Since my family is undergoing so many changes involved with moving this month, we are rethinking how we “do” Christmas. We’ve had to let relatives know things won’t be the same this year and we are thinking of ways to make Christmas special for our kids in new ways.
I’ve never been one who felt I had to hold to certain traditions that weren’t working for my family. So it isn’t too much of a leap for me to reinvent Christmas.
My son really enjoys shopping and buying new things. I am not sure why he has this trait…the minute he gets bored his first thought is ‘we should go to Target’ (ok, maybe he got that from me)! Usually I can get him interested in a toy he already has (with enough persuasion) but in his mind, the immediate cure for boredom seems to be shopping for something new. Oh, where have I gone wrong? Holy cow, he is only 8! Clearly, I have some work to do on refocusing his little mind. Especially at Christmas when the temptation to WANT is everywhere!
I am trying to teach him to enjoy the simple joys of the season, like spending time together creating things, listening to Christmas songs and drinking hot chocolate.
Last week, I decided that my son and I should make a paper garland together. Of course he would much rather play a video game or shop, but the process of reinventing what makes us happy doesn’t always come easy! So while he protested and complained about the idea (remember, he is an Eeyore), we sat down and got to work.
We traced festive shapes on to scrapbook paper and old holiday cards using our cookie cutters. Once we got into the tracing and cutting, his disposition changed and we started having fun together. We punched a tiny hole and strung our shapes on string and hung it proudly from our cabinet! Now every time we see our garland we smile and remember how much fun we had making it. It represents finding joy and making memories in the simple things that money cannot buy.
THE GIVEAWAY
I have another giveaway for you today! Hooray! ‘Tis the season! This one is from another of our own great Moms Unite members, Amy Locurto! Here is what she is offering, it would make a great gift too!
Personalized Wall Art by Amy @ Living Locurto
This giveaway is for an 8″x10″ personalized frame with matching ribbon. Photo size is 4″x 6″. I will create original art with any design and colors you want! Send me a photo of you or your child’s room and I can design something from scratch to match the decor. Frame can be any color. (frame design my vary from samples) I will also touch up your photo to make it look extra gorgeous! Total custom order worth $85!! This doesn’t have to be for children. Would be great for anyone!
If you’d like to see more samples, visit Amy & Living Locurto! To enter this giveaway, please leave a comment on this post at The Inspired Room!
THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED!
FINALLY! THE WINNERS OF THE JEWEL BOX HOME (SMALL HOUSE STORIES) GIVEAWAY!
(so sorry for the delay on announcing these winners–I had a series of mishaps trying to get these posted!)
Genevieve of The Jewel Box Home received so many wonderful small house stories she said she couldn’t limit the winners to five. She generously is giving away an apron to SEVEN lucky winners! WOW! I will share your name and part of your email address, so if this is YOU, could you email Genevieve with your mailing addresses?
* Katie – makingthis…
* Audrey – audrey.bu…
* Suzanne – easyat…
* Chrissie – csaesto….
* Chi-Girl – Colleene…
* Leslie – leslierutla….
* Imelda – imelda.phi…
See you tomorrow for our Holiday Mr. Linky, where you can share your holiday posts for the week! And be sure to visit the Blissfully Domestic Home & Garden Channel to enter the giveaways, including a new one posted today!
Christmas traditons are so important to our family but we also don’t mind trying new things. The homemade Christmas Garland is precious, what a wonderful thing to get your kids involved in. My daughter Eden is only 8 months old right now, so she’s a little to young to participate in making crafts like that. Once she’s old enough though I would love to share your Christmas Garland idea with her. I’m so looking forward to sharing our Christmas traditions with her.
I also love Amy’s wall art. What a creative idea! I know some grandparents who would love to have something like that on their wall. My goodness what am I saying, I would love to have that wall art on my wall as well.
The picture frames are perfect… especially since I have a little one on the way!!! Thank you!
LOVE the garland, and LOVE the giveaway! Can only imagine my precious baby’s face in one of those frames!!
Stephs inspiring blog post..Worth mentioning
Great frames! Love ‘em.
Also loving that garland! Might have to make that w/my own little one this weekend.
