Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Time to enjoy the Christmas Lights!

Here are some videos of wonderful light shows this year for Christmas.  I don't recommend trying this yourself, unless you have plenty of money and lots of time to work on it.















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Saturday, November 26, 2011

Christmas Lights: The Ultimate Way to Decorate Your Home

A Danish Christmas tree illuminated with burni...Image via Wikipedia


 

 
Christmas lightsImage via WikipediaChristmas lights; we have all seen them and most of us have used them before. When it comes to Christmas lights, we often associate those lights only with Christmas trees.  While Christmas lights are most commonly used to decorate Christmas trees, did you know that they can also be used for much more?  If you are planning on decorating this year, you should consider using your Christmas lights for decorating your entire home.

Although many people only put lights on their Christmas tree, there are other uses for them as well.  One of those uses is for decorating the outside of your home.  You can easily find Christmas lights that are designed for outside use, particular around a home. These type of lights are often referred to as outdoor Christmas lights.  One such type of light is the icicle Christmas lights that allow the lights to hang off the side of a house.  While it is possible to find multicolored outdoor Christmas lights, you will find that they are most commonly sold in the traditional white color.

In addition to decorating the outside of the outside of your home with Christmas lights, you can also decorate the trees outside of your home.  A number of homeowners, each year, decorate the trees outside their home, often exactly like their indoor Christmas tress.  Many times, these trees are relatively small in size; therefore, small outdoor Christmas lights are needed on an outdoor tree.  Decorating the small trees in your yard is a great way to bring a touch of Christmas to your neighborhood.

Some people like to hang Christmas lights along the top of their walls. This is a great way to bring extra Christmas spirit into the home. In fact, you can even use Christmas lights to decorate one of your home’s bedroom windows.  This idea is often loved by teenagers and other children; many enjoy the twinkling lights and colors. Decorating your home’s bedroom windows is a great way to bring the Christmas spirit into a room that you may have otherwise not decorated.

You may also want to decorate your office or your workspace. Unfortunately, not everyone celebrates Christmas.  This may pose a problem, when it comes to decorating your office workspace.  However, you can still, in many cases, use Christmas lights to decorate your office.  In most cases, you will find that it is the decorations that scream Christmas that cause the problems, not the lights themselves. Therefore, if you supervisors approve, you could easily hang Christmas lights around your office walls or along the sides of your work desk.

Isn’t it amazing all of the different ways that you can use Christmas lights to decorate your home or even your office? It really is amazing how just the addition of those colorful, twinkling lights can add so much spirit to your holiday cheer.

 
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Thursday, November 24, 2011

Black Friday is here and are you ready?

Here in the USA, the day after Thanksgiving is known as "Black Friday" due to all the special sales and the stores opening at midnight for shoppers.  It seems pretty silly, but there are many wonderful bargains to be found if you are willing to camp out in line and be one of the first shoppers to get into the store.

I hate crowds, so I prefer to shop all year long--monitoring sales for items that may be appropriate as Christmas presents.  I also prefer shopping online to going to stores.  This is just my preferences.  More and more people are getting into the spirit of Black Friday shopping.  For months before this day, you can receive emails and circulars telling you about the wonderful "bargains" and "sales" to be found on this day.  What they don't tell you is that there is a very limited quantity of these items and if you are not the lucky few, you will probably end up spending more money buying similar items that are not on sale.  This is the ploy of all the commercial sellers on this day.

I understand that stores need to make a profit for our economy to improve, but I don't like "bait and switch" tactics very much.  I think it is dishonest.  So, I choose to shop online during the year and by Black Friday I have all my Christmas done.  It is just my way of dealing with this holiday.  You are more than welcome to deal with the stress, crowds, etc.  I simply don't wish to do so.

I hope everyone reading this has a wonderful Thanksgiving and enjoys the food and family time that this holiday stands for. 

