Traditions of Christmas ~ Gift Jars

  Are you looking for a simple gift for a friend, teacher, or co-worker? Maybe you want a project that you can do with the kids. Gift jars are a great gift for anyone, and easy enough for kids to make with a little help from an adult. 

Traditions of Christmas ~ Gift Trays

   This is one of my favourite gift ideas and one that we've done many times over the years. Some years have been quiet, with just my daughter Nicole and I getting together, while other years the whole family has been home to take part. No matter who is there, it's always a fun time of making memories.

Traditions of Christmas ~ Mini Gingerbread Houses

  Many years ago, baking cookies and making a gingerbread house before Christmas became one of our family traditions. The gingerbread houses didn't happen every year, but at some point, all eight of our kids had a turn at decorating a house with candy. 

Traditions of Christmas ~ Button Wreath

  

When I was a child, I loved playing with my mom's collection of buttons. Like many ladies of her day, Mom kept the buttons in an old cookie tin. Years later, when my parents were moving from the farm, among their possessions was a huge cookie tin full of buttons. Not the small tin from my childhood, but one that belonged to my great aunt. I'm sure that tin held not only Auntie Bene's button collection, but my grandma's and my mom's as well. I had no idea what I'd do with all those buttons, but I brought the cookie tin home, not willing to leave it behind for someone else to throw away.

Traditions of Christmas ~ In Song

    Anyone else love Christmas as much as I do?!

  Christmas has always been my favourite time of the year. Even though we didn't have a lot when I was a child, Mom and Dad always made Christmas a special time. When our own kids were small, there were many years that we didn't have extra money, so we learned to make do with what we had...sometimes saving money by making gifts. When the kids were older we often made our own decorations and wrapping paper, and baked cookies to give away to family and friends. 

  With the Christmas season fast approaching, I thought I'd share some of our family's Christmas traditions, inexpensive crafts, and homemade gift ideas.