Christmas Ideas: Page 4

Most of us have family who live far away in different states or even different countries. While we'd love to have all our family with us on Christmas, it's much more likely that we'll be giving them a call on Christmas and mailing them some gifts.

The days leading up to Christmas are arguably the most exciting days of the year, as they're filled with Christmas present shopping, baking Christmas cookies, and decorating ye olde Christmas tree and the house. Start a new tradition this year by counting down to Christmas with an advent calender.

Now that Thanksgiving is less than a week away, the holiday season is in full swing. And that means you're probably busier than ever, what with all the decorating, cookie baking, and present buying and wrapping.

Holidays are a time when you commune with friends and family and show how much you appreciate them, right? Though we take the time to put up with our (sometimes pesky) relatives and purchase personalized presents, we also mail out mass-produced boxes of cards all with the same smiling Santa in the front and "Happy Holidays" inside.

Peppermint is a great scent to have around during the holidays. It not only reminds us of Christmas, but taking a whiff of peppermint also awakens the senses and suppresses appetite (good for all that food you're going to be eating).

When it comes to Christmas gifts, stuff that comes from the heart and is handmade is nice, but often times we really DO want that new iPad.

Coffee as a table decoration? You bet. You're probably used to having coffee in a cup as a hot drink or a cold latte, but coffee - rather, coffee beans - has so many uses than just for food.

In this tutorial, we learn how to decorate a designer Christmas tree easily. You don't have to go out to the store and buy a bunch of expensive props for your tree, you can decorate it easily with things around your house! You can make the tree as simple or extravagant as you want! You can pick pinecones from outside and stick those in the tree so they are all around. Then, you can place only red bulbs in the tree next to the pinecones. Decorate this with some white lights and you've got a...

In this tutorial, we learn how to decorate your Christmas tree like a pro. Before you do anything else, put something together that is going to look good that you can place in your tree. Put in different types of flowers, bushes, and garland to make a pretty piece to place inside of your tree. Once you do this, you can shape the branches in the tree around this, then continue to place the elements from the main piece all around the rest of the tree. Add in a long string of matching ornaments,...

This is a video tutorial in the Hosting & Entertaining category where you are going to learn how to decorate your Christmas tree with big impact using ribbon. You begin the process by fluffing. Choose two beautiful ribbons. Try different ribbon combinations like metallic and satin or velvet and harlequin. The ribbon must be wired. Make a simple loop and twist the ribbons together. Wrap one loop around one piece of the tree branch. Then make another loop on the ribbons and wrap it around another...

In this video we learn how to make Christmas bows. First, take the ribbon and then tie it into two separate one sided bows. Connect these together at the bottom and then continue to make these shapes and connecting them to the same brad. Once you are finished, put double sided tape on the bottom of it and then you will be finished with the bow! You can do this several times to make a whole bunch of bows or you can make it larger to create a huge bow. Have fun making these and use your own style...

In this tutorial, we learn how to make Styrofoam and fabric Christmas ornaments. First, shape the Styrofoam into a ball and then grab the fabric you want to place around it. Place the ball into the fabric, then tie it at the top with a ribbon and some string. After this, you will be able to decorate the fabric with bows and glitter, whatever you want to use. You can attach a hook to the string in the middle if you would like to hang this on a string. Be as creative as you would like, just make...

In this tutorial, we learn how to craft quilled Christmas decorations. First, you will need to take paper and cut it into thin strips that are all the same size. After you do this, you will need to take a think stick and wrap the paper around it all in the same place. Once finished, you will need to take this circle of rolled paper and place it into a stencil that has a bunch of circles on it. Shape these circles into teardrops and then glue them together with other pieces to shape into a...

In this tutorial, we learn how to create a simple Christmas card using Cricut. First, you will need to take your card stock and fold it in half to create your basic card, pushing hard on the crease. After this, place a green holiday print on top of the front of the card and adhere it down. Next, cut out a bell shape outline, then cut out a piece of white paper in the same shape. Apply the white paper down first, then place the bell frame over the top of it. Push down a stamp sentiment on the...

In this video, we learn how to create a Disney inspired Christmas card using Cricut. First, you will need to grab a green card stock and the background, then us ea cream colored card stock to place over the top of this so the green just looks like a background. After this, line this with a small black line all the way around. Then, cut out a gift and stick it onto a holiday piece of paper. Wrap a piece of ribbon around this, then add in a holiday sentiment on the side of the paper. Once...

Sure you can make Christmas punch this year, but that's just plain boring! Go even more traditional with Wassail! A fantastic alcoholic drink that was primarily consumed in the 14th. century by Anglo Saxtons. In this video you will learn how to make the Wassail with a fantastic recipe!

Photo ornaments are one of the cutest ways you can celebrate family love on Christmas, and they're also really cheap. Watch this video to learn how you can turn any photo into a photo ornament that can be presented to any member of the family.

Sure you can go out and buy that expensive gift for the person on your Christmas list, but wouldn't it be even better if you could make your own gifts? In this video you will get some great gift ideas, as well as how to make them, for that special someone on your gift list this year for Christmas!

Does your desk need some holiday flare? Do you have an extra USB port on your computer? Then check this out. This video will show you how to make a USB-powered Christmas light set that will spruce up your desk and not require an outlet.

In this great, short video, you'll learn how to make plastic cup Christmas ornaments that are great for children! All you need is some plastic cups, an oven, and some permanent markers! Just don't leave those cups in the oven for too long!

If you're an avid paper crafter, then you have probably been frustrated more than once when you're in love with a particular stamp but you only want to use one part of the stamp image and omit the other part. Rather than getting frustrated and simply stamping down everything at once, why not learn how to separate the image from the stamp?

