For your amusement, here is a fun spin on the classic 12 Days of Christmas song... Play along every day from now until Christmas!

ON THE FIRST DAY OF CHRISTMAS, your true love gave to you - a partridge in a pear tree...

Sorry, but I couldn't find the partridge so I am giving you some pears from the tree the partridge flew away from...

• 1st Day of Christmas Printable Tag - Print out this tag and give it as a gift along with a can of pears or a few fresh pears. This is fun if you leave this as a surprise gift for someone to find.

• Pear Beaded Safety Pin - Use this free pattern to make beaded safety pin jewelry.

• Stitch a Pear Trio - This free 'Pear Trio' needlepoint pattern from Cheryl Fall is just what your walls needed.

• Pear Diamonds Painted Card - Tina Jones shows us how to create this colorful card from start to finish.

• Holiday Pear Quilt - Create a pear quilt as a holiday gift or just to spruce up the place.

• Pear Butter Recipe - How about whipping up a batch of this pear butter and wrapping it as a special gift.

• Pear Pie Recipe - Make and give this delicious spiced pear pie.

• Delicious Pear Bread - Make a loaf or two of fresh pear bread to give.

You can also enjoy these first day of Christmas blog posts from other About.com Guides!

• Day 1 - 12 Days of Christmas For Cats
• Day 1 - 12 Laundry Stains of Christmas
• Day 1 - 12 Days of Flea Market Finds
• Day 1 - 12 Days of Fishy Fun
• Day 1 - 12 Days of Christmas Decorations
• Day 1 - 12 Trees and Shrubs of Christmas
• Day 1 - 12 Days of Kindness
• Day 1 - 12 Days of Christmas for Babies
• Day 1 - 12 Days of Christmas Gifts for Baby
• Day 1 - 12 Days of Young Adult Parenting Tips
• Day 1 - 12 Days of Child Parenting Ideas
• Day 1 - 12 Days of Christmas Coloring
• Day 1 - 12 Days of Christmas Preparations

Remember to check back tomorrow to find out what goodies await you on day 2 of the 12 Days of Christmas, About.com style!
RELATED:
- The Twelve Days of Christmas Book Review
- Christmas Crafts
- Making Gag Gifts

(Photo © 2009 Sherri Osborn licensed to About.com, Inc.)

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Okay... I get the hint! People are just really busy this time of year. Too busy to take time to play along with the make-it-over craft challenges. I did get a few submissions (THANK YOU!), but not many, so I am going to extend this week's craft challenge item to two weeks once again. Hopefully this will give other people who want to play along a little extra time to submit their projects. As a reminder, the current craft challenge item is a coffee can:

Get creative with a coffee can! Send in your ideas and pictures and they can be featured here next week along with everyone elses! Your project can use one or more coffee cans, and it can include the lid or not. You can share your simple ideas and tips using the comments feature on this blog post, but to get your project possibly featured in next week's Make-It-Over Monday blog post, please submit it using this simple form. If you make the project you are submitting, take a picture of it and submit the photo. If you have a blog or Web site and participate, I will happily include a link to your site on the project page.

Some of the submitted ideas will be shared in next week's Make-It-Over Monday blog post. You can look through projects submitted for past challenges if you want some inspiration. You can also still submit craft projects made using past Make-It-Over craft challenge items.

If you have questions or comments about this craft challenge, use the comment feature below. Suggestions regarding this feature, including suggestions for items to make-over? Again, use the comments feature to post your suggestions; and, thanks for playing along. If you want a reminder when Make-It-Over challenges are posted, sign up for the Family Crafts newsletter.
RELATED:
- How to Submit a Project
- How to Submit a Photo

(Photo © 2009 Sherri Osborn licensed to About.com, Inc.)

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All of the wonderful blog posts this week will not only get you in the holiday spirat, but also in a creative spirit:

• Aileen's Musings - Aileen's found a great use for those left over cards you have! Check out her Recycled Christmas Card project.

• Cathie Filian - Whip up a vintage style wreath for the holidays!

• Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world - The 19 Days of Holiday Goodness Giveaways is week 2, leave your answer to the day's question and you are entered to win a free book and while you're there check out how to make pockets from coffee filters, crochet a 4 color spiral, some cool fashion insights, a whole bunch of recycled clothing ideas and a bit of architecture.

• Crafty Princess Diaries - Tammy is thrilled about a new set of bamboo crochet hooks she finally purchased from an Etsy seller.

• Cross Stitch at About.com - Having a hard time finding time to stitch during the holiday season? Read Connie's time-saving tips and share your own.