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!
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Saturday, October 29, 2011

Here's an article I wrote and published on EzineArticles.  I think it is appropriate for this blog and so I am reposting it here.  I hope you enjoy this article and I hope it gives you some good ideas for this Christmas season's gift buying.
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What Are the Hot Gifts for Christmas This Year?
By Shirley K Williams

This year for Christmas you will need to use care in spending your hard earned money on gifts. It is very important that you choose wisely, ending up with the perfect gift without spending a fortune. Christmas is almost upon us, so now is the time to start thinking about what you want to get for your loved ones. Gift giving is always a challenge, but with the economy the way it is today and so many people out of work, this year proves to be a serious challenge.

One thing you can do this year is start early. Waiting until the last minute will be frustrating and cost you more money. There is always the chance that your gift is not quite on target because of the need to get your shopping done in a hurry. There will be many really great sales between now and Christmas and if you are prepared, start early, and have a plan, then your gifts will be really appreciated because of all the thought you put into them.

I've reviewed quite a few sites online this year all touting the "Hot" gifts for 2011. There are some things that remain constant, such as the allure of the gadgets and our love of technology. Some of the really hot items this year will be the same as last year- iPads, iPods, cell phones, game systems, televisions, etc. You will never go wrong buying these items as gifts, but they usually come with a very large purchase price.

Maybe you need to step back a bit and look at other types of gifts. If your gift receiver loves to read and loves books, maybe a Kindle would be a good gift. If your receiver loves photography and video, maybe a hand-held video camera or a digital SLR camera would do. If the receiver drives an older car and gets lost frequently, maybe a GPS system that can be mounted on the dash.

The easiest way to buy for someone is to learn about what that person enjoys or likes to do in their spare moments. Usually, these activities help to relieve stress and keep them centered. Hobbies have long been an outlet for us as life gets chaotic and stressful. Look to these outlets for clues about what to spend your time and money on. I guarantee you will be glad you did.

Then there are the old stand-by's that have always been good for gift buying. Jewelry and personal care gifts are always appreciated and used. Children have always enjoyed games and toys.



This year, you should look to video games like Call of Duty: Black Ops and Halo Reach. These games will be coming out soon and many young boys will be excited to receive their own games. My Pillow Pets are still very popular with the younger children and may become hard to find if you wait too long. Lego board games are popular with school age children as are the original Lego's. Action figures will always be popular with young boys, so look at those as an option.

Mom and Dad may enjoy a new espresso coffee machine to make their own fancy coffee at home and save them time and money. Today you can spend quite a bit on the fancy coffee and may drive a distance to get to a coffee store. This gift will be seen as a thoughtful and useful gift, saving both time and money for the receiver.

Young adults will always enjoy tickets to must-see movies, sporting events, and concerts of favorite bands. This is a gift that will be appreciated and remembered for some time. You will become the best gift giver of the year. Start checking your area now for possible events that you could purchase tickets for.

Tablet computers are all the rage right now and if you can swing such a purchase, I know you will be rewarded with squeals of delight from the receiver. iPads are expensive, but there are several tablet computers on the market now that are just are good and that cost less. Explore these for ideas.

There are many choices out there this year so you will be on the money if you take your time, start early, and really think about the likes and dislikes of the receiver. With just a little thought and some extra time, this Christmas may turn out to be the best ever. Even with money being tight, you stand a chance of being the best gift-giver this year!

Christmas is always stressful, and this year will prove to be just the same. You can get a head start if you plan now and start your shopping early. Be sure to check online for ratings and availability of items that are beginning to fly off the shelves. If you start now, you may even get your shopping done online and never have to fight the crowds.

For more ideas and information about Christmas, please visit my blog. For gift ideas please visit
Christmas is coming too soon. Here's my wish for you to have a very merry Christmas 2011.
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Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Make a Pyramid Box

Carol Duvall had an episode during Christmas where her guest, Mary O'Neil made beautiful pyramid boxes to use for Christmas gift.  These are perfect for small, expensive gifts, especially if you use Acetate Velvet and emboss the box.  Mary used double sided sticky interfacing to attach the velvet to her box template and then finished it off with a beautiful organza bow.  Almost too pretty to open!

