The Santas are finally finished and on the tree!

Well, I wasn't sure these would be done in time, but I got bored today while I waited for someone to come by that never did.  While waiting, I went ahead and finished the santas and hung them on the tree.  I took some liberty with the project instructions and I added dimensional paint for the beard and used black ribbon to attach the legs.  But, I have to say they turned out quite well.  I like the way they look on my tree. 

I may be starting my own Christmas tradition.  Last year, I made the snowflake ornaments that are up on the tree.  This year I made the Santas.  Wonder what I will make next year?

Here's some pictures of the santas:

 

 

I'm ready for Christmas------------to be over!

Cover of Peace on Earth (Holiday Greeting Cards)

Today is the 23rd and Christmas is almost here. I am avoiding going out like the plague because the traffic here in Austin is simply crazy! I figure that if I am not ready for Christmas now, I don't think I will ever be ready.

The one thing I know I am ready for is for all this holiday madness to be over. I am enjoying my tree, and I am enjoying visiting with my family; but that's about it. I am still working on my Santa tree ornaments and maybe they will be done in time for Christmas, but if not there is always next year!

I just wanted to take a minute to write briefly here because I know that the next two days will go by in a blur of activity for me and for almost everyone else. There's dinner to prepare, trees to finish decorating, presents to finish wrapping (or buying maybe?), and a million other little things to do to get ready for the big day.

I just want to say:

         MERRY CHRISTMAS 
                       AND 
HAPPY HOLIDAY TO YOU ALL!

May the New Year bring us Peace on Earth and Goodwill to All Men
(and Women and Dogs and Cats and Other pets!)

Make this for your Christmas tree

Here is another great tutorial for making Christmas Tree ornaments with the family.  This one uses Makin's Clay that you buy at your local hobby/craft store.  I have never used this product before, but after seeing how cute this turns out, I may have to give it a try.

One of the things that appeal to me about this clay is that you don't have to paint it.  It comes already colored.  I'm not sure of the cost and I also worry about how to store the unused clay.  If it is costly and can't be stored for very long, then maybe I won't be able to try it.  However, I do think this is a very cute ornament.

__________________________________________________________________________________

Supplies:

* Makin's Clay®

• 60 gram Yellow Clay
• 60 gram White Clay
• 60 gram Black Clay
• 60 gram Blue Clay
• 60 gram Red Clay
• 60 gram Green Clay

Recommended Makin's® Tools:

• Chisel
• Mallet
• Roller
  

Other Materials:

• 1 piece of Gold Thin String 
• White Glue
• Black Pen

How:
			1. Print and cut out the pattern.
			2. Roll yellow cClay into a square sheet with Makin's Roller.
			3. Cut the star shape out as shown then pin two holes on each arm of the star.
			4. Roll white clay into balls in the size of the faces.
			5. Roll neon orange clay into teardrop shapes then add onto the faces. Pin in the mouth with Makin's Chisel.
			6. Using desired colors, make the hats and details according to the pattern.
			7. Add the eyes with a black pen and the writing with a silver pen. Twist and attach a gold ribbon or rope.

The Santas are coming along!

For anyone who remembers my posting earlier about making little santa ornaments for your tree, I am now going to post some pictures of my progress.  I know, I know.  I am moving at the speed of a slug, but I'm just pleased to be moving at all. 

I hope to finish these this week and get my tree up.  I have mixed feelings about doing that, but I know I will get the tree up before long.  Anyway, here are three pictures of my progress with these cute little ornaments!

12 Smart Ways to Save Big on Christmas Shopping

 
I figure that since we have less than 25 shopping days left until Christmas, I would post an article I found that talks about ways to have a "frugal" Christmas without having a boring Christmas.  I especially enjoyed the last suggestion in the article.  I may have to think about that next year.

Anyway, I know that everyone is out there in a shopping frenzy, so here are some suggestions to make this Christmas more fun and save the wear and tear on your pocketbook!

