Photo: SXC

For someone like me, who likes to finish Christmas shopping well ahead of schedule, it is nice to be able to take advantage of additional sales in July. But the candy canes, cards and bell ringing, Santa hat wearing Salvation Army workers? I think it is a shame to make them less special by trotting them out any old time someone wants to increase sales.

So, what do you think about the commercialization of Christmas in July?

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Commercializing Christmas in July

Photo: SXC

The key to doing this sort of layout is to create generic spreads that will look great with a variety of different photos. For example, I put together a layout for a two page spread that has a bear with a Christmas hat down in one corner and a big tag in the upper corner of the other page. The words “Merry Christmas” are spelled out across the tops of the pages. There are three empty mats on one page for photos and two on the other.

Of course, there will still be pages I want to create for specific photos that captured special memories, but these pre-made pages will really give me a head start for this year’s scrapping fun.

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Create Holiday Scrapbooking Pages Now

• Pinecones – You can simply hot glue a ribbon to one end and apply some white paint to make them look snowy or you can do all sorts of elaborate things with them.
• Flowers – Strawflowers and other things that dry easily, like lavender blossoms, are only available free for a limited time. Pick them when they look their best and dry according to instructions. I like to tie a few sprigs of lavender together with a pretty ribbon to make a nicely scented ornament.
• Shells – There are usually sales right now in the store. My mom made the cutest tree one year with small shells strung together for a garland.

Pinecones look great in Christmas arrangements. Photo: SXC

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Make Nature Christmas Decorations in July

Photo via Joann Fabric and Craft Stores

Luckily, I can make something very similar to this lovely little Christmas Cheer card by using a chipboard “C” and a scrapbooking flower or snowflake instead of buying the Cricut and cartridges that were used to make the sample.

I wonder though, do people really go out and buy a bunch of expensive supplies to make one project like this? Maybe I am the only person who looks at awesome samples and then tries to recreate them using supplies she already has…

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Christmas in July at Joann Fabric Stores

Photo: SXC

I kept a close eye on the after holiday sales and was able to pick up hats, scarves and gloves for as much as ninety percent off. I chose classic styles that will still be stylish for years to come and avoided faddy colors. Now, when this year’s hat and glove drives start, I can give many more new warm items than I did in previous years for less cash.

I also kept an eye on toy sales. If I saw a nice toy or game that wasn’t quite right for my guys’ ages, I picked it up and stowed it away anyway. When the Toys for Tots campaigns start, I can donate some great toys.

It is going to be nice to be able to still give things to my favorite Christmas charities even if the economy doesn’t recover as quickly as expected. Do you plan ahead to donate to holiday charities?

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Preparing for Christmas Charity Drives

Photo: K. Thomas

Enlarge your photo to a standard size. 8×10 is the size I went for when I was printing photos of a sunset view for a Christmas gift last year. Then, buy a nice frame and a mat at the craft store, frame the photo and finish off the back with brown paper glued neatly down. Sign and date the paper backing and add a bit of info about the photo. (Example: Sunset view from Mary Linley’s porch taken by John Smith. January 10, 2005.)

Want to step it up a bit? Get a local framer to do the job. It won’t be a thrifty gift once you pay the bill, but a good framer can make almost anything look incredible and a special gift is worth the extra cost.

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DIY Photo Prints for Christmas

Photo via Snapily

Snapily turns several photos into a moving print so that you can have the kids show off their princess curtsies or their spectacular karate kick on a photo print, a Christmas card, or a notebook. I think the possibilities are endless. What about having a child rip open a pre-Christmas gift and taking a few shots for this year’s Christmas card? Or a We love Grandma notebook with your children blowing kisses on the cover? Inside, have the children write messages and draw pictures on every other page. Every time she opens her new notebook and flips to a fresh page to jot something down, she’ll be treated to an adorable new piece of art.

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Snapily – Christmas Gift for Grandparents

Photo via Altec Lansing

Although it is marketed as an MP3 player speaker, I hooked mine up to my laptop and enjoyed watching Benny & Joon on Hulu. (One of my all time favorite movies.) I usually have trouble listening to movies on my laptop, but, with the speaker, this one came in loud and clear. It wasn’t as awesome as listening to a movie in a media room with surround sound, but the speaker didn’t cost a few thousand dollars, either.

You’re thinking, “Nice, but will that really excite my teen?” right? Well, there’s a special little bonus that makes this a great teen Christmas gift idea – the customizable Skinit skin for your speaker. You can give your teen an Orbit and let him or her customize it later on or create the skin ahead of time and give the skin as part of the gift. I think the custom option is really fun, because your teen can use photos of a favorite pet, best friends or just about anything else to make a unique skin of his or her own.

This skins are under $15, which makes the whole package a bit over $50. Not bad for a techie gift for a teen.

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Teen Christmas Idea – Orbit MP3 Speaker

Before you start thinking I’m out-commercializing commercialism, take a few moments to think about how you felt fighting through crowds of shoppers to look for just the right gift at the last second. You probably were really frustrated and stressed and then overpaid for the gift you finally bought. Did you think about making your own gifts or at least getting your shopping done earlier last year? Then now is the time to start planning your low cost, low stress Christmas.

Photo:SXC

Today, we start with a list of giftees. Decide whether you’re going to try to give gifts to teachers, co-workers and extended family. Once your master gift recipient list has been created, you’ll be able to use it to check off gifts as you make or buy them. This really helps you avoid buying three gifts for one person and completely forgetting to buy even one for another person.

Is your gift list ready? Great! Now, look at it again and think about your budget. Note the amount you want to spend on each person beside his or her name. Add up the numbers. After you regain consciousness, adjust the amounts to end up with a total that doesn’t make you see black spots before your eyes. There you go! You have your holiday gift budget. Now, it is just a matter for keeping your eye out for good sales and carving out enough time to make all the gifts you have ideas for.

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Happy July 1st – Christmas in July

Since this is the last day of July and the end of the Christmas in July theme I’ve been participating in, I’ll mention a few quilting books that have possible projects for your holiday gift giving and decorating.  One also is an Elm Creek Quilts novel.

Enjoy!

(Amazon images)

Sandy Mitchell also has been featuring Christmas in July throughout the month at All Holiday Cafe.

(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

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Christmas Quilting Books for Final Day of Christmas in July