Just a little note to say that I hope you had a very Merry Christmas, and enjoyed lots of hugs, laughs and great food!
My wish for each of you is to enjoy love, peace, health and prosperity in the coming year - until you are just bursting at the seams with all the goodness flowing in your life!
I'll be back in a couple days to post on what sales to start watching for...
If you've been reading, you know I don't advise hitting the sales immediately after Christmas unless you are looking for something specific that might not be around a week or two from now -
Until next year, then
MERRY CHRISTMAS, Happy New Year and
Many Blessings,
GrannySue
100% Free Gifts for 2014
Paper quilling is a form of art or craft born out of creating decorative designs using thin strips of curled paper. This age-old quilling craft has been practiced for centuries!
Quilling originated during the time when nuns used small edges trimmed from Bible pages to create a simple but beautiful form of artistry. This craft was known as “Quilling” due to how the scraps of paper were wrapped around goose quills to create “coiled shapes”.
Getting into paper quilling craft is not very expensive, as most of the time you will only need few basic materials, all which you can buy at most art and craft stores. If you're really pressed for cash, simply buy a sheet or two of colored paper, and cut your own strips!
With a bit or practice and a touch of perseverance, the opportunities opened up by this unusual and highly flexible medium are endless.
Christmas ornaments made through paper quilling are quite common and in-demand. According to paper quiller, Lana J Bates, she earned $900 at a single farmers’ market style Christmas crafts show. That’s quite a good return for a bit of paper, clue and your creativity.
Moreover, the tools used in paper quilling are rather simple and straightforward.
Some of the common tools used in the process are slotted quilling tool, needle, glue, tweezers and pins. Just by using these simple tools, long strips of paper are wound tightly and released, and hereby forming complicated and complex shapers.
Tear-drop shapes are made by pressing one part of the circle. Using just the coils and some tear-drops, endless combinations are possible.
Get creative and create squares, ovals, etc – and the sky's the limit!
Materials:
Slotted Quilling tool – the slot along its shaft is used to hold the paper securely as you turn the tool in your hand. Generally, the knurl on the handle ensures a firm grip of your hand that will be helpful in the rolling of a neater and even tight roll.
Needle tool – the needle is used to used to enable a finer center hole after rolling. This will generally produce a much tighter roll.
Glue – One of the most important tools in paper quilling. The glue is widely used in joining the shaped quills.
Tweezers – Tweezers are excellent tool to put the small bits and pieces of your quilling in the right place. They can be used to hold the coils that have been shaped, while you put a few drops of glue on the edges you are gluing together without damaging them.
Pins – While the tweezers will help you to put your pieces together when you are sticking them to their background, pins are used while the final design is drying. The pins will also allow you to put the project aside and finish it later.
Directions:
Using pre-made strips, or your own hand cut ones, make several dozen coils of varying colors. Pinch some off to form tear-drops, squares or triangles as needed for your design.
After all the coils have been made, place them together on a sheet of paper to finalize the design and make sure you have all the shapes you need.
One by one, glue two or three shapes to each other and let dry. Then glue the larger shapes together into your design. Use your pins on a piece of cardboard covered in waxed paper or plastic wrap to hold the shapes while they are drying.
Once your piece is finished, you can either use it as-is, glue it to card stock or other background, or even create several layers to add to a shadow-box!
If you are going to be covering something that is not flat, generally it is possible to glue directly to the surface if you wish.
For covering glass ball type Christmas ornaments, I have found that it is very easy to use two styro-foam balls of the same diameter, and create half of the design on each ball... They will come off easily, and then can be glued onto the final glass ball with minimal effort.
Many Blessings
GrannySue
Making a peacock feather wreath is a very easy project and will result in a beautifully elegant finished product.
This sort of wreath makes a beautiful adornment for your home at any time of year, and can be enhanced by the addition of ornaments, dried flowers or left in its natural splendor.
Materials:
For this project you will need a straw or foam wreath base, feathers, white craft glue and ornaments (if desired).
The size of the wreath base which you choose to use will be a part in determining the size of the wreath. After you have chosen your base, you will need to buy peacock feathers.
The amount of feathers you buy will be determined by the size of your straw wreath base, the larger the wreath base, the more feathers you will need. There are great sources of peacock feathers on the internet or you may choose to visit a local craft supply store and pick out your own.
If you live near Chinatown, peacock feathers, both natural as well as dyed, can be found for almost ridiculously low prices. Sometimes you can also order them through the gift shops in bulk as well.
In buying a product of this kind, I usually buy a few more than I think I will actually need for my project.
I find running short of supplies before a project is finished to be very frustrating and I’ve found that I can always add the surplus to my craft supply box and just knowing that they are there usually brings to mind some sort of fun project for which they can be used.
Directions:
You may also want a sharp nail to help make openings in the straw wreath in which to place the feathers.
Before you start your wreath, you will want to look at your feathers to see where you want to cut them off. While there are fronds nearly all the way down the shaft on these feathers, usually only the last 6 to 12 inches should be used (or you might have a 7 foot wreath!).
Cut about 2 extra inches, and trim off the side feathers so that you have a smooth quill to stick into the base.
First, dip the cleaned end of your feather in a bit of white craft glue (the kind that dries clear, like kid's glue for school), and then insert the feather into the wreath base about two thirds down. You may need a nail at this point, to create the openings for you. Set the feathers about three to four inches apart, all in a row.
When you have gone completely around the wreath base, you will want to go up about a half an inch, and repeat, setting these feathers over a bit so that they don’t come directly over the other feathers.
Repeat this for about two more rows.
Then you will want to do one more row with slightly shorter feathers. This will give your wreath a fuller layered appearance.
If you are going to add in sprigs of dried flowers, they will go in the “V” created between two feathers, and the stem should be dipped in glue as well.
To add small ornaments (glass balls or otherwise), use floral wire, and attach by running the wire through the ornament hoop, then around the back of the wreath, and twist to secure.
Tuck the twisted end into the wreath base so that you don't scratch whatever you hang your wreath on!
Congratulations! You have just created a beautiful work of art, ready to be hung!
Many Blessings
GrannySue
This Christmas bird feeder is a fast and easy project for children of all ages - even adults! The feeders are fun, functional, and should easily last the entire winter season.
Every neighborhood has a host of wild birds that would enjoy an extra tid-bit or two during the winter. Kids and adults alike love watching wildlife up close. That’s where we come in!
Christmas bird feeders are fun to make and even more fun to watch! They will teach your youngsters many lessons in a delightfully engaging way, and will help the birds survive the long winter months.
The following is a super simple way for children (and adults) to make a Christmas bird feeder.
In fact, its so easy, and accomplishes so many things, try making several!
You can reduce the stuff going in the recycling bin, teach the kids about all the different wild birds in the neighborhood, have lots of fun making them together, and even more watching them, and help out the birds with a special Christmas gift all their own!
What You Will Need:
- Empty 2-liter or gallon plastic bottles or gallon milk jugs - with screw tops
- String (must be strong)
- Scissors
- Stapler
- Hole punch
- Small sticks or dowel rods (long enough to stick out of both sides of carton by at least 2 in.)
- Bird seed
- Decorations: Water-based acrylic paint and brushes, papier mache, yarn, string, etc
- Spray sealer
Ensure that any paint is water based and try not to use anything as a decoration that can be potentially dangerous to swallow.
Directions:
1. Wash and dry carton thoroughly inside and out.
2. Decorate your carton however you would like. Let dry thoroughly.
3. Seal with the spray sealer. Again, let dry thoroughly.
4. Using your scissors cut a square or circle in each side of the carton (an inch or two should be good), about two inches from the bottom.
5. Using your hole punch (or your scissors) make a small hole about an inch below each larger one.
6. Push your sticks or rods through the holes from one side of the carton to the other (this will make one perch on each side, and a cross "X" inside).
7. Tie string around the lip under the bottle top by wrapping around twice, tying off and leaving 2 long ends.
8. Fill the container to within 1/2 inch of the perches with bird seed.
9. Hang your finished feeder on a tree branch by tying the ends around it.
Check and fill at least once a week by unscrewing the top and using a funnel to add the new seed.
Decorating can take the form of painting, decoupage, papier mache, or just about anything you have the mind and materials to do!!
Many Blessings
GrannySue
Wassailing and caroling have little in common... I should state here, that even caroling in the 15th century was only somewhat similar to what it was just a few decades ago.
Early in Christmas history, a caroling group consisted of a leader, who did most of the singing, and a troop of dancers, who not only danced through the songs, but also provided the chorus.
Usually, these carolers were hired to perform at a feast or ball, and stayed in one place to entertain the guests.
Wassailing, on the other hand was only slightly closer to what I remember as caroling when I was a kid in the 70's, and has long been a popular tradition in Christmas history.
