To embellish gifts, you want to choose a simple print on the Christmas wrapping paper such as simple snowflakes, plaids or stars. Sometimes the wrapping paper can go overboard and you don’t want your added embellishments to clash or compete with the paper pattern. The Christmas wrapping paper may look boring at the store when you purchase it, but adding ornaments, jingle bells, candy canes and bows will make that simple Christmas wrapping paper look like something that was wrapped by a professional.
You can even personalize the actual paper by making your own Christmas wrapping paper. To make your own paper, you will need a roll of packing or mailing paper. It is that brown or white kraft paper that you see in craft stores and often in super stores around the mail supply aisles. This paper generally costs less than three dollars per roll and you get quite a bit, especially compared to your usual Christmas wrapping paper that you purchase.
All you need in addition to this paper is a supply of paint or stamping materials. You can get quite creative while making your own Christmas wrapping paper and you will most likely save money while impressing your gift recipients!
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Monday, December 04, 2006
Christmas Decorating Ideas
There is nothing as beautiful, for some people, as a white Christmas. There is something serene and calming about fresh fallen snow glistening in the sunlight on Christmas morning. If you are tired of the same old tired lights and tinsel, you should look around Christmas decorating ideas.
Christmas decorating ideas are everywhere you look, and what you choose will greatly depend on your personal style.
You can find Christmas decorating ideas in home magazines. These include most women’s magazines, as well as those devoted to the home only. They often have great Christmas decorating ideas in their articles, and you may find some by looking at their advertisements.
You can also find Christmas decorating ideas on television. Channels like HGTV or TLC will have many ideas from which to choose, or you can find Christmas decorating ideas by watching your favorite shows.
You can also find Christmas decorating ideas from your local store. No matter what your budget, your store may have ideas for you. While I try to avoid Wal-Mart, you have to admire their color coordinated Christmas decorating ideas. If you want something truly unique, visit stores like Pier One for Christmas decorating ideas.
Christmas decorating ideas are everywhere you look, and what you choose will greatly depend on your personal style.
You can find Christmas decorating ideas in home magazines. These include most women’s magazines, as well as those devoted to the home only. They often have great Christmas decorating ideas in their articles, and you may find some by looking at their advertisements.
You can also find Christmas decorating ideas on television. Channels like HGTV or TLC will have many ideas from which to choose, or you can find Christmas decorating ideas by watching your favorite shows.
You can also find Christmas decorating ideas from your local store. No matter what your budget, your store may have ideas for you. While I try to avoid Wal-Mart, you have to admire their color coordinated Christmas decorating ideas. If you want something truly unique, visit stores like Pier One for Christmas decorating ideas.
Friday, December 01, 2006
Christmas Songs
Christmas songs have come a long way and at the same time have endured. Well, think about whatever comes to mind when someone says the two simple words, Christmas songs. !)—you likely think of songs such as “I’ll be Home for Christmas.”
From the free domain songs that are still absolutely moving, like “O Holy Night” and “Little Drummer Boy,” sung by kids in itchy Christmas pageants or pious choirs once a year without fail and simple ditties about food and presents and figgy pudding and nog, Christmas songs have gone into penetrating, challenging, bonding, and spiritually elevating realms.
John Lennon, I think, started the trend of a Christmas song with a higher consciousness—with “And so this is Christmas, and what have you done?” and “And so this is Christmas (war is over), for weak and for strong (if you want it), the rich and the poor ones, the road is so long….” Imagine (or remember) how those frolicky, campy, or solemn and religious Christmas songs now had the words “war” and “fight” directly stated rather than implied? Stunning.
And then came the unusual duo or unlikely star remake trends for Christmas songs, which were, really, equally moving: Bing Crosby joined David Bowie to remake “The Little Drummer Boy.” Do Christmas classics. Elvis’s “Blue Christmas” is resuscitated.
From the free domain songs that are still absolutely moving, like “O Holy Night” and “Little Drummer Boy,” sung by kids in itchy Christmas pageants or pious choirs once a year without fail and simple ditties about food and presents and figgy pudding and nog, Christmas songs have gone into penetrating, challenging, bonding, and spiritually elevating realms.
