Evening star., 1951-12-10
Deck the Halls
With Holly
And Thrift
By Betty Miles

By Betty Miles
II it's Christmas decorations
you're looking for. consult your
kitchen and your children.
This is the advice of Mr.. Harry
w. Dengler, extension forester Of
Maryland. who reports that
you'll be amazed at the things
you can find around the house
that will make economical. at
tractive decorations"
Come Christmas. Mr.. Dengler
finds himself up to his ears inI
holly-his hobby-dust pans, tin
cans. and wagons and drums, as
he explains to the homemaker
clubs sponsored by the University
Of Maryland Extension Service
how easy, and how effective, these
decorations can be.
Let the children help, too,"|
Mr.. Dengler, the father of five,
advises. But remember that old
clothes are must. And don't
strive for perfection. Have fun
making them, suit yourSelf-and
you'll suit your neighbors to boot
Mr.. Dengler borrowed his oldest
boys wheelbarrow to make the
decoration at the bottom Of the
layout above. Place the wheel
barrow on sprigs Of evergreen,
then stand candle in the CEN
ter. and pile it up with pine cones.
Add Christmas balls and artificial
berries for color.
Wary the contents during the
holidays" Mr.. Dengler suggests.
Fill it entirely with Christmas
balls or popcorn wrapped in diff
ferent colored cellophane, or use
Christmas candy only.
To top the whole thing of. you
might add the letters Noel"
You'll find it shows of to excel
lent advantage on the mantel.
It's amazing what Cinderalla
q plain Jane dust pan can become.
Punch small holes at the top, and
run wire through for hanging
purposes. Wad the lip with paper.
the better to hold the odds and
ends of branches that are stuck
down into the lip. behind the
paper. You may find it necessary
to run wire across the branches
to hold them firm. Cover the
pan with aluminium foil. add q
big bow, and hang it in your
kitchen. You'll find 1t pictured at
the bottom left in the layout.
Old vinegar jugs like that pic
tured at top, left. take on glamour
with a coat Of silver, o ribbon tied
around the throat. and Noel"
added. Use it as vase for what
ever holiday greenery or flowers
strike your fancy.
Rhodendron leaves or ever
green's. interspersed with bare ,
branches. frosted, will do very well
indeed. For a gay touch, hang
gum or sycamore balls on the
branches.
For frosting. incidentally, Mr..
Dengler reported that you will
find the end of last years white
shoe polish a perfect product. Or
q thick paste Of parts flour and
l part salt will get good results,
too.
To make that handsome ''poin-
setta," paint magnolia leaves red, /,
staple them to cardboard, punch l
two holes and attach a wired yell
low pine cone to the center. Any 8
color combination pleasing to 8
you. Of course. can be sustituted. q
Milk weed pods can be used for i
the same purpose. 4,
To wire the cones. wrap fairly
stiff wire behind the scales at =,
one end, leaving two parallel wires, {
which can be easily attached to
the leaves or tied to trees.
Speaking Of trees, here is an
interesting one, shown at top,
right: Bend an old clothes hanger
into the shape Of a tree. Cut a
piece Of chicken wire a little
larger than the frame, and bend {
the ends Of the wire around the
frame. Then weave the ends Of 6
the twigs into the chicken wire.
Include a little holly If you wish,
add balls and bells, and cover
the hook of the hanger, which
has been pressed into a circle,
with a "tree-stand." Make this
by cutting a piece of cardboard
fower-pot shape, and covering
1t with aluminium foil. Add a
bow. top with a star. and hang
1t proudly on your door.
For q handsome wreath, buy
o plastic foam wreath frame,
sharpen ends Of branches and
holly. and stick them into the
ring.
Wire little balls to match
sticks, covered with aluminium,
and with sharpened ends, and
stick these into the circle. too.
Attach clusters of berries in the
same way. /.
Use your imagination, Mr..
Dengler counsels. If 1t pleases
you. stick cluster Of pine cones
on the bottom, or a big red bow
ut the top.
The wreath pictured at the
right. bottom, should take you 10
minutes to make, according to
Mr.. Dengler. It will serve as q
lovely centerpiece, too.
Mr.. Dengler has more in his
bag OF tricks. and though we