___________________________________________________________________________________
Oh the weather outside is frightful, but your wallet can still be delightful. And since we’ve got gifts to give, let us find the ways to save! Yay!
Yes internets, it’s that time of year when the turkey leftovers and that tryptophan stuff have settled in our stomachs. After awakening from the holidaze slumber, it may be time to turn our attention towards Christmas. Now, I’m not big on the whole Christmas consumeritis thing that turns many smart people into spending splurgers.

But, I do love to find frugal ways to celebrate the holidays without spending a bundle. So to get you into the holiday spirit, here are 12 smart ways to save big on Christmas shopping.

1. Go online shopping

Skip the stores and save yourself some holiday grief by going online shopping to save a bundle. Many retailers offer online holiday sales and specials that aren’t available in stores — especially on Cyber Monday! So get clicking online before stepping foot in the mall to save 10% to 60% on everything from books to electronic gadgets like the Kindle. Just be sure to get free or cheap shipping before hitting the checkout — there’s no sense in killing your deal with costly shipping charges.

2. Shop with secret online coupons

Paying full price for anything when a better deal can be found can turn any Santa into a Scrooge. Bah Humbug! To get shoppers into stores, many retailers offer online printable coupons to boost Christmas cheer with big savings. So before buying that perfect gift, get online and search for coupons by entering the retailer’s name and then “coupon code”.
Check out these 8 Stealth Ways to Uncover Big Savings with Secret Online Coupons for even more ways to save like Santa.

3. Dump department store credit cards

When the cashier at your favorite department store offers you a huge discount on your holiday wares just for opening a store credit card, do your wallet a favor and take a pass. Those pesky credit cards offered by retailers carry huge interest rates that can chew into any deal if not paid off. Carrying numerous credit cards can also hurt your credit score, and no one wants to take a credit hit just after the holidays.
Want to pay off your balance sooner? Try this Credit Card Calculator to see how paying more than the minimum balance can make a HUGE difference this holiday. Results may shock you!

4. Use cash this Christmas

Save yourself some credit card shock tomorrow by spending only the cash you have today. Besides, you could save a few bucks by using cash and asking the store to cut your cost by the 2% to 3% interchange fee that banks charge retailers for credit card transactions. Become a really sneaky shopper by trying these 5 Ways To Screw Your Credit Card Company.

5. Skip brand names, buy generic

Don’t believe the expensive marketing hype behind many brand name products. Marketing costs big bucks and you’re paying for that cost every time you buy a brand name. Besides, brand name items are not necessarily better than the lesser-advertised alternatives. By purchasing quality generic products this holiday you can save 10% to 50% on gift giving.

6. Be brave, ask for a discount!

Get over your silly shyness and ask the store manager, “Is this the best price you can offer me?” You may be surprised by how often a retailer will give you 10% to 15% off the sticker price just for asking. Asking for a discount is free and saving 10% in under five minutes of work is time well spent.

7. Find bargains in bulk

Cut the cost of your holiday meals by up to 60% by buying bulk grocery items. Bulk bins are a fabulous way to save some bargain bucks on candy for stocking stuffers, baking goods for delectable desserts, and going nutty over holiday nut mixes. You’ll also find huge savings on rice, pasta, spices, and lots of mixes for the big family dinner.

8. Wrap gifts without wrapping paper

Pass on the glittery gift bags and shiny rolls of gift wrap. Wrapping paper is big business and can add to the cost of even the most frugal of gifts. Instead, get crafty by wrapping your gifts in something useful, like a reusable shopping bag. If you’ve got a baby gift then swaddle it in a baby blanket. But if you’ve gotta have that pretty paper then stock up on wrap after the holidays, when it’s 50% off.
Want more wrapping ways? Check out these 11 Ways to Wrap Gifts without Wrapping Paper and top that gift with one of these 6 Printable Holiday Gift Tags.

9. Make it a homemade holiday

Get the family on budget while having some fun by making it a homemade holiday. If you’re a shutterbug then get the family together for a photo. If you’re crafty then knit a scarf, make some ornaments, or sew something special like a Softie Christmas Tree or a Sling Backpack. For those who love baking, go ahead and get creative with cookies, cakes, and sweets. Got a hiker in your family? Then make some homemade granola!
If you’re less handy but love a fun treat, then try these 8 Homemade Gifts in a Jar — the S’mores in a Jar are super cute!

