Monday, November 24, 2008
cat Christmas ornament
There are a few approaches you can take to a cat Christmas ornament. There are holiday decorations designed to delight feline lovers and there are decorations to delight the cats as well. Following are some great ideas for cats and cat-lovers who would appreciate a unique cat Christmas ornament this year.
I found a great hand-painted cat Christmas ornament. The cat’s face is painted right on the glass bulb. Two soft ears are glued on to the top of the bulb. This adorable item comes in many different styles and each kitty has a cute expression. None are identical so this cat Christmas ornament is truly one of a kind.
I figured that I could make this project on my own so I bought some glass paint and some felt for the ears. After collecting the bulbs I went right to work on my first cat Christmas ornament. I have to admit that the process seems easier than it is. Painting on glass is difficult to begin with. Painting on rounded glass objects is a real challenge.
My first project wound up as fodder for something else entirely. I just haven’t figured out what exactly that something else is besides decorating the inside of my garbage can. I wasn’t about to give up on the cat Christmas ornament, though. My second attempt would turn out better.
Better does not always mean good. “Better” can sometimes mean really creepy looking. My kitty looked a little more like a Halloween production than anything associated with Christmas. At least I knew what I was going to do with the second cat Christmas ornament.
The third and final attempt made me realize that some things should be left to the professionals. The third cat Christmas ornament looked more like a reindeer than a feline. Don’t ask how. It just did. I guess that I can still use this one; maybe as an accent piece to the first ornament that is going to decorate the trash can.
Reason had led me to the simple decision that there would be no fourth attempt, at least not this year anyway. I decided to just purchase the cat Christmas ornament that originally caught my eye. This adorable addition to my tree is my pride and joy. After all, I had already told everyone about my project. I really don’t need to mention where my cat Christmas ornaments are.
Posted by Odini at 8:19 PM 0 comments
Bucilla Christmas stocking
Sometimes the best gift you can give to your child is one that you create by hand. You can create a beautiful Bucilla Christmas stocking that is sure to be a wonderful keepsake for your child. This hand crafted holiday decoration can be made from any number of patterns and designs offered by the Bucilla Company.
The Bucilla Christmas stocking is not your grandmother’s craft project. This item comes in an array of styles and many of these designs are really modern. The patterns seem to merge traditional holiday themes with a peppering of modern amenities that are sure to please children as well as adults.
I find the patterns to be wonderful to work with. I love arts and crafts but I do shy away from any kind of project that requires sewing. During the holiday season I always try to find a project that I can complete by hand. The Bucilla Christmas stocking is the perfect craft for me. The sewing is simple and the project is a great way for me to find my way around stitches.
I decided to order a felt appliqué kit from the company this year and I am thrilled with the product. The Bucilla Christmas stocking comes with instructions that are so easy to follow that I think that any novice sewer would be comfortable working with the craft. The step-by-step process is more than easy to complete and I almost didn’t want the project to end so quickly.
Inside the Bucilla Christmas felt appliqué kit you will find everything you need to complete your holiday craft. The felts are pre-stamped with adorable designs and you have plenty of embellishments like sequins and beads. The Bucilla Christmas stocking even comes with beautiful gold plated needles to make the sewing a little more elegant.
What I love about the kit aside from the adorable patterns and ease of use is the modern amenities that go with the Bucilla Christmas stocking felt appliqué kit. You can choose a pattern with a holiday tree that really lights up. There are a number of stockings that play music, too.
Many of the patterns are really old-fashioned. The Woodland Santa Bucilla Christmas stocking seems as if it were created over a century ago. The design is magnificently aged but the item is brand new. This is my favorite design of them all.
The great thing about this particular piece is that it is musical as well as attractive. It is a prime example of how the Bucilla Christmas stocking merges the old with the new.
Posted by Odini at 8:18 PM 1 comments
beaded Christmas ornament
The fall is the season that I see very little of my husband. He is an avid hunter. He archery hunts for white tail deer. The archery season opens in mid September. He hunts for ducks and geese, that season opens the end of September. He hunts pheasant that season opens the middle of October and he hunts deer with a rifle in November. Most of the weekend days during this time are filled with hunting trips. Most of the time he is home in the evenings, but a few of his trips are overnights. When he is gone on overnight trips I usually get together with the wives of whom ever he is hunting with. When he is rifle hunting in November I get together with my sister-in-law. Each year we spend this weekend making some sort of Christmas craft item.