A group of us would get together (in my case it was my girl-scout troop), and practice for weeks. We'd sing carols and Christmas songs at each house along a selected route one evening before Christmas.
The last stop was always a nursing home, where we would sing our songs to the people who lived there - and instead of asking for drinks and food, we would hand out small baskets we'd made as gifts for them!
Wassailing, however, was carried out by a group of (usually) costumed singers. Nearly always, these were peasant-class people. Their song always asked for food, drink or money from the hosts whose homes they went to. They would continue on well into the night on Christmas eve.
This custom continued throughout Christmas history, but in the mid-nineteenth century, started to become violent...
With the social and class-system upheaval of the 19th and early 20th century, the wassailers would demand food, drinks and money from the wealthy citizens they targeted.
If they were refused, it became more and more common that threats and violence would meet that refusal.
It became dangerous in cities like New York, and sparked major social and political reform as well as a popular re-structuring of the Christmas holiday in the United States.
Today, wassailing has become more of a drinking party, rather than roaming around town demanding food, drink and money. However, in some instances, due to the desire to link back to days-gone-by, modern wassailing can include caroling before sitting down to a feast of mulled wine and cider, and a few Christmas cakes.
I guess through the blurred lines of Christmas history, caroling has become a children's activity - when it is done at all - and wassailing is now for adults only.
Many Blessings
GrannySue
Pope Perpetuus proposed a time for pre-preparation for Christmas in 490. Today, we call this time Advent. He feared the increasing decadence of the celebrations beginning to swirl around the observance of Christ's birth. Advent is a much-celebrated part of Christmas history even now in many parts of the world.
Perpetuus suggested fasting on each Monday, Wednesday and Friday from Martinmas (November 11) until Christmas eve. These preparations were similar to the idea of Lent in the spring. Easter, at the time, was Christianity's biggest Holy Day, and he felt that Christmas should be honored in the same tradition.
Though it was not called such, the idea of Advent quickly spread throughout Europe, but crashed and burned when it came to Rome. There was no way that the newest converts to the religion were going to give up their feasting and other festivities - even if by now they had toned them down measurably.
Fasting did not enjoy popularity for very long among the peasant populations, though at first it was quite well-received. There are several reasons for this.
Winter is the traditional time of butchering livestock and of hunting. By doing this at the first of the winter weather, livestock would not be competing for the meager food supply needed to feed the people until the next harvest.
Since meat does not keep well, doing the butchering in the cold weather would prolong the supply of protein by keeping the meat cold, if not frozen.
Hunting - where it was allowed - would take place at the same time so as to consolidate the butchering chores. So - this was about the only time of the year that the people had a large and ready supply of fresh meat.
The wines and beers which had been prepared from the harvest were finally ready to drink at about this time of year as well.
Given these circumstances, it is easy to see why the idea of fasting at Advent was unpopular among the masses. Thus, the idea of fasting was dropped. Though the idea was brought back several times over the centuries, it has never really caught on.
Since this time of year was traditional to celebrate the last of the harvest work. Pagan celebrations also continued in the countryside. Sooner or later, something had to give. Much of the early part of Christmas history has to do with the pastoral lifestyles of the people in the first centuries AD. As much as things tend to change, the more they change, the more they stay the same. In modern times, we enjoy a party much more than a fast as well -
Advent Celebrations Today
The celebrations of Advent and Christmas that we recognize today came in part from the give-and-take required to convert the pagans to Christianity. Advent is only one of these compromises.
When one considers the idea of Advent, the first thought that comes to mind is the Advent Calendar. These calendars were invented in an effort to remind people of the meaning and story behind celebrating the birth of Christ. Each day could be opened, and inside was a gift or a picture depicting a progressing part of the story of Jesus' birth.
Another part of the celebration is the Advent Wreath. Traditionally 5 candles in a circle of greenery, many times with a Cross in the center. Once a week for the four weeks preceding Christmas, one of the candles in the ring was lit. Stories and games depicting a part of the Nativity story were told and played. On Christmas Eve, the candle in the center of the Cross was lit to signify the birth of the Savior.
Special foods are still eaten during Advent, more probably from ancient and historic local traditions than from any significance to the story of Christmas. However, these are a much-cherished part of the celebrations, and always add to the feelings of joy and peace that come from preparation for the Christmas holiday.
And - as you can see, we have been trying to "put Christ back into Christmas" throughout Christmas history!
Many Blessings
GrannySue
Another major highlight in our Christmas history came in the 16th century, when Pope Gregory introduced his new calendar, and indirectly with it, the Renaissance Christmas. The reverberations are still felt today - especially when it comes to Christmas celebrations!
The Pope's new calendar was not widely accepted at first. The Eastern Orthodox churches, and the protestant church kept the old (Julian) calendar. Even today, the Greek Orthodox church celebrates Christmas 13 days after the 'official' Christmas - on January 6th (our Epiphany)!
The 17th century saw the first "Christkindlmarkts" (Christ Child Markets) in Germany. These markets centered around the Nativity which was set up in the middle of the market space. Around this, vendors of all sorts of Christmas wares would set up their tents and tables. These markets are still very popular today!
(For those who cannot get to Germany to see the spectacle of these wonderful markets, several major US cities have them, including Chicago!)
Also in 17th Century Christmas history... The Puritans arrived in New England in 1620. With them, they brought their very austere and strict religion. Puritans did not celebrate Christmas.
They saw the celebration as a vile pagan observance. Since a Renaissance Christmas meant dancing, feasting, gift-giving and other festive occupations, the Puritans began in earnest to pass laws against this pagan festival in the New World as well.
When Oliver Cromwell took the British throne in 1645, he had also outlawed Christmas celebrations in Britain. The Puritans vowed to remove the decadence from England.
In 1659 they succeeded in the New World, and in Boston, one found celebrating the Christmas holiday could be fined 5 shillings! Though by 1681 these laws were no longer strictly enforced, it was not until the 1850's that some places actually repealed these laws.
It was not this way everywhere in the Colonies, though... In Jamestown, Virginia, Captain John Smith recorded in his diary that Christmas passed without incident, and was enjoyed by all.
When Cromwell died in 1660, King Charles II was restored to the British throne, and with him came the celebration of Christmas, and the repeal of the ban.
However, popular opinion was not so quick to change. With the growing disparity between the classes, and the continuing popularity of the Puritan religion, the traditions of Renaissance Christmas celebrations would not return to the masses for another two centuries.
Many Blessings
GrannySue
Most Americans were finally beginning to embrace the idea of celebrating the Christmas holiday by 1851. It was, after all, an excuse to lavish gifts and attention on their children, without appearing to spoil them!
It was customary in those days to treat one's children as if they were merely small adults. This was the perfect family holiday!
New York made Victorian Christmas history when it opened its first Christmas tree market in 1851. It did not take long for the idea to spread, and before the end of the decade, several major cities boasted their own Christmas tree markets each year.
By 1860, 14 states had included Christmas in their list of official state holidays.
Macy's flagship store in New York City hosted the first ever in-store Santa in 1862. In 1864, they unveiled the first of their famous annual Christmas window displays. It was also the first in the country. Macy's is noted for being the first to start several traditions in Christmas history.
By the first year of the Civil War (1861), 31 of the then 36 states had declared Christmas to be an official holiday. Though these were sad years, Victorian Christmas history was made several times.
Retailers, of course, helped this along, with the first Christmas wish books, and magazine articles described once again the methods of making many useful and practical Christmas gifts.
People needed a respite from the ravages of a war which tore the fiber out of both sides, and a Victorian Christmas provided not only that respite, but also a perfect occasion for hosting fund-raisers for the armies.
After the Civil War, Victorian Christmas history begins its spiral into becoming a secular holiday, and major economic force in the United States.
Children's books were a vital force in bringing about the commercialization of Christmas. Beginning shortly after Thanksgiving (now an official Federal holiday), the children's books and magazines began to feature stories about Christmas, and pictures of decorated Christmas trees.
They told of presents being delivered by Santa, and even had simple crafts in them so that the children could make their own Christmas presents.
Women's magazines were not only becoming larger, but also more plentiful by the time the war ended. The "Cult of the Home" was being promoted heavily, and Christmas figured prominently into the idea of the Ideal Home.
It was the women's responsibility to make the home as perfect and inviting as possible, and to do this 'right' she must decorate and host lavishly at Christmas time!
Of course, just as today, we can blame the media for the commercialization of Christmas history!
Sunday schools even got into the promotion of Christmas. Of course, their primary focus was the Nativity of Christ and the Biblical stories surrounding his birth.
With even the sanction of the church, Congress had to act. In 1870, Christmas became a federally recognized holiday, and, of course, the politicians and their families were especially happy, because that meant that no longer would Congress be in session at Christmas!
Thomas Nast published his first cartoon of Santa in the year 1863, for Harper's Weekly. In 1881 his famous Santa caricature was published - also in Harper's. In 1890, he published "Thomas Nast's Christmas Drawings for the Human Race".