10. Keep ALL your receipts

Whether you’re shopping online or in-store, always keep your receipts. Retailers want your holiday cash so they discount and mark down items often, so there’s always a chance that the gift you bought yesterday is on sale today. If you find a price cut on a recently purchased gift, bring in your receipt and ask for a price adjustment. Most store managers will give you the better deal up to ten days after your purchase if you have the receipt. So just ask to get your discount!

11. Make a list and check it twice!

Be like Santa by writing a Christmas gift list to plan out your budget and time. There’s no sense in going over budget on a gift because you ran out of time on Christmas Eve. A well-planned list can also help you curb impulse shopping when the flashy holiday displays catch your attention.
To get you started, download the Free Printable Grocery Shopping List and plan your dinner sooner — it’s easier to catch a sale or find a coupon when you’ve got a shopping list ready to go!

12. Donate a cow

Talk to your family this year and consider starting new Christmas traditions by donating your holiday gift budget to charity. Organizations like Heifer International represent thought provoking gift ideas that go beyond the space underneath your Christmas tree. Gifts to Heifer International can include a Cattle share for $50, a Llama share for $20, or a Sheep share for $10. All livestock shares and donations can help families achieve self-reliance, can give a steady supply of nutrition in the form of products like eggs and milk, and can provide a dependable source of income from the sale of products like wool, honey, and produce. Think about making a real difference this holiday by donating to any number of charities this Christmas.


Here's the link to the original post

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Thanksgiving Day and all is well and waiting to shop tomorrow!

Image by minifig via Flickr

Here is a slide show from the ADO website.  This slide showcase is for Christmas ornaments that are handmade and that incorporate the concept of the art doll.  Enjoy!

Make your own Christmas Cards

Image by Salon de Maria via Flickr

I used to always make my own cards for special occasions.  My grandsons have quite a collection that they proudly display in their rooms going back to when they were very small.  I've made cards for my family for years.  This year I was thinking about making my own Christmas cards to give to my friends, since I don't usually give gifts to anyone except the boys.

I really enjoy making cards.  It is very relaxing to do and opens up your creativity.  I usually find myself looking at the calendar for the next big occasion while I am working on cards for the present occasion.

Below is directions for creating a lovely Christmas card.  Try it out, you might find that you love making cards.  Beware, though.  You may find yourself addicted!


_______________________________________________________________________________

Joy Greeting Cards

Craft Project - Joy Greeting Cards

By Linda Peterson

Materials
AMACO® Craft Porcelain Modeling Material
AMACO® Rub ‘n Buff® — Gold Leaf
Loew-Cornell Water Color Crayons
Black Card Stock
Grey Paper
Decorative Papers in Colors of Choice
#2 Rounded Tip Clay Shaper
Fiskars Paper Edgers — Deckle Paper
Glue of Choice.
Helpful Hint: Keep a small bowl of water and paper towels handy. Wrap craft projects in wet paper towel to keep it from drying out.
Step 1
Letters are created by rolling a ball of clay into a log and shaping it into the desired letter. When dry to the touch, apply Rub ‘n Buff®. Note: The size of the ball determines the size of the letter.
Step 2
Holly berries: Roll 3 small balls.
Step 3
Leaves: Roll a ¼” ball into a teardrop and flatten. Feather edges of leaves until they are thin. Draw in veins with clay shaper.
Step 4
Place three leaves together. Paint green with watercolor crayons. Paint berries red and apply over top of leaves.
Step 5
Cut Black Cardstock:
# 6″ x 12″ (fold in half)
# 3″ x 3″
# 2¾” x 2¾” (cut edges with deckle scissors)
# 1½” x 5½” strip
Step 6
Cut Grey paper:
# 2⅞;” x 2⅞”
# ½” x 5½”
Step 7
Layer the paper using the picture as a guide. Add mullbery paper to top of square. Glue on holly embellishment and letters. Highlight edges of paper with Rub ‘n Buff®
Step 8
Add interest by varying the size of the card such as in the second sample. Embellish the letters with holly leaves or other flowers of choice.

