A-Craft-A-Day Christmas Ideas
(page5)

Each year my friend has a tree trimming party. Each of the guests are asked to bring pot luck and she makes dessert. After dinner they all get to work together. It's a fun evening and it gets the job done in a fun way. (One person does lights.) P.S. For the first couple years people each brought a decoration, but her tree was soon overloaded with gift ornaments and she put her foot down, so now it's just a party.
Christmas Cracker (the way the Schultz house makes 'em) We always have Christmas crackers to start off our big Christmas dinner.  We wear the hats all through during dinner. Just a tradition I brought along to my own family passed down from my Mother years ago. I made my own Christmas crackers one year and they turned out excellent.  I found the snapper in a craft store.  Most craft stores stock them at least all the ones, I've been too. I used toilet paper rolls and fill them up with things like mini magnets, scratch and win lotto tickets, little toys for the kids and earrings, hair accessories for the big girls, mini tape measures that you hang on your fridge for the big guys.  The list is endless. I made crowns out of different colored tissue paper to fold into each roll. I also added a little saying, weather it be a little joke or a fortune. Don't forget to include the snapper.   I wrapped the rolls in tinfoil type Christmas wrap and left 3 inches on the ends.  I used a glue stick to stick the wrapping paper along the side of the toilet roll.  Closest to the roll on each end,  I then took pretty skinny ribbon and tied them loosely.  To make it a little fancier you can cut a small strip of plain Christmas paper and wrap and glue around the middle.  I then put a sticker in the middle of this, tree, wreath, toy's, etc.

Christmas Tree Skirt
This is such a simple idea and looks quite effective. Now, if I can only explain it, so you can understand..... My sister showed me this idea.  It is 4 pillow panels ~ something christmasy ~ the one I made, is of Christmas deer on a hunter green background. Imagine you are standing, looking at these panels on a table. The two closest panels are facing you and the two farthest away are facing away from you. Take a small bowl and place it in the middle (where the 4 corners meet).  Mark and cut the circle out carefully.  Sew the center seam of the two facing you together and then, the middle seams of both sides ~ leaving the farthest center seam unsewn. Make a duplicate tree skirt out of matching broadcloth and layer the two tree skirt with fiberfill.  Carefully pin the sides, and sew shut with bias tape ~leaving a extra 5 inches of bias tape at both outer sides of the circle in the middle (that will be what you tie the tree skirt shut with....). Then I pinned it well and handsewed part of each pillow panel ~ actually quilted them. My sister sewed on ribbons and bells to further decorate it.... Hope you understand these instructions......  It might help to try and draw it.
I never used a pattern ~ this is just what I did.... Hope someone might be able to use it.

What kinds of Christmas parties  have you been to or given?  I want to have one of my own this year, but not  sure which kind to host...here's a quick list of a few I've been to...
1.  Cookie Exchange...this is where all of the guests bake 5 dozen cookies  each, bring a big bowl, and everyone takes a cookie until they are all gone.   Then, you end up with dozens of different varieties, after baking just one  batch!
2.  Gingerbread House Decorating party....this is one for kids.  I attended  with my 2 year old son.  The mom made all of these gingerbread houses (had  them assembled) and then put them on the table with frosting and candy to  decorate.  Loads of fun!

Fake Snow
2 cups Ivory snow 1/2 cup water mixer straws scissors washable markers
1. Pour the ivory snow into a bowl.  Add water and mix until becomes doughy.
2.  Form three different sized balls from the snow mixture.  Dry hands work best.
3.  Cut the straws into 3 inch sections
4.  Push one end of the straw halfway into the biggest ball.  Press down the medium ball on the other end of straw until the balls touch.  Do the same thing for the head with the smallest ball.
5.  When the snowman is dry, he turns bright white.
6.  Decorate the snowman with markers.
7.  Use your new FROSty the Soapman to clean up the tub!

