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Monthly Archive for November, 2007

Ready Made Nativity Costumes To Make Nativity Plays Easy

If you are putting on a Nativity play this Christmas, make your task a lot easier by buying in low cost ready made Biblical Nativity costumes for your actors.

These days there is a great selection of Nativity costumes available online. For just a few dollars, you will save hours of work by busy parents and supporters - if you are able to find people with the time, interest and sewing skills to do a good job making the costumes for your players.

Nativity CostumeNativity costumes are available for Mary and Joseph, the Three Wise Men, shepherds, angels and even Jesus Christ. The size selection you can get allows the parts to be played by either adults or children, giving you a lot of scope as a Nativity play producer.

Imagine what a difference it would make to the enthusiasm of your actors if they can dress for their parts right from the  start of their practice to perform their roles - no waiting for busy mothers to get around to making up home made Nativity costumes.

See the selection of top quality Nativity costumes that are available to you by scanning through our Christmas costume store.

If you prefer to sew your own home-made religious costumes click on this link for biblical costume patterns.

Nativity Play Script and Music

Christmas tends to be dominated by the commercial aspects these days, with Santa and Christmas gifts getting most of the attention. But there is also the Christian background to remember. Christmas, after all, is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ at Bethlehem.

Many churches, families and schools like to celebrate Christmas with a nativity play, or christmas pageant, reproducing the scenes and atmosphere of the birth of baby Jesus in the manger. It's an entertaining way to involve children in learning about and celebrating the original meaning of Christmas.

So if you want to put on a nativity play, how do you go about it?

A Christmas nativity play script can take many forms - some simple, some complicated. You don't want to try to put on too professional a performance, because children will feel it's too hard. Equally, you don't want to be too amateur, because children will judge how it goes against what they see every day on the internet and at movies.

nativity playHere is a good solution - a Christmas nativity play script with music that you can download now and instantly set up your play. To make it easy, you can minimize the speaking parts that have to be learned, and rely on narratives and background carol music to tell the story. The music can be either played from an mp3 or CD, or performed by a choir from the sheet music supplied.

It's a well proven and easily produced and simply performed nativity play that you can make as plain or as elaborate as your time and resources allow. Whichever, you are assured of success with everything you need laid out for you.

To learn more about how you can download your comprehensive  nativity play resources, Click Here!

And make your costuming easy too - see the range of biblical and nativity costumes that are readily available in  our Christmas costume store.


How To Give Christmas Hampers As Corporate Christmas Gifts

Christmas hampers or Christmas gift baskets can be very cost effective corporate Christmas gifts if given in a very personal way.

Success in almost any business, whether as an entrepreneur or a manager, requires that you build strong relationships with the people you deal with.

Whether the people who are important to you are employees, suppliers, contractors, advisers, customers, or anyone else who has some influence over how your business will do, they all have a key role. How well you build a strong relationship with your network of vital business supporters makes a huge difference to your success.

thanks gift basketIf these key people want you to be successful you can rely on them to go just that little step further for you when it really counts. Having enough people willing to go out of their way to help you can add up to a very powerful business advantage. A World Of Thanks Large Gift Basket

Relationship building with other people is most effective when it's personalized - when the other person really feels you like them, and that you genuinely appreciate having them as part of your life. Here is a challenge for you. How many people in your business life can you name who you really feel do value having you as part of their inner circle of supporters? Most of us will start to run out of names long before we run out of fingers to count them.

Most of us know and work with many people in our business lives; but how many of them connect with us at an emotional level powerful enough to inspire us to go that extra mile to help them when times get difficult and they really need us? This kind of powerful relationship is relatively rare, so it may not be as difficult as you think to stand out in people's minds if you make a little effort.

It can be a challenge to squeeze enough personal time into the daily rush to build strong relationships. Most of us deal with a lot of people every day in our businesses. The daily crowds you are dealing with usually get bigger around Christmas. No doubt you will get along to Christmas parties, and likely throw a December party or two yourself. You will get to talk to many of your business contacts, and get in touch with many more through your Christmas cards, telephone calls and emails. But the Christmas rush is not an easy time for most of us to develop and reinforce close personal relationships with the people who are most important to the success of our business. We just can't find enough hours in the day. Old World Charm Gourmet Food Snack Gift Basket - Large (Medium Pictured)

How do you say a personalized and meaningful Christmas holiday thanks to these vital people in your business life? And how do you do it in a manner that they will value, appreciate and remember all year?

