Tag: christmas tree

Projects & Phun – Children’s Christmas Tree

On By TimelessladyIn Phun, Projects11 Comments

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It’s always good to prepare a few projects to have on hand if young ones are going to be your guests over the holiday season. Younger children, 2 1/2 – 6 years, will find this project easy and satisfying. The materials are easy to gather, cut into strips, and store until needed. The creation of the tree is pretty much self-explanatory. All you need to do is follow the lead of the photographs.

MATERIALS:
* Strips of colorful papers, cut into 1/2 inch strips. (2 inch, 2.5 inch, 3 inch, 3.5 inch, 4 inch, 4.5 inch, and one brown strip 8.5 inches in length.)
* A background piece of paper at least 8.5 x 11 inches.
* Glue stick
* Small colorful foam stickers with sticky backing.

Follow along:

Dom's Tree

Colorful magazine strips can also be used. Light items that are bright, shiny or glittery, can be glued down and will work as ornaments. (Buttons, beads, glitter) Have Fun!

Praise & People – George Beverly Shea/ C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S

On By TimelessladyIn Quirkiness2 Comments

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YrjIaEw7WM

George Beverly Shea (February 1, 1909 – April 16, 2013) was a Canadian-born American gospel singer and hymn composer. Shea was often described as “America’s beloved gospel singer”and was considered “the first international singing ‘star’ of the gospel world,” as a consequence of his solos at Billy Graham Crusades and his exposure on radio, records and television. Because of the attendance at Graham’s Crusades, Shea has sung live before more people than anyone else in history.”

Growing up, this was one of my very favorite Christmas albums…yes, you heard me right, an album. We had an old stereo, about the size of a small desk, and I remember curling up in an overstuffed chair and singing along with all my favorites. George Beverly Shea lived to be 104 years old, surely a life lived for the Lord.

“Put Christ Back Into Christmas

When I was but a youngster, Christmas meant one thing
That I’d be getting lots of toys that day
I learned a whole lot different when mother sat me down
And taught me to spell Christmas this way

C is for the Christ child born upon this day
H for herald angels in the night
R means our redeemer
I means Israel
S is for the star that shone so bright
T is for three wise men, they who traveled far
M is for the manger where He lay
A is for all He stands for
S means Shepard’s came
And that’s why there’s a Christmas day.”

Songwriters: Eddy Arnold, Jenny Lou Carson

Project – Dollar Store Kid’s Craft – $3.00

On By TimelessladyIn ProjectsLeave a comment

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This beautiful Christmas tree was easy and inexpensive to create. All three of my grandsons loved putting it together. The only supplies we needed were bought at the dollar store. We purchased one piece of black foamboard and two packets of glittery stars. We had freezer paper on hand for the template, but old newspaper would work just as well.

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First we scattered the stickers and took a good look at them. We noticed the stars could be used as they were, or to double the amount we had to use, the insides could be punched out and used as separate stickers. Whoo-Hoo…fun…let’s begin!

Before the boys were ready to start I cut a piece of freezer paper into a tree shape by folding it in half and cutting away half a tree. When opened, the sides matched and when placed on the foamboard waxy side down, the paper clung to the  surface just a bit. To help keep the freezer paper from shifting we weighted the corners down with what was handy…salt and pepper shakers. The littlest grandson thought the salt was part of the project and promptly salted the foamboard.

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All three of the boys ages 2 1/2 through 8 years enjoyed the project. It was completed within fifteen minutes and was instantly gorgeous and bright. The only problem we had was some of the paper backing on the stickers stuck a bit for the younger boys.

When the tree was complete and we had oooh’d and aaah’d over how beautiful it was, I used my glue gun to place a string for hanging about a third of the way down from the top. The foamboard is very light and will hang on even the smallest nail.

Happy Christmas Crafting to You!

Project – Easy Semi-homemade Christmas Ornament/Butterflies

On By TimelessladyIn Projects1 Comment

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I have a miniature Christmas tree in my living room that I am trying to keep outdoorsy in appearance. I wanted to have several butterflies adorn the branches, but didn’t want to spend a fortune buying more decorations. A good solution was this border of butterflies. I separated them by cutting with small manicure scissors. I then used some wired silk leaves I had on hand, and cut most of the leaf away leaving a nub of silk on the wire. I encased this nub within two of the butterflies, glued together back to back.

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This was very easy to do and even easier to twist onto the tree by twirling the wire around the end of the branches a few times. I like the natural look of this Christmas tree.

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Perspective – Wednesday Wisdom/Sharing Who You Are

On By TimelessladyIn Perspective1 Comment

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A friend gave me magnetic frames for my birthday. They are specially made to hold the drawings of children on the refrigerator. Yesterday I asked my oldest grandson to create a Christmas tree for me so that I could fill the frame.

“I don’t know how to make a Christmas tree,” he said.

A quick remembrance came to me of how I drew Christmas trees as a child. “It’s easy,” I told him, “Just draw triangles, top of the paper to bottom, and make each one just a little bit bigger.”

He grasped the concept instantly, and created this sweet Christmas tree. I love it.

Looking back on the moment I feel joy that I was able to share that small creative memory with him. I have been imagining him in his 50’s someday, saying to his small grandchild, “It’s easy…”

I was blessed to have four amazing grandparents, and doubly blessed to have parents who recognized the importance of them in their children’s lives. We spent holidays and summers with our grandparents, and the person I am now is very much influenced by their presence in my life. I thank God today for all the wonderful people, family and friends both, who have shared their lives and experiences with me. God bless us all in this wonderful season of giving.

Plants – Fittonia “Red Anne”

On By TimelessladyIn Plants1 Comment

Today I bought our Christmas Tree for this year, a Norfolk Island Pine. Only about three feet tall, with an extra foot of height provided by the pot, this is the third year we have done without a large tree and decorated a small, live tree instead. The last pine was growing strong on the patio until a mischevious cat got into it, decided it made a great litter box, and that was the end of that tree. This year, I will keep the surface covered and also sprinkle with a bit of pepper for extra precaution. Achoo.

While I was picking out the tree, I also noticed this very pretty fittonia called Fittonia Red Anna. The colors looked Christmas-like so I put that in the cart too.