Jerusalem Greer (of Jolly Goode Gal) comes to your rescue with inexpensive, easy Christmas crafts that are a tad bit nostalgic to boot! We love the “Too Many Mittens” reference, and the sheet music. Goes to show that, when it comes to decorating for the holidays, personal is best. Use your imagination and have fun! And if you get stuck, these tips from Jerusalem are sure to get you going.
As I thought about what Christmas crafts I could share with the At Home blog readers this month, I realized that I should give the kind of gift that I love to receive: One that is personal and homespun. So for this month’s post, I thought I would share a few Christmas crafts from my own home. Not every craft I try is a winner (there was the disastrous snow globe fiasco after all), but every now and then my plan comes together, and I end up with a lovely new creation that my family and I can enjoy for many Christmas’ to come. Below are a few of these successes that are both simple (because who has time for one more complicated to-do task on their holiday list?) and lovely.
Frame Vintage Christmas Cards
To create this look, simply layer vintage Christmas cards on top of holiday themed sheet music and place in an inexpensive frame. To keep this look clean and crisp I chose a white frame, which helped set off the vintage papers without being overly fussy.
Mitten Garland
One of my favorite childhood books is titled “Too Many Mittens.” In this book, a laundry line of mittens is a prominent feature. I recreated this look for my mantle. (For the full instructions and a mitten pattern, you can visit this link to my Too Many Mittens Craft (http://www.jollygoodegal.com/2011/12/too-many-mittens-weekend-christmas.html)
Snow in a Bottle
This project is one of my all time favorites and take less than 10  minutes to make. Using a funnel, pour a three part mixture of fake snow, white glitter and off white glitter into an old glass bottle. Fill about â…“  full. Stamp or write the words and phrases like “Snow Starter,” “White Christmas 2011,” or “Frosty R.I.P.” on a small shipping tag. Replace the string on your tag with a pipe cleaner. Fold your tag in half and place in your bottle. (If your tag doesn’t pop open after you have pushed it back into your bottle, you can use a pipe cleaner to open it back up.) Next, hot glue a small to medium Christmas ball or ornament  to the top, inverting the top of your ornament into the mouth of the bottle. Using a thin ribbon, tie a lose one knot bow around the neck of your bottle. Ta-da! A cute Christmas conversation piece.
Tiered Christmas Card Wreath
For years I was one of those people who could never find a way to display the Christmas cards our little family received that didn’t look too busy or bulky. Finally, in act of desperation, I grabbed two metal wreath frames with contrasting grosgrain ribbon and went to wrapping. I wrap the ribbon around each frame. Then, using 5†flocked red ribbon, I connected the two wreaths with one simple loop. To top it all, I took another large piece of the same ribbon, ran it through the smaller wreath and knotted it, letting the tails hang down. I added a large glittered jingle bell as the final touch. To attach my holiday cards, I use stick pins and the folds of the ribbon. Maybe this year I will even add a third wreath.
Peace of Scrabble
I have made all sorts of gifts, including nameplates as teachers gift and jewelry for my sisters as Christmas gifts. Last year during the holidays, I created my own version of a peace sign, and this year I hope to add Love, Joy and Hope to the collection. If you are going to make your own Scrabble crafts this holiday, I would suggest hitting up estate sales and flea markets for great deals on used games.
However you celebrate this holiday, I wish each of you a wonderfully simple, beautiful Christmastime.
