For last minute gifts, some people choose to go the DIY way. I am one those people and I choose this route for two reasons. One, I do not want to go out and brave the Christmas shopping chaos of last-minute panic buyers; Two, I want the gift to be special even if it is simple, which a lot of my homemade items are. The personal touch makes the gift special.
I’ve mentioned before that one staple in my country is the Christmas star or the ‘Parol’. This is a lantern made traditionally of bamboo sticks and colorful cellophane, white rice paper or Japanese paper. There are strips of paper coming from the two bottom points that represent the stars rays. The religious symbolism in this lantern comes from the star of Bethlehem that guided the Three Wise Men on their search for the baby Jesus. No home is complete without some variation of the Christmas star.
One gift that is special, can be used again, symbolizes the season, and is just plain pretty is this Parol. And because of traditional simple roots, it is also easy to make at home.
You will Need:
Bamboo sticks
Very durable thin string
Strong glue
Colored cellophane- for a glossy look OR
White rice paper- for a classic look OR
Colored Japanese Paper- for a modern but muted look
Steps:
1. Make some thin sticks from a medium sized bamboo pole (fresher is better) that you might be able to find at wholesale flower markets or craft shops. If you can’t or don’t want to make these on your own, go and look for ready-made ones. They are just as good.
2. Tie five sticks into the shape of a star and make two of these forms.
3. Connect the ends of the stars and insert braces inside the star to make it three-dimensional.
4. Once secure, cover this frame with your choice of paper using the strong glue. You can get fancy and add frills, cut-out paper doilies, fringes, tails, etc. and attach them to the two bottom ends.
5. Optional: you can purchase a ready-made socket with wiring then it will be easy to put a light bulb inside your parol. Just make sure it doesn’t get too hot or the lantern could burst into flames.
And, viola! You have your Parol.
You can make this any size and any color you want. You can make this lit or not. You can make this to be attached directly to the wall or as a hanging piece or even as the décor at the end of the stick for your lawn. The point is, you can be flexible. If you are especially artistic, you can create a design on the body of the star as well. Here are some sample pictures:
I think these are the perfect, whimsical, special Christmas gift to give to your friends. Even here in the Philippines, where the Parol is a staple, these simple homemade stars are still much appreciated. There is that added bonus that it is re-usable, cost-effective, and environment friendly. With a little effort, some materials, and a little bit of imagination, you can give that special gift.
Happy Crafting!
Vicki
Halloween is that time of the year when kids can dress up in their spookiest outfits. This is when I think about how to prepare my house for the visiting little goblins and witches.
Of course, budget is never far from anyone’s mind these days. This year, I decided to go the route of homemade Halloween decorations. I decided to make it fun by taking on little “projects” that my son could help me out with.
Outside spookiness:
1. The classic jack-o’-lantern: Take some Terra-cotta pots (make sure they are clean and dry), and invert them. Cut out the eyes, nose, and mouth from some yellow-orange craft paper. Get some all-in-one glue and spread it over the surface of your pot, stick on your jack-o’-lantern’s face, and seal it with another coat of glue. Place an old tree branch in the center for the stem of the pumpkin. Line the pots on the sides your porch steps or on a flower pot ledge. This is an easy, kid-friendly, and cheap way to decorate the entrance of your home for Halloween.
2. Wolf path: Take some sponges and download some templates of wolves paws that fit the size of your sponges. Use the templates to cut and create your own paw-sponge. Get some washable glow-in-the-dark paint, dip them in, and place on the ground- maybe in your garden, or leading to the entrance of your house. Your kids will love doing this! You’ve got a neat, washable, cheap and enticing trick to get the kiddies excited over the treats you have inside.
Inside your haunted house:
1. Window treatment: Choose two window panels facing the front of the house (or any part where the trick-or-treaters are likely to pass). Get some black cardboard and cut them out to fit exactly the shape and space of your windows. Take note- mom’s and dad’s should do this part. Then measure out pumpkins eyes, nose, and mouth and again cut them out. Make sure these holes can be seen from the outside. Take orange tissue paper or bright orange cellophane and paste them to the holes. From the outside, it will look like you have spooky windows. My son loves this neat trick!
2. Kids corner: This is one the kids will love to help you out with. Collect an old hanger, some glue, yarn, neon paint or markers, and fiberfill and you’re set to go! Download templates of bats and half moons and have your kids color them using neon markers or non-toxic, glow-in-the-dark paint. When they’re done, cut them out, align the front and the back and glue together making sure to insert yarn in the top center part of the bat. Take your yarn and tie them to the flat end of the hanger in varying lengths (think of those pretty hanging lights you may have in one of your corners). Hot-glue the fiberfill to cover the entire hanger and then glue the half moon cut-outs in them. Hang in your child’s room- let them pick out the corner!
Finally, some tips to decorate your treats table.
Use some orange and black cloth to cover your table. You can purchase a bit from your local store, just enough to be a runner. Fill old jars (remove labels and wash) with orange cellophane and candy for treats. You can use jars of varying sizes, although wider ones would be advisable if you have them. Or you can use old tin cans, cover them with black craft paper, stick cut-out pumpkins eyes, nose, and mouth onto one side, and then fill with treats.
There are so many homemade Halloween decorations you can use to make your home Halloween-ready without too much fuss, money, and time required. What’s most important is making it fun for your kids and their friends!
So, Happy Halloween! Trick or treat everyone!
Vicki