Take a 5 gallon bucket, put a bowl in top, let it freeze. Take out of the  bucket and take out bowl and place a candle in there for a luminary.  Place on the front steps, nothing to catch on fire and the light shines through the ice for an added effect. You can make these on a smaller scale for parties.
Gifts for Teacher:
How about some little baskets with bath products? I saw in a crafting magazine recently, some ladies did up some real cute Bath Stuff baskets for their daughter's teachers. They used mostly recycled containers (empty glass spice jars, baby food jars, etc) and "spruced up" thrift store baskets. Came out really cute. They did some bath salts, layered bath oil, etc. They also included recipe cards for the products. You could probably do this project cheap!
* I have been a teacher for 27 years and one of the best gifts I ever got from a student was a small basket filled with red and black pens, paper clips, colored chalk, a chalk holder, etc. By Christmas all of the suppllies that I had purchased for school needed to be replaced and these came in real handy. The student's mom had placed all the goodies in a  basket and tied it with a large bow.
* Another gift that I really appreciated was a tin of homemade cookies and goodies. School did not get out that year until Dec. 22. I hadn't had time to bake anything for my company and the goodies from my students really helped.
* I love to receive those flavored coffees and cocoa mixes. We teacher often are out on recess duty and we feel we have a treat when we have something to warm us up. Don't forget a muffin or cookie!
* Paint a clay pot and fill with pencils, post it note, paperclips, or any type of desk supplies . Paint the sides of the pot black and paint stick people, apple, 1 2 3 and A B C with white. Paint the rim with a bright yellow and paint marking to represent a rule.

http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/1721/Christmas_Cookies.html Christmas Cookies Recipes

Make  A Jesse Tree
http://www.themestream.com/articles/253705.html
What our family is doing to celebrate the coming of Christmas. Very simple
patterns included.
Thanks Belinda!

ELAINE'S CHRISTMAS PAGE
http://www.rosebriar.uk.com/holidays/christmas.html

http://www.craftworksmag.com/decproject.html
Peppermint Wreath

http://www.makestuff.com/christmas.html,   so many ideas
to get ready for Christmas.
Thanks Linda!

Easy Christmas Tree Skirts
Here is a no-sew version of a skirt for miniature or table top Christmas trees.
Materials That You Need
Doily, table topper or round table cloth (You can purchase these from stores like Target,
Wal-Mart, etc.)
Hot Glue Gun
Fray-check (can be bought at sewing stores)
Any types of trim that you want to add. (Pretty buttons, sequins, etc.)
Velcro (Self-adhesive type)
Here's How you do it!
Find the center of doily (or whatever you have decided to use.)
Using a ruler, draw a straight line from the center to the outside edge. Cut on this line.
At the center of the skirt, cut a circle big enough to fit around the trunk of your tree.
Following the directions on the bottle of Fray-Check, place it on the cut edges of the skirt.
Place the Velcro at the top of the circular area and all along the open line of the skirt.
Hot glue any trims that you have purchased. I would place the trim around the opening.
Thanks Terry!

http://www.sunflower.org/~ksufans/cmaswreath.htm Wreath Frame-made from puzzle pieces

Christmas Crafts 1997 - Wendy's World of Crafts
http://ntl.sympatico.ca/~whogan/xmas97.htm
WYK: HolidayLiving: Christmas: Gifts from the...
http://creative-homeliving.com/world_kitchen/holidayliving/foodgifts.htm This site has pictures of some of the jars decorated to give you some idea of  what you can do with them.  The kids can even help.
http://mychristmasprojects.com/index.shtml
Thanks Veronica!

Peppermint Wreaths
What you will need:
Bag of peppermint discs
Small aluminum pie tins
Cookie sheet
Ribbon
How to concoct it:
1. Arrange peppermint discs in pie tins, in the shape of a circle,
making sure the discs are touching each other. Place on cookie sheet.
2. Place the cookie sheet in a preheated oven at 250 degrees for 3 to 5  minutes or until the peppermint discs melt together.
3. Remove the cookie sheet from the oven and let the peppermint wreaths  cool for 15 minutes.
4. Use a spatula to carefully remove the cooled peppermint wreaths from  the pie tins.
5. Use ribbon to tie a bow around the top of the peppermint wreaths.
Thanks Veronica!

