The first is made out of cutlery !!!
The second is made out of a large number of BIC pens !!!
Very nice, easy and original idea !!!
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
DIY Chandeliers !!!
These are 2 great ideas I found for creative and diyable chandeliers :
The first is made out of cutlery !!!
The second is made out of a large number of BIC pens !!!
Very nice, easy and original idea !!!
The first is made out of cutlery !!!
The second is made out of a large number of BIC pens !!!
Very nice, easy and original idea !!!
Friday, December 28, 2007
Our Christmas 2006 Decorations
These are snapshots of my 2006 house CHristmas Decor. Our house was not completely furnished, we had only a living room, in which we recently out curtains, and the rest of the house is still empty so you can notice it sounds really empty !
This is my guft wrapping last year, only 2 gifts were under our tree, the rest were scattered here and there in every house of our relatives ... 2 single young couple wouldn't expect much of gifts...you should see our house this year, loads of gifts for our baby !!!
This is scrapbooking paper glued and grouped !
That is our entryway...that alley is laways filled with matching items from the theme, around Christmas I fill it with greenery and poinsettia. For my baby's birth I filled it with vases of bamboo plants, which actually were the favor we gave away for our guests.
These are my Christmas basket, one of them was a goft basket for my MIL :
These are my Christmassy pots :) I put them in my entryway ... my kitchen jars + green artificial trees + string of red miniballs. The snowmen are actually boxes for gold earings and necklace I received years ago... So I used them as Decor in the jars.
Our Door hangers !!! that one is the Guests bathroom door hanger
That is also the entryway, decorated in Chrstmas decor, but different colours. I tend to use different colours in dofferent spots to avoid getting a dull display in every corner :
That is about the only room we had to receive guests. SO these were the 2 decorated spots, our entryway and the living room :)
Metal santa claus and snowmen with hanging legs over the closet boxes... !!!
the countdown calendar + ball vase :
Our Christmassy frame :
A plate decorated with candies, natural nuts, natural pine cones, plastic bag wrapped candles- to form one big candle !!!
Card display on the forst row
Seed plants on the second row
small porcelain reindeers on the third row
glass candleholders with red candles on the thrid row
This is my guft wrapping last year, only 2 gifts were under our tree, the rest were scattered here and there in every house of our relatives ... 2 single young couple wouldn't expect much of gifts...you should see our house this year, loads of gifts for our baby !!!
This is scrapbooking paper glued and grouped !
That is our entryway...that alley is laways filled with matching items from the theme, around Christmas I fill it with greenery and poinsettia. For my baby's birth I filled it with vases of bamboo plants, which actually were the favor we gave away for our guests.
These are my Christmas basket, one of them was a goft basket for my MIL :
These are my Christmassy pots :) I put them in my entryway ... my kitchen jars + green artificial trees + string of red miniballs. The snowmen are actually boxes for gold earings and necklace I received years ago... So I used them as Decor in the jars.
Our Door hangers !!! that one is the Guests bathroom door hanger
That is also the entryway, decorated in Chrstmas decor, but different colours. I tend to use different colours in dofferent spots to avoid getting a dull display in every corner :
That is about the only room we had to receive guests. SO these were the 2 decorated spots, our entryway and the living room :)
Metal santa claus and snowmen with hanging legs over the closet boxes... !!!
the countdown calendar + ball vase :
Our Christmassy frame :
A plate decorated with candies, natural nuts, natural pine cones, plastic bag wrapped candles- to form one big candle !!!
Card display on the forst row
Seed plants on the second row
small porcelain reindeers on the third row
glass candleholders with red candles on the thrid row
My baby's first Christmas
This is my baby's first Christmas... I've already started thinking about it long time ago !!! I do tend to make a big fuss out of everything !!! so how about Christmas, my baby's first Christmas... At first I had many ideas of home made ornaments, handprints... but with my father in law going to hospital, me preparing for the big Chistmas dinner at my place, and shopping for the gifts, I had really small chances in actually DIYing the ornaments...
So when I ran through these ornaments at the store, I thought that is the solution; they were the perfect idea for a first Christmas ornaments, because I can personalise them and add my baby's Picture !
The ornaments actually cost me 2 $ each, then I printed my baby's picture on a normal paper. I didn't even had to use glossy paper, because it's a small size pic, so low resolution or paper quality didn't matter, especially that the pic is covered by the glossy frame window. I also bought the organza bags for 5 $ the bunch. I used an old gold pen to write on the back "mon premier noel , and the year" et voila :
As for the kids in the family, instead of getting them big stocking, I used my baby's old socks (not old, old, just socks that don't fit my baby's tiny feet anymore) and filled them with candies (as small as it could contain). I intend to make this a tradition and each year fill my baby's socks with candies... this is a gift that will grow with Joey .... I thought it's nice, they also thought it was nice too, being in love with Joey they actually fell in love with the socks more than the candies inside :)
Here's the final setting for both gifts :
So when I ran through these ornaments at the store, I thought that is the solution; they were the perfect idea for a first Christmas ornaments, because I can personalise them and add my baby's Picture !
