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Christmas Ideas
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Christmas Gift Exchange Story
Jenn sent in this story that is used for a Christmas Gift Exchange. She says, "Have each guest bring a wrapped gift for the gift exchange. Everyone sits in a circle while a narrator reads the following story. Each time the words LEFT, RIGHT, or WRIGHT are mentioned, the gifts are passed in that direction. Each person will keep the gift they are holding at the end of the story."
It's a lot of fun and you can print our the story to use at your party.

Bagged Reindeer Oatmeal Food
Bagged Reindeer Oatmeal Food is a wonderful way to add excitement and fun to your holiday season. Eat the reindeer oatmeal on Christmas Eve, but save some to sprinkle on your lawn for Rudolph and his friends! You can make the special reindeer bag to hold your special reindeer treat. The "Reindeer Food" is also perfect for people too!

Ten Holiday Stress Busters
How can we cut back on the stress?
- - - and still make a wonderful holiday season for our families? How can we relax and eat one of the hundreds of dozens cookies we bake? How can we remember who gets what gift and still remember OUR names? Here’s ten stress busters which will help us have a terrific time with our families

Maria's Christmas Hand Ornaments
This is a great idea that comes from Maria who is a member of our craft group from California, She says, I have a craft idea for Christmas that you may wish to list. My three children and I made them last year for my in-laws Christmas tree. It's very simple, but they make a sweet keepsake.

Potpourri Gel Jars
This week's Craft of the Week features a wonderful gift that children of any age can make. Gel Jars are beautifully decorated, scented gifts.  They are sure to liven up any room with their fragrance. You'll want to choose scents which your mom likes. You can substitute potpourri oil for the essential oils in this craft.

Now - how to I assemble those toys?
Lorrie sent in this picture of Cagney. Cagney is very busy on Christmas Eve wearing his glasses to read that small print on the instructions trying to put that bicycle together. Lorrie says, "He is a Brittany-Beagle mix, but of course a pure breed to us. He is 16 years old and has put up with this since he was a puppy."

Santa's Candy Sleigh
Do you want to have Christmas parties but don't know what to do? This is an edible sleigh from best-selling and award winning author Wilhelminia Ripple who teaches you how easy it is to plan your party. It is excerpted from her book, "Christmas Parties...What I Do. Simply pull the crackers and candy canes apart to eat Santa and his sleigh. See this craft as well as a Christmas interview with the author.

Holiday Chi's
This is a neat collection of holiday pics from Sue showing off Bashy who is dressed in costumes that she makes herself. Featured here is the Christmas version and you can also see the Easter and Halloween incarnations. It's a lot of fun and perhaps you can send us a picture of your dogs!!

Glitter Domes
One of my favorite decorations for the holidays is the snow globe. I remember loving those snow globes that were so plentiful during the holiday season. I loved ( and I still do) shaking them and watching the colorful glitter fall to the bottom of the dome coating Santa or whatever figure was in the dome. It was like peering into a fantasy world. These make fabulous gifts for friends, family, teachers, or for yourself! The materials are simple to find. This is a super craft for children of all ages.

Paula's Santa on a Ledge
This is a fun easy-to-make craft from Paula who is a member of our craft group that uses a TP cone to make Santa that you can sit on a ledge. It's a great project that allows to be creative and make Santa a little differently each time for a bit of whimsy!! Send us a picture of your creation so we can feature it here on the craft.

Julia's Handcrafted Christmas Ornaments
This craft is brought to us by fellow crafter and member of our online crafts group Julia. She has come up with an inexpensive yet beautiful way to welcome this special holiday season using readily available clear Christmas bulbs from your local craft store. There has been such a tremendous response to this craft and we also have some more ideas added to the craft such as how they can be used as centerpiece for weddings, even more ideas on how to make other homemade ornaments and even how you can make the whole tree out out of a tomato cage!!

Pomanders
These are these wonderfully fragrant, naturally made room and closet fresheners. They are perfect to make as gifts and a lovely way to spruce up your closets during the winter months.

"Deck the Halls with Boughs of Challah"
Interweaving interfaith religions & traditions
by Beth Bruno & Deirdre O'Gorman Goldsmith
Many families interweave the traditions of different religions. My friends, Scott and Deirdre, who were raised in Jewish and Roman Catholic families, respectively, combined their religions when they married and now look ahead to educating their children, families and friends through the richness each religion brings into their lives. Find out more with a wonderful essay from my friend Dierdre.

Hanukkah Cookies
This recipe features Hanukkah Cookies which are not only tasty, but we also have a more information on this important holiday. Hanukkah is an important Jewish holiday which is celebrated in December for 8 consecutive days. Along with some history, we offer up a great bit of Jewish Cuisine.

Story of the Candy Cane
This is a very nice explanation of the meaning behind the candy cane which you can print out. It was sent to us by Dana who says, "I have a story of the candy cane that I hope you like.  I hope  that everyone is enjoys this and passes it along."

see even more Christmas Ideas

Bosco & Emma getting ready for a howling good time

Questions? Ideas? Comments?
Have a craft idea to share?