Here's another easy Christmas craft to make!

I know it is early in the year, but Christmas will arrive before you realize it and you will be frantically trying to enjoy the holiday while being stressed out with decorating, cooking, shopping, mailing, etc.  Why not start now to make a few lovely crafts to decorate your home this year and then maybe make some cards in the evening while watching television.  Before you know it, you will have the house festively dressed and your cards in the mail early!  All you will have to do then is shop and cook.  I might even have a few suggestions to make those two things quick and painless, too!

So, here is another fun Christmas craft for you and your family to make. Make a bunch and use these to hang on the tree.

Beaded Christmas Angel

The pictorials are illustrated with spaces between beads for a clearer direction, in the actual beading, there should be no spaces.

Beaded Angel Charm What you need: 1)  Long Bugle Beads size 11/0 (half a centimeter long bugles - transparent or      silver white color) 2)  Glass seed beads size 12/0 (silver white) OR 2 Heart shaped Swarovski crystals. 3)  One Swarovski Round spacer Rondelles (8mm). 4)  One 8mm round Swarovski crystal (white or beige), three 4mm transparent and      eight 3mm transparent Swarovski crystal bicones. 5)  One long head pin and one white or transparent 3mm bead of any type. 6)  Beading string (0.25mm) and Round tip pliers.
Step 1: The skirt for the angel: Cut a piece of short string, around 6 inches long. Add six size 12/0 white bead right at the middle of the string (marked by the red dot). Crisscross the other string through the last bead added (shown where both arrow exits) Making a beaded circle.
Step 2: Continue to: Add one long bugle, one 3mm crystal bicone and one last long bugle on the bottom (red) string. Crisscross the other side of the string (black) through the last long bugle added. Continue to pass the red string (the one you used to add new beads on this step) through one old size 12.0 white bead from step 1 marked with A.
Step 3: Continue to: Add one 3mm crystal bicone and one last long bugle on the right (black) string. Crisscross the other side of the string (red) through the last long bugle added. Continue to pass the black string (the one you used to add new beads on this step) through one old size 12.0 white bead from step 1 marked with A.
Step 4: Continue to: Add one 3mm crystal bicone and one last long bugle on the top (red) string. Crisscross the other side of the string (black) through the last long bugle added. Continue to pass the red string (the one you used to add new beads on this step) through one old size 12.0 white bead from step 1 marked with A.
Step 5: Continue to: Add one 3mm crystal bicone and one last long bugle on the top (black) string. Crisscross the other side of the string (red) through the last long bugle added. Continue to pass the black string (the one you used to add new beads on this step) through one old size 12.0 white bead from step 1 marked with A.
Step 6: Continue to: Add one 3mm crystal bicone and one last long bugle on the left (red) string. Crisscross the other side of the string (black) through the last long bugle added. Continue to pass the red string (the one you used to add new beads on this step) through one old size 12.0 white bead from step 1 and one old long bugle from step 2 marked with A and B.
Step 7: Continue to: Add one last 3mm crystal bicone and tie off, pass the excess string back through the piece so that the knot will not come off so easily. Now you have finished the skirt for the angel.
Step 8: The middle wing section for the angel: Cut a piece of short string, around 4 inches long. Add one one heart shaped crystal, one 4mm crystal, two 3mm crystal, one 4mm crystal, one heart shaped crystal and one last 4mm crystal, tie off and pass the excess string back through the piece so that the knot will not come off so easily. Options for the wings of the angel: Use two heart shaped crystal or make two heart shape with size 11/0 silver white glass seed bead (just like the one in my photo). Click here for the tutorial to make the heart shape with seed beads. But remember you only need to follow the first three steps on that tutorial as you do not need double layered heart shape.
Step 9: Putting the Christmas Crystal Angel Charm together! Take one long eye pin, add one 3mm bead of any kind as long as it is white or transparent. Add on the bottom skirt piece. Add on the middle Angel wings piece. Add on one 8mm beige or peach color Swarovski crystal. Add on one Swarovski Round spacer Rondelle. Cut away excess tip of the head pin, leaving only around 1cm for curling. Bent the excess 1cm head pin tip with pliers into a 90 degree angle bent. Use a round tip pliers to curl the head pin tip into a closed loop. Now you can add it to either your necklace chain, charm hook or even make one more and add earring hooks on to wear as earrings.

