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    Valentine’s Day traditions

    Brittany
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    Valentine’s Day traditions

    Valentine’s Day Traditions

    I’m going to venture to say that a part of the reason that Valentine’s Day has been hyped up so much, besides the history and symbolism of it all, is because after Christmas and New Year’s we need something to look forward to. It’s the height of winter, it’s pretty bleak and boring and gosh darn it, we need some red and pink in our lives!

    History of Valentine’s Day

    That said, there IS a long history to the holiday, which I find super fascinating. Valentine’s Day is a holiday celebrated on February 14th that has its origins in ancient Rome. The holiday was originally called Lupercalia, and it was celebrated as a fertility festival. As part of the festival, men would draw the names of women from a jar and pair up with them for the duration of the festival–(really hoping the women had a choice in the matter–anyone know?!).

    In the 5th century AD, Pope Gelasius declared February 14th as Saint Valentine’s Day, in honor of a martyr named Valentine who was believed to have been executed on that day. The Catholic Church recognizes several saints named Valentine, but the exact identity of the one honored on Valentine’s Day is unclear.

    Over time, Valentine’s Day evolved into a day to express love and affection between romantic partners. People began to exchange gifts, such as flowers and chocolates (two of my favorite things), and write love letters to their loved ones.

    Valentine’s Day tradition ideas

    As you know, I LOVE this holiday and we’ve been sharing ways to celebrate for years and years. Here are some of my favorite ways to celebrate love in all its forms that would make terrific traditions!

    My rules about traditions

    There aren’t “rules” per se, but I’m pretty insistent on not taking on anything that overwhelms you. Find traditions that work with your interests and time constraints, otherwise you’re setting yourself up for unmet expectations. I’ve been there and done that! Take these as ideas, not have-tos!

    Valentine’s Day advent calendar

    Ok! Let’s start! I say, why not get all the excitement out of every holiday as we can?! Why leave an advent calendar just for Christmas?! We made countdown for Valentine’s Day and I have to say–it’s a great way to build excitement!

    Valentine’s Day Cards

    A classic and simple way to express love is to write a card for Valentine’s Day. I’m talking like when you’re in elementary school–handing out cards. You can do store bought cards, of course, but there’s something lovely about making your own, or even just folding a piece of paper in a unique way. We have a ton of printable options and handmade ideas.

    Handmade Valentine’s Day Cards

    Making Valentine cards by hand is always my ultimate goal (now, do I actually do it??? that’s the real question…). Here are some ideas!

    Printable Valentine’s Day cards for teens and adults

    Printable Valentine’s Day cards for kids

    Valentine’s Day Giftables

    A simple card is great, but add on a little tiny gift to it and it becomes a gift-able, which is  that much better! These would be great for a neighbor or friend gift to hand out.

    Tootsie Pop Cherry Valentines

    More Valentine giftable ideas

    Friendship bracelets with hearts.

    Valentine’s Day Party Ideas

    A Valentine’s Day party, or Galentine’s Day, my favorite form of the Valentine’s Day party, is a great tradition idea. This year I’m wanting to do a Valentine exchange party where we all make some and hand them out.

     Valentine’s Day Party Decor

    A party themed around love is the best kind to throw. Here are some beautiful ideas to add to your event:

    Valentine’s Day food

    Valentine’s Day games

    Table top games are a fun idea for the event!

    Valentine’s Day Home Decor

    accordion heart wreath

    Valentine’s Day artwork

    An art print up on the wall gets you in the spirit of the season. Here are some favorites:

    Give a Valentine’s Day gift

    A gift for a loved one is a great idea. Chocolate and flowers is super traditional and in my mind a super win/win. BUT, use this wrapping of sweet cherries or truffles and it takes it up a notch 😉

    Valentine’s Day accessories

    If you’re not one to dress up all in red and pink on Valentine’s Day (and I ask you to reconsider), maybe a simple accessory is more your style. Here are some DIY projects to get you in the mood:

    wearing red and pink on Valentine's Day
    Me on Valentine’s Day last year

    DIY Valentine's Day heart collar pin

    Valentine’s Day box

    For the school-aged kids, a Valentine’s Day box is tradition (at least around these parts!). I love going over the top! Here are some ideas for you.

    Valentine’s Day tradition ideas from around the world

    In modern times, Valentine’s Day is a day for couples to express their love for one another. Many people give gifts, such as flowers, chocolates, and jewelry, to their partners. It is also common for couples to go out for a romantic dinner or take a trip together. Some people also choose to celebrate Valentine’s Day with their friends and family members.

    Valentine’s Day is also a popular time for proposals and weddings. Some people choose to propose or get married on Valentine’s Day to make the occasion even more special.

    Valentine’s Day is a holiday that is celebrated differently around the world. For example, in South Korea, it is common for women to give chocolate gifts to men, while in Japan, it is the opposite, where men give gifts to women.

    Valentine’s Day traditions from readers

    I asked our Instagram community for their traditions and you had a lot to say. Pretty much-you are all better people than me. I love these ideas! There were so many that I had to divide them up into themes.

