"Decorating for the holidays doesn't have to be stressful or difficult to be beautiful." So says Martha Stewart. The missing word there is "expensive." Granted, many of Martha's ideas can be affordable if you are a master sourcer or a master crafter. The rest of us need a little help.

With a little bit of time and effort and just a couple of bucks, you can turn your home into a designer holiday showcase, without breaking the bank.  

Fireplace mantel 

The mantel is one of the easiest places to make an impact because it is typically already a focal point of a family room or living space.  

Take a page out of Houzz's book with their Budget Decorator: Easy Holiday Decorations and make this crafty holiday mantel project that makes use of inexpensive materials, with upscale-looking results. "Scoop up small letter forms and gold craft paint, find that packet of skewers left over from your last summer barbecue and get to work. A dab of hot glue is all you'll need to attach the letters to skewers; place the skewers in votive holders or small mason jars filled with salt."  

Anything that gives us the opportunity to create cheap and chic holiday décor AND create an easy craft  (it's a TWOFER!) is good in our book.  

HGTV's 20 Glowing Holiday Mantels has a multitude of ideas, including this look with pine swags and glittery ornaments that will give you festive, elegant holiday decor in a snap, and on the cheap.

Decorating the Tree 

Don't have glittery ornaments? No problem!  

You can create your own ornaments in nearly any color or color combination (even galaxy, one of the hottest patterns in clothing design this season). Or, if you're feeling an '80s vibe with your decor this year, use fluorescent fabric paint with your glass ornaments and turn your tree into a day-glo extravaganza. You can get a set of eight glass ornaments on Amazon for under $10.  

If glass isn't your thing, get some plastic ornaments and chalkboard paint to create fun, personal messages you can change out each year. Thirty-two plastic ornaments are $19.99 and a can of chalkboard paint for under $4, both at Walmart.  

Speaking of crafts... for a modern look, try these DIY paper ornaments that are an easier, more DIY-friendly (meaning for the novice crafter) version of a Martha Stewart paper ornament. The best part? They're quick, easy, and can be created in any color scheme you want.  

For a really festive touch, use metallic paper, around $5 a package at Walmart. If you need to fill out the balance of your tree, Target has packages of 50 round plastic ornaments in a rainbow of colors for $15.

Dining Room Chairs 

For those who sew, these Santa hat chair covers are fun, spirited, and inexpensive.  

And for those who don't…try this easy ribbon, pinecone, twig solution for giving your dining room a holiday lift.

Go Yard 

Get your yard in on the holiday action with by hitting an online discount resource like Terry's Village for this set of three yard stakes that look like oversized ornaments for $30.  

Or, jazz up your yard with these easy, elegant DIY luminarias from Good Housekeeping. All you need are paper bags, decorative scissors, a whole punch, sand, and LED candles.

Here and There 

Creating a warm holiday feel is about creating vignettes throughout your home. Beyond your mantel, your tree, your table, and your yard, you can create hot spots that bring the spirit of the holidays into every room easily and affordably.  

Houzz's Sweet treats + glass containers is a winner for a few key reasons. "Plunk a big handful of candy canes into a glass, fill an apothecary jar with kisses and top cake stands with cookies and other goodies for an irresistible display."  

Candy available during the holidays is either festively colored on its own (hello, candy cane), or packaged in festive wrapping, making for an easy way to create a great centerpiece or a vignette for a table or countertop. Plus, it's yummy, which would be enough on its own. Important tip: make sure you have extra candy on hand to refill bowls and jars when busy hands start making your décor disappear.  

To hang in your living room window and throughout your home, what could be easier than coffee filters easily become snowflakes?  

These $8.97 snow covered lighted branches would bring a little sparkle to an entry table, a guest bath, a nightstand, or anywhere you want to bring in some holiday cheer.   

For a sideboard, a kitchen counter, or a perfect centerpiece, nest tea lights on a platter and surround by cranberries. Cranberries can also be used to fill large jars or inside hurricanes surrounding pillars to take a regular old candle up a holiday notch.

Or, use nuts and berries, acorns, twigs, live greenery, or pinecones. They're affordable (or free, depending on where you live), and can turn a nice home into a holiday showcase in a matter of minutes and for a measly few dollars.  

Tabletop 

If you're throwing a party or just want the table to be pretty for your holiday dinner, you COULD invest in some good quality, use-once-a-year dinnerware. Or, even better, use what you have and integrate in some holiday pieces, like these fun holiday appetizer plates for under $10 or metallic chargers starting at 99 cents apiece.  

Finally, add in these easy tree-shaped napkin rings you make out of paper from a downloadable template. They're sure to that would make Martha proud... because they are her invention! Sometimes, Martha really knows best.