It's never too early to start thinking about Christmas in July. Now that Christmas 2017 is still fresh in your mind, are there any themes you'd like to explore during Christmas in July? Here's a recap of what we've done over the past few years - send over your ideas. Is everyone good with a weekly theme, the calendar lines up the weeks beautifully this year - Week One would be July 1-7, Week Two July 8-14, Week Three July 15-21, Week Four July 22-28, and Week Five July 29-31? Looks like last year we rolled the last three days into Week Four or we could have those days as Wrap It Up as we did in 2014. It could be a literal Wrap as in paper, tags, package decor or a Wrap as in a summary of your CIJ.
I like the idea of revisiting the Pinterest Christmas Party idea from 2014 (but rather than picking three ideas for everyone, we could each pick three of our own and share them - I know I have lots of things on my Pinterest boards that I have yet to try) and the 2012 month-long theme is also interesting. I wasn't an MHH member in 2012 so I didn't participate in that one but one theme might be fun.
2012:
For 2012 our theme is "Oh Christmas Tree."
Last year we did weekly themes and that got a bit hectic....so this year we will have a month long theme. I have been gathering lots of Christmas tree ideas....and by that I mean lots of different trees to actually make to sit on counter tops, tables, and mantles. I'll be posting links to some of the ideas soon so you can gather materials. I am planning to craft trees all month long!
2013:
June 30-July 6: I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas (white color schemes, snow themes, snowmen décor, “snowy” recipes, etc.) Think white, think winter, think sparkle!!
July 7-July13: Silver and Gold (color schemes, wrapping, ornaments, centerpieces, etc.)
July 14-July 20: It’s a Sweet Christmas (candy tablescapes, recipes, décor, ornaments, and other sweet items for celebrating the holidays)
July 21-27: Christmas Traditions (personal traditions, ideas from around the world, fun things to make holiday memories)
July 28-August 3: Planning 2013 (share personal goals, plans and ideas for 2013)
2014:
This year's theme is a Magical Christmas 2014 and each week has a "sub" theme.
Week One Theme: Trees, Treasures, and Traditions
This week will focus on sharing ideas, thoughts, memories etc about three of the BIGGIES of the holiday season.....our trees, things we treasure about the season and traditions.
Week Two Theme: Magical Recipes
This week the focus will switch to recipes. Time to pull out those recipes and make some decisions about how Christmas 2014 will "taste."
Week Three Theme: Magic Elves 2014
Magic elf adventures, printables, notebooks and other manner of Magic Elf fun will be discussed this week.
Week Four Theme: A Pinterest Christmas Party
I'd like to feature THREE pinterest crafts or ideas this week and we will make them and discuss and share them at our pinterest party. I'll try to get these up the first week of the month so everyone can gather supplies. This will also be a good week for sharing pins that you have for Christmas!
Week Five Theme: Wrap It Up
This is a short week as we move into August. We will talk about gift presentation, getting your wrapping dne and just "wrap up" Christmas in July.
2015:
I've been pondering themes for our Christmas in July 2015 celebration....
July 1-4th: Color Themes (A sharing of color schemes for Christmas , traditional, and otherwise)
July 5th-11th Vintage/Shabby Chic: (Everything from a dinner party to the tree to the mantle display....let's talk vintage or shabby chic)
July 12th-18th: Magical Christmas Countdowns...this is the week to talk advent calendars, Twelve days of Christmas or the 24 Days of Christmas or even the Elves Countdown....how do you remember the days of December?
July 19th-25th Woodland Inspiration/Rustic/Cabin themes (Everything from a party theme to a tree to a mantle display.....let's talk rustic...)
July 26-31st: Christmas in the Kitchen....every thing from menu plans to tablescapes, recipes and how to ....will all be shared this week!
2016:
Week One (July 1-9) - AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TABLE/IN YOUR CHRISTMAS KITCHEN - holiday foods, traditional foods in your family/from your culture or country of origin, gingerbread, cookies, menus, fancy drink recipes, table décor and kitchen decorating...anything and everything to do with food and how to prepare it and serve it.
Week Two (July 10-16) - ALL WRAPPED UP - gifts (homemade, age appropriate), gift lists, gift exchanges, stocking stuffers, wrapping styles, gifts from the heart (charitable giving, blessing bags/kits, Angel Trees, Operation Shoebox).
Week Three (July 17-23) - DECKING THE HALLS - trees, lighting, indoor/outdoor ideas, nativities, personal style, ornaments (homemade, purchased, hand-me-downs, vintage finds, collectibles), Winter Wonderland, Snowmen, Christmas cottages/villages/trains, penguins.
Week Four (July 24-31) – HOLIDAY FUN/ENTERTAINMENT – Christmas movies, music, theater, books, church and school events, special activities and events in your area, games, holiday books, Christmas travel, Christmas markets, parties and party themes, Advent calendars, Elf on the Shelf, Christmas countdowns.
2017:
Week 1 (July 1-July 8): Christmas Characters (Santa, Snowman, Gingerbread People, Rudolph, Elves, Penguin) - how you decorate with them (inside and out), visits to any of the characters, other ideas
Week 2 (July 9-15): Wrapping (paper, boxes, tags, bows, unique ideas, how your organize your supplies, and since wrapping is all about the gifts, show us your gift closet and any updates to it through the month)
Week 3 (July 16-July 22): Nature/Rustic/Country (decorations, visits, etc.)
