How to recycle a jar lid into a Christmas ornament...

The finished jar lid ornament.

       Jar lids are certainly the kinds of recycled supplies that just about anybody can afford to use to decorate a Christmas tree with. The key is to find or have supplies that will make them stand out, give them a bit of old-world charm.
       If children are choosing to make crafts like these, adults should watch them diligently while they handle items like hot glue guns. It is best that they not use glue guns altogether. White school glue will work just as well but they must have some patience to let each application of white glue dry as they go.

Supply List:

• clean, unused jar lid
• scrap for gluing to the inside
• white school glue
• twine
• hot glue and hot glue gun
• one cotton ball
• tiny toadstools (my sample has cotton batting ones)
• faux fir tree branch
• transparent glitter
• masking tape
  
• Mod Podge
  

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Clean the lid, removing every trace of food and any stickers that may be stuck to the outside of the surface.
2. Place the jar's lid on top of a picture and trace around it with a pencil.
3. Cut out the circle making it just slightly smaller so it will fit snugly inside the jar's lid.
4. Apply an even coat of white glue to the inside of the lid and press the cut card on top of this, pressing firmly until the picture adheres completely.
5. Mod Podge the card and set it aside to dry.
6. Cover the outer ring with masking tape prior to using the hot glue gun. Do not touch the surfaces of the metal tip directly to the metal lid, for this will heat up and could burn you seriously. The masking tape will keep the metal cooler, just long enough for the quick application. 
   
7. Take your glue gun and twine and carefully apply the string to the surface of the outer ring. Cover this completely with the twine and also glue on a hanger for the tree made from the same material.
8. Repeat steps: 2 through 5 for the backside of the lid.
9. I cut a tiny piece of faux fir tree branch for the boy to hold in his arms and attached it with hot glue.
10. Also attach the cotton for snow to the bottom half of the lid's rim using white school glue and let this dry completely. I did this with white glue because I wanted the metal surface on the interior of the lid to show.
11. Then I squeezed and puddled a generous amount of glue to the crevices of the interior lid to hold the tiny white and red cotton toadstools. Let this glue harden and dry over night for a strong hold.
12. Paste on a dusting of transparent glitter and hang the ornament.
    

Happiness is Cocoa in a Cabin...

 "It is good to know that out there, in a forest in the world, there is a cabin where something is possible, something fairly close to the sheer happiness of being alive." Sylvain Tesson

Above is the entire display for cocoa with friends including: cake, candy,
and a cast iron cabin or two to display candle light within.

       I'm decorating my dining room cupboard this year using several different themes for parties among friends and family. This decor needn't cost much, just 'shop' your own collections and add a few key pieces to represent the theme for a coffee bar, tea party or in this case -  cups of cocoa and a delicious, rich bunt cake for a cozy reunion with old friends. I cut the pine sprigs from bushes on my front lawn and unpacked a plaid blanket from the linen closet to use in this woodland display. My adult children gathered pinecones from a walk in the woods to fill-out the empty spaces between the dishes.

• The Best Chocolate Bundt Cake Ever from neighborfoodblog
• Scattering Christmas Kindness by thebettermom.com
• Most amazing chocolate bundt cake by The Stay Home Chef

Left, a cup of hot chocolate or cocoa with marshmallows on top.
Right, chocolate and peppermint stirring spoons for those who like an
extra punch of flavor in their hot drink.

Left, on display is one of two cast iron cabin, candle holders. The bouquet is of cotton plant stems
inside of an old, vintage tinware pitcher. Right, are two cut glass apothecary jars filled with 
chocolates and spice gum drops.

Left decorative lettering spells "Noel" on a sign, dead center of the woodland display in my cupboard.
Right, is the chocolate bunt cake on top of a galvanized metal cake stand.

Detailed photo showing apothecary jars with gum drops, marshmallows, peppermint pillows, and 
candy canes. I've used a old plaid stadium blanket to cover the wooden counter top of the cupboard
to protect it from spills.

Left, vintage silver leaves, pine cones and evergreens decorate the top shelf. Right, the middle 
shelf has enamel white stars that light up in the dark and a Santa pitcher filled with autumn berries.

A close-up photograph of our family sized "cocoa bar." Here I have also
included shakers filled with cinnamon and sugar and flavored stirring spoons.

More Ideas for A Woodland Christmas Theme:

• Christmas owls, squirrels and a upcycled hornet's nest
• How to make a pine cone Christmas tree ornament
• Decorate a Woodland Christmas Tree

Customize these angel gift tags...

        These angelic gift tags will print in blue. Customize them with gold or silver ink pens and a bit of glitter for a heavenly effect! Then gift wrap your presents in solid blue, gold or white to compliment the tags.

Click to download the largest available image.

Print, Color and Cut a Gold Fish for the tree

       Download, print and color this gold fish in whatever colors that you would like. Layer the cardboard that the design is pasted to and also Cover it with Mod Podge. This process will give your ornament strength so that perhaps you can hang it on your tree more than once.

Above is just an example of how I painted my goldfish. On the right is the pattern
 of the fish that you can print, cut-out and color for your own Christmas tree.

Discover More Gold Fish Crafts:

• Craft a Goldfish Turkey Collage
• Gold fish clip art for games, crafts and number books...
• Craft an entire school of "Rainbow Fish" from paper plates!

Virgin and Child Christmas Gift Tags

        Guests may download and print these religious Christmas gift tags for coloring and labeling their presents. Color them, cut them out and punch a hole in each tag at the top where indicated, in order to string a ribbon onto each tag. Every gift tag also includes a place at the bottom for writing the name of the person the present is for and who has given it.

Mary and Baby Jesus gift tags with halos for coloring.

Print, Color and Cut a Sleepy Cat for the tree...

        Download, print and color sleepy cat in whatever colors that you would like. Layer the cardboard that the design is pasted to and also Cover it with Mod Podge. This process will give your ornament strength so that perhaps you can hang it on your tree more than once.

Above is just an example of how I painted my cat. On the right is the pattern
 of sleepy cat that you can print, cut-out and color for your own Christmas tree.

Christmas Gift Tags for Coloring

Eight holly tags for coloring. Write to and from labels for presents.

       Color these simple holly and Christmas tree gift tags. Use your own pens, crayons or colored pencils to match the colors in your gift wrap this year. Punch the hole where shown and tie a colorful twine or ribbon to match your choice of gift wrap too.

Eight gift tags of Christmas trees for coloring. "Merry Xmas" on the labels.