Sparkling Up Christmas...

Chapter 1 

She left the office after feeling a quarter cup spied on by her boss who lurked at her door most of the day and 3/4ths cup inspired. Her boss didn’t make any comment on all the Christmas crafts that she had been welcoming onto her Pinterest boards most of the afternoon, so she thought she’d let the spying go. However, her office best friend found their boss and the deep Pinterest research amusing. But, her mind simply explored all the possibilities that awaited her. 

Her car skipped through streets and stop lights and headed home to an apartment that waited for her with a lullaby of soft, warm, Christmas lights that ran along her walls. (At least something was participating in some exercise.) As her lights lured her home, they also transported her back in time to days of little hands reaching up to the counter to help, or eat, the cookies her mom baked every year. The colors would reflect off her mom's glasses while they painted her in warm blues, pinks, yellows, and greens. The same colors reflected through her windows onto the snowflakes that looked for a new home on branches of trees and railings of balconies. Each ice crystal absorbed the sound of the evening creating a hush through the hustle and bustle of others working to find their homes. She wouldn’t ever wear the name tag that read “crafter”, but she would proudly wear the sash that read “artsy”. So before she went all the way home, she made a pit stop at a craft store for supplies. 

Chapter 2

Home at last with an arm full of the perfect balance of supplies and snacks. She laid everything out and then called her friend. 

Her friend: “Hey!”!

Her: “Hiii!”

Her friend: “What’s up? How was work?”

Her: “It was good, I was about to embark on my favorite holiday tradition and didn’t know if you wanted to join?”

She was hopeful, but the simple sound of carols ricocheting off her walls didn't bother her either.

Her friend: “I’ll be there in ten.”

Oh to be spontaneous, she thought to herself.

Her: “Perfect!”

A little while later there was a knock at her door. She exited the kitchen, wiping flour off of her hands onto her sweats, which she climbed into faster than if someone had offered her tacos as soon as the bags landed on the counter. Pine interlaced itself into the room bouncing off of photos and furniture and whirling around her friend as she walked into the living room. The pine candle sat on the table next to the couch fueling the apartment with a soft glow. 

“How was the drive?” She asked, wrapping her friend in a hug. 

“Getting slick out there, but not bad.” She shrugged off her coat and hung it on the hook by the door. “So, what are we making?” She did a little dance with her shoulders as she followed into the kitchen. 

“I started making dough for gingerbread cookies, and while the dough chills, we can make Christmas cards, then some muddy buddies. I also got clay to make ornaments and candles we can paint… oh and I have stuff to make wreath cookies, I dried some oranges the other day to make some garlands, and I have felt in a cabinet and some things to embroider if we want to do that instead for ornaments… oh and I bought a bunch of jars and loose leaf tea and strainers to give out to people so we could put those together… work was a little slow today.” She felt like she needed to explain. “We might not have time for all that, but it’s still early sooo… what do you think?” She placed her hands in a prayer pose in front of her chest and gifted a cheesy little grin overcome by the excitement she felt when she would craft with her family during the holidays. 

“Oh wow!” Her friend laughed then rolled up her sleeves and gathered her hair into a ponytail showing she was ready for business. 

Chapter 3

The dough was vacationing in the fridge, watercolors decorated the dining room table while instrumental Christmas music sang from the kitchen and The Grinch Who Stole Christmas rang through a laptop from the table. Watercolor paper was scattered among paint brushes soaked in the vibrant colors that ordained them. Felt, needles, stuffing, and thread filled in the empty holes that the paint supplies didn’t cover.  Laughter punctured the holiday chaos that was saturating the home. The two girls occupied the kitchen, one over the stove and the other sitting on the counter next to the boxes of Corn Flakes and Chex Mix, both with a slice of pizza in hand. She took a bite and then proceeded to stir the chocolate and peanut butter mixture that was on a double boiler while marshmallows watched from their scattered locations safe from a destiny of melted gooey goodness.

“What did you say to him?!” Her friend gaped at her, leaning in closer, holding the crust with one hand and the floppy point of the pizza with the other. 

“I said ‘thank you, but I don’t give my phone number out!” She laughed out her answer, continuing to stir. 

“But what if he was the one!” Her friend said around the bite that was residing in its new location. 

“If it was meant to be, set it free, and if it comes back, then he better have flowers!” She set the spoon down and fluffed her hair emphasizing her sass before reaching for the Chex. 

Her friend handed her the box and they both erupted into laughter. 

“Trueeee! Should I grab the clay?” Her friend hopped off the counter, stole a few squares, and dipped them into the chocolate, throwing them into her mouth before setting down her slice and walking into the living room where the craft stuff exploded. 

Chapter 4 

The candle long since blown out sat several inches lower as the sun rose several inches higher in the early morning. Snow glittered on the patio and the world below glowed like fairy dust. The apartment looked as though it was cast as Santa's workshop with crafts supplies littering most surfaces. Dishes were bathing in the sink and mugs fell asleep empty on the coffee table. The couch engulfed the two girls, lulling them to sleep with perfectly mushed snowman covered pillows, fluffy, knit blankets, tree-covered socks, and a twinkling Christmas tree occupying the corner. 

“Mmm.” She squeezed her eyes shut tighter, lifting her shoulder, she brought the blanket she was curled around with it. Her knees were tucked up close and when she went to extend one, it bumped into something…or someone. 

“Hmh?” Her friend didn’t move but her brain powered to life.

“Good morning.” She said around a yawn. 

Her friend lifted her head, still very much hibernated in her own blanket. “Happy Saturday.” Her friend also said with a yawn. They both slowly sat up hearing faint music coming from the kitchen. They looked at one another. “I’d say last night was a success.” She shared a sleepy smile as she observed the creations that ordained different tables in her home. Her childhood would be proud.

Chapter 5 

The holiday season is the best season to bust out our creative side. To form traditions and make gifts, and decorations, or to simply have a fun night with family and/or friends. Crafts can often instill a hasty “no” from us, but there are so many that are so easy and fun. So many recipes that even the ones who burn eggs could participate in. My mom is a very crafty and artsy woman. She made our Christmas stockings for each of us. Which sets a hard expectation for now, our adult lives, to live up to. We would make crafts as gifts to give to neighbors, the post people, and friends. We would have containers lined up at the end of our dining table full of treats we would make together. Sewing homemade slippers, watching Christmas movies as a family, and having our childhood ‘sock snowmen’ sitting on the shelves every year after we made them. Hanging our homemade ornaments on the tree. There are so many ways to be creative even if you didn’t grow up doing it the same way I did. It is such an enjoyable way to infuse more laughter, joy, and fun into a season full of giving, family, and the ultimate reason we celebrate, the birth of Jesus Christ like it says in Luke 2:10-11,  "...I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord". So go, have a good time with it; you can still be crafty after Christmas passes too. 

I have a few of the crafts the girls did linked, so go be inspired. Look up crafts on Pinterest, YouTube, or Google. They don’t have to be boring and you don’t have to be artsy, simply have fun with it. Most of them can be pretty difficult to mess up. Enjoy crafting this weekend! I hope this was a good week! Don’t forget to follow on Instagram, share this with someone, subscribe, and leave a comment letting me know if you liked this post and what you want to read more of. Have an amazing Christmas! Thanks for reading Allie-cats! 

• Dru Allie