Quick Tip: Wrap Your Painting & Art

Do you have a large painting/portrait above a mantel or in a prominent place in your home?  I have a canvas that is 35"x35" and I love it, but it really shouts out "Spring/Summer" more than Fall/Winter/Holiday.  I certainly don' want to spend a lot of money to replace it several times a year.  So, I have found one way to get around this issue ~ at least for Christmas.  I purchased a vinyl tablecloth at Walmart for $3 and I used that to cover the painting like a Christmas present.  I used a hot glue gun to adhere it to the wood part of the canvas in the back.  Then I added some ribbon and a giant bow using Command strips since I was worried the hot glue would ruin the front of the painting.  Now I have a giant Christmas present above the mantle.



DIY Operation Christmas Child Ornament

As a way to thank our guests for coming to our Packing Party this weekend I wanted to give them a little gift and a momento of thier participation in OCC.  You can easily make an Operation Christmas Child ornament by using one of the plastic photo ornaments at Michael's ($1.99, but if you have a coupon you could get it 40%-50% off...or make sure you stock up after Christmas to use for next year!)

The one I purchased was 3".  Next, I created a picture that was 3" round using the OCC Logo.



 You can save the ones I created above by right-clicking and saving to your files.  I also thought it would be great to customize the back with the date of your party, or where your box(es) ended up!  Nothing beats a photo after all your shoe boxes are packed too :)  Once you print out you pictures, you just need to cut them out and insert them into the middle of your ornament. 

This ornament would also serve as a great reminder throughout the Christmas season of the TRUE meaning of Christmas. 

Have you had your Packing Party yet?

Elf on the Shelf Shoebox Shindig!

Our Elf on the Shelf arrives the day after Thanksgiving.  This year I wanted to do something fun, but I also wanted to pack more shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child this year and invite others to join in the effort.  So, we are hosting an Elf on the Shelf Shoebox Shindig!  I thought it was a great way to combine both of our family traditions!  Our daughter is in preschool, so the kiddos will enjoy the Elf on the Shelf movie while eating some pancakes in their pajamas!

Here is a copy of the invitation to spur your creativity!

Do you host a Packing Party for Operation Christmas Child?  Let us know!