Craft: Easy Christmas Decorations

Christmas season is here!

Christmas is a wonderful time of the year to celebrate with friends and family. If you are anything like myself, you want your home to look warm and inviting. This means - Christmas decorations! Christmas decorating doesn't have to break the bank. Here are a few of my tried and true, easy to make Christmas décor ideas.

Ornaments can be made from old pieces of broken jewelry, ribbon, and beads.

I made these ornaments from a few pre-made quilting stars, beads, and jewelry pieces.



Ornaments made from salt dough are easy to make, inexpensive, and extremely versatile.
Salt Dough Recipe:

-Combine 2 cups of flour with 2 cups of salt. Add 1 cup of water. Mix all ingredients together until they form a nice ball. Knead dough on lightly floured surface for about 10 minutes. Roll out just like cookie dough. Using cookie cutters or a sharp knife, cut out your desired shapes. Bake in a 350 degree oven for about 10 minutes.

Old Christmas balls can be made new again just by giving them a coat of paint and sprinkling of fine glitter (while paint is still wet).

These little cuties are simply made from cardstock. After cutting them out, punch a hold to hang them from on the top. Then paint them and while paint is still wet, sprinkle them with fine glitter. Place a ribbon with a bead through the top.
The golden walnuts were made from walnut shells that were glued back together (with a hanging ribbon inside) and painted gold.

This little stocking is made from an old linen tablecloth and lace scraps.

Holidays: Hanukkah

Celebrating Hanukkah?

Yes. My family celebrates Hanukkah...and we are Christians. I'm sure some of you are asking yourselves, "Isn't Hanukkah a Jewish holiday?" The answer is yes and no. Hanukkah is a celebration of GOD's miraculous provision (HIS power enabled the Israelites to defeat the mighty Greek army and HE caused the temple oil to last until more was made - it lasted eight days despite being only a one day supply!). It is a time to remember GOD's faithfulness and it is a time to rededicate yourself to GOD. I believe such a holiday is too full of teachings and significance to pass up. What would be a better way to teach such powerful biblical values than an eight day celebration? So, my husband and I have celebrated Hanukkah with our little family for years and it has always been such a blessing to us. It has also helped keep our faith connected with its Jewish roots.

I guess you could say that celebrating Hanukkah is our family tradition. Perhaps your family has a few traditions that seem puzzling to others. I would encourage you to resist the temptation to conform to what everyone else seems to be doing. Continue to pass on to your children your own beliefs, values, and tradition. Maybe you know of traditions your family once held and are no longer keeping. Who says you can't bring them back to life? Of all the things we can give to our children, our faith, values, and customs are the ones that keep us connected as a family.

This is our Hanukkah table, complete with gelt for an after dinner game with the dreidel.

Yum! Fried donuts are a Hanukkah favorite - along with latkes.