The ornaments actually cost me 2 $ each, then I printed my baby's picture on a normal paper. I didn't even had to use glossy paper, because it's a small size pic, so low resolution or paper quality didn't matter, especially that the pic is covered by the glossy frame window. I also bought the organza bags for 5 $ the bunch. I used an old gold pen to write on the back "mon premier noel , and the year" et voila :
As for the kids in the family, instead of getting them big stocking, I used my baby's old socks (not old, old, just socks that don't fit my baby's tiny feet anymore) and filled them with candies (as small as it could contain). I intend to make this a tradition and each year fill my baby's socks with candies... this is a gift that will grow with Joey .... I thought it's nice, they also thought it was nice too, being in love with Joey they actually fell in love with the socks more than the candies inside :)
Here's the final setting for both gifts :
Monday, December 17, 2007
Frame it !
Here's a very easy idea for Christmas decor... add nay Christmas items to existing frames, as shown below:
this is a frame of me and my Husband which I am display all year long, however, I change the decor according to the occasion :
Below is the frame on valentine day , actually I didn't do much here, My Husband got me the roses, i just put them next to the frame :)
And here' the frame on Christmas...well as u can see, I added an artificial poinsettia and some cranberries' branches, which both cost me 2 $ purchased at a 1 dollar store ...
Voila.... Low budget Christmassy Decor !!!
this is a frame of me and my Husband which I am display all year long, however, I change the decor according to the occasion :
Below is the frame on valentine day , actually I didn't do much here, My Husband got me the roses, i just put them next to the frame :)
And here' the frame on Christmas...well as u can see, I added an artificial poinsettia and some cranberries' branches, which both cost me 2 $ purchased at a 1 dollar store ...
Voila.... Low budget Christmassy Decor !!!
My latest earings
These are my latest earings, designed yesterday evening while watching the TV and thinking about our Christmas dinner.
You can also have a look at my designed decor for this year's Christmas... will post the pics in another post.
You can also have a look at my designed decor for this year's Christmas... will post the pics in another post.
Gardening kit
A very cute idea for gardening lovers to present on Christmas :
(idea from marthastewart website)
(idea from marthastewart website)
How to Make Dried Apple and Orange Slices
Dried fruit slices and peels are a great way to give your home a country prim look.
They are fragrant and can be added to potpourri blends, fixins blends, wreaths, swags.
They also make pretty and fragrant gift package decorations. When they are placed around candles, especially bakery candles, they give a nice country prim look.
The picture shown is an orange fixins blend. It combines dried orange slices and orange peels with fragrant spices like cinnamon sticks, allspice, and cloves.
The look and smell is very seasonal and makes a great addition to country prim home decor.
The easiest way to dry fruit slices is to use a dehydrator. If you do not have a dehydrator, you can use the standard oven method.
How to Dry Apple Slices
To dry apple slices using the oven method, core your apples and slice them about 1/4 inch thick. In order to prevent them from oxidizing and turning brown during the process, dip the slices into a solution of 2 cups lemon juice and 3 tablespoons salt. Make sure the slices are well soaked for about 15 minutes. After you remove them, pat them dry with paper towels and place them on cookie sheets and dry for about 6 hours at 150 degrees. Keep the oven door slightly ajar to ensure good air circulation. Turn the slices when they start to curl.
How to Dry Orange Slices
For oranges, slice them about 1/4 inch thick and gently squeeze out as much of the moisture as possible without squeezing and misshaping the slices. Then place the slices on a cookie sheet and dry for about 6 hours at 150 degrees. As with the apples, keep the oven door slighty ajar for air circulation.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
What to do with family on Christmas
81 Ideas to do With Your Family at Christmas
By: Patty Getz
Christmas is about so much more than presents and parties, and yet, each year, that is the focus that we as a society place on it. Christmas has become a stress for some, and financial hardship for others. Where there used to be a holiday, to celebrate Family, we have some how lost touch with our roots, and a meaningful soulful Christmas.
Following is a list of of Ideas that cost little or no money, that you can do with your family this Christmas.
Set aside some time, and lets all get back to the basics of Christmas.