• Farm Girl Roots, City Girl Style - Another project from the past--a quick and easy baby quilt.

• Mixed Media Artist - Cyndi is giving away a copy of Chain Style by Jane Dickerson! Come leave a comment and you'll be entered for the drawing.

• Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery - Die cut, stamped and shrunk deer Christmas necklace made with inspiration from the book Beyond The Bead.

• The Artful Crafter - Just look at the darling ornaments you can make from mini clay flower pots!

• The Impatient Crafter - It's Project #2 from Madge's Retrofabulous Christmas Craftabration! Perky Pixie Ornament!

(Graphic is courtesy of morgue.com)

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Did you work on one or more of these crafts this week?

• Tree Branch Menorah - Maureen Morrissey shares how she made this unique menorah for Hannukah.

• Santa Hat Ornament - Use these free directions and discover how you can use felt and cotton balls to make an easy Christmas tree ornament that looks like Santa's hat.

• Hand Print Poem Gift Craft - Instructions to make a special gift for someone using a hand print and this poem. This is a great idea submitted by Lynette K.

• Candy Wreath Craft - Make a wreath using hard, wrapped candies, ribbon, and a hanger! A fun decoration that you can eat.

• Cotton Candy Craft - No trip to the circus is complete without getting some sweet, sticky cotton candy. This craft may not be sweet and sticky, but it sure looks like the real thing.

• How To Make Craft Foam Mittens - Make these adorable mittens using crafts foam, ribbon, glue, and dimensonal paint.

• Mouse in a Cup Craft - Use these free instructions for making a pretend mouse in a tiny cup.

Enjoy, and remember, if you complete any of these crafts, take a few moments to send me a picture and it can be featured here too!

(Photo © 2009 Sherri Osborn licensed to About.com, Inc.)

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Some visitors have requested a Christmas neighborhood gift similar to the Halloween Phantom Ghost Letter Surprise and You've Been BOOED Letter. There have been a few ideas shared; one is called Spirit of the Holidays Letter, another is called Twas the Weeks before Christmas Letter Surprise, and the last is the Ghost of Christmas Spirit Letter. A big thanks to VicRae, Heidi, and Phyllis for sharing these ideas... If you have an idea for a neighborhood letter/gift for any season or reason, please share your ideas to be shared here with everyone.
RELATED:
- 100 Gifts to Make
- Christmas Crafts
- Share Your Ideas

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Paper Cone Angel
Make this pretty paper cone angel to decorate your table or tree. The angel is easy to customize and personalize using your favorite festive rubber stamps!

Goofy Reindeer Ornament
Need a little silly on your tree? This easy ornament from Tammy Powley will lighten the mood on your tree this year.

Curly Branch Paper Tree
These are a recycler's dream and can be made from a used pencil or colored pencil and a sheet of any paper or curling ribbon in any color - try used gift wrap or ribbon to make a wonderfully stylized forest.

Little Tree Cross Stitch
Stitch a tiny, tiny tree using this pattern by Connie G. Barwick and add it to a card or gift tag. Or, add more pizazz and decorate the tiny tree with sequins and beads.

Christmas Tree Pillow
This easy to knit pillow has a simple Christmas tree motif on one side, and plain red and green stripes on the other, so you can use it all winter long without feeling too mired in Christmas decorations.

Puzzle Piece Ornaments
Create your own unique ornaments for your Christmas tree or other holiday decorating needs by recycling old jigsaw puzzle pieces. You can use the ideas and directions I provide on these project sheets to create a variety of ornaments. Use my projects as inspiration to create your own designs.

Christmas Scrubby Soaps
This project from David Fisher is a simple variation of my Animal Melt and Pour Scrubbies project - except with Christmas themed nylon scrubbies.

Sparkling Holiday Pin
This elegant sparkles pin from the Bliss Tree blog is really easy to make, especially if you start with a pre-formed pin with drop loops.

Recycled Christmas Needle Book
From the Craftside blog, create this needle book out of scraps from recycled wool felted sweaters. HTis is the perfect gift for the stitcher in your life.

Painted Christmas Cards
Imagine receiving not just your average Hallmark card, but one hand painted by a dear friend. Spend a cozy night painting a few cards with the instructions and technique guides from Marion Boddy-Evans.

Want to Join Make it Merry to show off your holiday crafts? We will showcase your crafts and recipes of all holiday traditions. Learn more.

