HOW TO CREATE AWELCOMING

HOLIDAY HOMECelebrate the holidays this season in style

. Here are simple easy ideas tocreate a welcoming holiday home for

each of the five senses.

KariAnne Wood THISTLEWOODFARMS.COM HOLIDAY IDEA BOOK 2021

decoratingfor the senses

celebrating 2021

Table of Contents04

santa snickerdoodle cookies

05holiday pecan pie

08the best Christmas

playlist

10ideas for repurposinglast year's Christmas

decor

12

14

16

18worksheets and notes

holiday planner

diy wood & feltChristmas trees

simple tabledecorating ideas

THISTLEWOODFARMS.COM HOLIDAY IDEA BOOK 2021

Hello, I am

KariAnne

Can I tell you how happy I am that you are here? I lovedecorating for Christmas. It's my favorite time of the year.

Today I want to share some of my favorite recipes anddecorating tips and diy ideas and even my favorite

Christmas playlist. I can't wait to create our welcomingChristmas homes together.

karianne wood

THISTLEWOODFARMS.COM

Taste ThisSanta's Snickerdoodle

Cookies

1 1/2 cups of sugar1 cup butter

2 eggs2 3/4 cups of flour1 tsp baking soda

2 tsp cream of tartar1 tsp vanilla3 Tbsp sugar

1 tsp cinnamon )

1

Difficulty: Prep time: 20 min Bake time: 10 min Servings: 36cookies

INGREDIENTS

NOTES

DIRECTION

These cookies can be made aheadand frozen for Christmas Eve and

Santa's visit.

2

3

Cream sugar and butter. Add eggs, vanillaand dry ingredients (except the 3 Tbsps ofsugar and the 1 tsp of cinnamon).

Mix the 3 Tbsps of sugar with the 1 tsp ofcinnamon in a separate bowl. Roll into 1inch balls and cover with sugar/cinnamonmixture.

Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.

1

Taste ThisHoliday Pecan Pie

Difficulty: Prep time: 20 min Bake time: 45 min Servings: 8

INGREDIENTS DIRECTION

3 eggs1 cup of white sugar

1/2 cup dark Karo syrup1 stick butter

1 cup pecan halves1/4 tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla

23

Beat eggs until light and fluffy. Add sugar andbeat again. Add syrup, butter, pecans, saltand vanilla.

Mix ingredients together and pour into piecrust.

Cook on 350 for 10 minutes; then reducetemperature to 325 for 30 minutes.Temperature reduction is to keep crustfrom burning.

NOTES

Ovens vary in performance and cook timesshould be adjusted accordingly (I cook mine anadditional 10 minutes). Pie is done when centerjiggles like jello when you shake the pie. Makesure the pie cools completely before you cut it.

All I Want for Christmas is You Mariah CareyJingle Bell Rock Hall and OatesO What a Glorious Night. Sidewalk ProphetsSanta Claus is Comin' To Town. Bruce SpringsteenRockin' Around the Christmas Tree Brenda LeeBelieve Josh GrobanDeck the Halls Nat King ColeLast Christmas WhamWinter Wonderland Michael BubleBlue Christmas Elvis PresleyCome on Ring Those Bells EvieRudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer Gene AutryHolly Jolly Christmas Burl Ives

my favorite songs for theseason

favorite holiday playlist

Use faux wood paper.You won't find it in the giftwrap section. It's in thehobby section of the craftstore and it looks just likewood.Wrap the package with jutetwine and glue scrabbleletters to the bottom of thepackage.

Easy

& S

impl

e G

ift W

rap

idea

scelebrate

your specialpeople

These packages look so cute under the tree and you can decorate withthem around your house until Christmas shows up.Just cut out a tree from a bookpage and attach with double-sided tape.Finish with snowflakes and jingle bells.

This "tree" is just a section ofgarland I cut and hot glued tothe front of the package.Add a snowflake to the top for astar.I flipped a scrabble tile aroundand glued it to the bottom as abase.

DIY REINDEER GIFT WRAPOne more book pagewrapping idea.This one is a cut out of areindeer.Double stick tape to the frontof a package wrapped withcraft paper and hot glue onthe snowflake and jingle bells.

CHRISTMASTREE GIFT

WRAP

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Glue them to a canvas orboard and make a treeTuck them into a bookcaseor hutchFill a bowl with them and setthem on the counter (youcould also add little fairylights to the bowl ofornaments, too)Add them to a yard salesleigh that you paintedwhiteTie them to a wreath with1/4" ribbon of different colors

Repurpose ornaments:

Here are just a few ways torepurpose and reuse them:

Make wreaths from themWire them into garlandsAdd them to bowls aroundthe houseUse them as place cardholdersGlue them to a board andmake a snowflakeMake them intoornamentsFill a dough bowl

Repurpose pine cones:

Depending on where you live?Pinecones are free.Around here we have to savethem from year to year. Eachyear I pull out last year'spinecones and reimaginethem. Here are a few of theways I use them to decorate:

IDEAS TOREPURPOSELAST YEAR'SCHRISTMASDECOR

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repurpose &reuse

use

wha

t you

alr

eady

hav

e

Repurpose a garland:

If you have a garland that has seenbetter Christmas days, don't get rid of it.Embellish it.Add in dried hydrangeas and burlapribbon and pine cones and layers ofother greenery.Your mantel will thank you.

Repurpose book pages:

I found an old vintagebook of Christmas carolsin the bottom of one ofmy tubs.Don't worry.No Christmas carols wereharmed in the making ofthis craft.I made copies of thepages and used them tomake a set of Christmascarol trees. Cut strips ofcarols, fringe them andwrap them around acone.

simple ideas for a festive Christmas table

decorate the chairs

add lightCreate holiday sparkle with twinkle lights on a tree in yourdining room or a dimmer on the chandelier. Don't forgetcandles (battery operated ones are amazing).

