Handmade Christmas Decorations

I will definitely be making my own Christmas cards this year. If you have MS Publisher on your home computer or work computer, you can use it to design your own Christmas card. If you don't have Publisher, you can get card designing software for much less at office supply stores, such as Staples, or you may already have some that came bundled with a digital camera or photo editing software.

Personally, I like a quarterly fold on the side. This is the style I used for my wedding invitations. A regular 8.5x11" sheet of paper will make a neat little card when folded into quarters and it will fit into a standard envelope made for note and thank-you cards. This gives you a front page for a picture or greeting of your choice, two insides pages for a message and/or personal pictures (we have friends who include pictures of themselves and their pets every year), and the back page, where I like to put our full contact information to refresh everyone's address book.

Quarterly folded cards (either folded on the side or at the top), print all on one side of the paper, which helps with printing costs, if you have them printed at a shop. Color printing is much more expensive than black and white printing. Although you may not want to print your Christmas cards in B&W, if you have other notes, a map to your party, etc. that you would like to include in the envelope with the card, you should consider doing them in black and white to save money (this is true if you're printing them at home too).

These cards can be printed on plain paper, or you can buy card stock from an office supply store and run them on that. My wedding invitations were run on a card stock that was already scored quarterly, making them a snap to fold evenly. However, when you start looking at card stock or novelty paper, your cards are not likely to be cheaper than some you can buy. If you are just interested in a personalized card, that's fine, but if you are making your own cards because you're budget conscious, stick with regular printer paper.

If you love to stamp or draw, you can get card stock and use stamps to make a design on the front of the card. You can use different colored craft paints (watered down about half paint, half water) and paint that onto your stamps before pressing, or you can stamp them with black ink and when it's dry, use markers or colored pencils to color them in. You can either write a message in by hand (okay if you only have a few cards to send out), or, before you decorate them, you can run them through a printer and put a message on the inside. Kids can also help you decorate them by drawing Christmas trees or using glue and glitter. Family members are a soft touch for kid-made Christmas cards!

There's not really any way to save on postage, except to trim up your usual Christmas card list. If you haven't talked to a person (phone, e-mail, or in person) since your last Christmas card, now would probably be a good year to drop them from your list. Likewise, people who haven't reciprocated a card in years should probably be dropped. And lastly, if you're really pinching pennies, only send cards to people you will NOT see over the holidays. In short, if you're going to see all of your family at Christmas, then don't send them a card; send cards to your friends and more distant relations that you will not get a chance to see. Think of the card as being a stand-in for contact with you this year.

This is probably not the year to buy designer, department-store wrapping paper (or any from kids selling it for school-notoriously expensive and, in my personal experience, terrible to use). Wrapping paper and gifts bags can be had cheaply from places like the Dollar Tree, Dollar General or Big Lots. Gift bags are more economical because people can keep the ones they get and reuse them next season. Even the tissue paper in them is easily reused. However, nothing beats ripping paper off a present, especially when you're a kid. If you don't really have room left over in your Christmas budget for something as throw-away as wrapping paper, you can make your own.

Prior to Christmas, start getting your groceries in paper sacks (every grocery store that I've ever been to still has paper sacks, if you ask for them-Wal-Mart and other mixed-use stores excepted). Obviously save up the sacks until it's time to wrap Christmas presents. Cut them open, turn them inside out and wrap with them. Because the sacks are of a heavier paper than wrapping paper, you will probably find that you need to use packing tape, not scotch tape, to seal them.

If you have kids, hand them over to them to let them decorate them. Use fingerpaints and let them put little handprints all over them. Or let them draw trees and stars on them. If you used stamps for your Christmas cards, pull those and your paints and colored pencils back out and stamp on them. Draw swirly lines over them and then sprinkle red, green, silver or gold glitter over them.

If you work in a place that uses a lot of paper, see if you can get some to recycle into wrapper paper (or card paper). I don't know if it's still true, but you used to be able to get partial rolls of white paper from the newspaper printer for a song. That's great to use if you have large boxes to wrap. Also, don't forget to collect boxes at work to put gifts in (you can also ask at stores, especially during the week, if they have any boxes you can have); there should be no reason to have to buy a box.

