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Let your grade schooler recreate the first Christmas in a shoe box that makes you feel like you are right there. We used a dollar store Nativity set* and even recycled the lid from the box it came in!
I had photo made on transparency film at Kinkos. Then I cut it out in a 3" circle. Rolled it up and inserted into the top of clear glass ball. It flattens out by itself. I added some angel (or glitter) hair, poking it down with a pencil, on each side of the film.Then I replaced the top, added some "snowflakes" the names and date with a white marker. These are our two oldest great grandsons. Have to make another since there are 3 of them now.
By Great Granny Vi (Originally Published 8/31/2005)
This is a very lovely ornament and would make a great gift. It does take some time to cut, fold, and pin everything together but the outcome is well worth the time spent.
Every year for my son's birthday we have used the same vinyl tablecloth. Each year with a different colored marker we ask his guests to write him a birthday message. It has proved to be a great tradition, a keepsake, an inexpensive decoration and a conversation piece all in one. Not bad for a dollar store purchase!
Creating a personalized, ornamental ball for the tree can be as individual as you like. Mine are red balls with golden glass paint depicting a design and each loved one's name.
Take old scraps of Quilting if you have some or your favorite fabrics and cut out a few hearts and sew up leaving a small place to stuff them and then whip stitch them shut. Then Hot glue Green and Red antique or old buttons on them for extra charm.
Sew on a gold ribbon or color of your choice for hanging. I sent them to my chat friends for Christmas. They are very light and don't cost to much to send and my friends loved the. - Mamo
Use brown paper grocery bags, or the piece of brown paper you often find rolled up after the gift wrap is gone to make these personal Gingerbread People with faces that your child knows. These may be used for tree ornaments, package decorations, or card enclosures for relatives far away. Great teacher gift, too.
Last Christmas I made a tree out of the old and advertising CD's and bought a string of lights and taped each bulb in the center of each disc. The reflection was pretty and we had a neat yard decoration. Just be sure to use outdoor lights and cord.
By Great Granny Vi
Editor's Note: Vi sent in these great pictures of her CD Christmas Tree. It's always helpful when people can send in pictures of their projects so everyone can see what they look like finished. Thanks Great Granny Vi!
Maybe this will inspire some of you painters out there for next Christmas, I always paint the envelopes of my Christmas cards, this is what I did for this last Christmas, I have been doing this for about 6 years, it is fun to come up with something new every year.
By Phyllis Powell (Originally Published 1/30/2005)
Use a galvanized bucket or in this case I used a galvanized floral bucket used to display fresh flowers and paint a simple snowman on it with acrylic paints and then fill with wonderful artificial silk poinsettias and some artificial glitter or twizzle sticks for height and put in your entrance foyer.
By Connie from Ballwin, Missouri (Originally Published 12/09/2005)
Here is a photo of a large wreath I made for our back porch. I used a big hula hoop then attached branches from our old artificial Christmas tree. I went around one direction using the branches from the bottom 2 sections of the tree and alternated them.
Santa & Mrs. Claus are ready to bring joy to all the girls and boys. What a fun way to say Merry Christmas to your holiday host, your child's teacher, or a member of your family.
I got these little wooden nativity scene cutouts from Oriental Trading last season after Christmas. I re-found them this year, and decided to paint them up. Well, I didn't have enough paint colors, so I switched to markers and finished them up. They were originally ornaments, so I cut off the strings on top, and made this little diorama because we don't have a nativity scene to put under the tree.
I took a small-ish cardboard box, cut the top and pieced it together to make it arched at the top. I then used a glue gun to arrange all the little figures in a scene, and made sure to cover up any logos or mailing info on the box. I did that by cutting up a small paper lunch bag and glueing it on top of the logos and such.
I'm really proud of the way this turned out! I might add a bit of raffia to make it look more 'barn-like', but I'm really happy with the way it looks now as well!
Here is a great tip I found that was shared on a website I found this week.
"Basically this is an pillow filled with rice and herbs, you put it in the microwave for 2 minutes or less for warmth and heat, or throw it in the freezer to ease injuries, or for headaches.
You can use scrap fabric... use large scraps for larger herbal cozies (for the back, legs, etc.) and smaller scrap pieces for a small one that you can use on the forehead or on the eyes, to sooth eyestrain and headache.
I sew 'channels' in mine, by sewing a line every two inches, and feeling each pocket - so everything stays in the right place, but that's optional. They can be as simple as a 'pillow' type.
Fill them with rice and herbs. You only need 1 part herb to 5-10 part rice, depending on how strong you want them.
