Anyone can go to the store to find a card,  and I’ll admit you can find some really nice ones.  ( Sometimes you have to pay a ‘really nice’ price,  too.)

The card pictured here is very simple,  yet beautiful and different.   You’ll never find one like it in any store.   It won’t cost you an arm and a leg to make it,   and you can have it finished in no time.

(Click the underlined link above for more origami ideas.)

Consider yourself fortunate if you still have your mother.    I lost my mother to heart disease nearly 16 years ago.   My husband’s mother passed away just this week,  just a few days before Mother’s Day, and her funeral will be held this Saturday.     We can’t complain, though,  as she was around for a long time.   She would have been 99 years old on her birthday next month.

Enjoy your mother while you can and always be sure to show her your appreciation.

For years I have been fascinated by them.   Quite some time ago my parents and I visited a very, very large antique shop.   This particular shop had so many Grandfather Clocks that I would hesitate to even try to guess how many there were.    They had all been imported from Europe,   and there were numerous designs and styles.   Perhaps this is where I first became fascinated and intrigued with them.

Sometime after that my parents had a Grandfather Clock made for them by an Amish man.   When my parents died,  I inherited this clock.   What a beautiful addition it has made to my home.

If you think these clocks are neat to have in your living room,  why not consider making your own?   Plans are readily available.

Candy bouquets are easy to create,  and are not expensive to make even though the final results of your efforts are very attractive and unique.   Seems to me this is the ideal gift – one that will be cherished and enjoyed for a long time.

I saw this recipe in our local newspaper yesterday. Now it may not be new to you, but it is to me. At least, if I’ve run across it before, I have forgotten it. (Maybe you don’t have that problem.) Anyway, the column was written by Carol Cloud Bailey, known in our paper as “Yard Doc.” The recipe is for dough ornaments which will have your house smelling great for a long time. The ingredients that you will need are:

1 1/2 cups cinnamon

1 cup applesauce

1/4 cup white school glue

If you prefer a different aroma, Carol suggests that you add 1 tsp. to 1 tbsp. each of ground nutmeg, ginger, cloves, and allspice.

You also will need the following supplies: a bowl, plastic wrap, a drinking straw, and a cookie sheet.

Use a spatula to mix all the ingredients, adding the cinnamon slowly. The dough should be thick like a stiff cookie dough, but not sticky. Knead the dough slightly until smooth and cover with plastic wrap. Then let it sit for at least an hour. Flatten and roll the dough until about 1/4 inch thick. (Thinner dough tends to crack and curl; thicker dough doesn’t dry well in climates such as ours here in Florida.)

Cut into desired shapes using a template and knife or cookie cutters. Use the drinking straw to punch a hole for the ribbon or yarn to hang it.

The ornaments may be placed on a rack to dry, turning every so often; this will take three to five days, or longer if the air is damp. She prefers to put them on cookie sheets in a warm oven, about 170-200 degrees, for about two hours, flipping them several times. When cool, you may decorate them with beads, ribbons, paint, or glitter. Do not cover the entire surface to allow the fragrance to fill your house.

Carol suggests storing them in sealed containers with silicone packets to absorb moisture.

Painting on glass is currently one of the most popular forms of art for gift-giving and home decorating. The technique of painting on glass is centuries old and seems to have developed soon after the appearance of sheet glass.

Because of its popularity, there are a variety of glass painting products and books available. With the recent development of new specialty paints, the glass painting process has been enhanced, and finished items are more durable. New paints, when dried properly, will withstand a great number of washings in the dishwasher and remain as beautiful as when first painted.

There are so many holiday gift ideas for crafters that the only problem one may have is which one of the many choices to settle on. In that case, a gift certificate to a craft store is always welcome.

When it comes to scrapbooking themes, there are a vast assortment of them available to celebrate the Christmas season. With a little research, you can find quite an abundance of ideas and free digital scrapbooking themes on the internet to get you started.