Get A Head Start on Cute Christmas Ornaments

You can always count on Martha Stewart for darling ideas for any occasion! Take a look at these cute ornaments! You can find the tutorials on her site for the easy peppermint candy wreath ornament and the cute Santa couple!


Ornaments can be very simple and still look elegant. Decide what look you are going for. Are you going for a whimsical touch such as a tree filled with a variety of Santas? Pipka Santas are a good choice. Or are you going for a sophisticated look? Gloria Duchin Pewter Ornaments would make your Christmas tree shine!

Whether you choose to make your ornaments or purchase them, you can make your tree look stunning with a little planning. If you want some new ideas to spruce up your old way of decorating your tree, scout it out online. Look through old and new magazines for a spark of creativity.

E-mail us at customerservice@christmastwigs.com with some of your fabulous Christmas tree photos or ideas for tree design! We'd love to share your ideas with our readers!

Tree Decor and Christmas in July

It's not too early to start thinking ahead to Christmas. If you have more than one tree to decorate or you are on a tight budget and want a quick and easy idea for decorating your Christmas tree think Christmas cards!

Choose a whimsical, religious, or more than one themed Christmas card. For example, if you want to decorate your tree in a Santa theme, choose a couple of Christmas cards that will coordinate color wise. Both can have Santas on them.

*Punch a hole in the top of the Christmas cards.
*Purchase some wired ribbon, striped, or thin ribbon according to the design you want to achieve. Thread the ribbon through each punched card hole. Then tie a bow.
*Hang each instant ornament on your tree with a Christmas tree hanger.
*Add some snowflake ornaments (handmade or purchased) or other ornaments of your choice.
*Drape ribbon from the top of your tree down the branches to the bottom of your tree. Several times around the Christmas tree.

You can add other accents such as doll or toy batting to each branch to resemble snow. Let your imagine run magical! Voila! You have a beautiful tree both inexpensive to decorate and easy to create!

Here We Come A Caroling...in August!

It is almost time for back to school and Christmas is right around the corner. Ease the stress of the holidays and find a great gift now to give your neighbors this holiday season.

1. Musical Snow Globe
Why is it when you see a snow globe you can't resist picking it up and watching it snow? There is something very magical about a snow globe that brings a smile to your face and a delightful feeling of Christmas. Pipka makes several beautiful Santa inspired musical snow globes which you can find at Christmas Twigs! Package your snow globe in a homemade hand sewn fabric gift bag and tie it with a ribbon and fill a cello bag of individually wrapped peppermint candies inside the bag to the front of your gift bag.

Attach a saying like: "Let it snow! We hope you enjoy the wonder and magic of the Christmas season. Thanks for being such a great neighbor!" Or come up with your own tag.

2. Tabletop Christmas Tree with Teddy Bear
Ditz Design makes some darling tree bears that are perfect to sit on a tabletop. They feature a white, brown, or black teddy bear climbing its branches. There are various styles to choose from and they are prelit. Add a tag that says, "You are the beary best neighbor!" or something like that. They can deck their halls with your gift and every time they look at it, they will think of your thoughtfulness!

3. Pewter Ornament
At Christmas Twigs we have a beautiful selection of ornaments. Gloria Duchin pewter and silvertone Perfect for neighbors, teachers, or anyone on your gift giving list.

Attach a tag that tells them "It is sweet having you for a neighbor!" Give a candy cane ornament along with chocolate mint candies, candy canes, or peppermint candy sticks.

How about a darling snowman ornament with the timeless story about "Frosty the Snowman" and attach a tag that reads, " Great stories like friendships last forever! Thanks for being such a fun neighbor!"

Check out Christmas Twigs and find the perfect gift for your neighbors and loved ones! Stress less and enjoy more when it comes to your holiday shopping, decorating, and gift giving!

School's Out...Time to Create An Old Fashioned Christmas!

At Christmas Twigs, www.christmastwigs.com, we like to make your holidays and celebrations less stressful and more enjoyable. You can create a memorable Christmas the old fashioned way and involve your children by starting your holiday preparations this summer!

Parents are always looking for creative ways to keep their children busy during the summer time. There are many fun things you can do as a family to spend quality time together and make it a memorable summer. Not to mention make this year's Christmas less stressful!

Simple ideas mean beautiful results!

Christmas Tree Ornaments

Felt Ornaments

Your children can make all kinds of fun ornament shapes with felt. You will need paper for patterns, felt, sequins, glue, batting, needle & thread, buttons, assorted trims, glitter, ribbon roses, etc...
1.Cut out simple pattern shapes like a Christmas tree, bell, round ornament shape, star,present, just keep it basic. Cut two of each pattern out of felt.

