Christmas Creations

After a very long break, I am happy to say that I am back and will hopefully be posting new recipes soon! Here is a brief summary of our wonderful (and busy!) Christmas and New Years.

This was my husband's and my second Christmas together. Our first Christmas together was spent enjoying our family traditions and this year we decided to start creating new traditions of our own. Starting with our Christmas tree. The Saturday after Thanksgiving we went with dear friends to the beautiful Colorado Rocky Mountains to select and cut a tree.

First, we built a fire (approved by the Forest Rangers prior to creation) and at some delicious Taco Soup and chocolate chip cookies.

Then we began our treck up and down the mountain side for the "perfect" tree. The U.S. Forest Service sells permits for $10 to go on certain days and cut down a tree. The tree has to have a trunk that is less than 6 inches in diameter and you have to take the whole thing (minus the roots). The program ensures that our forests stay healthy (the young trees often choke out the older ones) and reduces the danger of forest fires.

 After stopping at Starbucks for some Christmas beverages (Joy tea, Hot Chocolate, and Pepperman Mochas-YUM!) we headed home to begin decorating.

A quick snack of crackers, cheese, and olives starts the decorating off with a bang. Andrew and I invented a new beverage entitled Apple Champagne. You can make this by pouring equal parts Martinellis and Champagne.

Isn't it Pretty???

We had to rearrange our living room a little bit to fit the tree in, but it worked and was beautiful!!!

Next project: hand sew some Christmas Stockings! Yes, hand sew, but not by choice!!! I got a sewing machine for Christmas but didn't have one prior. It wasn't too terrible sewing by hand, just slow going.

...fabric selection...

Homemade pattern. I made this by tracing our store bought (cheap) stockings and modifying the shape to fit my style.

Cut the fabric a 1/2 inch bigger than the pattern.

 Next, sew the stockings inside out and do the same for the top flap. The key for the top fold over part is to sew it onto the stocking with the right side facing in so that when you fold the top over it is the pretty side. :D

...cut scraps and sewn along edges with buttons for decoration...

..buttons for ornaments...

I simple loop stitch with thick thread and a large needle. Beware: make sure to only sew it on the fold and not sew the fold to the main body of the stocking.

I used some scraps and sewed to long rectangles about an inch wide and 5 inches wide (sewn with the back of the fabric on the outside and the front of the fabric on the inside). I then turned the tube inside out and sewed the two ends together and then to the top of the stocking.

...we're better together...

...The final product hanging over our fire place. I used some wire and tucked it under the book shelf instead of putting holes in the wall. Maybe someday we will have an actual mantel to use. But for now, it works perfectly!

Next project: a Wreath

Because the Forest Service requires that you take everything for your tree we had lots of extra boughs from trimming our tree to fit our 9-foot ceilings. I used the boughs and wire and extra pine cones from the forest to make a fun wreath. I sprayed the pine cones with red glitter spray from Hobby Lobby.

It's not perfect but it is fun.

It actually turned out to be really big!

Finally, I used pine cones collected in the forest (they are only kindling for a forest fire) to add a very Crate and Barrel type accent to our decor.

I had so much fun decorating this year! Andrew and I are looking forward to creating new memories and new traditions next year and the years after that.