It is officially December… which means it is time for CHRISTMAS!!! Personally, Christmas is my favorite holiday for so many reasons: decorating, baking, being with family and friends, the list goes on. Looking back, I often feel that December is consistently one of my favorite months out of the year, and a lot of that stems from the increased sense of community and love around the holiday season. Building off of that, I wanted to compile some of my favorite ways to foster this love and community through baking, crafting, and decorating.
I especially want to share how I decorate utilizing what we already have, because it can be easy to fall into overconsumption tendencies during this season. Additionally, I have loved baking and crafting, so over the years I have collected a list of fun Christmas crafts and the tastiest recipes to get in the Christmas spirit!!
Beginning with recipes, there is nothing like having a good cookie to sit down and decorate with friends or family, and it’s even better when the cookies are homemade with love. I have been making cookies every holiday and just on random Tuesdays for years now. Starting simple, Tini’s sugar cookie recipe is a staple in my kitchen because it is delicious, quick, and easy. These cookies also bake out perfectly, making them perfect for decorating! With these, the possibilities for add-ins and fillings are endless. For example, I swear by adding a couple crushed up candy canes and a bar of dark chocolate to a batch to make the most amazing Christmas cookie (trust me, you’ll be hooked).
Tips: Allow the butter to soften at room temperature, sift the dry ingredients, and add a splash of almond extract. If you choose to make a bigger batch of these cookies and use a stand mixer (which I have), be sure not to over-mix.
If sugar cookies are too boring, I get it, make these instead! These apple butter cookies are the most popular cookie I make, and I probably make two to three batches a year. This recipe requires a bit of extra time, as the dough has to chill, but it makes a sufficient number of cookies. For extra homemade-ness, the recipe has a link to a homemade apple butter!!
Aside from baking and decorating cookies, there can be a lot of joy found in crafting. Especially around the holidays, it allows us to slow down and make something special, whether it’s for decor or a gift!
For starters, this paper garland is absolutely darling, and so simple! Additionally, this craft can be done with paper at home. This DIY is similar to one I do every year with a strand of fairy lights and some of my favorite ornaments. Using double-stranded fairy lights and ornament hooks, I can display my absolute favorite ornaments by themselves to highlight them. I have also seen the paper star garlands ALL over my Instagram, and those are precious as well. One girl even used her old Trader Joe’s bags to make hers, #resourcefulbaddie.
Oven-bake clay ornaments/magnets are another fun and easy Christmas idea that can serve as both a fun craft for you or a gift for someone else. I personally recommend Sculpey clay, and starting your oven at a lower temperature (225-250) to avoid burning the clay. As for tools, all you really need is a sharp knife and some creativity!
When they are out of the oven, a glossy top coat, such as Mod Podge or resin, can finish the piece. I recommend resin, either time-cured or UV. To attach the ornament hook, place the hook into the soft clay, widening the hole slightly to account for shrinkage, then remove the hook. After baking the clay, reattach the hook to the hole. For magnets, I recommend Gorilla Glue over E6000 and using multiple magnet backs, or one large one, to ensure magnets are securely attached to the fridge. Polymer clay is honestly one of my favorite crafts, and around the holidays, aside from making ornaments and magnets, I also make gnomes, gingerbread houses, and so much more!
Lastly, when considering decorating this year, I think it is safe to say the term “whimsical Christmas” is in style. From pink Christmas decor to flush amounts of greenery to maximalism, people are truly embracing their whimsy this year.
I LOVE this tree, and the ribbon idea is a good way to utilize old ribbon and fabrics! I think the tinsel and pinks really add to the whimsy of Christmas, and the unique ornaments and wrapping really add to this tree.
This mantle is everything. The greenery, the garland, the funky trees, the color scheme, I am seriously obsessed. I think greenery can add so much to a space, and embracing these non-traditional colors this season can help break the traditionalism that revolves around the holiday.
Overall, we need Christmas now more than ever, and not from a religious perspective. The holiday season brings families together as presents, food, love, and more are shared among people across the world, something the world needs more of. As an Atheist, I see Christmas more as a time for community, for love, genuine connection, and quality time with friends and family, and I think that is a beautiful thing.