Christmas Tree Crafts

I have been planning on these Christmas tree crafts for some time now and one set is almost complete.  I know what you're thinking.  How many projects can she use twine for?  The answer is: a lot.  It has such a great color and texture combo and goes well with just about everything.  

Easy Handmade Gift Ideas

If you are like me you are always on the lookout for easy handmade gift ideas especially around the holidays.  It's always fun to receive gifts that are personal or have meaning.  In my family we rotate names between us siblings so that Christmas doesn't break the bank.  Last year my sister had me and I was beyond thrilled when I opened up these cute Christmas ornaments she hand painted.

No Sew Skirts for Your Tree

Last year I took on a massive project for Christmas... one of those no sew skirts for your Christmas tree that you have seen floating around Craftland.  Now no sew skirts are the way to go for someone like me who doesn't do a lot of sewing or own a sewing machine.  However, you may want to engage in a Pride and Prejudice (the long version) marathon while you're at it.  

Countdown Till Christmas Printable

Can you believe its almost December.  Ya me neither but I thought I would get this Countdown Till Christmas Printable ready for you a little early.   It seems like Christmas is just around the corner now that Thanksgiving has come and gone and my to-do list is getting bigger and bigger by the minute.  

Easy Christmas Ornanment Crafts

This week has been a bust for me when it came to projects and posts until I finished my easy Christmas ornament crafts.  Either I ran out of supplies, I couldn't get a good photo, I ran out of time, or it simply didn't turn out.  I sure tried though.  I was feeling a little sad that I didn't have anything new to show you this week.  That's when I had the idea at ten o'clock last night to make these easy Christmas ornament crafts.  

Cute Christmas Cards of Years Past

It's that time of year... have you started thinking about the cute Christmas cards you want to send out in the next few weeks?  I know I have and to be honest I'm feeling a little behind.  Usually by this time I have family photos done and the card all designed but this year got away from me.  I will get them out though!  This week I hope to finish 3-5 new templates available for purchase on my website.  In the meantime I thought I would show you some of my favorites from years past, all of which are still available plus 24 other designs. To check out these cute Christmas cards head on over to my website.

Shabby Christmas Tree Skirt (DIY)

Once again I have finally finished another Pinterest Project!!! I found and followed the directions for this Shabby Christmas Tree Skirt from Lauren over at My Crazy Life.

The directions themselves are super simple, the time it takes to complete the whole project is another story.  It took hours and hours and HOURS of hot gluing to get all these beautiful ruffles.

I highly recommend using a canvas painter's drop cloth as your base.  I originally cut out a muslin circle but knew that it would support the weight of the ruffles.  I found a 5 x 5 square drop cloth at Home Depot so I didn't have to make any adjustments before cutting out the circles.

I used an unbleached linen for most of the ruffles and a white cotton with silver flecks for a contrasting color and to make it unique to me.  I cut out three inch strips in both colors and began gluing my little heart away.

Now is where you will have to start using your imagination.  Imagine I have a whole tree... one that has beautiful white Christmas lights, silver and gold and just hint or red Christmas balls, silver and gold garland, and brown packages tied up with string placed strategically underneath on my brand new tree skirt.  Are you seeing my vision for the perfect Shabby Christmas Tree?

While my vision may not come to life this Christmas I am excited that my skirt turned out so well and I can't wait to see everything come together for next Christmas.

What does your Christmas tree look like?

Monday's Moment (Up On the Rooftop)

Photo Source: Joe Buckingham 

One of the great things about siblings is getting to share the excitement with one another. Today's Monday's Moment is more of a culmination of similar moments that happened on Christmas Eve growing up.  After the Shepherd Meal and caroling together as a family we would of course open our one gift.  Surprise, it's pajamas... again.  Then we would go down to our rooms, fall asleep quickly, and sleep in until 8 or 9 in the morning.  Ha ya right.

