Crystal Ornaments and Gifts for All Seasons!

Not that long ago, the phrase “Christmas cards” meant only one thing – a holiday image on the outside of a folded card with touching text inside. But gone are the times when your only options were paper cards folded in half with a holiday image on the front or a flat postcard with a family photo. Now you can find cool Christmas cards that pop up, play music, fold out, can be used as Christmas tree ornaments or Christmas letters, and offer more personalization options than ever before. And that’s just the paper Christmas cards. Customized digital Christmas cards offer even more options, and if you really want something different , you can even send an edible holiday card .

This Christmas, check out some of these options and have fun with your mail. Here are some ideas for unusual Christmas cards.

Calendar Christmas Cards – If you don’t want your greeting to get thrown out after the holidays, make it useful. At Studio Style, you can personalize one of these fold-out cards with your own photo. After Christmas is over, your recipient can hang it up and enjoy the photo and the calendar all year long.

Christmas Tree Ornament Cards – Another way to give your card a second life is to select a card designed to hang on a Christmas tree. Don’t worry – they’re not just rectangular cards with a hole in them! You can find some cool round ornament cards at PhotoWorks.

Musical Christmas Cards – Greetings that play music are readily available at many local stores . Like the now-popular musical birthday cards, these cards look traditional until you open them up. Then they’ll play a Christmas tune such as “Deck the Halls” or “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.”

Christmas Letter Cards – Who wants to spend time printing out family holiday letters and stuffing them in cards? Turn your card INTO your Christmas letter! PhotoWorks offers several oversized or fold-out greetings that have a large area for writing. You create the text online and they’ll arrive with your Christmas letter already printed inside.

Digital Christmas Cards – Sites like Smilebox.com make it easy for anyone to create fun digital Christmas cards. They offer hundreds of designs for all occasions, and you add your own photos and text and select the music. The result is a fun digital greeting that your recipient can open and view on their computer. For a small fee, you can even save these creations to DVD.

Edible Christmas Cards – You won’t be able to send these unusual greeting cardsto everyone on your mailinglist unless you’re independently wealthy, but if you know someone who loves Rice Krispie treats or chocolate, you can send them giant greeting cards made of with their favorite treat. Check Gourmet Cookie Bouquets.com for the krispy card and Savannah’s Candy Kitchen for the chocolate greeting.

Any one of these unusual Christmas cards are sure to make your holiday greeting stand out from the crowd. The only problem may be coming up with something MORE unusual next year.

Kids love getting Santa letters during the holidays , and it’s fun for parents and grandparents to watch the joy on a child’s face when he or she gets a personalized letter from the jolly old elf. And now it’s even easier than ever to create personalized, printable kids Santa letters . These two sites can help you create your own kids Santa letters in just minutes online. It’s faster and cheaper than ordering from a company that does all the work, and you’ll have fun doing it. All you need is a printer, some paper and a few minutes. Have fun!

PrintableSantaLetters.com offers a lot of letter options, including six backgrounds and eight different letter formats. In addition, you can choose from several packages, from a simple letter and envelope combo to a package that includes a letter from Santa and a letter from Rudolph,an autographed photo of Santa Claus , a personalized Nice List certificate and two different sized envelope designs. Prices range from just $3.99 to $8.99. You’ll need Adobe Reader (get it free from Adobe) to open and print your personalized pdf files.

Christmas Letter Tips.com offers both Christmas letter templates and printable Santa letter templates in MS Word format . Like other sites offering Word templates, this one allows you to buy a single document you can personalize and use again and again, as long as you’re using it for personal use. They offer two Christmas designs from which to choose.

For more options, you can also find printable letters from Santa Claus at Santa Letter Templates.com, Free Santa Letters.net, My Kids Santa Letters.com and others. Or if you decide to buy a full-serve letter, sites such as Package from Santa.com and Santas Official North Pole Mail.com are reputable companies that have provided thousands of letters for happy customers.

Santa always answers all his mail, and there are plenty of elves to help make sure it gets done right!

Many of us have had this dilemma, you’ve got two children that are siblings, and you have to give them each a gift. This can be a problem if one child perceives that the other got more of a present then they did. In fact, in the world of sibling rivalries, this could spark a tantrum of epic proportions. Getting the same gift is always an option, but sometimes we’d prefer to get an “equal but different” gift that’s more to each child’s taste. This doesn’t have to be as hard as you may think. No matter who you are, mom, aunt, or just friend of the family, you can following the 4 “S’s” of sibling gift giving.

Size

Luckily for us, most younger children don’t really understand the value of money, and so they won’t realize that you’ve spent more on one gift than the other. But they will notice if one gift is physically smaller than the one that their sibling received. That’s way its critical to get toys that are the same size. For example, buy a toy car as big as the Barbie doll you got, or you could spark some sibling resentment. And well it may seem “cute” to give a big doll to an older sister, and a small doll to the younger sister, don’t do it! Someone’s likely to be very unhappy in the end. Choose gifts that are the same size.

Sharing

This mean seem like a great idea, because it allows you to spend more by just getting one gift for both children, and then you can get them a bigger and better gift. And it can be a good idea to get a big gift like a bike, but only if you know these kids understand the value of sharing, or if you’ve got a specific plan worked out when each child can play with their new toy. Still, this is an iffy proposition. You’re better off getting two different presents of the same value in order to completely avoid any sibling strife. It’s much safer to get them each their own gift!

Sugar

Kids adore sweets like chocolate and candy, and so this easy-to-get gift is almost a sure bet to make the kids happy. Giving each child their own sweet-treat gift basket is a great way to make them happy, and you can always personalize the basket to each child’s taste. Include their favorite candy and cookies so that the gifts are not exactly the same. However there are a couple of rules you have to follow before giving this present. Make sure that the parents approve. Some parents frown on sugar, either because of general unhealthiness or the hyperactivity that it can often cause. In fact, it’s best that when you give the gift, you put it in the hands of mom and dad so that they can dole out the candy as they see fit, and we avoid the sugar rush.