The last two years we have made a beaded Christmas ornament. We learned the beading techniques in a community education class. The beaded Christmas ornament is fun to make and they look very nice on the Christmas tree. The church my husband and I belong to has a bake and craft sale each year in December. I thought this year I would donate a beaded Christmas ornament as my craft item and decorated sugar cookies as my baked item. This year my husband and his brother were going to take a few extra days hunting, so my sister-in-law and I decided that we would lengthen our weekend together also. She came to my house after work on Friday. We set up our beads and started, making the ornaments. We have done them often enough that we each completed a beaded Christmas ornament that night. We had the supplies for more so we agreed that we would compete more the next day and would donate them to the church sale.
We spent Saturday morning shopping and then had lunch together and shopped some more. Our other sister-in-law called us and we met for happy hour late in the afternoon. After a few drinks we went home and started to make the beaded Christmas ornament for the church sale. We were laughing and having fun as we beaded. We also had a few more drinks.
We laughed when we looked at the ornaments the next morning. The beads were not straight and the Styrofoam form underneath was showing. We had to spend over an hour trying to repair the ornaments so we could donate them. We both agreed that we should not drink and try to bead ornaments at the same time. We will try less complicated crafts when we are having a few drinks.
Posted by Odini at 8:17 PM 0 comments
Saturday, November 22, 2008
battery powered Christmas lights
The cost of supplying energy to our homes is quite high. It can be overwhelming during the holiday season too. Electricity is in great demand during this time of season and those of us who heat our homes with this power source find that the energy bill can be staggering during the holidays. Battery powered Christmas lights can help ease the burden on your energy bill this year.
There are many benefits of using battery powered Christmas lights. The first that comes to mind is that it is energy saving. Many of us like having a lot of lights glowing during this time of year. If you use battery powered Christmas lights you use less power from your home’s energy source.
Money-saving benefits are not the only reasons to use this kind of decorative lighting. There are other benefits to using battery powered Christmas lights as well. These benefits include having no worries about wires. I always trip over the many electric cords lying around the house during this time of year.
Battery powered Christmas lights require no cords and you don’t have to worry about tripping. You also don’t have to worry about camouflaging the cords either. This can be a real challenge especially if you have hardwood floors. No cords mean no problem with disguising wires.
You also don’t have to worry about overloading your circuits by pulling too much energy from one socket. This is a big problem in older homes. I live in an old house and I find myself blowing circuits during the holiday season. This year I am definitely investing in battery powered Christmas lights to keep myself worry free.
I also worry about possible fires when too many wires are being used. Battery powered Christmas lights give me peace of mind. I never used to leave the lights on overnight but this year I can let the lights glow without worrying about sparking a winter blaze. I also won’t worry about my electric bill.
Those who like to adorn their homes with glowing lighting during the holiday season may want to consider battery powered Christmas lights. They come in really handy when you want to light an object that is too far from an outlet.
We have a beautiful evergreen in the back yard. I can finally light it with the battery powered Christmas lights that I am buying this year. I’ve wanted to do that for years.
Posted by Odini at 6:52 PM 0 comments
Friday, November 21, 2008
balsam Christmas wreath
There is no holiday decoration more traditional and elegant than a balsam Christmas wreath. This classic of holiday décor is available through retailers who will deliver this icon of the Christmas season right to your home. The balsam Christmas wreath makes a wonderful present as well.
Almost anyone who has a birthday at the end of November or beginning of December would love to receive a balsam Christmas wreath as a gift. My sister’s birthday is on December 2nd and I send her one every year. The holiday tradition is well-received and she looks forward to the present every year.
The beauty of the balsam Christmas wreath is in the pine needles. The luscious balsam fir tree is full and fragrant. I just couldn’t imagine the holidays without this traditional decoration for our home. We place it proudly on our front door every year.
This may seem tedious but it really is not. I make sure to send a different style to my sister every year and I like to make my own decoration for my individual balsam Christmas wreath. The decorating options are endless and you can come up with unique ideas for the welcoming icon of the holiday season if you put your mind to it.
When I order my sister’s pre-decorated balsam Christmas wreath I make sure to purchase a plain one for myself. I go to the nearest crafts store for great holiday decorating ideas and put together a theme for the wreath. The theme is different every year. Here are some ideas that I have used in the past.