Because we travel for the holidays, I have quit trying to put ribbon and bows on packages because they just get squished and torn off. The cheap dollar-type stores that I mentioned before are probably the cheapest place for getting paper ribbon and bows. However, don't forget a pass through a section of ribbon at JoAnn's or Hobby Lobby or Michael's or Hancock's. All of those places offer coupons regularly, they all pretty much accept local competitor's coupons, and you might can pick up real ribbon for less than the cost of paper ribbon.

Don't bother wasting money on gift tags when names are easily written on the gift itself, or you can make them from a scrap of wrapping paper or any other paper handy. If you have a stamp, stamp one side of plain paper and put the name on the other. You can also cut out the tag with pinking shears, and that makes even a tag from a paper sack look cute and crafty.

Don't forget, when the presents are open, to recycle bags, tissue paper, ribbons and bows. Christmas next year might have to be frugal as well.

Coming up a bit short with your holiday decorating? Try some old-fashioned, handmade decorations to spice you your house for next to nothing.

Garlands

Popcorn garland

It's a classic. Set a bag of plain (no butter, no salt) popcorn to pop while you cut a length of thread (white quilting thread would be best, but you can also use doubled-up sewing thread, or you could probably make do with crochet thread too) a 2-3 yards long. Thread it with a long needle and knot it around a bead or something similar. When the popcorn is cool enough to touch, begin running your needle through the popped kernels and gently working them down the thread (you may need to wax your thread, especially if you are using non-quilting thread; with one finger hold it down on a candle and with your opposite hand, slowly pull it).

Construction Paper Garland

Another classic, and a favorite of kids to make. Cut construction paper (newspaper, wrapping paper and even magazines will also work in a pinch) into strips about one inch wide. How long you make the strips will determine the size of the links. Shorter strips makes more links, but also more work. When I was in school, we had to tediously glue the strips together, but I have since seen people who staple them together, and that seems like a much better idea to me.

Glue or staple on strip into a link. Then take the next strip, put it through the existing link, and then glue or staple it together. Continue for however long you want your garland (I suggest no more than 2-3 yards at a time because it can get unwieldy and might tear as you try to put it up).

Cranberry Garland

This works the same as popcorn garland, although I daresay whole cranberries are now too expensive to use. However, you can use beads or anything else soft or with a hole in it to make garland.

Do-dads

Something I use on my mantle are hickory nuts that I have spray-painted gold. Of course you can use silver or any other color. Other nuts, in their shells, will work as well. You can also use these colorful nuts in bowls or around candles or flower arrangements, as you would use marbles or decorative rocks. If they are an edible nut, you can crack them open and eat them after the holidays, although I personally save my hickory nuts to use year after year.

You can also hot glue small nuts, like hickories, to a variety of holiday decorations, such as wreaths.

Besides nuts, you can apply this same treatment to pine cones. I also have some of these in gold for my mantle. My mother heard that you should microwave pine cones for 15-30 seconds to kill any bugs in them, but personally I have never seen a bug in a pinecone of mine, so I haven't ever bothered. Besides, the spray paint should be toxic enough to kill them.

While you've got your spray paint out, be on the lookout for anything else free that can be painted: sticks, rocks, leaves. You can use these as mantle decorations, table decorations or glue them onto wreaths.

Wreaths

I made my own wreath out of a vine I pulled down in our woods, but you can also buy a plain vine wreath at a hobby store. I say buy a plain one because you can then decorate it cheaply and use it year after year.

I cut cedar or pine boughs from trees in our yard and stick them into my vine wreath to make a greenery wreath. If you don't have such trees, and don't know anyone with any either, you can usually get greenery pretty cheap from local tree farms or where local people are selling Christmas trees (stores selling live trees are not likely to carry greenery). I also put greenery on my mantle (and then toss in some of those gold nuts and pine cones for effect).