This German immigrant and political satirist/cartoonist probably did more than any other single human being to develop the Santa we all know and love to this very day!
The last major Victorian Christmas history milestone of the 19th century came, not from New York, but from Chicago. This was the first year that the Marshall Field flagship store on State Street hosted its annual Christmas window displays. Over the years, they became as well-known as those of Macy's, and equally as popular.
Many Blessings
GrannySue
Well, let's see... Christmas history is a very broad subject... So, I guess we'll start with why December 25th was chosen as the date for Christmas in the first place!
In the very beginning, the Christian church didn't even celebrate the birth of Christ. Christmas history as such did not begin until late in the third century after the Crucifixion.
Nothing in writing has been found as to what possible Christmas observances were actually held, if any, during the first three hundred years of the church.
During the late second, and much of the third century after Christ's death, many prominent elders argued about the Nativity, and whether or not it should be observed. They argued about the date of the nativity, the method of observance, and just about everything else.
Some elders favored dates in spring, because of the references in the Bible to the shepherd's being in the fields with their flocks 'by night'. One Latin treatise written in 243 suggested March 21st, the date the church tells us that God created the Sun. April 18 and 19, as well as May 20 were favored dates by some.
Others favored the reputed date that the Three Kings arrived to honor the Christ Child at Bethlehem, which on today's calendar is January 6th - recognized as Epiphany. Christmas history was full of quarrels and dissension for quite some time.
It was in the year 273 that December 25th was finally chosen as the official date of the Nativity of Christ. So, Christmas history records this as the date of the Nativity of Christ.
Origen, an early church leader, feared a celebration, as he felt that Christ should not be honored in the same way as Pharaoh and Herod were.
Thus, December 25th was to be a solemn day of thanksgiving in the very early church. There were no gifts exchanged, no carols, no Christmas trees. It was a day of prayer and introspection. Since these early days of Christmas history, we seem to have lost the religious significance of the holiday.
There was also the problem of bringing the pagan populations to Christianity. They were not likely to give up some of their most favored holidays. Even those who were beginning to look upon the Christian church with more curiosity were not willing to give up the feasting and other celebrations they'd grown up with.
Well, the church back then identified Christ with the celestial sun. Most of the pagan celebrations were held at and around the time of the winter solstice on December 21. The pagan festivities were loud, boisterous, and featured many of the traditions we currently consider as Christmas traditions.
Christmas history would change them, of course, and give them new meanings, but they are still very much a part of our celebrations, even today!
Part of the church leadership felt that by choosing the December 25th date, Christians could honor their savior without worry of persecution or other problem from the pagan populations. At the same time, some of the others who were curious about Christianity might just make the leap of faith required to convert.
December 25, incidentally, was also the reputed date of birth of the god Mithras, whose cult flourished in Rome at the time.
Another Roman celebration, Natalis Solis Invicti (the birth of the invincible sun) was also celebrated on December 25.
And, this was also the middle of the festival of Saturnalia, in which gift-giving and feasting were prominent features, as well as the lighting of candles and the decoration of the home with evergreens.
And finally, after all, December 25th is exactly nine months after the Feast of the Annunciation (March 25th).
Gradually customs became increasingly mingled together... The first truly 'western' Christmas was celebrated in 336, once Constantine had declared Christianity to be the official religion of Rome.
By this time in Christmas history, lit candles and practical small gifts had become more acceptable to some Christians, though by no means were a major part of the occasion of observing Christ's birth.
Many Blessings
GrannySue
As the holiday season rolls around,
most of us start getting into the holiday spirit. One of the many
ways that you may do this is by decorating your home for Christmas.
If you are interested in decorating for Christmas, you will need
Christmas decorations.
Now, I have to admit... When I first
started with the idea for this article, it seemed rather silly. After
all – most of us have been doing Christmas decorating since we were
kids! Seems like it would be second nature for anybody, right?
Well, I have been asked questions about this so many times already this season that I just had to put something here on the blog! I guess I just take some things for granted...
Its easy for most of us to forget that
each year many new families are started, kids move out on their own,
and other things happen that cause people to become first time
decorators – and they might need a few hints!
So – here we go!
Department and Dollar
Stores
If you have yet to purchase your
Christmas decorations, do you know where you can get them? Despite
what you may believe, there are actually an unlimited number of
places where you can buy Christmas decorations from.
When it comes to buying Christmas
decorations, many individuals head to their local department store.
This can be a great way to save time and sometimes even money. What
is nice about department stores, as you likely already know, is that
they carry a wide range of products, especially during the holidays.
It seems these stores start setting out
their Christmas decorations about the minute after school starts
these days. Watch for sales to spring up after Thanksgiving, though.
Dollar stores will save you even more
money – though you have to look at what you are buying... Many
times, these stores stock “seconds” - meaning the paint is
chipped, the item is mislabeled, or any number of other issues.
Unfortunately, when it comes to dollar
stores, many shoppers mistakenly believe that the items found inside
dollar stores are poor in quality and not worth their time. The
reality is that this is not always true. You can easily find a
number of quality Christmas decorations, at an affordable price, just
remember to pay attention.
Hardware and Home
Center Stores
Hardware stores even get in on the
Christmas spirit! While you might not normally consider this idea,
most of them have a full line of selections from trees to lights to
ornaments. You can find some really unique ideas here, too! Don't
discount this idea – go have a look and you'll see what I mean.
Places like Menard's, Home Depot and
Lowe's have HUGE selections on everything from trees to yard signs,
and this is where you go if you need those big blow-up snow-globe
santas for the yard. They also stock the outdoor light up reindeer
and other items of this nature. Sometimes the prices are as good or
better than at the “big box” stores...
Specialty Stores
Of course, there are “year round”
Christmas stores, your local Hallmark, and so on – all are obvious
choices, but you can also be creative.
Every craft store known to man has a
huge selection of Christmas craft items readily available, from silk
poinsettias to feather trees. Why not spend a couple bucks and make
your own decorations?? At least consider making a couple.
Christmas decorations are collector's
items. And, homemade ones make wonderful, personal and thoughtful
gifts as well. Let you imagination go and make a few of your
decorations yourself!
If you live near an historic district,
a local house museum, or any museum or historic society office for
that matter, do stop in. They will have something magical, and
usually affordable. Not only that, but you will be supporting the
organization, which – at least to me – doubles the value of the
money spent.
Local Groceries and
Drug-stores
And, don't forget your local grocery
store and drugstore! Not only do they sell all sorts of Christmas
gifts, but many have nice decorations available as well. As for the
grocery, you can also find things like popcorn and cranberries for
garlands, fruit to sugar for the table, and oranges to make
pomanders. I love shopping the local grocery for Christmas
decorations!
Support Your Local
Economy
Last, but certainly by no means least,
are the local “Mom and Pop” stores. They come in all shapes,
sizes and genres. They might also be your neighbors! Any and every
one of them will have something unique available so far as holiday
decorations are concerned, and it is always nice to support your
local retailers. These people work hard to find unique, interesting
and often one-of-a-kind type decorations – so do partake!
If You Still Haven't
Found the Perfect Christmas Decorations
Still haven't found that one item that
will just send you over the top? The absolute must-have ornament or
decoration that nobody seems to sell?
Well, its time to hit the net... Try
Craigslist, Ebay, Etsy or do the infamous “google it!” - If you
know what it is, mind you!
If you don't know just what you are
looking for, this is a great way to figure it out... I've done it! I
can waste a lot of time just floating around all the different items
available on the web, and if I buy something – GREAT! If not, I've
at least had a ton of fun!!
Have any novel ideas to share? Please
post them below!!
Many Blessings
GrannySue
Are you planning on decorating your
home for Christmas this year? If so, have you completed the first
step?
When it comes to decorating for
Christmas, the first step is getting the decorations. Unfortunately,
in today’s world, many families are finding it difficult to afford
“extras,” including Christmas decorations.
However, there is good news. If you
are on a budget, there are still a number of different ways that you
can get your home decorated for Christmas. You can do so with
low-cost Christmas decorations.
For some individuals, a low-cost
Christmas decoration is an item that only costs one dollar, for
others it is five, and for others it can be fifty dollars. That is
why it is important, when looking for low-cost Christmas decorations,
that you keep this in mind.
However, no matter what your view of
low-cost is, there are still a number of different ways that you can
go about decorating for Christmas.
Go for a Walk!
Perhaps, the easiest way to save money
while decorating for Christmas is to not buy any Christmas
decorations!
Beyond using items gifted to you, and
those you have saved up over the years, why not take a walk through
the neighborhood? With a little ingenuity, even plain fallen branches
can be made into stunning Christmas decorations – and all it costs
you is time! (OK... maybe a little bit for craft supplies...)
