43rd Annual Christmas Home Tour (2008)

"A Tradition of Giving"

Thursday & Friday, December 4 - 5
10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
First Congregational United Church of Christ
1500 9th Ave. Longmont, CO 80501

The Christmas Home Tour is ...

a fun way to kickoff the holiday season
a chance to see some of Longmont's most beautiful homes wonderfully decorated for Christmas
a one of its kind shopping experience, both at the homes and at the artisan market back at the church
a unique opportunity to support several Longmont charities
a distinctive fundraiser that unites many people and organizations in Longmont

Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 on tour days ($2 tickets for children under 10 are available at the door on the days of the tour). For more information on early ticket sales please email Joelle Porter at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call the church office at 303-776-4941. Tickets may be purchased at Art & Soul in the Twin Peaks Mall, Buzz Coffee (on Francis), Longmont Ace Hardware, Greenback Thrift Store on Main, The Presser Foot, The Daily-Times Call, House in Prospect, Meals on Wheels at the Longmont Senior Center, First Congregational United Church of Christ office and any church member.

Holiday Craft Instructions

Glisten Garland

Designer for this craft is Becky Olsen.

Materials

Patterned Paper: (Flying Friends, Falling Frost, Winterberry, Ice Crystals, Open Sleigh, Scarf Stripes from Frost collection) My Mind's Eye
Accents: (foam core snowflakes) Maya Road; (foam core alphabet) Making Memories: (silver eyelets) American Tag: (silver glitter) Sulyn Industries: (Silver jump rings).
Fibers: (silver ribbon) Offray
Tool: (decorative edge scissors)
Other: (foam core)

Finished size: 42" x 13-1/2 "

Instructions

Adhere glitter to foam core letters and snowflakes. K & Company makes pre-glittered letters and they are available at Michael's.
Set eyelets in snowflakes. Note: Set two eyelets in some snowflakes.
Cut pennants from foam core. Cover with patterned paper. Double-mat pennants with patterned paper, trimming each layer with decorative-edge scissors.
Trim top edge of pennants. Set eyelets in pennant corners. Tie together with ribbon or twine. The stiffness of the twine makes it hang better.
Attach snowflakes with jump rings.
Accordion-fold patterned paper and create circle. Adhere circles and letters.

Great Tidings Letters

Great Tidings Letters can be propped on a windowsill or a mantel. These papier-mâché letters will leave you spellbound - and spelling your own glad tidings. This craft is moderately difficult.

Materials:

5 X 8 X 1-inch papier-mâché letters
Assorted holiday-color patterns papers
Solid-Green paper
Glue stick. This artist used Mod Podge.

Instructions:

Cut the papers:

Trace a front for each letter onto the wrong side of the patterned papers; also trace a back, flopping the "N," "E," and "L." Add a 3/8-inch border around the inside and outside of all letters. Cut out the shapes. Make a diagonal cut into each corner; clip into the curved areas of the "O."
Cut 1-inch-wide strips from the green paper.

Decorate the Letters:

Glue the paper front and back to each papier-mâché letter, folding the borders around the edges. Cover the sides with the 1-inch-wide strips. In the model, Mod Podge was used to glue the paper to the letters and to varnish the letters on top. The model was sprayed painted the letter sides with green spray paint. From Holiday Crafts 2008, p. 58.

Quick Floral Tips

TRIM LEAVES: Always remove leaves that will be underwater in an arrangement.
CUT THE STEMS: Re-cut the stems at an angle. Rose stems should be trimmed under running water.
REACH FOR THE SKY: Tulips and bells of Ireland, often used in holiday designs, may continue to grow in your arrangement. To prevent them from bending toward the sun, keep them out of the sunlight.
KEEP IT SIMPLE: Get big results for a small cost by buying the same flowers in a single color. Arranged in a vase, the flowers will make an impressive accent.
MAKE IT LUSH: Don't forget to fill in arrangements with fresh evergreens, winterberries, or pinecones. The supermarket fruit aisle also offers items for your holiday arrangements: apples, pomegranates, and cranberries.
KEEP THEM HAPPY: Change the water daily or as often as possible. All flowers love a mist of water!

Pretty Packages

These cute packages take time but they're easy to make. It is a moderately difficult craft. Cut a block of floral foam the size you want. Cut the heads off chartreuse 'Kermit mums" which can be found at Longmont Florist. They made the "Flower Packages" for us and the special mums can be ordered or purchased at Longmont Florist. Insert a pearl-head pin through the center of each flower to secure it to the foam. Wrap red velvet ribbon around the finished package, or just add a bow on top.

Bouquet Makeover

It's hard to beat the convenience of a grocery store bouquet. Here's how to turn it into a stunning holiday arrangement with this easy craft.

Take the bouquet apart, separating the medium and large size flowers from the smaller fillers and greenery.
Bunch the larger flowers in your hand until you have a grouping you like. Gauge the needed height of the flowers by standing them next to your container; trim appropriately.
Tuck in the small and thin flowers and greenery to fill in any gaps left by the larger blooms.
Insert the grouping into your container. Stand back and admire your work!