You want your top team of supporters to believe you really do care about their efforts working with you. You want them to believe they do have a very special relationship with you, something more than most other people. Yet another party invitation, Christmas card or some chocolates is what everybody else gets as well - it's appreciated, but it may not be "special" and "personal" enough to make them feel they are part of your inner circle of key relationships. Something extra is called for as well. Pick Of The Season Grand Gourmet Food Gift Basket with Smoked Salmon - Large

A Christmas hamper or holiday gift basket with a personal message delivered to the home of each person in your key support network is a powerful way to tell them you value your unique relationship with them. A gourmet food hamper is something special, more than just another token gift, but not excessive. It's personal because it's delivered to their door and comes with your personal message. Each person will realize that not everyone is going to get a gourmet gift basket delivery from you, only the people who are very special to you.

Italian food lovers gift basketThe contents of Christmas gift baskets are often gourmet food items that appeal as little luxuries that add to the holiday celebrations. They are usually especially welcomed by the person's family. It reinforces the message you want to convey when family members comment that you must truly value your relationship with that person to send them a special Christmas gourmet food basket. Grand Italian Food Lovers Gift Basket

Sending personalized Christmas corporate gift baskets to the most important people in your business support network is easy to arrange in the Christmas rush. You will find it's a cost effective way to communicate how you feel. Just remember to make it very special and personal with a home delivery, personal message and limited to only the most important people in your inner circle of business supporters.

Bucilla Christmas Stocking

Sometimes the best gift you can give to your child is one that you create by hand. You can create a beautiful Bucilla Christmas stocking that is sure to be a wonderful keepsake for your child. This hand crafted holiday decoration can be made from any number of patterns and designs offered by the Bucilla Company.

The Bucilla Christmas stocking is not your grandmother's craft project. This item comes in an array of styles and many of these designs are really modern. The patterns seem to merge traditional holiday themes with a peppering of modern amenities that are sure to please children as well as adults.

I find the patterns to be wonderful to work with. I love arts and crafts but I do shy away from any kind of project that requires sewing. During the holiday season I always try to find a project that I can complete by hand. The Bucilla Christmas stocking is the perfect craft for me. The sewing is simple and the project is a great way for me to find my way around stitches.

I decided to order a felt applique kit from the company this year and I am thrilled with the product. The Bucilla Christmas stocking comes with instructions that are so easy to follow that I think that any novice sewer would be comfortable working with the craft. The step-by-step process is more than easy to complete and I almost didn't want the project to end so quickly.

Inside the Bucilla Christmas felt applique kit you will find everything you need to complete your holiday craft. The felts are pre-stamped with adorable designs and you have plenty of embellishments like sequins and beads. The Bucilla Christmas stocking even comes with beautiful gold plated needles to make the sewing a little more elegant.

What I love about the kit aside from the adorable patterns and ease of use is the modern amenities that go with the Bucilla Christmas stocking felt applique kit. You can choose a pattern with a holiday tree that really lights up. There are a number of stockings that play music, too.

Many of the patterns are really old-fashioned. The Woodland Santa Bucilla Christmas stocking seems as if it were created over a century ago. The design is magnificently aged but the item is brand new. This is my favorite design of them all.

The great thing about this particular piece is that it is musical as well as attractive. It is a prime example of how the Bucilla Christmas stocking merges the old with the new.

Bucilla 85431 Felt Aplique Stocking- Sugar Plum Fairy Bucilla 85431 Felt Aplique Stocking- Sugar Plum Fairy
List Price: $19.99
Sale Price: $15.28

BUCILLA-Felt Applique Stocking. Bucilla always has the highest quality; most brightly colored and creative designs for their fabulous Christmas Applique Kits. This Kit contains stamped felt; cotton floss; sequins and/or beads; needles and trilingual instructions. Finished measurements are approximately 18in. Design: Sugar Plum Fairy. Designer: Marie Stanziani. Made in USA.

Bucilla 86059 Felt Aplique Stocking- Snowflake Snowman Bucilla 86059 Felt Aplique Stocking- Snowflake Snowman
List Price: $19.99
Sale Price: $15.84

BUCILLA-Felt Applique Stocking. Bucilla always has the highest quality; most brightly colored and creative designs for their fabulous Christmas Applique Kits. This Kit contains stamped felt; cotton floss; sequins and/or beads; needles and trilingual instructions. Finished measurements are approximately 18in. Design: Snowflake Snowman. Designer: Marie Stanziani. Made in USA.