I do not glue greenery into my wreath; I merely weave it into the vines. This allows me to take out all of the dead greenery after the holidays and reuse the wreath; no cost to me. However, if you do not want to use live greenery on your wreath, you can hot glue nuts or pine cones or what-have-you onto it and still use it year after year. You can pick up a large ribbon bow at the Dollar Tree for a $1 to put on the top of it. They also usually carry wreath hangers. They also carry a variety of small ornaments that you could also add to your wreath.

Ornaments

Presents

If you know someone who does woodworking, get little square ends of wood (2" or smaller) and wrap them with scraps of wrapping paper and ribbon and either screw small eyepins or cuphooks into them, or hot glue a ribbon loop to them and hang your little presents up all over your tree (you can also glue these to a wreath or scatter them around as decoration-minus the hook/ribbon loop).

Glass Balls

This is one that I've read about in crafting books, and have found directions for online. Buy clear glass ball ornaments as cheaply as possible. Take the metal top off the ornament and put a small squirt of paint into it and slosh it around (it need not cover all of the inside of the ornament just yet). Place it upside down over a disposable cup to let the excess paint run out. When that's done, put a bit of paint of another color in it and swirl it around. The two colors will mix in some places and be separate in others. Let the second color drain out like the first.

You can use up to three colors before the color mixing becomes unattractive. When using more than one color, start with the lightest color first. Red and green do not mix well. You can also allow the paint from the first color to dry for a couple of days before adding a second one; this will keep the colors from mixing, so you will have distinct splashes of color-and you can use red and green together like this.

When you are done with your ornament, give it a few days to dry, then reattach the metal top and you're good to go.

If you have ever been interested in painting, you can pick up a book on one-stroke painting (which is supposed to be painting that anyone can do) and use paints to paint the outside of glass balls with things like poinsettias. Don't forget a spray of clear coat to protect the paint.

Even the uncrafty can buy a paint pen and put each family member's name and the year on a ball. My elementary school used to sell little apple ornaments that one of the teachers would do like this, and I still have them for my tree; they're a sweet memento.

Styrofoam Balls

Buy Styrofoam balls for cheap at a craft store and then try these ideas for decorating them:

Buy sequins, small beads and straight pins with a metal head (preferably a large one). Put a bead and then a sequin onto your straight pin and push it into the ball. The larger your sequin, the less it will take to cover the ball. You can also get fancy sequins shaped like snowflakes or similar, although these are best placed further apart and so should be used on silk-wrapped Styrofoam balls and should not completely cover it, as with a plain Styrofoam ball.

Take strips of holiday or pretty scrap fabric, one to two inches wide, coat them in decoupage glue (or watered down Elmer's) and glue them onto the ball.

Hot glue little candies to the ball. For small balls, use lemonheads or red hots, but for larger balls you can use things like gumdrops or popcorn. You can also spray paint the candy balls when you are done if you'd rather have them in some other color.

You can also coat your ball in glue and roll it around in birdseed. Hang it up to dry and where you have bald spots, add a little more glue and some seed by hand. When it's completely covered, spray it with clear coat.

For all of the balls, make a loop of ribbon and hot glue it onto the ball (you may also want to use a straight pin to hold it in place until the glue dries).

These are also cute hanging from doorknobs or from a bookshelf or mantle.

Cookie Ornaments

Another classic, and so easy for kids to help make.

Dough recipe:
2 cups plan wheat flour (not self-rising)
1 cup salt
1 cup water

Put the flour and salt together in a bowl and add the water as you knead. Knead the entire mixture for about 10 minutes to get it good and consistent. Add flour if it's too wet or sticky, or add water if it's dry and cracking.

Place your dough on wax paper or a countertop that you've floured and, using holiday cookie cutters, cut out shapes. If you want to air dry them, place them somewhere (such as on a cutting board or cookie sheet) where they can dry for 3-4 days. If you want to speed up the process, set your oven to 150-200 degrees and bake them on a cookie sheet (oil your sheet, or better yet, place them on parchment paper first) for 3-4 hours.

Don't forget! Before you leave your cookies to dry or bake, take a toothpick and make a hole in the top of the cookie so you can put a ribbon through it and tie it on the tree.