Consider paper-whites at Christmastime. Their elegant simplicity fits any holiday decorating scheme.

Center of Attention

Add sparkle to your holiday table with this clever centerpiece.

Decorate Christmas balls with stripes, stars or circles using crafts glue and glitter.
Glue the finished pieces to mirrored discs, available at crafts stores.
Remove the hangers from the tops, add water, and insert buds and berries.

Package Garland

This is an easy craft!

Materials

Small and medium boxes like the ones for jewelry.
Gift wrap or craft paper in coordinating patterns.
Ribbons
Twine

Instructions

Wrap gifts using ribbon. String together with twine by threading the twine through the ribbon on the back of gifts. Hang and enjoy.

Wheat Grass Bulbs

For some nature inspired Christmas fun try this easy craft!

Materials

Large clear glass bulbs (available at craft stores)
Wheat grass seeds (available at health food markets)
Potting soil
Funnel
Napkin rings

Instructions

Use the funnel to put approximately 4 tablespoons of potting soil into a ball. Scatter seeds inside. Water the seeds. Set balls in window on napkin ring. Watch them grow. Seeds will sprout and fill the ball with grass in about 1 week.

Decoupage Christmas Trees

Make a fun "family tree" for a decorative centerpiece or fun gift for Grandma. Another easy craft!

Materials

Cardboard trees (available at craft store)
Decorative craft paper
Mod podge gloss luster
Foam picture frames in Christmas shapes
Family pictures (or color copies of pictures)
Hot glue gun

Instructions

Cut craft paper into 1 inch squares. Using mod podge medium, cover entire surface of trees with craft paper. Fill foam frames with family pictures and glue to tree with hot glue.

Christmas Tree Topiary

Materials

1 four-foot Christmas pre-lit tree in a pot
Dried hydrangea blossoms
Dried artichokes
Dried sunflowers
Pine cones
Milkweed pods
Fine glitter
Spray adhesive

Instructions

Spray blossoms and pine cones and assorted dried items with spray adhesive and sprinkle with glitter. The more glitter the better. Attach pine cones and blossoms to tree branches with floral wire. Top tree with giant sunflower. Voila!

Winter Bird Nests

Materials

Wood for base
Curly willow branches ¾ inch thick
Twig nests (available at craft stores)
Spray adhesive
Faux snow
Glittery birds
Silver spray paint

Instructions

Attach curly willow branch to board with wood screw.
Attach nest to branch with staple. Add snow and glitter with spray adhesive.
Spray branch with light mist of silver spray to create an "icy" effect.
Use hot glue to mount bird into nest.

Paper "Peace" Cranes

Use these to decorate Christmas trees.

Three professionally decorated gingerbread houses will be displayed in three of the homes. A silent auction for these edible delights will take place at the Fellowship Hall at the church on tour days. Many thanks to Lori and Jamie Markin and Carol Wiggins and the folks at Stir It Up Kitchen in Boulder (spaces are still available in her family gingerbread classes! 303-494-COOK) These are perfect for any home or office and they are sure to delight.

The Miller House at 1262 Carolina: The Gift of Harmony

Home owner Judy Miller lives in this newly renovated bungalow. Judy's son did the work himself. Together they chose high efficiency materials & appliances, bamboo floors & xeriscape foliage. Here you will see a "greenly" decorated house, bringing harmony with the Earth and harmony with people of the world. You'll be able to purchase Greater Gift goods at the home.

The Creighton House at 328 Pratt Street: The Gift of Creativity

We are filling this beautiful, turn-of-the-century house with art from local artists. You'll get to purchase unique gifts made by the hands of locals. Yes, here you'll have the opportunity to put your money where the motto is: think globally, act locally, give gifts of creativity.

The Lincoln House at 1228 3rd Avenue: The Gift of Inspiration

The Lincoln house has been fully renovated with new windows, paint (most of the wallpaper is gone) and new woodwork. They even replaced the lions out front! There will be more works of art for sale as well displays of beautiful projects that you can do at home. It will truly be a gift of inspiration. This is the only house on that block that hasn't been on the tour, so get out and see this jewel of a home - or you may have to wait another 43 years!

The Doctor Seuss Condo at 710 Tenacity Drive: The Gift of Whimsy

Visit this South Beach inspired condo in Prospect. Some of the decorations will be from the famed Doctor Seuss movie set. They'll be gifts of fancy from a neighborhood store, House, and from local artists. Enjoy the neighborhood, too. It is a leader in new urbanism. Park your car in the lot behind the condo and walk to the 2 Dog Diner for breakfast or lunch, grab a coffee and shop at the neighborhood stores.

Fellowship Hall: The Gift of Unity

Fellowship Hall at the church will be an essential stop on the Home Tour! It's one stop shopping for unique, handmade gifts with local artisans and non profits. Visit with friends, old and new, at the cookie and tea table. And don't miss our annual bake sale. What's more quintessentially Christmas than baking? Our bake sale has a fan base of its own, so shop early for the best selection. New this year: we will be auctioning off a beautiful Gingerbread house to the highest bidder.