Here's the link to the original post where you will find even more fun Christmas Crafts!

Christmas will be here before you blink twice!

With half of this year almost gone, it really is time to start thinking about the Christmas holidays.  Although I am sure no one will start their Christmas shopping this early except me, I thought this would be the perfect time to begin showcasing easy, fun ways to make the holidays truly family centered and maybe help it to be less stressful.  To that end, I will be posting easy Christmas decorations you and the kids can be making now, as well as easy, breezy Christmas cards to make and send this year.  Hope you enjoy!

Here's a cute idea for decorating the outside of your home.  It is inexpensive and takes just a bit of skill, but the effect is beautiful!

Outdoor Holiday Decorating -- Snowflake Curtain
This was taken from Fabulous Living's site and copied here for your use.  Please visit the original site to see more ideas!

Author Notes:	Plastic snowflakes from the dollar store transform the front of a house into a winter wonderland with this ingenious yet inexpensive holiday decorating idea. Lisa Dodez originally came up with the plan.  She hung the snowflakes by her Gautier, Mississippi home's entrace in a free hanging curtain, as she had nothing to anchor them to on the bottom.  Needless to say, the wind quickly made a mess of things by tangling the lines (although to be honest, even in this state, it still looked pretty). Cheri's home in Big Bear, California, with its front porch railings, seemed more suitable, as the hanging snowflakes could be anchored at the top and bottom, creating a luminous snowflake wall that looks great day or night.  If you have such a set up at your home, give this a try and be prepared for tons of compliments from the neighbors!
Supplies:	scrap piece of wood for template small screw in cup hooks (you will need twice the number of hooks as you want strand of snowflakes plus 2) small elastic hair ties (double the number of strands you plan on making) various sized plastic snowflake Christmas ornaments (see notes below) clear fishing line hot glue gun and glue scissors tape measure
Instructions:	We found the snowflake ornaments at the dollar store.  Depending on the size, they come several to a pack (meaning the smaller ones are 3 or 4 for a dollar).  We have less than $20.00 invested in this entire project.  How many you need will depend on how many strands you want to make, the length of those strands, and how close you place your strands together.  For the snowflake curtain in these photos, we used 4 to 6 snowflakes per strand, and we placed our strands about 1 foot apart across the entire front of our porch. The first step is to measure, mark, and insert cup hooks where you want your strands of snowflakes to hang.  We measured across the top of our porch, putting pencil marks about every foot.  We repeated this on the bottom.  Now put a cup hook where each of your top and bottom markings are -- we placed the top hook about 6 inches above the top sightline, and the bottom hooks underneath the porch railing, also out of sight from the front. Making a template is optional -- you could certainly do this project without one just by measuring carefully, but we found it made the process quicker, easier and neater.  To do this take a scrap piece of wood that is least the length between the two cup hooks on your porch.  The template essentially duplicates the cup hook scenario so you can quickly and easily make the snowflake strands.  Screw a cup hook into each end of the wooden template. To begin making the snowflake strands, tie one end of the fishing line onto a doubled up elastic hair tie.  Put the hair tie loops over one of the cup hooks on the wooden template.  Unroll the fishing line the length you need and tie another doubled up hair tie on the other end and slip it over the cup hook on the other end of the template.  This is how the strand will hand on the cup hooks on your porch, so make sure to get the length correct -- long enough to reach but without too much slack (the elastic hair ties help make this easy). Slip a piece of paper under the fishing line to protect your surface from glue, and position snowflakes under the fishing line strand in a pleasing arrangement, as in the photo below. While holding the fishing line in place (it helps to have 2 sets of hands), run a line of hot glue down the center of the ornament right over the fishing line. Using your fingers on both sides of the snowflake as in the photo below, hold the fishing line in the glue for a few seconds until the glue begins to set and dry, fusing the fishing line to the ornament.  Repeat with the remaining ornaments in the strand. Repeat the process to make as many strand of snowflakes as you need.  For a more natural look, try to stagger placement and sizes of the snowflakes in each strand. Now take each strand and hang them on the cup hooks you placed on your porch.  If you used a template, they should be the prefect length to hang between the top and bottom sets of cup hooks. At night we opted for all blue lights to keep with the ice/snow theme.  White lights would have also worked well, but as you can see from the photo below, the snowflakes also look great in the daytime without any special lighting.