    For the kids

    • “My kids always made their own Valentine’s. This was pre-Pinterest!”
    • “We make a poster for each family member and each write something we love about each other every day until the 14th” [a lot of people contributed something along these lines]
    • “Homemade sugar cookies with our names frosted on them!”
    • “A small box of chocolates for each person and a heart pizza with a rom com for dinner.” [pizza was a big theme for a lot of people!]
    • “A scavenger hunt with clues for a small Valentine gift basket at the end”
    • “Writing a little note to my kids in lipstick on the bathroom mirror”
    • “Fancy breakfast, kids wake to decorate table, love notes, balloons, new book and treats”
    • “My mother would make heart shaped chocolate lollipops and set them at our bed to surprise us”
    • “I felt like it was a dumb commercial holiday, but when my kids were tiny we started “lovefest”. I make them each a handmade Valentine. It sits by their plate at dinner. We go around the table and everyone says what they love about each person. My teenage boys act like they HATE it! But they get the sweetest embarrassed smiles through the whole thing.”

    For the partner or loved one

    • “My husband does at-home spa night for me and pretends to be a spa employee”
    • “We always celebrated my mom and I. A date, flowers, small gift, that sort of thing.”
    • “We do a fancy family dinner and candles and balloons and candy for all”
    • “We always celebrate it on groundhog’s day instead because we’re weird and it’s easier to find a sitter”
    • “Our Valentine’s date involves going together to pick out new cologne and perfume”
    • “We go to the ballet every year”
    • “Order Thai food and watch Princess Bride”
    • “As a kid and still, I always get a love note from my mom”
    • “Watching Notting Hill and slow dancing to our wedding song plus eating take out”
    • “No matter the day it falls on we take the day off and my husband I spend it together”

    Valentines Day Craft Roundup

    For others

    • “Send out a family Valentine’s Day letter instead of a Christmas card. Less hectic time of year.”
    • “I make handmade Valentines for my girlfriends. Usually a garland so they can decorate!”
    • “I like giving chocolate and a pretty card to girlfriends”
    • “I make little ornaments on cardstock with small bags of candy for friends”
    • “We wrap nice chocolate bars with Valentine wraps and hand them out to friends all day”Pink and blue house-shaped cookie boxes next to a green squiggly background and some heart-shaped cookies

    Valentine’s Meals

    • “Heart-shaped meatloaf”
    • “Breakfast for dinner! Pancakes with lots of toppings!”
    • “My mom used to make me brownies and cut them into hearts with cookie cutters”
    • “Artichokes and Cornish game hens for dinner. IDK why, but we did it once andkept it going.”
    • “Make heart-shaped pizza for dinner”
    • “Pink sauce pasta for dinner”

    Phew!!! Ok, that’s a LOT Of ideas! Remember, these ideas aren’t meant to overwhelm you. You don’t have to do any of them! Pick and choose what you want according to your interests and time constraints. What’s important is that you find something that works for you and is meaningful so it becomes a beautiful tradition.

    Let me know how it goes!

    Things to do during winter break

    Brittany
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    0
    Things to do during winter break

    Things to do during winter break

    I’m of the opinion that every good break deserves a bit of down time, family/friends time, and making time. I can’t help you much with the first two but I CAN and WILL help you with the latter. Making time is my jam! Here are some ideas of things to do during the winter break. Please leave me a comment with your ideas!

    Making intricate snowflakes

    If you’re in elementary school, start with the basics, but level it up once you’re in high school or college. The more intricate the better! We have some templates for these snowflakes here, but feel free to make your own. Hint: I’ve also seen Star Wars or Harry Potter themed snowflakes floating around the interwebs. Find your interest and get cutting!

    vertical snowflakes with hands

    Christmas Friendship Bracelets

    Friendship bracelets were a big part of my childhood and I’m a big believer in keeping up the tradition. You can put any friendship bracelet into a Christmas color theme, but we also have some candy cane, poinsettia friendship bracelets here. They’re a bit tricky, but you got this!

    Paper angels

    We made tons of mini paper angels for our tree this year, but try blowing it up and making a big one! They’ll take you throughout the winter season!

    Paper starburst ornaments

    These paper starburst ornaments are so pretty for a tree but also awesome as a garland or as a simple decoration. Learn how to make the paper starburst ornaments here.

    paper starburst ornament

    Paper Danish woven hearts

    To you and me these woven paper hearts might appear St. Valentine’s-y, and you certainly can get ahead of the game and make them for that, but they are made all winter time in Scandinavia. They’re such a lovely craft!

    Danish Christmas hearts

    Oversized paper star

    Speaking of getting ahead of the game, I love using winter break to work on Christmas projects for next year. These oversized paper stars are such a stunner and take a bit of time so it’s now or never!

    Oversized Paper Christmas Stars

    Hand in heart valentines

    Again, getting ahead of the game, now is a great time to work on some Valentines, like these hand in heart valentines, but they’d also be sweet to hand out to friends or neighbors during the break or as a great thank you note.

    hand and heart love tokens

    Paper Christmas cactus

    I have a couple of real Christmas cactuses and they are the best! But paper Christmas cactuses are even better–no watering needed! Here’s how to make a paper Christmas cactus.

    DIY paper Christmas cactus

    Ice lanterns

    If you live in a snowy climate, ice lanterns are a fun thing to try out! Here’s how to make them!