The “let it snow” theme uses blue and silver tones. I use a lot of sparkle and glitter on this design for the balsam Christmas wreath. There are large snowflake ornaments on the arrangement and I place a little artificial snow on some of the lush fir branches. This is one of my favorite designs.
The Santa Clause design is centered on the well-known character. I use different images related to Santa like a corncob pipe, cookies and milk and a Santa Claus ornament as well. The kids adore this arrangement.
My very favorite is the sleigh bell theme. I love to ring in the holiday season with lots of golden bells and red ribbons. I think that I favor this balsam Christmas wreath because it appeals to the senses. The sound of the sleigh bells and the red, green and gold colors are strongly tied to the season. The scent of the balsam Christmas wreath is a memory booster as well.
No matter what you decide to do with your project, you can be sure that it will be well received if you choose the right foundation. Nothing welcomes the holiday season like a balsam Christmas wreath.
Posted by Odini at 6:15 PM 0 comments
baby's first Christmas stocking
When you are on the hunt for your baby's first Christmas stocking you will probably find a ton of options. Choosing a baby stocking that is a real keepsake is a little more challenging. In order to make sure that you invest in the right item for your baby’s first Christmas stocking try a little browsing before buying.
The excitement of having a new baby is overwhelming and we may feel a compulsion to purchase the intitial baby’s first Chrsitmas stocking that passes our vision. However, you do want to keep this for your child in future years. Putting some consideration into such a keepsake is always a good idea.
Many new mothers like to put a lot of time and effort into creating a keepsake for their child’s collection. Most of these moms will crochet a blue or pink baby’s first Christmas stocking for the special commemorative holiday. The colors do not have to be pastel, either. You can choose different shades that reflect the holiday season as well.
I would love to be one of those moms but I have trouble tying my shoes let alone crocheting a baby’s first Christmas stocking. Some of us may have the good intentions but we are really doing everyone a big favor if we buy the finished product outright.
I found lovely baby’s first Christmas stockings online. Music is very important in my home and I was thrilled to find musical Christmas stockings that can be used as keepsakes for the special holiday. There were three of these options available. The trouble was choosing just one.
One of the items featured a snowman and played the song “Frosty the Snowman” and another featured a reindeer and played “Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer”. The third featured Santa and played “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.”
I loved each one of these but I thought about it for awhile and figured that I wasn’t really that crazy about the song choices or the images. They just didn’t appeal to my sensibilities when it comes to my baby’s first Christmas stocking.
I found that getting a personalized item was the right choice for me. The baby’s first Christmas stocking is timeless because I chose a traditional red and white-fur stocking for the project. The personalized stocking is perfect because it is my baby’s first Christmas stocking. His name is an important part of the keepsake.
Posted by Odini at 6:14 PM 0 comments
Baby's first Christmas ornament
No matter what time of the year your baby is born, the first Christmas with them is such a joy. They may not be old enough to understand anything about the holiday, but holding them in your arms on Christmas morning is the best present you'll ever receive. This very feeling is the reason behind the companies who created and continue to make a Baby's First Christmas ornament. Almost any place that you will find assorted decorations will sell a Baby's First Christmas ornament. They have pink ones for girls, blue for boys, animals, religious - anything you could want. My daughter was six months old when she celebrated her first Christmas with our family and I cannot tell you how many people got us a Baby's First Christmas ornament as a keepsake. Each one that I received was different and I loved them all. My absolute favorite one was a little star that allowed for you to put a tiny photo inside of it. The year was on it and her name had been engraved. Tears came to my eyes when I saw that particular Baby's First Christmas ornament sitting in a gift bag.
Having a special Baby's First Christmas ornament is something that you will most likely want to either always keep or pass it down to your child someday. All of the ornaments that I received for my daughter five years ago still are hung on our tree each and every year. She loves to pick out where she wants them to be hung and if she can reach, hangs them up by herself. Looking at a Baby's First Christmas ornament and remembering those tiny, chubby hands that she had for her first holiday season brings tears to my eyes. When I watch her helping to decorate the tree, I get such a feeling of pride and happiness. Her eyes light up at the mere mention of Christmas and she still waits in line anxiously waiting to tell Santa what she desperately wants for Christmas. The holidays have a sense of magic to them now that I'm a parent.