Wrap ribbon around the chairs Thread ribbon through a miniwreathTie a knot around the wreathLet the tails of the ribbon hangdownKnotch the ends of the ribbon

Don't forget the soundsof the season at yourdinner table. Create aplaylist and have itplaying over a portablespeaker to createambiance andatmosphere.

It's one of the easiest ways to decorateyour Christmas decor.You can create a centerpiece withsmaller wrapped gifts. Then have eachperson take a small gift home as aparty favor.It's a simple DIY Christmascenterpiece.

create a unique centerpiece

add music

CELEBRATETHE

SENSES

~Light your favorite candle to bring Christmas smells intoyour home.~Fill a basket with cozy throws to wrap yourself in warmthand comfort.

wwww.thistlewoodfarms.com HOLIDAY IDEA BOOK 2021'

~Turn on the songs of the season and sing along.~Host a cookie baking afternoon and share the extraswith your neighbors~Set your Christmas trees on timers so they twinkleon when the sun sets.

Creating a welcoming Christmashome is all about appealing to teachof the .five senses. Wrap your home incozy and celebrate the senses andsounds of the season.

DIY Felt & Wood Trees

A forest of wood and feltand metallic trees.Please tell me they makeyour heart as happy as mine.I love a little quirkinessmixed in with my Christmasdecor.These trees are a littleCharlie Brown, a little rusticwood lodge and a littleshimmer all combined intoone.And the best part?They took me 15 minutes toMAKE THE ENTIRE FOREST.Here’s a little step-by-stepfor the project if you want tomake a forest of your own.

Step 1: Trace a template

Cut out a tree templatefrom cardstock.I just folded my cardstock inhalf and cut out triangles onthe edges.I cut a larger tree and asmaller tree.Trace around the templateon the felt with a pencil..

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Step 2: Cut out the treesYou’ll need two of each cut out felt piece tomake one tree.

Step 3: Glue your branchThe next step is to hot glue the branch to the center ofone of the felt trees.I put the hot glue on the felt.And then?I just pressed the branch in place.

Step 4: Hot glue the felt trees togetherNext, I added a hot glue outline on the sides of the treeand then pressed the tree in place.You will want to work quickly because you don’t wantthe hot glue to set before you have your top tree inplace.Check to make sure the two sides of the tree areattached properly.

Step 5: Add branch to wood sliceNext, drill a hole in the wood slice.You want it to be big enough for your branch to fit, butnot so big that the branch is loose.I added a dot of hot glue and then inserted the branchinto the hole.That’s it.Just rinse and repeat for the other five trees.

HOLIDAY IDEA BOOK 2021

HolidayPLANNER

1. Start off December right with a wreath on the

front door. Your front door will say "come on in."

2. Start wrapping gifts.

3. Use the presents to decorate with.

4. Put up the advent calendar. e

5. Start decorating. The playlist will help.

1. Mail out Christmas cards.

2. Plan out the holiday menu.

3. Watch a Christmas movie.

4. Circle back to your gift list and assess

5. pick up a few extra gifts for hostesses

and surprise gifts

1. Clean out your refrigerator

2. Start cleaning the house.

3. Invite a friend over for coffee

4. Drive around & look at Christmas lights

5. Go see the Nutcracker

1. Wrap any last minute-gifts

2. Play that playlist as loud as you want.

It's going to be another 11 months before

you hear most of those songs again

3. Start meal preparations

1. Get the table ready

2. Make stocking tags

3. Get everything for Christmas dinner

4. Spread a little Christmas cheer

5. Volunteer. Smile. Sing. Practice random

acts of kindness.

You have worked so hard.

You have been so organized.

Let all that planning and dreaming and

hoping settle in and press pause and

enjoy.

4 weeks to go

3 weeks to go

1 week to go

2 weeks to go

Christmas Eve

Christmas Day

thistlewoodfarms.com HOLIDAY IDEA BOOK 2021

Day: Month: Year:

DAILY PLANNER

Schedule Important

To do list

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WeeklyMEAL PLANNER

Week:

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SUNDAY

SATURDAY

SHOPPING LIST

NOTES

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Breakfast:

Lunch:

Dinner:

Snack 1: Snack 2:

Breakfast:

Lunch:

Dinner:

Snack 1: Snack 2:

Breakfast:

Lunch:

Dinner:

Snack 1: Snack 2:

Breakfast:

Lunch:

Dinner:

Snack 1: Snack 2:

Breakfast:

Lunch:

Dinner:

Snack 1: Snack 2:

Breakfast:

Lunch:

Dinner:

Snack 1: Snack 2:

Breakfast:

Lunch:

Dinner:

Snack 1: Snack 2:

YourSHOPPING LIST

Day: Date:

GROCERY DIARY

BAKERY

MEATS

FRUITS / VEGETABLES

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Notes:

PLANNING NOTES

1 ideas and notes for Christmas decorating

2 ideas and notes for Christmas handmade gifts

3 ideas and notes for Christmas recipes

FIND YOUR GOALS HOLIDAY EBOOK

I WILLHONOUR

CHRISTMASIN MY HEART,AND TRY TOKEEP IT ALL

THE YEAR

Charles DickensA Christmas Carol

CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS

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Thank you and keep in touch

KariAnne Wood

Thank you so much for joining me for thisChristmas celebration. Please e-mail me at

karianne@thistlewoodfarms.com if you haveany questions about any of the projects or

ideas.

Christmas willalways be as long

as we stand heart toheart and hand in

hand.Dr. Seuss