Saturday, June 27, 2009
Christmas Trivia - Kris Kringle
German for “Christ's Child” or “Christkindlein.” A name for an early German gift-bringing infant Jesus or angelic being, who was thought of as a Christ's helper and gave gifts to poor and needy children. As cultures merged, visits from the similar St. Nicholas, Pere Noel, Pelznickel and Christkindlein all became overshadowed or mutated into Santa Claus.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Christmas Trivia - Mistletoe
Ancient Celtic priests called Druids around the New Year would collect mistletoe from their holy oak tree and offer some as a sacrifice to the gods. Some would be hung up during a ceremony which people would stand under it and kiss showing an end to their old grievances with each other. This later practice never actually died out.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Ideas for Twig Trees
Thanksgiving Tree. Each person in the family, including dinner guests, trace their hands and write down things they are thankful for.
Spray paint red and white like a candy cane and hang candy canes from it.
Use only nature type things like bunches of holly berries, small eucalyptus wreaths, bouquets of baby breath, pinecones.
Spray paint red and white like a candy cane and hang candy canes from it.
Use only nature type things like bunches of holly berries, small eucalyptus wreaths, bouquets of baby breath, pinecones.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Safely Store Your Ornaments & Holiday Decor
Proper storage of your ornaments and decorations keeps them in perfect condition year after year. Purchase sturdy storage containers and resolve to store your treasures properly this year!
WHAT NOT TO DO!
Don't wrap ornaments or decorations in newspaper, printed tissue, or other printed papers. The inks can rub off on the ornaments and ruin them.
Keep glass ornaments away from damp environments, like basements, garages, storage units, or attics. These treasures need to be kept inside to avoid mold or mildew damage.
Avoid using plastic shopping bags for storage as they tend to break down or weaken over time.
CONTAINERS
Compartmentalized ornament boxes are wonderful and can be found at discount department stores or ordered online.
Specially made containers are great, but you can also use sturdy cardboard boxes and inexpensive plastic bins with lids. It's a good idea to save your original ornament boxes whenever possible, especially for breakable items as they are usually packaged to prevent damage.
POSITIVE PACKING TIPS
Save and organize your gift wrapping materials in a plastic organizer made especially for this purpose. You won't have to buy all new materials next year, and you'll know exactly where your papers and bows are when you need them.
Long rolls of paper can also be stored by tying the rolls together with string or ribbon (don't tape them or use rubber bands that can mark or tear the paper) and lying them flat on a closet shelf. Store gift bags by removing any tissue paper from the bags, fold bags carefully, and store the folded bags in your largest gift bag or in a large department store bag. Hang or place the bag so that it won't be crushed or come into contact with moisture.
Sturdy cardboard inserts (like the ones packed inside all those toy packages) work great for wrapping garlands around to keep them flat and untangled. Layer in paper bags for protection and easy handling next year.
Wrap individual strings of lights around cardboard inserts. Check for broken or burned out lights and replace or mark with a colored twist-tie for replacement next year. Buy replacement bulbs in the after Christmas sales.
You can quickly make cloth bags to store and protect your lights by cutting the legs from a pair of old, worn out jeans and either sew, glue or use fusible web to seal one end. Place lights inside the bag and secure the open end with a large rubber band and by tying a length of string securely around the end. The bags can then be securely hung up in your storage area on a hook or nail. Store smaller strings of lights (for wreathes, or other decorations) in plastic containers marked to identify what the lights are used for.
Store extension cords with lights so you can locate them next year when you need them.
Use acid-free tissue paper to wrap loose ornaments and place in shallow, sturdy cardboard boxes or plastic ornament containers.
Many home/school made ornaments have candy (peppermints, etc.) that can deteriorate, get gooey or sticky, attract pests, and are generally not easily stored. If you want to try to keep them, place each in a Ziploc baggie to protect other items from direct contact.
Cushion ornaments by using lots of tissue between them. I don't recommend Styrofoam peanuts as packing material because they can get wedged into an ornaments tiny openings and cause breakage, and moisture can also cause the material to stick to your ornaments
Avoid overcrowding a box of ornaments or making too many layers.
Use sturdy cardboard boxes to store antique or fragile ornaments rather than airtight plastic containers.
Ornaments with photos, natural materials (pinecones, dog biscuits, macaroni, etc.) should be wrapped in acid-free tissue paper and stored in airtight containers to avoid attracting insects. Note that some natural materials may not store well from year to year.
Place small packets of silica gel (available at arts & crafts stores) in storage boxes to avoid mildew.
Wreaths should be wrapped in tissue paper and can be stored in cardboard boxes; avoid stacking wreaths.