Bucilla 86063 Felt Aplique Stocking- Pop-up Santa Bucilla 86063 Felt Aplique Stocking- Pop-up Santa
List Price: $19.99
Sale Price: $16.15

BUCILLA-Felt Applique Stocking. Bucilla always has the highest quality; most brightly colored and creative designs for their fabulous Christmas Applique Kits. This Kit contains stamped felt; cotton floss; sequins and/or beads; needles and trilingual instructions. Finished measurements are approximately 18in. Design: Pop-Up Santa. Designer: Maria Stanziani. Made in USA.

Bird Christmas Ornament

Any real bird lover will appreciate a bird Christmas ornament to add to his decorative Christmas tree ornament collection. There are many types of birds represented in ornaments to choose from these days, and bird ornaments come in a variety of styles. You can even create your own original design for a bird Christmas ornament.

The bluebird is a much loved bird that can be seen in many American yards and parks almost every day. Many of us like to feed the bluebirds that live in our back yards and we love to simply sit back and watch these colorful creatures as they hop and fly around. A perfect bird Christmas ornament collection just has to have at least one bluebird ornament.

The cardinal is a traditional icon of winter. The arrival of this magnificent red bird is a welcome aspect of the arrival of winter. Many people traditionally associate the cardinal with the Christmas holiday season. Bird Christmas ornaments that feature the cardinal are popular and very easy to find. You may have trouble deciding which one of the many you see to choose for your collection. Here is a novel Christmas decoration idea: Birds - Red Cardinal - Light Switch Covers - single toggle switch

The chickadee is another story. Although not as colorful as the others, this plain little bird is simply adorable to look at. You may have greater difficulty finding a bird Christmas ornament of the chickadee. However, you will be glad that you took the time and effort to seek out your chickadee bird ornament because they are so very charming and simple. They make a touching addition to your bird ornament collection.

One of the most loved avian creatures is the parrot. This colorful bird can be found wisecracking its way into people's hearts and homes. I know many people who would love to add a parrot bird Christmas ornament to their Christmas tree decoration collections. The bright colors on this amazing bird will add depth and interest to any Christmas decoration set.

Penguins are so closely tied to cold and snow that you really can't have a bird Christmas ornament collection without at least one penguin in the set. I know many individuals whose bird ornament collections solely consist of this wonderful polar bird. Christmas decorating items that feature the penguin can be found at most Christmas shops, and the choices of designs and styles are seemingly endless. NFL Blown Glass Penguin Christmas Tree Ornament

When I was a teacher many of my students offered small presents during the holiday season. One of my favorites is a bird Christmas ornament made just for a teacher. This ornament features a wise owl as the central theme. I still think of my students fondly when I hang my owl bird Christmas ornament on the tree.

Christmas Tree Farms

We live in an area with many Christmas tree farms. Many city people do not realize the work that has to go into growing Christmas trees. The trees need to be planted, trimmed and harvested. Christmas tree farms often plant a variety of trees because of the different rates of growth for each species of tree. We live close to several of the tree farms so we go out and cut down our own Christmas tree each year.

When I was growing up on a farm my parents had Norway pines on one end of the property. We cut down one of these trees each Christmas and dad would try to shape it before bringing it into the house. The long needles made it quite difficult to hang ornaments. Since I have been married we have tried several varieties of Christmas trees. Our favorite is the balsam Christmas tree. We also like the looks of a blue spruce, but it's needles are so prickly that you have to wear gloves while putting on the lights. The balsam Christmas tree has a wonderful fresh fragrance and is soft to the touch. It has short needles and the branches are sturdy, so it is easy to hang many Christmas tree ornaments on it. The balsam Christmas tree also holds its foliage very well so there is not much problem from shedding compared to many of the other short needle tree varieties. A Wish to Be a Christmas Tree

Last year when we went to cut down our tree we were told by the farmer that a new field had been opened up for cutting. This field featured the balsam Christmas tree that we were after, but also had several Frasier firs. The Frasier fir is supposed to be the most aromatic of all evergreens and does not shed its needles, and often commands a price premium. We tried one a few years ago and liked the looks of the tree and the fragrance. Frasier Fir Reed Diffuser, by Thymes However, we found the branches are very soft. These soft branches cannot hold all the heavier Christmas ornaments that we have collected through the years. This meant that many of the ornaments that had the most meaning to us had to be placed on the stronger inner branches. Because of this we decided that we would not spend the extra money for a Frasier fir again.