10 Creative Uses for "Happy Meal" toys:
Here are some ideas for things to do with all those Happy Meal toys you have!
      1. Use floral wire or a hot glue gun to attach them to a wreath.  Add a colorful bow. Or, attach them to wreath using ribbon and tie a pair of scissors to the wreath. Let children cut off the toy of their choice to keep.
      2. Use gold thread and glue gun to turn them into ornaments.
Hang them on small Christmas trees or use them as package toppers.
      3. Use them as decorations under a mini Christmas tree.
      4. Make a streamer ball to use at a kid's party.  Take the end of a streamer roll and wrap it around a toy; continue to roll streamers into a large ball, embedding toys as you go and taping streamer ends together. At the party, have kids sit in a circle. Each child unwraps the ball until they find a toy, then passes the ball to the next child.
      5. Organize a Happy Meal toy swap in your school or neighborhood. Combine with a cookie exchange if you wish.
      6. Bag several toys up in small Ziploc bags or use them to fill mini stockings.
Donate to a Children's Hospital or homeless shelter. 
      7. Let the kids make picture frames by gluing smaller toys onto a wood or acrylic frame. Personalize with permanent markers if desired. Makes a nice gift for teachers or grandparents, especially if the kids put their picture in it!
      8. Attach toys to a pine garland and place around your front door. Or arrange garland on table around a larger centerpiece.
      9. Use them to decorate a cake.
      10. Glue a toy to a plastic plate and add home-made cookies for a quick gift. Or make placecards by gluing a toy to the bottom of a plastic cup (use cup upside down). Cut an index card and write guests name with a gold marker. 
Glue card to side of cup. 

This looks like a great site!
http://craftcentralstation.com/christmas/
This is a GREAT site!!  :o)
http://www.christmasorganizing.com
Tons of information for a stress free holiday! :o)
Thanks Tracey!

Some cute stuff
 http://www.readersdigest.com/features/christmas/
Thanks Thyra!

Shivers Snowman
http://www.sewing.org/project/snowman.html
15 minute gift bags
http://sewing.org/project/giftbags.html
Flower pot bells
http://www.craftown.com/xmas/craft33.htm
Beaded Christmas Tree
http://www.craftown.com/xmas/craft32.htm
Spicy Kitchen Wreath
http://craftown.com/xmas/craft28.htm
Country craft projects
http://www.craftown.com/cntry.htm
Thanks Elizabeth!

Popcan Tree
http://www.mychristmasprojects.com/outdoor.html then click on the "go" button next to the popcan
Christmas tree, it should open on the directions.
Thanks Peg!

http://www.kiddyhouse.com/Christmas/xmascrafts.html Christmas crafts

http://users.rcn.com/b.katcher/craftdech95.html Christmas crafts
Thanks Twila!

Christmas Tree-Beads
http://www.alltel.net/~latray49/CraftsPage/xmastree.htm
Thanks Carolyn!

Lots of decorating ideas
 http://www.geocities.com/PicketFence/7191/xdec.html
Thanks Barb!

Candy Cane Twists
  1 1/2   Cups  Powdered Sugar
  1 1/4  Cups  Butter -- softened
  1  Egg
  1  Teaspoon  Peppermint Extract
  1  Teaspoon  Vanilla
  2 3/4  Cups  All Purpose Flour
     1/4 Teaspoon  Salt
     1/3    Cup  Finely Crushed Red And White Peppermint
Candy Or Candy Canes
     1/4  Teaspoon  Red Food Coloring
Heat oven to 350. In large mixer bowl combine powdered sugar, butter, egg,
peppermint extract and vanilla. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often,
until creamy (2 to 3 minutes). Reduce speed to low; add flour and salt. Beat until well mixed (1 to 2 minutes).
Divide dough in half. Stir candy into half of dough. Beat food coloring into remaining half of dough.
For each candy cane, roll 1 teaspoonful of each dough to 4 inch rope. Place
2 ropes side by side; twist gently and roll dough together. (For best
results complete cookies one at a time to prevent drying out.)
Place 2 inches apart on cookie sheets. Curve one end to form handle of cane.
Bake for 10-12 minutes or until set. Let stand 1 minute; remove from cookie sheet.
*Tip: If dough is dry, stir in 1 teaspoon milk. If dough is too soft,
refrigerate 1 hour or stir in 1 to 2 tablespoons flour.
Description:
  "red dough twisted with peppermint flavored dough make melt in your
  mouth cookie canes"
Thanks Veronica!

http://www.night.net/christmas/fun12.html-ssi
Lots of Christmas Fun
Thanks Touchie!

http://www.night.net/christmas/ds-gifts-971030as.html-ssi
Christmas/Hanukkah ideas

Recipe for Christmas Joy
1/2 cup Hugs
4 tsp Kisses
4 cups Love
1 cup Special Holiday Cheer
1/2 cup Peace on Earth
3 tsp Christmas Spirits
2 cups Goodwill Toward Man
1 Sprig of Mistletoe
1 medium-size bag of Christmas Snowflakes (the regular kind won't do!)