Separate out any ornaments or objects in need of minor repairs and set aside to fix before packing them away.
Store collections or like items together so that each collection can be easily put together next year.
Label boxes for easy identity next year.
Use a clear plastic shoebox to organize and store extra gift tags, tape, scissors, small ribbons, trims, ornament hangers, cookie cutters, and other small miscellaneous holiday items.
Ribbons and bows are best stored in a large plastic box so they won't be crushed or exposed to moisture.
STORAGE ENVIRONMENT
A cool, dry area where the temperature remains fairly steady is preferable for storage of your treasured collectibles.
Avoid storing holiday decorations in laundry rooms, garages, outside storage buildings, basements, or attics that are not temperature regulated.
A high closet shelf or indoor under-the-stairs storage area where the boxes can remain undisturbed is ideal, especially for fragile items.
WHAT NOT TO DO!
Don't wrap ornaments or decorations in newspaper, printed tissue, or other printed papers. The inks can rub off on the ornaments and ruin them.
Keep glass ornaments away from damp environments, like basements, garages, storage units, or attics. These treasures need to be kept inside to avoid mold or mildew damage.
Avoid using plastic shopping bags for storage as they tend to break down or weaken over time.
CONTAINERS
Compartmentalized ornament boxes are wonderful and can be found at discount department stores or ordered online.
Specially made containers are great, but you can also use sturdy cardboard boxes and inexpensive plastic bins with lids. It's a good idea to save your original ornament boxes whenever possible, especially for breakable items as they are usually packaged to prevent damage.
POSITIVE PACKING TIPS
Save and organize your gift wrapping materials in a plastic organizer made especially for this purpose. You won't have to buy all new materials next year, and you'll know exactly where your papers and bows are when you need them.
Long rolls of paper can also be stored by tying the rolls together with string or ribbon (don't tape them or use rubber bands that can mark or tear the paper) and lying them flat on a closet shelf. Store gift bags by removing any tissue paper from the bags, fold bags carefully, and store the folded bags in your largest gift bag or in a large department store bag. Hang or place the bag so that it won't be crushed or come into contact with moisture.
Sturdy cardboard inserts (like the ones packed inside all those toy packages) work great for wrapping garlands around to keep them flat and untangled. Layer in paper bags for protection and easy handling next year.
Wrap individual strings of lights around cardboard inserts. Check for broken or burned out lights and replace or mark with a colored twist-tie for replacement next year. Buy replacement bulbs in the after Christmas sales.
You can quickly make cloth bags to store and protect your lights by cutting the legs from a pair of old, worn out jeans and either sew, glue or use fusible web to seal one end. Place lights inside the bag and secure the open end with a large rubber band and by tying a length of string securely around the end. The bags can then be securely hung up in your storage area on a hook or nail. Store smaller strings of lights (for wreathes, or other decorations) in plastic containers marked to identify what the lights are used for.
Store extension cords with lights so you can locate them next year when you need them.
Use acid-free tissue paper to wrap loose ornaments and place in shallow, sturdy cardboard boxes or plastic ornament containers.
Many home/school made ornaments have candy (peppermints, etc.) that can deteriorate, get gooey or sticky, attract pests, and are generally not easily stored. If you want to try to keep them, place each in a Ziploc baggie to protect other items from direct contact.
Cushion ornaments by using lots of tissue between them. I don't recommend Styrofoam peanuts as packing material because they can get wedged into an ornaments tiny openings and cause breakage, and moisture can also cause the material to stick to your ornaments
Avoid overcrowding a box of ornaments or making too many layers.
Use sturdy cardboard boxes to store antique or fragile ornaments rather than airtight plastic containers.
Ornaments with photos, natural materials (pinecones, dog biscuits, macaroni, etc.) should be wrapped in acid-free tissue paper and stored in airtight containers to avoid attracting insects. Note that some natural materials may not store well from year to year.
Place small packets of silica gel (available at arts & crafts stores) in storage boxes to avoid mildew.
Wreaths should be wrapped in tissue paper and can be stored in cardboard boxes; avoid stacking wreaths.
Separate out any ornaments or objects in need of minor repairs and set aside to fix before packing them away.
Store collections or like items together so that each collection can be easily put together next year.
Label boxes for easy identity next year.
Use a clear plastic shoebox to organize and store extra gift tags, tape, scissors, small ribbons, trims, ornament hangers, cookie cutters, and other small miscellaneous holiday items.
Ribbons and bows are best stored in a large plastic box so they won't be crushed or exposed to moisture.
