~*~ Start a wish book: Using a medium-sized notebook, make a divider for each person in the family. Each person's section includes a page for clothing sizes, items needed, and items, wanted. Decorate the book with fabric, wrapping paper, or contact paper. When Christmas (or birthday) gift suggestions are needed, one glance at the book, and you can select the perfect gift. Compare notes so that you all won't buy the same gift. Keep the notebook in a location accessible to all family members and use it year after year. Make year dividers at the end of the notebook to keep last years pages. You'll enjoy looking back in the years to come. ~*~ Christmas Story Time Read a favorite Christmas story together as a family after dinner or before going to bed on Christmas Eve ~*~ Ornament Keepsake Give each family member an ornament every year. Gives them something to use year after year. ~*~ Christmas Elves Each week in December, have each person draw the name of a different family member. Do secret acts of kindness for the person during the week. ~*~ Family Christmas Book On separate pieces of paper, have each person record a favorite memory about each of the other family members. The written memory should be about something that occurred during the past year, and might be a shared experience, a kindness done, a good attribute noticed, or an amusing anecdote. Collect all the papers and preserve them in your family Christmas Book to savor for years to come. ~*~ A Squeeze and A Kiss If you can't give your sweetie a squeeze and a kiss in person, send this! 1 squeeze-it container of kool-aid 1 Hershey Kiss Hang a note around the container that reads "Here's a squeeze and a kiss" but use a Hershey kiss instead of the word. ~*~ I'm making a heirloom wreath for my son. You cover a straw wreath with any strips of material and embroidery the family names on each strip. One side for dad's family one for mom's. ~*~ I put our Christmas ornaments in separate Ziploc bags. In each bag, along with the ornament, is a little note that tells who the ornament belongs to (kids can take theirs with them when they're grown), who gave it to them, and any other special information, like if someone made it or if it was a particular ornament they wanted to buy that year. I think it makes each ornament even more special to remember those details! ~*~ Take plain Christmas balls, clear or colored, and paint designs on. I used acrylic craft paint and small brushes, but you could easily use paint pens to make it easier. I wish I had thought of paint pens when I was making them myself. You can add names and dates on the bottom or back side. Paint with gold, silver, red, green, white... Paint easy motifs like trees, stockings, candles, stars, sleds, etc. My favorite was a heart with a leaf added as if it were an apple. ~*~ House Bells for Christmas Material: Big huge red plastic bows 2 liter plastic bottles (empty and cleaned) Gold cord (or anything that you like)and length is what you decide Gold spray paint jumbo jingle bells wash and clean the bottle, Do not throw away the cap!!. starting at the top look down about 2 inches from where it quits sloping. Cut around the bottle at this point. You will now have the top away from the bottom. Cut another inch round from the same bottle (not the top but the bottom part) Cut a small round piece to fit up in the neck of the bottle (this piece can be up to you as the size, I made mine to where it would not go past the neck of the bottle. Melt a hole in the top of the lid of the bottle with a hot nail or icepick (it will smell awful but worth it). Spray paint the top of the bottle with Gold paint. ASSEMBLY: Put your jingle bell on one end of the cord and tie it securley (remember the winds will be blowing this so make sure they are tightly tied) :-) bring the cord thru the middle of the plastic disk and up thru the lid of the bottle (you might want to take off the lid for this) after lid is on bottle pull cord snug so it will pull the round disk up snug agains the top of the bottle (not to hard or it will bend inside of it). tie a knot in the cord on the top of the lid that way it will keep the bell and disk in place. Bring the cord up to where you want to cut it off. Attache the plastic bow to the bell about at the lid. I did these to hang on my Porch and everyone stopped to see them. They were impressive. That year my house was the talk of the town :-) I live in Tx and I wanted snow that year for christmas so I made it. I covered my mail box and brick fence and some other things with