Children love just about everything about the Christmas holidays except for the long wait for Santa to arrive. Once school gets out, suddenly they might start saying, “I’m bored. There’s nothing to do!” But you can help them keep busy and make those days fly by faster with a few Christmas crafts for kids. Here are some easy ideas.

Holiday Placements
If you save your old Christmas cards, pull some out and tear off the backs where the writing is. (And if you don’t save your cards, start doing it so next year you’ll have them for Christmas crafts!) For this project, you’ll need three or four cards to make each placemat.

After you’ve torn off the backs of the cards, give the kids some glue and let them glue the cards (decorationg-side down) on colored construction paper. After the glue dries, use clear contact paper to cover the construction paper, making sure there are no open ends or gaps. Kids will love setting the table with these special Christmas placemats they’ve made.

Christmas Countdown Chain
For this holiday craft, you’ll need red and green construction paper cut into thin, even strips. Let the kids decorate the strips with pens, crayons or glitter glue. Now glue the ends of the paper together to create connecting circles. You’ll want one circle for each day until Christmas. So if you’re starting on the first of December, make 24 circles. If you’re making the craft on December 10, you’ll want 14 circles, and so forth. After the glue is dry, hang the chain where your child can reach it. Then let the kids tear off a new link of the chain every day until Christmas arrives!

Santa Claus Ornament
Go to your local craft store and find some of the large plastic ornaments that allow you to place items inside. You’ll also need some googly eyes, a small wooden or styrofoam ball, some red and black felt, a small wooden heart that has been painted black and some white cotton stuffing.

First, fill your ornaments with peppermints and then close it. Now glue some googly eyes on the ball and then glue the ball to the top of the ornament. Next, add cotton to the ball to create hair, a mustache and a beard. Cut a Santa hat out of the red felt and glue it to the hair. Then cut a long strip of black felt to create Santa’s belt. Glue it to the base of the ornament and glue the front bottom of the ornament to the wooden heart to create Santa’s feet.

“Away in a Manger” is a classic Christmas carol that first appeared in 1885. According to Wikipedia, the song was first published with two verses in an Evangelical Lutheran Sunday School collection, Little Children’s Book for Schools and Families, edited by James R. Murray, where it simply bore the title “Away in a Manger” and was set to a tune called “St. Kilda,” credited to J.E. Clark. Below are the lyrics for this holiday favorite.

Away in a Manger Lyrics

Away in a manger,
No crib for His bed
The little Lord Jesus
Laid down His sweet head

The stars in the bright sky
Looked down where He lay
The little Lord Jesus
Asleep on the hay

The cattle are lowing
The poor Baby wakes
But little Lord Jesus
No crying He makes

I love Thee, Lord Jesus
Look down from the sky
And stay by my side,
‘Til morning is nigh.

Be near me, Lord Jesus,
I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever
And love me I pray

Bless all the dear children
In Thy tender care
And take us to heaven
To live with Thee there

In the animated holiday classic, “Frosty the Snowman,” Frosty gets locked in a greenhouse on Christmas Eve and melts in the warm temperatures. Fortunately, Santa Claus comes along and saves Frosty… AND gives a good lecture to the evil Professor Hinkle, who trapped the beloved snowman in the greenhouse so he could take Frosty’s magic hat.

But Frosty’s not the only snowman who melts in warm weather. It happens to other snowmen, too. And when it happens, they turn into delicious “snowman soup.” Fortunately, you don’t need to actually go out into the snow and build an entire snowman and wait for him to melt to create snowman soup from scratch. Here’s a simple recipe that will have you making snowman soup in no time.

Snowman Soup Recipe
Here’s what you’ll need to make snowman soup:
1 package of hot cocoa
2 Hershey’s Kisses
1 Hershey’s Hugs
10-12 mini marshmallows
1 candy cane

Directions for Snowman Soup
Put the hot cocoa, Hershey’s Kisses and Hugs and the mini marshmallows in a Ziploc or other plastic bag and place it inside of a mug. Then add the candy cane. Now you’ve got a plain mug of hot chocolate. To turn your regular hot chocolate into tasty Snowman Soup, simply add the following poem or buy a mug with a poem already on it (click the image shown at right to see the poem on the other side):

Snowman Soup Poem
Frosty has melted.
It’s sad but true.
But he left a gift for you.

Little white snowballs
And two dark eyes.
And a nose that’s quite tasty.
Just give it a try.