Same Gifts

If you still decide to go the same gift route, here are some ideas for gifts that have been past hits. Apparel is one of the most popular presents. You could get the siblings the t-shirt or sport’s hat. Parents appreciate this gift because their children are no doubt constantly growing out of clothing, and that’s not cheap! You could even print things on the t-shirt, like “big brother” on one and “little sister” on the other. Stuffed animals are another great idea. Get them the same teddy bear, plush dog, stuffed cat, or any other stuffed animal you think is appropriate. You could even change some minor details, like get a black dog or a cream dog. Or have a ribbon around each teddy bear’s neck in each child’s favorite color. There are nearly endless possibilities.

So there you have it! “S” is for siblings, and the 4 S’s can teach you the most important things you need to keep in mind when choosing gifts for them. Remember, gift-giving doesn’t have to be an agonizing chore as long as you keep these tips and hints in mind!

Big shopping days are the Friday after Thanksgiving, the day after Christmas, and New Years Day.

New Years Day is the day that women get even with their husbands for watching a zillion football games. They spend and spend and spend.

The problem with all of these days and all the days between Thanksgiving and Christmas is that there are a zillion customers in the stores. To get there they cram the streets with their cars. The clerks are working themselves to death. When they get home at night they say, "Oh, my feet! My feet!"

The best day to do Christmas shopping is the day that the stores are full of new Christmas merchandise that has not been picked over.

There is a plethora of clerks a smiling.

The clerks joke with you, help you find the right set of earrings for each of your twenty-three granddaughters, binoculars for your nine grandsons, a stuffed lion for your great granddaughter, books for your kids and their spouses, and then the clerks say, "Have a nice Thanksgiving! Can we help you to the car?"

Now you have guessed the day, haven't you?

How many said, "Christmas Eve just before the stores close when the stores panic if they have too much leftover merchandise. They cut their prices and you buy, buy, buy!

If you are not poor, you are wrong. Now days, the stores have to cut their prices much earlier to compete with Target® and Wal-mart®.

The best day to shop is the day before Thanksgiving.

Stay-at-home moms are all baking pies.

Working moms are heading straight for the grocery store at noon and after work.

Nobody goes shopping that day but my wife and I and a few little old ladies who have "caught on."

We went shopping this morning and were home by 3:30 p.m. That was after I had the salmon at the Sizzler® and my wife her usual salad bar. I had a salad bar too.

When we got to the Sizzler®, I was starved from shopping for our five children, their spouses, our 32 grandchildren, including two new spouses, and our great grandchild that still says, "Goo, Goo!" (Our triplets still say, "Goo, Goo!" too.)

I started with a bowl of clam chowder, then salad, then the salmon, then the ice cream. Yum! Yum!

Back in our home town exhausted by the metropolis of Twin Falls with its thousands of people, I laid down on the bed to get the kink out of my back that I always get when shopping.

When I woke up, I had missed Jeopardy®.

That's when I decided that I had to get the presents under-wrapped (that is in the wrapping under the pretty stuff. I made up the word. Go ahead and use it).

I needed to write the name of the child, grandchild, or great grandchild on the inner wrapping or my wife might send a wrong present to a wrong person in a wrong state!

She didn't want to, but she gave me a hand.

Now I'm sure that we will be sending a wrong present to a wrong person in a wrong state.

But we have plenty of time to do it!

Shop early!

Be of good cheer!

Technorati Tags: best shopping days, christmas shopping days

If you’re trying to make your holidays greener this year, try an eco-friendly Christmas letter template to create your annual holiday letter. Templates are environmentally friendly because they allow you to use just the right amount of paper for your project. Forget about buying store-bought stationery with 50 sheets of Christmas letter paper when you only have 47 people on your mailing list. Using a printable Christmas template is an eco-friendly way to make sure you’re not wasting paper – or running out!

What is a Christmas letter template? A Christmas letter template is a document, often saved in MS Word , with a festive holiday background that is ready for you to customize with your own content. They’re easy to use – you simply download the document, open it in your word processing program, and start adding your content . Basic templates may simply have a Christmas background with one text area, while more advanced templates may include sections for you to add your own photo, or may be laid out in newsletter format with multiple columns, boxes and areas for your content.

Why choose a Christmas letter template? If you’re concerned about minimizing waste , a downloadable template is a good choice. When you print your own letter at home, you can help save our forests byusing recycled paper. Christmas letter paper from the store may not be available with recycled content, or the recycled content may be less than you’d prefer. With a printable template, you can choose paper with a high content of post-consumer recycled fibers.

Also, you’ll never waste paper with a template because you print only what you need. There’s no need to worry about buying a package of stationery with too much or too little paper . You’ll always have just the right amount.

Finally, when you purchase a template online, no shipping or packaging is needed. Your paper isn’t driven hundreds of miles in vehicles using fossil fuels and creating air pollution, and it doesn’t come packaged in plastic wrap. So your purchase is greener and cleaner. You can find affordable , printable Microsoft Word Christmas letter templates online at Christmas Letter Tips.com. (And for those who want to help Santa go green, you can also find printable Santa letter templates online, too.)

Have yourself a green little Christmas!

With regards to decorating the house with Christmas articles, Christmas trees only supply a small part compared to the Christmas garlands. Once you have placed them in your house’s corner, they become the subject for adoration. However, the beauty that they can give is confined to one spot. Garlands on the other hand, can be spread through out your house and blend together to deliver the colors and sparkles of the Christmas season.