Branches, leaves, sprigs of evergreens
or holly (remember to ask first!!) are all great decorations, and of
course can be had for no money. Many times, if a store sells live
trees, the broken off branches can be had for nothing as well.
And, I have a whole post on ideas for
natural Christmas decorations that will give you even more ideas
along these lines!
Buying Decorations “On
The Cheap”
I know I am posting this in December –
but – think about yard sales and such next spring! Ornaments and
even artificial trees can sometimes be found. Especially if people
are moving, these items might be among those they would prefer to
purchase at their new place rather than pay to move with them.
Flea markets are famous for selling
decorations of a vintage nature, but watch your prices. Some of the
older decorations go for many times the price of new ones, so you
really have to be in love with the item to pay those sorts of prices.
For purchasing new decorations, check
out the post specifically for that. You can find them literally every
and anywhere!
I would caution, though... The absolute
best time to purchase Christmas decorations is the weeks following
the holiday. Sure, you can save 50 to 60% if you shop the week after
Christmas, but everybody – and I do mean everybody! - tends to dump
decorations and Christmas crafting items at 70 – 90% off in late
January.
Save up a bit and partake of the
really good sales!
Craft Your Own!
I am a HUGE fan of making your own.
Elegant and fancy, plain, unique and completely personalized –
making your own is about the most inexpensive next to going with all
natural decorations?
You don't need sewing skills to make
some absolutely gorgeous felt decorations! All it takes is some felt,
a pair of scissors and a little fabric glue! If you want to get
fancy, you can add sequins, beads, lace, embroidery and so on.
Do you knit or crochet – or both?
There are literally thousands of pattern books out there for
Christmas decorations. You can find them used through both Ebay and
Amazon as well as locating the latest new patterns in both places.
A little paint and some smooth stones
from the yard can make cute decorations – and if you don't mind
painting, think of things like walnuts in-the-shell, waxed fall
leaves, silk flowers and so on.
Any local craft section or store will
have so many ideas for you it'll make your head spin. Most of the
holiday craft kids are for more than a single item, and are fast and
easy to put together, with simple instructions included.
Or you can get really creative and buy
supplies to make your own original ideas as well! Bags of pom-poms,
a little felt and a couple beads make cute snow-men. Fabric “yo-yo's”
can be used singly or stitched into hundreds of different ornaments.
(They even have a gadget for you to make your own yo-yo's out of any
old clothes or scrap fabric you might have lying around!)
Feathers, singly or worked into a craft
project, are perfect Christmas decorations. They are sold by the bag,
and come in any color (or natural) you can think of. All shapes and
sizes, too!
These are just a few ideas for you so
that you can spend as little as possible and still have a lavishly
decorated home and tree for Christmas.
If you have any ideas you can share,
please post a comment below – we'd love to hear from you!
Many Blessings
GrannySue
As you can easily see, there are a
number of different ways that you can go about finding or making your
own low-cost Christmas directions. Although you may be worried about
the quality of those decorations, you shouldn’t be. Most times, it
isn’t necessarily about the Christmas decorations themselves, but
they way that they are presented or arranged.
Its always nice to add a little holiday
cheer to your place of work. It helps you keep the spirit when you
would rather be at home with the family!
There are a couple things to consider
when decorating at the office...
Remember, You Are At
Work...
First, you don't want to provide too
much of a distraction! Flashing lights playing holiday music might
just be a little over the top. Stick with things that will sit on
your desk, or a small strand of lights that will be seen mainly by
you at your desk.
If you have a cubicle, Christmas cards,
cut outs and small figurines should do the trick. Even a Christmas
plant would be a nice touch.
You can find tiny Christmas trees
(decorated, or you can also get your own ornaments for them) that are
less than a foot tall. You can also get live plants if they are
allowed. Try using silk if you can't bring in live ones. Most
Christmas plants will survive quite well for the season even with
office lights.
Just putting a small, wrapped, empty
box on your desk can sometimes be enough to remind you of the season
while you are at work (and if your desk is like mine, that might be
all the room you have, too!)
Most of your office decorating items
can be brought from home, and saved to use from year to year. You
really should probably stay away from things you only use once –
after all – in theory you're going to be doing this every year for
a long, long time.
Bring in the Scent of
the Season!
A pomander tucked next to your
computer, or a bowl of holiday potpourri works well, too! Especially
at work, scent is as potent as scenery.
Some short sprigs of spruce or pine
work well, and there are teeny tiny ornaments you can purchase to
hang on them if you wish. A small vase will scent a large area and
look beautiful while not being distracting to others.
Even if you can't have food, you can
get scented wax ornaments that smell like everything from hot
chocolate to cookies to pine trees... A couple of these strategically
placed will keep you and anyone walking by in the spirit throughout
your work day.
Do think about scented items! You'll be
amazed at the Christmas spirit you can invoke in people as they walk
by and get a whiff of pine, peppermint or such like! With a tiny,
non-distracting visual reminder to boot, you could uplift someone's
entire day.
Got More Space to Play
With?
If you have a little more leeway, and a
blank wall, what about using plain green napkins to tape a “Christmas
tree” to the wall? You simply open them up, gather at the center
(so the corners hang like a cone) and tape the gathered tip to the
wall in a triangle. (Start at the bottom and work to the tip!)
You can get fancy and use brown under
it for a trunk, or red for a “box” look so it appears to be in a
stand.
You can decorate your “tree” with
paper-doily angels, tuck in Christmas cards (or even a few gift
tags), tape on a strand or two of garland, and voila! It comes back
down in a jiffy, doesn't create a mess, and you can toss it or
recycle the paper after the holidays.
If you have the room, and permission,
you can also wrap a few empty boxes and create quite a display with
them in a corner or under the “office Christmas tree.” To put
these “up” with your napkin tree, try simply folding the paper
(so the edges aren't “raw”), tape on a ribbon or bow, and just
tape them to the wall around the bottom of the tree!!
You can create quite a lovely vignette
without much time, effort or even creativity. (But come on...
Everybody is creative – we just don't think we are!)
Simple and Understated,
Yet Festive
As with certain areas of your home, you
can also simply put a clear vase filled with ornaments on your desk,
or hang a few bows and ribbons for a nice festive touch.
And, nobody says you can't toss a bit
of bright Christmas-y material over the back and seat of your office
chair!
If the boss allows it, and if you want
to share – why not put up a nice little candy dish filled with hard
candies for the holidays? Just remember if you are allowed to do this
that you will be refilling that bowl often – treats like that are
hard to come by sometimes! But – its also a terrific ice-breaker if
you are new to the office.
Decorating your office for Christmas is
largely a matter of what is allowed where you work. But, there are
always things you can do to bring the spirit with you to work –
even if you only have the corner of your desk to show off.
If you have any suggestions, please
post a comment below! Join the party!
Many Blessings,
GrannySue
When it comes to decorating for
Christmas, there are many individuals who place a focus on one room
and one room only. Usually, this is the room where company is hosted,
and so it is the focal point of the entire season.
While this main room is going to be the
focus of everyone's attention, you might also want to think about
decorating the rest of your home.
A small touch here and there will bring
the Christmas spirit to every room, give guests and family something
to notice and appreciate, and will tie the entire house together
rather than segregating just one room for your celebration.
In a small amount of time, and for very
little money, you can easily show your holiday spirit in each and
every room of your home.
Since, the room in which your Christmas
tree is in was already touched on, it is best to focus here on other
rooms, besides your living room, family room, or den.
Decorating the
Bathroom??
Perhaps, it is best to focus on the
bathroom. After all, it is one of the most used rooms in any home!
If you are interested in decorating your bathroom for Christmas, you
can often do so with a few small, yet affordable Christmas
decorations.
You can hang a Christmas picture in
your bathroom or replace some of your bath towels with Christmas bath
towels. If you want to, you could even replace your bathmat or
shower curtain with one that has a Christmas theme.
A simple greenery garland over the
window or mirror frame, or a small vase on the back of the toilet or
on the counter top will bring the season into the room without being
gaudy.
How 'Bout the
Kitchen...
The kitchen is another room that you
could easily decorate for the Christmas holiday season. Since I spend
most of my time here even when not at the stove, I always decorate
the kitchen.
With the kitchen, like the bathroom,
there are a number of low-cost ways that you can go about getting
your decorating done. For instance, did you know that you can
purchase Christmas themed potholders, over mitts, and kitchen towels
for only a couple of dollars each?
If money is not an issue, you may why
not add some Christmas themed kitchenware into the mix! For a little
bit more money, but still a relatively affordable price, you should
be able to find matching sets of bowls, plates, and cups that come
with pre-designed Christmas themes.
Don't Forget the
Bedrooms!!
You may also want to decorate the
bedrooms in your home, especially if you have children.
One Christmas decorating idea that all
children love is Christmas lights. In fact, there are some children
who decorate their rooms with Christmas lights all year long. Simply
by hanging Christmas lights along the perimeter of your child’s
room, you could easily help to create a Christmas-like feel in their
room.