John Lennon, I think, started the trend of a Christmas song with a higher consciousness—with “And so this is Christmas, and what have you done?” and “And so this is Christmas (war is over), for weak and for strong (if you want it), the rich and the poor ones, the road is so long….” Imagine (or remember) how those frolicky, campy, or solemn and religious Christmas songs now had the words “war” and “fight” directly stated rather than implied? Stunning.
And then came the unusual duo or unlikely star remake trends for Christmas songs, which were, really, equally moving: Bing Crosby joined David Bowie to remake “The Little Drummer Boy.” Do Christmas classics. Elvis’s “Blue Christmas” is resuscitated.
Merry Christmas Everyone
Christmas is the most highly anticipated and marketed religious holiday in the Western world. Meaning 'Christ's Mass', Christmas is an important Christian holiday celebrating birth of Jesus Christ.
The holiday of Christmas itself is celebrated in many different ways around the world.
While celebrated in masse by any country with a significant Christian population, Christmas is also celebrated by many countries as a secular holiday, observing the tradition of gift giving without the emphasis on the more religious aspects of the event.
Exact records of when the holiday became an important part of the Christian tradition are not available, but all indications of its roots point back to the Roman Empire of the 4th century AD.
Historians today generally agree that Christmas was chosen to be celebrated on the 25th of December as a way to help unite the preexisting Pagan religions of the time with the newly adopted religion of Christianity. For centuries prior, the Romans had worshiped the god Saturn, with a holiday they referred to as Saturnalia, a seven day event beginning on the 17th of December and ending with the winter solstice, which at the time was celebrated on the 25th of December. The event was characterized by the same kinds of gift giving traditions popular with Christmas today.
The holiday of Christmas itself is celebrated in many different ways around the world.
While celebrated in masse by any country with a significant Christian population, Christmas is also celebrated by many countries as a secular holiday, observing the tradition of gift giving without the emphasis on the more religious aspects of the event.
Exact records of when the holiday became an important part of the Christian tradition are not available, but all indications of its roots point back to the Roman Empire of the 4th century AD.
Historians today generally agree that Christmas was chosen to be celebrated on the 25th of December as a way to help unite the preexisting Pagan religions of the time with the newly adopted religion of Christianity. For centuries prior, the Romans had worshiped the god Saturn, with a holiday they referred to as Saturnalia, a seven day event beginning on the 17th of December and ending with the winter solstice, which at the time was celebrated on the 25th of December. The event was characterized by the same kinds of gift giving traditions popular with Christmas today.
Christmas Flower
The image that comes to mind when most people think about the traditional Christmas flower is a pot of red poinsettias. During the holiday season, you are likely to see this Christmas flower everywhere you go, from the fake displays in department store windows, to the real ones scattered throughout people’s homes. This plant with its brilliant red flowers is the ultimate Christmas foliage.
The problem with poinsettias is that they can be toxic if ingested by people and animals. I’ve seen children eat anything from money to dust balls on the floor, so thinking that they won’t eat a plant is a little unlikely.
Though poinsettias are traditionally red in color, there are now hybrids that come in white also. This color is not traditionally thought of as a Christmas flower, but looks nice when you have a large display of poinsettias and want to mix some different colored blooms in with the usual red. I’ve seen beautiful displays of poinsettias in the mall at Christmastime that incorporate both the red and white variety of flowering plant to create a gorgeous display of Christmas blooms.
When you think of winter flowers, not many variations come to mind. After all, flowers are more of a spring thing.
The problem with poinsettias is that they can be toxic if ingested by people and animals. I’ve seen children eat anything from money to dust balls on the floor, so thinking that they won’t eat a plant is a little unlikely.
Though poinsettias are traditionally red in color, there are now hybrids that come in white also. This color is not traditionally thought of as a Christmas flower, but looks nice when you have a large display of poinsettias and want to mix some different colored blooms in with the usual red. I’ve seen beautiful displays of poinsettias in the mall at Christmastime that incorporate both the red and white variety of flowering plant to create a gorgeous display of Christmas blooms.
When you think of winter flowers, not many variations come to mind. After all, flowers are more of a spring thing.
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