I looked at the pile of gifts under the tree, frowning. With five different patterns of gift wrap, everything looked … wrong. Where was the festive mood I’d prepared for that Norman Rockwell backdrop? Something definitely didn’t ring right for that long-planned-for moment. It was the wrapping. Yawn!

Special moments need special preparation. With some time and inspiration, something as small as gift wrapping techniques can make a big difference.

When wrapping presents, simple can be elegant. Wrapping packages in plain brown shipping paper and topping with something extraordinary can be creatively beautiful. Try a small pine branch and pine cone, a touch of gold leaf, or red berries. No ribbon or bow needed – tie it off with a length of raffia.

White paper with metallic is also timeless. Paper may be left plain or sparingly leafed with gold, silver or bronze to match ribbons.

You can also dress up a package up as Santa Claus or Rudolph. For either character, wrap a rectangular or square package in plain, red wrapping paper.

For Rudolph, cut a triangle and teardrop-shaped ears from brown Kraft paper. The triangle should be large enough to reach top-to-bottom of the box. Using glue stick or double-sided tape, attach the triangle and ears to the front of the box. Decorate Rudy’s face with large googly-eyes, a mouth and, of course, his bright red pom-pom nose. Curl some chenille stems to make antlers.

For Santa’s suit, glue white faux fur trim around the top and bottom of the box, and straight down the middle. Glue 3-5 large, black buttons to one side of the trim.

Oatmeal boxes make great snowmen gift boxes for small presents. Spray paint white (don’t forget the inside!) and allow to dry. Glue on googly-eyes. For a snowman, texture-paint a carrot-nose and coal mouth. Glue buttons down his front and tie a scarf around his neck. Then pack your present inside!

Gift wrapping techniques are only limited by your imagination! Use clip-art, garage sale china and boxes, and paper punches to your advantage. Have fun!
-Deborah Dyess

Part of welcoming Baby into the family is the addition of a baby Christmas stocking. Placing it with the others on the mantle somehow solidifies the little one’s place in the household.

Picking the baby Christmas stocking used to be limited to choosing pink or blue, with the words “Baby’s First Christmas” embroidered on the front. But times have changed! Stockings can specialize in the family’s favorite sports teams, hobby or town or have photo inserts for that all-important first-year portrait.

If you’re a crafty mom, making a baby Christmas stocking is an enjoyable way to prepare for the holiday. The stocking will be unique and truly special. Begin with a plain stocking. Patterns are available in stores and online. (I like the clear directions and pattern at Craft and Fabric links). Here are two simple ideas to try.

Handprint Christmas Tree Stocking
Make a Christmas tree from your baby’s hand and footprints. Start with the trunk of the tree. Using brown paint, footprint your child. Carefully press the tiny foot to the stocking, positioning it correctly. Green handprints make boughs of the Christmas tree. Make a handprint stamp by transferring your baby’s handprint to thick FunFoam. Cut it out and use it to create the tree. This prevents accidents caused by wiggling little fingers! Use 3-5 near the bottom of the tree and decrease by one until the top is created. Fingers should point out for the lower branches, and up for the top. The number of handprints will vary, depending on the size of the stocking. Allow the painted tree to dry, then adorn with beads, sequins, buttons, etc. Tiny charms can be used as miniature ornaments, and a locket can hold a photo of Baby.

Photo Insert Stockings
Photo insert stockings are easily made. Purchase fabric needed, plus a small square of thin vinyl (available in many fabric sections). Before sewing the front and back stocking pieces together, position the vinyl on front of the stocking and sew in place on three sides. Once the photo is inside, close the opening and sew the stocking as directed. Cover stitching with decorations or trim. Several photo inserts can be placed on the stocking to show baby’s growth during the first year or Baby with different family members.

However you choose to make your baby Christmas stocking, enjoy! This is a great Christmas for you and your family.

- Debora Dyess

Poinsettias, with their bright red leaves, are popular holiday decorations. Also known as the Christmas Star, the poinsettia is a subtropical plant best known for its striking red color. It’s often used as a floral Christmas decoration because of its bright colors. The plants are native to southern Mexico and Central America and in the United States can be found growing wild in Hawaii.

They are named after Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first United States Minister (a predecessor to ambassadors) to Mexico, who introduced the plant in the U.S. in 1825. Poinsett was so impressed with the brilliant red color of the plant that he sent some home from Mexico to South Carolina, where they thrived in his greenhouse.

Mexican legend tells how the poinsettia came to be a Christmas symbol. The story states that a child who could not afford a gift to offer to Christ on Christmas Eve picked some weeds from the side of a road. The child was told that a humble gift, if given in love, would be acceptable in God’s eyes. When the child brought the weeds to the church they bloomed into red and green flowers and the congregation felt they had witnessed a Christmas miracle. Franciscan friars in Mexico started including the plants, known as Flor de Buena Noche, or Christmas Eve Flower, in Christmas celebrations in the 17th century.

Today it’s easy to find and buy poinsettias during the winter months and they’re so popular they even have their own national day – Congress has declared December 12 to be National Poinsettia Day.

More: The History of Poinsettia

Christmas stockings are as as much a part of the holidays as reindeer, Santa and gifts under the tree. But why do we hang stockings?

There are no written records to document the origins of Christmas stockings, but there are some legends associated with the tradition.

Many people have heard the story of how an act of kindness performed by Saint Nicholas led to the practice of hanging Christmas stockings. According to this legend , a nobleman whose wife had died had become poverty stricken and unable to afford the dowry for his three daughters. Without a dowry, the girls would not be able to marry. On Christmas, Saint Nicholas saw the girls’ stockings hanging by the fireplace and filled them with gold. In some variations, St. Nick throws gold coins down the chimney.

Some say the re-telling of this story led children to hang their stockings by the fireplace, hoping that they might also receive gifts from Saint Nicholas.

But there may be an even earlier origin of the Christmas stocking tradition. Author Phyllis Siefker in her book, “Santa Claus, Last of the Wild Men: The Origins and Evolution of Saint Nicholas, Spanning 50,000 Years,” traces the tradition back to the the Norse God Odin and the winter Yule festival . The author says that during the Yule festival, children would place their boots, filled with carrots, straw or sugar near the chimney for Odin’s flying horse. In exchange for this kindness, Odin would then reward the kids by leaving gifts or candy.

This practice, the author says, survived in Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium after Christianity was introduced and later became associated with St. Nick.

Many cultures now have traditions that involve leaving stockings out to be filled at Christmas, but there is a wide variation in the practice. In some countries – like Italy and France – children leave shoes instead of stockings, and in Italy, the gifts are left on January 6, the last day of Christmas . And since many modern homes don’t have chimneys, in many families the tradition is now to use Christmas stocking holders.

Even though the origins of Christmas stocking history will never be known for sure, it’s clear that hanging stockings on Christmas Eve is a tradition that will continue to be practiced each year at the holidays.

Reprinted with permission from