All Through the House 1

Flower boxes at the window or on the porch are charm­ing decorated for the holidays. They may be filled with sprays of evergreens and berries. If suet is added, birds will be attracted to the boxes and be a delight to watch from inside the house.

In the hallway, an old lantern of considerable size might occupy a table. If this is lighted by electricity, berries and greens can be placed inside the lantern as well as around the outside. (Drawing 20) If a candle has to be used, then the decorations should only be placed outside on the table. Very thick candles which will burn for hours are available.

From the tops of deep doorways or windows, stars may be hung from a sky of blue paper. Or this idea may be carried out in an entrance hall, under a small roof over the front door or in the ceiling of a bay window. The paper is fastened with Scotch tape and the star-like ornaments secured to the paper with tree hooks. These stars twinkle and sparkle when the air moves and people circulate through the rooms. Other gummed stars may be pasted flat on the surface to increase the effect. (Drawing 12, top)

Stars of all kinds are appropriate to Christmas. Home­made ones may be suspended in the hallway or from the molding over the doorway. (Drawing 12) They may also be used to decorate a mantel and carry the star effect through an entire room. The stars in Drawing 12 were made by inserting cocktail toothpicks into corks. These toothpicks come in many colors.

They are stronger than ordinary ones and have two pointed ends which make them easy to insert. A cork about three quarters of an inch thick and an inch wide is the right size. After the toothpicks have been inserted all around the cork, the finished star will be about 4½ inches in diameter.

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