The unique trait that makes Christmas Garlands appealing is their similar connection with the Christmas trees. These garlands are contained with the stems and leaves that provide a base support for the ornaments. But as what was mentioned before, unlike the trees, they are found to be more flexible as you can remold them to whatever form and shape you wish them to be. If you are searching and trying to mold for a new design, like a wreath, then you can easily shape the garlands to look like one.

In addition to that, the flexibility of garlands allow you to place them on whatever spot if your home you would like them to be. Do your windows look plain? You don’t have to worry since you can simply drape the garlands around the frames and they’ll be more enticing in no time. Does your fireplace look lifeless? Probably you can install a garland design to blend with your stocking. Your walls seem simple and plain? Perhaps you can add garlands for your wall to be the best among the rest.

There are many ways that you can use Christmas garlands, as there are also in many forms that you can acquire them. So, in order for you to get the perfect decorations that you wish, you first must know what exactly you are looking for.

Before you make the important step of buying the garlands, it would be prudent to plan on how you would like the garlands to be installed in your home. In which specific areas would you like them to be attached? After which the next step would be to measure the specific length of the garland that would be exact to the spots that you have selected.

As you may observe, these garlands may come in different sizes. So in order to avoid the hassle of cutting down the garlands in to shorter lengths, you have to get some garlands that will be ready for designing and placement.

After the above mentioned step, you may now decide on how your garland will look like once they have been placed. Ponder the style or hue you would like to see in them, and then you can use that to choose the style and color. You may also ask the questions like how you would like your garlands to be colored. Would you prefer another color aside from the green one? What type of texture and leaf décor would you like to fill in with them?

And once you’re all done with the planning process, that’s the time you could go out and look. Garlands are great decorations on their own, but don’t rely on that fact and throw away your part in making them look amazingly beautiful for the season. Choose your Christmas garlands wisely.Once you are finally through with the planning steps, it’s time to search for the final style and design of garlands that you would like to install. Garlands will truly create an impact on their own but you also have to use your creativity to make them enticing and appealing for this season!

Also checkout Christian Home Decor and Joyce Meyer Books.

Technorati Tags: decorating with garlands, garland, ornaments on garlands;, tree garland

How To Decorate A Christmas Tree

This article is a crash course in how to decorate a christmas tree. Your first step is to choose either a natural or artificial tree. Keep in mind that a natural evergreen tree only comes in one color – green. Artificial trees however are now sold in practically every color of the rainbow. Just remember, whatever color you choose will become your canvas for adding more color in the form of garlands, tinsel and decorations.

Your second step is deciding which color schemes go best with what color of tree. Green Christmas trees, both natural and artificial, look best with primary colors such as green, blue and red. White christmas trees look best with a red theme, pink theme, a gold theme or a silver theme or any combination of the above.  Blue Christmas trees look best with gold or silver decorations. Red Christmas trees look great with green or pink decorations.

The third step in this course about how to decorate a christmas tree is about lighting. If you are going to buy a natural tree you will need to buy a strand of bulbs or diodes. Traditional strands of christmas bulbs come in a variety of decorative shapes and sizes including the vintage egg shape, tiny twinkling lights and rope lights. However if you buy an artificial tree you may be able to get one that is prelit. The prettiest prelit christmas trees boast fiber optic needles that give the tree a glow of its own.  Especially gorgeous are the white christmas trees that boast fiber optics at their tips. These trees remind many people of angel feathers.

The fourth step is investigating the types of decorations that are available to you.  The most basic is the garland. A garland is simply any kind of strand of objects that can be used to circle the tree. You can make a garland yourself out of cooked popcorn, holly berries or candy. You can also use a long length of ribbon and attach bows to it. Of course there are all types of garlands available commercially on the market.  Most popular are the garlands made of furry bunches of white or gold tinsel. Red and green tinsel garlands can look especially nice on white christmas trees. Nativity Animated Christmas Ornament Collection

If you are traditionally minded you might want to consider decorating your tree with glass christmas balls. These are either hand blown or created in a factory. Many of them are painted and decorated with glitter. You can buy these as globes, flutes, tubes and also in the shape of musical instruments, angels and other Christmas themes. However if you have small children, you might want to opt for the plastic versions of these decorative balls as they don't shatter if they fall off the tree.

An important tip to remember when decorating trees with glass balls is to place the larger ornaments at the bottom of the tree and the smaller ones at the top. This helps keep the total effect of the tree in a pleasing proportion to the decorations.

Of course, christmas decorations don't have to be expensive. You can make your own out of paper that is cut into the shape of snowflakes and other xmas themes. Candies (especially the candy cane), apples, oranges and cookies (especially gingerbread cookies) can also be used as xmas decorations. Red christmas trees look especially good decorated with white shortbread cookies decorated with glitter. White christmas trees look great decorated with home made presents made from tiny boxes wrapped in shiny foil. Ultimate Disney Characters Ornament Collection with Crystal, Enamel and Golden Accents! Mickey Mouse, Cinderella and More!  Disney Collectables

Another decoration to consider is tinsel. Strands of tinsel can be hung from the branches to simulate icicles. One tip when hanging tinsel is to hang it in clumps from the edges of the branches. Hanging single or just a couple of strands all over the tree makes it look messy.

The fifth step when it comes to decorating a christmas tree is to choose some kind of tree topper. Commercially you can buy tree-toppers in just about every Christmas motif imaginable including angels, snowmen, teddy bears and of course, the Christmas star.  You can buy christmas tree toppers that glow with fiber optic diodes that twirl, play tinkly music and blink on and off. However it is not hard to make your own christmas tree topper. Perhaps the simplest version is a cardboard star that is wrapped in tin foil. Sometimes the home made decorations and tree toppers have more sentimental value than the store bought ones.