You can also get more creative with your dough, making all sorts of ornaments or decorative items for decoration or gifts. Anything that can be done in polymer clay can probably be done with this craft dough, so look at polymer clay books for ideas. Also, you can use your children's Play-Doh set to make shapes.

When your ornaments are dry, you can paint them with craft paint and give them a spray of clear coat and with care (treat them like a glass ornament) they should last for years.

Nature Ornaments

Remember all of those nuts and pinecones and other natural yard stuff that you spray painted for your wreath and mantle? Well, hot glue a ribbon loop on them and hang them from the trees (these also make great ornaments for an outdoor tree).

In addition to the spray paint, you can have your kids put glue on the nuts, pinecones, etc. and sprinkle them with glitter. Glitter is so wonderful amongst the flashing lights!

These are good for gifts, or you can make them up and take them to your work party, or serve them at home.

Teas

Forget-Me-Not Tea

15oz Tang or other powdered orange drink
1 cup sugar (substitute artificial sweetener per its instructions)
1 cup unsweetened powdered tea mix
1/2 cup sweetened (real or artificial sugar) lemonade mix
1 packet cherry Kool-Aid
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg

Put two tablespoons of tea mix into 8oz hot or cold water.

Russian Tea

2 cups Tang or other powdered orange drink
1 cup unsweetened powdered tea mix
1 cup sugar (substitute artificial sweetener per its instructions)
1 packet Kool-Aid lemonade
1 tablespoon nutmeg
1 tablespoon all spice
1 tablespoon cinnamon.

Put 1-2 tablespoons of tea mix into 8oz hot water.

Spiced Tea

2 containers of 26oz Tang or other powdered orange drink
1 cup sugar (substitute artificial sweetener per its instructions)
2 packages of 8.5oz Red Hots
6oz sweetened (artificial or real sugar) lemonade
3oz unsweetened powdered tea mix
2 teaspoons cinnamon
2 teaspoons nutmeg
2 teaspoons ground cloves
2 teaspoons allspice

Put 1-1.5 tablespoons of tea mix into 8oz hot water

Apple Cider Tea

1 1/2 cups brewed black tea
1 1/2 cups apple cider
2 tablespoons honey
2 orange slices
1 small cinnamon stick
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg

Simmer all but the tea for ten minutes. Add the tea and serve with the orange slices. Makes 3 cups.

Coffees and Creamers

Bavarian Mint

2/3 cup instant coffee
2/3 cup non-dairy creamer
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon dried mint

Mix all ingredients in a food processor until it's a well-mixed fine powder.

Use 1-2 spoons per 8oz cup of hot water.

Café L'Orange

2/3 cup instant coffee
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon dried crushed orange peel
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

Mix all ingredients in a food processor until it's a well-mixed fine powder.

Use 1-2 spoons per 8oz cup of hot water.

Café Mocha

2/3 cup instant coffee
1 1/3 cups sugar
1 cup non-dairy creamer
1/4 cup nonfat dry milk
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa

Mix all ingredients in a food processor until it's a well-mixed fine powder.

Use 1-2 spoons per 8oz cup of hot water.

Cinnamon and Spice

2/3 cup instant coffee
1 1/3 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon allspice

Mix all ingredients in a food processor until it's a well-mixed fine powder.

Use 1-2 spoons per 8oz cup of hot water.

Toffee Coffee

1 cup instant coffee
1 cup non-dairy creamer
1 cup brown sugar

Mix all ingredients in a food processor until it's a well-mixed fine powder.

Use 1-2 spoons per 8oz cup of hot water.

Café Vienna

1 1/3 cups sugar
1 1/3 cups nonfat dry milk
1 cup instant coffee
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Mix all ingredients in a food processor until it's a well-mixed fine powder.

Use 1-2 spoons per 8oz cup of hot water.

Orange Cappuccino

2 cups nonfat dry milk
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup instant coffee
1 teaspoon dry orange peel

Mix all ingredients in a food processor until it's a well-mixed fine powder.

Use 1-2 spoons per 8oz cup of hot water.

