How to Make a Popcorn/Cranberry Garland

  In past decades–before Christmas decorations could be picked up at everything from a hardware store to Target to an online website–families made their own decorations, for the house, the landscaping, and the tree. One of the most popular decorations–typically used on a tree–was a garland made of popcorn, or popcorn and another element, perhaps …

Christmas Camp: How to Create A Perfect Bow

The Bow is the package topper. Good bows are a guidepost to good gift, and even if it only has a very short shelf life–one package–it’s the time it takes to create a good bow is time very well spent. Our presenter is young, enthusiast, and knowledgeable (perhaps not as traditional in dress as we …

Christmas Camp: How to Wrap a Christmas Package

Wrapping a package is not hard once you get the technique. Here’s a nice, short video on the basic package wrapping technique that you need to know for the holidays and other special occasions. The same video hostess is also featured in another video on the making the perfect bow. Set the Holiday mood, check …

Christmas Camp: How to Make Your House Smell Like Christmas

Ever walk into a house that has the fire going and the smell of Christmas all around? There is a special smell to the season of Christmas and it should be a part of your decorations just like hanging garland and decorating a tree. Although there seems to be a bit of mystery to creating …

Christmas Camp: Wrapping a Package for Shipment

One more thing about wrapping packages: how to wrap one for shipment. It’s a very different deal to wrap a package for shipment than to wrap one that you hand, directly, to a friend or family member. There are some tricks you need to know. They’re here for you to see and put to use. …

Christmas Camp: Wrapping a Gift

Wrapping a gift is a key Christmas Camp skill. You must be able to wrap a package (any size, any shape) and do it at a professional level to earn your “Essential Skills of Christmas” Merit Badge from Christmas Camp.  To that end, we present another video on how to wrap a package/gift. It’s not …

Christmas Camp: How to Wrap a Package

At Christmas one key skill(which has a very good shelf life) of the season  is package wrapping. Women seem to know–genetically–how to do it better than guys. But, hey, there’s no reason why you can’t put yourself in the Gift Wrapping Hall of Fame once you learn a few basics and treat it as a …

Christmas Camp: How to Make a Garland for Christmas Stairs

As long as we’re talking garland, let’s talk location for the garland and what you might have to do to make it special. This video covers creating garland for the stairs. If you have a two story house, garland on the stairs is an absolute must. It’s a snap. Just pay attention to the nice …

Christmas Camp: How To Make A Christmas Garland

Decorating for Christmas goes way beyond just putting up a tree and some lights on the house (and in the yard). Inside–go all out: with collections (a close friend has a massive collection of snowmen that come out once a year); flowers (you do have Poinsettias, right?) and garlands. Stringing garlands–across the mantle, over the …

Christmas Camp: How to String Lights on a Christmas Tree

The Christmas Tree (we’re taking liberties with capitalization). You’ve seen it forever, in all its’ lighted glory. And, of course, you’ve no doubt put the lights on many a tree. But did you know that–like most things in life–lighting up a tree is neither as simple or complicated as it looks. There are, actually, three …