• Nifty & Thrifty

Nifty & Thrifty

Make a festive banner from stiff or lined fabric, felt or paper scraps. Begin by cutting triangle shapes in the desired size (or maybe leaf or pumpkin shapes). Sew a straight line 1/4 to 1/2 inch from the edges and then fray the fabric edges or turn the edges under and sew for a more finished look. Add felt, fabric, paper or painted letters to the shapes to spell out a fall word like "Harvest," "Blessings" or even "Welcome." You can put the letters on both sides of the shapes (in reverse order) for a double-sided banner. Sew or adhere the shapes, in order, to a ribbon or cord, leaving a small amount of space between each shape so the banner remains flexible and at least 12 inches on each end to use to hang the banner inside or outside.

Another idea is to paint recycled food boxes, cartons or cans to create fun luminaries. Use a craft knife or craft scissors to cut a design in paper and cardboard. For cans, fill them with water and freeze. Punch holes in the frozen cans with a hammer and nail. The ice will keep the can from being crushed as you punch the design. When finished, allow the ice to melt, and after you've disposed of the water, dry the luminary (beware of sharp edges!). Weigh your luminaries with sand, rocks or marbles. Insert a battery-operated tea light in each luminary and place them beside your doorway or along sidewalks and driveways.

For a ghostly decoration, insert an activated glow stick into a white balloon. Blow up the balloon and tie the end. With the knot at the top, gently add eyes and a mouth with a black permanent marker. Drape cheesecloth over the top and tie a string around the balloon's knot for a glowing ghost you can hang from a tree or porch.