Salt Dough Christmas Decorations

Looking for ways to have a thrifty Christmas? why not have a go at making your own Salt Dough Christmas Decorations,

Ingredients needed:
200ml water
10oz plain flour
10oz salt
1 tbsp vegetable oil

Method:
Mix it all the ingredients together then when you're ready roll the mixture out, cut into shapes with cookie/biscuit cutters, my personal favourites being Snowmen, Gingerbread Men and Bell shaped cookie cutters,

Place on a baking tray, make sure you have made a hole in the top of the decoration for the ribbon to go through afterwards, a cocktail stick is a good thing to use. (make sure you make the hole big enough as when you bake the dough the mixture will grow slightly)

A personal favourite of mine is to add a sprinkle of cinnamon to the mix before baking to make the decorations smell nice and Christmassy (don’t use too much though)

Bake in an oven at approx 180C for 20 minutes, then paint and/or varnish or add glitter to make your own unique decoration.

Perfect for giving as a gift, or if the kids have helped you, keeping for sentimental reasons, they can even be re-used for years to come.

If you are truly inspired by all things Christmas then take a look at 24studio.co.uk/christmas they stock a wide range of Christmas gifts, trees, cards, wrap and decorations almost all year round as well as Craft material and Craft kits.

Christmas Trees

Many people see the Christmas tree as the most important of all their Christmas decorations, and I can see why, as usually it is the biggest decoration in the house, and maybe even the one that costs the most money.
Most people have a distinct style of Christmas Tree, often favouring the same sort of style year after year, whereas there are some people who change their Christmas Tree year after year following the different trends. Speaking of which do you remember the other year when one of the high street stores featured upside down Christmas Trees in their shop windows, the country went mad for them! I was not one of them though, as I firmly believe that Christmas Trees should stand from the ground up!
Some people prefer real Christmas Trees to Artificial Trees, maybe its something to do with the smell of them, or the pine needles, or the fact that they don’t have to pack them away at the end of Christmas, or maybe its even for environmental reasons.
Choosing a real Christmas tree can be a daunting task if you don’t know what you are looking for or what the best tree is for your needs, as some real trees apparently don’t shed needles, while others do, so if you’ve got a pet its best to try and find one that retains its needles. I found this useful article today on Choosing a Christmas tree if you need help and advice.
I’ve found a great online shopping site that has a vast range of artificial, LED, traditional and pre-lit Christmas Trees, and the great news is their Christmas Range is out now. I love the Retro Pre-Lit Christmas Tree they have for sale - the multi coloured lights take me right back to my childhood.
Happy days, it’s a lot less stressful when you can shop early.

Advent Calendars

The first advent calendars appeared in 19th-Century Germany, when various methods of counting the days between the start of Advent and Christmas Day were used. Starting on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, or simply on 1 December, the Protestant Christians would keep track of the days by making marks on their doors with a piece of chalk, which would then be rubbed off one by one as Christmas approached. Other practices then developed, including burning a candle or putting up a small religious picture to mark each day.

These days during Advent, people make or buy Advent calendars as a way of counting the days to Christmas. Usually these calendars have twenty-four 'windows'.

Traditional calendar windows open up to show a picture of something linked with this time of year. One may show an angel or one of the shepherds who visited baby Jesus. Others may show pictures of Christmas presents, a candle or anything else to do with Christmas. The last window to be opened usually shows Jesus himself, lying in a manger.

Popular advent calendars today usually have chocolate hidden behind each window. The theme/ picture displayed is usually a character from a TV show or film.

Some people like to make their own Advent Calendars, this Homemade Origami Calendar pattern is one of my favourites, but doesn’t really leave much room for treats.

If it’s an advent calendar full of treats you're looking for, especially if you have younger children then a Wooden Advent Cabinet might be more suitable, where you have 24 little drawers in which to pop a sweet or a chocolate.

Dont forget to put an extra special treat in door number 24 though!

Christmas No1 Songs (UK)

Ah, the Christmas No1 - a highly sought-after achievement in the world of pop - and often the subject of much speculation.

It used to be an open contest, then Cliff Richard started to dominate things in the late 80s and 90s, then the Spice Girls had a turn. These days there is something of an X-Factor monopoly on Christmas number ones (apart from the one year when we all rebelled and put Rage Against The Machine up to number one at Christmas - Facebook power!)

Christmas 2010 and it was the X-Factor again beating everyone else to the number one spot, with Matt Cardle's "When We Collide".

Here's a list of all the Christmas No 1 songs from the last few decades!

Christmas Number 1 Hits of the Past

Noughties Christmas Number Ones:

• 2009     -     Rage Against the Machine     "Killing in the Name"
• 2008     -     Alexandra Burke     "Hallelujah"
• 2007     -     Leon Jackson     "When You Believe"
• 2006     -     Leona Lewis     "A Moment Like This"
• 2005     -     Shayne Ward     "That's My Goal"
• 2004     -     Band Aid 20     "Do They Know It's Christmas?"
• 2003     -     Michael Andrews & Gary Jules     "Mad World"
• 2002     -     Girls Aloud     "Sound of the Underground"
• 2001     -     Robbie Williams & Nicole Kidman     "Somethin' Stupid" 
• 2000     -    Bob The Builder     "Can We Fix It?" 

