Simple (and Cheap) Idea for Homemade Christmas Ornaments

This year I wanted to give something a little more personal to friends and family for Christmas. I decided to go with ornaments. I am making two different types of ornaments.

The first are quite simple. I bought a box of plain, glass ornaments (under $5 for 18). I also bought a box of 18 different glitter shakers (under $10) and some school glue ($1). I write the year and a saying onto the ornament with the glue and then sprinkle the glitter onto the ornament. Leave it in the box until the glue has thoroughly dried then blow off the excess glitter. Easy breezy.

The second set take a bit longer and are little bit more expensive. I ordered a set of microscope slides ($7), a set of alcohol paints ($6) and various colors/sizes of jewelry wire ($2-$8 per set depending on type, length and thickness). Begin by laying out half the set of slides on a flat surface. Take one of the alcohol paints and drop the ink onto the slides in various locations. Repeat with a second color (and a third/fourth if desired). Place the remaining slides on top of these. Let dry. Once the slides are dry you wrap them with the jewelry wire. Use the top of the wire to for a loop for hanging the ornament. You can be creative with the patterns you make with the wire.

Homemade Christmas

I'm thinking of making homemade stocking stuffers for friends and family this year. I"m looking at custom ornaments, paintings, and maybe some food stuffs. What's your favorite homemade christmas stuffers?

scrooge or no scrooge

in the past i've really been a scrooge when it comes to christmas. the whole holiday season (which starts in SEPTEMBER now) is far too commercial for my tastes. in addition i hate all the stress and family dynamics that come with the holiday season. quite honestly, for most of my adult life i haven't even put up a christmas tree.

all that started changing just over two years ago when i met my bf. he loves the holidays. he plans ahead for his gifts and is usually done shopping by thanksgiving. he puts a lot of thoughts into gifts. your first impression of him would probably be that he doesn't really listen to much of what you say. but when you watch him pick out gifts you realize exactly how much he listens and sees in the lives of those around him. i have honestly never seen someone who could pick out the perfect gift for anyone repeatidly. he also has traditions. movies and christmas shows that must be watched. family events that happen. nothing is last minute.

since meeting him i've begun putting up a tree. i try to plan my gifts a little more ahead than in the past (we are three weeks from christmas and may shopping is approximately 25% complete. we're even sending our first "couple" christmas cards this year...complete with our super sweet "couple" photo.

the problem is old habits are hard to break. how do you go from hating christmas, hating the pressur of gifts and family gatherings and all the infighting that brings to loving christmas and living the true meaning of the holiday?

i don't know. all i know is that i'm no longer the scrooge i was.