Pour the package in the mug.
And add the eyes and nose.
Use the candy stick to stir.
Then sip it very slow!

Related link: Snowman Soup Recipe and Poem

Are you having a party to celebrate the holidays this year? Then you’ll need this handy Christmas party game guide. This list has games that are good for both kids and adults, so everyone at the party will have a great time. Here are some game suggestions that are always crowd-pleasing:

Speedy Unwrapper: Take a series of boxes, small, medium and large. Wrap the smallest box the way you would wrap a regular gift. Place it inside the medium box. Wrap the medium box so that it’s tougher to unwrap than the smaller one.

Now place the medium box down into the larger box. Wrap the larger box with layers of wrapping paper and use tough tape, like box tape or duct tape. Divide the party attendees into two groups.

Each member has exactly thirty seconds each to try and unwrap the box. At the end of the time limit, the team with the box or boxes that’s most unwrapped wins. Make sure you have a prize for the winning team members.

Ornament Relay: This one has to be played outside or in a large room indoor (this one is great for any church Christmas parties). Divide the people into two even teams. Pick one person from each team to be the starter.

The starter has to pile his or her hands full of round, plastic Christmas balls and run to his or her team member to transfer the balls. The recipient then runs back to the home base (a large bucket or tin tub) to deposit the balls, then runs back.

The next person then has to run to the home base, gather all the balls and run back with them. Any balls that the runner accidentally losing must be recovered before he or she can continue on the race.

Christmas Charades: For a twist on a favorite Christmas party game, use familiar Christmas events as the charade. Use events such as stuffing the turkey, decorating the tree, wrapping gifts etc. If you’re going to have a party for children and need games suited to their age level, choose from among these fun games:

Mystery Stocking: Take a large stocking and put several Christmas related items suitable for a child inside. Make sure the top of the stocking is fastened securely. Pass the stocking around and let each child have a few minutes to feel it. Then have them write down what they think is inside (or tell you if they’re too young). The child with the closest guess wins the stocking.

Word Formation: Have sheets of paper for each child. At the top of the paper, write the words ‘Merry Christmas’ or ‘Happy Holidays.’ The object is to write as many words as possible using only the letters at the top of the page. Give a five minute time limit.

Pin the Toys in the Sleigh: Tape a sleigh to the wall. Give each child a paper ‘present’-something you might find in Santa’s sleigh. Blindfold each participant on his or her turn and have them try and pin the present inside the sleigh. Closest one wins.

Sending out Christmas cards is a way of letting your family and friends know you’re thinking about them during the holidays, and it can also be a good business strategy for keeping in touch with clients, customers and prospects. Store bought cards are easy to purchase at many local stores, but if you have time and want to make a personal impression on someone, photo cards add a special touch, not only for your personal acquaintances, but also for people with whom you do business. People like seeing who they’re working with – it gives that personalized touch many businesses lack.

Store bought cards limit you to what you find on the shelves. You can only buy what everyone else is also buying. By creating photo cards online, you can pick add your own Christmas photo or a photo of a scene that has a special meaning. You get to choose the color options, the fonts for outside and inside and you get to pick out just the right words to get across the message you want to say. They’re more fun to make and to receive.

These days there is no shortage of places to create beautiful and unique Christmas cards online. Some popular sites that offer personalized photo cards are Shutterfly, CardStore.com, Pear Tree Greetings and others. Take a look at these sites and you’re sure to find some wonderful and unusual Christmas cards you’ll love. Then personalize them with your own photos and message. Rather than buying a box of cards that will quickly end up in the trash, you’ll be creating a keepsake that you (and probably some members of your family) will want to keep in a scrapbook for years to come.

What did Jack Frost say to Frosty the Snowman?
Have an ice day!

What would you get if you crossed a snowman and a vampire?
Frostbite

What kind of cakes do snowmen prefer?
Any cake with lots of icing!

What would you get if you crossed a snowman and a baker?
Frosty the Dough-man

Why did the snowman send his dad to the North Pole?
He wanted a frozen pop

What did the snow parents put over their baby’s crib?
A snowmobile

What happened when the snowman’s wife got angry with him?
She gave him the cold shoulder.

Why did Frosty the Snowman want a divorce?
He thought his wife was a flake.

How do snowmen greet each other?
Ice to see you!