I love the garland idea! And Amy’s wall art is totally fabulous too. Sign me up!
Courtney @ Nesting Instinctss inspiring blog post..Have yourself a SPARKLY little Christmas!
Fantastic idea with the garland. I am going to do that with my kids and husband tonight. We are also trying to re-do Christmas. We’ve always put the focus on Jesus’ birthday, but we are trying to encourage our extended family to not be so focused on gifts. It’s hard, but I’d rather spend time with the family eating together and just hanging out than having to make/ buy gifts. We have decided to go all homemade gifts this year which has been so fun!
Tracies inspiring blog post..Advent
I would LOVE to win a custom frame and print from Amy! Wonderous
I also like your garland, great thinking!!
katys inspiring blog post..Christmas Cat
How perfect it would be to win one! We just repainted my oldest son’s bedroom and have nothing on the walls as of yet!
The custome pictures are stunning!
Be Blessed,
Amy (Honestly)
I feel like we’re going to be reinventing often too. Why is it when you’re trying to focus on just keeping my kids eyes on Jesus this year (and not every single present they hope they get), everyone in my family is asking every day what everyone “wants”! I feel like it’s so hard to keep my eyes where they need to be!
Twitter: 5cupcakes
says:
The garland is adorable. How nice to create something with your son. Amy’s wall art is just beautiful. {I would love to win!}
What a great giveaway! Thanks for the chance to win!
I loved it when my boys were little and I could talk them into projects like that! You are making memories forever.
Staceys inspiring blog post..I Have Been Spoiled!
What a great idea–you’re such a good mom. And I love the oxymoron of ‘he’d rather play video games or shop’. Funny. I can’t even get my daughter to like shopping. She’s like me, I guess.
aubreys inspiring blog post..Prepare Yourself For a L-O-N-G One
What a cute garland! I wish I had the time and patience to create something like that.
Kaceys inspiring blog post..Let (Him) Eat Cake
What a great idea for using those Christmas cards we all get every year!And i just LOVE Amy’s personalized wall art. I would love to have one with a picture of my 4 kidlets together. Fingers are crossed!
amanda@imperfectlybeautifuls inspiring blog post..Cheap, Yet Chic Teacher Gifts
Hi Melissa, great idea! I have always made my kids do Christmas crafts with me, it has only been since they have gotten older that they remind me now it is time to make some things. I’m shocked they actually like doing this….at the time it was alot of moaning and groaning!!! Blessings,
debbie
DebbieCalifs inspiring blog post..Gingerbread Rolling Pin
Yay for giveaways! I love to make Christmas cookies with my hubs. He’s my official taste-tester. Couldn’t do it without him. As he is a professional photog, I love having him take our little family’s picture.
Jessicas inspiring blog post..Baby Pod
Love home crafting christmas ideas. I’m inspired to make a garland with my two this weekend! The pictue frame is a really wonderful give away. Thank you for sharing the joy of giving.
Twitter: ladyravenna
says:
I was reading Amy’s blog this morning. Her link brought me to your blog. I agree that she has a really neat idea by creating a personalized wall art. I would love to win this neat giveaway!
What a neat idea- with the garland!
The framed pictures are beautiful–it would be very difficult to gift one of those!
sylviarj@yahoo.com
I love that garland, we will probably try that one out! Also, my boys are 2 1/2 and 4months and i am a goer. I love to shop especially at Target, my 4yr old is already asking to go there on a daily basis!
That garland is adorable – wish my kids were still little. I’d have them help me with making that in a heartbeat. The young teen years are not quite the right time to inspire them with arts and crafts.
I love Amy’s frames!! What great gifts they would make.
ds inspiring blog post..Babies, Babies, Babies
Sorry, some how my name got dropped from my submit. Ooops.
Dot Os inspiring blog post..Babies, Babies, Babies
What a cute idea for a Christmas garland; it’s such a step up from the paper chain!
The artwork is gorgeous; thanks for the chance to win.
Celly Bs inspiring blog post..Preparing for the Season of Preparation
I think I messed up my initial comment somehow. I wanted to say that I love that paper garland! If I could knock a couple of years off of my kids’ ages (both teens), I would have had a blast doing that with them. It is adorable!