Swiss Mocha

2 cups nonfat dry milk
1 cup instant coffee
1 cup sugar
4 teaspoons cocoa powder

Mix all ingredients in a food processor until it's a well-mixed fine powder.

Use 1-2 spoons per 8oz cup of hot water.

Chocolate Café Vienna

1 1/2 cups non-dairy creamer
1 1/2 cups nonfat dry milk
1 cup instant coffee
1 cup sugar
4 tablespoons cocoa
2 teaspoons cinnamon

Mix all ingredients in a food processor until it's a well-mixed fine powder.

Use 1-2 spoons per 8oz cup of hot water.

Café au Lait

11oz jar non-dairy creamer
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup instant coffee
dash of salt

Use 1/4 cup mix to 2/3 cup hot water

Night Cap Coffee

2/3 cup nondairy powdered coffee creamer
1/3 cup instant coffee
1/3 cup sugar
1/2-1 teaspoon ground cardamom (to taste)
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Mix all ingredients in a food processor until it's a well-mixed fine powder.

Use one tablespoon per 8oz cup of hot water.

Chocolate Malt Coffee Creamer

2 cups instant hot cocoa mix
2/3 cup nondairy powdered coffee creamer
2/3 cup malted milk mix
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)

Hot Chocolate, Cider, Mulled Wine and Punch

Berry Cocoa

3 cups instant hot cocoa powder
1 package raspberry, cherry or orange Kool-Aid

Use 2 tablespoons per 8oz cup of hot water.

Spicy Orange Cider

2/3 cup apple cider or juice
1 tablespoon Tang or other powdered orange drink
dash ground cinnamon
dash ground nutmeg
1 lemon slice or dash of lemon juice (optional)

Mix together in a mug and heat in microwave (unlike most of the other recipes, this makes a single serving).

Autumn Punch

2 liters ginger ale
6oz can frozen orange juice
3 quarts cider
3 cups pineapple juice
6 inch cinnamon stick, broken into pieces
1 teaspoon whole cloves
Combine all ingredients except the ginger ale. Heat to boiling. Simmer 15-20 minutes and remove from heat. Cool. Add ginger ale. For looks, you can float orange slices on top of the punch.

Hot Cranberry Citrus Punch

3 quarts orange juice (or 2 cans frozen)
1 quart cranberry cocktail juice
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
12 whole cloves
2 sticks of cinnamon (2 inches long)
Mix sugar, water, 12 cloves and cinnamon in a pan and heat to boiling. Remove from heat and remove the spices and add the orange and cranberry juice. Pour into a punch bowl and add the oranges with any juices from the pan. You can heat in a crockpot as well.

Mulled Wine
3 cups burgundy wine (3 cups)
3/4 cup grated lemon peel
3/4 cup raisins
1/2 cup sugar
2 teaspoons whole allspice
3" long cinnamon stick
Tie the spices in a square of cheesecloth. Put the wine, sugar and raisins in a pot, along with the spice bag. Simmer until thoroughly hot. Remove raisins and spices and let cool slightly before serving.
Citrus Punch
2 cups tang powder
3/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup sweetened lemonade mix (like Country Time)
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon cloves

Use 3 tablespoons mix to 8oz hot water.

Drink Stirrers

These are great accompaniments to gifts of plain tea and hot chocolate, and kids can help make them and wrap them.

Candied Tea Stirrer

Vegetable cooking spray
34 pieces crushed hard candy (lemon, peppermint, etc.)
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
Plastic spoons

In a small heavy saucepan combine crushed candies and corn syrup and melt over low heat, stirring frequently.

Line a cookie sheet with waxed paper. Spray with cooking spray.

Dip spoons into candy mixture, scooping some out in the spoon. Place the spoon on the cookie sheet, with the handle resting on the edge to keep it level. Allow to harden, then wrap in cellophane or put in plastic baggie.

Hot Chocolate Stirrer

Bag of chocolate chips
Plastic spoons

On low heat, melt chocolate chips. Prepare an oiled, wax-lined cookie sheet, as in previous recipe.

