A floral display makes an elegant centerpiece for your holiday table.

Are you trying to balance a shrinking holiday gift budget with a list of recipients that just seems to grow longer every year? You’re not alone. With many Americans prepared to spend less on holiday shopping and decorating this year, it’s likely more people will choose to give homemade gifts and create their own holiday decor.

Homemade gifts can be a great way to stretch holiday gift-giving dollars. Plus, each gift makes a personal statement that you cared enough, investing your time and effort to convey the holiday spirit. Making gifts is also a good way for families to spend time together during the holiday season.

It’s possible to find homemade gift and decorating ideas to fit virtually every taste and budget. Food, especially baked goods, and craft items continue to be top choices for handmade gifts. Both categories offer a wide range of options that can be made by people with all levels of expertise – from dedicated and experienced crafters to relative newcomers to the tradition.

Whether you’re a seasoned handmade gift-giver looking for something new and exciting to make, or a beginner looking for a fail-safe gift, decorations and crafts made with fresh cut flowers can be a sure-fire winner. Floral gifts deliver fresh, fragrant and personal touches to the recipient’s (and your own) home. Plus, it’s easy to find ideas for all skill levels at www.flowerpossibilities.com.

“Fresh floral arrangements can range from basic and simple to more creative and elaborate,” says Jill Slater, flower designer for flowerpossibilities.com. “Regardless of the design, the charm and allure that a homemade floral arrangement offers will add a warm and inviting feel to any room of the house.”

Here are two festive “flower recipes” sure to brighten the holidays – and the home – for the flower lover on your list. Or, give yourself a fragrant gift and make the arrangements for your own home. You’ll find more recipe ideas at www.flowerpossibilities.com.

Holiday Hostess Gift

A holiday hostess gift that's easy to make.

Materials:

2 washcloths – holiday colors like red and green, or silver and gold
1 sprig of holly
1 red rose
One sheet of holiday theme decorative velum
1 yard decorative ribbon
1 medium-sized rubber band
Double-sided tape
1 coaster
1 water tube
Floral preservative/food
Floral clippers and scissors

Directions:

Make a 3-inch fold at the bottom of the long side of each washcloth. Fold this end to meet the edge of the opposite side of each washcloth. Stack the two folded washcloths on top of each other. Cut the velum to the height of the folded washcloths. Roll the washcloths together and wrap the velum around them. Secure the velum around the washcloths with double-sided tape and then a rubber band for extra security.

Tie the ribbon in a square knot around the rubber band and place the rolled washcloths on top of the coaster. (To tie a square knot: left over right, right over left). Cut the holly and rose short and insert them into the water tube that has been treated with floral preservative/food. Now, place the water-tubed flower into the top of the rolled washcloths.

Holiday Elegance

Materials:
1 loaf pan from the kitchen cupboard
1 brick floral foam
Two 12-inch tapers
3 stems stargazer lilies
12 stems red roses
2 stems yellow-berried hypericum, divide into six to eight clusters
8 stems leather fern
6 stems sword fern
2 stems lemon leaf
Floral clippers and knife
Floral preservative/food

Directions:
Soak the floral foam in water that has been treated with floral preservatives/food for about 30 minutes.
Insert the soaked floral foam into the loaf pan and insert two tapers, equally spaced, into the top of the foam.

Cut two sword fern stems to 9 inches in length, two more to 7 inches and the remaining two to 5 inches. Next, insert one of each length into each side of the short end of the loaf pan. Cut all the leather fern stems to approximately 4 inches and insert the stems into the floral foam to cover it almost completely.

Cut the lemon leaves at varying lengths, dispersing them throughout the arrangement. Divide two stems of yellow-berried hypericum into six to eight clusters, cut to approximately 8 inches and scatter them evenly throughout the arrangement.

Use the individual blooms of the stargazer lilies and insert them evenly throughout the arrangement.
Cut two red roses to 7 to 8 inches in length and insert them at the narrow ends of the arrangement. Cut another 10 red roses to approximately 4 inches in length and insert them throughout the arrangement.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

By Sirena Van Schaik

Homemade Christmas Card

I love making Christmas cards and usually I start making them before the holidays are even close. I like having them handy and all ready to mail out that first week in December so I can focus the rest of the month on gathering up presents and getting the house decorated and the family ready for the big day.

This year, I have decided to create a fairly straight forward card for everyone on my list. It is very easy to create and only relies on a bit of cutting, a touch of embellishing and a small amount of embossing. If you are looking for a beautiful, yet easy card for to create for your holiday card giving season, then this may be the one for you.

