First, make sure to created a welcoming table. You can use candles to do that. They don’t have to be twenty dollar pillar candles, use what you can afford. Make up a placecard for each guest and a napkin holder. I have the information for both placecard and napkin holder right here. You will find the patterns for this project here.

Kathy Zengolewicz

Here is what you need to get started:

• Chocolate brown felt
• gold felt
• orange felt
• orange embroidery floss
• fabric marking pen
• white or cream paper
• rotary fabric cutter or scissors
• cutting mat
• pre-cut chocolate brown placecards or you can use card stock or scrapbook paper

Cut your brown felt 7 inches wide by 1.5 inches long to make the napkin rings. Measure ½ inch from the left side of the strip and make a slit half way through from the bottom up. Repeat on the right side, but cut from the top side down. Slip the slits together to form the ring.

Trace a leaf pattern onto the felt and cut it out. Place the leaf in the middle of the brown ring, place a small button on top and sew through the button, leaf and ring with orang embroidery thread. Knot in the back. Roll your napkin and place inside of the ring.

Open the name template and type your guests names, one on each leaf. Print and cut out the leaf. Now take your pre-cut placecards or card stock and cut a square from the orange felt, a little smaller than the card. Place the orange felt square on the placecard and then place the name leaf on the top. Sew through all layers with the orange embroidery thread. That’s it. You’re all set. Enjoy!

Post from: Blisstree

Your Holiday Table

Image: sxc.hu

Yes, the first Thanksgiving, from which this  holiday of thankfulness originated, took place in Plymouth, MA.

However, it wasn’t celebrated nationally until Sarah Josepha Hale, the editor of “Godey’s Lady’s Book,” decided that Thanksgiving should become a national holiday. She initiated a campaign to have a day in late fall set aside for us to give thanks for our harvests and many blessings.

From 1846 to 1863, she wrote letters to presidents, governors, and any influential people she could think of. Many editorials appeared in her magazine, urging the recognition of this celebration as a holiday.

Finally President Abraham Lincoln listened to Mrs. Hale. He decided that a day of thanksgiving in autumn also might help create harmony in the nation midst the Civil War.

In 1863, he declared Thanksgiving Day would be the last Thursday in November.  In 1941, Congress passed a resolution which changed Thanksgiving from the last Thursday in November to the fourth Thursday of that month. Since then, the fourth Thursday, which sometimes is the last one, has officially been Thanksgiving.

Post from: Blisstree

Thanksgiving Becomes a National Holiday

Following are some great ideas for eco-friendly gifts you can start making now, and by Christmas you’ll be good to go.

Reusable Garden Tote: Perfect for the gardener in your life, or mix it up, choose a non-garden design and make a tote or two for anyone.

DIY play kitchens that actually look amazing and professional but at half the cost of a store bought play kitchen. Best of all you can make most of them with recycled goods and non-toxic finishes.

This homemade sugar body scrub is so amazing, if you package it in a nice jar with a computer made label, your best friend will never guess that you made it at home. Lemon Bath Cookies are a good bet too.

Easy as pie Canning Jar Gifts – layer them carefully for a professional look and use organic goods.

Cinnamon Marshmallow Stars – not vegan! Cute though and would look amazing in hot cocoa.

For a great stocking stuffer try homemade chunky crayons made with recycled old crayon bits.

An amazing list of 50 edible holiday gifts you can make – some are super fancy. Make sure you use organics.

NOTE: If you want to make a homemade gift, and aren’t sure where to start, take an hour and browse Etsy. Etsy is all things handmade that you can buy, but it’s also an excellent place to gain some amazing inspiration for projects you could pull off yourself. If you need more tips listen to NPR’s broadcast about eco-friendly homemade gifts.

[image via stock.xchng]

Post from: Blisstree

Homemade Eco-Gifts for the Holidays

Kathy Zengolewicz

Here is what you will need to get started:

• A white pillar candle (again, you can use any color – I used white)
• A thanksgiving paper napkin with images
• Modge Podge or white glue thinned out with water
• Sharp, fine pointed scissors
• A paint brush
• Rubbing alcohol

Clean the surface of the candle with rubbing alcohol. This will take off any debris or grease and help the decoupage to better adhere to the candle.

