Tis the season for spending money! Or so it seems! Every time you turn around there is another opportunity to write a check, buy another present or spend another dollar. Many of the standard Christmas traditions require a trip to the grocery or store to spend even more money. Sometimes it seems like you aren't even a good parent if you don't buy the right things to help your kids celebrate the holidays and traditions. But I've got 3 ideas for Christmas traditions that doesn't involve money!


Skip the Mall Picture with Santa
If you go to the mall to get the picture with Santa, be prepared to spend some serious money. Sure, the background is professional and the elves create a festive event, but there are ways to get a picture with Santa for free. Be watching for the local fire station, church event or school program where they have a Santa in attendance. If you know a friend with a Santa costume, arrange to have a personal visit to your house, then pay the Santa in cookies or homemade goodies. Many Walmart stores will have a free day where you can go get a picture with Santa for FREE.

Go Christmas Caroling
Going Christmas caroling used to be a standard event in most communities. Maybe this is the year to bring back this free tradition. Whether you go with your family, kids or a group of friends, you can make some holiday memories and spread some good cheer by singing some of the classic Christmas carols. If it's rainy or too cold to be outside, then call up your local nursing home or retirement center and get permission to carol through the halls. The residents will be thrilled and you will be making a difference in the lives of those who can't get out and enjoy the festive holidays.

Work on a Puzzle
On the long, winter nights when it gets dark early and it's too cold to be outside, why not bring out a puzzle? Kids of all ages can enjoy working the puzzles, helping find the same colors or look for the edge pieces. Pop a bag of popcorn, turn on some Christmas music and enjoy an old fashioned, free, holiday tradition.

The holidays is all about decorating and it's one that we love doing. We can't wait for the tree to go up so we can start our holiday decorations. What do you get when you mix two doilies and a few other craft supplies together? A snowman ornament of course! Take a peek below at how we created our own DIY doilie ornament perfect for decorating your tree with. It is so easy, that even children will enjoy giving this activity a try. Here is how you can get started. Hurry, the holidays are almost here!


Supplies needed for this project:

1 white doilies (sold 2 for $1 at Michael’s craft stores)
Assorted black buttons
Colorful glitter craft foam of your choice
Pair googly eyes
Orange craft foam or felt
Craft glue
Pipe cleaner or ribbon for hanging


Directions:

1. Begin by layering the two doilies together. Lay one on top of the other and attach them with a generous amount of glue. Allow them to dry.

2. You can now form the face. Add a dab of glue to each googly eye and press it to the top doilie.

3. Create the nose of the snowman by cutting a triangle out of orange felt or foam. Attach it to the center of the top doilie with glue.

4. Create the mouth and rest of the snowman details with the black buttons. Create a simple mouth and button down front. Just add a dab, press, and hold until dry and secure.


5. Finish off the snowman with a glitter scarf. Cut a strip of glitter foam, add a fringe or angled end, and glue it across the snowman’s neck.

Your DIY doilie snowman is now ready to be displayed. Add a ribbon or pipe cleaner for hanging with some glue or just by tying it into the doilie. You can now hang your doilie snowman on your tree, from a hook, or even from a gift you intent to give.

Gather your supplies and see how simple it can be to create this doilie snowman ornament yourself. It is sure to be a craft your whole family will enjoy making!

Are you ready for Christmas? Although you might have all your gifts wrapped and under the tree, it can be difficult to find small items to fill stockings with on Christmas morning. This can seem especially daunting when you consider how big stockings actually are. If you’re struggling to come up with stocking stuffer ideas this year, here are a few ideas you can try.

Light your tree up this holiday season when you give these holiday votive light character ornaments a try. With a simple battery operated votive light and a few crafting supplies, you can create these kitschy and colorful character ornaments perfect for adorning your tree. Take a peek below at how you can get started crafting your own light up snowman as well as a light up reindeer.


First, let’s look at how to craft the snowman.

Snowman Ornament:

Here is what you will need:

1 battery operated votive
Black craft foam, craft fabric, or construction paper
Pair of googly eyes
Black marker
Red craft ribbon
Scissors
Hot glue, glue gun


We found everything we used here at our local dollar store. You can find a nice assortment of battery operated votives in various colors and styles perfect for this project.

Directions:

1. Begin by attaching the pair of googly eyes. Just add dab of glue and press into place above the faux flame.

2. Now, cut out the hat for your snowman. We just freehanded a black hat out of some black scrap fabric. Add a generous dab of glue and press the hat into place.