The family rule was that we weren't allowed to wake Mom and Dad up until 6:00 A.M. and we couldn't go upstairs and peek at our presents until they had gotten up.  After all, Santa is watching our every move to know if we are being good or bad.

Between the time we "went to bed" and could wake mom and dad up were the longest hours of our very existence.  The boys had a room and the girls had a room but on Christmas Eve it wasn't uncommon for us all to end up in one room, each counting down the minutes by increments of 15.  I remember one particular Christmas Eve we tried to stay up ALL night long and we made it until probably 4:30 or 5:00 bouncing with excitement, wondering what we would get, analyzing each sound wondering if we had just heard the reindeer on top, etc.

Another night I remember being so excited that I couldn't sleep, which was pretty much every Christmas Eve.  Anyway, I lay in my bed when I swear I heard a sound coming from the fireplace in the next room followed by a creak on the stairs.  It had to be Santa and since he know's if your sleeping I hurried and shut my eyes hoping he wouldn't skip our house.

As I got to be a teenager it was still fun to have my younger siblings come wake me up wondering if we could get Mom and Dad up yet.  The funny part is that my youngest sister sleeps like a log and out of all of us kids could totally sleep through Christmas morning if we didn't wake her up.

Confession:  I still get a little giddy on Christmas Eve and wake up more than usual wondering how long until we can get up out of bed.

It's funny but no matter how old I get I don't think I will ever outgrow the "Christmas Magic" especially since so many fond memories are attached to it.

What were your Christmas Eve traditions?

The Weekend Before Christmas

Photo Source: Thragor

Twas the weekend before Christmas and all through the house not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse... or cricket or whatever we may have. Why? Because they can't find their way through all the chaos!

Ok this Christmas season has not gone quite like I had planned. First off we are still missing half of our tree. We let someone borrow it last year as we were still moving into our house after repairs from the tornado and somehow the top didn't make it into the box. Thus I think I'm going to need to buy a new one after Christmas when they all go on sale. Suffice it to say my house is nowhere near designer decorated liked I had hoped.

This weekend is getting busier by the minute between cookie exchanges, dinner parties, lesson preparations, finishing my new tree skirt etc. I swear every time I get the kitchen cleaned it explodes into a bigger mess than what I just cleaned up after from all of the cooking.

However, I'm getting ready to head to the post office to finally mail off my Christmas cards and the last of my Christmas presents. While I feel like many my plans have fallen through and my house is turning into a war zone I still feel merry... and bright. Christmas will not be canceled no matter what does or doesn't go according to plan.

Next week I hope to reveal my finished tree skirt and another Christmas project even if they are a few weeks late as well as make a couple of big announcements, like REALLY BIG.

How is your Christmas list coming? What's left? What do your weekend plans entail?

Monday's Moment (Shepherd's Meal)

Ok I know I've taken a few weeks off from Monday's Moments but it's time to get back on the band wagon. Today's post is all about TRADITIONS.

When you hear the word "tradition" is it said in Tevye's voice from Fiddler on the Roof. Ya same here. In fact the song starts playing as soon as I think of it.

The holidays are often filled with various traditions. The husband and I are still trying on a few for size and deciding which traditions we as a family would like to continue on with. However, today I would like to talk about a Christmas tradition I had growing up.

Every Christmas Eve we would read the Christmas Story from Luke. When we were young we started adding on to this tradition by eating a "Shepherd's Meal" while someone read the story. We would pull out the blankets for an indoor picnic, turn some of the lights out and grab our meal that was in a muslin bag. Inside the bag we would find jerky, string cheese, crackers, grapes, and a juice box. Following the story and our meal we would sing a few Christmas hymns.

I loved this tradition because it helped us as kids to take a moment and realize the humble circumstances in which the Christmas Story is told. Our focus was momentarily shifted from the "I Wants" to the true meaning of Christmas : love, service, gratitude, joy, and Hope.

Hubby and I have yet to decide if we will continue this tradition but it is one I would like to at least try once those stubborn children of ours show up.

What are some of your favorite holiday traditions?