Christmas is just around the corner and before we know it time will be running out. Are you looking for some fast and very easy home Christmas decoration to help spurs up your rooms or maybe add to your already Christmas tree ornaments? I have perfect fasts and easy ideas for you. You can also give them as gifts. They don't take long and most of the supplies you probably have already in your home.

So lets get crafting!

All of us hang on to last years Christmas cards until the next Christmas season rolls around. But what do we all end up doing with them? Throwing them out1 Wouldn't you like to make use of all those beautiful Christmas cards? Now you can continue to enjoy them by creating charming Victorian fans.

These fans make a lovely table decoration or tree ornament. Or give them as a special gift, everyone will enjoy receiving a "touch of yesterday". Begin with the card selection and let you imagination do the rest.

Here is what you need. Christmas cards in all colors and finishes: scarps of lace, braid, ribbon and other trim; tacky glue; scissors; stapler, gold cord (this is optional).

Out of your stack of cards select ones that are approximately 7 x 5 inches in size. Since most fans are made from the front of the card, cut the card in half at the fold line. A card with a gold or silver back makes an elegant fan.

Sold each card in "accordion" pleats, beginning and ending with the first and last pleat facing the back of the fan. After pleating, staple the folds together at one end to make a handle. We all learned how to make fans in grade school. It will come back to you. You can practice with a piece of paper if you like before you use a card.

Glue lace or other trim to top edge of the fan to enhance the color and design. Here's a tip: Spread glue on the fan and allow it to become very tacky before applying the trim. Dry overnight.

Make a generous ribbon bow and glue to the handle. If you wish, glue small silk flowers or a holiday pick to the handle. To use the fan as a tree ornament, glue or sew a gold cord handle to the top of the fan. You can also just lay the fans within the branches of your tree.

Place a fan on each plate at your holiday dinner for a creative table decoration and thoughtful take-home remembrance.

Another fast and easy idea is country sachets in baskets. These sachets make perfect gifts plus will add welcome whiffs of fragrance to any room. You can even place them in your tree for an added warm touch.

Here's what you need. Fragrant oil or perfume; 1 ½ yards of 1-¾-inch-wide lace-edged muslin ribbon; polyester stuffing; 12 small rosebuds appliqués; glue gun or craft glue. For your basket you need a round basket with about 3 ½-inch diameter; 12-inche square of fabric; 3 x 28-inch strip of quilt batting; 1 yard of ½-inch-wide Cluny lace; 2/3 yard of ¼-inch-wide satin ribbon; pinking shears; standard sewing supplies.

For each sachet you make, cut a 4 ½-inch length of lace edged muslin ribbon. Fold under a ¼-inch hem at the top and glue. Fold bottom up 1 ½-inches and glue lace edges together, forming a small pocket.

Put a drop of oil or perfume on a small piece of polyester stuffing and insert in pocket. Fold top flap down and glue in place to seal pocket. Glue a small appliqué to front of sachet.

For your basket, with the top edge of batting strip about ½-inch below basket rim, wrap batting several times around basket to plump it up. Secure batting with glue. Measure outside of basket, from top of rim around bottom of basket to top of rim on other side. Add 1 inch to this measurement. Use pinking shears to cut a circle of fabric with this diameter. Stitch Cluny lace to wrong side of fabric circle so pinked edge of fabric will show on outside of basket.

Machine-baste a double row of stitches just below the lace. Pull the basting threads slightly to gather fabric. Place basket in center of fabric and pull threads firmly, arranging gathers evenly around the basket. When fabric fits snug around basket, knot the thread ends securely.

Tie satin ribbon around basket just blow rim and fill basket with sachets.