Momtastic.com show you how to make a handmade DIY Mason Jar Sewing Kit.
Have you blogged about a Handmade Christmas idea? Submit the link through this form here and we’ll consider sharing it as part of this series during the next 4 weeks!
A Simple Christmas
Kojo-Designs.com shows you how to make retro fabric Christmas lights.
I pulled out oranges for lunch yesterday and found that they were unfit to eat… apparently they’ve been hiding in my fridge drawer for longer than I realized.
The idea struck me almost immediately: I could whip up some homemade Christmas potpourri with these!
Within two minutes, I had some delicious-smelling potpourri simmering on the stove. It made our whole home smell ridiculously good — like I’d been slaving away in the kitchen all day.
In fact, when Jesse got home, he took one whiff and said, “What smells so good?” I kinda hated to disappoint him and tell him it was likely mostly just the potpourri, not some amazing delicacy I’d cooked. 
- 2 oranges (or the peel from 4-5 whole oranges — no need to ruin good oranges if yours aren’t past their prime like mine!)
- 1 teaspoon cloves (ground or whole)
- 1 teaspoon nutmeg
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 2-3 cups water
Cut the oranges in half or fourths, put them in a medium saucepan, sprinkle the spices over them, and pour the water over the spices and oranges. Simmer on low four 4-6 hours. Make sure to check the saucepan occasionally to see if you need to add more water.
You could probably also make this in a small crockpot, but I’ve not tried it yet.
By the way, be sure to check out Mindy’s recipe for Homemade Christmas Potpourri that you can give as gifts.
BrownSugarToast.com shows you how to make handmade Pinecone Cluster.
Whisk It Together shows you how to make a handmade Magnetic Notepad.
I was honored to be featured on DaveRamsey.com sharing about how our family learned to have a wonderful Christmas — even when we didn’t have any money to spend. Here’s a snippet from the article:
I’ll never forget December 2004.
My husband and I had been married for almost two years, I was nine months pregnant with our first baby, and we were living on a beans and rice budget. There was not a penny left for Christmas presents that year.
When we got married, we committed together to an audacious goal: to go through law school debt free. The goal sounded cool on paper, but let me tell you—living it out wasn’t so easy.
Beans and rice got old really quickly. Driving a very used vehicle that occasionally wouldn’t start at all wasn’t fun. Not being able to afford to even shop at the thrift store was hard.
Would you do me a huge favor? If you liked the article, would you take a few seconds to share the article on Facebook, Twitter, or click here to repin it on Pinterest? Thank you so much!
CraftinessIsNotOptional.com shows you how to make a handmade Fabric Scrap Key Chain.
Eighteen25 shows you how to make a simple Box of Teacher Goodies — perfect for a Christmas gift for your child’s teacher or a friend who is a teacher.
Looking for some ideas of ways to celebrate Advent as a family or make memories as you count down to Christmas? Here are 11 ideas submitted by readers here:
Thrifty and Thriving shows you how to make your own Christmas Countdown Advent Activity Calendar.
Bamm Boo created Advent Activities in Jars — one for each day counting down to Christmas!
Well-Rounded Home put together a free printable Random Acts of Kindness Advent Calendar.
Intentional By Grace shows you how to create an Advent Calendar when you don’t have any money.
Free Homeschool Deals has a free printable December Activity Calendar.
Ann Voskamp is offering a free Jesse Tree Devotional ebook and free printable Jesse Tree ornaments to hang on your tree.
When You Rise created some printable verses you can laminate and put around your home to help you focus your mind on Jesus this Christmas.
Mandi is offering a free printable Advent Chain as a fun way to count down to Christmas.
Jessica from LifeAsMOM is offering a free Christmas Countdown download.
The Prudent Pantry shares how to make a Christmas Book Advent Calendar. Teaching Good Eaters shares how they are incorporating the Christmas Book Basket Advent Calendar idea in their home.
Confessions of a Homeschooler shows you how to make Advent Activity Ornaments. Her post includes free printables and a list of activity ideas.
Looking for a really simple Advent Calendar idea? Jessica shows you how to make your own Advent Calendars from packs of gum.
How is your family seeking to make Advent meaningful? I’d love to hear your ideas!
Living Life Intentionally is hosting a Christmas Around the World series from November 23 to December 24, 2012. For 32 days, you will get to “travel” to a new country each day learning about how the holidays are celebrated, making a creative craft, trying a new recipe, teaching your kiddos a little something about geography, and so much more from the comfort of your home!
Go down the free Christmas Around the World ebook and then stop by her blog each day for the next installment in the Christmas Around the World series.
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