Possible Christmas 2011 Bestsellers

Image via WikipediaI've been doing some research and I have come up with quite a long list of things that are going to be much in demand this year.  Do yourself a favor and get yours soon to avoid scarcity and crowds.  I will simply make a list for now, but I plan to make a Squidoo lens for each product to give you more information and when I do, I will update this posting with the link so you can see the product and get yours there.


Here is my list for the kids so far:

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (coming out in November) 
Xbox 360 -- this game system in the one of choice with teenagers
ASUS Eee PC Netbook -- everyone can have a computer with them now
Baby Einstein Neptune Soother
Nintendo 3DS
Beyblade Toys
LeapFrog (anything from this company is in demand)
Fisher-Price Big Action Construction Site -- there are other sets, but this one is trending up
Razor BoGo
Rory's Story Cubes
NERF Vortex Nitron
LEGO Harry Potter The Burrows (like LeapFrog, anything they have will be in demand)
Monster High Dolls -- trending up with the 12-14 yr old girls
Kid-Tough See Yourself Camera
Power Wheels Hot Wheels Dune Racer -- this particular Hot Wheel is trending up, but all are in demand
Let's Rock Elmo
Simon Flash
Raxor eSpark
Barbie 2011 Holiday Doll -- Barbie has been a favorite for 60 years and never will stop being a favorite
FurReal Friends Cookie
Transformers 3 MechTech Bumblebee -- this was a popular Halloween costume this year
vTech InnoTab
LEGO Alien Conquest
Smokey the Fire Truck
Fijit Friends
Kidizoom Twist Digital Camera
Angry Birds:  Knock on Wood Game
Loving Family Beach Vacation Mobile Home
LEGO Ninjago
Playskool Poppin' Park Toys
Aquapets
Air Swimmers
Disney Princess Quintessential Castle
Bop It XT

Soon to post a list of trending gifts for adolescents and adults.  I won't forget the pets, either.

Related articles

• Top toys for Christmas 2011 (independent.co.uk)
• Begun the Count Down to Christmas Has! (tagn.wordpress.com)
• Collectible toys and games top toy list (seattlepi.com)
• LeapFrog Interactive Unveils Digital-Out-Of-Home Interactive Marketing Piece (prweb.com)
• Hot holiday toys (already) (fresnobeehive.com)
• Hot Wheels Camera Car of the Day (geeks.thedailywh.at)
• Time to Play Magazine Unveils Holiday Toy List (shoppingblog.com)
• Top 10 Bestselling Netbooks (hedeya.wordpress.com)
• Official Nintendo 3DS Headset Coming: Will Nintendo ever embrace voice chat? (gimmegimmegames.com)
• Christmas Central Triples Inventory of Holiday Merchandise, Forecasting Strong Holiday Sales (prweb.com)
• Start saving now for Christmas 2011 (cleardebt.co.uk)

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:

Beautiful and easy Snowflake Chandelier

For those last minute party decorations this year, why not try this Anthropologie inspired chandelier.  They are super easy and cost very little to make.  You could make several and hang them all over the house for a winter, festive air.

This is from Casasugar.com,  which is a site where you will find many other wonderful and easy decorating ideas. 
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Here's What You Need             

• Magazines, newspapers, or craft paper
• Ribbon, yarn, or thread
• An embroidery hoop
• A pushpin
• Scotch tape

To find out how to make your snowflake chandelier, just
read more.

• Rip out pages from your magazine or newspaper. Fold and cut six to ten snowflakes. (If you can't remember how to fold and cut snowflakes, check out this tutorial.)
• Cut three pieces of yarn/ribbon to the same length.
• Tie the three pieces of ribbon onto the embroidery hoop, equidistant from each other.
• Gather the three ends. Tie a very loose knot midway up the three pieces of yarn. With one hand, hold the embroidery hoop down on a flat surface. With the other, gently pull at the knot. This will help to keep the three pieces of yarn the same length. Pull the knot tight.
• Hang embroidery hoop from doorway with the pushpin. Makes sure that the hoop is hanging straight. If not, readjust lengths of yarn/ribbon.
• Tie six to ten varying lengths of yarn/ribbon around exterior of embroidery hoop. You can also tie one piece from the middle knot.
• Scotch tape corner of each snowflake to end of each piece of yarn/ribbon.
• Rehang your snowflake chandelier around a light fixture, in your favorite corner, or above your dining room table.
• Happy holiday decorating!

{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.

 ______________________________________
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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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

• DIY: One Wreath, Two Ways (casasugar.com)
• Deck the Haus: Recycled Magazine Wreath (casasugar.com)
• Crafty Christmas Week: DIY Recycled Wreath (allhome-improve.com)
• Customizable Fabric Scrap Wreath (blogher.com)

Another Carol Duval Show video! Making Polymer Clay Tree Ornaments

Image 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!

Related articles

• Do You Make Ornaments For Your Tree? (casasugar.com)
• Polymer clay anyone? (lulushappygogreen.wordpress.com)

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.

Christmas Decoration-Fabric Christmas Tree Tutorial

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