What does a snowman eat for lunch?
An iceberg-er

What does a snowman like to eat on his burgers?
Iceberg lettuce

What else does a snowman like on his burgers?
Chilly sauce

What do you call a snowman in summer?
A puddle

What kind of cream do snowwomen put on their faces at night?
Cold cream

What do snowmen like for breakfast?
Ice Krispies

What’s Frosty the Snowman’s favorite type of Mexican food?
Brrrrrr-itos

What do snowman like to drink?
Iced tea

What are the Christmas songs you remember from your childhood? Frosty the Snowman? Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer? Or perhaps Santa Claus is Coming to Town? Many of us grew up listening to those songs as the food cooked, the family gathered, and Santa crept into the house to leave gifts in our stockings.

A lot has changed in the world over the past few decades since these songs became popular hits. While many of us remember listening to these favorite Christmas carols on vinyl LPs, today’s kids listen to their tunes on iPods and through computer speakers. But some things haven’t changed that much; children all over the world still love those same tunes, and it’s likely that as they grow up, they’ll share these songs with the next generation of kids, too.

“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” was (and is still) one of the most popular children’s Christmas songs. Kids still love hearing the tale of Rudolph saving Christmas by safely guiding Santa’s sleigh through the foggy night. That song is still much loved by children everywhere.

And how about the classic song about “Frosty the Snowman?” As kids, we could all imagine dancing in the streets with a talking snowman and following him down the streets of town, right to the traffic cop. It was more than just a song back – in our imaginations, Frosty the Snowman could be as real to us as we was to the kids in the song.

How many of us were good little boys and girls because we had been told “Santa Claus is Coming to Town?” We all knew we better watch out, we better not cry and we better not pout or Santa would would put us on his list – and it wouldn’t be the Nice List. How many parents have used that song to remind their kids to behave before the holidays? I imagine it still works just as well now as it did back then.

Another favorite childhood Christmas song is “Jingle Bells.” As kids, we used to listen to this song and shake the little jingle bells. You could almost see the horse-drawn sleigh, feel the cold air and imagine laughing all the way over the hills.

And who could forget the humorous Chipmunks song “Christmas Don’t Be Late”? This song has continued to be popular, but it has received extra attention since the new Chipmunks movies have become popular.

All of those classic Christmas songs we knew and loved as children played an important role in shaping our memories of this cherished holiday, and they’re continuing to shape the memories of today’s youth. So when Christmas rolls around, be sure to sing along with your kids or grandkids and share those precious holiday memories.

Egg nog, that tasty concoction of milk, sugar, cinnamon and eggs, is quite popular during the holidays. All of the ingredients to make the drink are available year-round, but typically we only indulge ourselves during winter festivities. One reason we traditionally drink egg nog during the Christmas season could be because historians think the drink may have originated from posset, a hot curdled milk drink that was popular in the Middle Ages.

Wikipedia says, “the ‘nog’ part of its name may stem from the word “noggin”, a Middle English term used to describe a small, wooden, carved mug used to serve alcohol.” Or it may have derived “from the name “egg-and-grog”, a common Colonial term used to describe rum. Eventually the term was shortened to ‘egg’n'grog,’ then ‘eggnog’.”

Modern eggnog typically consists of milk, eggs, and sugar mixed together and may be served with or without added spirits. Other ingredients include spices such as nutmeg, cinnamon, or allspice, and frequently the substitution of cream for some portion of the milk, making a much richer drink. Whiskey, rum, brandy, or cognac can be added to eggnog.

Originally served warm, egg nog has been served cold and without alcohol since the mid 1960s, both of which are significant departures from its historical origins. It’s even available in a soy-based formula for those with dairy allergies or who are vegan.

Egg nog has long been the drink of choice to toast the holiday season. So hoist a cup and have a happy holiday season!

Easy Egg Nogg Recipe
from AllRecipes.com

Ingredients

* 2 eggs, beaten
* 3 tablespoons sugar
* 2 1/3 cups low-fat milk
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 1 dash ground nutmeg

Directions

1. Blend together eggs, sugar, milk, vanilla and nutmeg. Serve chilled.

“Santa’s Stuck Up In The Chimney” by Paul Evans is a great funny Christmas song that the whole family can enjoy. Kids will love this song.

Santa’s Stuck Up In The Chimney” Lyrics

It was the night before Christmas
Not a mouse was stirrin’
Not a sound heard anywhere
But the silence was broken
When these words were spoken
“Hey, get me outta here!”

Push!
Tug!
Pull!
Shove!

