Category Archives: Crafts ~ DIY ~ Projects

History Of The Christmas Wreath

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2338441Wreaths are more than just decorations. If you’re driving through town during the Holiday Season, you may see a Christmas wreath on almost every front door. Most people don’t think of the rich history attached to these beautiful Christmas decorations.

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The word wreath comes from the word “writhen” that was an old English word meaning “to writhe” or “to twist.” The art of hanging Christmas wreaths originated from the Romans who hung wreaths on their doors as a sign of victory and of their status in society. Women usually wore them as headdresses as a symbol of pride, and also donned them during special occasions such as weddings. Additionally, the victors of sporting events in ancient Greece were given laurel wreaths; This tradition still being used to this day during the Olympic games in which the medals are engraved with sprigs of laurel.

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Christmas wreaths are made by twisting or bending evergreen branches into a large circle which are then decorated with pinecones and a red bow. The circle shape of the wreath is made to represent Christ’s eternal love, his strength, and the creation of new life. Evergreens are commonly used in the construction of the wreath due to their heartiness throughout harsh winters and that they denote strength as well as immortality. Christmas wreaths in the Catholic tradition had four candles – Three of purple, symbolizing penance, and expectation, and one of pink to represent the coming joy. The four Sundays preceding Christmas day are embodied by the four candles that were lit each Friday of Advent at dinner along with a prayer. Similarly to Catholic customs, traditional Pagan wreaths were also evergreen circles consisting of four candles. These candles represented the elements of Earth, wind, fire, and water. Their wreaths were typically used in rituals that would ensure the continuance of the circle of life.

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Christmas wreaths are a beautiful decoration for your home or office that can really show off your true holiday cheer. Spread that holiday spirit and buy a Christmas wreath for yourself or someone you love!

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– Gerry Wilson

Original Story At: http://www.wilsonevergreens.com/christmas-wreath-history/#sthash.LpdyH4E5.dpuf – Written By Gerry Wilson

Snowman Hurricane Glass

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Use an old or new Hurricane Glass to make this really cool snowman. If you finish it with varnish you can actually use this to put a candle in or use it on a base light. A small push light would work also.

Use acrylic white and blot it on the inside of shade not making a solid thick cover. This allows the light to shine through with a unique snow appearance.

Paint a nose, mouth and eyes in acrylic paint on the outside. Cover with a varnish inside and out and you are ready to go. Add a decorative bow. What a great decoration that you can easily make yourself.

 

Gingerbread Village – Made For Free

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Follow this link for a great how-to on how to make a gingerbread village from stuff you probably have available and stuff from your craft closet. Gingerbread Village Tutorial

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Santa Snacks – And They Are Healthy

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12118762_485913981580506_2586278571793147582_nUsing wooden skewers cut into halves push one half of a bananas onto skewer. Then one-third marshmallow and then half strawberry and then top with mini-marshmallow. Add a red M&M to banana by pushing it into it. Then add two chocolate sprinkles by pushing them in as well. Nice quick little snack for a pick-me up in the afternoon.

Our House Decorated For Halloween

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20151007_191844-1 20151007_191921-1I always enjoy this time of year – in close succession I can decorate for Halloween then Thanksgiving and right on to Christmas and then even a short time to Easter. I grew up with a Mom who left no corner of the home not touched by whatever holiday was coming up. I want to pass this down to my Daughter Aurora – I want her to have these wonderful memories of the holidays surrounded with fantastical creatures from ghosts, Santa to pilgrims, turkeys and the Easter Bunny along with everything in between.I didn’t get it all put up this year (only two thirds) as having an eighteen month puts challenges up for decorating since she always wants to touch and pull.

I really enjoy the aspect of blow ups and have them now for almost any holiday. I get ones that are mainly upright and around four feet so they can sit on top of the entertainment unit or other service with little interruption to things in our everyday use. Up his year I have my very first blow up Mr. Frankenstein. I also started out with the eight foot stacked skull and a pumpkin with ghosts pouring out – but my little one got scarred of it and we had to get something she could relate to more so Hello Kitty vampire is in its place.

The tree is new (well not really new as I have had it for about a year and haven’t used it since I got it on after holiday sales). This is an all wrought iron design about eight foot tall. It makes for an interesting tree and now that I have had it up I want the white version of it for Easter or other holiday. Ornaments range from wooden coffins that open, skulls, bats, spiders, crows, pumpkins, skeletons, gravestones. Most of these I had acquired over the years – old light strings with the push on figures were converted to ornaments. Skeleton garlands were cut down (bought at dollar store) and made into ornaments, clip on crows are light activated and other odds and ends. Then we put on Halloween garlands and added a strobe light to the bottom shining up which gives awesome designs on our two floor high ceiling.

Now I am a big collector of animated figures and have several hundred when adding them from different holidays. All of what you see on the shelves (which I made to accommodate them) are push button or lever controlled animated figures. I have ones that go back over a decade. Some have not made it that well over the years but I glue or screw em back together the best I can.

Behind the tree I have Halloween nutcrackers (Mickey, Minnie, Day of the Dead bride and groom, Frankenstein, witch,skeleton and vampire). These are hard to come by so I grab them early when I see them. Some can be found at Michael’s but I have also located unique ones at CVS so you never know where you might find them. My suggestion for any holiday collectible you want is to go early and buy it when you see it since these items are time sensitive and usually once they are gone they are just gone.

What do you do for Halloween in your home? What holiday collectibles do you collect? Have any budget friendly diy projects for holiday decorating? Send the ideas and/or photos in – I may just make a post to show your information off with accredited information and a link if you like.