3. Finish the face of the snowman by dabbing on a few dots with a black marker.

4. Cut a small length of ribbon that can be used as a tie. Fold the length, add a dab of glue, and press the bow into place.

5. Take a length of red ribbon and tie it into a loop. Press it to the back of the votive along with some glue. Hold it in place until dry.


Your ornament is now ready to be hung. Simply turn your votive on so the nose of your snowman lights up. Hang it on your tree or anywhere you need some holiday glow.

Now, let’s talk about making the reindeer ornament.

Reindeer Ornament:

Here is what you will need:

1 battery operated votive
Brown pipe cleaners
Pair of googly eyes
Black marker
Red craft ribbon
Scissors
Hot glue, glue gun

Directions:

1. Begin by attaching the pair of googly eyes. Just add dab of glue and press into place above the faux flame.

2. Now, cut the pipe cleaners for your antlers. Cut two lengths that you then tie onto one straight length. Add small bits to create the antler look. You are sort of creating a “headband” that will then get glued onto the votive. Add a generous dab of glue and press the finished antlers into place.

3. Finish the face of the reindeer by dabbing on smile with a black marker.

4. Cut a small length of ribbon that can be used as a tie. Fold the length, add a dab of glue, and press the bow into place.


5. Take a length of red ribbon and tie it into a loop. Press it to the back of the votive along with some glue. Hold it in place until dry. Your ornament is now ready to be hung.

See how fun and easy it can be to create holiday themed character ornaments with just a few craft supplies and votives? Give these easy ornaments a try and let your tree light up this holiday season!

So one of the things that kids love is playing in the sandbox during the summer. If you are looking for some fun and frugal ways to encourage fine motor skills, then this holiday writing tray is the perfect solution. You can make your own holiday writing tray for your child to practice their letters and numbers on with just a quick visit to your local dollar store. Take a peek below at how you can create your own in minutes!



Supplies needed for this activity:

Cookie sheet or baking sheet
Red or green craft sand
Candy cane

We found all three of these supplies at our local dollar store. We only needed one bag of colored sand to fit the medium-sized tray. It doesn’t matter what candy canes you use since you won’t be eating them. Just pick ones that have color that appeals to you.


Directions:

1. Begin by pouring the sand onto the tray. Smooth it out with your hands. The nice thing about the cookie tray/sheet is that it has a lip, so there are no worries about sand falling over the edges.

2. Give the child a wrapped candy cane. This will act as their writing tool.


3. Using the candy cane, trace numbers, letters, and shapes into the sand. Talk with your child about what they are writing and the shapes they are making. You can even give them words or shapes to copy.

4. When your child is ready to start over, simply use your hand to clear the sheet and pat the sand back into place. When it is a thin and even layer, it is ready to be used again.


When learning time is over, you can place plastic wrap or tinfoil directly over the tray to protect the sand. Or, you can even pour the contents into a plastic sandwich bag for storage. Ready to play again? Just lay the sand back out on the tray.


See how easy it can be to not only make but enjoy your holiday writing tray? This is a fun, frugal, and hands-on activity that children are sure to love.

In Mexico, the poinsettia is called flor de la Nochebuenao flower of the Holy Night. At Christmastime, the flower blooms and flourishes, the quite exquisite red stars lighting up the countryside. This Mexican legend tells how the poinsettia came to be, through a little girl's unselfish gift to the Christ Child. 

With just a few materials, you can make a poinsettia ornament perfect for adorning your tree. Here is how to get started.

Supplies needed:

Clear ornament
Silk poinsettia
White or silver glitter
Ribbon for hanging
Scissors

You can find all of the supplies you need here at both your local dollar store or craft store. Look for plastic ornaments that are shatterproof since this is a craft you will be doing with children. You can choose any color of poinsettias you wish, as you will find them in white, red, and pink.


Directions:

1. Begin by removing the top of the ornament. Sprinkle in a teaspoon or so of glitter and give it a good shake to spread it around.

2. Take a stem of poinsettias and remove the blooms. You can just snip the tops off with scissors. You can also snip a few leaves off if you wish.


3. Now, take the blooms and tuck them into clear ornament. You can use a pencil to press them in and adjust them into position. Add some greenery using the same method.

4. How full you want the ornament to be is up to you. You can add several smaller blooms or one large one.

5. Cut a length of ribbon and tie it to the ornament for hanging.


Your poinsettia ornament is now ready to be displayed. Each time you look at it, you will be reminded of The Legend of the Poinsettia!