Take this list, and let each family member choose one, and then set aside an evening, for each activity, you will be surprised and amazed how much this will Change your and your families outlook on Christmas.
This is what I attached.
God Can
When your worries get too heavy, Follow this little plan
Just write it on a little note And drop it in this can
You know that any problem That you place in Our Lord's hands
Will soon be taken care of Because we can't but God Can!
By: Patty Getz
Christmas is about so much more than presents and parties, and yet, each year, that is the focus that we as a society place on it. Christmas has become a stress for some, and financial hardship for others. Where there used to be a holiday, to celebrate Family, we have some how lost touch with our roots, and a meaningful soulful Christmas.
Following is a list of of Ideas that cost little or no money, that you can do with your family this Christmas.
Set aside some time, and lets all get back to the basics of Christmas.
Take this list, and let each family member choose one, and then set aside an evening, for each activity, you will be surprised and amazed how much this will Change your and your families outlook on Christmas.
- Make Garland : popcorn garland - garland with construction paper
- Make :
- - snow globes with old jars
- - Christmas gifts for your family's pet and other relative's pets.
- - a manger scene out of playdough or clay or even construction paper
- - ornaments
- - paper snowflakes to decorate your windows
- Have parties :
- - Shows party : Watch Christmas shows together with hot Chocolate and popcorn,
- - Slumber party : Build a fire, and have a slumber party with your kids
- - Wrapping party
- - Tree decoration party : Make Decorating the tree a family event, serve hot chocolate and play Christmas music
- - Cards party : Make your own Christmas cards to send to people and/or invite your children's friends over to make cards or gifts for their parents
- - a campout night, and sleep in sleeping bags under your lighted christmas tree or some christmas lights.
- - a game night
- Donate : to a charity for Christmas Gifts from a 1 $ store, or Clothes/toys for needy children
- If you have snow, enjoy it : make a Snowman, or have a snowball fight
- Cook : Make a ginger bread house out of graham crackers and what ever you have in the house, or Bake and decorate cookies
- Paint Christmassy pictures on the windows with washable paint
- Make up a Christmas scavenger hunt : game out of hunting around the house, for things to make christmas decorations out of.
- Plan to share a plate of goodies with any elderly or young parents in the neighborhood
- Lights :
- Take a Special drive at night to enjoy others Christmas lights, and see who wins for the best lights in town. Make an award for the winner and present it to them.
- Attend a Live Nativity.
- go collect pine cones and use them to make ornaments
- sing Christmas carols
- have the kids write and act out a Christmas play
- Books :
- - go to the library and borrow Christmas videos and books
- - read one Christmas short story each night before bed
- Write Christmas letter to all the relatives with the kids all telling what they have been up to in their own words
- Take a picture of the kids in front of the Christmas tree, and make it a yearly tradition.
- Attend a Church service together
- Watch all the videos or home movies of Christmas. Or, look at all the photos from Christmas.
- color some Christmas pages together
- share a favorite Christmas memory
- Help your local church/library/ community center organize a special holiday reading of twas the night before Christmas, A Christmas Carol, etc. Invite seniors/families. Maybe get a local store to donate some cookies or cocoa.
- We make a video of ourselves decorating the tree, making cookies, singing Christmas carols and telling the Christmas story. then we make copies of it for all the far off relatives (beats a humdrum letter).
- Volunteer :
- - as a family for the local shelter or nursing home.
- - kids make Christmas cards or snowflakes and take them to the local nursing home.
- - go caroling at a nursing home.
- - work in a Christmas wrap booth that gives the proceeds to charity
- - carry groceries for elder people
- - food servers at shelters that provide christmas/thanksgiv ing dinners
- - Visit the local nursing home and present some of the residents with homemade Christmas cards
- - Do a random act of kindness for a neighbor that you know is sick or feeling down, like take them a plate of cookies or some homemade ornaments.
- - Invite an older person/couple for a holiday meal
- light up your walkway/driveway with handmade luminaries
- Get out your old records - or borrow your parents- and listen to the Golden oldie Christmas songs from your youth, and share the memories of Christmas past with your children
- Learn about different cultures celebrate Christmas... . and about what they did years ago.
- Sing silly Christmas songs with your kiddos... (Grandma got ran over by a reindeer)
- Create a calendar that the kids can mark off the days til Christmas.
- Have a Christmas Past, Present and Future evening/afternoon. Get out your photo albums/scrapbooks and talk about Christmas Past, remembering those who are no longer here to share it with us; for Christmas Present, discuss what one thing makes Christmas special for each person; for Christmas Future, talk about your hopes and dreams for the coming years ahead.