I went to a baby shower once that had Baby's First Christmas as the theme. The mom-to-be's due date was on Christmas day, so she had quite a few people get her a Baby's First Christmas ornament. No matter what time of the year a baby shower is held, a Baby's First Christmas ornament is always a great idea. It is something that is full of meaning and will always bring back happy memories.
Posted by Odini at 6:13 PM 0 comments
Thursday, November 20, 2008
baby Christmas gift
The holiday season is a time for children and it's especially exciting for families who are celebrating baby's first Christmas. There are traditional and not so traditional presents available for the youngest member of the household. Many of these baby Christmas gift items will be treasured for years to come. Of course, babies have been known to be more fascinated by the wrapping paper!
Simple toys are always appreciated, such as ring games, building blocks, bath toys or rattles. Sqeezy balls or anything that whistles, rings a bell or otherwise makes a noise will keep baby entertained whilst Mom and Dad cook the Christmas dinner. After an exciting day, it may take baby a while to settle down and go to sleep. A mobile above the cot might do the trick, especially one that plays a soothing lullaby. A music box is another musical idea.
Some items can be personalized with a message or the baby's name. There are My First Christmas Baby Blankets available in addition to teddy bears wearing T-shirts with Father Christmas printed on. Some teddy bears sing a song or play a tune. A Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer is another themed baby Christmas gift.
My First Christmas Keepsake boxes are great for storing cards and other family mementoes. There are also boxes to keep baby's first hair curl or tooth. Baby can have his or her own stocking with their name on it. Pewter mugs and breakfast and dinner crockery sets are popular too. Sterling silver keepsake spoons or photograph albums or photograph frames are another baby Christmas gift idea. Relatives or friends may want to buy baby a bible or scripture book.
Some more unconventional presents are gaining in popularity. These are not ones that baby can unwrap but they do last a lifetime. For a memorable baby Christmas gift, there are companies that sell an acre of land on the moon or Venus. The gift contains a deed certificate and a property map showing the location of the land and detailing the mineral rights. In similar fashion, it is possible to name a star in honor of the new arrival. This comes with a presentation box, containing a certificate with the star's name, a sky chart and a star plotter. For a more down to earth present, there is a dedicate a tree gift pack and baby helps conservation by having a tree planted in his or her name.
Posted by Odini at 9:22 PM 0 comments
artificial Christmas tree
We live in Minnesota. There are many tree farms in the central portion of the state due to the sandy soil. It is a tradition with many people to spend a Saturday or Sunday afternoon searching for the perfect Christmas tree and cutting it down. The tree farms add to the economy of the state. Christmas trees are one of the leading exports from our state. Because we want to support our local tree farmers and because trees are very reasonably priced, we have always had a live tree for the holidays. In the last few years we have been discussing how much simpler it would be to have an artificial Christmas tree. It would mean no longer having the messy clean up that needs to be done when the tree is brought in and taken out of the house. It would also mean that every year the tree would fit the space that we have for it.
The manufacturers have vastly improved on the way the artificial Christmas tree looks. My sister purchased one last year and I had to feel the branches before I knew that it was not a real tree. She did have to pay a great deal for the artificial Christmas tree, but she bought it during the prime season. If you look for specials after the holidays you can usually find them discounted. You can also purchase the artificial Christmas tree that is pre-lit, this would really cut down on the work, however I would be concerned about having the bulbs burn out. There are replacement bulbs available, however you never know when they are going to take these bulbs off the market and then you are stuck with a tree that does not have its full lights on.
After taking out our Christmas tree last year and cleaning up the needles from the carpet, we decided that we would invest in an artificial Christmas tree for this year. We checked several post season sales, but did not find a tree that we liked. We decided that we would try to get one at a pre-season sale; this would also save us from having to store the tree over the summer.
This year the tree farms started airing commercials about how beneficial the tree farms are to the environment and also the states economy. After hearing this commercial several times we decided that we would continue to support the local tree farmers and purchase a real tree. We will wait and get an artificial Christmas tree when we can no longer manage a real tree.
Posted by Odini at 9:21 PM 0 comments
antique Christmas decorations
Christmas is always a time to look forward to in any household. But what makes it all the more exciting in our household is the fact that the entire family comes together to put up the Christmas decorations. This has been a time honored tradition in our family from the past several years. In fact, I still can’t recall how or when it started, but it all probably came into being the day my grand father walked into the house with a mysterious gift box wrapped under his arm.