    Photo heirloom ornaments

    These are our most popular Christmas craft by far! I’ve been seeing readers make them all year round! Not only for Christmas but for birthdays or anniversaries. They’re just a hit all around! Here’s how to make these photo heirloom ornaments!

    family heirloom ornaments

    Nativity Set

    Our heirloom nativity set is also a big winner. They take quite a bit of time so a break would be a good time to do it!

    Midcentury painted heirloom nativity figures against a pink and red striped background.

    Make a piece of clothing

    My favorite winter breaks were those when I would come home from college and make a piece of clothing. This year we came out with our fabric collection and shared some of our favorite patterns. Here are some patterns to get your juices flowing!

    Clothespin dolls

    These winter clothespin dolls would be a fun kids and grown up activity. Make them look like your friends or family members!

    Clothespin People Ornaments

    Painted frames

    Dig into the close family times by creating some pretty frames to go with your family pictures. Here’s how to transform some dollar store frames into works of art.

    Quilt Hack

    You don’t have to be a huge quilter to make a quilt. Here’s our trick to making a quilt! Such a cozy way to celebrate the cold weather.

    Shaped pillows

    We made these fun shaped pillows to go on our studio sofa. You can pick your own shapes or make these ones.

    Paper Flowers

    You can’t just go to the nursery and grab some flowers right now, so make them! We have a ton of paper flower tutorials but this paper orchid is a favorite!

    Ok! That should be a good list to get your going for your winter break, but do let us know what you like to do. I always love to hear your comments! 

    Paper starburst ornaments

    Brittany
    -
    1
    Paper starburst ornaments

    Paper starburst ornament

    This year was the year of paper Christmas ornaments! First it was the paper angel, then the Christmas hearts and now the paper starburst ornaments. In all honesty, I wanted to do 12 days of paper ornaments, but clearly it wasn’t my year ;). But for sure, next year when I can prep more.

    paper ornament

    Colorful paper ornaments

    What I love about these ones is that they are SUPER simple to make yet so impactful with their fullness. Plus, add on the pretty cut out shapes (templates here) and it’s really so stunning. Of course, we had to put it into colorblock colors, but you could keep it all the same colors!

    Paper Starburst ornaments

    Materials (see above)paper starburst ornament

    Instructions

    1. Cut squares of 3″, 6 for each ornament (can be more can be less–have fun experimenting!)
    2. Fold the paper in half each way. Fold the paper on the diagonal each way.
    3. Now bring the corners together and bring the squares together along the diagonal.
    4. Create 5 more.
    5. Glue each square together to create a circle. Before you glue the whole thing together, insert a ribbon to hang as an ornament.

    Note: If you’d like to use the templates to create some visual interest, cut those first either on the craft cutting machine or by hand.

     

    Paper Starburst ornament video

    If you’d like some video instruction, hopefully this video helps!

     

    paper starburst ornamentpaper starburst ornamentpaper starburst ornament

    I’d love to see how yours turn out! Tag us with #LarsMakes or #HolidaysWithLars so we can see it!

    Danish Christmas Hearts

    Brittany
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    Danish Christmas Hearts

    Danish Christmas Hearts

    Christmas hearts, or julehjerter, have a long history throughout Scandinavia, but we know about them through Hans Christian Andersen, who, in addition to his writings, was a wonderful paper cut artist. Danish children would practice them to increase their fine motor skills and I can say that they still do them today!

    The hearts are typically done using red and whites. We had to add our touch to it so we used a few different colors in reds, pinks, and teals. The traditional method is to do it using scissors and of course, you are welcome to do that, but we put them into our Cricut to get those lines super crisp. Both ways work! We have four different templates to try out ranging in difficulty levels. See below!

    Danish paper christmas hearts

    How to make a woven Danish Christmas heart (julehjerter)

    Materials

    • paper (you can even find kits here)
    • scissors or Cricut machine
    • glue stick
    • templates (you can find them in our shop)

    Instructions

      1. Using the Cricut (or your trusty scissors) cut out the shapes from the template including the cuts in the middle, using two different colors of paper 
      2. Fold both of the shapes with the two ends meeting
      3. Next you will combine the two sides of the heart, weaving each of the strips together
      4. Choose a side to start with, and take the first strip closest to you in your hands 
      5. Pull the strip through the loop of the nearest strip on the other colored paper
      6. The strip that you pulled through, will now go over the next strip of the other color
      7. Pull that same strip through the loop of the next strip 
      8. Continue this pattern with each strip of each side, alternating each one, until your heart takes shape! 
      9. Glue a long strip of paper to the inside of each side to create a loop to hang your heart on your tree!

    Scandinavian Christmas hearts video tutorial

    If you’re looking for a visual, here’s a video to show you how we did it!

    Danish Christmas hearts

    These would make a wonderful holiday break activity. If you make them tag us with #holidaysWithLars so we can check them out! 

    Christmas traditions

    Brittany
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    0
    Christmas traditions

    Christmas traditions

    a list of christmas tradition ideas

    For me, Christmas is the icing on the cake at the end of each calendar year, especially now that I live in cold weather. Nothing gets me through the winter misery better than the lights, treats, trims on the tree, carols, cards…you name it. (In fact, you can read more about my obsession over at Scary Mommy!).

