DECK THE HOLIDAY'S

   In Finland, Christmas is celebrated from 24th to 26th of December. Preparations for the festival begin from approximately a month ago with many Finnish people buying the Christmas tree , decorative items and gifts and goodies for the season. Houses are cleaned and special treats like gingerbread cookies and prune tarts prepared for the oncoming festive season.  In Finland, Santa might also be known as Joulupukki!    The first Sunday in December (also called the First Advent) starts the Finnish Christmas season. Christmas lights begin to appear in the stores along with gifts, goods and goodies for the festival. Children count the days to the festival making their own Christmas calendar with some great pictures related to the Christmas theme or even some chocolate caramel.    In Finland the Christmas tree is set up on Christmas Eve. Fir trees are felled, tied onto sleds, and taken home to be decorated beautifully with candies, paper flags, cotton, tinsel, apples

   This comes from www.littlebirdiesecreats.blogspot.com .  I had a bunch of this pretty Christmas paper left over from last year (it's Making Memories' Mistletoe line), so I decided to use it up before I didn't love it anymore. I've been meaning to make a star wreath for ages, and after seeing a friend's 3D stars lining the wall on her staircase (super cute idea, by the way), I decided to try them out. Easy and darling! Here's how to make a 3-D paper star wreath for yourself. 3-D Paper Star Wreath Tutorial Supplies: *Patterned papers *Scoring tool (scoring board, bone folder, or stylus) *Hot glue gun *Wreath form (I cut my own out of chipboard, but you could use a wooden one from the craft store) *Buttons, brads, and ribbon 1. Cut stars approximately 3" to 4" wide using a template or die cutting machine. I would've used my Silhouette, but it's on the fritz, so I used my trusty Slice machine . You coul

   This comes from www.marthastewart.com .  Try making marshmallows this holiday season.  They taste 100% better than the store bought brands. Give out homemade treats that are great in hot cocoa -- or straight from the bag. Peppermint marshmallows are easy to make; they get their red swirl from a quick marbleizing technique. Follow our recipe, then package them in small cellophane bags to show off their good looks. Fold the top of each bag over once, and staple it shut. Use a small hole punch on either side of the staple. Thread a length of red twine through the holes, and knot it in front. Pull one end through a gift tag, and finish with a bow. Yield Makes sixteen 2-inch squares Ingredients Vegetable-oil cooking spray 2 cups sugar 1 tablespoon light corn syrup 4 packages (1/4 ounce each) unflavored g

   This is from www.scapcationgetaway.blogspot.com .  Children would get a real kick out of this one. Grinch Pills --Free Scut File Here is one of my favorite projects I've done so far! I just love these! I am dying to make more! I designed the little tic tac holder in my SCAL program and saved it as a scut file. You can download it below. I've made it very easy for you! I've even included the design that I put on the front! Right click on the image below to save. Then all you have to do is print! Click HERE for the Scut file.

   Her a few of the Holiday window displays that I have found so far.  Enjoy the pictures and more will be coming soon. Macy's Holiday Windows 2011 Bloomingdales 2011 New Museum Store 2011 Lord & Taylor 2011 Henri Bendel 2011