Moll Anderson: Budget Friendly Decorating

CBN.com Recently, Michelle Wilson joined author and home decorator, Moll Anderson to demonstrate holiday decorating tips for under $25.

Michelle Wilson: I love your book, Change Your Home, Change Your Life. What is that title all about?

Moll Anderson: It’s absolutely true, if you begin to make small changes in your home, you can begin to change your life.

Wilson: You talk about the five must-haves that can make a change in your every day life. What are the five must-haves?”

Anderson: Well, first of all, it's paint-- lighting-- music-- flowers --and fabric, it’s that easy. You can change any space just like that.

Wilson: So how does that translate into the Christmas décor you have set up for us?

Anderson: Well, believe it or not ... it does. The first one is paint, and we could have painted a basket, but we’re going to talk about color. Let’s face it, that’s how you bring color into your home, with paint, correct? Well, we’re going to bring color into the holiday. All we did was take three cylinder vases, that you can use and put flowers in all year round. Then for Christmas, guess what ... just fill it with your simple ornaments. Now, I know you can do this, just put it in here. Now, was that hard? Isn’t this beautiful?

Wilson: Now this was pretty simple. Yes, but this right here, I don’t think anybody can do this.

Anderson: All this is, is a simple grape vine wreath and some candles set on foam. That’s it, OK, center that on your table. This is just Spanish Moss. I keep Spanish Moss all the time because it hides a multitude of sins. Am I allowed to say that? I just took some of the beautiful ribbon, and all I did literally was take and tie it on these little picks,

Wilson: And these are called wood picks?

Anderson: That’s right, and you can get them at any art supply store, and I just stuck that in here.

Wilson: So the average person can do this?

Anderson: Absolutely!

Wilson: You promise?

Anderson: Absolutely, and when you light them, they’re really beautiful. Now, if you’re worried about candles around children, we’ve got something really cool. Check this out, that is a battery operated candle, isn’t that cool?

Wilson: So what do we have here?

Anderson: This wreath is no longer meant to be placed on the outside of the door. I literally took the wreath, and this was not difficult ... greens from the Christmas tree. You can go to your Christmas tree lot, and they will give you a handful for free, just to take it off their hands.

Wilson: I love the birds.

Anderson: Aren’t those great? You can get them at any hobby store. Isn’t it a nice little touch? Isn’t it fabulous? It’s beautiful, and normally that would be a couple hundred dollars, and we did it for under $25.

Wilson: What do we have here?

Anderson: This is what I call, my no stress at all, for men and women. Men love this one. All I did was get these three vases, and it’s always more interesting. You’ll find it best to do things in three’s or five’s or seven’s. So, what I’ve done is simply put in the little black rocks which come in little bags at any home improvement store. This again is a very inexpensive thing to do, about $2 for your rocks. And what I’ve done is put watering, and literally cover the rocks just enough, to get that covered. You’re not going to believe this, Gerber daisies is my favorite because they lay flat. This is going to be your job, so you’re going to cut that at about half an inch, right below, and grab that so it doesn’t drop.

Wilson: Okay, so this is how easy this is. So you drop that right down in the water, and it floats? And the other two, you think I can do this?

Anderson: You’ve got it … I’m going to lay that right into the water. Here’s the last one, this is such a cool one, and guys get so excited, because they can do this for their wife.

Wilson: And this is?

Anderson: This is a fabulous arrangement called Greens and Roses. All this is, is green Christmas Greens and are you ready for this? A dozen roses for under $12 bucks.

Wilson: Wow, that’s great! And you know me, with my ribbon ... and the pick sticks .. this is our staple.

Anderson: That’s right, this is our staple, that and Spanish Moss. But then take that special step, and give it that finishing touch, and that’s what makes it special, and you stick the bow right in there.

Wilson: And the poinsettia?

Anderson: Oh, the poinsettias are great! I called to order an arrangement one time, and again, it was in the $200 - $300 market. So I took a basket that I had, and I took two poinsettia plants that I picked up at the nursery around the corner ... not very much money. I took some Spanish moss and a couple of bows, with the pick sticks and it looks so great, doesn’t it?

Wilson: It looks great! And it would be great for gifts.

Anderson: Absolutely, tie a little card on there and have it delivered to your friends’ house, and leave it at their doorstep. Wouldn’t that be a fun little Santa Surprise?

Wilson: Now, Moll, this brings out the Christmas Spirit and the cross. Talk about that.

Anderson: Well, believe it or not, that’s a salad bowl, and you can use anything. But I had a salad bowl, so I stuck a few extra ornaments in it, and I added what we’re calling angel hair. It’s the hot new thing at all the craft stores, and it comes in every color, but I love the silver. And then I had that fabulous cross which I love. I’d suggest you use anything you love, and stick it in there.

Wilson: It’s great, and it helps bring out the Christmas spirit.

Anderson: Yeah, and you could surround it with votives, and it would be fabulous.

Wilson: That’s awesome. So Moll, those who want to recreate these decorations, how could they do this, where can they find this information?”

Anderson: They can go right to our Website, and we’re going to have a play by play of everything you’ve seen today. And, I just wanted to touch on the fact that the fabric would represent the ribbons, or it could be a beautiful throw. And what’s a holiday without music, it’s the perfect atmosphere thermostat, which is the name of our label. So you’ve got to have all of those touches.

Wilson: Well, you did a fabulous job. Everything looks wonderful, so can I just take these all home, and get me started?”

Anderson: Yes, if you take it and do it at home, you can do that.

Wilson: Okay, thank you so much.