I was just a kid then, but naturally I was curious. So as he came into the house and proceeded to recline on his couch, we all (namely, my sister, brothers and assorted cousins) gathered around him to see what he had brought home. We were all secretly hoping that it was some candy, for grand father had a knack for sourcing the most amazing candy! But then, he was a man full of surprises and one could never be sure what he had come home with.
Grand father saw the twinkle in all our eyes and slowly (almost laboriously) opened the box to reveal – you would never guess – an antique Christmas decoration! What attraction an antique Christmas decoration could hold for a ten year old is beyond my comprehension even today, but to be honest, I was enthralled. Just seeing that antique Christmas decoration (don’t ask me how I knew that it was an antique Christmas decoration; my grand father told me!) made my little face light up with joy. Grand father then slowly proceeded to explain the story behind the antique Christmas decoration.
He told us how a humble pheasant in rural Russia had lovingly carved up a piece of walnut wood to make the shape of the antique Christmas decoration. He then imaginatively led us through the various things the pheasant must have done to create each of the unique features of the decoration till it took its beautiful shape and size. He also narrated to us how the antique Christmas decoration must have lain in some musty old attic till it was discovered by some shrewd relative or junk collector, who, having recognized its true value, must have sold it to the antique dealer from whence my grandfather bought it.
Even today, as we all gather around Christmas time to decorate the tree in our living room, we take great pride in the first of all antique Christmas decorations our grand father procured for us. Ever since we could afford it, one or the other of us has taken turns to buy some or the other antique Christmas decoration for the tree. But even now, the pride of place, the top belongs to the antique Christmas decoration – a beautiful walnut star – that grandfather bought.
Posted by Odini at 9:20 PM 0 comments
Animated Christmas Decoration
I do not know about you, and in your crew it might be different, but in my family appearance is important. The spirit of Christmas is all fine and good for school pageants and such, but for me the most important part of the holiday season is to have the best Christmas decorations that you can. A lot of people think that quaint wooden ornaments look good, but I think that that is just silly. I think that anything less than Animated Christmas Decorations is simply a waste of time and money. Even those blow up Santas and the inflatable snowmen just do not compare to the Animated Outdoor Christmas Decorations. If you put Animated Outdoor Christmas Decorations on your front lawn, you will be the envy of the whole entire neighborhood, and that is just no lie.
The coolest thing about Animated Outdoor Christmas Decorations is how flashy they look. Christmas is all about one thing: Christmas lights, and the Animated Outdoor Christmas Decorations take Christmas lights to a whole new level. If you are not familiar with the way an Animated Christmas Decoration works, allow me to enlighten you. The way that it works is pretty simple, really. Basically it uses sequences of colored lights to create the picture on the Animated Outdoor Christmas Decorations. A lot of the better ones can show some pretty neat and elaborate pictures on them, such as Santa in his sleigh bringing presents to all of the little boys and girls, or the three wise men walking to the tent of baby Jesus. You see that? Animated Outdoor Christmas Decorations are not only showy, they can also be pious. Who says that religion and crass commercialism can not mix right?
Of course, Animated Outdoor Christmas Decorations do not make the whole holiday by themselves. It is still important to get a good Christmas tree, and we have the best tree on the whole block. The tree that we use is massive, and covered top to bottom with lights. And you better believe that we put that tree right in the window where everyone out there can see just how cool it looks. Remember, the spirit of the holidays is about lights, about sparkles, about stars on top of decorated trees. If you do not get into the decorating, then what is the point? Animated Outdoor Christmas Decorations can give you the flair that says Christmas.
Posted by Odini at 9:20 PM 0 comments
angel Christmas decoration
Have you ever noticed how some people seem to touch your life in a very special way? They are the people that from the first time you meet them you know that you have just made a friend. I was blessed with this kind of relationship with one of my dearest friends. She is very giving and caring. It is no great surprise that one of her hobbies is making and also collecting angels. The first year I knew her she gave me an angel Christmas decoration that she had made. It was made with wooden beads and buttons and had a very sweet cherub face. She had made several of the beautiful decorations for a craft sale fund raiser we had at church. It was helping at this fund raiser that I found out that she collects angels.