The sixth step in this crash course on how to decorate a christmas tree is to make sure you disguise the base of the tree with some kind of Christmas tree skirt. This is simply a mat that is draped around the base and on the floor. It can be made out of shiny or velvet fabric or you can buy commercially made ones that feature xmas motifs in stores and online.  Some tree skirts can be quite ornate, decorated with sequins and embroidery. However their original function was to catch the candle drippings from candles on the tree and catch any dropping needles from natural christmas trees.

Another interesting addition, especially if you are a Christian is to place a small nativity scene beneath the Christmas tree on the mat. You can buy Christmas nativity scenes made of wood, metal or plastic. Also popular is a toy train set that runs in a circle around the Christmas tree.

A seventh and final consideration when it comes to how to decorate your christmas tree is a practice called flocking. Flocking is fluffy white stuff, kind of like silly string that is sprayed all over the tree to simulate snow. This gives just about any tree a real 50's or country style feel and it is very unique to tree decorating traditions in the United States and Canada. However it is not recommended for artificial white christmas trees as the effect would be a little bit of overkill.  Mickey and Minnie Ornament

Technorati Tags: flocking, garland, tree decoration

Convert Home Movies and Photos into a Wonderful Holiday Present!

Finding just the right holiday gift for family and friends can be difficult  , especially if left until the last minute.  

We’ve put together a list of some of our most popular Holiday presents, along with 10 reasons why now is the time to start planning!

Home Movie Transfer is one of our most popular services. Time and the temperature take a toll on your priceless old movies. They need to be preserved digitally on DVD  so that you and your whole family  can enjoy them for years  to come! Home Movie DVDs can include titles, chapters, menus and music .

Another loved item  is our Photo Video Keepsakes.  Let us take your favorite photos and slides and produce a one-of-a-kind movie , containing  titles and your favorite music.

Ever Popular  year-round is the transfer of Video tape to DVD . We’ll digitally transfer all of your VHS, 8mm and Mini DV tapes onto a easy to store and view  and long-lasting Gold Archival disc – complete with scene selection and menu .

Here is  a Top Ten List with the advantages of starting now to put together  your one-of-a-kind  Holiday Gifts!

1. The best gifts require thought. forget the necktie with the tag still on it to someone else. We want you to come to us loaded with photos, tapes and movies and, most of all, full of  ideas! If you start thinking now there’s no telling what you  will think of to make a most memorable Holiday present .

2. Some of your material might be scattered across the nation. Where’s that one picture you always loved? Maybe across the states  . Where are those old movies? In Brother Billy’s basement ? Now is the time to start locating the cherished  memories that you need to make your project the very best!

3. Last minute = Stress. Especially with creative, unique gifts. Contact  us now and give yourself the time to really do it right. You and your family deserve it!

4. Price break. Call us today to see what kind of early bird specials we can offer you!

5. Last minute gift ? No problem! The earlier your project is complete the sooner a last minute “oops, I forgot about…” is only a DVD copy away!

6. It’s  fun! You’ll have a ball, all summer and fall, creating your masterpiece and avoiding the mall.

7. Someone else might come up with the idea . Don’t get “scooped.” Video gifts are great ideas that need to be acted upon now!

8. Because setting your mind on the Holidays in the summer months will keep you cool .

9. Room to be creative. We see it all the time. One great creative turn leads to another. You need time to revise and come up with  even better ideas.

10. Did we mention the price break? Contact us before October to take advantage of our early bird specials  !

Home Video Studio – Portland specializes in video editing, video to DVD transfer, DVD and CD duplication, photo/video montages, Super 8mm, 8mm & 16mm home movie transfers, 35mm slide transfers, video tape repair and much more. Whether you need one DVD copy tonight, 20 copies tomorrow, or even 200 copies next week, we can serve your needs. 

We all like to have a plan for the holiday season. We know by when we need to cook, decorate, clean, and get gifts. But too often things don’t go as planned. As always happens in life, the unexpected can come up. Maybe you get swamped at work and have to stay late. Or maybe you get unexpectedly volunteered to make costumes or refreshments for your child’s holiday play. Or maybe some relatives decide that they are going to come stay with you at the last minute, and you have to unexpectedly play host. There’s a lot that could happen, and suddenly you find yourself scrambling last minute to get gifts for family and friends.

PERSONALIZED RINGS FOR THE HOLIDAYS

If this sounds like your life, consider an easier way to complete your holiday shopping: shop online. For the purpose of this article, let’s pretend you’re shopping for a stuffed animal. This is an easy example because stuffed animals are one size fits all, and can be an easy gift for anyone, unlike say, clothing, where you need to know someone’s size and taste to get them something appropriate. Plush toys are also appropriate for any age, and make a great holiday gift. So, here’s how to make online shopping your great time saver this holiday season.

Open All the Time

Unlike department stores, websites don’t close for business just because it’s after 9 at night. You can shop at any time that’s convenient for you. Maybe you wake up at 3 a.m. with insomnia, there’s no reason you can’t do your holiday shopping right then! The internet never closes, and so you don’t have to adhere to the store’s schedules, just shop whenever it works for you.

Saving Time

Shopping online is a really great way to save time. Say you need to buy some quick presents on your lunch break from work. You could drive to the store and fight with all the other shoppers during the lunch time rush to find a parking space. Then you could wait in line behind these same shoppers to make your purchase. Shopping online is much easier. Spend the time you could have spent traveling, parking, and waiting looking through the stores products. By the end of the lunch hour the stuffed lion and plush cat you picked out could already be on their way to your home, without any fuss from you.

Increased Choices

Online stores always seem to have more variety then anything in stores. Perhaps this is because there’s more space in their warehouses then in the stores, and things are less likely to be picked through and sold out. So if you’re looking for a stuffed lion, you can find many more varieties than in a store, and maybe find one that’s very unique.

