Happy June Rudolph Day to you all!
The Rudy Day theme for June is "Themes." I'm not exactly sure where other people are taking this idea, but when I think about Christmas themes, I think about the years I had an angel tree...a beautiful tall Christmas tree full of an assortment of angel ornaments. Then there was the year I focused on poinsettias...poinsettias in my fireplace garland, individual silk poinsettia blooms on the Christmas tree. One year we focused on music..my husband is an organist and plays the electronic keyboard. We had musical notes and different instrument ornaments on the tree.
One of my favorite Christmas themes is "Gingerbread." I have loved gingerbread ever since I can remember. I used to love getting my December issue of Good Housekeeping, they would frequently have gorgeous Gingerbread Houses that were the recent contest winners. I loved the architecture created with candies and icing, the landscaping that resembled real trees, shrubs and flowers. How I wish I had the talent to create such masterpieces!
If you would like to join the fun in adding some gingerbread to your Christmas decorating, you will find miniature gingerbread ornaments available for sale at numerous website stores, including
Pinecreekceramics.com has a kit that you can purchase with 6 cermaic ornaments that you paint however you would like. They have nativity sets too!
You can even use your gingerbread ornaments to decorate a wreath for the front door or over the fireplace. These particular ornaments are made of fabric. See the wonderful tutorial that Debbie Mumm has provided on her website: http://www.debbiemumm.com/Projects/Crafts/2008/12/
You can carry the theme as far as you would like! Audrey Pettit has a darling gingerbread boy tag you can make for your Christmas packages.
When you don’t have a “real” Christmas tree, how do you get the wonderful scents of Christmas? Barbara Crews (at About.com) suggests you make your own non-edible gingerbread ornaments using this recipe. The scent will last for 2 or 3 years.
Non-Edible Gingerbread Ornaments
¾ cup applesauce
1 cup cinammon
1 TB nutmeg
½ TB cloves
2 TB white household glue
1. Stir all ingredients together in a glass or metal bowl until well mixed and smooth—several minutes.
2. Take a portion of the dough and roll out between two pieces of waxed paper to the thickness of a cookie.
3. Cut out dough with a gingerbread cookie cutter. Use a straw to make a hole for adding ribbon later.
4. Let dry on the wax paper for a few hours until easy to handle, then transfer to a wire racks to dry at room temperature for a few days. I usually flip them over several times a day which will make them dry flatter.
5. When ready to use, tie a ribbon through the hole and enjoy the wonderful smell—but make sure no one tries to eat them.
http://www.bonappetit.com/recipes/1996/12/building_the_perfect_gingerbread_house
If you'd like to take your hand at making your own gingerbread house, check out the photos and tutorials at Bon Appetit.
Be sure and visit the forums at http://magicalholidayhome.com/ and join the fun on Rudy Day (the 25th of each month) or anytime you need a Christmas fix! And, another of my favorite blogs is http://rudolphday.blogspot.com/. Join us!
Till next time, holiday blessings to you and yours,
Mary
I love the Gingerbread theme. I bought some mini-ornaments last year to put on my small Christmas tree.
ReplyDeleteSweet gingerbread theme! That gift tag is really cute. I don't do a lot with themes -- my decor is pretty eclectic -- but some years I have a separate small tree with Victorian-style decorations.
ReplyDelete