Quite honestly we're sick of getting storebought Christmas cards. Not that we don't appreciate them - many are pretty and well-written, it's just that we have received copycats in the past and they're too mass-produced to maintain any sort of special quality.

In this Arts & Crafts video tutorial you will learn how to make a Christmas card using Cricut Winter Woodland. The card is 4 1/2 x 6 1/4 inches and it has a picture of a deer and the word "Joy". On page 56 you will find the picture of a deer. Cut it out at 4 1/2 inches and the word "Joy" is on page 78. Cut it out at 1 1/4 inch. Use the snow flake punch to cut out a snow flake. From "The Winter Matstack" choose a paper that has some snowflakes on it. Then you can cut out thin strips of some...

It's the holiday season, which means that more likely than not your kitchen will soon be rife with the sweet, nostalgic wafts of cinnamon, nutmeg, sugar cookies, and gingerbread. If you're going to be baking this holiday season, why not amp up your Christmas cookies by learning how to decorate them from a pro?

A little fondant and royal icing can go a long way to transform an ordinary cookie into something truly spectacular. At no time is this more true than Christmas, when cookies magically evolve into spectacular creations of snowflakes, Christmas trees, and gingerbread men.

It's that time of year again! The air is a whole lot nipper, lights dance around sidewalks as you drive past shopping centers, and the scent of warm gingerbread and sweet cookies fills your nostrils when you enter your home. That's right, it's Christmas, and what better way to celebrate this festive time of year than with cookie making?

In this video, we learn how to hang outdoor Christmas lights from the experts at Home Depot. First, you want to start out the planning process, and figure out where you want lights to be hung out. Then, decide how many lights you need and what kind you want to use. Then, go and purchase your lights, making sure they are made for outdoor lighting, not indoor. Next, you will be ready to decorate your trees and shrubs since they are the easiest to do. Next, hang the lights on your roof and windows...

In this tutorial, we learn how to make a festive Christmas garland from fresh greenery. You will need: fresh greenery, wire cutters, floral wire, pruning clippers, and gloves to do this. The base should be made of holly, and then you can use different firs that you can find. You can arrange this garland however you wish, placing them onto the wire and then cutting the wire when everything is hooked together. The great thing about this is that you can be creative and use whatever kind of...

In this tutorial, we learn how to make a Christmas style wreath bow. First, cut a piece of holiday ribbon and pin it into place. After this, make a bow out of the ribbon. Next, curl the ends of the ribbon and pin them into the wreath as well. Use your fingers to make curls and waves in the ribbon to make it look like it's moving in the wind. Pin these securely into place. Once you are finished, hang up your wreath and enjoy the decorations! This is a great project to do that will save you a lot...

The only thing better than eating a cupcake is eating two cupcakes, and the only thing better than eating two cupcakes is, as it follows, eating three. So imagine the way your kids' faces will light up when you bake them these gigantic Christmas tree cupcakes!

Christmas means decorating trees with store-purchased ornaments and tinsel, decorating stairwells with store-purchased garlands, and decorating the exterior of your house with store-purchased lights. These days everything you need can be puchased pre-made somewhere, and while that saves us time, what happened to the good ol' days when we crafted ornaments out of popsicle sticks and strung cranberries on a string?

In this tutorial, we learn how to make a paper Christmas tree. Start out with a square piece of paper, then fold corner to corner and open it, then fold it on the opposite corners and open it. Now, turn it over and fold it side to side on both sides. Now, the paper will automatically fold into it's shape because of the creases you made. Now take each of the four flaps and flatten them out with your finger. After this, cut your trunk out of your tree at the bottom, then cut slits on the side of...

Christmas is coming up, but you've been so busy scoping out presents for friends and family, organizing your annual holiday cocktail party, and working hard for your holiday bonus to pay much attention to decorating your house. What do you do if you're in a bind and just don't have the time to decorate? Watch this video to learn how to make a quick holly felt garland for the holidays.

In this video, Betty Jean shows us how to make a Christmas bow and wreath. You will need a wreath the size you want, then open it and fluff it so everything is out and the green branches are facing outward. Next, choose a ribbon of your choice and poinsettias. Now, take your ribbon and make it even and tie the ends together. Now, make a bow with your ribbon and place it onto your wreath. Now, add on the poinsettias to your wreath and add on ornaments or anything shiny that you like. You can...

We can't guarantee that these candy trees will still be there the next day if you happen to have a few candy-obsessed kids running around the house! As short or as long as they last, these candy trees are a gorgeous compliment to your holiday decor. When untouched, these trees can be brought out year after year to delight Christmas guests.

Purchasing mass-produced sets of ornaments during the holidays does save you time, but why have your tree resemble those of every house on your block when you can make your own, personalized Christmas ornaments?

Like the marvelous and awe-inspiring stained glass windows at Gothic cathedrals and churches, staine glass cookies offer a beautiful glimpse into history and tradition. With see-through tinted windows and intricate designs, these cookies are as interesting to look at as they are good to eat!

Can't get enough of gazing at awe at your Christmas tree? Formulate tiny edible replicas by baking cupcakes and then decorating them with buttercream icing that recalls evergreen sprigs.

Christmas without candy canes is like Halloween without gut-enhancing hoards of candy - it's not just right. Add some candy-scented Christmas cheer into your household without ingesting more calories (you're probably eating enough Christmas cookies and swigging enough cocktails at parties as it is) by making candy cane swirl soaps.

Greeting cards are getting more and more expensive these days, costing as much as $15 for four if you're getting the top quality ones from online boutiques. Stop spending precious moolah you could be using to purchase presents for your friends and family by making your own Christmas cards.