Have you ever shopped the Christmas section of a department store during their final, final markdown?

If you have, you may have wondered what in the world the store’s Buyers were thinking when you see some of the leftover Christmas orphans.  I’ll admit that sometimes, I do too… but, I also look at those leftover goodies as a future decorating challenge!

How can I resist a (90% off) bargain?!!

As a matter of fact, I picked up most of my Christmas inventory (many reader-favorites included) for 90% off.  And I hope to make a video, this summer, showing you how I organize that super-inexpensive, 35-year collection because organization keeps my creativity flowing!

One Christmas orphan I picked up on New Years’ Day, at a local Department Store’s (90% off) final, final markdown,

was a pretty boring, very neutral & bare 3 foot tall tree…

I overlooked it’s lack of Christmas flair, (original) $55 price tag & took advantage of the 90% off sale.

For $5.50, I couldn’t resist because I had a vision for Spring!

Of course, Spring is when green leaves begin to sprout,

so I tore apart an old wired greenery garland and spread the individual pieces around the tree.

I was inspired by a tree design I spotted while on the Michaels.com website.  In that design, they used branches and clear eggs, filled with a little green moss & their tiniest yellow chicks.  Here’s their design….

To my tree, I added extra greenery, bird nests and placed it inside my white artichoke container,

which you may remember from Christmas 2013…

Here are some photos (taken inside & outside) of the finished project, so you can check out the details….

I was so inspired by the little yellow chicks,

that I decided to use them as inspiration for The Seasonal Home’s Living Room…

Do you recognize my yellow Forsythia garland, recycled from the nostalgic wedding I held in The Seasonal Home’s backyard?

The final touch… a sweet family of yellow ducks!

And they are resting on another Christmas orphan turned Spring Star ~

bird nests that were originally $20 (@ Christmas) and I purchased for only $2.

  

So, the next time you want to pass by those final-discounted Christmas orphans, ask yourself

“what other season or holiday could I use that for?”

and scoop up some bargains!!

HAPPY SPRING & EASTER!