    I’m all about a Christmas tradition that has personal meaning, won’t break my back, and will be enjoyed by all. Now that I have kids, I want to make sure that it’s enjoyable and will be memorable though I won’t mention the meltdown I had the other day when trying to implement one tradition that I started this year.

    This list is meant to provide ideas for traditions that you might want to try out and is definitely not meant to add pressure! Pick and choose, adjust, do whatever you’d like!

    1. Christmas Crafting tradition

    As you might guess, I love me a good Christmas craft–from crafting with the kids to crafting some decor. Here are a few favorites!

    Christmas paper village

    This accordion paper village is one that you can put into your craft machine or cut by hand. It’s a simple and sweet way to add in some festivities to a mantle. Bonus: turn it into an event! Invite some friends over for holiday crafting!

    2. Christmas crafts for kids

    Now that I have kids I’m realizing the magic that comes with the holiday. There are, of course, an endless amount of things you can do with kids that can feel festive but these are some of our favorites.

    vertical snowflakes with hands

    Winter Snowflakes

    Paper snowflakes are such a classic winter tradition. We took it up a notch with these templates. But, of course, feel free to do your own! Bonus: Get some family over to make them together!

    Paper angel ornaments

    These paper angels can be used as ornaments or as decor. We made them in color block colors but they are also beautiful in all white!

    Christmas friendship bracelets

    These Christmas friendship bracelets might be a little more complicated for little hands, but they’re great for older kids and teenagers. They’d be a great gift too!

    3. Advent Calendars

    As you know, I love a good Christmas advent calendar. I think it’s one of the best ways to amplify the excitement of the season.

    In Denmark they have the tradition of lighting a candle on each of the four Sundays leading to Christmas. Typically, the four candles are arranged in a wreath of sorts (like this). We got a small table wreath from Trader Joe’s this year and I had already bought a gold metal stand with four candles so we are finally doing it in our own home!

    Other advents mark the countdown to Christmas starting with that first Sunday or on December 1st. Here are some of my favorites!

    kid's room decked out for the holidays

    Christmas book Advent

    I had seen this Christmas book advent calendar for awhile and decided to try it out this year. We picked out some new and some we already had and the boys love unwrapping the selected book each day. I’d say this is one we’ll continue with!

    children's christmas books

    Printable service advent

    This is a printable advent calendar from our shop filled with prompts to engage in one act of service.

    We have a ton more advent options in this post if you’d like to explore more!

    Gift wrapping

    As I was preparing this list of Christmas traditions, I was trying to think of some really unusual traditions that would knock your socks off, but then I went back to basics–the stuff we probably already do but maybe don’t consider it something special. As I thought more about it, traditions are oftentimes in those small moments! Gift wrapping is one of those small ones. We probably all wrap gifts, but do we consider a tradition? Let’s count it! Especially if we make a point of making a special moment. Maybe we find some unique wrapping paper, or ribbon, or method.

    Cardboard Gingerbread House Gift Box

    This is one of my favorite projects from the past–a cardboard gingerbread house gift box! A simple brown paper box and a white paint pen. So easy!

    Turn Wrapping paper into a gift bag

    You can turn any wrapping paper into a gift bag or another fun shape (like a shirt!). Here’s how!

    Ribbon Weaving Gift Wrap

    Woven Ribbon wrapping

    Here’s another fun wrapping idea–Take some beautiful ribbon and weave it to make beautiful patterns. Here’s the how to.

    Christmas smells

    Christmas conjures up pretty specific smells, doesn’t it! Can’t you smell them now?! Cinnamon, wassail, cloves, nutmeg, trees…

    Group shot

    Christmas orange pomanders

    The tradition of making Christmas oranges and cloves is one of my favorites. Plus, I love that beautiful pop of orange. Here’s how to make them!

    Setting a pretty Christmas table

    To me, this is another tradition that fits under the “I’m going to do it anyway” type of tradition that you don’t think too much about it. But the beauty in this tradition comes in the thoughtful details and the great company that make the memories. Here are some things to add to your table setting!

    Christmas poppers

    Christmas poppers

    A common tradition in the UK and Australia, these Christmas poppers are a nice pop of fun! We have some printable versions here!

    Christmas Song Bingo

    This printable Christmas Song Bingo has become a popular game in our shop! Here’s everything you need to know about it including the playlist!

    Swan a swimming tablescape-11

    Swans a Swimming centerpiece

    My brain reels about this one. Oh, to find the time to make an amazing centerpiece like this Seven Swans a Swimming again! If you are up for the challenge, here’s the how to!

    Holiday Napkin Folding

    Christmas napkin folding ideas

    OR, the simpler version of the gorgeous swan above is a napkin fold at each plate. Here are lots of napkin folding ideas for your Christmas table!

    Christmas Magic for the kids

    As you might imagine, Christmas traditions really exploded once I started having kids. It’s the MOST fun! And hectic and stressful…ha! Here are some ways that we are attempting to create it.

    kid's room decked out for the holidays

    Mini Christmas tree

    Paul has talked about having a Christmas tree in Jasper’s room for awhile and we finally did it! Plus, we decked it out. We even let him pick out his tree–so fun! More on this soon! We added in stockings, the book advent, and switched out pillows and artwork.

