This project used green pine tree gel clings, and just like our blue snowman and snowflake gel cling vases, can be displayed alone or grouped together in 3’s using other glass vases of various heights.  You can showcase your beautiful vase or vases on a fireplace mantel, bookcase, and coffee table, or perhaps on a dining room table as a centerpiece.

Begin by adhering the pine tree gel clings to the outside bottom of your glass vase.  Be sure to space the gel clings evenly around the vase creating a border.  Repeat the same step creating a second border right above your first layer.  Next, begin layering the inside of the vase starting with snow flurries, then a layer of bright white blanket type snow, and finish with small pinecones towards the top of the vase, leaving 2 inches of un-layered space.

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Please note that gel decorations are removable and reusable. Do not expose to high heat or direct sunlight on hot days, sticker can melt.  Just like our blue snowman and snowflake vase, you can pack your vase away safely at the end of the Christmas holidays by stuffing a balled up wad of newspaper in to the top of the vase, placing a plastic or small paper bag over the top, and rubber banding it all to keep all the contents intact.  Then, just pack it away securely for the next year.

Do you have a party to plan for the holidays?  If your looking for a fast last minute before your guest arrive project that you can fit in to your Christmas home décor, try adding some holiday charm to non holiday sofa style pillows.  Not only will you be able to transform the look of your plain pillows within seconds, you will also have custom designed pillows that your guests are sure to love.  You need to do something, so lets get going. 

This project requires no sewing. So put the needle and thread away.  Begin by carefully wrapping a felt ribbon around the front center of your pillow.  Next, taking a miniature felt – covered ornament type pillow, attach it to the felt ribbons by tying the ornament hanger and felt ribbon together.  The ornament can very easily be removed for other purposes.  Remember, this is a quick project to add a little extra Christmas cheer.  Note: Try using felt ribbon that comes with bells attached, or different ornament design patterns with similar felt covered materials to add texture and interest to your pillows.  That is it.  Very simple and quick.  Below is a list of items you will need for completing this quick Christmas decorating project

Supplies:

This project used snowman and snowflake gel clings, and can be displayed alone or grouped together in 3’s using other glass vases of various heights.  Showcase your beautiful Christmas vase or vases on a fireplace mantel, bookcase, or coffee table, or perhaps on a dining room table as a centerpiece.

Begin by adhering snowman and snow flake gel clings to the outside of your glass vase.  Be sure to space the gel clings evenly around the vase.  Next, begin layering the inside of the vase starting with snow flurries, then use bright white blanket snow towards the top, leaving 3 inches of un-layered space .

Supplies:

Please note that gel decorations are removable and reusable. Do not expose to high heat or direct sunlight on hot days, sticker can melt.  You have finished.  When the holidays are over, you can keep your Christmas decorating project intact by stuffing a wad of newspaper in to the top of the vase, placing a small paper or plastic bag over the top and rubbing banding it to keep all contents in place.  Then, just pack it away carefully for the next year. 

Have you ever looked through those boxes of Christmas ornaments of yours either before or after Christmas, and wondered how in the world you might be able to add some sparkle to them, yet still keep it traditional with your Christmas theme?  Taking a few of your plain ornaments every new Holiday season and adorning them with easy to find scrapbooking items to make personalized Christmas ornaments will add some new life to your selection in a custom way, and leave your guests thinking that you spent a fortune on your ornaments.  

For this project we decided to just use a large plastic satin finished ornament.  As was previously mentioned, you can also look through your existing collection and find some of your plain solid color ornaments to use.  It is important to stick to solid color ornaments because of the designs you will be adorning them with.  You don’t want to take away from the design. 

Apply peel and stick crystal stickers typically used for scrapbooking to the ornament. Stickers can be applied to cover the entire ornament, or you may want to apply them vertically, horizontally, or diagonally to create a pattern. Next, tie a satin ribbon , ¾ inch or smaller works best, to the top of the ornament creating a bow.  Try using a plaid ribbon with colors that compliment the color of your ornaments.  Simple!  You have a new personalized Christmas ornament.

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Decorating your home for the holidays can be so simple. Those of you with very busy schedules may want to consider an area in your home that you can transform in to a showcase vignette that can be easily changed out for each holiday.  For this project we choose a kitchen garden window.