- Let the kids make their own stockings out of felt and stocking "packages" out of paper grocery sacks to put gifts for others in.
- Let your child decorate their bedroom door for Christmas. A wreath with some small trinkets on it is charming on every door inside the house, too.
- Make snowmen out of styrofoam ball ornaments or styro balls or old Christmas bulbs (the breakable kind) in 2 sizes (one larger and one smaller glued together), paint white or glue on cottonballs or fake snow and add glitter. Use google eyes or dots punched out of a paper punch for eyes, Orange pipe cleaner twisted to a carrot shape for the nose, little buttons or mini m & m's or small pom poms can be buttons or even the gold top of a paper fastener clip. Also can use yarn for eyes, smile, eyebrows or braid yarn for a scarf.. use your imagination and whatever you have around the house, toothpicks or tree branches for arms, etc. An old sweater and flannel shirt can provide scarves and hats, mittens for all the snowmen and snowwomen which can be grouped together under a tree branch from outside. Provide all the scrap materials you have and let the kids have a great time making them.
- Create a God Can for family members
This is what I attached.
God Can
When your worries get too heavy, Follow this little plan
Just write it on a little note And drop it in this can
You know that any problem That you place in Our Lord's hands
Will soon be taken care of Because we can't but God Can!
12 Days of Christmas Gag Gift
From Sherri Osborn, about site
This is a great gift idea, especially if you have a secret santa. You present the suggested gift along with the printed verse each day for 12 days! I have even created free printable tags you can use. Of course, you should feel free to make up your own verses and I have even included a blank gift tag you can use.
ON THE FIRST DAY OF CHRISTMAS, your true love gave to you - a partridge in a pear tree... Sorry, but I couldn't find the partridge so I am giving you some pears from the tree the partridge flew away from.
(Leave note along with a can of pears or a few fresh pears.)
1st Day of Christmas Printable Tag
ON THE SECOND DAY OF CHRISTMAS, your true love gave to you - two turtle doves... Unfortunately, I don't have any, will candy turtles on a bar of Dove soap do?
(Leave note along with a box of turtle candy and a bar of Dove soap.)
2nd Day of Christmas Printable Tag
ON THE THIRD DAY OF CHRISTMAS, your true love gave to you - three French hens... The French hens were not available, so I'm giving you some chicken noodle soup, compliments of the three French hens.
(Leave note along with a can -or 3 cans- of chicken noodle soup.)
3rd Day of Christmas Printable Tag
ON THE FOURTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS, your true love gave to you - four calling birds... I can't find those calling birds, but here are four messages they left for you before they flew off.
(Leave note along with four messages describing what a wonderful person the gift recipient is.)
4th Day of Christmas Printable Tag
ON THE FIFTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS, your true love gave to you - five golden rings... Sorry, I'm too poor to buy five real gold rings, but will some golden pineapple rings suffice?
(Leave note along with a can of pineapple rings.)
5th Day of Christmas Printable Tag
ON THE SIXTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS, your true love gave to you - six geese a laying... You don't really want messy geese all over the house do you? How about some of the eggs they left behind?
(Leave note along with six eggs.)
6th Day of Christmas Printable Tag
ON THE SEVENTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS, your true love gave to you - seven swans a swimming... All of the swans have flown south for the winter, but here are some of the bubbles they used while they were swimming.
(Leave note along with a bottle of bubble bath.)
7th Day of Christmas Printable Tag
ON THE EIGHTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS, your true love gave to you - eight maids a milking... Here's some milk I got from the eight maids - we think they must have been milking some brown cows!
(Leave note along with carton of chocolate milk.)
8th Day of Christmas Printable Tag
ON THE NINTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS, your true love gave to you - nine ladies dancing... Here are some canes used by the ladies to help they walk home after they were out dancing all night.
(Leave note along with a box of candy canes.)
9th Day of Christmas Printable Tag
ON THE TENTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS, your true love gave to you - ten Lords-a-leapin'...
After the Lords get done leapin', this is what they use for their sore muscles.
(Leave note along with a tube of Ben-gay or other soothing lotion.)
10th Day of Christmas Printable Tag
ON THE ELEVENTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS, your true love gave to you - eleven pipers piping... Here's a pipe of your own, have fun and don't blow the whole day!
(Leave note along with a bottle of bubbles and bubble pipe.)
11th Day of Christmas Printable Tag
ON THE TWELFTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS, your true love gave to you - twelve drummers drumming... No drummers, we thought you could use some quiet time so here is a special treat we drummed up for you so relax and enjoy.
(Leave note along with some homemade cookies or other treats.)
12th Day of Christmas Printable Tag
Again, if you would like to print out a blank Christmas tag, you can find one here.