    Christmas tree ornaments

    While we’ve featured Christmas tree ornaments here and there over the years, this is the first year that I’ve really embraced my collection or lack thereof. I need to change that! I love the idea of collecting ornaments from places we go and making sure I treasure the ones given to me too.

    family heirloom ornaments

    Heirloom Christmas ornaments

    Our most popular ornament by far has been our heirloom Christmas ornaments. The tutorial is here!

    Paper candles

    In Denmark they are pretty unstressed about using real candles on real Christmas trees but living in a desert, I’m not so confident. These paper candles are the way to go! And fun for kids!

    Christmas Decor

    I have a thing for wreaths! If nothing else, I will have a wreath on my door! Here are some favorite Christmas wreaths!

    Poinsettia wreath

    Paper Poinsettia wreath

    We made these paper poinsettias out of paper! Here’s how!

    Dresden wreath

    A traditional Dresden wreath is PRICEY! So we made ours out of paper! Here’s how to make a Dresden wreath.

    Oversized Paper Christmas Stars

    Christmas paper star

    I wanted to do a nod to the traditional Swedish paper star and I love how it turned out! Here’s how to make the traditional Swedish paper star.

    Bottlebrush Trees

    Another simple yet impactful idea is our bottlebrush tree done in crepe paper done in rainbow colors of course!

    Christmas cards

    I LOVE sending out Christmas cards! Every single year! Even when we didn’t have kids and no one really wants to see just a couple! Ha! I typically send out a team card and a family card. Last year we went with these ones, and this year we used these ones!

    Christmas stocking

    This is another one of those traditions that I find obligatory and maybe not special enough to actually write down in a list, but it’s a big deal, takes a lot of time, and is so magical! We need to pat ourselves on the back for it all!

    Christmas stockings

    I loved these DIY stockings that I made for when there were just three of us. I need to do one more for Felix and then we’re cooking! Here’s how to make a Christmas stocking in fun patterns and colors!

    Bringing in your heritage

    A great way to add meaning to your holidays is to dig into your heritage. I love making it personal! Bring in the background!

    For me, this is digging into my Scandinavian roots. We made these Swedish inspired paper ornaments and I still put them on the tree every year!

    My Scandinavian Christmas

    In the early days of blogging, I did this My Scandinavian Christmas series where I had some friends in Denmark and Sweden contribute a project that meant something to them. There are some amazing projects in this series! Check them out here.

    Santa Lucia

    Santa Lucia is a big Swedish holiday that I love paying homage to. We made this printable crown a few years ago and I think it’s so so pretty. Here’s more about Santa Lucia and the Santa Lucia crown!

     

    Handmade gifts

    Gift giving is fun, but handmade gift giving is the ultimate. It can be much more sentimental and meaningful. I’m sure we don’t all have time to make handmade gifts for everyone, but a gift here and there is such a beautiful time well spent.

    Paper Christmas Cactus

    Corrie Beth Hogg made these Christmas cactus out of paper! It’s so so beautiful! We have templates and instructions here.

    DIY Paper Holly boughs

    Paper holly

    I love this holly made from crepe paper. It’s a beautiful gift topper or decoration for a handmade gift.

    Holiday Office Party

    Office parties are a fun tradition, even if the office is super small. We typically like to go to dinner or have an activity, but it’s so fun to decorate the office. Here are some ideas!

    Christmas Paper Office Decorations

    Office paper holiday decorations

    This is one of my favorite ideas! Use one ream of printer paper to make all sorts of decorations! Here’s the tutorial!

    Grand Entrance

    Whenever we’d come home for Christmas, my sister and I would take my parents staircase as a challenge for dressing up. It was such a fun tradition!

    Holly and berry garland

    Our favorite year was this holly and berry garland. You can find the tutorial here.

     

    Nativity

    Now that I have kids, I LOVE having some nativity sets that are more kid-friendly. I think it helps involve them in the story of Christmas. Here are some ideas to help them.

    Midcentury painted heirloom nativity figures against a pink and red striped background.

    Our heirloom nativity set is a modern day classic. I will forever love my set! Here’s how to make it!

    Nativity Paper dolls

    For Christmas Eve, I’m going to print these nativity paper dolls off and set them out for the kids. We’re planning on recreating the nativity so this will give little hands something to play with!

    Nativity clothespin dolls

    Alternatively, if you’re looking for a painted set that’s a more more simple than the full set, these nativity clothespin dolls are just the ticket. Such a sweet tradition.

    Nativity puppets

    But my favorite nativity for kids are our puppets. I bring these to  church with me when I teach the kids to sing Christmas songs and my kids love playing them too. If only they hadn’t lost my baby Jesus…Ha! I plan on keeping up this Christmas tradition until they won’t let me anymore!

    Ok! This is QUITE the list! But I’d love to hear yours as well! Leave me a comment!

    DIY Christmas angel

    Brittany
    -
    1
    DIY Christmas angel

    DIY Christmas angel

    christmas paper angel

    Here’s the picture of the oversized DIY Christmas paper angels. I LOVE the ginormous size and even tried it out myself, but I’m showing you how to make a pint size version today.

