I get so busy with holiday planning and what I want for food and decorations I had not stopped to think about this year. During a pandemic, what do you do? How am I going to enjoy the holidays when it is all about being with family? I can tell you this, I grew up bouncing all of the world. I was not always near family during the holidays. Because of that we learned how to celebrate when we could and we cherished what few time we got back to visit with grandparents and cousins etc. My goal has been to create each holiday as special as I can so that whoever can make it home feels welcome and loved. I do not have all the answers on how to do this but I have a few ideas I would love to share with you.
It does not matter about how much or how little money you have. What is the most important is family. During this pandemic I would suggest you take tons of pictures for family and share them with them often. I think the greatest thing that has happened is the software Zoom. This would be wonderful to have that turned on to connect every one in real time. Sharing your home and the food and the laughter together.
Now if you are lucky enough to be able to have a couple people over for the dinner I know seating your guests may be an issue to have social distancing. I do not want to get into whether you should or not, or wear a mask or not. Ultimately it is your choice. I am going to assume everyone will. If nothing, else you should keep the areas as clean as possible with everyone in the house.
Charger plate for Thanksgiving
1 Charger from Hobby Lobby
Black chalk paint (I got this from Hobby Lobby also)
White paint
1 metal word that says “Gathering”. from Hobby Lobby
1 plate stand from Hobby Lobby
glue gun
mod podge
The plate was already white so I did not have to do anything to it. I then painted the center of the charger with black chalk paint. I put the word on the plate so I could figure out how to do the line painting. I did not glue the word down yet. I freehand painted the lines and as you can see they are not perfect. Once I was done with the painting and dry I sealed the plate with one coat of mod podge. When everything was dry I glued the word “gathering” down to the plate.
I hope you try this project because it was one of the easiest projects and would make a great gift for Christmas to someone special. I will have more ideas for gift giving also.
Here is another quick project for you to do for the holidays. A Rope Trivet.
You will need rope this can be found at Walmart
Threads of your choice. For the project I used variegated thread
If you choose to embroider it pick a pattern with less stitches. The embroidery machine had no problem embroidering on rope but if your pattern is to dense it will give you problems This pattern is from Embroidery Library and is called “Autumn Harvest Potpourri Wreath L7134
I started by zig zagging around the rope itself to get more color. But you do not really need to do that. You can get the same look as you assemble the trivet.
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Step 1. If you choose to stitch around the rope before you start. If you don’t want to spend that much time then skip to step 2.
Step 2. For this part it may be a little difficult to get it going. I did not photograph this step so sorry. Start at the center and start coiling the rope around and around. When it get to the size you see in photo 2 stick straight pins in from the sides all the way around. This will hold it together to help you get started. The zig zag stitching starts at the center. Be sure as you are stitching your needle catches on side then the other to connect them together. As for the size, you can stop at any size you want. I do somewhere between 7 to 10 inches in diameter.
Step 3 Is if you have an embroidery machine. If you do not you can buy most of the patterns for hand embroidery also. This step is optional.
To finish I just coiled the end back under itself and stitched the zig zag stitch really close to catch as much as I could.
I also decided to do red apples in my kitchen for fall and winter so I made a wreath of apples.
For this project I got the wood frame at Joanne’s.
The apples and greenery I got from Hobby Lobby.
The ribbon I got at Joanne’s
The wreath I got at Hobby Lobby
Black and White acrylic paint
paint brush
glue and glue gun
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Step 1 I painted the center of the frame white
Step 2 I painted the frame black
Step 3 I first laid out the greenery on the wreath to see where I wanted it. Then I added the apples. I glued everything down when I was happy where they were.
Step 4 I cut a piece of ribbon that went from the back of the frame to the front and around the wreath and back. Adjusted to where the wreath fell in the center of the frame and then glued the ribbon to the back of the frame.
*This is another easy project that could also be turned into a Christmas present to someone special.
Now for one project. I hope you are having some fun making these crafty projects. I would love to see what you did. Make a comment below and let me know.
This project is pretty easy also. I am not sure if this falls under a basket or not.
You will need:
The wooden ends are from the Dollar Store (Only available in the fall)
the side pieces are paint stirrers you can get at Home Depot I used the 5 gallon size but you can make this any size you want.
Black paint
mod podge
glue and glue gun
paint brush
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Step 1 I started gluing the 5 gallon paint stir sticks on the back of the pumpkin board and tried to match it up on the other end with the second pumpkin board.
Step 2 I found that the basket rolled so I glued shorter paint sticks on the bottom to hold the basket in place.
Step 3 I painted the back of the pumpkins boards black and then the paint sticks.
As for what is inside the basket I had made several years ago 3 stuffed pumpkins and I put them in the basket. To fill it in I put autumn flowers to fill in. I would love to see what you do with your basket if you make one.
I hope that you enjoy making beautiful things for your home as much as I do. Have fun, Have a good Holiday, Family first.
Be safe, Be kind
Roxanne