Snowman Soup (Sugar and Fat Free)This is my Christmas tip. I have a friend who is diabetic, and cannot have anything with sugar, but also cannot use Nutrasweet as it gives him headaches. So I devised a sugar free (also fat free) hot chocolate mix using Splenda.
Holiday Ornaments for Soldiers OverseasMy students wanted to create a holiday greeting for our soldiers overseas. I had a box of unusual shaped tiles that looked to resemble a holiday ornament. I spray painted them. When dried, the students wrote holiday greetings on one side of both tiles. We finished them up by gluing the two pieces together, adding a hanging ribbon and a bow on top. The soldiers who came to pick them up from Fort Dix loved them and told the kids they were sure they'd be a hit overseas!
Outdoor Nativity SceneOutdoor Nativity Scene. Here is my nativity stable my husband put together. He made it out of skids sitting up on end and put wafer board around the sides.
Baby TreesThese baby trees are adorable and made to fit anywhere, no matter how much space you have. It's a very easy project, all materials are pre-made. I was able to pick up all of my materials very cheaply at yard sales.
Craft: Greeting Card Finger PuppetsThis is a no-cost project that will occupy your kids for a while. Let the kids cut characters from the fronts of old greeting cards. These may be animals, people, snowmen, etc.
Lifesavers Gift PacksMy sister-in-law and I both have kids in college this year and decided to pare down a little by purchasing consumable gifts for $15 or less. These Lifesavers Gift Packs are what I am planning to give everyone on that list.
Monogram OrnamentsMy daughter and I saw some cute monogram ornaments in a high end gift shop that sold for $7.95 each. My daughter wanted one, so I told her I could make them for pennies. I already had most of the supplies on hand leftover from other projects.
Candy Cane PuzzleThe perfect White Elephant gift! Use those leftover candy canes for this cute holiday treat. This edible puzzle is sure to give the receiver a good laugh.
Heart Tree OrnamentThree years ago, I made about 450 ornaments, hoping to sell them at the local Holiday show in Turner, OR. I think I still have oh...about 425 left! Not a great show and definitely my last.
Our Trip on the Polar ExpressLast year, we gave our boys, then 7 and 5, a trip on the Polar Express. We were unable to do it on Christmas Eve so we did it the day before. It was a total surprise. The train was in Hood River, about an hour away from our home.
Christmas Card Photo Ideas IIWe have had so many great photo ideas submitted that we have broken this into two articles. Post your own Christmas card photo.
Christmas Kissing BallThis is a holiday decoration that not only adds delight to your Christmas spirit but also incorporates some Christmas tradition.
Craft Project: Advent Paper ChainThere are many ways to count down to Christmas. There are songs about it. Retail has take a cue from the season and transformed it into a list of shopping deals for the holiday season. Each year at church, we take the month of December off from creating crafts about the children's bible stories and make Christmas themed crafts. The Sunday before the month of December, we usually make an Advent. This year, it was a paper chain.
Craft: Gingerbread HousesHere is a great tradition that our family has been doing for years now. It all started about 50 years ago when I decide to make a gingerbread house for Christmas. My first ones were fairly simple but over the years have gotten more complicated and quite intricate. Now, as was bound to happen, the kids and grandkids and even my great grandson have taken over.
Craft Project: Recycled Tiny WreathsRings from twist off lids like those on salad dressing jars can be covered in green pipe cleaners with a tiny bow on top to make Christmas tree ornaments.
Fabric Can Lid OrnamentsLids cut from food cans using a side-cutting type can opener can be made into charming low-cost unique ornaments for the tree or wall hangings.
Holiday Felt Wall HangingUsing only felt, buttons, and thread I hand sewed this Christmas wall hanging while watching TV at night!