Nineties Christmas Number Ones:

• 1999     -    Westlife     "I Have A Dream" / "Seasons in the Sun"
• 1998     -    Spice Girls     "Goodbye"
• 1997     -    Spice Girls     "Too Much"
• 1996     -    Spice Girls     "2 Become 1"
• 1995     -    Michael Jackson     "Earth Song"
• 1994     -    East 17     "Stay Another Day"
• 1993     -    Mr Blobby     "Mr Blobby"
• 1992     -    Whitney Houston     "I Will Always Love You"
• 1991     -    Queen     "Bohemian Rhapsody" / "These Are the Days of Our Lives"
• 1990     -    Cliff Richard     "Saviour's Day" 

Eighties Christmas Number Ones:

• 1989     -    Band Aid II     "Do They Know It's Christmas?
• 1988     -    Cliff Richard     "Mistletoe and Wine"
  
• 1987     -    Pet Shop Boys     "Always on My Mind"
• 1986     -    Jackie Wilson     "Reet Petite"    
• 1985     -    Shakin' Stevens     "Merry Christmas Everyone"
• 1984     -    Band Aid     "Do They Know It's Christmas?"
• 1983     -    The Flying Pickets     "Only You"
• 1982     -    Renée and Renato     "Save Your Love"
• 1981     -    The Human League     "Don't You Want Me"
• 1980     -    St Winifred's School Choir     "There's No-one Quite Like Grandma"

Seventies Christmas Number Ones:

• 1979     -    Pink Floyd     "Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2)"
• 1978     -    Boney M     "Mary's Boy Child" / "Oh My Lord"
  
• 1977     -    Wings     "Mull of Kintyre"
  
• 1976     -    Johnny Mathis     "When A Child Is Born (Soleado)" 
• 1975     -    Queen     "Bohemian Rhapsody"
• 1974     -    Mud     "Lonely This Christmas"
• 1973     -    Slade     "Merry Xmas Everybody"
• 1972     -    Jimmy Osmond     "Long Haired Lover From Liverpool"
  
• 1971     -    Benny Hill     "Ernie (The Fastest Milkman in the West)"
• 1970     -    Dave Edmunds     "I Hear You Knocking"

Santa! Stop Here!

Look at this cute Personalised Santa Stop Here Sign - also available in a reindeer design. 


Personalised with any name up to 11 letters, this simple stake sign pushes into soft ground - make sure Father Christmas doesn't miss your house!


More Christmas ideas.

Cute Santa Claus Christmas Tree Topper

I love cute Christmas decorations, so imagine how excited I was to find this gorgeous Santa Christmas tree topper - he's adorable and will brighten up any Christmas tree!

You can buy the Santa tree topper here:
http://homeshopping.24studio.co.uk/search/22826505



For more Christmas inspiration, Christmas gifts and decoration ideas, visit www.24studio.co.uk/christmas

Christmas Crafts

The run-up to Christmas is the perfect time to get crafty - especially if you have excited children to keep entertained!

Christmas crafts can be a lot of fun, and you could create some unique Christmas gifts, Christmas decorations or other accessories / novelties - as well as having lots of messy fun with paper, glue and glitter.

You can save items all year round for your Christmas craft box - find your inner magpie! - save anything shiny, bright or glittery, as virtually anything can be put to good use once your creative juices get flowing.

As a starting point, your Christmas craft box should include: paper and card (ideally in assorted colours), scissors, PVA glue, paints and pens, foil, and glitter. Also worth saving are pine cones, pieces of old wrapping paper, greetings cards, ribbons, bows, sequins and any other shiny bits or bobs you can save throughout the year.

The easiest Christmas craft projects to make are customised gift tags, paper chains, advent calendars and tree decorations.

You'll find some great Children's Christmas craft ideas at : www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/christmas/.

Enchanted learning also have a selection of printable childrens Christmas activity books and worksheets with colouring, writing, questions and all kinds of fun activity to keep them busy.

Christmas Craft projects on the site also include puppets, wreaths, stockings and fun novelty items - and when you make your own gifts, you can personalise in any way you wish! 

Also worth a visit is www.allfreecrafts.com/christmas/index.shtml - packed with clever Christmas craft ideas, you'll find inspirational ideas for Christmas gifts and treats, some may be too tricky for younger children.

Why not get crafty this Christmas and make some special Christmas gifts - if you have children to help you, even better, some of the most memorable keepsakes and enduring Christmas ornaments are handmade by little hands!

If craft isn't your thing, you can start shopping for Christmas gifts and Christmas decorations nice and early with www.24studio.co.uk/christmas - they also stock all kinds of Christmas novelty items, cards, wrap, trees, and a range of craft materials and craft kits.