it. I call my in-laws and told them it snowed at my place and to come see it. Well they knew I had done something but not what :-) I saw the mailcarrier deliver the mail and she had to feel of it every day because she was mystified with it. People walking by had to feel of it because it was such a sight with us being the only one with snow VBG.I should have added this were for the outside :-) You could use them inside also but I made them for the outside. Also continue cutting the bottle with as many rings as you can get inch wide or smaller. These can be melted in the oven to make ornaments of different shapes. You have no control over the plastic and no two are ever alike. You can melt them and they will have spaces in them where you can hange tiny bells or what ever you want. It will be according to what the space is like. ~*~ Christmas Tealights Draw a equilateral triangle 10cm each side lightly in pencil, draw another on top to make 6 pointed star. Do another star but 8cms then another 6.5cms. Draw a circle in the middle of each star exactly the same size as a tealight. Draw around each stars points turning them into holly leaf shapes ( or snowflake arms). Paint then cut around the leaves leaving the centre intact. Glue all three together smallest on top. Decorate the sides of the metal cup that the tealight sits in using non flammable glitter, tinsel, berries or whatever you fancy, simply place on your flower. Do not leave unattended when lit for obvious reasons. ~*~ Christmas Table Topper What you'll need: Rayon or polyester velvet 1 1/4 yards square or to fit your table 2-3 large rubber stamps (4-6 inches long) iron thread to match velvet 1. Using of different but complementary designs, decide on the approximate position of each stamp. Make a sketch on paper to use as a pattern, or mark the places on the back of the fabric with chalk. Keep the layout random. 2. Clamp one of the stamps to your workbench. This will prevent the block from shifting, which can cause a double image. 3. Position the velvet over the rubber stamp, nap side down, where you want the image. 4. With a hot, dry iron, firmly press down on the back of the velvet over the rubber stamp. Hold for 5 seconds. Avoiding using the areas with stream vents, which will leave bumps where the holes don't crush the pile. 5. Repeat this process and finish your pattern with all the rubber stamps until you have completed your design. 6. To finish the tablecloth, roll the edges of the velvet to the wrong side and blind-fold-stitch in place. ~*~ Gift for a friend who loves chocolate Paper Mache' box Lots of chocolate You can by the boxes at most crafts store fairly cheap. Decorate anyway that you would like...I'll probably decorate with chocolates (decoupaged) and then fill with her favorite chocolates. She's orginally from England, we have a British store here so I will get some Chocolates from there (just a little piece of Home) And attach : CHOCOLATE LOVERS BOX...OPEN IN CASE OF CRAVING I think that she would really like something like this. ~*~ Christmas Tips 1. Fill your car with Christmas scent. 2. Call a childhood friend whom you haven't talked to in a long while. 3. Take out an old photo album and look through it with your family. 4. Wear red to bed. 5. Brew something wonderful - spiced tea or mulled cider with cloves-to drink while you wrap presents. 6. Send a video "greeting card" to a friend or relative - they're fun to make and a refreshing pleasure to receive. 7. Give a gift of time or money to charity. 8. Answer the phone "Merry Christmas." 9. Christmas Stockings - parents get sentimental about trinkets that their children leave behind as they grow up (old scout pins, charms from necklaces and bracelets, favorite shells and pebbles, and other memory-making little toys and baubles are hard to part with. Instead of tossing these items, use them to dress up Christmas stockings. Stitch, pin, or tie these treasures to the top, edge, body of the stocking and you'll have a family keepsake to cherish and one they can treasure and pass on to their children. 10. Bring out that favorite glass punch bowl you save for only special occasions. Fill it with cloved oranges, holly leaves, lady apples and cinnamon sticks for a refreshing sent. Or fill with glass ornaments and frilly fancy tree garland with pine boughs. 11. Have an old sled in the shed/attic - if not hunt one down at a garage sale. Then decorate it with garlands of balsam or holly (the entire length of the sled), add a strand of white lights placed on top of the boughs. Add a broad christmas ribbon at the top. Pine cones can also be added. This sled adds a festive touch to any room when placed in a corner or leaned against a wall (make sure you plug in the lights). 