Single: The magic of Internet shopping

Image via CrunchBase

Here's a funny article about buying for Christmas.  She is humorous, but very informative.  Read the whole article and see if you get any ideas.  Only 15 days until Christmas, time for serious shopping!

**********************************************************************************

By Heather Mackenzie

December 10, 2009 2:00 AM

The holiday spirit seems to be infesting me earlier and earlier every year. This time, it was buzzing around me before Thanksgiving plans were even being considered, whispering in my ear that I should start shopping immediately or I would be doomed, doomed. And seeing as how I usually start shopping on Dec. 23 (with mixed results), I decided to listen to that little persuasive voice.

I started hounding my innocent family members to put together wish lists RIGHTAWAY so I could just get on with the shopping already. Then, Black Friday came and went and so did Cyber Monday, and I was a little bitter they didn't quite get their acts together in time for me to get the best deals. After all, it's in their best interests to do so. Still, I've managed to rise above these Herculean-esque challenges, and had over half of my Christmas shopping done before I even set up my tree. This Christmas miracle, dear readers, is all thanks to the Internet.

I love Internet gift shopping. It's just so easy. You browse, you find something interesting, you click and then a few days later it shows up on your doorstep, all perky and new and ready to be wrapped. (Sometimes, to fight off the tiny niggle of disappointment that I've received a package full of stuff for everyone else, I'll throw in a little something for me. I mean, I'm being generous! I SHOULD be rewarded. And no, I do not need another lecture about the true meaning of Christmas or the joy of giving. I'll remember all that later in the month, when the frenzy of shopping has receded and there's room in my soul again for kindness, hope, and love.)

Sadly, some people (cough *the Boy*cough) seem a little intimidated when it comes to online shopping, even though the idea of heading to the mall fills them with Grinchy dread. So in the spirit of helping other people give and thusly improving their lives and overall happiness, I'll step in and offer up three of my favorite Web sites that can help ease the panic.

Amazon.com- This one may seem obvious, as it pretty much has everything and at shiny discounted prices. Also, if your order is over $25, it probably qualifies for free shipping. But the real benefit of this site is that you can put together a wish list so people who want to give you things (like ME!) actually give you what you want. And if you add the Universal Wish list button, you can add things from anywhere on the Web. (However, only items ordered from Amazon can be sent directly to your house unless the gift giver knows your address, because, wisely, Amazon will not disclose where you live.)

Thinkgeek.com- Maybe he NEEDS a tauntaun sleeping bag or an electric guitar T-shirt he can both wear and play. If someone in your life is a techie or Trekkie or any other kind of lovable geek, check this site out. There are handy gift guides for both him and her. There is also a whole section on zombies. Everyone loves zombies.

Etsy.com- This is a site full of handmade things. Jewelry, artwork, clothing. And lest you start to imagine a church holiday fair full of bad macramé, the items for sale are often beautiful and well-made. Also, you're buying directly from the artist, which is win-win. (This site also has gift guides. In fact, most sites do, which is really convenient for everyone. Thanks, Web sites!)

Remember to check out shipping guidelines so you're not looking all Scrooge-ish at Christmas when the goods have yet to arrive. In most cases, orders using ground shipping (often free!) need to be placed by Dec. 17, if not sooner. Also, do a search for promo codes for the sites you're using, as you can often get additional discounts.

So good luck, shoppers. (Just beware the slightly addictive qualities of online shopping, or you'll be like me, awaiting packages from Australia and Japan and making your credit card quiver in fear.)

