A Home to Keep: DIY! Jingle Bell Christmas Centerpiece & Framed Travel Memory

Jingle Bell Christmas Centerpiece

Supplies:

Wide mouthed jar

Stringed lights 8.7 ft. (or less) (mine were battery operated and lights were on a timer)

jingle bells (or cranberrys or small ornaments)

White cloth to wrap around battery pack

faux snow

ribbon

Christmas picks

fresh evergreen

Directions:

1. Tie your ribbon on the mouth of the jar.

2. Turn on your lights. Many of them are on a timer. Mine cycle on for 6 hours then off for 18 hours. The lights will automatically turn on every day at the same time they were first turned on. (I turned mine on at 4:00 p.m. then they cycle off at 10:00 p.m.)

3. Wrap the battery pack in white material then tuck into the bottom of jar. Sprinkle some faux snow on top of the covered battery pack.

4. Add your jingle bells (or small ornaments or cranberrys.)

5. Arrange cut greenery in jar, then place 2-3 Christmas pics in the center front.

6. A wreath is a nice addition to place your jar in.

7. If using for a table centerpiece you can use any cake plate to add height, stacked books are fun too or a small vintage suitcase.

Framed Travel Memory

Have you had an adventure this last year? This is a great way to capture special moments shared. It tells your story and marks out your path. Maybe you have someone who is hard to shop for at Christmas, well you can gift a memory with this craft! This is a map of Adams County in Ohio near Cinncinati where Mr. Keeper and I have visited almost every fall for the past 30 years. As soon as we land at the airport and are settled into our rental car we are on our way driving the back roads until we arrive in West Union, deep in beautiful amish area. We stay at Murphin Ridge Inn nestled in the Appalachian foothills. That is the route I have marked off with the cord. I love this little reminder of special trips together.

Supplies:

1. Picture frame, (I repurposed an old framed bulletin board which worked perfectly as there was information on the back of the map I didn't want to trim away.)

2. map

3. yarn

4. glue

5. thumbtacks if it's a bulletin board

Directions:

1. Map out your route with glue.

2. Press the yarn to the route.

3. Frame or tack to bulletin board.