Week 4 (July 23-July 31): Wreaths and other Greenery
I like the idea of revisiting the Pinterest Christmas Party idea from 2014 (but rather than picking three ideas for everyone, we could each pick three of our own and share them - I know I have lots of things on my Pinterest boards that I have yet to try) and the 2012 month-long theme is also interesting. I wasn't an MHH member in 2012 so I didn't participate in that one but one theme might be fun.
2012:
For 2012 our theme is "Oh Christmas Tree."
Last year we did weekly themes and that got a bit hectic....so this year we will have a month long theme. I have been gathering lots of Christmas tree ideas....and by that I mean lots of different trees to actually make to sit on counter tops, tables, and mantles. I'll be posting links to some of the ideas soon so you can gather materials. I am planning to craft trees all month long!
2013:
June 30-July 6: I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas (white color schemes, snow themes, snowmen décor, “snowy” recipes, etc.) Think white, think winter, think sparkle!!
July 7-July13: Silver and Gold (color schemes, wrapping, ornaments, centerpieces, etc.)
July 14-July 20: It’s a Sweet Christmas (candy tablescapes, recipes, décor, ornaments, and other sweet items for celebrating the holidays)
July 21-27: Christmas Traditions (personal traditions, ideas from around the world, fun things to make holiday memories)
July 28-August 3: Planning 2013 (share personal goals, plans and ideas for 2013)
2014:
This year's theme is a Magical Christmas 2014 and each week has a "sub" theme.
Week One Theme: Trees, Treasures, and Traditions
This week will focus on sharing ideas, thoughts, memories etc about three of the BIGGIES of the holiday season.....our trees, things we treasure about the season and traditions.
Week Two Theme: Magical Recipes
This week the focus will switch to recipes. Time to pull out those recipes and make some decisions about how Christmas 2014 will "taste."
Week Three Theme: Magic Elves 2014
Magic elf adventures, printables, notebooks and other manner of Magic Elf fun will be discussed this week.
Week Four Theme: A Pinterest Christmas Party
I'd like to feature THREE pinterest crafts or ideas this week and we will make them and discuss and share them at our pinterest party. I'll try to get these up the first week of the month so everyone can gather supplies. This will also be a good week for sharing pins that you have for Christmas!
Week Five Theme: Wrap It Up
This is a short week as we move into August. We will talk about gift presentation, getting your wrapping dne and just "wrap up" Christmas in July.
2015:
I've been pondering themes for our Christmas in July 2015 celebration....
July 1-4th: Color Themes (A sharing of color schemes for Christmas , traditional, and otherwise)
July 5th-11th Vintage/Shabby Chic: (Everything from a dinner party to the tree to the mantle display....let's talk vintage or shabby chic)
July 12th-18th: Magical Christmas Countdowns...this is the week to talk advent calendars, Twelve days of Christmas or the 24 Days of Christmas or even the Elves Countdown....how do you remember the days of December?
July 19th-25th Woodland Inspiration/Rustic/Cabin themes (Everything from a party theme to a tree to a mantle display.....let's talk rustic...)
July 26-31st: Christmas in the Kitchen....every thing from menu plans to tablescapes, recipes and how to ....will all be shared this week!
2016:
Week One (July 1-9) - AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TABLE/IN YOUR CHRISTMAS KITCHEN - holiday foods, traditional foods in your family/from your culture or country of origin, gingerbread, cookies, menus, fancy drink recipes, table décor and kitchen decorating...anything and everything to do with food and how to prepare it and serve it.
Week Two (July 10-16) - ALL WRAPPED UP - gifts (homemade, age appropriate), gift lists, gift exchanges, stocking stuffers, wrapping styles, gifts from the heart (charitable giving, blessing bags/kits, Angel Trees, Operation Shoebox).
Week Three (July 17-23) - DECKING THE HALLS - trees, lighting, indoor/outdoor ideas, nativities, personal style, ornaments (homemade, purchased, hand-me-downs, vintage finds, collectibles), Winter Wonderland, Snowmen, Christmas cottages/villages/trains, penguins.
Week Four (July 24-31) – HOLIDAY FUN/ENTERTAINMENT – Christmas movies, music, theater, books, church and school events, special activities and events in your area, games, holiday books, Christmas travel, Christmas markets, parties and party themes, Advent calendars, Elf on the Shelf, Christmas countdowns.
2017:
Week 1 (July 1-July 8): Christmas Characters (Santa, Snowman, Gingerbread People, Rudolph, Elves, Penguin) - how you decorate with them (inside and out), visits to any of the characters, other ideas
Week 2 (July 9-15): Wrapping (paper, boxes, tags, bows, unique ideas, how your organize your supplies, and since wrapping is all about the gifts, show us your gift closet and any updates to it through the month)
Week 3 (July 16-July 22): Nature/Rustic/Country (decorations, visits, etc.)
Week 4 (July 23-July 31): Wreaths and other Greenery