Christmas Crafts

Materials:
- ½ sheet of 8.5 x 11 Hunter Green Cardstock
- Natural Mulberry Kozo Paper
- 2 Red Round & 2 Red Stocking Eyelets
- Christmas Stocking Sticker - I used Joy Marie's Christmas
Sticker Sheet
- Red Handmade Mulberry Paper
- Brown Chalk

Instructions:

- Fold green cardstock in half.
- Tear a square of Kozo mulberry paper about 2.5 x 3.25".
- Lightly chalk around the outside of the natural Kozo with brown.
Rub it in with your fingers to create an aged look.
- Wet edges of natural Kozo & roll in a bit so edges look aged.
- Tear a square of red mulberry paper about 3.25 x 4" (with a wet
Q-tip draw your tear line first & then the paper will tear easily).
- Lay red square on top of card on an angle
- Lay natural Kozo square on top of red but straight with card.
- Attach with 2 stocking eyelets and 2 round 1/8" eyelets (one in
each corner)
- Stick stocking sticker in center.

For more card and scrapbooking ideas from CanadianCountryGifts.com visit http://www.cndcountrygifts.com/projectideas.html

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Forty years ago when I was growing up on our dairy farm in Wisconsin, my mother always saved the Christmas cards she had received in the mail. In those days, people sent many more Christmas cards than they do now.

Today, I still find myself saving the cards that I get each Christmas. When the holiday season is over, I take them down off the dining-room side of our kitchen cabinets. I look at each one and think about the person who sent it. Then I tuck the cards into Christmas canisters and store them with my Christmas decorations. The next year when I take the decorations out, I
discover the cards and then I look through them again. They are still much too pretty to throw away, but unfortunately, I only have so much space available for keeping cards!

If you save your old Christmas cards, too, but don't know what to do with them, here are three ways that you can put them to good use:

• Make ornaments.

1. Cut out the pictures and glue ribbon or lace around the edge. Craft shops and variety stores carry an amazing assortment of ribbon and lace.

2. Punch a hole in the top and hang from the Christmas tree with yarn or ribbon.

• Make gift tags.

1. Cut around the pictures, leaving enough room at the edge to write "To" and "From" if the pictures are arranged in such a way that there is a large open space around the perimeter. Glue ribbon or lace around the edge to add a bit of decoration.

2. Cut out the pictures and glue onto pieces of colored paper folded in half (so you can write your message inside). Add ribbon or lace, if desired.

3. Cut out the pictures, write your message on the back up-side-down and tape just the top edge to the package so that recipients only have to lift the tag to read your message. Once again, glue ribbon or lace around the edge for extra decoration.

• Make collages.

1. Purchase a 5x7 or an 8x10 picture frame with glass
(or a larger frame, if desired).

2. Cut out the pictures from the Christmas cards.

3. Glue the pictures onto a piece of cardstock or other heavy paper cut to fit the frame. Cover the paper with pictures. Experiment with different arrangements before you glue them down.

4. Display the collage on a coffee table or end table or hang it on the wall. Christmas card collages also could be given as gifts to family and friends.

LeAnn R. Ralph is the author of the book: Christmas In Dairyland (True Stories From a Wisconsin Farm) (August 2003). Share the view from Rural Route 2 and celebrate Christmas during a simpler time. Click here to read sample chapters and other Rural Route 2 stories — http://ruralroute2.com

Garlands are definitely a part of the Holidays. However, people live in different parts of the country and using what nature provides is always the best solution.

Evergreen garlands can be natural or store-bought. With your special touch, you can create a garland that fits wherever it is you live: With floral wire, fasten silver and gold jingle bells. Hang on a door to make "your own music" whenever someone's comes and goes. Take seashells you saved from the beach and spray pain the small ones with festive colors. Then dry, and hot glue them to your garland. Apply the glue to the flattest surface of the shell to attach securely to the garland.

You can also make garlands form other material besides evergreen. Cut fabric strips into 2" x 7" lengths. Spread out a
length of cotton cord and knot at both ends. Working from the center out, wrap and tie strips around the cord. Place small ornaments in between if you like. In a child's room, use alternating red and white fabric scraps and you have a candy cane effect.

Ribbons add so much creativity to your holiday decorating - and the one most requested "craft" idea is how to tie the perfect Christmas bow:
To make a large bow, start with 4-5 yards of 2-1/2" to 3" wide ribbon. Measure 15" from one end and lay the ribbon by the ruler, with that point at the 6" mark. Twist and pinch ribbon to secure. Make a 6" loop, bring it back to the center, and twist and pinch the ribbon again. Make another 6" loop on the opposite side and bring it to the center, twisting and pinching again. Make eight or ten loops, alternating sides. Secure the bow loops by twisting a pipe cleaner around the center of the bow. Tie an extra length of ribbon around the center of the bow and trim the ribbon ends. Attach desired trims using wire or hot glue. The ultimate in Christmas bows.
You now have a beautiful ribbon but what do you hang from this masterpiece of ribbon? Hang a single chandelier prism from a wire ornament hanger. Let the tails of the ribbon trail down the sides of the prism. Hang where the sunlight can gently play with the sparkle and truly show the prisms of color. Or hang small toys, framed photos, purchased or homemade snowflakes, large jingle bells, sprigs of fresh holly, or ribbon candy.

A few additional ribbon ideas:
Hang holiday ornaments in the windows or from doorknobs with varying lengths of ribbon; Wind lengths of holiday ribbon through greenery to adorn a fireplace or tabletop; Replace curtain pulls with ribbon ties; Adorn outdoor lights and the mailbox with bows made from wide holiday ribbons; Make pillows merry by wrapping with ribbon as you would a gift package and place on beds, windows seats, and chairs.

Garlands and ribbons - two fantastic accents for your holiday home. ENJOY!

©Arleen M. Kaptur 2002 December Wishing you and all your loved ones a truly Memorable, Enchanting, and totally wonderful Holiday Season
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