Saturday, January 4, 2014

A Snowflake Wreath for Winter

Every year after I take down my Christmas stuff my house feels so empty.  This year I just had to do something about it.  I decided I was going to make a fun wreath for my door.  After all, snowflakes are Winter, not Christmas.  After rummaging through several after Christmas clearance sales, I finally found some snowflakes that I considered to be wreath worthy.  I found these at Target.  They actually are suppose to be bows for packages, but I decided to make them into a wreath. 

Here is what I bought:
 
 
This stuff was actually the leftover of the leftovers. 
I bought anything that I could find that looked like snow. 
 
Here is what I used:
1 plastic wreath
2 strands of white garland
20 medium sized snowflakes
4 white pine needle bunches
2 white mini pinecone bunches
1 "Let it Snow" gift tag
1 sheet of clear plastic laminate
White snow glitter
1 bow
 
 
 
 
I was going to try to use the blue wreath for the background, but decided that really was not what I was going for.  Then I took off the blue garland and decided that the wreath was just too three dimensional. 
So I cut it apart with pliers.  I cut easily, and it gave me a nice flat circle for the base of my wreath.
I wrapped the white garland around the base, adding the white pine needles as I went.  I tried to space them out evenly, leaving a space at the top because of the bow that would be there.
Then I started hot gluing the snowflakes around.  I tried to make them so that they were not so  perfectly centered so as to be more like a random snowfall.
 
When I was done with the first layer of snowflakes I added the remaining few flakes as a second layer to give it a 3D effect.
I used the two pinecone sprigs on either side of the bow and hot glued them all to the top.
The only thing that I could find with the saying "let it snow" on it was a gift tag, so I decided to just go with it.  Since it was going on my front door, I decided to cover it in a layer of clear plastic laminate.
I used a little white glue to add some white snow glitter at the top of the sign.
And then glued it diagonally to the bottom of the wreath.   I am thrilled with how it turned out. 
 
 
Since we live in the desert, it is kind of fun to still celebrate the winter.  You never know, maybe it just might snow this year?
 
 
 
Looking for another fun wreath idea?  Check out my really popular flip flop wreath by clicking on the picture below:
http://hollyshome-hollyshome.blogspot.com/2012/04/flip-flop-wreath.html
 

Thursday, January 2, 2014

Orange You Glad It's Christmas or New Years - Gift Tags for giving a gift of oranges at Christmas or New Years




Every year at Christmas my orange tree has so many oranges on it that we could never eat them all, so I give them out as Christmas gifts.  This year I decided to design a tag to put on the bag to make it a little more special.  I had some left over oranges that I wasn't able to give out in time for Christmas so I made another tag for New Years.  If you scroll down you will see it below. I thought that there might be some other people who live in the warmer climates who also like to give out oranges at Christmas or New Years, so I decided to make this available to others.

Here is the gift tag.  Just click on the picture to make it larger, then either save it into your pictures, or copy and paste it.  I print it out on 4&6 photo paper.








Here is another version that you can print out on 8 1/2 x 11 sheets







Here is a picture of the ones that I did.  I was in a hurry, so it is a really bad picture.





Sunday, December 29, 2013

New Year Activity Pages for 2025

This post is updated every year!










Here are some fun activity pages to start off your New Year.  I have four different pages:
1. Happy New Year 2025
2. Things that I would like to do this year
3. My New Year's goals this year
4. My favorite thing about last year was

Just scroll down to each one.  Click on the printout to make it larger.  Then you can right click on the picture and save it into your pictures, or you can copy and paste it into whatever program you use.  Have a wonderful new year!!

1. Happy New Year 2025
You can print this out on cardstock and decorate with glitter, jewels, etc. to make a fun New Years sign. 
Or, you could just color it.




2. Things that I would like to do this year

Have the child either draw the pictures of the things that he would like to do, or he could cut the pictures out of a magazine and glue the pictures on.  If you are using glue then I would recommend to print it on card-stock.


3.  My New Year's goals this year


4. My favorite thing about last year was:


5. Play New Year's BINGO

Have everyone print the numbers 1-25 in the spaces in any order that they want.  You can even tell them to print in a free space.  Give them candy or cereal to mark their spaces.  Then call out the numbers from a jar.  When you have a winner they can clear off their bingo boards and you can start the game over.  You could even have them trade BINGO cards for fun.

Have more BINGO options if you click here.

I have many other New Years idea.  
http://hollyshome-hollyshome.blogspot.com/2013/12/happy-new-year-around-world-free.html









Friday, December 27, 2013

"Happy New Year" Around the World FREE Printout - Napkin Rings, Place Cards, Gift Tags, Leftover Tags


Here is a printout for "Happy New Year" in many different languages.  If you would like to copy it just click on it to make it larger, then right click and save it as a picture, or copy and paste it.

If you would like to make the printout into a gift bag go here for the instructions
http://hollyshome-hollyshome.blogspot.com/2013/11/thanksgiving-treat-bag-printable.html
 

If you would like to look up the sayings you can find them at http://www.freelang.net/expressions/newyear.php 
and some came from here
http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0923039.html

Just so that you can see how they all look as a table here is a similar version that I have done for the saying "Merry Christmas" from around the world.
http://hollyshome-hollyshome.blogspot.com/2013/11/merry-christmas-around-world-free.html

Napkin Rings

Place Cards

Gift Tags

Leftover Tags

New Year's Nibbles Tags


To attach the tag to the outside of the bag I used a 
craft bond glue stick.  
You could also use spray adhesive, double stick tape or rubber cement.





Here is another set of New Year's 
ideas that I have.
Just click on the picture below:





I also have some New Years Activity Pages




Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Free Christmas Placecard Printouts

I have six different place card printouts.  Just click on the printout to make it larger.  Then you can save it into your pictures, or you can copy and paste it into your print program. 

1. "Merry Christmas" around the world
2. "The Stars were Brightly Shining"
3.  "Let it Snow" (in red and blue)
4.  "We Wish You a Merry Christmas"
5.  Heart Filled Christmas
6.  Happy Holidays in Buffalo Check

1. "Merry Christmas" around the world



To see the other matching items go here:

http://hollyshome-hollyshome.blogspot.com/2013/11/merry-christmas-around-world-free.html


2. "The Stars were Brightly Shining"



To see the other matching items go here:


http://hollyshome-hollyshome.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-stars-were-brightly-shining.html


3.  "Let it Snow"

Blue Version:


 To see the other matching items go here:
http://hollyshome-hollyshome.blogspot.com/2013/12/let-it-snow-printable-napkin-rings.html


4.  "We Wish You a Merry Christmas"


To see the other matching items go here:
http://hollyshome-hollyshome.blogspot.com/2013/12/we-wish-you-merry-christmas-chevron.html

5.  Heart Filled Christmas


To see the other matching items go here:
http://hollyshome-hollyshome.blogspot.com/2013/12/burlap-heart-filled-christmas.html

6.  Happy Holidays Buffalo Plaid


 The Buffalo check is available in a Thanksgiving version also.



I hope your dinner turns out great.  Here are some other great Holly's Home Christmas ideas:
http://hollyshome-hollyshome.blogspot.com/p/fun-and-free-christmas-ideas.html