Creating Paper Clay, "Santas" for your tree or holiday decorating

Here is an Christmas craft I found but can't figure out how to get the pictures to copy.  So, I have copied the instructions below and included the link to the original posting PDF so you can see the pictures.

I have started making some of these and will be showing you the progress as I go along.  So far, all I have done is make the actual Santa's parts out of clay and have been drying them.  Here is what I have so far:

___________________________________________________________________________________
Inexpensive and original!

See the original instructions here so you can view the pictures!

Instead of baubles, cute dangly Santas and red hearts could be hanging on your Christmas tree this year! They're really easy to make using air-drying modelling clay. A creative Christmas craft idea - great fun to make with children too!

Material:

Paper clay (sufficient for approx. 15 Santas or for approx. 18 hearts), 1 kitchen knife, 1 tile or piece of smooth film to serve as a work surface, several transparent sleeves for drying on, 1 reel of wire, 1 pair of pliers, several toothpicks and skewers for modelling with, 1 rolling pin for rolling out with, 1 heart-shaped pastry cutter, 1 pair of scissors, string, 1 bowl, 1 box of paints, several paint brushes for painting with and a moist cloth.

Step l:

Roll the paper clay out to an approx. 5 mm thick sheet. Place a triangular-shaped template for the Santas on the sheet, outline the form onto the paper clay using a wooden stick and then cut out with the knife.
If you want to make hearts, simply cut the hearts out of the sheet of clay with the pastry cutter. Smooth all edges with water!

Step 2:

Hangers are inserted into the hearts straight away. Make them out of wire which you shape by wrapping around, e.g., a pencil. Leave the finished hearts to dry for one day on transparent sleeves. After half of the time, turn the hearts over so that the backs dry as well.

Step3:

Now it's time to transform the cut-out clay triangles into Santas. Note: before adding details, moisten the triangle first with water! First make a thin sausage out of clay which you then use for the fur edging along the bottom of the coat and the hat. For the eyes, place two tiny balls directly underneath the bottom of the hat and add pupils to them using the toothpick. Now attach an oval-shaped pug nose. A hint of a beard is added by drawing several lines with the wooden stick. Don't forget to make the holes for the dangly legs and hanger! If you want, you can give your Santa a handsome moustache. Simply press it on directly under the nose and add a whisker structure using the wooden stick. For the dangly legs, roll out an approx. 7 mm thick
clay sausage and cut into 1.5 cm long pieces. Make holes through the individual pieces using the wooden skewer, leaving you with elongated pearls. All finished parts are then left to dry for one day on transparent sleeves. Turn over every now and again to ensure that they dry evenly and that the Santa shapes don't bow.


Step 4:

The dried hearts are then painted all over with red paint from the paint box. Use a fine paint brush to give the Santas a rosy pink nose and cheeks. To do so, dilute the red paint very well. The hat and coat are painted red. Beard, face and fur edging stay white. Paint the pearls for the boots using black paint out of the paint box. Once the paint is dry, push a piece of string through the two holes on the bottom edge of the Santa (looks like a belt), thread a pearl onto each end of the string and tie a knot in the bottom. Another piece of string threaded through the hole in the hat and knotted at the end serves as a hanger.

Have Fun Making Them!


Tips:
Always wrap bits of Paper Clay that get left over while you're working in a moist cloth to prevent them from drying out, so that they can be used again later. Even when taking a short break in your work, cover the not yet finished pieces with a moist cloth.

Wrap open packs of paper clay well in cling film and keep in an air-tight plastic box. This keeps the clay soft for several days.

Make sure that the holes you make for the string in the Santa and pearls are large enough! Should the holes be too small, you can make them larger after hardening using a small electric drill!

Christmas Shopping Advice for Men

Here is an article I found that is quite humorous.  You might want to print it out and "accidentally" leave it lying for your man to find.  It really gives some good advice on how to buy a present for a woman, and even if it was published in the UK, it has universal information.
I hope you find this as interesting as I did and I hope it helps you get what you "really" want for Christmas this year!

