Pretty-in-Pink Christmas Decorations

If the color pink is already a favorite at your house, it's easy to add holiday touches to match. The pink painted trim on this front porch makes the perfect backdrop for pink packages, a pink door wreath, and pink glass jar luminaries. Additions of white paper snowflakes and garland keep the frilly color scheme from going overboard.

Give simple paper lanterns holiday flair by embellishing them with tinsel garland. We chose pink lanterns, of course, to dangle in the corner of this pink porch.

A row of votive candles protected in simple pink-hue glass jars and hurricanes adds a sparkling touch. Add them to the center of a table, across a mantel, or lined up on a porch rail.

When decorating for the holidays, choose decorations that fit into your existing decor. The vintage flavor of this room already features pink and white, so pink holiday touches -- ribbon woven into a wreath and patchwork stockings -- are a natural choice.

Garlands of pink tinsel and beads drape the mantel in delicate holiday splendor. Add accents of bottle-brush Christmas trees, plus anything else you can find -- as long as it's pink.

Romantic roses have a complement in the rosy pink glassware and sparkly tinsel used to decorate this dining room for a feminine, grown-up tea party.

For holiday dinners, bring out your best. Or, set your table with mismatched fine china and silver, gold-rimmed glasses, and rosy Depression-glass stemware. Collect it year-round at tag sales and flea markets, where you're apt to find some bargains.

Make sturdy paper stars to serve as package toppers, festive trimmings for cabinet doors, or place cards for a holiday dinner.

Paper stars will make your present the star of the gift exchange. To turn paper-covered stars into gift toppers takes only two simple steps:

-- Punch holes in the points at the bottom.

-- Thread tinsel through the holes and tie it around the package, leaving the star standing on top.

A single decorative letter becomes a delightful holiday place card or gift tag. Here's how:

-- Use spray adhesive to adhere wrapping paper to one side of stiff watercolor paper, and fold the paper in half.

-- Trace and cut out letters so the top edge of each letter aligns with the fold.

-- Brush glue on the edges and dust with glitter.

-- Stand upright on your party table, or attach to a package with double-sided tape.

Letters covered in holiday paper make excellent gift tags, place cards, or happy holiday banners. Here's how:

-- Use spray adhesive to adhere wrapping paper to one side of stiff watercolor paper, and fold the paper in half.

-- Trace and cut out letters so the top edge of each letter aligns with the fold.

-- Brush glue on the edges, and dust with glitter.

-- Fold the letter, or letters, onto a length of beaded garland or gauzy ribbon, and secure the bottom edges with dots of glue.

Combine paper snowflakes with stars to make superstars. Here's how:

-- Cut small snowflakes from folded paper, using the same technique you learned in grade school.

-- Add shimmer with spray glitter and attach a tinsel ornament to the center.

-- Hot-glue the snowflakes to purchased silver stars.

-- Use one as a tree topper or group them as ornaments to hang on the tree or from a chandelier.

Tulle fabric, familiar on prom gowns, can dress up your gifts as well! Cut a large circle of tulle, gather up the edges, and wrap it around any size box. Tie the tulle in place with ribbon or tinsel trimmed with small ornaments.

Make a wreath adorned with dainty seashells and hang it from a length of sheer ribbon. Vintage china, floral paintings, Christmas ornaments, and family photos can be hung the same way to add charm to any room.

This dessert bar includes sweets displayed in apothecary jars, rose-pattern teacups, pink-rimmed dessert plates, lacy napkins, and ribbon-wrapped spoons.

Wired ribbon is easy to tie into beautiful bows, even for those who aren't handy. Place a tiny gift, adorned with such a bow, at each place for a surprise that will leave guests tickled pink.

Thread thin wire down the center of strips of pale-pink netting to make a vintage-look wreath. This one is trimmed with silvery balls for a 1950s look.

Sparkling ornaments dangle from a crystal chandelier like exotic little gems. Hang them from the branches of any light fixture with wire hooks, or make hanging loops from narrow ribbon.