Better Organization and More Categories

This is another way a shopping online can save you time. Good online websites put their products in easy to understand categories, which makes it easier to shop then running all over a big store looking for something. For example, if you looking for a plush cat, maybe there’s a category such as “Pet Stuffed Animals,” or if you’re looking for a stuffed tiger there could be a category called “Jungle Stuffed Animals.” This way you don’t have to search through the entire toy department like you would in a physical store.

Save Gas

Not having to leave the comfort of your own home or work can not only save you time, but money, by not having to waste gas on another trip to the store. Even when you have to pay for shipping, you can sometimes save money, depending on how far away the store is. In fact, there are many online stores that have deals for free shipping, so then you definitely save some of your hard earned cash, and avoid polluting the environment. Here’s a tip for shipping: have it delivered to your work place. This way you don’t have to be at home when your stuffed lion or plush cat is delivered, and you don’t have to interrupt your day at all or have to make another gas wasting trip to the post office.

So as you can see, there are five great reasons why online shopping is better than regular shopping. It‘s a great way to save time and money. Find an online store that fits your gifting needs, and before you know it, holiday shopping will be a snap.

Technorati Tags: online christmas shopping, online ornament shopping, SMART CHRISTMAS SHOPPING

Don't overdue your budget by trying to buy things that cost even more than you can afford to impress your friends and family. You can stay within your budget and give some really neat gifts. Most of the best gifts for Christmas can be bought off-season. You can find bargain buys such as clothing and electronics in the Spring or Summer time. Department stores are perfect places to discover clothing at affordable prices along with off-season sales too. Bookstore outlets have wonderful buys for readers and writers. You can likewise search online for sales at discount outlets. Designer outerwear and goods may be sought out on Ebay and you can lay aside a bundle. Electronics and video games are a few of the most costly items to give and by doing some homework and searching for good deals, you can find new and used items at a lower price. Christmas shopping for the children can be a headache and a problem but by buying online you can save time and find some good sale items. Do not forget to do it way up-front of the holiday period. Most online stores will supply free shipping.

If you aren't shopping for a primary holiday, you can still shop on an allowance. A outstanding idea for your buddies may be time spent together talking over a bottle of wine and some good eats. A movie with the young girls and dinner after can be the best gift for women or someone you are close to. You can also show them how special they're by cooking dinner or helping them buy something they have really been wanting. A gift card to their favorite outlet or stores can make what they desire less expensive and it is easy on your purses. Personalized items can be inexpensive but made special with an engraving or special message. Necklaces or matching bracelets are great ideas and make the best gift ideas for best friends who could be leaving for college.

Special occasions like a graduation or a wedding ceremony doesn't warrant for an expensive gift. You may encounter some items that can be costly but you can afford items that merely seem as if you spent a lot. Photos, trinkets, lingerie, and gift certificates are perfect ideas and can be seen in various price categories. It may also rely upon who you are purchasing for that determines what you spend. You can expend less on your buddies and more on mothers and fathers, wives and kids.

Technorati Tags: cheap christmas decoration, cheap gifts, discount christmas ornaments

Editor's note:  Though this has nothing to do with ornaments, I thought it was a nice article for the Holidays.  Enjoy!

The sound of Christmas carols wafting through cold night air is a sure sign the holidays have arrived . Bringing smiles and (hopefully) beautiful music to neighbors, family or friends with caroling at Christmas is a great way to celebrate the holidays.

A caroling party will bring together all the elements of a successful caroling adventure, along with fun and food! These tips will help you plan a successful party.

Pick your evening carefully . Many people have extra commitments during the holidays. Check with everyone on your caroling list to find a time that works for everyone . You may not be able to please everyone, but scheduling on the same night as the church cantata or community Christmas festival is bad planning, and you may find yourself singing solo.

Select your musical selections well in advance. Then make copies of the lyrics and pass them out well in advance of your caroling date. While there’s nothing wrong with spontaneity, nobody wants to be singing ‘while shepherds washed their socks’ instead of ‘watched their flocks’ or ‘round young version’ instead of ‘round yon virgin’. Having the correct words will make everyone feels confident, and will keep the mumbling to a minimum!

Don't forget refreshments. Caroling at Christmas can make you hungry! Plan a hot meal before caroling and cookies with hot chocolate, cider or toddies after. A progressive dinner set-up is fun for caroling parties. The first house provides dinner, then guests carol on the way to house two, where hot chocolate and pumpkin bread waits. Carol on the way to house three, where you’ll find small stockings filled with Christmas candies. Carol on the way to house four, and so on.

Organize your stops. Ask friends and family for names and addresses of people who may enjoy a visit and a song. If you’re singing for the elderly or shut-ins, or if you decide to visit a nursing home or children’s hospital, keep in mind early bedtimes. Caroling at Christmas needs to stop between 8:30 and 9 PM, even when visiting younger families. Mostly, have fun.

The theme of Christmas is giving. Giving the gift of song to others should also give a gift to you and your friends – a smile and the pleasure of spreading happiness to others. For more articles about Christmas, please visit Free Santa Letters Christmas Blog.

Technorati Tags: caroling, caroling at christmas, christmas caroling, holiday caroling

Gift giving, while always a nice idea, can sometimes be more difficult than we’d like. It’s frustrating that as a prelude to happy events such as graduations, birthdays, or weddings, we have to frantically rush through the mall or scour online stores in order to find a gift that will work. Existing suggestions and guides are available, but they’re often too general. One size rarely fits all. Maybe you’re on a budget, or looking for something more personal, or even shopping for people of different ages. Here are some suggestions that deal with these issues and give you a place to start.

