Whether your look is  traditional but needs a twist or be it avant garde and shocking, we are full of ideas to take you there.    The Gipson Girl will help you to  intrigue family and friends by bringing beauty and celebration into any holiday affair.

From helping her clients design magnificent holiday displays, Cynthia shares techniques gathered over the years...

Decide upon three focal points:  Your main focus could be your tree;  set two secondary points, which can be a mantle or a tabletop display.  Even a large wreath can take the place of a traditional tree.   If you repeat your greenery displays or ribbon color choices thoughout your displays,  it will pull a more consistent custom look together, and you will definitely get a bigger bang for your buck.     Start with inexpensive garland and plump it with fresh rosemary and fresh pine boughs -- they are hard to tell apart.  Don't be afraid to mix! This technique lends a more lush look to your display.  It will hold up longer and you are able to weave in more objects and glitz.  Fresh tends to wilt and flatten faster.   Make use of your fading pine and rosemary.   Toss it onto your fireplaze blaze for a genuine rich, festive fragrance.     You don't have to settle for simple tree stands.  Be daring, use a terracotta pot, a vintage suitcase, even a simple cardboard box wrapped as a gift!  These are more artful alternatives to stabilizing your trees.       Toss your traditional tree skirt and pull out a rich velvet shawl or a faux leopard throw to nestle your packages into.

 

Use what you love... Be creative!     A Houston friend loves to create holidays with seashells.  Because of her close proximity to Galveston, the treasures shared by the sea are very dear to her heart.    Adorning her tree are white starfish, scalloped shells strung by satin ribbons, glass icicles, white embroidered pieces and tiny strung seashells (found at her local craft store).