Step 1 – Position a suction cup hook to the inside of your garden window determining the height that your wreath will hang from. Next, begin by wrapping multi-colored red and white satin ribbon to the top of the resin berry wreath creating a pretty bow.  For this step, take the stained glass holly ornament and hang it on to the suction cup hook. The stained glass ornament becomes a sun catcher as well as a focal point.  Once your bow is secured in place, position your wreath on the suction hook with the bow at the top.

Step 2 – Below on the window base, set a desert serving tray (we used a brown metal tray and added a small Christmas desert plate to the base of it).  This now becomes a display stand to showcase some of your favorite decorative kitchen items. Next, fill one small outdoor ceramic pot with fresh red berries, then insert a rustic moose ornament and a small pinecone pick to add an outdoor woodsy feel. Next, position 3 small artificial pears next to the pot which will add a nice Christmas kitchen theme touch.

Step 3 – A Christmas sleigh was added to balance the look of the display and to house 2 small artificial potted herbs. A small Christmas country style wired ornament hangs from the sleigh reminding us of the holiday season.  In the center of the window base, another small outdoor ceramic pot with a red bow tied around the top rim of it was added.  As a final touch fill the ceramic pot with fresh red berries, an outdoor find.

Supplies: Step 1                                                                   

Supplies: Step 2                                                          

Supplies: Step 3

Christmas is a magical time. A time of hope, spirit, love, and especially family. This year make it a season of family togetherness and fun.
In recent years, we’ve all noticed that the Christmas season has gotten to be more and more commercialized.
It’s tough to see past the store displays and the hustle bustle of present buying.
In fact, during the Christmas season, sometimes you can be so overwhelmed by the pressure and expectations that you can forget that you should be using this time to celebrate all of the blessings that you have with your family.
But it doesn’t have to be like that.
HOLIDAY DECORATING IDEAS
One of the best things that you can do to get your family ready for the season is to get everyone involved in decorating.
Of course there are the traditional types of decorating that you can involve everyone in like decorating the Christmas tree or hanging lights on the outside of the house.
However, you can really use your creativity and come up with some fantastic Christmas crafts to create together.
For example, even little ones can help you create a paper chain that you can use to count down the days to Christmas much like an advent calendar.
Or maybe you want to do something even more creative.
Have everyone in the family sit down and cut out paper snowflakes. Take clear fishing line and hang them from the ceiling for instant holiday ambiance.
SPREAD SOME CHRISTMAS CHEER
Another great thing to try with your family is to go out Christmas caroling.
It’s fairly easy, and is sure to get you get you into the holiday spirit and will put a smile on your audiences’ faces.
Neighborhood caroling has gone pretty much out of style, but you can still have fun and be especially appreciated by arranging a trip to a hospital or nursing home.
During the holidays, visits like this are welcomed and you’ll leave feeling great about yourself and the younger kids will enjoy dressing up in Christmas costumes for their ‘performance’.
CHRISTMAS BAKING NEVER GOES OUT OF STYLE
Do not forget about including your family in your annual Christmas baking as well. No matter what you are baking, you will be able to find jobs for family members of all ages.
Not only would it be great to have the help, but it will help to create memories that you won’t soon forget.
And you’ll have very tasty treats all season long!
HOMEMADE CHRISTMAS GIFTS
Of course, one of the best ways that you can really engage your family’s creativity in the holiday season is by having everyone make homemade Christmas presents.
This will get you families creativity going like no other craft because there is a motivation to make it a really great project, especially with an early start.
Recipients can’t help but be touched by knowing that their gift was made with care and love by the gift giver.
Additionally, your family is sure to save some money on the presents that you will be making rather than paying the expensive sticker price for something from the store.
There are great ideas for homemade presents and you’ll just have to get your wheels turning to come up with the best one for you!

Adding Eucalyptus branches gathered from the yard can add a wonderful dimension to your Christmas tree when you embellish the clustered branches with aerosol spray snow for a wintry-white feel without ever spraying or changing the color of your tree itself.  This project would be especially great for an artificial tree to add a sense of natural freshness to it.  Your guests are sure to pull up a comfortable chair to marvel at the winter wonderland and your frosted tree branches.

Begin by wiring eucalyptus branches in bundles of three.  You can also use any other type of branches as long as they have a slender leave look as the eucalyptus does.  Next, spray the branches with aerosol snow covering most of it, including any seeds still left on the stems, yet allowing some of the natural color of the leaves to show through. Allow the frosted branches to dry for about 30 minutes, and then repeat the same spraying process on the other side.  Once the branches are fairly dry to the touch (they will still feel a little moist), secure them to your tree with floral wire, making sure that the wider end of your frosted branch cluster is pointing outward away from the tree, therefore creating dimension.  To give your project a natural look, don’t forget to secure the stems of your frosted branches to the inner portion of the tree as if they were actually attached to the trunk of the tree. 