Leave the paper napkin folded and cut out the images that you would like to use on your candle. Leaving the napkin folder will make it easier to cut. Once you cut around the image, then you can carefully separate the layers. Keep only what you will need and discard the rest.

Using a paint brush, coat the area of your candle to be decoupaged with Modge Podge. Carefully position the cut out image on the candle and smooth gently into place with your fingers. Take your time doing this, once the thin napkin is in place it will not be easy to move again. You can add additional images if you choose using the same steps.

When all of the images are in place, use the paint brush to coat them with another layer of Modge Podge and let it dry completely.

As always, use caution with candles. Never leave a lit candle unattended and never leave a child or pet alone with a lit candle.

Post from: Blisstree

Holiday Decoupage Candle

Image: sxc.hu

 Nowadays, it’s not always celebrated on the exact day, but usually spans a weekend.  This year, the Monday holiday is October 12.

In New Hampshire, where I live, this is the height of the foliage season, when the leaves are at their most colorful somewhere in the state.  So we’re visited by many travelers who enjoy this season, too.

It’s a weekend for festivals, travel, visits to relatives, barbecues and fun.  It’s pumpkin time and apple picking, too.

How are you recognizing Columbus Day…in school and at home?  Are they learning about this era in history?  Do you have memories of celebrating Columbus Day?

Post from: Blisstree

How Are You Celebrating Columbus Day?

Whether you’re wanting to keep things non-alcoholic or plan to imbibe over the holiday weekend, you can still keep a festive theme going with tons of summery, delicious drinks. (Just remember that anyone drinking the harder stuff should not be the ones setting off the fireworks!)

Firecrackers
from sofakingdrunk.com

1 1/2 oz Tequila
Cracked ice
Tonic water
Lime wedge

Pour tequila over the ice in a highball glass. Fill with tonic. Stir and garnish with lime wedge.

…..

4th of July Holiday Punch non-alcoholic
from garvick.com

6 c Orange juice
20 oz Frozen strawberries in syrup
2 c Cranberry juice cocktail
3 c Ginger ale

Blend together the orange juice, strawberries, and cranberry juice cocktail. Add ginger ale immediately before serving drinks. Makes 18 servings.

…..

July Passion Cocktail Recipe
from drinkswap.com

1 oz Strawberry Liqueur
1 oz Pineapple Juice
1 oz Passion-fruit Juice
1 oz Lemonade

Shake and strain into an old-fashioned glass three-quarters filled with broken ice. Add lemonade, garnish with a sugar-dipped strawberry, and serve.

…..

Red, White and Blue Shooter
from hubpages

1/2 oz grenadine
1/2 oz vodka
1/2 oz blue curaçao

“The layered effect of this shot will only work if the ingredients are poured in the given order: grenadine, vodka then blue curaçao. Use a spoon to deflect the pouring of the liquor because otherwise the force of each pour will inadvertantly mix all three liquors (and colors!) together.”

[image: flickr]

Post from: Blisstree

Drinks for the Fourth of July

When I was a youngster, veterans’ service to our country was well recognized and not criticized as we appreciated being free.  I lived during the years of World War II and knew about black-outs, bomb scares, rationing, scarcity of food, aluminum drives and everyone working together to support the military.

Image: sxc.hu

Then Memorial Day (often called Decoration Day, when we decorated the graves of the fallen military or those who had served and died later) was a time to recognize their sacrifices.

We hung the large flag from our front porch. I still have photos of our family standing in front of it with my uncle who has served in an even earlier war, World War I.

Crafters today often make items with patriotic colors and themes.  My daughter has a number of these she places around the house.  What do you make for patriotic celebrations and family gatherings?

Post from: Blisstree

Memorial Day Celebration & Patriotic Crafts

Thank goodness I don’t have any fallen soldiers to remember.

I have lots of veterans though.

My dad recently retired after 30 years in the Air Force and Utah Air National Guard. (Yeah, I’m a total military brat.)

My sister-in-law served 5 years in the Army and is still, knock-on-wood, subject to recall. (End the war quickly, she just had a baby!)

My grandfather served in World War II.

Thanks so all of our soldiers. Hope your weekend has been fabulous.

Post from: Blisstree

Happy Memorial Day