Deck the halls with crafty holiday decor

(NC)—Fun, easy projects are a great way to spend quality time with family before holiday celebrations ensue and also make fantastic, thoughtful gifts for family and friends. The holiday décor team at Lowe’s Home Improvement Warehouse recommends the following DIY projects this year:

Fundamental Ornaments

Jazz up simple shatter-proof ornaments by using interior paint in a gloss or semi-gloss finish with fun holiday colours. First, paint with a primer and allow ample drying time. Paint stars, monogram your friend’s names or spatter the paint in wild colours to make a style statement. Wrap painter’s tape or place round self-stick felt pads around the ornament and paint over them for fun stripes and funky polka dots, and remove after paint has thoroughly dried for at least 24 hours.

Spectacular Wreaths

Turn a tired wreath into a show-stopper with a little TLC. Use an artificial wreath from seasons past, with no attached lighting and spray it with one coat of white paint. After it’s dry, spray it again with one to two coats of orange-peel ceiling texture paint for a flocked look. Add painted pinecones, ribbons and bows for a modern take on a traditional look. For a more vibrant décor option, use a wreath with battery-powered lights and attach brightly painted ornaments you just created with 22-gauge wire. Wrap the wire around the wreath’s metal frame to secure the ornaments andvoilá – you have a fabulous decoration guests will ooh and ahh over.

Wrapping Wonders

Give mirrors a holiday makeover by wrapping them with Christmas ribbon. Measure the size of your mirror and cut two pieces of ribbon, per mirror, about four inches larger on all sides. Place the ribbon diagonally over the corners and tape it down. Tie a large bow and place in the corner similar to all the presents under the tree.

www.newscanada.com

Coffee Filter Wreath

Continuing on with the craft ideas using coffee filters, I love this one.  So Lowe’s came up with a simple challenge – make a unique wreath using Lowe’s materials.  Seriously, I was amazed by how creative some people can be!  Beautiful wreaths made out of wrapping paper, tubes, wood, pipes, coffee filters, wires and so much more.  I find that wreathes can be so expensive if you buy them at a craft or department store.  This video has inspired me to make my first ever wreath!  I will make one this weekend and report back with what I made next week!

Peanut Butter Pine Cones

I remember making special peanut butter pine cones for the birds when I was a child.  It was such a fun craft that we would do each winter.  I found a site with some great steps and here is a quick rundown of how to make pine cone bird feeders.

1. buy pine cones from craft store or simply find one from outside!
2. spread out newspaper for easy clean up
3. wrap a string around the top of the pine cone for hanging.  Tie it tight!
4. tie a knot in the string so it makes a loop (to hang on the branch)
5. stir some vegetable oil into peanut butter until it has the consistency of toothpaste.  Make sure not too add too much or it will be come drippy.
6. Smear that peanut butter mixture all over the pine cones with either a spoon or butter knife
7. sprinkle bird seed over the pine cones and watch it stick to the cone.
8. Hang the pine cone on the limbs and branches of trees and watch the birds love them!

Give a Christmas gift to the precious birds this holiday season with a peanut butter pine cone!

Christmas Scrapbooking

I love the idea of scrapbooking and have often thought about taking it up as a hobby.  Michael’s and Hobby Lobby are a variable treasure trove for scrapbooking ideas and needs as I’ve seen whole aisles devoted to this hobby.

Christmas Tree Scrapbooking

Recently I started thinking about the holidays and how fun it would be to make Christmas Scrapbooks.  I did some searching online and found some adorable stickers and supplies. Scrapbooking is also the perfect Christmas craft for children!

Adorable Pink Christmas Tree Scrapbooking

I love this pink and green combo!  It is such a simple idea of laying textures and stickers with cute phrases such as “All I want for Christmas”, “Christmas Cheer”, and “Dear Santa” thrown in. I think I will ask my sister if she wants to have a Christmas scrapbooking party soon because these are too cute!

Nature-inspired Holiday Decorating

(NC)— For a fun way to decorate with your kids, try these dipped pine cones from Sarah’s Holiday Party, airing on HGTV Canada this holiday season.

Dipped Pine Cones

Supplies:

• Collection of pine cones in various sizes

• Latex paint

• Plastic containers or other containers appropriate for mixing paint. Make sure the container has a lid with a good seal on it. Use a separate container for each colour.

• Water

• Pair of tongs

• Waxed paper

Method:

1. Find your collection of pinecones in a park or purchase some at a craft store.

2. Gather left over paint from past projects or purchase a small amount in a variety of colours to suit your holiday scheme.

3. Pour one colour of paint into a container, adding a splash of water to slightly dilute. Approximately two parts paint to one part water.

4. Put the lid on the container and shake the paint and water until they combine. Mixture shouldn’t be too “gloppy”.

5. Drop a pinecone into the paint mixture, replace the lid and shake until cone is completely coated.

6. Remove pinecone using tongs and place onto waxed paper to dry.

7. Repeat process for each pinecone, until you have as many as you need.

www.newscanada.com

Sandra Lee, Christmas Guru

Good old Sandra Lee. Not only does she wow the masses with her recipes on Semi Homemade on Food Network apparently she also makes videos about Christmas crafts.  I love this video I found on youtube where she is making glittered ornaments.  They are so cute and also so much cheaper than buying the expensive glittered ornaments at the store!

ake your home glisten with sparkling new holiday craft ideas

(ARA) – Time to deck the halls. That’s right, as the weather turns cooler, it’s time to don that holiday spirit and prepare your home for festivities.

But do your tightened purse strings have you saying “bah humbug?” Luckily, creating exquisite holiday decor can be fun and cost-effective when you do it yourself. Here are a few amazing holiday craft ideas that are simple and sensational.