I found this tutorial for making the pyramid boxes, and I looked but could not find the episode of Carol Duvall anywhere online.  This is  from Things to Make and Do and you can use your imagination to design and decorate your own boxes.

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This is an unusual box that can be used for small or large gifts. There are three downloadable templates to choose from, a large template or two small templates that will fit on a sheet of A4 card, and one small template that fits on a sheet of A5 card. There are two sets of templates for each size, one with the dotted fold lines on (this is great to practice on with a sheet of paper, or if children are making the box), and one with no dotted fold lines (these are harder to use but give a more professional finish). These boxes are easy to make with no gluing required and can be used for a variety of gift ideas including favours at a wedding or for small gifts hanging from a Christmas tree. The larger pyramid measures nearly 8 cm across the base and 4½ cm high, the small pyramid base is 5¼ cm wide and 3 cm high.


Things to make and do - pyramid box

You will need:



A4 or A5 card
Scissors
Craft knife or bone folder
Ruler
Hole punch
Ribbon


Things to make and do - pyramid box



What to do




1. Download the template onto card, or onto paper and trace the design onto card. Remember there are two sets of templates for each size, one with the dotted fold lines (this is great to practice on with a sheet of paper, or if children are making the box), and one with no dotted fold lines (these are harder to use but give a more professional finish).


Things to make and do - pyramid box


2. Cut out the template.

Things to make and do - pyramid box


3. Score the fold lines using either a craft knife or bone folder and ruler, if you are using a craft knife, do not cut through the card. The scoring is just to help the card to fold.

Things to make and do - pyramid box


4. Punch a hole where marked near the top of each triangle.

Things to make and do - pyramid box


5. Fold over the sides and narrow flaps, pressing with your finger to make crisp folds.

Things to make and do - pyramid box


6. Put the small gift into the box and close the top of the pyramid with ribbon. Take a ribbon end and thread it through the punched holes. Start by threading from the front of one hole into the box then through the next hole from inside to outside the box, go into the third hole from the outside and then thread through the last hole from the inside to the outside. Tie the two ribbon ends together with a slip knot and finish with a bow.

Things to make and do - pyramid box

Things to make and do - pyramid box


7. If you need to make a loop to hang the pyramid up by (Christmas tree decoration) then after threading the ribbon through all four holes and tying the ends together with a slip knot, thread the ribbon back through the box, under the ribbon making a loop, tie another slip knot and finish off with a bow, this can be a little tricky so another pair of hands may come in handy. Or, after tying a bow to close the top, thread a separate piece of ribbon through and tie a knot to make a loop.

Things to make and do - pyramid box

Things to make and do - pyramid box


Things to make and do - pyramid box

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Saturday, October 1, 2011

Christmas craft videos!

Here is another Carol Duvall video, this one from here holiday series. I like to post these when I find them because I miss Carol very much.

This one is about making a reindeer from socks:





Here's a video for a funky wreath:

Sunday, September 18, 2011

{Tutorial } How to make a glittered felt christmas tree

Here is another tutorial for making a lovely Christmas Tree.  This tutorial is quite simple and should be easy enough for small children to participate in making these trees.  Why not make a bunch of them in various Christmas colors and arrange them on the dinner table as your center piece this year.  Give every child one to have for their own after dinner is over.

This tutorial is from Lorajean's Magazine and I hope you will visit her site and browse her other tutorials.
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I am so excited to share with you the EASY instructions on how to make this felt glittered tree. I really am super happy with the way they turned out.
Here is what you need:
  • Felt  (I used white)
  • Scissors
  • Glue gun and glue sticks
  • Craft glue
  • Clear glitter
  • Styrofoam cone  (or any cone shaped thing)
Note: I didn't use a Styrofoam cone I used a cone shaped wire tree from Dollar Tree last year, but I think they aren't there any more. You can find foam cones at Dollar Tree or any craft store.
 cut 4 large strips (2 in wide)
cut 4 medium strips (1 1/2 in wide)
cut 2 small strips (1 in wide)
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Step Two
Cut deep scallops into each strip


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Step three
Glue along scalloped edge of each strip and glitter generously.