______________________________________________________________

Author: Carrie Spacey

Published: 11th November 2009 12:37

It's a well-worn cliche that many men put this task off until Christmas Eve - but have you ever wondered why that is? It won't necessarily be because he's lazy or disorganized, no, it's far more likely he just hasn't got a clue and has that "can't do right for doing wrong" mental block.

We're here to help, so all you worried men out there, read on....

Christmas shopping for the woman in your life can be daunting, but knowing a few basics about the noble art of buying gifts for women can help you on the way to a harmonious festive season:

It's About Her, Not You
This has to be the cardinal rule: Do not, under any circumstances, buy her something that's on your own wishlist. So, nothing from the DIY shop, no sports DVDs, no gardening implements. Most women will not have "52" LCD TV so I can watch Liverpool v Utd next Saturday" at the top of their must-haves.

No Household Appliances
You might think you're being helpful by getting her a chop-o-matic or one of those nifty new hoovers with a ball instead of wheels, but believe me, go that route and it's highly likely you'll be spending Christmas night in Arrowe Park A&E. Christmas is a time for gifts she wants, not stuff she needs.

Apply the Mother-in-Law test

Each idea you have must be put through this rigorous testing procedure. If you think your Mother would like it, forget it. Move on. Quickly.

Big Pants or Black Lace? Neither!
It's entirely possible that your loved one could do with some new knickers or a nightie. But, you must strike the right note - half-way between granny pants and your wildest fantasies should be about right.

Don't Attempt to "Do" Fashion
Clothing may seem to be an ideal gift, especially if your partner loooooves clothes. However, the point is, if she does love clothes, she probably has a very strong idea of what she does and doesn't like, honed over several thousand hours of window/online/real-life shopping. How can you hope to compete with that level of experience?

A far better idea is to figure out her favourite shop, buy an extravagantly generous voucher and then wrap it up beautifully - layers and layers of silk, ribbon, little notes in between each layer. Anything to disguise the fact you wimped out and got her a voucher, basically.

Listen and Learn
Once upon a time I had a craving for a particular, really funky, leather jacket. I went on, and on, and on about it in the presence of my then boyfriend. In fact, no-one in a 10 mile radius could have been in any doubt of what I wanted for Christmas. He, however, bought me an "ornamental" painted wooden frog. Called Bladder. I kid you not.

OK, I appreciate this is an extreme example, but it does serve the purpose of pointing out that you could do well to actually listen to the hints she is dropping. Sometimes these may be subtle, but most likely they will be like bricks landing in a duck-pond. They'll probably have started around late October. Listen and act on them. Definitely.

Love Conquers All
There's probably very little chance you will ever get it 100% right, because we women are a capricious bunch. But, if she can tell you've at least thought about it, and curbed your urges towards the mundane, the easiest option or the downright lazy, the chances are you will avoid the spectacle of your Christmas dinner ending up on the dining room wall.

Just show her you care enough to follow the above rules, and I'm prepared to bet my wooden frog Bladder that you'll see her smiling at you over the sprouts this Christmas.

Find the original article here

Tree Ornament - Felt Whimsical Santa

This free Christmas craft project shows you how to make a quick Christmas tree ornament. For those who do not know how to sew you can use craft glue instead of the needle and thread. Print off the pattern and cut out all the shapes.Using some sewing pins, pin the paper pattern to your piece of felt and cut out the shape. You need for each Christmas ornament (front and back). Sew the buttons onto the front pattern piece as shown in the picture. Using the needle and thread sew a blanket stitch around the edges leaving 1-2 inches at the top so you can fill it. Do not remove the thread as you will use it to finish off. Fill the Christmas ornament with a small amount of toy filling and then sew in the ribbon for hanging the Christmas ornament up. Close up the top of the Ornament with the remaining thread in the same blanket stitch style. If you do not know how to sew you can glue this project or use a different stitch style.