Heather apologizes for not getting these suggestions out in time for Hanukkah. You can send her holiday wishes at singleontheseacoast@gmail.com.

To read the original article>>>>>click here

Related articles by Zemanta

• Do You Need a Holiday After the Stress of Holiday Planning? (blogs.wsj.com)
• Sales and Deals Highlights: 11-25-09 (shoppingblog.com)
• The 5 Best Websites for Finding Cyber Monday Deals (businesspundit.com)
• Quoted - This year, holiday trimmings are in spending - Denver Post (scotttesta.com)

Top 10 Gadgets For 2009. A Christmas Buying Guide For Tech Junkies

This really does seem to be the Christmas for gadgets and electronics.  Here's another article that lists some of the hottest buys this year.  You cannot go wrong with any of these products--just be sure to match the product with the appropriate recipient.

I know I love gadgets, but I have trouble staying up with all the new technological changes.  I probably will need to look into a few of these for myself--just for research purposes you understand.

*********************************************************************************
If you can’t find that perfect gift for the tech loving person in your life we have listed a few options you may not have considered. From gaming systems to pico projectors and mobile phones, this is the Inquisitr Top 10 Gadgets List for 2009, a list composed of “mostly” readily available Gadgets that you can buy for your loved ones this Christmas.

1. PS3 Slim

While The Sony Playstation 3 has been around for a while, Sony recently released the Slim version of the device and at $299 users can beat the gaming systems Blu-Ray and Gaming Capabilities. If you have a gamer in your life who doesn’t have a PS3 or needs to replace their old console, this is a great and fairly cheap option. Also watch out for game bundles that are offered with some system sales.

2. Motorola Droid

While we love the iPhone, the Droid really does do everything users could want from a device and it does it with the hottest new mobile operating system on the market (Google Android 2.0).  We love the feel of the device, the thousands of apps now offered for Google Android and the fact that AT&T isn’t shoving it in our faces. If you’re a Verizon customer this is the only phone you should be considering. Price: $199 with a two-year contract.

3.  Flip Mino HD

This device comes with 4GB and 8GB options. Regardless of the size you choose you’ll love the small candybar style design with 720p  recording capabilities and an upgraded mic that provides better (not perfect but improved) voice recording. While 1080P camcorders are still our number one choice, you can’t beat the starting price of $199. They’ve already received moderately good reviews, although if you need “professional quality” videography you’ll definitely want to look elsewhere, this is more for recording your kids school plays and family vacations.

4. Barnes & Noble Nook

This device is one of our favorites for the year, but beware, it’s only worth the buy if you don’t mind giving it as a late present (January 15th expected delivery date). Even with the late date we couldn’t leave the device with it’s dual displays, including a 3.5 inch color LCD screen, e-Ink features and expandable memory off the list.  We also couldn’t ignore the WiFi and AT&T 3G capabilities of the device and the ability to download full books for reading while in Barnes & Noble stores and the devices sexy look that makes the Kindle look old fashioned.

5. Nintendo DSi

With the PS3 Slim taking our top console spot we felt it only fair to acknowledge Nintendo’s handheld gaming system. We  love the inclusion of an integrated camera (even if it is only 0.3MP), the larger 3.25″ screen (original had 3″), the MicroSDHC card slot that can playback audio and most importantly the new DSi shop, after all you can’t have a truly connected device these days without an App store of some kind.

6. Windows 7

Yeah I know the purist will say “that’s not a gadget” but software powers the top gadgets we use and Windows 7 finally fixed many of the gripes users had with Microsoft OS’s.  We love the new user interface, jump lists, the taskbar with full screen previews, webslices, better device management, increased security that isn’t so obtrusive and many other features of the new OS. If you want to buy someone a product that will reduce their Windows Vista headaches a nicely wrapped copy of Windows 7 is a great way to go.

7.  Apple Magic Mouse

It was a given that we’d like this option from Apple more than their crappy Mighty Mouse and we were right. The first mouse to feature touchpad use is ergonomically pleasing, orgasmic to look at and fairly cheap at $69. If you have a Mighty Mouse its time to ask Santa for the Magic Mouse, you’ll wonder how you lived without it all these years.