Herbs you can fill them with:
mint - clears sinuses, good for headache
chamomile - eases tension, relaxes
cloves - muscle pain
rosemary - relaxes, muscle pain
lavender - ease tension, relaxes, soothes, good for headache
ginger - soothing, good for muscle pain
cedar shavings - eases aching muscles
Herbs are VERY cheap bought in bulk, or you can use your dried, homegrown, or even cut open teabags."
This tip is for a wonderful frugal but thoughtful gift for anytime of the year. I am busy making them for Christmas. Hope you will try them, too.
I found these cute girl's skort at the thrift store. I cut the shorts out of the inside, hand stitched the bottom with a coordinating embroidery floss. Then I used the sleeve of a wool sweater from another project for the purse straps. I cut the sleeve into eight one inch wide by 6 inch long strips. I braided two sets of three to use as the purse straps. I hand stitched them to the inside at the top of the skorts. I used the other two strips to make a belt.
Can i drill a hole in a mirror? I would like to mount a store bought metal sculpture (intended for hanging on a wall) onto a large mirror that is glued to the wall. Thank you for any help.
I read somewhere about using joint compound for "fake snow".Does anyone have info on this.This stuff you buy is so expensive. And I use a lot of it. Any ideas would be helpful.
Does anyone know how to make stamp pad ink using glycerine and Rit dye or rubbing alcohol and Rit dye? I need to re-ink and I'm way far away from any store with re-inkers.
I'm getting married in April 07 and the wedding is taken place indoor. My finance and I make homemade bottles of wine. I need to come up with an idea to use our bottle wine for centerpiece. Any help of advice and recommendations would be greatly appreciated.
If you are an avid crafter, capable writer and own a digital camera, you are eligible to participate. Submit your craft projects to ThriftyFun and we will pay $15 for any crafts that we publish.
Every year I cringe as I straighten the living room on Christmas morning. With every crumbled wad of wrapping paper my mind tallies the dollars and cents that those rolls cost a few weeks earlier. The idea is impractical - purchasing paper only to throw it away. Recycled paper is a nice eco-friendly alternative, but why buy something I already have? This year, I'm going to personalize my wrapping and save some paper, the kind with Christmas trees and the kind with presidents.
We've all heard that it's the thought that counts, but what could have more thought than a handmade gift. The craft-impaired need not worry. These gifts are easy, cheap, and perfect for the holidays (any of them!)
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I made this angel out of an empty pop bottle. It's easy to make.
This darling snowman and snowwoman make the perfect couple. All bundled up for a cold winter's day, and so easy, the kids can make them too!
Let your grade schooler recreate the first Christmas in a shoe box that makes you feel like you are right there. We used a dollar store Nativity set* and even recycled the lid from the box it came in!
A Christmas favorite to remind you of your childhood - a brightly colored, festive stocking that your kids are sure to love as much as you did.
This is a very lovely ornament and would make a great gift. It does take some time to cut, fold, and pin everything together but the outcome is well worth the time spent.
Every year for my son's birthday we have used the same vinyl tablecloth. Each year with a different colored marker we ask his guests to write him a birthday message. It has proved to be a great tradition, a keepsake, an inexpensive decoration and a conversation piece all in one. Not bad for a dollar store purchase!
Creating a personalized, ornamental ball for the tree can be as individual as you like. Mine are red balls with golden glass paint depicting a design and each loved one's name.
Why let the card have all the glory? Using stamps and embossing powder to create elegant winter images, this craft makes the envelope enchanting too!
Take old scraps of Quilting if you have some or your favorite fabrics and cut out a few hearts and sew up leaving a small place to stuff them and then whip stitch them shut. Then Hot glue Green and Red antique or old buttons on them for extra charm.
Use brown paper grocery bags, or the piece of brown paper you often find rolled up after the gift wrap is gone to make these personal Gingerbread People with faces that your child knows. These may be used for tree ornaments, package decorations, or card enclosures for relatives far away. Great teacher gift, too.
How to Create a Linoleum Block
Maybe this will inspire some of you painters out there for next Christmas, I always paint the envelopes of my Christmas cards, this is what I did for this last Christmas, I have been doing this for about 6 years, it is fun to come up with something new every year.
Use a galvanized bucket or in this case I used a galvanized floral bucket used to display fresh flowers and paint a simple snowman on it with acrylic paints and then fill with wonderful artificial silk poinsettias and some artificial glitter or twizzle sticks for height and put in your entrance foyer.
Santa & Mrs. Claus are ready to bring joy to all the girls and boys. What a fun way to say Merry Christmas to your holiday host, your child's teacher, or a member of your family.