    These DIY paper angels are a common Scandinavian tradition and they make them so beautifully, usually in white. BUT, this is Lars, and we had to put them into colorblock colors! I LOVE the colorblock, what do you think?

    DIY Christmas angel

    See the materials list above and here’s how to make one!

    Prepping your paper for the DIY Christmas angel

    1. Cut your paper into two different sized rectangles, one 5×6 in. for the angel skirt, and one 3 ½x3 in. for the angel wings. 
    2. Start with your bigger piece of paper and begin folding on the longer edge like an accordion. Folds can be about ¼ of an inch or 1 centimeter wide. 
    3. Take the folded paper and fold it in half to find the middle, punch a small hole in the middle.
    4. Take the smaller rectangle and fold just how you did the larger paper, on the longer edge, to make the wings. Fold in half and make a hole in the middle. 

    christmas angel

    Stringing the angel all together 

    1. Take your string and cut it to about 10 inches. 
    2. Fold the string in half and tie loose ends of the string together in a knot that is bigger than the hole in the middle of your papers. 
    3. Thread the looped end of the string through the bottom of the larger folded paper, then the bottom of the smaller folded paper, and then grab your large bead for the head and thread that on as well. 
    4. Trim the excess thread.

    christmas angel

    Gluing the Christmas angel all into place 

    1. With your hot glue gun, put glue on just one side of the folded paper, bring it together with the other side to connect them, and hold while glue dries.
    2. Now you can glue the wings to the skirt! Put a strip of glue on the under edge of the wings and press to the top of the skirt. 
    3. Put a blob of glue around the hole on the top of the wings and glue the head in place. 
    4. Now you can unfold it all and see your angel! 

    Decorate the Christmas angel

    Decorate however you like by punching holes in the skirt and wings to create a lace effect. You can also cut the corners to make them rounded, giving a scalloped look. Enjoy!

    christmas angel

    DIY Oversized paper angel

    I LOVED the original oversized versions so much that I tried that out as well.

    And you’ll never guess what we made it from…you ready???

    Here’s how to make the oversized paper angel

    Those temporary shades that you can find at the hardware store. We lived in these blinds until recently and I had a few hanging around so we went to town with them. They come like 6 for $20 already on Amazon perfectly folded so all you have to do is assemble. Quick and easy!

    christmas angel made from paper

    Here’s the how to for the big paper angel

    1. Cut one of the shades to be 21 inches. This will be your angel’s wings.
    2. Punch a hole through the center of both shades. (You will need to punch holes in sections at a time)
    3. Thread yarn through the holes to connect the skirt and the wings to make a loop at the top. Make sure that the sticky strip is face down for both of them. Tie the yarn into a knot at the bottom so it doesn’t come through.
    4. Now you can take off the plastic strip that covers the sticky strip. Fold the bottom down to connect with the other side, making the skirt full.christmas angel made from paper
    5. Now you can stick the wings to the skirt using the sticky strip on the bottom of the wings.
    6. Make the head using the honeycomb tutorial (we didn’t use doilies here but I think they’d be super pretty!)
    7. Attach it to the top, around the yarn!
    8. You can cut the edges for a more rounded scalloped look!
    9. Add a ribbon for a sweet finishing touch (we got our ribbon from Studio Carta)

    Would love to see if you make it. Tag us with #LarsMakes if you do! 

    Advent Calendars

    Brittany
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    Advent Calendars

    Advent Calendars

    To me, advent calendars are associated with my time in Scandinavia. We didn’t do them growing up, but Denmark is all about counting down the days to Christmas and they do it so well. They have one custom of celebrating each Sunday prior to Christmas as well as a Christmas candle that you burn every day. I love them all!

    But, I’m also all about the advent calendars that I’ve seen this year here too. There are all kinds: candy, toys, Lego (my son LOVES LEGO!) beauty, cute houses, you name it. I’m also including some of our favorite DIYs below too, because I think we have some pretty good ones if I do say so myself!

    Here are some of my favorites from around the web:

    I also thought this Hello Bargello advent calendar was so cool! Are you familiar with bargello? It’s such a beautiful technique and this advent is gorgeous!

    DIY Advent Calendars

    If you’re looking for a fun Christmas project, here are a few advent calendars to DIY. They make a perfect Thanksgiving weekend project!

    DIY printable advent village

    This is one of my favorites we’ve done! It would make a great family activity. Put them in a cardboard box for storage afterward!

    DIY Christmas Bulb Advent

    Christmas Bulb Advent Calendar

    This Christmas bulb advent is one of our most popular. It’s just that cute!

    Paper cut advent Village

    This is one you can put into your craft cutting machine. It requires some assembly still but how cute are the results?!

    Christmas Gift Guides

    Stay tuned for more gift guides! And check out our previous gift guides here:

    Christmas decor
    Gift wrap

    Christmas gift wrap

    Brittany
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    Christmas gift wrap

    Christmas gift wrap

    There is absolutely nothing better than a beautifully wrapped gift. I would frame every scrap of wrapping if I could. This year I’m trying to get ahead of the holiday rush and order some beautiful wrapping paper as opposed to needing to find something super last minute and it’s just not my vibe. So, I spent a good deal of time finding the best out there! There’s a mix of beautiful Christmas gift wrap, and fun and bright.

