Learn more about our favorite Christmas Christian Books to help you learn and grow further in your faith during the Christmas season.
Kifli are some of my favorite cookies. I have tried a number of recipes over the years, but I keep coming back to one from my mother’s Hungarian friend in New Jersey. I halved the original re…
Explore slowbird2014's 38544 photos on Flickr!
Rather than spending money on individual gifts for family members, some families pool their resources to attend an event, take a trip, donate to others or make necessities for the home. This experience allows you to share in the true spirit of Christmas by spending time and making memories together. Think about the type of trips or events members...
copyright- estate of Norman Rockwell
A country of contrasts, Germany is a mix of age old traditions and forward thinking ideals. It it also filled with impossibly beautiful countryside, chocolate-box-pretty villages and perfectly preserved towns. An ideal winter or Christmas travel destination...
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Rural celebrations of the Candlemas Day in Poland show remnants of old-Slavic protective rituals conducted with use of a gromnica (the so-called ‘thunder candle’). The Candlemas Day is celebrated o…
Have a go at making your own mince pies with our tried and tested recipe. A fragrant cranberry and orange mincemeat filling is finished with an almond crumble topping. Loved this recipe? You might want to bookmark our mince pie crumble traybake, too.
The former First Lady was known for her sense of humor, white hair and pearls, but she also knew a thing or two about making good food.
A general over view of how one could go about making a steampunk kaleidoscope. A look at the basic concept and what you will need in practical terms.
A delicious Christmas Cake with Mixed Fruit and Ice Coffee. Simple and Easy Slow Cooker Recipe.
Last week’s Discover & Explore linky was all about science experiments for kids, and there were so many wonderful ideas shared! This week I’m featuring science experiments for kids that will amaze your child! Are you following our Science for Kids Pinterest board? I am a huge fan of science for children. Helping children learn …
I think you all know how much I love working with vintage book pages.... and I'm pretty sure most of you know I love to weave traditional Scandinavian stars from folded strips of vintage book pages, right? Well, last Christmas, my husband and I were at an Irish pub on the coast, listening to a favorite Irish band, when I started to notice the lovely Celtic crosses all around. I thought it would be fun to weave a Celtic cross design into one of the woven stars I was making. I LOVE how it turned out! I think it looks great made completely from vintage book pages, but maybe next time I will use a contrasting material for the cross portion. What are your thoughts on that? I like to include a little history about woven eight-pointed stars in my tutorials. Pictured below is a woven star that has been in my friend's family for several generations. This was the advent star they would hang in their window in Sweden at Christmastime. You can read my friend's story at her blog, Life is Good. Here is an antique star my friend Kristine picked up in a Swedish antique store back in the eighties or early nineties. These stars were woven from birch bark or veneer. Birch bark crafts have been around for a very long time. In Scandinavia, when it became popular to hang an advent star in the window at Christmastime, it was only natural for craftspeople to make them from birch! Some Swedes have commented that they were weaving stars long before the Advent Star tradition! Crafting woven stars experienced a resurgence in the seventies and eighties. In 1973, Sunset Magazine featured a woven star in an article about Swedish Christmas traditions. In the early eighties, my friend Jill started making a version of the woven eight-pointed star that she calls the Vermont Snowflake (find Jill's beautifully crafted stars here). My friend Tina, who is in her seventies, shared with me how she learned to weave stars as a child in Sweden. My friend Helmuth says he learned to weave similar stars in Germany as a young boy. My friend, Paul, from the Nordic History Museum says that many of his relatives in Sweden still have their old woven stars. Weaving the "Celtic" version of an Advent Star is very similar to weaving the other stars I have shared. You will need sixteen fat (mine were on-half inch wide) strips and eight skinny (mine were one-quarter inch) strips. I used folded vintage book pages, but you can cut strips of scrapbook paper or anything you like. To see how I fold my strips, go to this tutorial. Find the center of each skinny strip and glue pairs together, intersecting, as shown. Next, glue two sets of pairs together to form a Celtic Cross, as shown here. Now, weave the fat strips onto the cross base, as shown. Treat the two skinny strips on each arm of the cross as one strip. Glue each intersection to secure. Twist the adjacent fat corner pieces together, weaving the tips. Glue to secure. Place one side on top of the other side, and weave the arms of the cross under the tips. Glue to secure. Trim, as necessary tidy up the points. Add a hanger, if desired. You can simply use a pretty piece of ribbon or twine, or use a loop of paper, as I have done. Embellish with glitter, if desired, or leave the star plain. Either way, it will be beautiful! If you love woven stars, but would prefer to use a kit, my friend Penny Marble designed these kits to make fabric "snowflakes". They are so pretty! Are you inspired to weave a Celtic Star?
The fact that people have been playing Backgammon for over 5,000 years is proof enough that it's really fun. It's actually one of the oldest board games! The game looks complicated at first, but it's surprisingly easy once you get the hang...
These meaningful Christmas traditions encourage giving to make the holidays magical, inspiring, and fun for your family.
Christmas Decorations don't have to be complicated to be elegant. We're sharing our favorite easy DIY Christmas decor ideas and tricks. They work for EVERY budget and space from dollar store to posh and apartment, classroom, or office.
Wondering what Christmas crafts to make and sell for a profit this holiday season? Here are the easiest DIY holiday crafts you can make and sell today...
Looking for the best Christmas DIY ideas? These gorgeous ideas only look like they cost a fortune! They're budget friendly and you can make them in minutes!
These DIY Christmas ornaments are easy crafts for kids to make and elegant enough for adults to admire. They're customizable and make great DIY gifts.
Make the best creative DIY Christmas gifts for your friends and family this holiday season! These easy DIY Christmas gifts are perfect way do christmas on a budget.
Christmas Decorations don't have to be complicated to be elegant. We're sharing our favorite easy DIY Christmas decor ideas and tricks. They work for EVERY budget and space from dollar store to posh and apartment, classroom, or office.
Want Extra Cash? These Christmas ornaments to make and sell are perfect! Includes top tips on the TOP Christmas crafts to make this year!
These easy Dollar Tree Christmas crafts will make your season and your budget merry and bright. Here are 30 DIY Dollar Tree Christmas crafts and decor ideas we love.