STORAGE ENVIRONMENT
A cool, dry area where the temperature remains fairly steady is preferable for storage of your treasured collectibles.
Avoid storing holiday decorations in laundry rooms, garages, outside storage buildings, basements, or attics that are not temperature regulated.
A high closet shelf or indoor under-the-stairs storage area where the boxes can remain undisturbed is ideal, especially for fragile items.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Unify the Decorations on Your Tree
Create a truly unique tree by adding special decorating touches.
Choose a Christmas Tree Theme
Spark your creativity with a color or style theme. For instance, a silver theme can use silver ribbons, silver ornaments, and garlands of silver beads. Choose the decorations according to the theme. An elegant theme would use velvet, satin, sparkles, and beads. A country theme would make use of raffia, cookie cutter ornaments, popcorn and cranberry garlands, and wooden toys. Add clumps of dried herbs to a kitchen tree for a wonderful scent in the room.
Too Much is a Good Thing
You can never really have too many decorations on the tree. If they're evenly spaced and carefully selected, the more the better.
Add Natural Materials
Use colorful ribbons to tie together clusters of dried flowers or small twigs. Place them between branches where some fill is needed. Use wire to attach the clusters to the branches.
Use Silk Flowers for Color
Trim blossoms off stems of silk flowers and lay them on the branches of your Christmas tree for a formal look. Choose blossoms in shades of the colors of your theme or choose all white for a snowy effect. Place the flowers evenly around the tree on the inside and outside of branches.
Add Sparkle With Metallic Spray
Preserved leaves, pinecones, and seed pods can be embellished with metallic spray paint &/or a sprinkling of glitter. Add just a touch for a subtle look or cover completely for a more formal effect.
Ribbon Streamers
Instead of a garland, attach holiday colored ribbons or long strands of raffia to the top branches of the tree. Wind them down and around the branches to the bottom of the tree.
A Crowning Glory for Your Tree
Every traditional Christmas tree is topped by a star or angel. If you have a family heirloom, use it even if it doesn't "match" your tree decorating theme. Traditions are an important part of Christmas and what more suitable place would there be for an heirloom than the tip of your Christmas tree?
Choose a Christmas Tree Theme
Spark your creativity with a color or style theme. For instance, a silver theme can use silver ribbons, silver ornaments, and garlands of silver beads. Choose the decorations according to the theme. An elegant theme would use velvet, satin, sparkles, and beads. A country theme would make use of raffia, cookie cutter ornaments, popcorn and cranberry garlands, and wooden toys. Add clumps of dried herbs to a kitchen tree for a wonderful scent in the room.
Too Much is a Good Thing
You can never really have too many decorations on the tree. If they're evenly spaced and carefully selected, the more the better.
Add Natural Materials
Use colorful ribbons to tie together clusters of dried flowers or small twigs. Place them between branches where some fill is needed. Use wire to attach the clusters to the branches.
Use Silk Flowers for Color
Trim blossoms off stems of silk flowers and lay them on the branches of your Christmas tree for a formal look. Choose blossoms in shades of the colors of your theme or choose all white for a snowy effect. Place the flowers evenly around the tree on the inside and outside of branches.
Add Sparkle With Metallic Spray
Preserved leaves, pinecones, and seed pods can be embellished with metallic spray paint &/or a sprinkling of glitter. Add just a touch for a subtle look or cover completely for a more formal effect.
Ribbon Streamers
Instead of a garland, attach holiday colored ribbons or long strands of raffia to the top branches of the tree. Wind them down and around the branches to the bottom of the tree.
A Crowning Glory for Your Tree
Every traditional Christmas tree is topped by a star or angel. If you have a family heirloom, use it even if it doesn't "match" your tree decorating theme. Traditions are an important part of Christmas and what more suitable place would there be for an heirloom than the tip of your Christmas tree?
What Do the Holidays Mean to You?
Your Holidays Are Lively |
 For you, the holidays are about celebration. You enjoy all the fun and fellowship that the holidays bring. You celebrate the holidays in a minimalist style. You are likely to only give one great present and decorate your house with a few special items. During the holidays, you feel magical. You love all of the decorations and how happy people are. You like to sit back and take it all in. You think the holidays should be nostalgic and sweet. The holidays bring out your inner child. Your best holiday memories are of childhood foods and traditions. You secretly still wish you believed in Santa Claus. |
Monday, June 15, 2009
Happy Leon Day!
“Leon” is “Noel” spelled backward. Leon Day marks the halfway point to Christmas.Do something today to get ready for Christmas... buy a gift (or two), create cards, work on your Christmas notebook, create an ornament, send a Christmas in June card to a friend, listen to some Christmas music.
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