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Quick and easy Christmas tree decorations

Last year, I decided that I would once again enjoy putting up a Christmas tree and making some decorations with my grandsons.  They, however, did not share my enthusiasm.  Oh well.  I am known in my family as the "Scrooge" as Christmas has never been a favorite of mine.  I really don't much enjoy any of the holidays--maybe because I have been a nurse for so long that I cannot remember being home for a holiday, but for whatever reason, I am just not much into holidays.

When my girls were small, I made ornaments, presents, and decorations during the holidays--mostly due to lack of money and an overabundant amount of free time.  The girls and I made craft time "our time together" and we did have fun.  So, I am now at an age where I don't feel any pressure about Christmas and I again wanted to take part in the holiday in some way. 

I found a craft article describing how to make tree ornaments out of things you normally throw away, and I said to myself--Ah-ha!  I can be crafty and green!  So I began to make my ornaments and then realized that I did not even have a Christmas tree.  Off to Walmart I went to buy a tree.  I ended up getting a tall, thin tree with lights already on it (I hate stringing lights).  I know I could have just gotten a real tree, but I don't really want the mess of needles and such.

Finally, after a concentrated effort lasting a few weeks, I had ornaments and a tree, so I put it up and I actually enjoyed it.  No presents, no other decorations, just a tree with ornaments and lights.  Anyway, here are some pictures of the ornaments and the finished tree.  Hope you enjoy them.  If you are interested, let me know and I will post the directions for the ornaments.  I think they cost about $1 total.

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More about Christmas

Image via Wikipedia

I have never been a Christmas person.  As a matter of fact, Christmas has always been my least favorite holidays.  I don't like getting surprise gifts and I hate shopping.  I used to be able to enjoy the season when my girls were small by decorating and holiday crafting, but not so much anymore.

One year I made each girl a handmade stocking and decorated each one with beads and sequins and hand-made appliques made out of felt.  I really enjoyed the work, but now I don't even think they know where those stockings are.

Another thing I used to do was make bread-dough tree ornaments.  I would start making them in October and have enough to hang on the tree for Christmas.  The girls loved to "help" when they were small , but by the teenage years that too went by the side of the road.

So, here I am now, middle-aged and facing Christmas.  My grandsons are teenagers so they are not into crafting or decorating.  All they want is money or games; maybe even clothes--if they are cool.  Christmas is just another day.  Usually, I choose to work that day and let those with families take the day off. This year, I think that will be what I will be doing also.

I have begun thinking about shopping for gifts, however, which is very unusual for me.  With the advent of online shopping, I find the task not quite as bad.  I don't mind buying gifts, but I love that they wrap and deliver to the receiver.  No mess, no worry.  The only thing to remember is to shop early enough that the gifts arrive in time.

Anyone else with a similar story?  I'd love to hear some of your stories about Christmas past, present, and future.

Here are the thoughts I am having about gifts this year:

For my sister who is always getting lost--a GPS navigator to use in the car.
For my youngest grandson who loves to play games and be online--a netbook computer of his own.
For the oldest grandson who is a real gamer--a Wii gaming system
For both my daughters, each a veteran reader and traveler--a Kindle Reader
For myself, who works online and loves to watch my grandsons--a camcorder

Wow, that was so easy.  Now all I have to do is find the money and get busy ordering!! This is the way to have Christmas!

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Is anyone ready for Christmas?

Image by Tvlip via Flickr

Halloween will soon be a memory and Thanksgiving will be here before you know it.  With that in mind, has anyone else been thinking about getting ready for Christmas.  I know that the retailers are all trying to do their best to remind us of the imminent arrival of the HOLIDAYS--Halloween candy and costumes hanging side-by-side with Santas and Turkeys.  I sometimes don't remember what is the next holiday anymore.

I have just started buying my gifts and already I am having trouble.  Don't you know people that have everything and you have to buy them a present?  That describes my children who simply go and buy whatever they want right when they want it!  Whatever happened to delayed gratification, or working for something you want?

That particular mind-set makes gift giving a nightmare.  Usually, by the time Christmas rolls around I have simply given up and I just give money.  That seems so wrong, but what else do you do?

Is anyone else having these issues or am I all alone here?

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