Angels

An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. ¹¹Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ^[a] the Lord. ¹²This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

¹³Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
¹⁴“Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”

Luke 2:9-14

Make

A paper angel

Ragdoll angel

An angel clothsline

Handprint/footprint angel

Milk carton angel

Recycled Christmas card angels

Corn husk angels

Cork angel

Do

• Contemplate the divine
• Find joy in the season
• Anticipate surprise

Bake

Angel Whispers

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Photos by aussiegall, and dichohecho

Hanging o’ the Greens

Sing hey!  Sing hey!
For Christmas Day;
Twine mistletoe and holly.
For a friendship glows
In winter snows,
And so let’s all be jolly!
~Author Unknown

Five Fabulous Things about Christmas Greens

1. Holly and Ivy look great together in the garden

2. Live greens are eco-friendly (can we just say compost).

3. Greens decoration can be so elegant or rustic but always beautiful

4. There is such a rich history behind decorating with evergreen, holly, ivy, mistletoe, and rowan

5. Greens entertain more than one sense, enticing the nose as well as the eyes.

Make - green in a different way

Christmas apron from recycled fabric

Sweater Rug

Business Card holder – from recycled magazine pages

Wine bottle torch

Juice bag tote

Art yarn from old sweaters

Crocheted market bags (from plastic grocery bags)

Holiday garland recycled from papers and cards

Do

• Think green.
• Spend the green on charitable causes that are close to your heart.
• Decorate with live greens if you can.
  

Bake

Chocolate Cherry Bars

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Photos by: muffet, Judy Breck, and DREAM MERCHANT

Candy Cane

Look at the Candy Cane
What do you see?
Stripes that are red
Like the blood shed for me
White is for my Savior
Who’s sinless and pure!
“J” is for Jesus My Lord, that’s for sure!
Turn it around
And a staff you will see
Jesus my shepherd
Was born for Me!

Make

Candy Cane Mice

Paper Candy Cane

Big Candy Cane Display

Candy Cane Hearts

Plush Candy Canes

Do

Have a cup of candy canes on your desk.

Decorate a tree with candy canes

Eat a candy can with some nice hot chocolate.

Check out how Disney Parks are reviving the old-time tradition of making candy canes.

Bake

Candy Cane Marshmallows

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Photos by Loren Javier, Jenah Crump Photography and

Ornaments

Whatever else be lost among the years, Let us keep Christmas still a shining thing: Whatever doubts assail us, or what fears, Let us hold close one day, remembering Its poignant meaning for the hearts of men. Let us get back our childlike faith again

- Grace Noll Crowell

Five Fabulous things about Christmas Tree Ornaments

1. Finding new ornaments to craft.

2. Dated ornaments that bring back memories.

3. Finding that special ornament each year.

4. Putting the ornament in just the right place on the tree.

5. Passing them on to the next generation.

Make

Ornaments out of pinecones and crayons

Time Capsule ornaments

Knit and felted bells

Terrarium ornaments

Glittered seashell ornament

Cinnamon Dough ornament

Handprint ornament

Elephant ornaments

Do

• Cherish every hand made ornament a child brings home.
• Purchase ornaments made with love.
• Take the time to revisit Christmas memories as you decorate the tree with ornaments past.

Bake

Chocolate Rum Balls

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Photos by Franklin Hunting and Pdboy04

Shepherds

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night….

Luke 2:8

Make

Shaun the Sheep from pom poms

Cracker sheep

Marshmallow lamb

Do

• Take time to contemplate the reason for the season.
• Be ready for some good news.
• Remember the little ones.

Bake

Chocolate Hazlenut Crinkle Cookies

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Photos by a4gpa and Moe

St. Lucia’s Day

A Christmas candle is a lovely thing; It makes no noise at all, But softly gives itself away; While quite unselfish, it grows small

- Eva K. Logue

Five Fun Facts about St Lucia’s Day

1. St. Lucia was a christian martyer who died in 304 AD.

2. Lucia always stands for light.

3. In Scandanavia the edest daughter dresses in a white gown.  She wears a crown full of candles and serves her family baked goods, coffee and mulled wine called glogg.

4. Each town also elects a girl as a Lucia to lead a procession through the town.

5. Common food for St. Lucia’s day include saffron bread shaped like curled up cats with raisin eyes.

Make

St. Lucia doll

Paper St. Lucia hats – This one has holly on it

Do

• Find out how people in other countries celebrate the holidays.
• Appreciate other traditions.
• Start a new tradition this year.

Bake

Lucia Bread

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Photos by purejuice2 and Dave Bleasdale

National Poinsettia Day

At Christmas play and make good cheer,
For Christmas comes but once a year
~Thomas Tusser

Five Fabulous Things about Poinsettias

1. Red, White, Pink, Champaign

2. Color at Christmas

3. Poinsettias as decoration in a church or any other large space.

4. Always a good gift

5. Poinsettia’s that live past Christmas

Make

A poinsettia angel

A poinsettia barrette

Tissue Paper picture of a poinsettia

A poinsettia ornament

Poinsettia from pipe cleaners

Poinsettia pinwheel

Do

Take care of your poinsettias so they live and bloom again

Put your poinsettias up away from pets and small children – even though it would take quite a bit to poison them.

Enjoy all the colorful holiday foliage, where ever you find it.

Bake

Poinsettia Christmas cookies

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Photos by tuppas and yours truely

Stockings

“When we were children we were grateful to those who filled our stockings at Christmas time. Why are we not grateful to God for filling our stockings with legs?”

G.K. Chesterton

Five Fabulous Things about Stockings

1. Fortune Cookies and oranges.

2. That little gift that fits perfectly in the stocking.

3. Stockings are the best side to the early morning cinnamon rolls.

4. Anticipation

5. They are the perfect decoration for the mantle.

Make

Stockings from felted sweaters

North pole produce stickers for that perfect stocking stuffer

Quilted stockings

A Stocking with an embroidered name

Elf style stockings

Mini knit stockings

Expandable stockings

Stocking advent calendar

Do

Put something in the stockings, even if it just underwear or an orange.

Find hand made stocking or make them yourself – they have so much more character.

Bake

Cream Cheese Brownies

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this is a fabulous adaptation of a book that I had as a child

Photos by adjustafresh, and Andrew Whittaker

Christmas Reading

Do give books – religious or otherwise – for Christmas. They’re never fattening, seldom sinful, and permanently personal.”

~ Lenore Hershey

Five Fabulous Reads

1. A Wish to Be a Christmas Tree

2. How the Grinch Stole Christmas

3. The Polar Express

4. The Night Before Christmas

5. Jan Brett’s Christmas Treasury

Make

a Christmas scrapbook

A Christmas story starring you

A Mini Book

An acrosic poem with the word CHRISTMAS

Do

Write a Christmas story and win a prize

Listen to family Christmas stories, even if you have heard them 100 times before.

At least once in the hectic Christmas season, curl up with a good book and relax.

Bake

Fruitcake Macaroons

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Photos by Djenan, Andy Mangold, and arquera

The Stable

While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Luke 2:6,7

But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.

Luke 2:19

Make

A nativity picture with paint and paper

Clay pot nativity

A Gingerbread nativity

Do

Read the Christmas Story

Think about what Christmas is all about

Bake

Gingerbread

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