Christmas Crafting 101

Anyone who knows me knows I love crafting, especially at Christmas.  The picture at right is one of my village houses that I painted myself and crafted with fake snow among other things.  I buy these village houses from craft stores and on the internet in their original plaster/ceramic form and very much enjoy making them my own.  Most of the ornaments on my tree are ones I have painted myself as well. 

This fun tradition was something both my grandmother and great-grandmother instilled in me.  Growing up, every year, we would receive several beautiful new onaments that they would specially create for us.  I took those memories and decided years ago to make those same memories with my children.  My tree is fitted with an ornament that each of them has painted every year.  It is really special. 

Below are the links to a few of the places I order from:

Ceramic Art Space Online:  http://www.ceramicartspace.com/ceramics153_212/store.html

Michaels Online:  http://www.michaels.com/

When working with plaster/ceramics such as the unfinished ornament on the left, it is important to use the right paints and varnish.  You can find these specific paints at any of your local craft stores.  I use the spray varnish to shine them up.  All of them come with pre-made holes in the top for easy hanging on your trees.  I use Christmas ribbon to make the little hangers and they always come out great!

As you can see, the final product you get from these unfinished crafts can be joyus and festive and they add a lot of decor to your homes during the holidays.  More importantly, when you take the time to create them yourself by using your own imagination and by allowing your children to also help you create, you are making invaluable memories for your children, like the ones that my grandmother and great-grandmother made with me.  I never forgot the time they spent with me and I always looked forward to that special time of the year when I could sit with them and watch their hands work. 

Merry Christmas TMF Readers and Happy Crafting!
Di

Making Memories and Building Traditions

As promised in my Changing Seasons post, I wanted to expand upon and give you readers some tips on making fun, meaningful family traditions.  Most of you probably already have your family traditions down pat, but for those of you who may be newly re/married or newly divorced single parents, making traditional memories and building bonds with your children is extremely important.  My parents were divorced when I was 6 years old.  My mom was pretty much a single mom for most of my life.  Even though she never had a lot of extra money, and we never took lavish vacations, she made sure we had plenty of memories.   A lot of our family traditions were derived from our own “made-up” games, holidays, etc. but we made them our own and made them fun. 

Traditions are usually handed down from generation to generation and are invaluable to our ability as parents to raise our children.  Through these traditions, I believe, families are strengthened and lasting memories are made.  Also, within the blended/step family, creating traditions promote unity and a sense of belonging.  As a mother, I always felt the need to create lasting traditions for my boys.  As a step-mother, I find it even more important to create new (and keep the old) traditions that involve my step-daughter and my husband, who is a step-father to my children. 

Here are some fun tips and some practical ideas to help you create your own meaningful memories and traditions:

1.  Make time for your spiritual traditions.  Pray together. 

2.  Help serve food at a homeless shelter during the holidays.

3.  Make crafts together.  (I do Christmas ornaments with my children every year — now my older boys are 20 and 21, when I look back to their crafts at 8 and 9, I am simply amazed).

4.  Cook together with your children.  Let them create!

5.  During Fall, have “leaf raking” parties.  Gather a few neighborhood kids, rake, order pizza and pop and jump in a big pile of leaves!

6.  Go apple picking together and bake with the yields of your labor.

7.  Attend sports events together.

8.  Make your children’s Halloween costumes.  (I did this last year and my little boy loved it!)

9.  Every year during the Fall, take a day trip with your children to a new city or town near where you live and discover new ground. 

10.  As you put up your Christmas tree and decorations, make it a family event with food, music and cheer.  This is great fun!

11.  Have your children write letters to Santa and take them to mail them off.  Then write a letter back to your children from Santa and put it in their stocking.  My youngest son loves this!!!

12.  Drive around neighborhoods on Christmas Eve to check out the lights.  My dad and step-mom did this with me and my boys!  I loved it — even as a young adult.

13.  Make homemade gifts for those closest to you.  You will never know how appreciative they will be.  Homemade gifts are the best gifts. 

Those are just a few of the things that you can do to make memories and build traditions with your children.    Remember, making memories with your children cultivates happiness and it most certainly builds lasting bonds.

Peace & Blessings,
Di

Life is Short…What’s Your Return on It?

I was reading a publication called “The Columbian”  today from one of our local social clubs here in our city.  There was a great article entitled “What’s your Return on Life?”  I wanted to share some of the tips this article provided with our BFSO readers because as it states, it is so easy to get caught up in letting life’s day-to-day distractions steer you away from what is important.  There has never been a better time to invest in our families. 

1.  Take a little vacation — I know times are tough with our economy, but we all know that life is too short.  We never hear anyone say, “I’d wish I’d spent more time at the office!”

2.  Take a dance lesson with your hubby or wife!

3.  Have a family-outing day around your city!  There are always new things to discover and some old ones that you never get tired of.  Pack a picnic lunch and make a day out of it!

4.  Create bonding experiences with your children.  Take them hiking, fishing, our bike-riding somewhere where there are no distractions.  This time will be precious to you and to your children.  You are making memories! 

All of these and the others you think of are an incredible investment in what the article calls your “Return on Life” account.  You will have great stories and photographs to re-live your memories when you are older and when your grandchildren arrive!

Peace and blessings,
Di