If you or your child would prefer not
to have Christmas lights in the bedroom, you could easily hang a
small Christmas picture in their room. This picture can be a nice
framed one or it can be one of the Christmas cardboard cutouts that
you can purchase in a package at most dollar stores.
And Then... The Yard
In addition to decorating the rooms
inside your home, you may also want to think about decorating the
outside of your home as well.
If you are looking for a simply way to
showoff your Christmas spirit, you could easily run Christmas lights
along the outside of your home. There are special Christmas lights
that are developed just for this purpose.
If you would like to do more, you could
also decorate your lawn for Christmas. A few Christmas yard signs
may be nice; however, you can go even larger than that.
There are a number of retail stores
that sell large inflatable Christmas trees, reindeer, or Santas.
I've run the gammut here. My father collects the lighted deer and
trees, so one year we had a whole HERD of deer on the lawn.
Personally – I would rather have one
or two of them with maybe a tree, and then icicle lights on the
gutters. Its simple, elegant, and doesn't cause the executives at the
local electric company to start twitching (or me when the bill
comes!)
As always – please post some of your
own favorite ideas below!!
Many Blessings,
GrannySue
There are a ton of reasons I can think of to use natural items for your Christmas decorating! First, let's face it - they are mostly free. Next, they bring a touch of the outside into your home - which is always welcome at this time of year.
Natural decorations abound right in your own yard - all you have to do is open your door! Just about anything you find can be made into a festive arrangement, an ornament or a gift decoration or tag.
If you are short on cash, don't like what you see in the stores, or are just in the mood for something a little different - consider the following options!
Pine Cones
The
first item that comes to mind for me is pine cones. Pine cones are
almost an intrinsic part of the Christmas season. There are so many
shapes and sizes, and so many different things you can do with them!
Being
the “fruit” of most evergreen trees, pine cones naturally go with
Christmas trees. They can be hung “as is” for ornaments, but you
can also paint them in the brilliant colors associated with the
season, Roll them in glue and glitter, cut them apart and use the
“petals” for application on other sorts of ornaments, and even
tuck cotton balls in them to make them look like miniature Christmas
trees!
Pine cones,
plain or painted/glittered, can also be put into a bowl or vase to
serve as a lovely natural reminder that even during the long, cold
days of winter there is both beauty and abundance in nature!
They
also look gorgeous hung from a wide ribbon in the middle of a window.
Try hanging three of varying lengths for a very elegant effect.
Like Walnuts? Why Not Use Them to Decorate?
Next,
we come to nuts. Traditionally, English walnuts were used as
ornaments and decorations. In Victorian times, gilded walnuts were
hung from the tree, and placed in bowls. These days, a can of spray
paint will serve this need inexpensively. (Of course, gold isn't the
only color you can use!)
Yes,
the nuts are still edible – so long as you've chosen to paint those
with no cracks in the shell!
They
also make pretty package decorations, and can be wired to ribbon,
some greenery or even silk flowers for an extra-special touch.
Sprigs of Green from Bushes and Trees
Of
course, sprigs from any evergreen, holly bush or ivy are perfectly
appropriate as well. Hang them in festoons over the top of large
furniture, window and door frames, or place them upright in vases!
You can even hang ornaments and candy canes from them to make them
even more festive.
Consider
wiring sprigs from different evergreens (or all from one kind) into
your own wreath. Forms can be purchased at any craft or department
store. Wire, straw and styrofoam are all readily available – or you
can simply wire them without a frame for a more “free-form”
style. Ribbons, bows, ornaments or sprigs of holly berries will
finish the look.
If
you think ahead in the fall, you can capture dry leaves and dip them
in wax to create ornaments of all varieties! They will even store
well given proper attention and gentle packing. Magnolia leaves have
been used for everything from single-leaf decorations to gilded swags
for windows – and even to make wreaths!
Sprigs
of holly give a nice touch – but be warned... Those thorny leaves
become incredibly hard and sharp when they dry! Yes – worse than
when on the bush. However, paying attention to those fingers when
working with it will go a long way to ensuring beauty without pain!
Sprigs
make lovely package decorations, can be tucked into the tree as
ornaments, and even in a small juice cup as a table decoration. Ivy
works this way as well.
Raid the Produce Section
Fruit
can be dusted with sugar to make it sparkle, and can be in a bowl, on
a bed of greenery, or decorated and hung by ribbon (think pomanders).
Oranges, apples, and grapes are the most popular for this sort of
thing. A wide, clear vase filled with citrus (you don't have to limit
yourself to only oranges!) pomanders is a pretty addition to any
sideboard, and you can be very inventive with patterning. It will
also help to scent the room throughout the holidays.
Once
dry, pomanders can be stored and used again, or simply left where
they are to continue delivering their special magic. They can also be
hung by ribbons to decorate the tree, the window or a door opening –
and even hung from stair rails!
Craft a Few Yourself
Dried and waxed leaves can create wreathes, package decorations, centerpieces and even gift tags. While its a little late for this sort of thing right now, its something to jot down for ideas next fall.
While its a bit off topic here, if you have old clothes or scrap fabrics in holiday colors, cut them up and sew a few items for the tree or mantle! I'm a big fan of recycling, and items I can't donate to a local resale shop usually wind up with a myriad of inventive new lives!
If
you are good with basketry, get some long pine needles and make
miniature baskets! These can hold a single piece of candy, a small
ornament, or dried flowers and look great on the tree.
Need something new to add to a Christmas train under the tree?? With a little glue or resin you can use pebbles and items found in the yard to make buildings, bridges, and even park benches. Use old cans, milk cartons or even a bowl lined with waxed paper as a mold.
Just
about anything you find in your yard can be turned into very festive
natural decorations for the holidays. Even if you live in an
apartment and don't have a yard, many of these items can also be
found at craft stores, and perhaps even on Craigslist or similar
sites!
You might need a little glue, paint or glitter to spruce them up a bit, but you'd be amazed what you can come up with simply by walking out your own back door.
I
hope these ideas have sparked your imagination!! I'll be posting some
more ideas and some simple and easy instructions soon.
Many
Blessings,
GrannySue
PS:
I would love to hear any ideas you have as well! Help me make this
blog into a community, and share your tips and ideas in the comments
below -
These simple Christmas egg and cheese recipes will make creating a family breakfast simple, easy and nutritious. BUT!!! these aren't just breakfast dishes - in fact - most of them are great for other times of the day! Nothing here is difficult, but these dishes are filling and very tasty.
At our house, Christmas morning started Mom's one day off per year. After breakfast, she refused to cook again for the day, but there were always tons of things in the fridge so no one ever minded. Breakfast was simple, but always more than we could eat.
There would be a selection of coffee cakes, eggs and meat - that's it - fill up and warm the belly, get some energy, and off to enjoy the rest of the day!
Recipes Located on This Page:
AnyTime Quiche
Broile Egg Salad Sandwiches
Country Breakfast Casserole
Super Souped-Up Deviled Eggs
Veggie Bake
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Quiche is one of those Christmas egg and cheese recipes that has been the butt of jokes, the mainstay of the pantry, and a great make-ahead meal for busy families. With the basic egg mixture, you can create endless variety.
This recipe is super-easy to double, triple, or even more. If you are doing more than one, and you intend to freeze any for later, simply bake until it is set, but not browned. Be sure to thaw to room temperature before baking the frozen one, and you will be just fine.
Another thing you can do is to freeze individual portions of fillings instead of entire quiches. This will save a lot of room in the freezer (especially if you make several at one time), and is simply a matter of thawing the filling, and baking the quiche.
Either way - quiche, with its endless variety and super simple creation, is a family friendly, fast and nutritious dinner all in one pan!
Christmas egg and cheese recipes like this are never boring. Spice it up, or pare it down - change the 'weightier' ingredients and have a ball!
2½ ounces thinly sliced deli ham, diced
1 cup shredded swiss cheese
4 large eggs
1¼ cups milk
1 cup light cream
Pinch of ground red pepper
Dash nutmeg
Sprinkle ham and cheese over pie crust.
Place eggs in medium-size bowl and beat lightly. Stir in milk, cream, red pepper, and nutmeg. Mix well and pour over cheese and ham.
Bake at 350° for 45 to 50 minutes.
Variations:
Crab Quiche: Eliminate ham and substitute 2 cups crab meat.
Vegetable Quiche: Eliminate ham and substitute 2 cups chopped, cooked vegetables of your choice.
Bacon Quiche: Eliminate ham and substitute 12 slices crisp-cooked, finely crumbled bacon.
Spinach Quiche: Make the Bacon Quiche, but use 6 slices bacon, and 1 cup chopped fresh or frozen spinach.
