DECATUR - Christmas is always a magical time with lots of decorations and gifts to give.

Some fun do-it-yourself ideas can bring a smile to many this holiday season - simple gifts that create lasting memories or decorations that light up your house, according to Pat Hildebrand, extension educator of consumer and family economics with the University of Illinois Extension Center in Effingham.

Hildebrand and Bev Combs, a nutrition and wellness educator, have been taking their show called the ABC's for the Holidays on the road. It's a sort of show-and-tell of gift and decorating ideas, they said.

They have traveled throughout Effingham, Marion, Shelby, Vandalia and Jasper counties sharing their decorating tips with others.

"We came up with a list for each letter in the alphabet from recipes, packaging and decorating tips," Hildebrand said. "And we had more fun with the B's - those bows, bottles, baskets, buckets and buttons."

She gave an example of not discarding old belt buckles, instead, taking a piece of colorful ribbon and weaving it through the buckle to place on a gift rather than a bow.

Bangle bracelets overlapping with ribbon running through them make a nice accessory on a gift rather than a bow.

Hildebrand said look around your house and see what you can use for decorations or wrapping paper.

"I call it the low cost-no cost decorating ideas because wrapping paper and bows in the stores can get expensive," she said.

Hildebrand found a Barbie doll scarf that a child wasn't using to put on a gift, and "it looked just as pretty as a bow," she said.

And believe it or not some colorful, decorative dish towels also make great wrapping for gifts.

Two bottle wrap is another fun idea.

You can use wine bottles, pop bottles or sparkling grape juice bottles.

Just take a 36-inch piece of table cloth or a piece of cloth that is not plastic and lay it right side down. Plain red or green table cloths work the best. Place a bottle on each side of the bottom corner of the cloth and pull the bottom corner up over the bottles. Roll the bottles forward to the opposite corner while holding the cloth in place before standing the bottles upright. Twist the ends in opposite direction and secure a knot.

Hildebrand also said a person doesn't have to fill up a basket with items to give as a gift. A crock pot filled with items or a cookie sheet that has all the ingredients for a cookie recipe can be wrapped up in paper and ribbon will make a great gift.

She added, "Try to use what you have and recycle. Watch your spending and enjoy the holiday season.

This is also a busy time for organizing expert and author, Donna Smallin Kuper, who is dishing out her best advice for the holidays.

Kuper's latest book "The One-Minute Cleaner" came out in March. She has plenty of information on living an organized, uncluttered life and being stress-free for the holidays on her web site: www.unclutter.com.

When it comes to the holidays, Smallin Kuper suggests taking down all the every day house decorations to make room for the Christmas decorations.

"Use the 3M clips with command adhesive that come in different sizes are perfect for hanging up lights and garland," she said. "And afterwards, you can pull off the strip that doesn't leave marks on the walls and reuse again next year - every clip comes with two adhesive strips."

Smallin Kuper said stringing together Christmas cards and hanging them is a great decorating idea for the home. Stapling cards to garland and tinsel and running it along the stairway banister adds even more holiday flare.

Save the cards to cut up and use as gift tags for next year.

And there is nothing more fun then waiting on guests to arrive for the holidays and leaving the Christmas tree undecorated, she said.

"Everyone can sit around and drink hot cider while decorating the tree. There was a time when people had tree trimming parties," she said.

However, Smallin Kuper's favorite holiday tip: "Try to have everything ready one day early. That way, you have time to relax before the rush of guests and holiday activities."

Sheila Smith can be reached at sheilas@herald-review.com or 421-7963.

Wrapping tips

RECYCLE THOSE BAGS: Don't throw away those plastic covers that newspapers come in because they can be turned into great gift bags. You can slip wine bottles into them, a can of nuts, candy or other snack foods and add some pretty ribbon.

FANCY PANTS: Cut the legs off old blue jeans, stitch up one side, take some ribbon to tie the other end, and it makes a great gift bag.

BOTTLES A BREEZE: Wrapping bottles in colorful tissue paper adds a little pizzazz.

Place the bottle on five sheets of tissue paper making sure the cork/cap is five inches from the edge. Tape the tissue to the center of the bottle, roll up and tape down the free edge of the tissue.

Trim the tissue paper to two inches from the bottle's bottom; cut notches in the tissue, fold flat against the bottom and tape down.

Tie a cord around the bottle's neck. Cut some paper into strips to place on top and some ribbon along with a card.