Santa’s stuck up in the chimney
(In the chimney)
We gotta
Push!
Tug!
Pull!
Shove!
There’ll be no Christmas
Till we set him free.

That’s when he started to diet
Through the summer
He stuck by it
But his appetite
Was fated to win
Because his wife started bakin’
And Christmas candy makin’
Now look at the shape he’s in.

We gotta
Push!
Tug!
Pull!
Shove!

Santa’s stuck up in the chimney
(In the chimney)
We gotta
Push!
Tug!
Pull!
Shove!
There’ll be no Christmas
Till we set him free.

This is becomin’ a disaster
If we don’t free faster
Day will dawn
And children everywhere will weep
The house is full of neighbours tryin’
Down to havin’ children cryin’
“Get him out of here
So I can get some sleep!”

We gotta
Push!
Tug!
Pull!
Shove!

Santa’s stuck up in the chimney
(In the chimney)
We gotta
Push!
Tug!
Pull!
Shove!

Push!
Tug!
Pull!
Shove!
There’ll be no Christmas
Till we set him free.

‘Cause Santa’s stuck up in the chimney!

When you were a kid, did you try to stay up late at night to catch Santa in your house? Millions of children have tried to catch the jolly old elf, but somehow his magic only seems to work when you’re asleep. But with today’s high technology, you’d think there would be a way to catch him at work. And, indeed, now there is.

You can get video proof of Santa’s visit to your very own house to show your kids. It’s easy. Just set up your video camera in the room where you want to catch St. Nick, send your kids off to bed…. and then sneak to the computer for a little Christmas magic at TheSantaVideo.com.

The Santa Video makes it easy for anyone to get a video of Santa in your house. All you need to do is upload a photo (not a video) of your living room, family room, or wherever Santa leaves presents in your home. Then select from one of 5 video clips of Santa at work. You’ll see him walk into your home, put down his bag of gifts and even enjoy some milk and cookies while he’s visiting. Once you choose the Santa video you prefer and indicate which of the songs (if any) you want to add as background music, you’ll be able to see a preview of your video showing Santa at work in your house. It’s so believable you might find yourself believing in Santa again, too!

The whole process of creating your video will take less than 5 minutes. And your kids will be amazed! Catching Santa has never been easier.

Are you dreaming of a green Christmas this year? If so, here are a few easy ideas to make your season greener.

1. Get a Live Christmas Tree
Artificial trees are convenient because don’t need to worry about falling needles and you only need to buy one and you’re ready for Christmas for years to come. But is a an artificial tree really better than a real one? If you don’t like the idea of cutting down a tree every year, look for a living Christmas tree that can be replanted after the holidays. Check your local nursery. Many offer living trees and some will even take the tree back after Christmas and donate them to the local parks department or another organization that will replant them. If you live in Los Angeles or Portland, Oregon, you can even rent a tree from LA’s Living Christmas company or Portland’s Original Living Christmas Tree Company.

2. Use LED Tree Lights and Automatic Timers
An easy way to save electricity during the holidays is to use eco-friendly LED lights on your tree and automatic timers for your outdoor lights. LED lights light just as well as traditional lights, but take less energy. For your outdoor lights, plug them into a timer that will turn the lights on and off at the times you specify so you don’t accidentally leave them on all night.

3. Select Eco-Friendly Christmas Gifts
Your friends and family don’t know to be eco geeks to enjoy eco Christmas gifts such as a recycled fleece jacket, bamboo kitchen utensils, or an iPhone charger that shuts off when the phone is charged. There are even eco-friendly toys for toddlers.

4. Send Recycled Christmas Cards and Letters
If you’re sending out cards for Christmas, choose recycled Christmas cards or a personalized ecard. Sites like Smilebox can help you create personalized electronic greetings with your own text and photos. For your Christmas letters, rather than buying packaged stationery, use a Christmas letter template. This way, you can print your letters on recycled paper and you won’t have extra sheets of paper that get wasted.

It’s easy to have an eco-friendly Christmas!

How the Grinch Stole Christmas is a classic holiday TV special that first aired in 1966. The timeless tale of the grouchy green Grinch who attempts to steal Christmas from the Whos down in Whoville has become a part of our common Christmas culture. Here are some of the great lines from that special.

Grinch Quotes

Grinch: Why, for fifty-three years I’ve put up with it now. I must stop Christmas from coming… but how?

Narrator: Then he got an idea. An awful idea. The Grinch got a wonderful, awful idea!