As I was helping set out the donated craft items for display I mentioned to another church member that my friend had given me an angel Christmas decoration. This other women mentioned that my friend makes a different angel Christmas decoration each year. These ornaments are usually the first things sold at the craft sale because several people in our parish collect them. The craft sale went very well. We made money that is used for various parish functions throughout the year. My friend donates two full days for running this bake and craft sale.
A few days after the craft sale I went Christmas shopping. I came upon a kiosk that was selling crystal ornaments. They had a beautiful angel Christmas decoration. The angel was clear with gold edging along the wings and halo. She was holding a candle. The flame of the candle was also edged in gold. The crystal sparkled and refracted what ever color was near it. I decided that I would buy the angel Christmas decoration for my friend from church. It would be a nice thank you gift for the amount of time she donated to our fund raiser.
The worker at the kiosk wrapped the ornament beautifully in gold gift wrap and embellished it with sparkly ribbon that had starts on it. The name of the shop was gifts from heaven, which I thought was very fitting for this wonderful friend of mine.
I stopped at her house on my way home from shopping to give her the angel Christmas decoration so she could put it on her tree for the season. She cried when opened it and put it on a display hook among her angel collection. I left her house feel warm and happy about the gift I had presented her.
Posted by Odini at 9:19 PM 0 comments
an Angel Christmas tree
I have always wanted an Angel Christmas tree for my home. I love the idea of setting a manger scene under the tree and filling the evergreen with angels that ascend to the top leading to a big, shining star. It makes the perfect representation of the holiday celebration and an Angel Christmas tree really helps us focus on the idea behind the celebration as well.
I’m pretty old-fashioned when it comes to this holiday but many can still enjoy an angel Christmas tree without leaning towards a particularly religious theme. These beautiful objects are perfect for any holiday celebration not just for those of us who want to keep the meaning of the holiday traditional for our families.
There is a significant obstacle to creating such a display. Many of us have sentimental personalized Christmas ornaments that mean the world to us. I hate to put them aside to create an angel Christmas tree theme. These ornaments are important because they represent very special times in our lives and I don’t want to leave them in the box.
My husband and I came up with a solution to the dilemma. We had a few options that I will share in case you are torn between creating an angel Christmas tree and using your personalized ornaments as well. These are simple and you may find that you really like the idea of showcasing your sentimental decorations separately from the angel theme tree.
We chose to buy a small tree for the sentimental display. This evergreen is in our formal living room where special guests can come to see and talk about the personalized holiday ornaments in this area. There is something special about arranging the sentimental objects in one display rather than in a sea of ornaments on a big tree.
Other ideas that we had include using the sentimental personalized ornaments in unusual places. One of the places was on garland strung on the fireplace mantel. This is a great option for families who have only a handful of sentimental decorations to arrange. I also liked the idea of arranging them on a wreath as well.
I’m sure that you can think of other ways to display your personalized decorations. There are plenty of other options. These simple approaches will give you plenty of room on your holiday evergreen to create an angel Christmas tree that really sticks to the theme.
Posted by Odini at 9:18 PM 0 comments
Air Blown Christmas Decorations
Having the very best xmas decorating ideas can make the difference between a house that looks barren, and one that is overflowing with good cheer and the Christmas spirit. Christmas lights can do a lot to make the house look festive. They are like a beacon of hope and good cheer in the winter night, shining out for all to behold. Blown glass Christmas decorations can also really add a cheerful, if nostalgic touch to your home. Blown glass snow globes create a whole little world of Christmas cheer that you can keep all for yourself on your mantle. Hand blown Glass baubles are the very best way to trim your Christmas tree, as far as I am concerned. But if you really want to show how much Christmas means to you, you have to think even bigger, and let your decor reflect the strength of your Christmas spirit. That is why I always use Air Blown Christmas Decoration to really make my yard stand out.
Of course, there are many kinds of Air Blown Christmas Decorations out there, which gives you a wide choice. Perhaps the most iconic and popular Air Blown Christmas Decoration is the snowman. A giant Air Blown Christmas Decoration snowman will not only express your Christmas spirit, but your ability to find joy and fun in the depths of the winter months. And, unlike a real snowman, the Air Blown Christmas Decoration variety will not melt, even as global warming turns our winters increasingly short and tropical. Perhaps the traditional snowman is on the way out, but the Air Blown Christmas Decoration snowman will always be there to take some joy in the winter months, even as they turn more and more spring-like.