Budget is an issue for many of us, but that doesn’t mean you still can’t get a nice gift. With less than $30, you can impress someone with flowers and chocolates, which are a great classic gift. This is a particularly good present for the women in your life. To make sure this is a really classy gift, pay heed to the wrapping. This can really make your gift more fancy, or even make it more personal. If your gift recipient is male, a better classic gift could be a wallet, which can still be nice and inexpensive enough for you to not break the bank. You can also usually find one for under $30. Brand name, high quality wallets are available at many stores, and they won’t set you back too much in price. You can often also get your gift professionally wrapped at the store, which can really add an air of sophistication to your present.

Maybe you need to get a present for a co-worker or a distant cousin of your spouse. It can be especially hard when you have to find a gift for someone you don’t know well, or at all. In these cases it is best to stick to gifts that are neutral and all-purpose, and it pays to be practical. Get them something that they are likely to use. Good, general gifts include things like vases, plate sets, or wooden remote control stands. These are things it’s difficult to have too many of, and they are likely to be useful.

The age of your recipient should also be taken in to consideration. One gift that can fit any age is a stuffed animal. This toy is popular with children for obvious reasons, but adults will enjoy it too because it will bring back memories, or even make a great piece of décor. A teddy bear can be a very comforting, loving gift, and it’s cute!

These suggestions should give you a solid starting point for your gift giving decisions. Hopefully this will also take out some of the anxiety and stress inherit in finding the perfect present for a difficult recipient. Make the gift giving process more enjoyable for both you and the person receiving the present by following these guidelines.

P.S. One last suggestion, you can start your gift search at KCPlush.com for a great teddy bear selection and an incredible variety of plush stuffed toys.

Technorati Tags: holiday ornaments, holiday toys, plush toys

Have you been searching forward to Christmas this 12 months?  If so, there is a good chance which you cannot wait until it arrives. While it is hard, in truth impossible, to make The Holiday season arrive any faster, you will find methods that you can bring the The Holiday season spirit into your house before the vacation actually arrives. You can do this by decorating your home for Christmas with the beauty of zebra print rug.

When it comes to decorating for Christmas, there are lots of individuals who location a focus on one room and a single room only. That room is most likely the space by which their Christmas tree is in. While it’s important to decorate your Christmas tree and the room that it’s in, you should also think about decorating the rest of your house.  In a small quantity of time, you can easily display your appreciation for Christmas, in each and every space of your home with the introduction of attactive zebra print rugs.

Since, the space by which your The Holiday season tree is in was currently touched on, it is greatest to focus on other rooms, apart from your living room, family room, or den.  Possibly, it is greatest to concentrate on the bathroom. After all, it’s one of the most used rooms in any home.  If you are interested in decorating your bathroom for Christmas, you are able to frequently do so having a few little, however inexpensive The Holiday season decorations.  You can hang a The Holiday season picture inside your bathing room or substitute some of one’s bath towels with The Holiday season bath towels.  If you would like to, you could even substitute your bathmat or shower curtain with a single that includes a Christmas theme.  

The kitchen is an additional space which you could very easily enhance for that The Holiday season vacation season. With the kitchen area, such as the bathing room, there are a quantity of low-cost ways that you can go about getting your decorating carried out. For example, did you know that you can purchase Christmas themed potholders, over mitts, and kitchen towels for only a couple of dollars every?  If cash is not an issue, you might want to think about adding some Christmas themed kitchenware to the mix. To get a little little bit more cash, but still a fairly affordable price, you should have the ability to find matching sets of bowls, plates, and cups that come with pre-designed Christmas themes.  

You might also want to decorate the bedrooms in your house, especially if you have kids.  A single Christmas decorating concept that all kids adore is Christmas lights. In fact, there are some kids who enhance their rooms with Christmas lights all 12 months lengthy. Simply by hanging Christmas lights together the perimeter of one’s child’s room, you can very easily assist to produce a Christmas-like feel within their space.  If your child would prefer not to possess Christmas lights in the bedroom, you can very easily hang a little The Holiday season picture in their room. This image could be a nice framed one or it could be one of the Christmas cardboard cutouts that you can purchase in a package deal at most dollar shops.  

 Additionally to decorating the rooms within your home, you might also want to consider decorating the outdoors of your house too.  If you are looking for a simply way to showoff your The Holiday season spirit, you could very easily run The Holiday season lights together the outdoors of your house. There are special Christmas lights that are created just for this purpose.  If you wants to do much more, you can also decorate your lawn for The Holiday season.  A couple of The Holiday season yard indicators may be nice; however, you can go even larger than that.  There are a quantity of retail stores that sell large inflatable The Holiday season trees, reindeer, or Santas.  No matter how much or how little decorating you do outdoors of your house, it might be a great concept to showcase your love for Christmas for your entire neighborhood.

The above pointed out The Holiday season decorating tips are just that, suggestions. If you want to enhance your entire house for Christmas, go correct ahead; you will likely be pleased together with your choice to do so.  However, you do not have to. For some individuals a simple The Holiday season tree is all of the The Holiday season spirit that they need have.

Technorati Tags: cheap christmas decoration, hand made ornaments, inexpensive ornaments

A very simple video of how crystal/glass ornaments can be made by hand.  Of course, he has MANY years of experience and makes it look easy!

Take a look at the more ornate version by  Bombkarnia ,personalized ornaments at Ornament Shop, sports themes at FansEdge; and Chaukah themes at Hannukah Ornaments.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO YOU AND YOURS!

Junie Moon: BYOB 2009 Ornaments

We had a huge group for this year’s annual BYOB (Blow Your Own Ball) party my sister Connie and I host each year at Sonoran Glass Art Academy. We love this annual opportunity to make our own glass ornaments.

Technorati Tags: baccarat, c, christmas tree decoration, crystal, crystal ornament, crystal ornaments, holiday decorating, holiday ornaments, kosta boda, lalique, lenox, mikasa, ornament, orrefors, vera wang, waterford, wedgewood

The Ornament Shop Delivers!

