E-Mail This Article to a Friend Do-it-yourself orna-mentality Forget packaged tinsel and pre-made angels. This year, why not make your own holiday decorations? BY BRIAN E. O’NEILL

Growing up in my family, trimming the Christmas tree with decorations was only half the fun; making said decorations was the other half. Some of my fondest holiday memories have little to do with opening gifts, and much to do with handcrafting the things with which we decked the halls (and the rest of the house, too). And while I look back and cringe at the pipe-cleaner Santas and pom-pom Frostys of my youth, that won’t hamper my do-it-yourself mentality come holiday season. Fortunately — for me and anyone who comes to visit — aids to the creative spirit can be found all around town nowadays.

The Art Store, for example, offers a Paint Your Own Ornament Kit ($9.98), which includes a glass ball, gold tree hanger, paint, and paintbrush. If you’re looking to dress up the windows a bit, check out the excellent Boing! toy store, where you’ll find Christmas Window Art (Klutz, 2002; $19.99), by Barbara Kane. This kit contains special paint that dries to become rubbery and semi-sticky, and a book of design patterns. The painted projects are easily removed from windows and can be reused for years to come.

For those who like to start from scratch, there’s Barnes & Noble, which sells several books on do-it-yourself holiday decorating. For example, there’s Holiday Decorating for Dummies (Wiley, John & Sons, 2003; $19.99), by Kelley Taylor, which — in a triumph of political correctness — contains decorating ideas not only for Christmas, but also for winter celebrations among several faiths. Christmas Origami (Barnes & Noble Books, 2003; $9.95), by Katherine Gleason, features the Japanese art of "kusudama" (ball-shaped origami ornaments) along with stars, trees, and even reindeer. The book comes complete with 100 sheets of origami paper.

Of course, nothing says "holidays" like caloric overindulgence, so why not at least be creative and decorative about it? Trader Joe’s offers the Gingerbread Train ($6.99), a variation on the make-your-own gingerbread-house kits. It contains all the essential ingredients, including pre-cut gingerbread, icing, and candy for decorating.

Trader Joe’s also has holiday cookies ($1.99) available in ginger and chocolate flavors, and in angel, star, and tree shapes. Each has a small hole in the top for tree hanging. Head to Shaw’s Supermarkets for some Betty Crocker Decorating Icing ($2.59), which comes in several flavors, and get creative.

Where to find it:

• Art Store, Landmark Center, 401 Park Drive, Boston, (617) 247-3322.

• Barnes & Noble, various locations; www.bn.com.

• Boing!, 729 Centre Street, Jamaica Plain, (617) 522-7800.

• Shaw’s Supermarkets, various locations; www.shaws.com.

• Trader Joe’s, various locations; www.traderjoes.com.