Of course, there are also Santa Claus Air Blown Christmas Decoration models available, which are closer to the Christmas spirit. These are alright. All of the kids like Santa, of course, because of the connection with presents. But, as a Christian, I think that I would like to see an Air Blown Christmas Decoration that more accurately reflects upon the spirit of Christmas. An Air Blown Christmas Decoration Jesus would just be the perfect thing to show holiday spirit and good cheer, as far as I am concerned. To this day, however, I have yet to see an Air Blown Christmas Decoration in the shape of the savior. If you see one, won't you let me know?
Posted by Odini at 9:17 PM 0 comments
African American Christmas Ornament
If you are looking for a good African American Christmas Ornament, you might have to look a long way to find something that satisfies your tastes. Yes, there are a lot of African American Christmas Decorations out there, but most of them are really not all that nice. Basically, they are just normal Christmas tree ornaments repackaged as being African American Christmas Ornaments for some cheesy, lame reason. I have even seen plain old glass baubles sold as an African American Christmas Ornament set because they were in red, yellow, and green. Have you ever heard of something quite that silly? I know that I have not.
A lot of the time, a so-called African American Christmas Ornament is actually an African Christmas ornament repackaged to appeal to people who are trying to recapture a sense of their black heritage. For example, many times people will sell a silly little wooden sculpture of some safari animal as an African American Christmas Ornament just because that animal comes from Africa. Even more insulting, sometimes I have seen silly stylized African masks and figurines sold as an African American Christmas Ornament. Talk about perpetuating stereotypes. It is quite a silly state of affairs, if you ask me!
In my opinion, the best way to get an African American Christmas Ornament is to make one yourself, and that is that. You should think of what it means to be a person of color in the United States, and put that into your craft. Use everything about it to make the best African American Christmas Ornament that you can, and I am quite sure that you will not fail in what you are doing. On the contrary, Christmas tree decorations are always that much better if you make them yourself. An African American Christmas Ornament is no different. If it comes from the heart, it is a sure thing that people will see that it is not just another commercial Christmas decoration.
Of course, if you are going to go out and make yourself an African American Christmas Ornament, you probably need to know a few things about how to do arts and crafts. One of the easiest ways to make an African American Christmas Ornament, or any other Christmas decoration for that matter, is to shape it out of clay. Be sure to put a place where it tapers so that you can hang a string from it, bake it in the oven, and you are done!
Posted by Odini at 9:16 PM 0 comments
African American Christmas Decorations
There are many people who have a very traditional idea about Christmas, however few of these really realize that most of the Christmas traditions that we have come not from Bethlehem, but from Northern Europe. Everything from the snow in the manger scene to the Christmas tree actually starts in European countries, and not in the holy land. With this in mind, why should we not change Christmas when it suits us to fit our cultures and our individual styles.
This is why I have begun to collect African American Christmas Decorations. There is definitely a unique African American style which has penetrated the American mainstream as much as any other style that there is, and it seems like a shame not to celebrate it. African American Christmas Decoration not only celebrates authentic African traditions, but also the styles and contributions of generations of African Americans. Getting or making your own African American Christmas Decoration is the best way to celebrate your own heritage if you are an African American, or to celebrate tolerance and cultural diversity in America if you are not. I am not saying that you should go all out and discard all of those blown glass Christmas ornaments that you have stocked up to put all over your tree. But what I am saying is that that same tree will look all that much better with African American Christmas Decoration strung up alongside the more traditional Christmas decor.
Of course, what exactly constitutes African American decorations really varies depending who you are asking about it. Some people take African American Christmas Decoration to mean African Christmas decoration, and like to adorn their trees with charms shaped like giraffes, gazelle, and stylized masks. I do think that this has a place in African American Christmas Decoration, but I do not think that it is enough by itself. In reality, African American Christmas Decoration has so much more to offer. When I think of African American Christmas Decoration, I think of Christmas ornaments that celebrate and remember African American history. That means celebrating literature, music, education, farming, and all of the other areas in which African Americans have made a contribution to our culture, and doing it with a distinctly African American style. Of course, that is just me. The beauty about African American Christmas Decoration is that you can do it in whatever way is the most meaningful to you.
Posted by Odini at 9:14 PM 0 comments