Here are past Make It Merry Blog posts for you to enjoy:

• Make It Merry Week 5
• Make It Merry Week 4
• Make It Merry Week 3
• Make It Merry Week 2
• Make It Merry Week 1

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Do you make your own Christmas cards? If you do, please take a moment and share your designs with everyone here. It is easy to submit a photo and show off your work to everyone - just follow these directions. I made my own Christmas cards last year (yes, there are pictures of my cards in the Christmas card gallery); however, this year is way too hectic... I ordered photo Christmas cards this year from Cards Direct.
RELATED:
- Displaying Christmas Cards
- Cards to Make
- Christmas Crafts

(Photo submitted by Kristine Jones)

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Many of you have enjoyed or are currently enjoying my The 12 Days of Christmas... Crafts newsletter e-course, and now you can find an online version of this e-course! You can bookmark this collection of Christmas crafts and refer to them daily for new project ideas. You can browse these pages to find a variety of crafts all related to Christmas or you can sign up for The 12 Days of Christmas Crafts newsletter and have them delivered to your inbox. You can make everything from advent calendars to Santa Claus crafts.
RELATED:
- Crafting Through the Alphabet Email Course
- Creative Recycling Email Course
- Christmas Crafts and Activities

(Photo © 2009 Sherri Osborn licensed to About.com, Inc.)

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Monday is here once again... Are you ready for a new Make-It-Over craft challenge? Before I talk about this week's craft challenge item, lets take a peek at some crafts made with pine cones, which was that last Make-It-Over Monday item:

• Pine Cone Fire Starter Craft submitted by Christi and Mikey
  
• Pine Cone Angel Craft submitted by Christy
  
• Pine Cone Pony Craft submitted by Tonya
  
• Simple Pine Cone Ornaments submitted by Many
  
• More Pine Cone Crafts

As always, I want to thank everyone who participates in these craft challenges and urge those of you who haven't to try it!

Now, are you ready for this week's Make-It-Over Monday craft challenge? As of right now, I am planning on getting back to the normal weekly challenge, hoping people will take a break from their holiday plans to participate. Without any further ado, this week's craft challenge item is:

It is an 'old-fashioned' coffee can. I say old-fashaioned because these days it seems like a lot of coffee comes in plastic containers. Hopefully you can scrounge up a coffee can and make something with it. Your project can use one or more coffee cans, and it can include the lid or not. You can share your simple ideas and tips using the comments feature on this blog post, but to get your project possibly featured in next week's Make-It-Over Monday blog post, please submit it using this simple form. If you make the project you are submitting, take a picture of it and submit the photo. If you have a blog or Web site and participate, I will happily include a link to your site on the project page.

Some of the submitted ideas will be shared in next week's Make-It-Over Monday blog post. You can look through projects submitted for past challenges if you want some inspiration. You can also still submit craft projects made using past Make-It-Over craft challenge items.

If you have questions or comments about this craft challenge, use the comment feature below. Suggestions regarding this feature, including suggestions for items to make-over? Again, use the comments feature to post your suggestions; and, thanks for playing along. If you want a reminder when Make-It-Over challenges are posted, sign up for the Family Crafts newsletter.
RELATED:
- How to Submit a Project
- How to Submit a Photo

(Photo © 2009 Sherri Osborn licensed to About.com, Inc.)

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I know many of you are very busy these days getting ready for the holidays, and these crafty bloggers are too!

• The Artful Crafter - A bead spinner is not required, but certainly recommended, to make a beautiful seed bead Christmas tree like this one created by Sharon.

• The Impatient Crafter - Madge is feeling Retrofabulous this holiday season! Check out this vintage inspired mixed media jewelry project idea!

• Aileen's Musings - Looking for Christmas card ideas? Aileen shares her idea using a Starbucks coffee sleeve and challenges you...

• Mixed Media Artist - One of Cyndi's readers shared a fabulous craft idea using her own custom-printed fabric...and you can do it too!

• Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery - See how to make a Max from the Grinch antler headband from recycled sweaters.

• Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world - The 19 Days of Holiday Goodness Giveaways is in full swing, leave your answer to the day's question and you are entered to win a free book and while you're there check out how to make a Christmas tree from a tomato cage, some cool Steampunk jewelry, a ribbon wreath, and a great beer and turkey leftover recipe.

• Crafty Princess Diaries - A light tent can make all the difference when photographing your crafts.

• Farm Girl Roots, City Girl Style - Linda built a house--a gingerbread house, that is! Check out photos and learn more about this party concept that's taking Chicago by storm!

(Graphic is courtesy of morgue.com)

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