    Christmas cards and family photo cards

    While we’re on the subject of gift wrap, here are some beautiful Christmas card options. I even included some of the cards that were in my saved folder for our family Christmas cards this year–I love them all so so much and it was really tough to decide so I’m sharing the wealth. You can also find Christmas tags and other fun accessories below.

    Christmas gift guides

    You can also find our Christmas decor guide here!

    Stay tuned for more and if there are any that you’re looking to see, let us know! 

    Cake Topper Sparklers

    Brittany
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    Cake Topper Sparklers

    Sparklers and Fireworks on the Fourth

    You can’t get much more classic than sparklers and fireworks on the Fourth. And I happen to love that these cake topper sparklers, in addition to being adorable, are not a fire hazard. With two little kiddos, I don’t love the idea of sparklers and fireworks that could cause injuries and fires with a simple accident. Jasper has just enough energy that I’d rather err on the side of caution, know what I mean?

    The other perk about these cake topper sparklers is that you can keep them for years to come! Make them a tradition and add them to cakes and cupcakes every Fourth of July. Don’t live in the U.S.? Not to fret! Use these sparklers to celebrate any occasion. And that goes for those in the U.S., too. Once the Fourth of July is over, keep using these pretty little sparklers to celebrate birthdays and other special occasions all year long.

    How to Make Cake Topper Sparklers for the Fourth

    Here’s how to make your own cake topper sparklers:

    1. First, cut three 12 inch by 5 inch strips of cellophane. We used red, silver, blue and pink. Gold, this iridescent option and this colorful set are all great options, though! You can also use ribbon or tissue paper.
    2. Now create a fringe effect with each strip by cutting parallel lines down the full strip, making sure never to cut all the way to the edge of your material.
    3. Once all 3 strips are fringed, take your dowel and begin gluing one strip on to the top of the dowel. Start on one side and twist it around the skewer, adding a dab of glue when needed to keep it in place.
    4. Do that for each strand creating 3 tiered layers at the top of the skewer.
    5. Last, simply add 1 thin piece of cellophane around the bottom of the 3 tiers for the finishing touch!

    More Inspiration

    Loved this tutorial on how to make cake topper sparklers and interested in more Fourth of July crafts? Step right this way! You can try out these Paper Firework Cake Toppers, to start with. Need more decoration ideas? You won’t want to miss 3 bunting ideas or this brand new Fourth of July wreath! Also see this compilation of Fourth of July projects. Then head to our shop to check out our Fourth of July content!

    Floral Favor Boxes

    Brittany
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    Floral Favor Boxes

    Floral Favor Boxes

    We love these floral favor boxes. They’re the perfect thing for so many occasions! Does someone you know have a spring birthday? Instant party favors. Of course, they’d also make adorable additions to a floral tea party, bridal shower, or wedding. There aren’t a lot of situations where these sweet little boxes could go wrong!

    Instructions

    Prepping the Box

    1. To create a closed bottom on one end of the tube, make four evenly spaced slits at the bottom of one end, about 1″ deep. This will give you four flaps. Fold the flaps under the tube and glue them together.
    2. Fill the tube with candy or a small gift.

    Finishing Touches

    1. Lay the tube on one end of the strip (the long side of the tube should be parallel with the short side of the strip). Position the tube so about one inch of crepe paper will hang below the closed bottom. Roll the strip around the tube. Tuck the overhanging crepe paper at the bottom and glue it under the tube.
    2. Tie a piece of twine around the crepe at the top of the tube and cinch it. Slip in a paper leaf before tying it off. Flatten the crepe paper at the top and fold it in half vertically. Cut a leaf shape through all the layers down to just above the twine to make petals.
    3. Unfold the crepe paper. Separate the petals and gently stretch the center of each to make a cupped shape.

    We hope you enjoyed this tutorial, courtesy of Jodi Levine. We would highly recommend checking out her new ebook, Toilet Tube Treasury, where you can find other clever ways to repurpose toilet tubes!

    More Inspiration

    What did you think of Jodi’s toilet tube tutorial on floral favor boxes? We loved it! If you did, too, we’re guessing you’ll also be interested in some of our paper flower tutorials. Have you seen our new paper orchid tutorial? Also try our DIY Paper Hollyhocks, or these Poppies, Peonies, and Posies. Have a spring or summer wedding coming up? Here, here and here are some beautiful bouquets to choose from. You can also check out this holiday flower roundup if you’re interested!

    DIY Easter Basket

    Brittany
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    DIY Easter Basket

    History of Easter Baskets

    Easter baskets have become an iconic element of Easter. But did you know they’re not just a fun, modern tradition for kids? It turns out the Easter basket has roots dating back to ancient times. The Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring and fertility, Eostre, was often portrayed holding a woven basked during spring celebrations. Hence, the Easter basket. Early medieval Catholics also used the basket, along with the idea of fertility, in their Easter celebrations. Traditionally, to celebrate the end of Lent (the 40 days leading up to Easter), they would bring baskets filled with symbolic treats to the church where the priests would bless them.

    If you weren’t aware, many of the items we put in our Easter baskets are symbols of fertility (bunnies, eggs, and the basket, primarily). Across the world, many different cultures view the egg as associated with rebirth and new life, including Ancient Egyptians, Asians, Greeks, and Christians. Here’s the full article explaining a brief history of Easter baskets.

