Rachael calls Stacey Ballis the "McGyver of decorating" because what she does with everyday household items never ceases to amaze. The best part is that she's more than happy to share her tips including these great ideas for party decorations, just in time for the holidays!

• When you're getting ready for a party, go through all of your cabinets and your storage space and see what you have. You can repurpose almost anything! Try to keep an open mind about using things for other purposes. For example, Stacey repurposes curtains as impromptu slipcovers to give leather furniture a softer look.

• Use things you already have: Why buy votive candle holders when you can use glass tumblers filled with cranberries for an extra splash of color?

• Use holiday ribbon as napkin holders.

• Anytime you use something that's not originally designed for food use, line it with plastic wrap.

• Move furniture to add space. Slightly rearranging your furniture can maximize party space.

• When you buy something, don't just think of about it in terms of one use. Think about double- or even triple-duty.

The two decorating essentials you can use over and over again? Glass tumblers and ice buckets. If you have these items in your arsenal, you can use them for many different purposes:

Glass tumblers - Buy a bunch of them on sale or at a dollar store. Get plain ones; you can always dress them up later with ribbons or silk cord you can purchase at a craft store. They're great for votive candles, flowers and much more.

Ice bucket - Flip it upside down and use it as a cake stand or to add height to a buffet. Set each one out on plastic trays or plates to dress them up a little bit. They also work great as punch bowls.