Grinch: I know just what to do!
Narrator: The Grinch laughed in his throat.
Grinch: I’ll make a quick Santy Claus hat and a coat.
Narrator: And he chuckled and clucked.
Grinch: What a great Grinchy trick. With this coat and this hat, I’ll look just like Saint Nick!

Grinch: How could it be so? It came without ribbons!… it came without tags!… it came without packages, boxes, or bags!

Narrator: He puzzled and puzzed till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before. Maybe Christmas, he thought… doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas, perhaps… means a little bit more!

Read more about the Grinch and Max the Dog on Squidoo.

“Frosty the Snowman” the animated TV special was based on the song by the same name written by Walter “Jack” Rollins and Steve Nelson, and first recorded by Gene Autry and the Cass County Boys in 1950. The song came one year after Autry’s success with “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” but the TV special wasn’t created until 19 years later. Here are some more fun facts about the animated special starring everyone’s favorite snowman.

- Frosty was first brought to life in film in a three-minute 1954 UPA studio short that was filmed entirely in black and white.

- The Rankin-Bass special first aired in 1969.

- Voice actress June Foray was the voice of the teacher. She was also the actress who did the voice of Little Cindy Lou Who in “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.”

- When Frosty is shown carrying Karen into the greenhouse, he says, “Besides, I’ve been needing to take off a little weight, anyway.” But his mouth doesn’t move when he talks.

- Jimmy Durante was the voice of the narrator. “Frosty the Snowman” was Durante’s last film. He did one short film appearance and documentaries after this, but never another movie.

- In the scene where Frosty comes to life and is trying to count to 10, he has five fingers on one hand and four on the other. After he is done counting, he has four fingers on both hands.

What’s the difference between the free Santa letter and the premium letter?

The free Santa letter is a low-resolution option that will not look very sharp when printed and it will expire after a few days so you cannot retrieve it later. The premium Santa letter is a high-resolution, professional-quality output that will print out with the best quality. The premium letter also comes with a high-resolution envelope design. Premium letters are saved in the database so you can access them later and print additional copies, if you’d like.

Will my Santa letter look exactly like it did in the preview?

The preview is only an approximation of what your letter will look like. The actual output may vary slightly from the preview. The free letters are low resolution. The premium letters are high resolution.

How will you deliver my Santa letter?

Your letter will be available via a download link. To receive the link, you will need to enter your email and then click one of the buttons below to request the free letter or the premium letter with an evelope. If you don’t click one of the buttons AFTER you enter your email, you will not receive your letter. P lease be sure to enter your email address correctly so we can send the download link to you. If you don’t see the email, please check your spam folder.

How do I print my Santa letter?

When you click on your personalized link, your letter will open in a pdf file. You will need Adobe Reader to access your letters. If you don’t have Adobe Reader, you can download Adobe Reader free. To print, click the printer icon in the upper left corner to open your printer dialogue box. The Santa letters are designed to be printed on standard letter paper (8 1/2 x 11″). For best results, use a heavier weight paper, such as resume paper and use your printer’s highest quality print settings.

Is there a different envelope design to match each stationery design?

No, there is currently only one envelope design. You will get this envelope no matter which letter you purchase. You can see the envelope design here.

Can I get an envelope without purchasing a letter?

Envelopes are only available if you upgrade to the premium Santa letter. The free option does not include an envelope.

How do I save my Santa letter to my computer?

To save your Santa letter, go to your personal download link, open the file in Adobe Reader and click the Save icon in the upper left corner.

I entered my email, but I didn’t receive my letter. How come?

If you did not make a selection AFTER you entered your email, you will not receive a letter. The email is not generated until you tell the system whether you want the free letter or the high-resolution letter with an envelope.

I’ve read all the FAQs and still have problems. How can I contact you?

If you’ve read the entire FAQ and are still having problems, please email postmaster at freesantaletters.net.

If you’re going to be sending your child’s Santa letter through the mail, you can make the envelope look even more authentic by adding a Santa postage stamp. These are actual USPS stamps that you can put on any holiday mail. Click any stamp to learn more about these designs and see thousands of others available at Zazzle.

–
-

Kids love Christmas and almost everything about it – except, perhaps, waiting for the big day when Santa arrives. This wait can sometimes seem even longer when they’re out of school and have “nothing to do.” I’ve you’re starting to hear cries of “I’m bored!” here are some easy Christmas crafts to keep everyone busy and happy.