Most of our local Christmas tree farms offer a shaker service as well as a bagging service for the trees that are cut. The tree is placed in a stand on a mechanical shaker that helps to get rid of any dead needles and other debris that may be in the freshly cut tree. The tree is then shoved base first through a barrel that has netting on the other end. The netting surrounds the tree and is cut the length of the tree and tied at both ends. This allows for easier transportation as well as ease in getting a large tree into the house. The Christmas tree growers are always looking for ways to make getting your Christmas tree easier and more enjoyable. We are looking forward to going out to one of the Christmas tree farms to cut down our balsam Christmas tree again this year.

An African American Christmas

An African American Christmas theme is becoming part of the American culture. Many of the Christmas traditions have come from mid-winter conditions in Europe, and don't fit comfortably with celebrating Christmas in warmer climates. All those dominant Christmas images of snow and snowmen, warm clothing, heavy Christmas dinners, decorated Christmas trees and opening Christmas gifts by the fire are very northern European in origin. They owe much to German Christmas traditions that later became popular in Victorian England.

There is no reason why a homely Christmas celebration from an African American perspective can't take a different point of view.

An African American Christmas celebration need not be radically different. It's mostly a question of modifying the style and taste to make it easier for African Americans to identify with the Christmas traditions and decorations.

Fiber Optic Angel in Gold - African American (12")

African American Christmas cards, for example can use designs that reflect a distant African background, or more recent African American history and culture.

Christmas tree decorations can also reflect this background. African American Christmas tree ornaments often include charms shaped like giraffes, gazelle, lions, elephants and stylized African masks.

Other African American Christmas ornaments can celebrate African American literature, music, sport, education, farming, and all of the other areas in which African Americans have made a contribution to American culture. It's an opportunity to create designs with a distinctly African American style. Philadelphia Eagles NFL Glass African American Football Player Christmas Tree Ornament 4"

Washington Redskins 4.5" African American Football Tackler Christmas Tree Ornament

New Orleans Saints NFL Glass African American Football Player Christmas Tree Ornament 4"

Fiber Optic Woodland Santa - African American (16")

Christmas House Lights

The sights and sounds of the Christmas holiday season can be quite enchanting. Just look at how popular homes covered in a display of Christmas house lights have become. People drive for miles in the evening to see great displays. The effect is even greater if home owners merge Christmas holiday music with a beautiful illuminated display. These days most towns have a few Christmas enthusiasts who prepare well thought out decorated homes that boast a huge array of beautiful Christmas house lights as well as holiday music.

Getting lighting to display in patterns together with the Christmas music needs the right controllers and can be pretty involved, but if you are technically inclined and driven to make the most of your holiday decorating adventure then you can make a spectacular job of decorating your house with Christmas lights.

Christmas house lights come in an array of styles and types. When you go shopping you will find there is a wide selection available.

Well chosen decorative light bulbs are the most important aspect of your Christmas lights house decorating plan if you are going to become the talk of your neighborhood. There are many different types of bulbs to consider. Some people like to stick to the traditional look while others want something hip and new. This year, for example, low power consumption LED lights are popular, and now come in an interesting range of colors. LED Christmas Multi-Colored 35 Light String Set / Green Wire

Your Christmas house lights can include the large, traditional bulbs, you know, the ones that look like large eggs. Some people use a string or two of these bulbs as the core of the Christmas house lights, to outline the shape of the house. These holiday lighting bulbs are available in many different colors. You can stick with an all white decor, a cool blue effect or a warm red tone. Some people choose to mix all different colors in their themes.

The traditional large bulbs work well for larger homes but you may want something a little less domineering. There are plenty of delicate twinkling outdoor lighting products that are perfect for creating a lovely starlit effect for your Christmas house lights display. These lights also complement the larger bulbs very well in a more complicated lighting display. Of course, you have a big choice of colors in this kind of product as well. Some lights come installed in a netting that makes it easy to drape them over your house or garden shrubs.

Icicle Christmas lights make delightful presentations that offer both the twinkling sparkle as well as a ready-made design that is a cinch to add to your display, especially hanging from the eaves. They are really popular right now. Again, the color range is yours for the choosing. Set Of 200 Clear Color Christmas Icicle Lights With White Wire By GE #61586

Solar powered lights are an option to simplify your installation, operating cost and safety considerations. Strathwood Snowball 12-Pack Solar String of Lights with remote Control

Even just a simple Christmas house lights display using easily installed lighting such as netting or icicle lighting can have a big impact on how your home will look this Christmas Eve.

Have a happy and bright holiday season!

Christmas Gifts For Men

It seems Christmas gifts for men are always more difficult for me to come up with than gift ideas for women. I want this Christmas to be extra special for my husband. Let me tell you why.