Note: Place a tree skirt or sheet around the base of the tree prior to securing frosted branches to tree. You are finished and can now enjoy your unique and classy Christmas tree decorating tradition.

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This craft idea is sure to make a colorful and festive splash to your Christmas home décor, or as the perfect hostess gift.  In addition, by using a small strand of clear Christmas lights, it can also make a nice holiday night light in your guest bathroom. 

Begin by stuffing your Christmas basket or container with newspaper to a height of three quarters of the way up. Using a hot glue gun, apply hot glue to the bottom of one large pinecone and hold firmly against the newspaper till glue bonds.  Repeat the process using one large artificial red apple and one large artificial green apple.  Continue the above steps alternating between pinecones and apples until the bottom of the basket is full.  Once the glue has dried and items have adhered to the newspaper move on to step 2. 

Start a second layer this time using medium and small size pinecones and apples.  Hot glue items to your larger size pinecones and apples until glue bonds firmly in place.  Note: you will need to check pinecones and apples making sure none are loose before adding lights.  Next, wrap and tuck 1 strand of miniature size clear Christmas lights around the pinecones and apples.  The eraser end of a pencil works great for tucking the lights in place between the pinecones and apples.  Remember to leave about a one foot leader of the light cord hanging at the back of the basket so lights can be easily plunged in to an outlet.  Next, using your ribbons listed below (3/4 inch or smaller) tie a bow around the handle on the left side of the basket.  To personalize your basket, hot glue a 3-D foam letter sticker around the top of the handle. Cinnamon sticks would also add a nice smell and could easily be hot glued in to place.

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By taking your common indoor/outdoor light strand and combining it with some light colored plastic ornaments, you can make your house the envy of the neighborhood during the Christmas holiday season with a unique and festive light garland that most folks would not have even considered putting together. 

You will want to start out by prepping your ornaments first.  If you don’t have any that can be spared for this project, you should be able to find starter craft making ornaments at any of your better craft stores or online.  You want to drill a hole large enough on opposite sides of each other on every ornament to be able to feed your strand of lights through, but not so large that the lights easily fall out.  You can make a pilot hole to get started with a smaller drill bit.

Then, just feed your strand of lights through each ornament, evenly spacing however many you made to give a nice coverage to the tree.  I decided to not go overboard, since these were larger size ornaments, and my Leyland Cypress they’d be hanging on might not take too kindly to so much weight.  I spread 16 ornaments over the 5 foot tree.  That’s it.  Hang and enjoy your festive light garland, and store it away as is for the off season ready to hang again next year.  You may want to try using a multi-display type of light strand to vary the light show.

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Rekindle some joyous spirits from Christmas past by re-crafting some of your most precious Christmas ornaments with your loved ones.

What do you do when parents no longer want to do the whole Christmas tree decorating thing and they have chosen to part with such items as ornaments?  Well, faced with going thru my parents boxes of holiday items, and already having several of my own ornaments, I decided to come up with a way to pass on the family traditions by re-crafting such precious ornaments for my Christmas dinner party.  If you are going to be hosting such an event you may want to check this out.

Supplies you will need for this project:

Using your fine tip sharpie pen, label each gift tag by writing the words “Generation to Generation” or you can make your own paper craft gift tags.  Next, using your craft scissors, cut cellophane in to squares large enough to tie a bow at the top of the ornament.  For this project we chose to alternate red cellophane and clear cellophane.  This way the beauty of the ornaments can be viewed through the cellophane.  A pretty candy striped satin ribbon is used to add a decorative touch by tying a bow to secure your cellophane to the ornament.  Now you’re ready to personalize your project.  Peel and stick your labeled gift tag sticker directly on to the cellophane.  Or, if you prefer, you can make your own paper craft gift tag. 

When arranging your wrapped ornaments either in a glass bowl or decorative basket, keep in mind that the heavier large ornaments will need to be placed at the bottom, and the medium sized ornaments in the middle and smaller ornaments on top.  Next, place your bowl or basket next to the front door.  Your family members will truly enjoy sorting through the beautifully wrapped ornaments, but most of all, a “parents” or “grandparents” memory of holiday gatherings will be with them always and now they can pass them down to their next generation and so on and so on.