2.Depending on the age of your child, he or she can sew the edges together by hand or you can sew them on a sewing machine leaving a spot open to stuff with batting. Sew or glue the open spot closed.

3. Then the fun begins! Let each child decorate with their own style and flair. These can become treasured ornaments through the years. On the back of each ornament, take a fabric marker or fabric paint and put their name and date on it.

4.Glue a thin ribbon loop on the back for a hanger.

Gumdrop Ornaments
These are a little tricky for small hands so you may want to do these with your older children. Purchase white or colored gumdrops, Styrofoam balls, toothpicks, glue, ribbon, and corsage pins. (For step by step instructions with pictures visit our second blog at www.holidayhearthandhome.blogonize.com.)
1. Cut a piece of ribbon and fold it in half. Pin the two cut edges into the Styrofoam balls at the top of the ball with a corsage pin.

2. Cut or break toothpicks into half pieces. Stick half of the uneven edge toothpick into the ball. The pointy edge of the toothpick will be sticking out. Put a gumdrop on the pointy end of the toothpick. Carefully push the gumdrop all the way onto the toothpick. (It may be helpful to use a fabric hot pad folded in half to push the gumdrop on so the toothpick doesn't poke your finger. Start at the bottom of the ball (opposite edge from where the ribbon was placed.

3. Randomly put a corsage pin in the small spaces between the gumdrops for an elegant finish!

These are quite heavy so when you hang them on the tree they will need to be hung closer to the trunk of the tree instead out on the branches. You could add greenery to these ornaments or hang them on a garland. Put a a gumdrop ball in a small glass bowl or on a decorative Christmas plate. Put two or three displayed along your mantel. Add greenery and put it on your mantel for an eye catching display!

Clothespin Fairies, Santas, & Elves
Hop aboard Santa's sleigh and pretend you are flying away to the North Pole. You will need old fashioned wooden clothespins, fabric, felt, scissors, markers, assorted trims, pipe cleaners, variety color of yarn, batting, ribbon, tulle or regular net for wings, and . You and your children can use their imaginations to make whimsical miniature dolls from old fashioned clothespins.

1. For the fairy, first glue on a pipe cleaner cut in half to the back of the clothespin. Let it dry and you may want to hot glue these on.

2. Create your own designer dress (possibilities are endless here), and attach to the clothespin. Make some cute puffy sleeves with trim or fabric to glue on each side of the clothespin.

3. Make a small loop at the end of each pipe cleaner for hands.

4. Put eyes, mouth nose, and blush on each doll with markers.

5. Fairy wings are easily made by cutting a small rectangle of tulle or net. Take a thin ribbon and tie it in the middle of the tulle or net.

6. Make long locks of hair out of yarn for fairies and make a cute hat out of a flower. Santa beards and hair are easily made out of batting.

***Take pictures of your cute creations and these could be made into Christmas Cards with a note on the back of designed by...and put the child's first name.***

Check out our selection of Green Christmas trees, Flocked Christmas Trees, and Christmas Trees with cute bears in them by Ditz, at christmastwigs.com. The Ditz Design Tree bears are adorable and you could add a combination of handmade ornaments to hang on their branches for a beautiful old fashioned Christmas tree that your family, friends, and guests will love! Take a look at these they really would be a nice addition to any home, Christmas, or cabin decor!

Christmas Garland

Scraparoo Paper Chain Garland

There are sooo many fun scrap booking papers out now that you can choose just about any creative combination for a paper chain. Spruce up the old idea of using construction paper and substitute that for beautiful designed paper. Have your children cut out strips of paper and glue them together. They can make amazing garland creations this way! Best part about it's simple so your children can do it themselves while making family fun!

Popcorn, Cranberry, Mini Colored Marshmallow Garland
Pop pop corn. Put popcorn, cranberries and marshmallows in separate bowls. You will need a needle and thread for each person stringing the garland. Alternate popcorn, cranberries, and mini colored marshmallows as you sew through the middle of each item. The popcorn is fragile so this activity is easier for big hands but little hands can definitely help. Once you make each strand of garland as long as you want, set it on the cupboard or table and allow it to dry. This makes such a cute and festive garland for your tree!

Let your imagination go and create an old fashioned Christmas this summer that you and your children will enjoy and remember for years!

Visit www.christmastwigs.com and read our article pages for more family friendly holiday ideas and www.holidayhearthandhome.blogonize.com for creative ways to celebrate and start family traditions!