Family traditions are an important part of our memories and who we are. If we have had positive experiences in our families most of us like to re-create these experiences with our children. If we have had poor experiences we want to start new traditions. Usually many of the family traditions we remember are associated with holidays. For those people that have had great holiday times with their families it is hard for them to understand why holiday times can bring up painful memories for others that have not. Such a lot of emphasis is put on Christmas cheer and good tidings that it is a difficult time of the year for people who are depressed or who do not have families to share their holidays with.

I grew up with great Christmas memories, but my husband did not. His father was an alcoholic, and he often drank too much during the family Christmas gatherings. He was a mean drunk so my husband's memories of Christmas family time include fights between his parents and embarrassment over his father's behavior. All of this came out during the first few years that we were married. I wanted to help my husband develop the kind of joyful memories of Christmas that I have. I set out to do this not only with gifts but also through the Christmas decorations we did and the foods we made.

With women there are so many accessories that can be purchased that men do not seem to need or use. I decided that I would call my brother and ask him to go shopping with me so I could have his help me in picking out some good Christmas gifts for men. He has similar interests to my husband and they are of the same age.

It was an atmospheric day to go Christmas shopping. The snow was falling in big lazy flakes but the temperature was not uncomfortably cold. My brother and I each took a half day off work so we could meet for lunch and plan our shopping. As we were talking I realized that he had some great ideas for Christmas gifts for men. He said that unlike women, men prefer to get practical and useful things as Christmas gifts.

We spent time buying clothes and it was interesting to find how my brother cautioned me about being too bold with colors and patterns that looked great to me but that men are generally less enthused about than women buying for them. Next we spent some time on some looking through some fishing gear, and it was a big help to have my brother's expert suggestions. He also suggested a few gift ideas from a car accessories shop.

I told him that I wanted to get some stocking stuffers for the stocking I had hung up for my husband by our fireplace. Filled stockings were a favorite part of Christmas giving in our family, but my husband never had this experience. My brother suggested giving gas cards, gift certificates from our favorite coffee shop, and gift tokens from the book shop my husband often visits. I had not though of these as Christmas gifts for men, but he said it was great to not have to use cash for these things and that they were real treats for him.

I enjoyed my day with my brother and I am sure my husband will love the carefully chosen Christmas gifts for men that I have bought him.

Homemade Christmas Gift Baskets

I rarely worry about what I am going to give friends and family on my Christmas gift list because I make most of my gifts. Throughout the year I make several different craft items which I then include in homemade Christmas gift baskets along with a selection of goodies that I make in my kitchen.

The end of year holidays bring up all sorts of feelings in people. For families that have experienced a happy harmonious year the holiday celebrations are something to look forward to. For dysfunctional families the holidays may reopen sad memories and hurt when they are spending more time together again. Families that do not celebrate Christmas due to their beliefs may feel excluded or even alienated. But everyone can bring some joy into their family life by giving during the Christmas holidays. The time is quickly approaching and work on gift lists and shopping needs to begin.

I have been fortunate to have some wonderful memories of Christmases past. My family had many happy traditions involving gift giving, baking, visiting relatives and friends and attending religious services. Now as an adult I continue to see Christmas as a magical time of year. Making homemade Christmas gift baskets gives me a lot of pleasure.

I originally started giving the Christmas gift baskets when I was a college student and could not afford a great expense for buying gifts. Now I continue to give baskets because the recipients look forward to the homemade goodies they contain. Because not having funds is not longer a factor for me I can now use the very best ingredients in my food items and high quality materials in my craft items.

Through the year I keep an eye out for different and interesting containers to use as the Christmas gift baskets. Most times I do use traditional baskets but sometimes, depending upon the likes and personality of the recipient, I may use another type of container. One year my nephew was just getting into fishing so I used a tackle box for his container. There are also times when I have come across beautiful hat boxes or similar decorated boxes that make a great alternative to a basket. Although each of the gifts I give is unique the standard fare for my Christmas gift baskets usually includes something knitted or crocheted, either socks, slippers or mittens, a scarf or a hat, a piece of beaded jewelry for the women, a loaf of bread, homemade jam, caramels, fudge, Christmas cookies and a specially made candied apple. It really makes me feel good when I hear people cheer when I show up with their Christmas gift baskets. I feel like I am giving away part of myself in each gift that I give. Also I do not have to fight the Christmas shopping crowds and full shopping mall parking lots. For me, making my homemade Christmas gift baskets has become a year long pass time.