| Have you given any thought to exactly how you are | | | | 4. use a silk red, gold, or green sheet (cut to size) |
| going to express your festive side this holiday | | | | etc. |
| season? November is the official start for many of | | | | The possibilities are endless. Just don't limit yourself |
| us for decking the halls with holiday cheer. Why not | | | | to traditional table covering. |
| do something unique and different this year. | | | | 2) Based on the size of my table, shelf, curio, etc., |
| Create a Christmas Wonderland with holiday snow | | | | approximately how many accessories will it take to fill |
| globes. That's right, snow globes. I will show you how | | | | the space?please note:a) This is good to know prior |
| to create a focal point in your home that just may | | | | to shopping because if your budget permits, you |
| become a tradition with your family and friends alike. | | | | may want to display a collection of water globes. |
| With Thanksgiving and Christmas just weeks away, | | | | 3) Do I have enough space for tall items or wide |
| decorating our homes and offices with festive | | | | items only? Can I use a combination of the two? |
| displays of holiday glee takes center stage for many | | | | Try to ask and answer as many question as possible |
| of us. | | | | about your display space as you can think of. The |
| It's that time of the year when the sale of | | | | purpose of this is to eliminate the guest work prior |
| poinsettias, garland, snowmen, Santa's and reindeers | | | | to making your first purchase. The more you |
| are selling at record speed and the smell of Christmas | | | | pre-think about what you can and can not do, the |
| cookies and decorated pastry fills the air and pleases | | | | easier it will be for you to make the right snow globe |
| our nostrils. | | | | or water globe selection. |
| In our quest for a memorable holiday season we get | | | | Choosing the right snowglobe or water globe |
| in touch with family and friends to swap recipes and | | | | There are a flood of online stores where you can |
| trade cooking secrets passed down to us from one | | | | purchase snowglobes. My only concern here is that |
| generation to the next. | | | | you purchase a high quality snowglobe to be the star |
| Well this year, WOW them with a beautiful focal | | | | of your display. Prices can range from as little as |
| point using snowglobes or water globes as your | | | | $24.95 to $99 and up. For a wonderful selection of |
| jumping off point. The difference between a | | | | snow globes visit |
| snowglobe and a water globe is that typically water | | | | Avoid buying a mini globe as your star feature. The |
| globes don't have the "snow" in them. But, beware | | | | size is to small to draw the eye in. You can use mini |
| that many online stores will list a snowglobe as a | | | | globes as accent pieces. |
| water globe and vice versa. | | | | Before making your selection, ask yourself the |
| For our purposes, it really doesn't matter. We are | | | | following questions: |
| creating a focal point that's beautiful to look at not | | | | 1) What is it about this water globe that gives it star |
| play with. | | | | quality? |
| Before shopping for that perfect globe, you must | | | | 2) Are there enough intricate details that others |
| first decide where in your space you want to create | | | | would be drawn to it? |
| a focal point. | | | | 3) How will this fit into the space I have set aside as |
| Deciding on a Focal Point area | | | | my focal point area? Consider the height, and width |
| This is not as difficult of a task as you may think. | | | | of the item. |
| Just stand in the doorway of the room you want to | | | | 4) How difficult will it be to find accent pieces to help |
| place your display, consider the placement of | | | | highlight this globe? |
| furniture and non-movable items in the room and | | | | All right, you're made your purchase of the perfect |
| choose a location you want to draw attention to. | | | | snow globe and there's no changing your mind. Good! |
| Keep in mind that there are all kinds of ways to | | | | Now let's create that focal point. |
| display your snowglobes.a)Create a scene on top of | | | | Creating A Focal Point |
| your fireplace mantleb)Clear off a coffee table or | | | | You've already done the hard part. Now here is |
| accent table and use itc)Add a decorative wall shelf | | | | where the fun begins. |
| to a wall and create your display upon it | | | | 1. Cover your table or shelf with your festive cloth. |
| You get the idea. Because it's going to be a focal | | | | Please Note: |
| point, your eye should be naturally drawn to the area | | | | If you are utilizing your fireplace mantle, PLEASE USE |
| you choose to place your display. Don't choose an | | | | EXTREME CAUTION as all covering are highly |
| area that is hidden. For example, a spot behind the | | | | flammable and can cause fire! |
| door or in an out of sight location would not be the | | | | 2. Place your snowglobe in the desired position. Play |
| ideal place for your display. Sounds funny, but it's | | | | around with different spots. Turn it a little to the left, |
| been know to happen. | | | | no the right, no in the center. You get the point. Find |
| O.K., now that you have chosen the location of your | | | | the right spot that will best display your globe. |
| focal point, it's time to shop for that perfect | | | | 3. Now accessorize with other items around the |
| snowglobe to take center stage and be the "star" of | | | | house that highlights and complements your new |
| the show. To keep your cost down, we'll start out | | | | snow globe purchase. |
| by purchasing just one globe and accessorize with | | | | Below are some suggestions:a) Search around your |
| other figurines or complementary items found around | | | | home for existing treasures to add to your display.b) |
| your home. | | | | Cover a lamp shade with translucent holiday paper |
| Consider the table, shelf, curio cabinet or storage unit | | | | wrap (to prevent a fire hazard, cover the outside |
| Now that you've chosen the location, it's time to | | | | only), add it to your table and light up your scene.c) |
| take into consideration the physical object you will be | | | | Go to an inexpensive novelty store and purchase |
| placing your water globe display on. Ask yourself a | | | | little nick-knacks to dress up your displayd) Use a |
| few key questions such as: | | | | Christmas tree skirt that has Santa and his little |
| 1)Do I need to place a decorative tablecloth over the | | | | helpers or any holiday scene will do. Drape it on the |
| table in order to create a more festive | | | | shelf so that it hangs over the front. Be sure the |
| backdrop?please note:a) Oftentimes the right | | | | holiday scene can be seen from across the room.e) |
| tablecloth or covering can make the difference | | | | Add rope lighting to your display. This is a wonderful |
| between having a nice display and having that WOW | | | | way to drawn the eye in.f) Use cotton balls to |
| factor.b)I always recommend some form of festive | | | | simulate softness, clouds, or snow.g)If you run short |
| covering on your display table or shelf.c) Think | | | | of creative ideas, flip through home decorating |
| outside the box when it comes to types of | | | | magazines the next time you're waiting in the |
| coverings: | | | | grocery line and watch your imagination flow. |
| Example: | | | | Don't be intimidated by this process. As you add |
| 1. use a yard of decorative fabric and cut to size | | | | items to your display, the creative juices will begin to |
| 2. use a festive tablecloth (cut to size) | | | | flow and before long you will have out-done yourself. |
| 3. use an old holiday blouse, sweater or scarf (cut to | | | | Good luck creating a dynamic Christmas Wonderland |
| size) | | | | and remember.....Have fun. |