Dip spoons into chocolate and rest on cookie sheet, as above. You can use various types of chips, such as mint or white chocolate, or you can sprinkle crushed hard candies onto the spoon while the chocolate is still soft. Peppermint is most used, but orange candy would work, as would Red Hots. You could also try adding cherry or raspberry extract (or syrup) to the chocolate for a berry flavor

Allow to harden, then wrap in cellophane or put in plastic baggie.

These make good gifts (provided the recipient isn't diabetic!). You can usually pick up holiday-themed tins at thrift stores for $1 or less and package the candy in that. Even if you can't find holiday tins, the paint on most tins will scrub off with a bit of steel wool, leaving you with a plain silver tin, which you can then wrap or glue beads or other decorations onto (you should also be able to find craft paint that will work on metal if you want to paint them-just be sure to add clear coat afterwards to seal it).

You can also put your cookies and candies in plastic baggies and then arrange them in a basket, also picked up cheap from a thrift store or yard sale. Or, if you are going to have a large family or co-worker gathering, you can set up a sweets buffet, where you have each candy in a separate bowl, with a little sign saying what it is and what all is in it, and hand out tins and let people pick out the kind of candies they'd most like to have (limit the total number of things they can have, such as 15 pieces of candy or cookies).

Candy and Fudge

Chocolate-Covered Cherries

Jar of cherries, with stems
Bag of chocolate chips

Remember fondue parties? Cherries were a staple at fondue parties. And now they're back for Christmas. This is so easy, kids can help.

Melt the chocolate chips over low heat (bring out the old fondue pot, even) and dip the cherries into the chocolate. Place them upright on a sheet of wax paper (you may want to spray this with a bit of oil to help keep them from sticking) and allow to harden.

You could make pina colada cherries by sprinkling shredded coconut over them while the chocolate is still warm.

Peppermint Bark

1 package candy canes or peppermints
1 package chocolate (milk, dark or white)

Melt chocolate over low heat. Crush candy with mortar and pestle, or place in plastic baggie (remove excess air) and crush with hammer, then add to chocolate, stirring until the candy is melted into it (although, if you like texture, you can also leave the candies solid).

Pour the mixture into a cookie sheet lined with wax paper and allow it to harden (you can put into the fridge or freezer if you're in a hurry). When cool, break into chunks, like any bark.

No-Cook Peanut Butter Fudge
3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
3/4 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup margarine or butter
1/2 cup light Karo syrup
1/2 cup cocoa
1/2 cup chopped nuts (any kind you like)
1 tsp vanilla extract or maple syrup

In a large bowl, beat together everything but the nuts. Knead mixture on wax paper until consistent. Work peanuts into fudge. Pat candy into 8" square pan. Chill.

Dipped Marshmallows

1 bag large marshmallows
1 cup milk
Bag of chocolate chips
2 teaspoons vegetable oil

Optional:
Sprinkles
Coconut
Crushed nuts

Melt chocolate chips and oil together over low heat. Dip each marshmallow into the chocolate (so about half of it is covered), and then roll in the sprinkles, nuts or coconut. Place wax paper to harden.

Ohio Buckeyes

16-18 oz jar creamy peanut butter
4 cups powdered sugar
2 sticks butter, softened, or 1 cup margarine
12 oz bag chocolate chips
1/2 cake paraffin wax (found in canning section; yes, it's safe for eating)

Combine peanut butter, sugar and softened butter/margarine in very large bowl. Mix well, and roll into small balls about 1 inch in diameter. If balls are soft after shaping, refrigerate until hardened a bit.

Melt chocolate and paraffin together in double boiler or in small, deep bowl in the microwave (if using the microwave, stir chocolate frequently to break it up and keep from burning the edges while still having a hard lump in the middle).

Use a toothpick or bamboo skewer to dip peanut butter balls in melted chocolate, leaving the very top of balls without chocolate to look like a real buckeye. Set buckeyes on cookie sheets lined with waxed paper and let cool.
These can be done ahead of time, and store well in the freezer or refrigerator.

Snowballs

2 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup walnuts
1 cup margarine or butter, softened
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Finely chop the walnuts in a blender or food processor, set aside. Blend together the margarine and 1/2 cup powdered sugar. Add the vanilla extract. Stir in the flour, salt and chopped up nuts.