I’ve featured The Ornament Shop here already, but they have really added to their range of ornaments for the ’09 season.  Hee are a few of their speialty items:

Glass Ornaments
You asked for more glass items and we got them!  We have European glass as well as collectible brands like Old World Christmas.  We have more vacation destinations, country flags, sports, transportation and holiday  selections that will have your tree twinkling.

Occupation Ornaments
We have added new occupations so you can find something for everyone, especially if you need a thoughtful gift for a boss or coworker this holiday season.  Our ornaments make great presents for those who help us or take care of us, such as our doctors, dentists and mail carriers.

Military Ornaments
Our new exquisite glass ball ornaments for military are painted entirely on the inside, and have the military branch’s seal on the front with a patriotic picture on the back.  We also have many other new military ornaments for patriotic families who support our troops.

Family Ornaments
We have expanded our family offerings and carry more handmade ornaments, made both around the world, and from a local crafter’s kitchen, to keep the nostalgia of the holidays close to your heart.  Our selections range from couples to christmas trees of 25!  And, since our furry friends are really part of the family, we have exclusive OrnamentShop.com selections of families with dogs.  Even expecting Moms can get a personalized ornament!

Children’s Ornaments
Christmas wouldn’t be the same without the sheer excitement and joy that children experience during this time of the year, so we have added some new milestones like potty training and new characters like Elmo from Sesame Street to remember the precious moments that go by so quickly.

Dog Ornaments
Our new line of dog ornaments has a larger variety of breeds than we have ever had, so if you are looking for a special dog like a Havanese, Chow Chow or mixed breed like a Labradoodle, we’ve got them!

 There is FREE shipping when you buy five or more from the Ornament Shop, so get  that order in NOW so you have your set ready before the 25th!

Th-INK-ing of You: Silvery Poinsettia Glass Ornament

I have a real quick little ornament to share with you tonight. I stamped the Poinsettia image from Our Daily Bread design’s Luke 2:11 with VersaMark and embossed with silver Ranger Super Fine Embossing Powder on Acetate. 

Technorati Tags: baccarat, chris, christmas tree decoration, crystal, crystal ornament, crystal ornaments, holiday decorating, holiday ornaments, kosta boda, lalique, lenox, mikasa, ornament, orrefors, vera wang, waterford, wedgewood

A Crystal Ornament Made With You In Mind!

Ornaments have been used for generations as a way to mark special times, additions to families, eventful years and milestones achieved.  Hundreds of years ago, small, handmade items were given to mark an event and that has transitioned into our commercialized Christmas of today. Since we have moved beyond the simple gifts of years past, we can make it more personal with decorations not available to prior generations.

Luckily, we can now mark those special events without making them ourselves AND we don’t have to break the bank for a custom ornament either.  Personal Creations has been making all sorts of items to commemorate various achievement, holidays and specials days for over 13 years.  While this is the time to acquire a custom ornament for a newborn, new city or new attitude, they can create personalized jewelry, wall items, graduation gifts and Santa’s stockings!

GET YOUR PERSONALIZED ORNAMENTS HERE!

I like their simple, but elegant, glass ball using birthstone to outline a name and/or date of birth.  This should turn into a heirloom for your family as well as be handed down to your child as he/she matures.  Just think how this antique ornament will be cared for each Christmas as it is brought out and added to the tree!

So if you need a personalized ornament, stocking, gift for a new or old loved one plus Hanukkah or Kwanzaa, Personal Creations can handle your need.  Check them out HERE.

Hand Blown Glass Ornaments

I’ve been blowing glass for a very short amount of time, and figured it would be nice to show a simple tutorial.

Technorati Tags: baccarat, christmas tree decoration, crystal, crystal ornament, crystal ornaments, holi, holiday decorating, kosta boda, lalique, lenox, mikasa, ornament, orrefors, personal creations, vera wang, waterford, wedgewood

FIRST ORNAMENT FOR BABY’S FIRST HOLIDAY!

There are many way to be joyous around the holidays, but a new born can only have a "First Christmas"  once. Amidst all of the Grandparent squeezes, home decoration, new clothes and rattles, a once in their lifetime personalized crystal ornament will mar their entry into this brave new world!

One of the best places for personalized ornaments is the Ornament Shop.  They can make an ornament with name and birthday studded with birthstones so it has double the meaning!  Color is optional and you can order them for the entire family  :]

Lenox makes their traditional "Baby’s First Christmas" ornament which is updated each year.  Though it is not a crystal ornament, the ceramic version complements a tree well and will be a keepsake to cherish.  They have many other ornament styles as well including Santa, reindeer, trees and garlands.  The Department 56 Christmas villages are very collectible and have new additions every year.

DIsney is every child’s favorite and makes a whole series of ornaments based upon their lovable characters.  Kids love Pooh Bear, Tinkerbell, Mawgli  and the other classic animation roles that can be hung from the tree.  Parents beware:  kids WILL try to climb the tree to get to them!  Click below to see the range of Disney ornaments available.

No matter which choice you make, or even make a handmade ornament yourself, do something special for the first Christmas for each child.  I still have the stocking my Grandmother made which is now over 50 years old.  It is special beyond words and I treasure it the same.  Remember: you, and they, will never have another one quite as special!

Gift ideas Baby s First Christmas

Gift ideas for your Baby’s First Christmas!

Technorati Tags: baccarat, chris, christmas tree decoration, crystal, crystal ornament, crystal ornaments, holiday decorating, holiday ornaments, kosta boda, lalique, lenox, mikasa, ornament, orrefors, vera wang, waterford, wedgewood

Crystal Ornaments From Bombkarnia

I came across Bombkarnia which has some remarkable crystal ornaments. Many appear to be hand decorated and have several unusual shapes like tunics, shoes, eggs, hearts, butterflies, postcards and bombs (aka round-type-we-all-know). I think it is the exquisite color and detailed work with sequins and beads that caught my eye.

