Remote Control: Christmas Crafting

Remote Control is the weekly blog for Oklahoma Today fall intern Abigail Hall. Check back each week as she discusses her work-from-home experience.

Week 1 Remote Control: Adapting

Week 2 Remote Control: The New Normal

Week 3 Remote Control: Check It Out

Week 4 Remote Control: Creating Usefulness

Week 5 Remote Control: Fair Not

Week 6 Remote Control: National American Indian Heritage Month

Week 7 Remote Control: I'm Dreaming Of A Safe Christmas

I love the holidays, I always have ever since I was a little girl cuddled up in my flannel nightgown and ruffle socks, staring at the lights dancing across my family’s Christmas tree.

I loved the holiday food from the turkey and cranberry sauce at Thanksgiving to my mom’s homemade lemon cookies at Christmas. I loved gathering with my family, passing and tearing open the presents we picked specifically for each other. As I got older I learned to light the menorah my grandmother gave me after one of her trips to Jerusalem, basking in the light of hope each night’s lighting would bring.

Now I look forward to the simple things. The smell of winter stew slowly cooking in my Crock-Pot as my roommate Sydney and I take turns painting Christmas tree ornaments to look like our cats, Charm and Bagheera. Crafting handmade presents for my friends and family and baking my favorite cookies to usher on the holiday season cheer.

If you learn one thing about me it should probably be that I love to craft. I love thinking about unique and new ways to create, whether that be by crocheting with yarn (see my tutorial on making useful home items here), crafting holiday decorations, or just getting in the holiday spirit by entertaining myself with at-home creative activities.

In spirit of the impending holiday season intersecting with local and national recommendations to stay at home due to the spread of the pandemic, I’ve collected a list of fun ways to create at home, all the while celebrating your favorite traditions:

Ornaments:
Making your own ornaments to decorate your Christmas tree might sound hard, but trust me it isn’t. There are so many ways to make your own creations ranging in difficulty. For the younger members in your family, you can cut shapes and designs out of paper to be painted or decorated and strung. For more complex projects, you can carve wood outlines to paint, or purchase pre-made wood ornaments from your local craft store and paint them at home, like Sydney and I did.

One of Abigail's homemade ornaments.

Don’t forget about using clay or Play-Doh to craft ornaments to your heart’s desire, or crochet designs that tickle your fancy.

Gingerbread Competitions:
For many, a seasonal must is eating and decorating gingerbread. A great way to be crafty and compete against your household are gingerbread house decorating competitions.

Gingerbread house materials are easy to find, and many stores sell kits with everything you need, or if you’re feeling really crafty you can bake your own and invest in unique candy to decorate your creation. See who has the most creative ideas by competing with your household members, or if you live alone, schedule a video chat competition with your friends and family.

Whether you use a kit or bake it yourself, gingerbread houses are a fun way to celebrate the holidays, even long distance.

Decorations:
Whichever holiday you celebrate, making decorations at home is an easy and fun way to get into the holiday spirit. Use paper, felt, yarn, or even resources from your yard to craft garlands or wreaths, or even pop a few bags of popcorn and run yarn or string through the popped kernels for an alternative to stringing lights on your tree, or hang across your living areas.

For the younger members of your family, print out seasonal stencils for them to color or paint to string up and display wherever they desire.

Gifts:
When gifting, it’s the thought that counts, and what better way to show you care than with a homemade gift?

I love to crochet, and there are so many ways to gift unique and special items through crochet or other fiber arts like knitting and embroidery. Take some time learning a new skill or picking up an old one while making socks, scarves, coasters, or even ornaments for your loved ones. While you’re at it, maybe even try your hand at making your own gift stockings.

However you decide to get into the holiday spirit, we here at Oklahoma Today wish you very Happy Holidays! As always, if you use any of these crafting techniques, or would like to share your own creations with me, send me a line at abigail.hall@TravelOK.com.

Written By

Abigail Hall

Abigail Hall is Oklahoma Today's fall editorial intern.