Preparing for Christmas In July (or August)

Here are some fun things to do and make ahead for this Christmas. Kids will be back in school soon and Moms will have a little extra time on their hands. Think ahead and make a list of those special people on your yearly shopping list. Let this be the year you surprise them with handmade decorations and baked goods, instead of going out and buying a last minute gift. Here are a few suggestions I have found useful over the years. My family and friends love them since these are things they don't do themselves.

Gingerbread Ornaments:

Make Gingerbread Men using a jar of cinnamon, 1 cup of Applesauce and a small bottle of school glue. Mix by hand and roll out to 1" thick. Cut with a cookie cutter which cuts only a shape (Don't use the flat kind which makes a pattern, these will stick to the dough). After these are cut out and laid on a flat surface (a thick piece of cardboard works fine) let these dry on their own. This will take several days. Turn them every day or so to keep them flat. These are so cute and smell good. I have some I've had for years. They are, however, fragile and easy to break, so be careful with them.

Felt Ornaments:

Felt Ornaments are easy to make. Dig up some old scrap material and make patterns of different shapes. I make stars, Gingerbread men, snowmen and trees. Sew them together and leave a small hole to stuff with craft batting. After stuffing and sewing up the hole you used, take a needle and embroidery thread and chain stitch around the sides for an old fashion look.

To make the chain effect, sew as you normally would, but before going on to the next stitch catch your needle UNDER the top of the previous stitch. This will make a line ACROSS the top to the next stitch. Repeat this all around the sewn ornament. Practice chain stitch on a scrap piece of material until you get the effect you are satisfied with.

Hot Pads:

Hot Pads are easily made with scrap material and stuffed with good smelling finely crushed potpourri, cloves and cinnamon. They give out a wonderful aroma when used.

Baked Goods:

Make baked goods for gifts, which can be frozen. End of summer produce sales are a good place to get Zucchini. I also do Banana bread from leftover Bananas which I've frozen and pumpkin bread. Store in the freezer with a good ziplock bag. Stored properly, these will thaw out fine for gift giving.

Crocheted Items:

Crocheted kitchen towels are fun and I do them while sitting and watching TV in the evenings. Using a kitchen towel, fold in the middle and cut it so that you have two half-towels. Using crochet thread and needle begin your crochet by punching a hole in the top of the towel and single crochet the first row punching through the towel top. Do two rows of single crochet. Then add on three rows of double crochet, skipping between each stitch so that the towel is becoming smaller.

After that is finished single crochet the handle on. It will take about 5 single crochets (and turning after each row) to make the handle. Do this 10 times. When finished sew on a button to hang the towel. With this project you get two for $1. Ask a friend who crochets to help you learn this if it sounds too complicated. It's really relaxing and makes great gifts.

Gift Baskets:

The back-to-school sales are a great time to stock up on personal care items (Shower supplies, lotions, razors, deodorants and scrubbies). A basket full of these make a great gift. Baskets can be purchased at yard sales.

These are only a few suggestions but they are gifts that can be made in advance to prevent last minute gift buying when the Holidays come.