You get the idea -
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A complete meal in a bun - what more could you ask?? When most people think of Christmas egg and cheese recipes, they think breakfast. You won't find any strictly breakfast foods on this page. I like eggs any time - and cheese is a better snack for me than even chocolate!
3 tablespoons prepared yellow or Dijon mustard
2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup green pepper, chopped
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
½ teaspoon celery seeds
3 tablespoons onion, very finely chopped
3 sandwich buns rolls, toasted open-faced and buttered
2/3 cup evaporated milk
Dash of sage
Combine the eggs, cheddar, green pepper, onion, evaporated milk, mustard, salt, celery seeds, sage and pepper. Spread each bun with about ¼ cup of the egg mixture. Broil about 5 inches from the heat source until cheese is melted, about 5 minutes. Serve hot.
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Another of the Christmas egg and cheese recipes that makes a complete and wholesome meal! Everything is tossed in here, and it's served up just like those skillet breakfast plates at the local restaurant. Feel free to add to this - anything such as red or green peppers (even hot ones, if you wish!), bacon, mushrooms - use some imagination!
This is one of those wonderful dishes that you can just keep adding and adding to, and except for the size of the pan you are cooking in, there just are no limits!
Don't limit yourself - this is one of those hearty egg and cheese recipes that would be great any time of day!
3 medium potatoes, cubed
6 eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup water
½ cup milk
1 package country-style gravy mix
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
2 tablespoons butter
½ teaspoon salt
Pinch of pepper
Pinch paprika
In a large skillet, cook crumbled (or sliced) sausage and cubed potatoes over medium heat until brown, stirring occasionally. Remove sausage and drain on paper towel.
Spread sausage and browned potatoes over bottom of a LIGHTLY GREASED 11x8 inch baking dish.
Whisk together eggs, water, milk and gravy mix. Pour over sausage and potatoes. Add salt, pepper and paprika, and mix into pan. Sprinkle cheese to cover top.
Bake at 325°, uncovered, for about 40 minutes or until knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Or, cover and refrigerate overnight. Bake for 50 minutes, uncovered. Remove from oven and let stand 10 minutes before serving.
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I've rarely been to a holiday party where the hostess didn't serve up some deviled eggs - and I could eat them all just by myself! This is one of the best recipes I've found. It's here in the Christmas egg and cheese recipes section for now until I find a few more appetizers... Then I'll move them over to their own section.
1 dozen eggs, boiled, peeled, halved lengthwise
4 heaping scoops of salad dressing
1 tablespoon +2 teaspoons prepared yellow mustard
2 teaspoons white vinegar
1½ teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground pepper
Pinch of paprika to garnish
Remove yolks and mash with the salad dressing.
In a small dish, blend vinegar, Worcestershire sauce and mustard. Fold into the yolk mixture, add salt and pepper. Using a baggie with the corner snipped off, pipe the mixture into the egg halves and sprinkle with paprika.
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This is a main-stay in the Christmas egg and cheese recipes I have at home. You can substitute eggplant, cooked sliced potatoes or even chopped spinach for the zucchini - let your family tastes decide! It is super fast and easy - and is a complete and healthy meal all by itself!
Veggie bake is great for dinner, but you can serve it just as well at breakfast time to make sure everyone has energy to spare for their busy day!
1 cup tomato, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
1/3 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
½ cup Bisquick or similar baking mix
1 cup milk
2 eggs
½ teaspoon salt
Pinch ground black pepper
Layer zucchini, tomato, onion and cheese in a WELL-GREASED pie plate.
Stir remaining ingredients until blended and pour over vegetables.
Bake at 400° for about 35 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
Many Blessings
GrannySue
Why Measuring Equivalents?
In baking, more-so than in cooking, measurements must be nearly exact. It's not a science, but if you fudge too much, your baked goods will not turn out as well as they should.
Holiday cooking and baking are unique. Often, you are creating dishes for more people than you otherwise would. Since holiday cooking is done in such large quantities, sometimes it's simply easier to have a reference to go to for measurements for larger-than-normal amounts of certain ingredients.
I have often been at a loss when trying to simplify measurements in recipes that I have doubled, tripled or halved. Since I also often cook for large crowds and for markets, I found having these measurements handy is a must.
Since most folks do not cook for very large numbers of people very often, I thought it might be good to have a reference page of common measurements here for information that will simplify your cooking for parties and such.
One warning: While doubling and tripling measurements in recipes is quite common, I would not advise increasing a recipe by more than 4 times. You will find that the flavors are off, sometimes more than noticeably.
The same thing goes for halving measurements - I wouldn't do it more than once for any recipe.
If you need recipes for huge numbers of people, there are some hints and tips on another page that will make your life a whole lot easier, and still ensure wonderful finished products!
____________________________________________
Liquid Measurements & Equivalents
In the United States, liquid measurements are not strictly used for liquids like water, milk, etc. Liquid measurements are also used when measuring such items as flour, sugar, shortening, butter and spices.
1 tablespoon (tbsp) = 3 teaspoons (tsp)
1/16 cup = 1 tablespoon
1/8 cup = 2 tablespoons
1/6 cup = 2 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons
1/4 cup = 4 tablespoons or 2 fluid ounces
1/3 cup = 5 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon
3/8 cup = 6 tablespoons
1/2 cup = 8 tablespoons
2/3 cup = 10 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons
3/4 cup = 12 tablespoons
1 cup = 48 teaspoons, or 1/2 pint
1 cup = 16 tablespoons
1 cup = 8 fluid ounces
1 pint (pt) = 2 cups
1 quart (qt) = 2 pints
4 cups = 1 quart
1 gallon (gal) = 4 quarts
16 ounces (oz) = 1 pound (lb)
1 liter = approx. 4 cups, or 1 quart
1 milliliter (ml) = 1 cubic centimeter (cc)
1 inch (in) = 2.54 centimeters (cm)
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Metric Measurements:
Sometimes I run across a recipe from another country, that does not use the same measurements I am accustomed to in the US. Here are some of the most common measurements in metric form.
1/5 teaspoon = 1 milliliter
1 teaspoon = 5 ml
1 tablespoon = 15 ml
1 fluid oz = 30 ml
1/5 cup = 47 ml
1 cup = 237 ml
2 cups (1 pint) = 473 ml
4 cups (1 quart) = .95 liter
4 quarts (1 gal.) = 3.8 liters
1 ounce = 27 gm
1 pound = 454 grams
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One-Pound Measurements/Equivalents:
2 cups Butter = 1 lb
4 cups Flour = 1 lb
2 cups Sugar = 1 lb
2 cups Milk = 1 lb
9 medium Eggs = 1 lb
2-1/2 cups Oatmeal = 1 lb
4 cups Flour = 1 lb
2 cups Sugar = 1 lb
2 cups Milk = 1 lb
9 medium Eggs = 1 lb
2-1/2 cups Oatmeal = 1 lb
1 package of Fleischmann's Active Dry Yeast = 1-3/4 tsp
1/2 package of Fleischmann's Active Dry Yeast = 7/8 tsp
1 No. 300 can (14-16 oz) = 1-3/4 cups
1 No. 10 can (6-1/2 - 7-1/2 lb) = 12-13 cups
1/2 package of Fleischmann's Active Dry Yeast = 7/8 tsp
1 No. 300 can (14-16 oz) = 1-3/4 cups
1 No. 10 can (6-1/2 - 7-1/2 lb) = 12-13 cups
Many old cookbooks give rather strange measurements. These are from a forum I am part of which is based on 19th century cooking.