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Step four
Hot glue each strip onto the cone starting with the large strips at the bottom and ending with the smallest at the top.

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Step five
Cut a half flower shape (for tip of tree)
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trees
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Thursday, September 8, 2011

Videos to show you how to make a wreath from newspaper

Here are two videos from YouTube that show you how to make a really beautiful Christmas wreath out of plain ordinary newspaper.  This is something even your children will enjoy making.  The cost is nothing more than some newspapers--and those can be found at recycling stations if you don't have your own paper, or ask your friends to save them for your.

So here they are.  Enjoy making these.  Send me a picture if you make yourself one.  I think I may have to try this myself this year!



And:



Related articles
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Thursday, September 1, 2011

Another Carol Duval Show video! Making Polymer Clay Tree Ornaments

Large Elf OrnamentImage by CraftyGoat via FlickrHere is a wonderful video from the Carol Duval Show (how I miss that show) that has Donna Kato making a beautiful Christmas tree hanging ornament. I bet if you watch this video, you will soon run to get some polymer clay and begin making your own ornaments. I know I will make these, but first I will watch the video about 100 times because I just love Carol and Donna Kato, but I really loved this show.

Enjoy the video!



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Sunday, August 21, 2011

Shabby Christmas Tree Tutorial -- Easy and inexpensive!

Search Amazon.com for christmas decorationsHere's a wonderful and quick way to decorate your home for Christmas.  You could probably whip up a few of these in no time and set them up on a hallway table to make a festive entrance to your home.  I found this tutorial on Creations by Kara and wanted to share it here with you.  Please visit the original site and let them know how your trees turn out.  There are many other wonderful tutorials just waiting for you there.

If you do make these, please send pictures so I can see you handywork.  I would love to hear any comments you may have, too.


1-Start with one of these styrofoam trees. They’re everywhere right now; you can even find them at the Dollar Store.


2-Decide what fabric you would like to use. I used canvas, but you can use anything you like. Burlap is all the rage right now, and I’m sure it would work perfectly. :) Tear strips of your fabric about 1″ wide.
3-To cut your strips, stack a set of three or four strips on top of each other. That way you can cut four at a time instead of having to cut each strip one at a time.
4-Cut the strips about 4 inches long.

5-Take each strip of fabric and glue it together at the top. It only takes a tiny bit of glue. I used hot glue because it is the fastest. Now you will have a little loop of fabric:







6-Attach the first loop to the bottom of the tree form. You want a little bit of fabric to hang below the styrofoam.

7-Keep adding on loops of fabric, overlapping them slightly. It doesn’t matter if the tops are even, you just want to make sure the bottoms of the loops are even with each other.

8-Keep adding loops till you get all the way around the tree. See how the tops are totally uneven? Doesn’t matter.

9-Now you are ready to start the next layer. Attach the first fabric loop so that it lays in between two of the loops on the bottom layer. You want them to be staggered (like bricks), and not just glued on in straight vertical rows. Now keep adding loops just like you did for the first layer.

10-Repeat this process till you get to the top of your tree. (If you run out of loops like I did, just tear more fabric and make more.) Make sure the top layer of fabric pokes up above the styrofoam. You don’t want any of that ugly stuff to show. Just take that extra fabric, fold it down, and glue it to the top of the styrofoam. You can trim off some of the fabric if it is too bulky.
11- Now your tree should look something like this:

12-All you have left to do is fluff up the loops to even out your tree. Then add embellishments. I tore tiny strips of red and green fabric and tied them into bows. I used a piece of gold ribbon for the bow at the top. You could use buttons, ribbon, berries, bells, stars, whatever you like!!

Here is the version of the tree with green fabric:


Thanks to Kara for such a wonderful tutorial on making these Christmas trees. 


Search Amazon.com for christmas decorations