20 Magical Holiday Books for Kids

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1. The Night Before Christmas
2. The Story of Holly and Ivy
3. A Christmas Carol
4. Olive the Other Reindeer
5. The Crippled Lamb
6. The Wild Christmas Reindeer
7. Yes Virginia There Is a Santa Claus
8. Morris's Disappearing Bag
9. The Polar Express
10. The Legend of the Poinsettia
11. Angelina's Christmas
12. Snowmen at Christmas
13. Room For a Little One
14. The Snowman
15. The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree
16. Carl's Christmas
17. Dream Snow
18. The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey
19. The Nutcracker
20. How The Grinch Stole Christmas

 

Brass Tack Baubles

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These ornaments are one of my new favorites.

1. Starting from the bottom of the styrofoam ball, push the brass tacks in working around the ball as evenly as possible. Overlap them as you go to avoid any gaps.

2. Once you’re nearly to the top, unfold your paperclip and fold it again in the middle making a bobby-pin style piece of wire. Cut off a piece of the string you want to use to hang the bauble and make it a loop, tying the ends. Put the loop through the piece of wire and push it fully into the top of the styrofoam ball until it’s secure.

3. Continue placing your tacks until you reach the top… done!

Thanks Fellowfellow.com for this amazing craft!

Salt Dough Holiday Ornaments

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My grandmother used to make these salt dough ornaments. So sweet and easy to make!

Salt Dough
1 cup salt
2 cups flour
1cup water

Mix all ingredients in a mixer until a smooth dough forms.  To dry the dough, bake in a 250F oven for at least 3 hours.

Roll out the dough to 1/4" thick, stamped initials and birds and then cut out the circle. Let them dry and you have a beautiful, handcrafted ornament.

Thanks Oleanderandpalm.com for sharing this fun holiday craft!

50+ Elf on the Shelf Names

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Here is a great list of Elf on a Shelf names!

  •     Kringle
  •     Tinsel
  •     Ralphie (A Christmas Story)
  •     Kris
  •     Snow
  •     Merry
  •     Figgy
  •     Flake
  •     Elfie
  •     Ginger (as in Gingerbread man)
  •     Dash (as in Dasher)
  •     Jingle
  •     Pep (as in peppermint)
  •     Virginia (Miracle on 34th Street)
  •     Bell
  •     Hermey (Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer)
  •     Clarice (Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer)
  •     Twinkle
  •     Tiny (as in Tiny Tim)
  •     Noel
  •     Max (the Grinch‘s dog)
  •     Sugarplum
  •     Nuts (as in nutcracker)
  •     Holly
  •     Buddy (Elf)
  •     Frost
  •     Mistletoe
  •     Ice
  •     Candy (as in cane)
  •     Carol (as in caroling)
  •     Angel
  •     Eggnog
  •     Blitz (as in Blitzen)
  •     Topper (as in tree topper)
  •     Garland
  •     Bling
  •     Snowball
  •     Clara (from the Nutcracker)
  •     Rudy
  •     Star
  •     Nick
  •     Claus
  •     Plum
  •     Jolly
  •     Bob (as in Cratchit – Christmas Carol)

 

7 Rules of Regifting

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If you love to regift, you might want to read this article now!

 

1. Be sure the giftee and the regiftee are not in the same circle of friends or relatives of the person who gave this to you. 

2. Never admit to regifting. If your friends know you’re a regifter, they will be suspicious of the gifts you give them. It’s best to keep regifting completely to yourself.

3. Designate a location. Keep regifts in a convenient box or cupboard with extra wrapping paper and ribbon. 

4. Label all regifts. Just make a detailed note of where this item originated.

5. Be sure the gift is not personalized, or a book has not been inscribed to you, etc. For boxed gifts, double check there isn't a tag inside the box. 

6. A regift must look brand-new. If the box is damaged or shows any signs that it has been opened, it does not qualify as a regift.

7. Have a heart. A personal, homemade gift made by a parent, child or close relative cannot be regifted. 

Regifters, did I miss any tips?