1 wineglass = 1/4 cup
1 jigger = 1.5 fluid ounces
1 gill = 1/2 cup
1 teacup = a scant 3/4 cup
1 coffee cup = a scant cup
1 tumbler = 1 cup
1 peck = 2 gallons - dry
1 jigger = 1.5 fluid ounces
1 gill = 1/2 cup
1 teacup = a scant 3/4 cup
1 coffee cup = a scant cup
1 tumbler = 1 cup
1 peck = 2 gallons - dry
1 pinch or dash = what can be picked up between thumb and first two fingers; less than 1/8 teaspoon
1/2 pinch = what can be picked up between thumb and one finger
1/2 pinch = what can be picked up between thumb and one finger
1 saltspoon = 1/4 teaspoon
1 kitchen spoon = 1 teaspoon
1 dessert spoon = 2 teaspoons or 1 soupspoon
1 spoonful = 1 tablespoon more or less
1 kitchen spoon = 1 teaspoon
1 dessert spoon = 2 teaspoons or 1 soupspoon
1 spoonful = 1 tablespoon more or less
1 saucer = 1 heaping cup (about)
1 penny weight = 1/20 ounce
1 drachma = 1/8 ounce
60 drops thick fluid = 1 teaspoon
60 drops thick fluid = 1 teaspoon
Butter the size of a egg = 1/4 cup or 2 ounces
Butter the size of a walnut = 1 tablespoon
Butter the size of a hazelnut = 1 teaspoon
1 ounce = 4 1/2 tbls allspice, cinnamon, curry, paprika, dry mustard
or 4 tablespoons cloves or prepared mustard
or 3 1/2 tablespoons nutmeg or pepper
or 3 tablespoons sage, cream of tartar or cornstarch
or 2 tablespoons salt or any liquid
1 pound = 2 cups liquid
Butter the size of a walnut = 1 tablespoon
Butter the size of a hazelnut = 1 teaspoon
1 ounce = 4 1/2 tbls allspice, cinnamon, curry, paprika, dry mustard
or 4 tablespoons cloves or prepared mustard
or 3 1/2 tablespoons nutmeg or pepper
or 3 tablespoons sage, cream of tartar or cornstarch
or 2 tablespoons salt or any liquid
1 pound = 2 cups liquid
or 4 cups flour
or 8 medium size eggs with shells
or 10 eggs without shells
or 2 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar\
or 8 medium size eggs with shells
or 10 eggs without shells
or 2 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar\
or packed brown sugar
or 4 cups grated cabbage, cranberries, coffee or chopped celery
or 3 cups cornmeal
or 2 cups uncooked rice
or 2 3/4 cups raisins or dried currants
or 4 cups grated cabbage, cranberries, coffee or chopped celery
or 3 cups cornmeal
or 2 cups uncooked rice
or 2 3/4 cups raisins or dried currants
Again, in very old cookbooks, no temperatures are given as such, mainly because there were no temperature controls on stoves prior to the 1900's. These measurements have been tested and re-tested in professional kitchens.
Very slow oven = below 300ºF
Slow oven = 300ºF
Moderately slow oven = 325ºF
Moderate oven = 350ºF
Moderately hot oven = 375ºF
Quick oven = 375 - 400ºF
Hot oven = 400 - 425ºF
Very hot oven = 450 - 475ºF
Extremely hot oven = 500ºF or more
Slow oven = 300ºF
Moderately slow oven = 325ºF
Moderate oven = 350ºF
Moderately hot oven = 375ºF
Quick oven = 375 - 400ºF
Hot oven = 400 - 425ºF
Very hot oven = 450 - 475ºF
Extremely hot oven = 500ºF or more
Many recipes, both new and old, will call for a certain amount of ingredients that cannot be readily measured. These measurements are provided so that if a recipe calls for an amount - or - a certain number of ingredients, you can tell how much or how many you need.
Apples: 1 pound (3 medium) = 3 cups sliced
Bacon: 8 slices cooked = 1/2 cup crumbled
Bananas: 1 pound (3 medium) = 2 1/2 cups sliced = about 2 cups mashed
Beans, dried: 1 pound = 6 cups cooked
Beans, green or wax: 1 pound = 3 cups cut
Beef, cooked: 5 oz. = 1 cup cubed
Bell Pepper: 1 medium = 1 cup chopped
Bread: 1 pound = 12 to 16 slices
Bacon: 8 slices cooked = 1/2 cup crumbled
Bananas: 1 pound (3 medium) = 2 1/2 cups sliced = about 2 cups mashed
Beans, dried: 1 pound = 6 cups cooked
Beans, green or wax: 1 pound = 3 cups cut
Beef, cooked: 5 oz. = 1 cup cubed
Bell Pepper: 1 medium = 1 cup chopped
Bread: 1 pound = 12 to 16 slices
1 cup soft bread crumbs = about 1 1/2 slices
1/3 cup dry crumbs = 1 slice
Butter or margarine: 1 pound = 2 cups = 4 sticks
Size of an egg = 2 tablespoons = about 1/4 cup
1/3 cup dry crumbs = 1 slice
Butter or margarine: 1 pound = 2 cups = 4 sticks
Size of an egg = 2 tablespoons = about 1/4 cup
Cabbage, raw: 1 pound = 4 cups shredded
Candied fruit or peels: 1/2 pound (8 ounces) = 1 cup unchopped = 1 1/4 cups chopped
Canned fruit: 16 to 20 oz. can = 1 3/4 to 2 cups drained fruit
Canned vegetables: 16 oz. can = 2 cups drained vegetables
Carrots 1/2 pound: 2 medium = 1 1/4 cups chopped = 1 cup sliced = 1 cup shredded
Cauliflorets: 1 pound = 3 cups
Cereal, flakes: 3 cups uncrushed = 1 cup crushed
Celery 2 medium stalks = 1 cup sliced
Cheese, American: 1 pound = About 4 cups shredded
Canned fruit: 16 to 20 oz. can = 1 3/4 to 2 cups drained fruit
Canned vegetables: 16 oz. can = 2 cups drained vegetables
Carrots 1/2 pound: 2 medium = 1 1/4 cups chopped = 1 cup sliced = 1 cup shredded
Cauliflorets: 1 pound = 3 cups
Cereal, flakes: 3 cups uncrushed = 1 cup crushed
Celery 2 medium stalks = 1 cup sliced
Cheese, American: 1 pound = About 4 cups shredded
Cheese, Cheddar: 1 pound = About 4 cups shredded
4 ounces = 1 cup
Cheese, Cottage: 1 pound = 2 cups
8 ounces = 1 cup
Cheese, Cream: 3-ounce package = 1 cup
8-ounce package = 6 tablespoons
Cherries 4 cups unpitted = 2 cups pitted
Chocolate, baking: 1 square = 1 ounce
Cheese, Cottage: 1 pound = 2 cups
8 ounces = 1 cup
Cheese, Cream: 3-ounce package = 1 cup
8-ounce package = 6 tablespoons
Cherries 4 cups unpitted = 2 cups pitted
Chocolate, baking: 1 square = 1 ounce
Chocolate Chips (morsels): 6-ounce package = 1 cup
12-ounce package = 2 cups
Chocolate Wafers: 1 cup fine = 19 wafers
Cocoa: 1 pound = 4 cups
Coconut, flaked or shredded: 1 pound = 5 cups
4 ounces = 1 1/3 cups
Coffee: 1 pound = 80 tablespoons = 40 cups perked
Corn: 2 medium ears = 1 cup kernels
Cornmeal: 1 pound = 3 cups
12-ounce package = 2 cups
Chocolate Wafers: 1 cup fine = 19 wafers
Cocoa: 1 pound = 4 cups
Coconut, flaked or shredded: 1 pound = 5 cups
4 ounces = 1 1/3 cups
Coffee: 1 pound = 80 tablespoons = 40 cups perked
Corn: 2 medium ears = 1 cup kernels
Cornmeal: 1 pound = 3 cups
Crab, in shell: 1 pound = 3/4 to 1 cup flaked
Crackers, graham: 14 squares = 1 cup fine crumbs
Crackers, saltine: 28 squares = 1 cup finely crushed
Cranberries: 1 quart = 1 pound = 4 cups or 6 to 7 cups cranberry sauce
Crawfish, whole: 1 pound unpeeled = 3 to 4 ounces peeled tail meat
Crawfish, tails: 1 pound unpeeled = 1 to 2 cups meat
Cream, whipping: 1 cup = 2 cups whipped
Cucumber: 1 small to medium = 1 cup chopped
Dates, pitted: 1 cup (1/2 pint) = 3 cups chopped
Dates, unpitted: 1 pound = 1 1/2 cups chopped
Crackers, graham: 14 squares = 1 cup fine crumbs
Crackers, saltine: 28 squares = 1 cup finely crushed
Cranberries: 1 quart = 1 pound = 4 cups or 6 to 7 cups cranberry sauce
Crawfish, whole: 1 pound unpeeled = 3 to 4 ounces peeled tail meat
Crawfish, tails: 1 pound unpeeled = 1 to 2 cups meat
Cream, whipping: 1 cup = 2 cups whipped
Cucumber: 1 small to medium = 1 cup chopped