8. Novatel MiFi 2200

If you’re on the Sprint or Verizon networks and you travel a lot or you want a makeshift WiFi network for your home or business you need to buy this device. The MiFi 2200 turns your phones 3G into an impromptu WiFi network. Just be warned that downloading huge files can quickly zap your typical 5GB monthly data allowance.  The device is very portable and extremely simple to use with quick network access at the core of the device.

9. PowerMat

If you have an iPod and two cell phones sitting around you might run into issues if you only have one wall outlet available. Then again why would you both plugging in your electronics to charge them when you can just place them down on a mat and let that device charge your electronics without any wiring. If you want to avoid clutter at home or the office this is a must have gadget for all of your electronics charging needs.

10. 3M MPro120

Pico projectors have been all the rage in 2009 and the 3M MPro120 was one of the most impressive mini projectors

to grace retail locations. The unit can fit in your hand comfortably, yet it’s capable of creating images on surfaces from 8 to 50 inches away and it works with various device including cameras, phones and computers. For the traveling business person in your life who has everything this is a great option for $350.
Those are 10 of our top picks for 2009. There were many other gadgets that also received our attention, however these were units we got our hands on, thoroughly tested and found to be at the top of their class.
Feel free to add your own picks as a comment and we’ll put together a “users choice” list in the coming weeks.

To see the original article posting>>>click here

Related posts:

1. Asus MS Series LCD Monitors Offer High Tech Looks With High Tech Features
2. ViewSonic VPC08 Windows XP MID-phone Gets Spotted In New Pictures
3. Novatel Wireless MiFi 2372 Now On Sale At Bell Mobility
4. HTC Leo Photo Rendering Gets Leaked. Looks Like A WinMo 6.5 Touch HD
5. GP2X Wiz MAME/Amiga Console Emulator. The Commodore 64 Is Cool Again. But Not Really

Christmas Eve shipping deadlines are nearing

With only 17 days left until Christmas, that doesn't leave much time to get a present purchased and shipped.
Deadlines are fast approaching to get delivery by Christmas, so beware!

This season, it seems the big winners are electronics and gadgets.

• The electronic book reader--making taking a book along easier than ever before
• Big screen HD LCD 1080p televisions--encouraging us to spend more time at home
• Game systems, like the Wii --keeping the kids entertained and active, but at home
• GPS systems--helping all of us to stay on track and save gasoline
• Cameras and camcorders--for the geeks and the creatives in the family
• Netbooks--these little computers are all the rage everywhere

These gifts can all be bought online for ease and convenience, but watch those deadlines.  Those of you who thrive fighting crowds, looking for parking, finding the store to be "out of stock", and trying to save a dollar by spending 10 hours going from store to store--for you--there is still time for shopping!


******************************************************************


I'm still in the midst of Christmas gift buying, and I'm sure many of you can relate.
Here's a handy guide from dealnews.com that shows some retailer's shipping deadlines for delivery by Christmas Eve. Included in this list are Amazon, Macy's, Williams-Sonoma, L.L. Bean and Best Buy.
These deadlines still are more than a week away, but it's good to keep them in mind to avoid a last-minute scramble.

To view the original article>>click here

Related articles by Zemanta

• New Sony Reader May Miss Christmas for Some (bits.blogs.nytimes.com)
• "How to Save 30-70% on Holiday Shopping" -- The One-click Comparison Shopping Toolbar for Cash-strapped Americans (prweb.com)
• -Rating Retailers: The 'Christmas Friendly' and the 'Scoogies' of the Week (answersforthefaith.com)

Here's a message from Santa!

