Christmas Crafts for You and the Kids

If you like Christmas crafts there is no shortage of directions for how-to projects both on and online. On the internet you will find do it yourself projects for every type of Christmas craft imaginable. Women's magazines are also full of ideas for Christmas crafts at this time of the year.

If you are stuck for inspiration as to what types of Christmas crafts you could make this year here are some ideas –

Try baking your own shortbread cookies, decorating them with colored icing and decorative silver balls and stringing them on shiny ribbon or fish line. One good shortbread recipe can provide you with scores of cheap and creative looking cookie Christmas tree decorations. You can cut the shapes of common Christmas motifs out of dough with a knife or you can buy shapes like Christmas trees, Christmas balls, snowmen and angels as cookie cutters from a store. Perhaps the easiest shape to make out of shortbread is the Christmas ball. Simply cut the ball shape out of the dough with the rim of a glass and lavishly decorate it with candy glitter.

You can also make your own Christmas tree garlands. This is one of those ancient Christmas crafts that can be a group activity for you and your family. Simply stringing popcorn on a string makes very attractive garlands. You can also try stringing nuts or cranberries for an unusual effect. Garlands can also be made out of gold or aluminum foil that is cut up and twisted in loops that hook into each other.

It is also fun to make your own Christmas tree decorations. These types of Christmas crafts can be made from almost anything including Styrofoam, play dough, cooking' crystals and ribbons. One clever idea is to buy a box of plain glass balls and then make patterns with glue on their sides. The idea is that you then roll them in glitter to create a sparkling yet merry pattern.

If you are really ambitious you can also try making your own Christmas candles. One of the simplest ways is to buy sheets of beeswax and then roll them up to create unique one of a kind candle centerpieces. You can also melt wax in a double boiler and make your own candles. There are commercial scents such as pine and cinnamon available on the market that is specifically created for making these types of Christmas crafts smell nice. You can also buy candle molds in the shapes of popular holiday motifs such as evergreen trees, snowmen and stars.

Sitting around with your family to make xmas crafts together, even it if it is as simple as handmade Christmas cards is a great way to strengthen your loving bonds with each other at holiday time.

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How to Make a Money Tree

Making a money tree is usually done at Christmas but you can actually do it any time of the year. All you need to do is find an old tree branch which looks like the body of a small tree. Then all you need to do is pin fake or real money to it with clothespins or some other type of pin. Some people use fish hooks or threads or chains to hang the money off of the tree. Even tape will do.

The idea is that that tree branches are bare but the money that is attached symbolizes the leaves. A variation of this is to use evergreen branches or a small Christmas tree as the foundation for the tree. All evergreens are natural prosperity symbols. Juniper brings material wealth. Pine brings good health and wealth. Spruce brings wealth though family connections.

If you are using tree branches the different woods you choose might also have some connotations for you. Willow tree branches can help alleviate sorrow and help pay for medical expenses. Money tree branches made from willow trees might also help a widow find a new husband.

Money trees made from oak branches bode financial strength and immunity to bad financial trends. They can very much be about being sturdy and having stamina during tough economic times. Oaks are big strong trees that put firm roots into the ground so they symbolize financial strength. Hanging a few acorns on this type of tree is also a good idea.

Maple trees are about the free flowing circulation of money and excellent for attracting business or trying to manifest and make a goal about how much money you would like a new business to make for you.

The principle of manifestation with this type of ritual is that whatever you put on the tree in terms of real or fake money will then multiply ten times. This is why it is a good idea to add as many money 'leaves' as possible. It is also not a bad idea to add coins. Foreign coins, fake coins and real coins work well. You can also decorate the tree with foil covered chocolate coins which symbolize the money coming to you in and easy and sweet way.

The idea is that whatever you attach to the tree is worth ten times as much. For instance if you attach a five dollar bill it is actually worth five hundred bucks. And of course if you don't have any money you can use any kind of fake money. It is perfectly acceptable to use Monopoly money. If you don't even have a set of Monopoly money around you can write the amounts that you need on little slips of paper. The paper can be green or you can write the amount that you need in green paint or marker.

As with all rituals like this remember that they only work as well as the intention that you put into it so be sure to put your heart and soul into making your money tree.

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