What you need:

• Forest Green Cardstock: You would use as many sheets as the cards that you are making. Generally, two sheets will give you two complete cards.
• Light Beige Cardstock: Just like the green cardstock, you will need to use as many sheets as the number of cards you are making; generally, you will only need one sheet for two cards, with some extra cardstock left over.
• Glue Stick: There are types that you can buy specifically for card making but you don’t need to use that, simply use any glue stick or use double sided tape if you prefer.
• Gold Pigment Ink: This ink is generally heavier than other inks and it takes a lot of effort to clean your stamps after but the overall effect is well worth the effort.
• Versa-Mark: This is a clear ink that you use when you are embossing. It works like glue, holding the embossing powder to the stamped image.
• Gold Embossing powder: You use this for the central image on the card.
• Stamp set: I used the “Lovely as a Tree” stamp that is produced by Stampin’ Up but if you can find a nice tree that you like, feel free to make this card the way you want it.
• Embossing Tool: This is a heat gun that you can purchase but if you are not going to stamp too often, you can create an embossed edge by heating the back of the cardstock on your stove’s element. Make sure you don’t overheat the paper since it will burn and I don’t recommend you do this if you are making a large number of cards.

Directions:

1. With a straight edge cutter, cut the forest green cardstock. For the main card, you will want to cut it across the length of the paper so you are left with two sheets that measure 5.5 inches by 8.5 inches. Cut another piece of green cardstock at 2 inches by 3.5 inches. The third green cardstock should be at 2.5 inches by 4 inches. Finally, cut a green strip of cardstock at ½ inch by 4 inches. Fold the 8.5 inch by 5.5 inch cardstock in half to make a card that measures 5.5 inches by 4.25 inches.
2. With the straight edge, cut the beige cardstock at 4 inches by 5.25 inches. Cut the second beige cardstock at 2.25 inches by 3.75 inches.
3. Using the gold pigment ink, stamp gold leaves on the large beige cardstock. Set to the side.
4. On the green cardstock strip, stamp with the gold pigment another small leaf image across the length of it, leaving space between each image. Set aside.
5. On the smallest rectangle of green cardstock, stamp the image of the tree with the versa mark.
6. Cover with embossing powder and gently tap off the excess powder.
7. Heat with the embossing tool until the powder has melted and you are left with a golden tree in the center of the cardstock rectangle.
8. At this point, allow the image to cool, usually only a minute or so, and then assemble the card. You start with the large beige rectangle, placing it in the center of the front of your green card, attaching it with double sided tape or glue stick.
9. Next add the green strip to the middle of the beige cardstock, attach with glue stick.
10. At this point, you will want to layer the image to the center of the beige cardstock. Start with the largest green cardstock rectangle, then use the beige rectangle, then finish with the green that has the embossed image on it.

Now the front of your card is finished and you can finish off by stamping or gluing a Christmas message to the inside of the card. At that point, you are all ready to sign them and send them out with all your holiday mail.

While it is easy to get stressed out about holiday entertaining, remember the most important thing is to take some time to enjoy this special season. Sure, you want the food to be delicious and the table setting to look beautiful, but you also want to be able to enjoy your own party.

One way to slow down and get into the holiday spirit is to set aside some time to create easy-to-make holiday decorations that you can use to make your parties more festive. Handmade wrapping paper and gift tags add a distinctive touch to gifts under the tree, while hand-decorated ornaments and candle holders make great home decorations and terrific party favors.

Decorating guru Genevieve Sterbenz, author of Faux Chic: Creating the Look You Want for Less and Instant Gratification – Cards: Fast and Fabulous Projects, offers holiday decorating tips that are fun for the whole family.

As Genevieve points out, “you don’t have to be a crafting diva to have a handmade holiday. You can easily find the supplies for these simple projects at any craft or discount store, and best of all; you don’t need any special skills.” Here’s Sterbenz’ suggestion for what to include in your crafting toolbox. “You’ll use these items over and over again,” she says. “Store your craft supplies in a plastic bin so you always know where to find them. And Pilot Gold & Silver Markers make a great addition to any craft tool kit.”

* Pilot Pen Gold and Silver Markers
* Different types of glue and a hot glue gun
* Colored paper and card stock
* Rubber stamps in a variety of motifs and ink pads
* Glitter
* A good pair of scissors
* Decorative touches such as crystals, beads, feathers, pine cones and greenery

Put these items to good use in the following easy-to-do holiday projects.

Crystal Bright Ornaments – These personalized handmade ornaments are simple to make and great fun for kids to create. Featuring a crimson feather encased in a clear glass ball ornament, then personalized with the recipient’s name and dusted with glitter, they will quickly become family keepsakes. You’ll need a clear glass ball ornament with a removable metal cap, a red feather, micro glitter in red, 1/2 yard red velvet ribbon (1/2-inch wide), scissors and a Pilot gold marker.