	Chocolate Chip, Sugar, or Snicker Doodle? Wondering what kind of cookies Santa would like on Christmas Eve? Wondering if you made the Naughty or Nice List? Ask him personally! A live phone call from SantaSpeaking.com offers the newest, most exciting and memorable way to talk to Santa! When Santa calls, Santa will know everything Santa Claus should know… right down to the details! Schedule your LIVE highly personalized phone call with Santa Claus today—just like Katie Couric, Rachael Ray, and Charlie Gibson did!
We sincerely thank the more than 10 million visitors to Northpole.com during 2008 and to all of you who sent emails of thanks and appreciation for our site. It has truly been an honor to entertain you for the last twelve years. We hope to always be able to provide you with an enriched Christmas experience through a totally child-safe, innovative, imaginative, and yet traditional holiday website.
So, are you ready for some Christmas magic? We're ready for you at www.northpole.com, where you'll find hours of free activities and family entertainment! Just look at what's waiting for you in Santa's Secret Village:
	Games, Games, Games! With help from my elves Sally and Gwendolyn, children can learn while playing our newest games: Tell Time and Count Money. Don't miss Cheery Checkers, where you can play against me (Santa) in a challenging game of checkers. I see that many of you are practicing your holiday decorating ideas playing Trim the Tree, and enjoying a cyberspace snowfall with Build a Snowman!
	Birthday Cards from Santa! Only at the Northpole! This is just one of the free treats Santa has in his bag, and it celebrates each child's own special daywhatever time of year it comes. Parents, come register children to receive a birthday e-card from Santa. Just go to Santa's Mailroom and register the child's name, birth date, and email address. Remember, your information is safe with us. Northpole.com follows a strict privacy policy and does not share personally identifiable information with third parties.
	Narrated story telling Select from over 20 stories and enjoy reading along while the story is read by one of Santa's elves.
	NORAD Follow Santa this Chrismas Eve via Northpole.com and our direct pipeline with the NORAD Santa Tracker. Throughout the day Dec. 24, just click our direct link to to NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command) for a satellite view of Santa's travels.
	What's Cookin'? Our recipe quick-search and metric conversion table make it a snap to find and make favorites, like that special pumpkin cookie recipe everyone is raving about. Also, be sure to submit your favorite recipe online for consideration in Mrs. Claus' Cookbook.
	Penny, Nickel, Dime, Quarter Thousands of children have played Santa's Count Money game throughout 2004, proving that learninghow to count coins and dollars and make changereally is child's play!
A quick list to your all-time favorites—all free!
	Santa's Good Deeds Calendar Our very popular Good Deeds Calendars encourage good behavior throughout the year. A gentle reminder of the spirit of Christmas all year long, the calendars are a great way to give children a sense of accomplishment. Post them on the refrigerator or in your child's bedroom. Each day children check off achievements, and on Christmas Eve they can leave calendars under the tree to show Santa just how good they've been.
	Personalized Stories to Print Personalize a story for a special child. Select from 3 original northpole.com stories and complete a simple form with the child's name, hometown, favorite toy/activity/dessert, and best friend's name. The story presents your child as the star character! Printed stories make a great gift from Grandma or Grandpa. Kids love them!
	Elf Pal Academy An animated classroom offers more than 90 different fun and festive activities for youngsters, including mazes, connect-the-dots, counting, concentration, sound recognition, word search, math riddles, and more! Activities can be just for fun or incorporated into lesson plans.
	Disco Dancing Santa Disco Dancing Santa has brought giggles to many and is sure to delight you, too. Help Santa find his groove to holiday disco music, then share the fun by emailing him to family and friends.
	Letters to Santa Northpole.com provides children a quick, secure, and certain means to write Santa AND get a reply letter within two days.
	Animated Postcards Our postcards are still an all-time favorite and a quick way to send friends and family a personal holiday note.
Well, I'm off to the Workshop to test some new toys...
	Love,

Related articles by Zemanta

• OWM#19:Ornaments (momblognetwork.com)
• Give Your Child the Excitement of a Letter from Santa! (momblognetwork.com)
• Letters to a Rotund Holiday Fellow (oneriot.com)
• Letter To Santa (slideshare.net)
• The Elves are Back in Town, The Tradition continues...& WIN!* (theplussizemommy.com)
• Santa: 'I know who's naughty, nice' (parentcentral.ca)
• When to tell the truth about Santa (blisstree.com)