This is a great gift idea, especially if you have a secret santa. You present the suggested gift along with the printed verse each day for 12 days! I have even created free printable tags you can use. Of course, you should feel free to make up your own verses and I have even included a blank gift tag you can use.
ON THE FIRST DAY OF CHRISTMAS, your true love gave to you - a partridge in a pear tree... Sorry, but I couldn't find the partridge so I am giving you some pears from the tree the partridge flew away from.
(Leave note along with a can of pears or a few fresh pears.)
1st Day of Christmas Printable Tag
ON THE SECOND DAY OF CHRISTMAS, your true love gave to you - two turtle doves... Unfortunately, I don't have any, will candy turtles on a bar of Dove soap do?
(Leave note along with a box of turtle candy and a bar of Dove soap.)
2nd Day of Christmas Printable Tag
ON THE THIRD DAY OF CHRISTMAS, your true love gave to you - three French hens... The French hens were not available, so I'm giving you some chicken noodle soup, compliments of the three French hens.
(Leave note along with a can -or 3 cans- of chicken noodle soup.)
3rd Day of Christmas Printable Tag
ON THE FOURTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS, your true love gave to you - four calling birds... I can't find those calling birds, but here are four messages they left for you before they flew off.
(Leave note along with four messages describing what a wonderful person the gift recipient is.)
4th Day of Christmas Printable Tag
ON THE FIFTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS, your true love gave to you - five golden rings... Sorry, I'm too poor to buy five real gold rings, but will some golden pineapple rings suffice?
(Leave note along with a can of pineapple rings.)
5th Day of Christmas Printable Tag
ON THE SIXTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS, your true love gave to you - six geese a laying... You don't really want messy geese all over the house do you? How about some of the eggs they left behind?
(Leave note along with six eggs.)
6th Day of Christmas Printable Tag
ON THE SEVENTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS, your true love gave to you - seven swans a swimming... All of the swans have flown south for the winter, but here are some of the bubbles they used while they were swimming.
(Leave note along with a bottle of bubble bath.)
7th Day of Christmas Printable Tag
ON THE EIGHTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS, your true love gave to you - eight maids a milking... Here's some milk I got from the eight maids - we think they must have been milking some brown cows!
(Leave note along with carton of chocolate milk.)
8th Day of Christmas Printable Tag
ON THE NINTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS, your true love gave to you - nine ladies dancing... Here are some canes used by the ladies to help they walk home after they were out dancing all night.
(Leave note along with a box of candy canes.)
9th Day of Christmas Printable Tag
ON THE TENTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS, your true love gave to you - ten Lords-a-leapin'...
After the Lords get done leapin', this is what they use for their sore muscles.
(Leave note along with a tube of Ben-gay or other soothing lotion.)
10th Day of Christmas Printable Tag
ON THE ELEVENTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS, your true love gave to you - eleven pipers piping... Here's a pipe of your own, have fun and don't blow the whole day!
(Leave note along with a bottle of bubbles and bubble pipe.)
11th Day of Christmas Printable Tag
ON THE TWELFTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS, your true love gave to you - twelve drummers drumming... No drummers, we thought you could use some quiet time so here is a special treat we drummed up for you so relax and enjoy.
(Leave note along with some homemade cookies or other treats.)
12th Day of Christmas Printable Tag
Again, if you would like to print out a blank Christmas tag, you can find one here.
The Newlyweds Christmas Tree
12 Ornaments
According to tradition, 12 ornaments should be on the Newlywed's Christmas Tree:
(fill a basket & present them to the new couple)
...A heart to signify love in the home
...A house to signify family shelter
...A church or angel to symbolize God
...A basket of fruit to signify plenty
...A teapot to signify hospitality
...A bird in a nest to signify confidence in the shelter
...A pine cone symbolizes eternity
...An animal to signify peace with nature
...A fish to symbolize Christ as wells as fertility
...A rose as a symbol of the Virgin Mary
...A flower basket to represent beauty in the home
...A Santa as the symbol of giving and sharing
According to tradition, 12 ornaments should be on the Newlywed's Christmas Tree:
(fill a basket & present them to the new couple)
...A heart to signify love in the home
...A house to signify family shelter
...A church or angel to symbolize God
...A basket of fruit to signify plenty
...A teapot to signify hospitality
...A bird in a nest to signify confidence in the shelter
...A pine cone symbolizes eternity
...An animal to signify peace with nature
...A fish to symbolize Christ as wells as fertility
...A rose as a symbol of the Virgin Mary
...A flower basket to represent beauty in the home
...A Santa as the symbol of giving and sharing
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