BY CHRIS LEE
PRESENTED BY: 
Celebrate Containers
Photo via henhouse.ca
Don’t stop with traditional spruce tops for seasonal outdoor containers. Try long-needled white pine, juniper, and riff from there. Shop your yard for dried bounty: hydrangeas, pinecones, and seedpods. Add bursts of color or sparkle with red dogwood twigs, branches of berries, or lights from your local garden center. More DIY tips at startribune.com.
Magnolias
Photo via marthastewart.com
Wreaths of fresh magnolia leaves lend southern flair to Midwestern homes. Just as lovely fresh or dried, shiny green and russet magnolia leaves create a two-tone organic base for ribbons, ornaments, or other greenery. Fresh, 20-inch magnolia wreaths are available at Weber’s Westdale 15310 Minnetonka Blvd., Minnetonka, 952-935-2134, weberswestdale.com.
Feliz Navidad
Photo courtesy of Zinnia Folk Arts
Add some Latin flavor to your holiday table and tree with handmade decorations from Mexico. Brightly painted tin ornaments ($4 – $16), bird candleholders ($36), and woven palma garland ($12), all available at Zinnia Folk Arts, 826 W. 50th St., Minneapolis, 612-824-4342, zinniafolkarts.com.
Glow for Globes
Photo by Todd Buchanan
Light up winter nights with ice globe lanterns that cast a magical glow outside your door or on a festive tabletop. Local entrepreneur Jennifer Hedberg took the guesswork out of ice creations with kits that include heavyweight balloons, a plastic base, and directions for best results. Wintercraft Globe Ice Lantern kits are available at several local retailers, including Bachman’s, The Bibelot Shops, and Patina. wintercraft.com
Boot Stuffers
Photo via Lowe’s Home Improvement
Lowes’ bloggers’ holiday decorating day yielded several fun décor idea. Our favorite is from Gabrielle Blair of Design Mom. Inspired by a European tradition, she filled boots with small, wrapped packages. Makes a whimsical vignette or a fun alternative to traditional hung stockings. See more at designmom.com.