Mix hugs, kisses, smiles and love until consistent. Blend in holiday cheer,
peace on earth, Christmas spirits and good will toward men. Use the mixture
to fill a large, warm heart, where it can be stored for a lifetime, (it never
goes bad!). Serve as desired under mistletoe, sprinkled liberally with
special Christmas Snowflakes. It is especially good when accompanied by
Christmas Carols and family get-togethers. Serve to one and all.
~Author Unknown~

Here are some ideas for old Christmas cards:
http://forums.thathomesite.com/forums/load/antiques/msg0721115715089.html
http://rainforest.parentsplace.com/dialog/get/frugal/13/2.html
http://www.homeschoolzone.com/pp/crafts/old-xmas.htm
http://craftcentralstation.com/christmas/cards.html
http://www.sciswa.org/crafts.html#anchor423670
http://www.newhomemaker.com/crafts/recycledxmas.html
http://www.cstone.net/~bry-back/holidayfun/xmaseggz.html
http://www.deq.state.la.us/assistance/recycling/home/cardornament.htm
http://members.nbci.com/_XMCM/granny2shoes/barcards2.gif

http://www.imagitek.com/xmas/crafts/puzwrth.html
Puzzle Wreath Christmas Decoration

http://user.icx.net/~pbaldwin/cmas/crafts.html
Christmas Castle's Christmas Crafts

http://christmascrafting.com/projects/
http://www.library.ucsb.edu/holidays/christmas.html
http://www.merry-christmas.com/activities.htm
http://www.guidezone.skl.com/christma.htm
http://people.delphi.com/Janruh/Xmas/Xmas7.htm
http://westwood.fortunecity.com/ghost/818/allcraftsxmas.htm
http://www.erikaweb.com/xmas/crafts.htm
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Acropolis/1465/xmascraftlinks.html
http://www.rr1.net/users/firefly/page6.html
http://www.alphabet-soup.net/christmas.html
http://www.ontariomarketplace.com/yetifeet/craftsxmas1.htm
Thanks Toni!

http://www.southernliving.com/holidays/holidaymemories/crafts.asp
http://www.southernliving.com/holidays/holidaymemories/gifts.asp
http://www.southernliving.com/holidays/food/giftsmail.asp gifts that mail well

http://craftycollege.com/webofangels/iceangel.htm    ~~~Very pretty Angel ornament~~~
http://www.southernliving.com/holidays/homes/merrypillow.asp    ~~~Beautiful idea-Painted Pillows~~~
http://www.hgtv.com/HGTV/project/0,1158,CRHO_project_1482,FF.html
~~~Christmas Card Coasters~~~
http://www.mychristmasprojects.com/patterns/pattern.html    ~~~Yard Decorations-Click on the picture you'd like to see the pattern~~~
http://www.mkdesigner.com/rudypin.html    ~~~Rudolph lapel pin-knitted and soooo sweet!~~~
http://www.mkdesigner.com/candycn.html    ~~~knitted Candy Cane~~~
http://www.decordelights.com/fpptbf.html    ~~~Stockings---tole painting~~~
http://www.geocities.com/twilagail/santa8.html    ~~~Santa Candy Jar -Twila's site :o)~~~
http://www.geocities.com/kraftproject/Project_PineconeFireStarters.html ~~Pinecone Fire Starters~~~
http://www.themestream.com/articles/190547.html    ~~~Colorful Pine Cones or Yule Logs~~~
http://www.themestream.com/gspd_browse/browse/view_article.gsp?c_id=191349
~~~Peppermint and Candy Cane Wreath~~~
http://www.santaland.com/arts.html    ~~~Christmas Crafts~~~

Christmas on the  Net - Santaland.com
http://www.santaland.com/index.html

http://www.craftingtoday.com/level1&2/christmas.htm Christmas Corner
Thanks Mary Rose!

Youth online Clubhouse is worth checking out.
 http://www.soonet.ca/starla/christmas/
Thanks Barb!

Here is a neat Christmas craft we are working on:
http://www.themestream.com/articles.233256.htm
It is pretty enough to give as a gift.....and a great recycyle project.  I think my boys are going to make one for my Mom. :-)
Lisa's Craft Index - lots of Christmas crafts too!
http://www.themestream.com/articles.172094.htm
Thanks Lisa!

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