I love Amy’s artwork too! They would make great gifts!
Dot Os inspiring blog post..Babies, Babies, Babies
Thanks for the great giveaway!!! I love that garland too!
Jodis inspiring blog post..Training their wills; winning their hearts
Love the garland idea. Hope I win the custom frame – they are beautiful.
I love the garland idea… especially in the kitchen! So cute, I will have to do that project with my little one Riley. Thanks for your inspiring ideas.
jess
Count me in for the giveaway! Those are really cute!
My husband says the same about me and Target… he says every time we’re actually here in DC (we travel to Jersey and Philly a lot to visit our families) that I always want to go to Target. What can I say… like your son, my idea of fun is a visit to Target : )
Jersey Girl in DCs inspiring blog post..TRAVELLING: Shopping in Pennsylvania
Cute garland! I love the giveaway too!
My 4 year old loves Target, but only wants to go if she can buy something! LOL!
Jennys inspiring blog post..Walgreens $5 off $25 Coupon Purchase
Last year was my hubby and my first Christmas together. It came just a little over one month after we bought our first home. Our budget was practically nonexistant and I got crafty. I made a very similar banner with my cookie cutters and scrapbook paper. As I took out my decorations the other day, I smiled when I found my garland. I think I’ll always hang onto it.
I’d love love love to be entered into the giveaway! Thanks!!
Mandis inspiring blog post..Running as Fast as I Can to Catch Up!
I love the garland! Your blog is truly inspiring!
We’ve had to ‘re-do’ things this Christmas too, in the way we spend. It has been fun, actually, to be more creative.
Count me in on the giveaway. Love her frames!
New Every Mornings inspiring blog post..Festive Fireplace
I will be making this garland with my little girls this season. Thanks for the idea…
Twitter: mykitchenaffair
says:
What a great giveaway. Those frames are darling!
I also love the garland idea, I was thinking of doing something similar with snowflakes that my daughter made!
I’m trying to get myself out of that “I’m bored… TARGET!” habit myself. I could spend all day and all my money there. My husband’s carpool partner recently flaked on him, and with our fickle northwest weather, that mean being home more often. To my surprise, it’s been a nice change, and while the gas use has increased, my spending has dropped dramatically! Good for you for working with your son on this- my only child is almost two, and I want to train myself out of the spending habits before he’s old enough to notice.
What a wonderful give away, please include me. I know just the perfect place for this.
Cheris inspiring blog post..A cute video to watch
I have a week-old niece, and I would loooooove a pink and brown personalized frame for her nursery.
sometimes we all need change to help us remember what is important in our lives!
love the giveaway… so hope i could win! (baby jack coming any day now…)
~nicole
Nicole@The Graves’ Houses inspiring blog post..The Most Fabulous Chicken!!! (and an award)
That’s a beautiful garland! I just might have to get my Christmas cookie cutters out and get off this computer.
Debs inspiring blog post..Rethinking Christmas: Accepting Gifts
Perfectly timed post as I’m looking at my 7 year old son who only wants to play Wii every day after school. Can’t remember what my older children used to do in the days before lots of homework, but I know it wasn’t TV and game systems. Now where is that scrapbook paper … I think I hear a garland calling my name.
The garland is wonderful! What a great idea. Love that he enjoyed it too!
Sarah @ thriftydecorchicks inspiring blog post..Evil, I tell you.
I love the garland and the precious time and thought behind it, Melissa!
Boy! Do I have a couple of links for you! I’ll check in tomorrow.
Pats inspiring blog post..~We Need a Little Christmas~
I am really loving garland this year. really cute one you made with your son. love it.
LuLus inspiring blog post..Satin Ribbon and A Pine Cone
Wow, what a cute garland idea! We’re reinventing Christmas this year too. I figure this may be the last Christmas I have a baby and would rather enjoy him than kill myself trying to do everything I would normally do.
very cute garland! great idea!
and what a neat giveaway as well 
Katy Lins inspiring blog post..MHR Inspiration #1
I LOVE those…what a beautiful gift.
These are great!!
Love your blog.
Jennifers inspiring blog post..Tis The Season
I found your blog through Living Locurto. I would love to be the prize winner!