A "homey” cottage look can be created by showcasing some of your favorite memorabilia in creative ways.

10 Tips:

1. Postcard Pleasure. Frame favorite postcards in "floating glass frames” so you can see both sides of the card. You can place several postcards in an overlapping design in one large frame, or frame them individually and hang several frames together.

2. Shell Chic. Shells collected from your travels or the local beach make wonderful decorative memories. Put them in a large clear glass "lemonade jar” with a lid, display them on your fireplace mantel, or arrange some along with some colored rocks or plain colored Christmas ornaments to add color to a room.

3. Card Cozy. Get all those greeting cards that friends and family have given you over the years out of the attic. Put them in a variety of frames and hang them together in a hallway or stairway for a lovely " art gallery” effect.

4. Scrumptious Scrapbooks. Make a colorful scrapbook for each child in your family. Include school certificates, photos, and other life mementos. Use beautiful albums that will be a decorative touch on a coffee table.

5. Bulletin Board Beauty. Purchase a huge bulletin board for a hallway and post photos of your family, travels, and life events. It makes a colorful and fun conversation piece. You can paint the wooden border to match your décor. I have done this and have received many compliments on my display.

6. Grandma's Shadowbox. Use a ready-made shadow box to frame and display Grandma's old hankie, crocheted doily, glasses, etc. A velvet background makes an elegant touch.

Visit http://www.kathrynbechendesigns.com for more free ideas and tips for decorating your cottage style home on a dollarwise budget and to sign up for Kathryn's free e-newsletter of decorating tips and resources. Kathryn is an interior decorating consultant and author who specializes in Cottage Style, Non-Toxic, and Dollarwise decorating.