3 Last-Minute, Simple DIY Christmas Decor

Place not decked out for the holidays yet? Don't worry! There are several last-minute projects that you can take on in just a few hours: 

1. Create festive jars. Use stickers or paint letters onto milk or mason jars to spell out one of your favorite festive saying. It's a simple and effective way to spread the holiday message; also, a few votive candles will make it more elegant.
2. Pine cones. Want a project that'll save you both time and money? Gather some pinecones, and spray pain them in one or more holiday colors. And if you want a more festive feel, finish them off with glitter.
3. Snow globe candleholders. Fill a wine glass with little Christmas trinkets and white garland, then turn it upside down. Top the glass off with a candle and that way, its purpose can be twofold.

For even more ideas, check out our source, Last-Minute, DIY Christmas Decor.

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A Christmas Ornament Tradition

by Rachel Paxton

When my husband and I got married, my mother-in-law introduced me to one of her favorite Christmas traditions. She has five children, and for years, she has been collecting ornaments for each of her children so that they can take their collection of ornaments with them when they have their own families.

I decided to start this tradition in our own family. Every year, my daughter picks out a new ornament for her own collection. It's fun to look through all of the old ornaments and see how her collection has grown. The variety of ornaments shows how her tastes and interests have changed throughout the years.

You would think only girls would be interested in collecting Christmas ornaments. Actually, my husband has a lot of Christmas ornaments he enjoys. He has several ornaments representing his favorite college and NFL football teams. He also treasures many of the keepsake ornaments his mother has made for him throughout the years.

There are a variety of ornaments you and your children can choose from to collect. If you have the time and desire to make them, you can purchase many types of ornament kits at craft stores. You can find beaded ornaments, ornaments made from felt, ornaments made from plastic canvas and many others. This year, I found a Nemo felt ornament kit at Walmart. My boys love Nemo and I thought they would be fun to make. They are turning out beautifully, but are taking much longer to make than I expected. I'll maybe have them done by next year! You might choose to make ornaments with your children. Clay ornaments are easy and fun to make.

If you don't want to make ornaments, buying them can be fun, too. This year, I purchased my boys' ornaments at a Christmas craft show. They had clay ornaments made to look like Thomas the Tank Engine that were absolutely adorable. They personalized the ornaments with their names and the year for free. Christmas bazaars are a great place to look for unique ornaments. Look for ornaments while you are travelling. Many gift shops have ornaments you can purchase to remind you of your favorite vacation spots. Ebay is also a good place to find ornaments. Last year, I purchased an ornament on Ebay that had my husband's favorite football team on it. I'd never seen another one like it, and he loved it.

As you can see, collecting Christmas ornaments can be fun for the whole family. Every year, your kids will look forward to picking out their new ornament to put on the tree. Make sure to write their names and the year on the back or bottom of the ornament with a permanent marker so you can keep track of everyone's ornaments!

Visit Crafty-Moms.com to find out how to decoupage a beautiful box to store your keepsake ornaments in.

Rachel Paxton is a freelance writer and mom who is the author of What's for Dinner?, an e-cookbook containing more than 250 quick easy dinner ideas. For more recipes, gardening, organizing, home decorating, holiday hints and more, visit Creative Homemaking at www.creativehomemaking.com.