    Our DIY Easter Basket

    Our DIY Easter basket references this no-sew Easter basket we made years ago. We thought it could use a little sprucing up, so we decided to make an alternate version. We thought it was a fun twist (ha!) on the original.

    How to Make Your Own DIY Easter Basket

    Here’s how to make your own DIY Easter basket:

    Prepping the Rope

    1. First, cut some long strips of fabric that are roughly 2″-3″ wide. We used pink and white fabric (muslin gauze works well for this if you have it). You’ll need quite a few strips if you plan on making a full sized Easter basket. If you’d like, you can also make a mini version, which requires less fabric.
    2. Next, take one white and one pink piece of fabric and hot glue the two together at the very top. The nice thing is you can use whatever colors you’d like, so have fun! Don’t feel like you have to use the pink and white like we did. This basket is totally customizable.
    3. Then, tape the pieces to the table and begin twisting the two together to make a rope. Use our step photos as a reference for this to make sure you twist them the right direction!
    4. When you get to the end of a strip, overlap a new strip of the same color by an inch or so and twist it in with the rest of the rope strand.
    5. Continue until the rope is as long as you’d like.

    Prepping the Handle

    The handle is a similar process to the rope, with a few slight differences.

    1. For the handle, cut a piece of thick gauge wire as long as you’d like the handle to be.
    2. Now, nestle one end of the wire in between the two pieces of fabric you’re going to twist into rope. Secure with hot glue, then tape onto a table or other secure surface.
    3. Start twisting the two pieces of fabric together using the same method above, only this time make sure the wire is wrapped into the middle as you go.
    4. Once you reach the end of the wire, secure with some hot glue and cut off the excess fabric.

    Assembling the Basket

    1. To assemble your Easter basket, coil the rope around itself, securing with hot glue as you go. Continue until the diameter of the base is as wide as you’d like.
    2. Next, start coiling the rope into a gradual stack to make the sides of the basket.
    3. Continue until it’s as tall as you’d like, then cut off the excess rope and secure the end with hot glue.
    4. To attach the handle, decide where you want the handle to go and secure with a dab of hot glue on each side.
    5. Done!

    Now all that’s left to do is fill your Easter basket. We have tons of ideas in our Easter shop, and stay tuned, because tomorrow we’ll be releasing a post where we talk all about what to put in your Easter basket!

    More Inspiration

    Looking for more Easter crafts? Try this super easy paper Easter basket! Want even more? Check out all of our Easter blog content here. Also see our Easter shop and this post for lots of ideas of things to put in your Easter basket!

    Doily Valentine

    Brittany
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    Doily Valentine

    Doily Valentines

    It seems like the tradition of doilies for Valentine’s Day has been around forever. It might be that they seem to be everywhere at this time of year. Or maybe it’s just that they’re just so lovely. Either way, we decided to accept the challenge and make our own version! Now, I have to give credit where credit is due. One of our talented interns, Chelsea, tackled this project and I have to say she did a spectacular job! The perfect blend of delicate and unique, these are a breath of fresh air from your traditional, mass-produced doily.

    With the custom designs featuring floral motifs, these doilies are full of delicate whimsy. Add in the subtle hearts and intricate flourishes and it’s hard not to be convinced. Are you ready to learn how to make your own?

    How to Make a Doily Valentine

    1. First, upload your svg doily file into the cricut design space.
    2. Meanwhile, put your sheet of cardstock paper onto the adhesive cutting mat. We used yellow, silver, pink, orange, and teal.
    3. Next, select heavy cardstock paper type (this generally does a better job cutting through a regular weight cardstock).
    4. Press go and wait for the cricut maker to finish cutting the design!
    5. When the design has finished, gently pull it up from the adhesive mat. Make sure to go slow enough so it doesn’t rip. Use a scraper tool to remove the small paper pieces from the mat once the main sheet of paper is removed.
    6. Now, simply repeat the process until you’ve made the amount you’d like.
    7. You’re done! See how easy?

    What To Do With Your Doily Valentines

    I love that these doily valentines are as versatile as they are delicate and beautiful. You can leave them plain or write a sweet note on them. But you can also place them under a vase of flowers (real or paper) or candle or use them as a decorative element and tape some fancy chocolate to them. I mean, you could really pair them with anything festive and valentine’s-related and they would add a whimsical touch of love to your gift.

    What are you going to do with your doily valentines? Let us know in the comments!

    More Inspiration

    Did you love this tutorial on how to make your own doily valentine? Well it turns out we have quite a few valentine’s-related posts that might be right up your alley! Interested in more DIY valentine crafts? Check out this post, which is full of DIY crafts that are appropriate for the love day. And don’t forget about our sweet little DIY painted valentine box–you’ll need something to put your valentines in, too. Bonus: you can help your kids make their own and they can bring one to school. If you’re wanting a quick valentine that’s also cute, check out this post and our shop. We have endless options of adorable printable valentines! Need gift ideas? Try our valentines gift guides for men and women. And if you want ideas of what to do on Valentine’s Day, here are some Valentine’s Day activity ideas to get you started.

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