December is Almost Here! Make This Easy, Recycled Tube Advent Calendar Wreath

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December is Almost Here! Make This Easy, Recycled Tube Advent Calendar Wreath

It's almost December! Time to set up an advent calendar! ⁠Save a few toilet paper, paper towels, or shipping tubes to create this advent calendar wreath. Fill it with small presents like candies or little toys or little notecards describing “activity” gifts like: “movie night!”, “hot chocolate with candy cane stirrers!” or “evening drive to see holiday lights!”.⁠ As presents are removed you can fill the holes with a small ornament, toy, or piece of candy.⁠

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Fun and Tasty Weekend Holiday Project: Peppermint Bowls!

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Fun and Tasty Weekend Holiday Project: Peppermint Bowls!

With all the leftover peppermint candy I have from cookie-house-making, I am planning on revisiting these peppermint bowls I made many years ago for our book, Candy Aisle Crafts. ⁠They're not as hard as you might think (and super fun!) but it’s good to read through the instructions, below. Especially the tip to use a potholder while handling and shaping the melted candies to the bowl (essential!). Also, as I describe below, it helps to melt the inner candies and then add rows of candies. If you heat them all at once the inner candies are sheltered and won't melt enough.⁠

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DIY Recycled Cardboard Animals Craft Kit Gift

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DIY Recycled Cardboard Animals Craft Kit Gift

Are you looking for an inexpensive and handmade (but easy) kid gift idea? Look no farther! This is the time of year where a lot of us have cardboard boxes in our recycle bin…and you don’t need much else to make these cardboard animal kits!

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A Favorite Family Tradition: 'Elf' Viewing Party!

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A Favorite Family Tradition: 'Elf' Viewing Party!

Elf is one of my family's favorite movies. We could watch it all the time, but, for the last few years, we established a policy to do so only once a year, with cousins, right before Christmas. When we finally do get to watch it, it feels really special event! Last year, a few nights before Christmas, we had an Elf Night with our extended family. My younger son and I made these cardstock invites together during a sick day.

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How to Turn Your Favorite Book into a Holiday Gift Kit!

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How to Turn Your Favorite Book into a Holiday Gift Kit!

Sometimes I want to give a special, not right-off-the-shelves gift but don't have time to handmake it, so I'll choose a great book and assemble a gift kit around it. These feel custom and personal, but are so easy to put together. I've gathered a few ideas here using some of my favorite books (and, er, my books too!).

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