Cheap/Free Holiday Traditions?

[monkeybug]

THX Darsa ~ loving this thread and really enjoy reading about all your traditions!!
To me, that's what family is all about!! We're a big entended family, so lots of traditions!!


Like so many here, we have eggnog and sing C'mas carols while decorating our tree. We love to talk about the sentimental ornaments we've collected as gifts, thru traveling, or inherited from dear MIL. At night we enjoy sitting back and seeing tree reflect in our sun room windows...priceless!!

Baking C'mas cookies with our grands....with so many grands now, Nana's had to resort to day, day, in the kitchen!!
We also do a ginger bread house or santa/snowmen gingerbread cookies to nibble on for our C'mas movie night with them.

Right after TG holiday, I do a mother daughter home made craft session. It's 'our' time, no men, no kids ! We've made twinklelit pine cone baskets, patchwork quilted ball ornaments, wreaths, fresh flowers grny arrangement, etc. Lots of M/D fun as we chit chat, have eggnog and homemade cookies!

Can you share more about this? Is there a link online or anything? We went to VA over the weekend and I brought back a trunk full of pine cones!

 

[Darsa]

I just found out that there will be a Christmas Parade in the next town over from us, with a tree-lighting ceremony at the end and Santa in the parade, on the evening of Black Friday! I'm gonna bundle up my DD, DNiece and DNephew, get 'em each a hot cocoa and we're gonna go see it. I can't wait!

We've made twinklelit pine cone baskets

I also would love to hear more about this!

 

[redshoes]

One of the cheapest traditions that we do, started on my oldest son's first christmas (He's 7 this year). We make reindeer out of cardstock. The face of the deer is one of my boys' feet and the antlers are their hands. They trace them, cut them out, and color them. I hang each one up from years passed on a clothes pin garland on the mantle. It's kind of like a growth chart for both of my boys and it shows how much their coloring, cutting, and drawing skills improve with each year.

 

[4nana]

Ref: Twinklelit pine cone baskets ~

Can you share more about this? Is there a link online or anything? We went to VA over the weekend and I brought back a trunk full of pine cones!

I also would love to hear more about this!

These pine cone baskets are super easy to make!!

You'll need a medium size basket from craft store, the $ store or thrift shop usually has good buys also. Great if you have nice pine cones, otherwise you can get a whole bag of scented ones at craft store such as Michael's for $5. Depending on size of basket, you may need a non flamable filler in bottom for volume.

Prepare pine cones, you can use plain pine cones or spray with clear coat paint if prefer shiny cones or even sprinkled some with glitter high lites, etc. Mid way thru filling basket with cones, scatter your twinkle lights. Fill in with hot glued stems of pretty artifical greenry thru out, add C'mas picks, silk C'mas flowers, birds, etc. (craft store usually has good sales). All the while running your twinkle lights thru out ~ make sure you leave enough cord to plug in. Lastly, I make a pretty C'mas bow for front, or sides, or even wrapped around handle.

Sorry, my baskets are all packed away till Dec., but I found a few samples on web for you. My Mom, 3 DD's, DIL and myself, really have fun being creative as no two baskets are alike and enjoy making for ourselves and as gifts. I hope you'll try making one and discovering your creative ability!

Here's a site if you need further instructions on similar: http://www.ehow.com/how_4549299_make-lighted-pine-cone-baskets.html

 

[babytrees]

Ref: Twinkelit pine cone baskets ~





These pine cone baskets are super easy to make!!

You'll need a medium size basket from craft store, the $ store or thrift shop usually has good buys also. Great if you have nice pine cones, otherwise you can get a whole bag of scented ones at craft store such as Michael's for $5. Depending on size of basket, you may need a non flamable filler in bottom for volume.

Prepare pine cones, you can use plain pine cones or spray with clear coat paint if prefer shiny cones or even sprinkled some with glitter high lites, etc. Mid way thru filling basket with cones, scatter your twinkle lights. Fill in with hot glued stems of pretty artifical greenry thru out, add C'mas picks, silk C'mas flowers, birds, etc. (craft store usually has good sales). All the while running your twinkle lights thru out ~ make sure you leave enough cord to plug in. Lastly, I make a pretty C'mas bow for front, or sides, or even wrapped around handle.

Sorry, my baskets are all packed away till Dec., but I found a few samples on web for you. My Mom, 3 DD's, DIL and myself, really have fun being creative as no two baskets are alike and enjoy making for ourselves and as gifts. I hope you'll try making one and discovering your creative ability!

Here's a site if you need further instructions on similar: http://www.ehow.com/how_4549299_make-lighted-pine-cone-baskets.html

those are beautiful!!

 

[OceanAnnie]

They are beautiful! We're going to try that this year! Thanks for sharing that idea.

 

[monkeybug]

Ref: Twinklelit pine cone baskets ~





These pine cone baskets are super easy to make!!

You'll need a medium size basket from craft store, the $ store or thrift shop usually has good buys also. Great if you have nice pine cones, otherwise you can get a whole bag of scented ones at craft store such as Michael's for $5. Depending on size of basket, you may need a non flamable filler in bottom for volume.

Prepare pine cones, you can use plain pine cones or spray with clear coat paint if prefer shiny cones or even sprinkled some with glitter high lites, etc. Mid way thru filling basket with cones, scatter your twinkle lights. Fill in with hot glued stems of pretty artifical greenry thru out, add C'mas picks, silk C'mas flowers, birds, etc. (craft store usually has good sales). All the while running your twinkle lights thru out ~ make sure you leave enough cord to plug in. Lastly, I make a pretty C'mas bow for front, or sides, or even wrapped around handle.

Sorry, my baskets are all packed away till Dec., but I found a few samples on web for you. My Mom, 3 DD's, DIL and myself, really have fun being creative as no two baskets are alike and enjoy making for ourselves and as gifts. I hope you'll try making one and discovering your creative ability!

Here's a site if you need further instructions on similar: http://www.ehow.com/how_4549299_make-lighted-pine-cone-baskets.html

Awsome!!! Thanks for sharing. I can't wait to put that trunk full O' pine cones to good use!!

 

[antmaril]

Here is last years. You can do a search for the others. I think they are linked in the comments too. Be warned, you should not be eating or drinking while you read them IF you like this one, go back and look up the others. They are so funny to read in order as she sometimes references past gifts.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2033027&highlight=Annual+MIL+gift

Thanks for posting this. I didn't see it last year and I'm roaring - so funny