Glittered holiday pinecones
Create a beautiful centerpiece with items that you might find in your backyard – all in less than an hour. Here’s what you’ll need: pinecones, Krylon Primer and Krylon Glitter Blast glitter spray, fishing line and a drop cloth.

Make sure that the pinecones are clean from dirt and dust, then tie fishing line around the stem of the pinecone. Hang them from above so that all surfaces are accessible with the drop cloth underneath. Next, simply spray a coat of primer and let dry and then spray with your favorite glitter color of Glitter Blast. Soon, you’ll have pretty pinecones ready to spruce up any table.

Colorful cones
Decorate your home with a festive holiday cone. Let your imagination run wild with these cheerful creations. Here’s what you may need: various sized foam cones, Glitter Blast glitter spray, scrapbook papers, self-adhesive foam sheet, sequins and pins, ribbon, paste and acrylic jewels.

To start, thoroughly spray the cones with your favorite colors of Glitter Blast and allow to completely dry. Then, follow these guidelines to create three unique versions.

Polka dot cone. Punch out a variety of sizes and colors of circles from scrapbook papers and foam sheets and attach in random patterns to the cone using the paste. Start with larger-sized circles and gradually adhere smaller sizes on top. Finally, pin on 1-inch glitter sequins.

Ribbon cone. Spiral ribbon around cone, anchoring in place with craft glue and craft pins. Cut small snips in the edges so ribbon will lay flat. Glue and pin sequin trim in between the ribbon spirals.

Beaded cone. Using straight pins, pin sequins at random all over the cone. Then use paste to attach flat-backed acrylic jewels in and around the sequins.

To complete the look of each uniquely designed holiday cone, make a hole in the very top of the cone with a pencil point. Press the neck of a small tree ornament into the hole and secure with a drop of glue. Now you have three beautiful and original cones for a creative and colorful arrangement.

Original ornaments
You may have had sticker shock the last time you shopped for holiday ornaments – but luckily with some inspiration from renowned crafter and author, Mark Montano, you can update your tree for almost free when you design your own. Here’s what you’ll need: eight wooden clothespins, cardboard, scissors, glue, spray paint, large rhinestones, hot glue gun and glue sticks, fishing wire and loose glitter or Glitter Blast glitter spray.

To start, take the clothespins apart and arrange the wood pieces in a starburst pattern with the fat ends of the pieces touching in the center and the skinny ends forming the points. Cut out two 2 1/2 inch cardboard circles. Glue a cardboard circle in the center of the clothespins and let it dry. Flip your starburst over, glue the other cardboard circle in the center and let it dry. Next, spray paint the entire ornament in a color of your choice. Cover the cardboard and about half an inch of the surrounding clothespins with glue and sprinkle glitter on top – or use Glitter Blast glitter spray. Flip the starburst over and repeat. When dry, use hot glue to adhere a rhinestone in the center of both sides. For the hanger, fold a 10-inch piece of fishing wire in half and hot glue the ends to one of the clothespins. Once dry, hang on your tree and enjoy.

For more holiday craft ideas from Krylon, visit www.yourholidaystyle.com; for craft ideas from Mark Montano, visit http://markmontanoblogs.blogspot.com/.

How to craft a lot of fun for the holidays

(NC)—Across our beautiful country, Canadians are actively preparing for one of the “most wonderful times of the year”. They gather in the homes of their loved ones, sing carols in front of a crackling fire and decorate their homes with holiday cheer. Because of the brisk air outside, Canadians are poised to take full advantage of the warmth that homemade holiday décor can bring to their homes.

“The holidays are a perfect time of year for families to get together and get creative,” says Shelli Gardner, cofounder of Stampin’ Up!, a crafting and décor company explains.

“Whether you’re decorating your house prior to the festivities, creating a perfect table setting for your holiday meal or gathering all of your memories in a scrapbook, our crafts will give you and your family a lot of options this holiday season.”

There are so many ways to add the perfect pinch of pizzazz to your home says Gardner, and here are a few:

Decorate

Nothing is more festive during the holidays than a perfectly festooned home. Stampin Up! offers you a variety of ways to turn your home into a yuletide extravaganza. The holiday stocking Bigz L Die, for example, lets you cut paper or fabric to create your own stocking. Bigz décor elements are fantastic holiday-themed vinyl pieces that create a beautiful damask background to bring the spirit of the season right into your home. You can also add a hint of holiday flair with the stitched felt and quilted satin ribbon, which allow you and those you love to design the perfect tree ornament or greeting card. Top these off with mini jingle bells to make your seasonal projects and décor ring out.

Greet

The designer series paper makes the art of card creating a cinch. You and your family will want to wrap yourselves up in these warm textures to create cozy cards for the holidays. Nothing spreads cheer faster than handmade greetings. You can even add a touch of glimmer and give them an antique look with embossing powder.

Set the table

Letterpress plates give an embossed look to items, lending a hint of year-end joy to any gathering. Use various cards to assign place settings, label dishes and create cocktail themes. The time it will take your family to make the table cards will definitely allow the chef of the house to focus on the feast.

Give

The holiday spirit is built around love and generosity for others. There is no greater way to share your love than through a personalized gift. Why don’t you bake some homemade cookies and customize them with sweet pressed cookie stamps to give to your neighbour who shoveled your driveway last week? These stamps are food- and kid-safe and can be used with your favourite shortbread cookie dough or fondant. Better yet, give your sweets a personalized touch by placing them in a homemade decorated box wrapped with the designer series paper and designer fabric.

“As you can see, there are so many ways to add seasonal merriment to your home,” says Gardner. “Anyone interested in learning more about these creative ideas is encouraged to attend a demonstrator’s workshop. Visit www.stampinup.ca to find a demonstrator in your area and add a little spice to your holiday.

www.newscanada.com

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

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