Roll the dough into 1 inch balls and place them an inch apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 400 degrees until set but not browned--about 10 minutes. Roll cookies in confectioner's sugar while warm and then again when they've cooled. Makes about 4 dozen.

Irish Cream Fudge

2 12oz packages milk chocolate chips
2 7oz jars of marshmallow cream
4 1/2 cups of granulated sugar
12oz can of evaporated milk
2 cups of chopped nuts (optional)
1/2 pound of butter
2/3 cup of Bailey's Irish Cream
2 ounces semisweet chocolate chips
2 teaspoons of vanilla extract

In a very large bowl, combine the 2 packages of milk chocolate chips, the package of semisweet chocolate chips, both jars of marshmallow cream, 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract, the Irish Cream, and nuts if you are adding them. Set this mixture aside.

Spread a 10-x-15-inch pan lightly with butter or margarine.

In a medium sized saucepan, combine 4 1/2 cups of granulated sugar, 1 can of evaporated milk, and 1/2 pound of butter. Bring to a gentle boil over medium heat and cook slowly, stirring constantly for about 10 minutes.

Pour the milk mixture into the bowl holding the chocolate chip mixture. Stir slowly by hand to combine. It is very important to do this by hand and NOT use any kind of mixer.

Pour the fudge into the prepared pan and chill until set.

Cookies

Dipped Cookies

1 package chocolate bark (or a large bar of Hershey's or 2-3 bags chocolate chips)
1 package generic Oreos, Nutter Butters, or other cookies (such as homemade)
Sprinkles

Melt chocolate over low heat. When fully melted, carefully dip cookies, one at a time, covering half or more of the cookie. Place on waxed paper and shake on sprinkles.

Ginger Crinkle Cookies

2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1 cup white sugar
3/4 cup margarine or butter, softened
1/4 cup molasses
1 egg
1 tablespoon water
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon white sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Sift together flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, and salt. In a large bowl, blend together margarine or butter and sugar. Add the egg and beat well. Stir in the water and molasses. Gradually stir in dry ingredients. Roll dough into balls and then roll balls in remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar. Bake 8 to 10 minutes, until tops crackle.

Nuts and Other Snacks

Sweet and Savory Spiced Nuts

2 cups nuts (whatever kind you like best, or mixed)

Spice Mix:
2 tablespoons sugar
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon allspice
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper (or less to taste)

Glaze:
1 tablespoon water
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon canola or corn oil

Heat the oven to 350°. Spread the nuts on a baking sheet and toast them for 6 minutes or until they are fragrant.

In a medium-size bowl, stir together the spice mix.

In a saucepan, combine the glaze ingredients and bring them to a boil over medium heat, whisking constantly. Stir in the toasted nuts and continue to stir until all the nuts are shiny and the liquid is gone, about 1 to 2 minutes.

Move the glazed nuts to an empty mixing bowl, sprinkle on the spice mix, and toss them well to coat. Spread the coated nuts on a cookie sheet and return them to the oven for another 4 minutes; check regularly to make sure they don't burn. Remove and let cool.

Makes 2 cups.

It may seem like a poor Christmas to you, having to make ornaments because you can't buy any, but for little children, the best thing in the world is to spend time with their parents. And little children LOVE to help you make ornaments, wrap gifts, and bake. While you may feel cash-poor, your children may very well grow up to remember the year that they helped make all the decorations and presents as the best Christmas they ever had.

And, as an added treat, why not let your kids decorate their rooms? Maybe some garland tacked onto the walls or hanging from a canopy bed? Maybe a miniature tree (the Dollar Tree usually sells little trees, light sets and ornaments for $1 each). Maybe some ornaments on the windows (use plastic suction cups with hooks).

Remember your Grinch--Christmas is not about THINGS, it's about SPIRIT. And nothing gets young and old alike into the holiday spirit like taking the time to make things and decorate. That's because it's equal parts fun and quality family time. Don't forget to turn the radio on to a holiday station while you work.