Jingle Bells – Jingle Bells

All of a sudden here we are, December peeking around the corner. With a blink of an eye 1 January 2021 all of a sudden jumped to just a little over a month to Christmas.

The decorations are up in the stores, Jingle Bells is rocking loudly on the audio systems and all the major retailers has their Christmas sale pamphlets filling up my post box. Colorful manipulative little pieces of paper revealing all the budget buys that is not to be missed working hard to make you think you need the latest and greatest.

Paging through the pamphlets looking more at the price of things than the item itself, I think to myself how am I going to make it special this year without having to call the bank manager asking for a loan to survive.

You might know or have realized by reading some of my blogs, that I like to be creative and think of ways to make something rather than buy it.

I believe, as mom of the house, there are three components for making your family’s festive holidays successful. The Christmas tree, Menu and Gifts. Over the next 3 weeks leading up to Christmas, I will share some things I have been doing and think it should become standard practice in every household.

The simplest way to describe these pointers is how to normalize the habit of not spending a whole lot of money but still have so much fun you would never want to do it any other way.

The first thing I will chat about is the Christmas tree and decor. The Christmas tree is the first thing to go up to proclaim that Christmas is around the corner. It is the start to that happy vibe in little expectant hearts to see gifts wrapped in colorful wrapping paper, packed under the tree. I am sure you have already, like myself, started to receive little hints of “what I want for Christmas”.

I hate digging out the box in the back of my storage cupboard with tinseled green spikes pushing through here and there. (Because who else can get that darn tree back in its box the same way when you first bought it?) Layers of duct tape trying to hold the box to some form of shape that it used to resemble. When I finally have it out and set up and fluffed the tinsel enough to make it more or less look like a tree, I spend several frustrating hours to untangle the Christmas lights and then dust of colorful Baubles and tinsel to give my daughter the joy of setting it all up. Knowing in the back of my mind come 31 December I am going to be the monkey that has to try get it packed away again.

I have a vague memory of doing this last Christmas as well and swore that will be the last time I am setting up a tree.

Being school holiday time and the constant nagging for something to do I decided a couple years ago that my refusal to buy decorations for the Christmas tree has turned me into a very creative mom. Google and Pinterest just loves me!  To keep her busy, I look for projects that she can make for decorating the tree and as an added bonus it will also keep her busy during the long holidays. Some decorations have survived the years some have not but we have many special memories that we have to look back on.

So let me share some of my ideas. Where possible I have shared links to make it easier for you.

* Snowflakes –  By using a glue gun on wax paper, trail snowflake patterns. You can trace a pattern if you don’t feel confident to go free hand. But all the fun is in being free. While the glue is wet you can sprinkle glitter over it or let your children paint it once dry. Remember to attach a string with the glue while you busy with it. Saves time figuring that part later. Here is a link to a sample video of how to proceed.

* Origami – This is great for older children. The internet is full of simple folding techniques to fold your own origami ornaments. From stars to balls and miniature Christmas trees.  If you want to take this further. Let them fold miniature envelopes with a little hand written note on the inside. Remember to put the date inside. This will make for a beautiful keepsake for the years to come. A memory to be reminded off. Apartmentart has 10 simple origami ornaments for you to practice.

* Scrap material stuffed ornaments – This is the time to get out those sewing kits and old clothes, denims or scraps of material from the year’s sewing projects. The list is endless and its super easy items that can be sewn with basic hand stitches fit for many ages over 5. Lets practice those fine motor skills mommies. Click here for a jump to DIYNCRAFTS page. They have amazing patterns and ideas for you to play around with.

* Noodle string –  this is especially something that will keep a little busy body busy for hours. Let them sit outside so you will stay sane and without fear of having paint spilled on your furniture. The idea is to let them paint the macaroni different colors and once it is dry you can let them string it up and hang around the tree. Continue with the glitter while you at it.

*When we need to start thinking about the decor for our dinner table that is also something the kids can help with or if you would like to take this task on by yourself why not.  The decor can be simple and inexpensive. For instance, using brown craft paper you can make potato cut outs or if you already have festive stencils. Stencil using festive, gold or silver colored paint and stencil some onto the sheet of brown paper. This can be your table runner.  You can fill the table with some of the origami ornaments and candles. You can also weave some of the old material scraps and make your table place mats.

*Toilet rolls can become your serviette holders.

The world of DIY crafts is endless and you don’t have to spend wads of cash to make them as 99% of the time its items you have available. We just need to train our minds to think outside of the box.

All these projects will make for good solid family fun. Put the TV or game consoles off. Leave the Cell phones one side for a change and lets bring family focus back into this season. Its not about how worldly material things that matter. Its about the memory we build with our families. Having fun, laughter and feeling joy.

I will love it if you are able to share your creations with us all. Don’t be shy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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