12.Want to dressup a fireplace mantel, side table or piano for the holidays, photocopy a selection of your favorite hymns or carols from books you can find at the public library (the more elaborately designed the pages, the better). Place them in small gold (fancy edged) frames. Place about four side by side with some greenery and pine cones set in front of them. Add some nice gold ball ornaments in the greenery as well. 13. Tired of finding a way to display your Christmas Cards - make a beautiful display case by simply hinging together two to four louvered wooden shutters (you can paint a festive color if desired). Then just slip the cards in the slots. The rack can stand in any room, or buy small shutters to set on a table. 14. Have a sunny window. Place an assortment of vinegar, wine and perfume bottles filled with green and red colored water (use food coloring). This gives a festive stained-glass effect. ~*~ Choose a friend or neighbor and you leave the following on their door step (for the next 12 days)....ring the bell and RUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! On the 12th day, if you want you can be waiting at the door, when they answer the door bell. FIRST DAY: On this night you give a "christmas greenery picture, with a bird on it. Roses are Red A pear is green A partridge from friends Who cannot be seen. Place your stocking Outside every night And your friends will Appear from out of sight We'll have to be tricky Don't watch for us running If you catch us too early We might just stop coming!!!! SECOND DAY: give 2 foil wrapped chocolate Santa's Two turtle doves would Have brightened your day Instead we bring Santa's 'Cause the birds flew away THIRD DAY: give 3 foil wrapped chocolate ornament balls (or chocolate eggs if possible) As the story tells it Three Hens you should get But France is all sold out So warm this "starter set" FOURTH DAY: Give 4 small candy canes The clerk where we went shopping Must have really been insane We asked for "calling birds" What we got were candy canes FIFTH DAY: Give 5 butterscotch lifesavers On the fifth night of Christmas (As everybody sings) Your true friends will send you Five golden rings SIXTH DAY: Give 6 pack of root beer A sixth night of birds Would not have brought you cheer So for merriment and laughter What could possibly top beer? SEVENTH DAY: Give Hershey Kisses Seven swans a swimming All swam away, So please accept these kisses To close out your good day. EIGHTH DAY: Give qt carton of chocolate milk & a straw Because of the way Inflation has hit, Eight maids were unwilling to do their bit. It's up to you-- We wish you well. Scarf with this straw But do not tell!!! NINTH DAY: Give 9 foil wrapped chocolate coins We cannot find them anywhere, We know that isn't funny. You'll have to make your own fun do And spend this on your honey. TENTH DAY: Give small stocking with small small hard tack candy, sm. candy cane,cherry lifesavers. The ten lords-a-leapin' Were really leaping fast. In fact, when I arrived there, They'd all passed but the last. I tried to catch up anyway, The result was rather shocking. Nine got away, but that's okay I caught the tenth one's stocking. The count down's coming fast, you know Just two more nights to go But if perchance you'll not be home Please check the box below We'd hate to miss the moment So if you've plans to leave Please indicate and let us know You'll be gone on Christmas Eve. ___ We'll be home 'till ________ p.m., waiting with bated breath!!!! ___ We won't be home at all but we'll have bated breath!!! ___ We won't be home or have bated breath!!!! ELEVENTH DAY: Give New Year's eve horn Eleven pipers piping Are really hard to find, And so we bring this pipe to you So you can blow your mind. Eleven nights are down, There's just one more to go Tomorrow evening, if you're nice Our faces we will show. TWELFTH DAY: Give a plate of goodies We told you that your Christmas friends Would show themselves to you. Born in the month, December, That much is surely true. We came of Christmas spirit One evening Born to bring the season's cheer Then vanish out of sight. The thing to now remember, If you've had lots of fun When next December rolls around YOU make the nightly runs. Make sure you pick your family With tender, loving care "Cause it's fun to get to know them, And such special friendship share.