| showcasing some of your favorite memorabilia | | | | makes a colorful and fun conversation piece. |
| in creative ways. | | | | You can paint the wooden border to match your |
| | | | décor. I have done this and have received |
| 10 Tips: | | | | many compliments on my display. |
| | | | |
| 1. Postcard Pleasure. Frame favorite | | | | 6. Grandma's Shadowbox. Use a ready-made |
| postcards in "floating glass frames" so you | | | | shadow box to frame and display Grandma's old |
| can see both sides of the card. You can | | | | hankie, crocheted doily, glasses, etc. A |
| place several postcards in an overlapping | | | | velvet background makes an elegant touch. |
| design in one large frame, or frame them | | | | |
| individually and hang several frames | | | | 7. Creative Coffee Table. Purchase a coffee |
| together. | | | | table that has a glass top with space |
| | | | underneath to display your favorite |
| 2. Shell Chic. Shells collected from your | | | | collectibles. Place small seashells, |
| travels or the local beach make wonderful | | | | postcards, spoons, or any other collectible |
| decorative memories. Put them in a large | | | | there for clear viewing. |
| clear glass "lemonade jar" with a lid, | | | | |
| display them on your fireplace mantel, or | | | | 8. Blow-Up Bliss. Enlarge an old photo to |
| arrange some along with some colored rocks or | | | | poster size and frame in an antique looking |
| plain colored Christmas ornaments to add | | | | frame for an interesting piece of art. |
| color to a room. | | | | |
| | | | 9. Wicker Wonder. Purchase wicker baskets |
| 3. Card Cozy. Get all those greeting cards | | | | lined with pretty print fabric and store old |
| that friends and family have given you over | | | | love letters and greeting cards in them. |
| the years out of the attic. Put them in a | | | | |
| variety of frames and hang them together in a | | | | 10. Photo Box Finesse. Purchase colorful |
| hallway or stairway for a lovely " art | | | | photo boxes found at craft stores in prints |
| gallery" effect. | | | | that match your décor and use them to |
| | | | store old photos, letters, and greeting |
| 4. Scrumptious Scrapbooks. Make a colorful | | | | cards. They stack well for storage and the |
| scrapbook for each child in your family. | | | | variety of colors and patterns will add charm |
| Include school certificates, photos, and | | | | to your room's décor. |
| other life mementos. Use beautiful albums | | | | |
| that will be a decorative touch on a coffee | | | | Look around your home for some clever ways to |
| table. | | | | display your family's memorabilia and give |
| | | | your cottage some personal creative flair on |
| 5. Bulletin Board Beauty. Purchase a huge | | | | a dollarwise budget.c2006 Kathryn Bechen. |
| bulletin board for a hallway and post photos | | | | All rights reserved worldwide. |