Directions: Remove the cap from the ornament. Insert the feather into the neck of the ornament, fluffy end first, until the entire feather is inside the ball. Leave the quill end resting in the neck of the ornament. Sprinkle in a pinch of glitter and replace the cap. Handwrite a name or a holiday phrase on the front of the ornament. Run the ribbon through the hook in the cap and tie a bow.

Shimmering Candle Holders – These embellished candle votives can become festive tokens of appreciation, or used at home to create a warm, holiday atmosphere. You’ll need candle holders in clear or holiday colors, and Pilot silver and gold markers.

Directions: Wash and dry votive holders. Use markers to draw a design or message of your choice directly on the glass – such as “Peace” or “Joy.” Add a balsam-scented candle for the perfect seasonal gift. Line up a row of decorated votive holders on a mirror for a great table centerpiece. Use larger candle holders on your mantle, or use them to dress up the buffet table.

Snowflake Napkin Rings – Inexpensive napkin rings can be easily crafted for holiday feasts, and kids will love working their magic with modeling clay. You’ll need a cookie sheet with aluminum foil, a rolling pin, oven-baked polymer clay in pastel blue, a toothpick, a snowflake-shaped cookie cutter, a wooden skewer, gold and silver markers, and 1/2 yard of satin ribbon in coordinating color (1/4-inch wide).

Directions: Line the cookie sheet with aluminum foil and set it aside. Use the rolling pin to roll out the clay ¼-inch thick on a clean, flat work surface. Press the cookie cutter into the clay and lift it up. Use a toothpick to create your own impressions within the clay as desired, and place on the lined cookie sheet. Use the skewer to poke a hole in the center of the snowflake. Follow manufacturer’s directions for baking the clay. Remove the cookie sheet from the oven and allow the clay to cool. If you previously created impressions on the clay, trace the markers over the designs to add sparkle and color. To turn the snowflake into a napkin ring, tie a 10” piece of ribbon around a rolled-up napkin, then thread the ribbon ends through the center hole to the front side and tie a double knot to finish. Trim ribbon ends to finish. The napkin rings can also be used as place cards. The clay shapes make wonderful tree ornaments and package decorations as well.

Pilot Pen’s Gold and Silver Markers come in medium and fine point and are available at Staples, Office Depot, Rite Aid, Fred Meyer, Meijer, Albertsons, Brooks, Wal-Mart and other fine retail outlets. More of Genevieve’s Tips, images and ideas are available at SterbenzSparkleTips@gmail.com.

Courtesy of ARA Content

Crafty Santa’s Cookies Plate

“Oh it’s beginning to look like Christmas,” and you are missing a very essential part to the Christmas holidays; Santa’s Cookie Plate. Yes, I know that Santa isn’t what the holidays are about but every year, thousands of children pile various types of cookies onto a plate before heading up for their restless Christmas Eve slumber. Why would Santa want a cookie off of a plain cookie plate?

Well, he probably doesn’t care but more than likely, you do, which is probably why you have come to this site to find out how to make the perfect Christmas Cookie Plate.

What you need:

• One plate: I find that ceramic plates work best and white is the best color to work with since the colors show on the plate very well.
• Christmas Stamps: I love this stamp that I purchased at the craft store Michael’s. The little Santas are from a Stampin Up set.
• Staze-On: This is a permanent stamp ink and it can be purchased at any craft store in the stamping section. Black ink is best but you can work with many different Staze-On colors.
• Sharpies: Any permanent fine tipped markers work but I am a huge fan of Sharpie. The colors are bright and they stay to the surface. Choose colors that will complement your stamp.
• Sealer Spray: There are different products on the market but find one that is safe to use on items that hold food. Krylon clear acrylic is one of these.

Directions:

1. Wash your plate and then dry it completely before you start. This is very important since a wet plate will make the images bleed.
2. Once the plate is completely dry, figure out what type of design you will want on it before you start stamping. This can be done by laying out the stamps on the plate.
3. Using the Staze-On, cover the stamp completely with ink. If the stamp is small, you can press the stamp onto the inkpad but if it is big, reverse the process and press the inkpad onto the upside down stamp. This gives you more control over where the ink is going.
4. Stamp the images. Generally, if you are stamping and make a mistake, it can be removed with a wet dishcloth; however, if the image sets, you will need to use a powdered bathroom cleaner, such as Comet, to remove the ink.
5. Once all your images are stamped onto the plate, color them in. For my plate, I used red and black as the primary colors.
6. Allow the plate to set overnight.
7. In the morning, spray with the sealer. It is better if you test it on a different plate before you spray the finished plate. Allow the sealer to dry completely and then reapply again. Repeat for a third coat.

Once your plate is sealed, it will be all ready for Christmas Eve. If you wash the plate, make sure you do a wipe down of the plate with a damp cloth. If you need to submerge it into the water, never use really hot water and never soak it. Also, never use hard cleaners on the images.

-Sirena Van Schaik