Dates, pitted: 1 cup (1/2 pint) = 3 cups chopped
Dates, unpitted: 1 pound = 1 1/2 cups chopped
8-ounce package = 1 cup
Eggs, whole: 5 large = 9 medium = 1 pound = 1 cup
Eggs, whites: 8 to 11 = 1 cup
Eggs, yolks: 12 to 14 = 1 cup
Flour, all-purpose: 1 pound = 4 cups, unsifted
1 ounce = 4 tablespoons
Flour, cake: 1 pound = 4 3/4 to 5 cups sifted
Flour, whole wheat : 1 pound = 3 1/2 cups unsifted
Frozen fruit: 10 ounce package = 1 1/4 cups
Frozen vegetables: 9 to 10 ounce package = 2 cups thawed vegetables
Gelatin, Knox: 1 envelope = 2 1/4 teaspoons
2 envelopes = 1 1/2 tablespoons
Green bell pepper: 1 large = 1 cup diced
Lemon: 1 medium = 2 to 3 tablespoons juice = 2 teaspoons grated rind
Lettuce: 1 pound head = 6 1/4 cups torn
Lime: 1 medium = 1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons juice = 1 1/2 teaspoons grated rind
Macaroni: 4 ounces (1 cup) 2 1/4 cups cooked
1 pound = 9 cups cooked
Marshmallow Fluff (Creme): 1 tablespoon = 1 marshmallow
1 (7 1/2 oz.) jar = 2 1/2 cups Fluff = 32 marshmallows
1 (16 1/2 oz.) tub = 5 cups = 5 1/2 dozen marshmallows
Marshmallows: 11 large = 1 cup
10 miniatures = 1 large marshmallow
Marshmallows, miniature: 1/2 pound = 4 1/2 cups
Milk, evaporated: 5.33-ounce can = 2/3 cup
13-ounce can = 1 5/8 cups
Milk, fresh ("raw"): 1 pound = 2 cups
Milk, sweetened condensed: 14-ounce can = 1 1/4 cups
Mushrooms, fresh: 3 cups (8 ounces) = 1 cup sliced
Noodles: 1 pound dry = 9 cups cooked
Nuts, almonds: 1 pound unshelled = 1 to 3 1/21 3/4 cups nutmeats
1 pound shelled = 1 3/4 cups nutmeats
Nuts, peanuts: 1 pound unshelled = 2 1/4 cups nutmeats
1 pound shelled = 3 cups nutmeats
Nuts, pecans: 1 pound unshelled = 4 cups
1 pound shelled = 2 1/4 cups nutmeats
Nuts, walnuts: 1 pound unshelled = 4 cups nutmeats
1 pound shelled = 1 2/3 cups nutmeats
Oats, quick-cooking: 1 cup = 1 3/4 cups cooked
Onion: 1 medium = 1/2 cup chopped
Orange: 1 medium = 1/3 to 1/2 cup juice = 2 tablespoons grated rind (zest)
Pasta: 1 pound = Appetizer or side dish for 6 people with a light sauce
1 1/2 pounds = Main dish for 6 people with a light sauce
2 pounds = Main dish for 6 people with a substantial sauce
Peaches: 2 medium = 1 cup sliced
Pears: 2 medium = 1 cup sliced
Peas in the pod: 1 pound = 1 cup shelled
Potatoes, white: 3 medium = 2 cups cubed cooked = 1 3/4 cups mashed = 3 cups grated
Potatoes, sweet: 3 medium = 3 cups sliced
Prunes: 1 (12-ounce) package = 2 cups pitted
Raisins, seedless: 1 pound = 3 cups
Rice, long-grain: 1 pound = 2 1/2 cups uncooked or 8 cups cooked
1 cup = 3 to 4 cups cooked
Rice, pre-cooked (instant): 1 cup = 2 cups cooked
Rice, wild : 1 cup = 3 cups cooked
Salt, coarse or kosher: 1 ounce = 2 tablespoons
Salt, table: 1 ounce = 1 1/2 tablespoons
Scallions (green onions): 9 (with tops) = 1 cup sliced
Shortening: 2 cup = 1 pound (16 ounces)
Shrimp, raw in shell: 1 1/2 pounds = 2 cups (3/4 pound) cleaned, cooked
Sour Cream: 8 ounces = 1 cup
Spaghetti, uncooked: 7 ounces = 4 cups cooked
Strawberries: 1 quart = 4 cups sliced
Sugar, brown: 1 pound = 2 2/3 cups firmly packed
Sugar, granulated: 1 pound = 2 cups
Sugar, powdered (confectioners'): 1 pound = 2 1/2 cups unsifted = 4 cups sifted
Tea: 1 pound = 120 servings
Tomato: 1 medium = 1 cup chopped
Vanilla Wafers: 22 wafers = 1 cup crumbs
Whipping (heavy) cream: 1 cup = 2 cups whipped
Yeast: 1 cake = 1/4 ounce package
Eggs, whites: 8 to 11 = 1 cup
Eggs, yolks: 12 to 14 = 1 cup
Flour, all-purpose: 1 pound = 4 cups, unsifted
1 ounce = 4 tablespoons
Flour, cake: 1 pound = 4 3/4 to 5 cups sifted
Flour, whole wheat : 1 pound = 3 1/2 cups unsifted
Frozen fruit: 10 ounce package = 1 1/4 cups
Frozen vegetables: 9 to 10 ounce package = 2 cups thawed vegetables
Gelatin, Knox: 1 envelope = 2 1/4 teaspoons
2 envelopes = 1 1/2 tablespoons
Green bell pepper: 1 large = 1 cup diced
Lemon: 1 medium = 2 to 3 tablespoons juice = 2 teaspoons grated rind
Lettuce: 1 pound head = 6 1/4 cups torn
Lime: 1 medium = 1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons juice = 1 1/2 teaspoons grated rind
Macaroni: 4 ounces (1 cup) 2 1/4 cups cooked
1 pound = 9 cups cooked
Marshmallow Fluff (Creme): 1 tablespoon = 1 marshmallow
1 (7 1/2 oz.) jar = 2 1/2 cups Fluff = 32 marshmallows
1 (16 1/2 oz.) tub = 5 cups = 5 1/2 dozen marshmallows
Marshmallows: 11 large = 1 cup
10 miniatures = 1 large marshmallow
Marshmallows, miniature: 1/2 pound = 4 1/2 cups
Milk, evaporated: 5.33-ounce can = 2/3 cup
13-ounce can = 1 5/8 cups
Milk, fresh ("raw"): 1 pound = 2 cups
Milk, sweetened condensed: 14-ounce can = 1 1/4 cups
Mushrooms, fresh: 3 cups (8 ounces) = 1 cup sliced
Noodles: 1 pound dry = 9 cups cooked
Nuts, almonds: 1 pound unshelled = 1 to 3 1/21 3/4 cups nutmeats
1 pound shelled = 1 3/4 cups nutmeats
Nuts, peanuts: 1 pound unshelled = 2 1/4 cups nutmeats
1 pound shelled = 3 cups nutmeats
Nuts, pecans: 1 pound unshelled = 4 cups
1 pound shelled = 2 1/4 cups nutmeats
Nuts, walnuts: 1 pound unshelled = 4 cups nutmeats
1 pound shelled = 1 2/3 cups nutmeats
Oats, quick-cooking: 1 cup = 1 3/4 cups cooked
Onion: 1 medium = 1/2 cup chopped
Orange: 1 medium = 1/3 to 1/2 cup juice = 2 tablespoons grated rind (zest)
Pasta: 1 pound = Appetizer or side dish for 6 people with a light sauce
1 1/2 pounds = Main dish for 6 people with a light sauce
2 pounds = Main dish for 6 people with a substantial sauce
Peaches: 2 medium = 1 cup sliced
Pears: 2 medium = 1 cup sliced
Peas in the pod: 1 pound = 1 cup shelled
Potatoes, white: 3 medium = 2 cups cubed cooked = 1 3/4 cups mashed = 3 cups grated
Potatoes, sweet: 3 medium = 3 cups sliced
Prunes: 1 (12-ounce) package = 2 cups pitted
Raisins, seedless: 1 pound = 3 cups
Rice, long-grain: 1 pound = 2 1/2 cups uncooked or 8 cups cooked
1 cup = 3 to 4 cups cooked
Rice, pre-cooked (instant): 1 cup = 2 cups cooked
Rice, wild : 1 cup = 3 cups cooked
Salt, coarse or kosher: 1 ounce = 2 tablespoons
Salt, table: 1 ounce = 1 1/2 tablespoons
Scallions (green onions): 9 (with tops) = 1 cup sliced
Shortening: 2 cup = 1 pound (16 ounces)
Shrimp, raw in shell: 1 1/2 pounds = 2 cups (3/4 pound) cleaned, cooked
Sour Cream: 8 ounces = 1 cup
Spaghetti, uncooked: 7 ounces = 4 cups cooked
Strawberries: 1 quart = 4 cups sliced
Sugar, brown: 1 pound = 2 2/3 cups firmly packed
Sugar, granulated: 1 pound = 2 cups
Sugar, powdered (confectioners'): 1 pound = 2 1/2 cups unsifted = 4 cups sifted
Tea: 1 pound = 120 servings
Tomato: 1 medium = 1 cup chopped
Vanilla Wafers: 22 wafers = 1 cup crumbs
Whipping (heavy) cream: 1 cup = 2 cups whipped
Yeast: 1 cake = 1/4 ounce package
1 package active dry yeast = 2 1/2 teaspoons
Zucchini: 1 medium = 2 cups sliced
Zucchini: 1 medium = 2 cups sliced
So - there ya have it.... Every measuring equivalent you could ever hope to want, and some you never even knew existed!!
Feel free to capture a screen shot of this if you have need of it - and - if I forgot anything, please do let me know!!
Many Blessings
GrannySue
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