Cocktail Glass Charms

I came across a GREAT idea for beverage glass charms for your parties to go along with your signature cocktails... We don't always have enough charms for those pretty glasses for the party, but this idea is way inexpensive and easy to pick up on your next errand run. Silly Bands! Get the littler ones to put on the stems of the glasses you're using. Match them to your party theme - they come in all kinds of styles! I assure you will have a conversation piece too. 

Homemade Christmas Keepsakes

I get crafty around the holidays. Don't misunderstand me, I don't have any more time than the next gal this time of year, I just can't help myself. Last year I found "jeweled" holiday words that you stick on "things". I bought a couple of each words thinking I would use them in the kids' scrapbooks. I got busy as most mommies do and forgot about them. I came across them the other day and was inspired! So I headed out to my local craft store and bought some wooden frames of various sizes along with a a few pre-cut mat boards. Once I got home, I stuck the jeweled holiday word on one of the outside edges of the frame, mounted our holiday picture of the family, and put it all in the frame. It cost about $3.50 all together and looks like a million bucks! It would make a great gift for family but I plan to use it as a holiday decoration for years to come.

Cloth Candy Canes

This is a craft that needs some drying time - maybe hours. But on a frigid day it sure keeps the kids busy making a cute decoration for the holidays. You will need:

• 3x12" strips of cotton fabric (3 per project - prints and differnt colors make the best choices)
• pipe cleaners (3 per project)
• waxed paper
• white glue
• small paint brushes

1. One at a time, lay each fabric strip - print side down - on waxed paper-covered surface and using the paint brush to coat with a thin layer of glue.
2. Place a pipe cleaner along one long edge and roll the fabric around it as tight as possible. Smooth down the outer edge.
3. Make three pipe cleaners like this for a single project.
4. Pinch together the tops of three wrapped pipe cleaners and tightly twist them into a spiral, bending the top over into a cane shape.
5. Set cane in a short drinking glass to dry ( could take several hours).
6. Neaten the ends of teh pipe cleaner canes with wire cutters.

One wintery weekend several years ago, I had a whole Christmas tree full of these and popcorn garlands. It turned out great! I kept them and use them as centerpieces some years or place setting markers. The canes look like the fruity tootie variety of candy canes you buy at the grocery store. I assure you will enjoy spending the time on this craft.

Ugly Christmas Sweater Party

Ugly Christmas Sweater Parties are gaining ground on traditional holiday party themes. Not just for friends and family hosting in their homes but sometimes these parties occur at work places too! I found a website http://www.uglychristmassweaterparty.com/ for you to check out. Most of these raise money for local charities - great idea in my opinion. The three men who started the website have a book Ugly Christmas Sweater Party Book as well. The part I loved was,

"When choosing an Ugly Christmas sweater, your main goal should be to stimulate as many of the five senses as possible. You will want to pick a sweater that is so retina-burning colorful that the only way people will be able to look at you is through one of those foil-covered boxes students make so they can look at a solar eclipse."

I laughed until I cried. This is the perfect party theme for men to enjoy! Instead of fighting with them to get ready to leave for a holiday get together; they will have been planning and combing Goodwill stores for a sweater to do just what is quoted above!

On a bit of a side note...the latest uncommon goods catalog has reclaimed Christmas sweater scarves that are pretty fun to wear. After a few Ugly Christmas Sweater parties you could have a reclaimed Christmas Sweater Scarf Making party!

I believe in bringing cheer into the holiday season full throttle. What a great way to do that with a party theme like Ugly Christmas Sweater Party! I assure you everyone (men included) will have a great time.

Leftovers and More Leftovers

Go to www.Allrecipes.com for some amazing Thanksgiving leftover recipes. You can even add your own! I have found some great turkey chili, soup, and other creative recipes that my family enjoys. It's tough when your eating the same thing every day this weekend but I assure you will feel great after putting together recipes from this site.

Disneyfamily.com

Once again http://www.disneyfamily.com/ has some amazing crafts and recipes for the Thanksgiving holiday. Lots of ideas for kids' table! Check it out.

Decorating "Wishes"

Sometimes we only see some of our extended family once or twice a year - around the holidays. Here is a holiday decorating idea that will keep them close to you each day you have this hung in your home... You will need:

• one grapevine (twig) wreath (found @ Michael's or Jo-Ann's craft stores)
• red Sharpies or markers
• white cardstock cut into 2x3 sizes
• 1 yard of beautiful, bold, wide green ribbon (for hanging the wreath)

1. Hang the twig wreath in a spot where arriving or departing guests can't miss it.
2. Set the markers and cards under or next to it on a writing friendly surface.
3. Post a little sign asking guests to write or draw a greeting or holiday wish along with their name and slip into wreath.

You will have a one of a kind wreath to enjoy throughout the holidays! I have tried this with holiday cards sent through the mail, but because of the multitude or colors and sizes of cards it never turns out quite the way I had planned. I have also tried it with the photo cards sent as holiday greetings - I end up mounting them on cardstock, turning it into a bigger project and still unhappy with the outcome because of the colors... I use this simple color blocking idea of red on white with the bold green ribbon because it's so pleasing to the eye.

Sometimes it's our friends we only see once or twice a year. Whoever you choose to participate in this activity I assure you will enjoy the greetings and wishes.

Fall Centerpieces

Thanksgiving will be here before you know it. But before you start packing away (or throwing away) the pumpkins you had out for Halloween, here is a centerpiece idea to use for the month of November.

Start with a silver platter. You will probably be taking items like this out for Thanksgiving anyway. Polish them up now for your centerpiece. Next, place a low and wide silver bowl on top to center the platter. In the bowl place a flatter red-orange pumpkin/gourd. Use a couple of smaller white Cinderella pumpkins/gourds to fill up most of the remaining space. Bosch pears work nicely with this color scheme - one in the bowl and two on the silver tray. I like persimmons too. They look different! I never know what to do with them except centerpieces! Grab a few and some bright orange oranges or clementines. Find some with the green leaves or stems still attached. A couple of large brown leaves found on a neighborhood walk to finish off the bowl will definitely give an organic feel to the centerpiece. Arrange your gourd stems to point different directions too. Of course the fruits will be eaten but it's easy to replace them.

Centerpieces can be as free-form as you like, but keep the arrangement low. It shouldn't block any one's view of other's seated at the table.