I think they took the company name from the original Polish word for round glass ornaments -  "bombka" meaning "little bomb".  It is clear that they have progressed well beyond glass balls and have created specialty ornaments for motorcycles, pets, and even shoes!

The Original Collection has the most detailed and elaborate versions.  The beading and color combinations are reminiscent of old Europe and immediately reminded me of Faberge eggs.  Detailed for individuality, they are truly one of a kind!

Though they can range upwards of $100usd, Bombkarnia crystal ornaments start at around $5.00.  Yes, that is far above a Wal-Mart bakers dozen made in China, but thes are destined to become heirlooms.  You should order early as many of these are in limited supply and could easily sell out.

So take a look at Bombkarnia and start thinking about how a unique gift will be remembered by your loved one this Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or whatever holiday is your own!

Happy Holidays to you and yours!

 World Of W(ad)e: I Bought A Christmas Ornament This Morning…

I was standing in line at Starbucks picking up coffee for a coworker when I noticed that they had this year’s Christmas ornaments out. Naturally, I had to get one because I buy one almost every year. 

Technorati Tags: baccarat, chris, christmas tree decoration, crystal, crystal ornament, crystal ornaments, holiday decorating, holiday ornaments, kosta boda, lalique, lenox, mikasa, ornament, orrefors, vera wang, waterford, wedgewood

Corporate Crystal Ornaments and Gifts

When companies have Holiday parties, they may want to mark a memorable year.  For the most part, companies are glad to survive these days and provide a keepsake showing their gratitude for hard work and positive customer experiences.  Along with other bonuses, a small crystal ornament would add a touch of class to a dinner place setting.  Think along the lines of:

• Star

• Ball with engraved year or site

• Crystal picture frame

• Engraved figurine

Many of the ornaments and figurines can be customized with company names, dates, accomplishments (record sales, client growth, etc.) or even individual employee names.  At the high end, one could have laser etched images of each employee on/inside crystals to mark an achievement.  One of my favorites is from Lenox – the Crystal Snowman accompanied by a snowflake.

Waterford (including Wedgwod and Royal Daulton) and Baccarat produce higher end items though they start around $35USD.  Crystal champagne glasses, small ornaments and figurines will be keepsakes long after the event is over.  I still adorn my Christmas tree with a former company’s ornament simply because it adds the right touch of color and light when tucked inside the branches!

REVENUE HERE

INEXPENSIVE OPTIONS

There are also plenty of inexpensive options such as plastic, engraved metal, silk screened and labeled version of ornaments or decorations.  There are tons of items to choose from:

• Pins  

• Mugs                    

• Shirts                    

• mouse pad        

• Stuffed animal

• Cross pens         

• Toasting glass   

• Clock                    

• Framed artwork 

Usually the engraved or personalized items can be produced in large quantities with a minimum order of 100 pieces.  Give yourself about three weeks lead time as many of these items are customized overseas.  Branders is a great source for bot personalized and large batch items along with the ability to turn them around quickly.

Crystal Healthy Healing Holiday books and Gifts | Crystal Healthy …

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Crystal Ornaments Share The Light! 

Light refracted through a crystal has fascinated man for ages. Our eyes are drawn to the seemingly magical way that crystal both transmits and breaks up the surrounding light into many colors.  With the advent of laser etching, 3D images can be added without destroying the crystal itself while creating depth and sparkle.

Today’s crystal ornaments are no exception. 3-dimensional, handcrafted crystal ornaments not only are beautiful, but they also are great for collecting. Whether you start by adding them to your Christmas tree, to hang in your windows year round or display in a case with other collectibles, collecting crystal ornaments is a fun and rewarding hobby. Here are some ideas on how to add a little crystal magic to your own life:

Start a Christmas Collection

The most obvious use for an ornament is on a Christmas tree. Crystal ornaments are elegant, sophisticated and beautiful as they complement other family heirlooms. The crystal catches the light from the string of Christmas lights and throws it between the branches and on surrounding walls thus adding a whole new dimension of light and color to the room.

Although ornaments for a tree can be in any shape, you may want to think about focusing on one or two shapes for your collection. For instance, you might choose to collect crystal snowflakes, Bombas, teardrops or icicles.  With the advent of modern glass blowing techniques, you can also theme a tree with a particular movie or TV series, sets of cars, snowmen or just about anything that reflects your personality.

Start Your Child’s Collection

Many companies that make crystal ornaments put out an annual ornament as part of their collection. For instance, Swarovski and Waterford have Christmas ornament collections that they release each year.  You can also mark special occasions, such as marriage and family moves, by having a custom ornament made with dates, names, etc.   A newborn is ideal for the “Baby’s First Christmas” collection and will be an heirloom that will stay with them the rest of their lives.

If you have a young child in your family, it can be fun to start a collection for them by buying them the annual ornament each year. As they grow older, each ornament will mark a particular time in their childhood as well as remind them of family and places.

Start a Collection on Shape or Theme

Although snowflake and stars are some of the most popular shapes for crystal ornaments, other shapes like hearts, butterflies and crosses are also quite common. I met a lady once that had over 400 crystal snowflake ornaments and it took her nearly 60 days to decorate her tree.  I’d imagine it took another month to take it down!

As above, themes are popular and you can focus on your personality for ideas.  Do you like to ride Harleys, snow ski, teach school, write poems or work in the yard?  Each of these could be a tree theme that may serve up a nice scavenger hunt to add to your collection!  The tree and cystal ornaments are for YOU and should reflect YOU.

Technorati Tags: baccarat, chris, christmas tree decoration, crystal, crystal ornament, crystal ornaments, holiday decorating, holiday ornaments, kosta boda, lalique, lenox, mikasa, ornament, orrefors, vera wang, waterford, wedgewood