Christmas Placemats: Tear the backs off old Christmas cards (the part where where the writing is). You’ll need about three regular sized Christmas cards to make each placemat.

Have the kids glue the cards decoration-side up on colored construction paper. When the glue dries, cover the craft front and back with clear contact paper, making sure there are no open ends or gaps. Kids love setting the table with their own special Christmas place mat.

Santa Ornament: This makes a great little gift for kids to make and give their friends, family or teachers. You’ll need some large plastic ornaments, wooden balls and other materials that you can find at the local craft store. For the ornaments, get the kind that will allow you to open them up and place items inside. Now open the ornaments and fill them with peppermints, and then secure them closed again. Next, glue some googly eyes on a medium-size wooden ball. Once the eyes are set, glue the wooden ball onto the top the plastic ornament. Next, add cotton hair for the head, mustache and beard. Glue a red felt ‘hat’ on top of the hair. At the base of the ornament, glue a long piece of black felt for Santa’s belt. Glue the front bottom of the ornament to a thin wooden heart that’s been painted black. The curves in the heart will be Santa’s feet.

Christmas Countdown Chain: For this popular craft, you’ll need red and green construction paper cut into thin, even strips. The kids can decorate the paper strips with Christmas writing and glitter glue. Form the strips into connecting circles and glue each one closed. Once the glue is dry, hang the circle within easy reach of the child. Each day that passes until Christmas, the kids get to tear off one of the links of the chain.

Candy Cane Reindeer: This craft is an oldie, but is still a favorite among children. All you need are candy canes, googly eyes, pipe cleaners, mini pom-poms and glue. At the top of the candy cane, glue a pipe cleaner, twisting it into the shape of antlers. Glue googly eyes on either side of the reindeer ‘head’ and add the nose to the end of the candy cane.

Cookie Cutter Ornaments: To do this craft, you’ll need an assortment of cookie cutters in various holiday shapes. Snowmen, Santa, trees and bell shapes all work well. Place each cookie cutter on colored construction paper and trace around it, then cut it out. Have the kids decorate each cut out with glitter and mini pom-poms for Christmas balls on the tree.

For the snowmen, use mini black pom-poms for his buttons. You can use googly eyes on the snowmen and Santa. Once each ornament is finished, use a hole puncher to punch a hole at the top. Thread thin ribbon through the hole and let the kids hang their special ornament from the tree.

Now sit back and enjoy all the wonderful crafts your kids have made!

Here’s a fun gag gift and easy Christmas craft for kids – reindeer poop! Don’t worry – it sounds terrible, but it’s really just candy in a bag with a cute poem to go with it. Relieved? Good. Now read on and learn how to make this fun little gift that kids absolutely love.

Reindeer Poop Recipe
1 Package of malted milk balls, Milk Duds, or other chocolate candy
1 plastic baggie
1 reindeer poop poem (see below)

Directions (So easy even a child can do it!)
Take the package of candy and pour into the plastic bag. Seal the bag. Print the reindeer poop poem and attach it to the bag with a piece of tape. That’s it!

Reindeer Poop Poem
I woke with such a fright when I heard Santa call…
“Now dash away, dash away, dash away all!”
I ran to the lawn and in the snowy white drifts,
those nasty reindeer had left “little gifts.”

I got an old shovel and started to scoop
neat little piles of reindeer poop!
But to throw them away seemed such a waste,
so I saved them, thinking-you might like a taste!

As I finished my task, which took quite awhile,
Old Santa passed by and he sheepishly smiled.
And I heard him exclaim as he sped off in the sky…
“Well they’re not potty trained, but at least they can fly!”

One of the joys of the holidays that many people enjoy is baking cookies. If you’re one of those people, here’s a tasty recipe that includes cinnamon and almonds for crunchy, cinnamony goodness.

New England Christmas Cookies
Ingredients
3/4 cup of melted shortening
3/4 cup of melted butter
1 cup of brown sugar
1 cup of white sugar
1 teaspoon of cinnamon
1 cup of sliced blanched almonds
3 eggs, beaten
1 teaspoon of salt
3 1/2 cups of flour
1 1/2 teaspoons of soda

Directions
Cream sugar and melted ingredients. Beat eggs and add to creamed mixture. Sift
together all dry ingredients and beat into dough. Stir in almonds. Form dough into
small rolls and wrap in wax paper. Refrigerate overnight. Slice thin and bake at 350
degrees for 8 to 10 minutes. DO NOT OVERBAKE.

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