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Buying a bunch of holiday presents can get pricey. Give something a little more personal this year and create something homemade! Take a look at these fun DIY Christmas crafts that will make for great holiday gifts.  Let us know which ones you decide to make on our Facebook page!

Holiday Coffee Sleeves

Fashion a cute Christmas sock or small sweater into a reusable sleeve for coffee or hot cocoa to go. After washing, cut a 3-inch section from the top of your clothing. Embellish with buttons or felt snowflake cutouts for added winter charm. Slip the sleeve onto your to-go cup or tumbler, roll the ends to hide frays, and start sipping.

Photo Frame Calendar

This sweet and easy-to-make Christmas gift will be appreciated all year long. Fill one side of a hinged dual photo frame with a mini monthly calendar and fill the other with a special photo. Include the other months in a plastic sleeve, so the recipient can change the calendar as needed, along with fun stickers and scrapbook paper so they can personalize the design if desired.

Pretty Paperweights

Glass paperweights decked out for the holidays make practical and gender-neutral gifts — ideal for coworkers and teachers. The simple project starts with a glass paperweight kit, available at craft and hobby stores or online. Decorate the paperweight with scrapbooking paper, gift-wrap, or an old Christmas card. Thin foam letters glued to the paper send glad tidings.

Winter Wonderland Candle Trio

Give a one-of-a-kind Christmas gift with these beautifully adorned glass cylinders. Transform three plain cylinders into a snowfall-inspired trio with shimmery adhesive snowflakes (available at scrapbooking stores). Fit a pillar candle inside each cylinder, and include a ribbon-wrapped box of matches to complete the gift.

Thoughtful Notecard Gift

Create custom stationery for a friend by embellishing an unfinished wooden box and plain-Jane note cards with ribbon and buttons. Attach the ribbon and buttons with double-sided tape or hot glue. Line the inside of the box with brightly colored paper.

Monogrammed Candle

Personalize a store-bought candle for an inexpensive Christmas gift. Simply wrap cardstock around the candleholder, and embellish it with a die-cut accent and letter. No die-cutting tool? No problem — use stickers instead.

The fact that 4th of July is on a Wednesday this year doesn’t mean you can’t still have some fun! Check out some fun things to do in the Houston area to celebrate!

Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens will be having an Americana-themed festival with music, performers and costumed actors reliving 1776.

The annual Freedom Over Texas celebration at Eleanor Tinsley Park will feature Billy Currington and Sara Evans.

Burgers, Bourbon & Brews Bus Crawl will feature delicious food and cocktails around the midtown Houston area.

The City of Sugarland will be holding their own celebration – the Red, White and Bluefest over Oyster Creek Park.

Tomball’s July 4th Celebration will be a street party!

Friendswood’s celebration The Sounds of Freedom will be an all day event with food, fun and fireworks!

While you’re celebrating don’t forget to thank our military personnel who have preserved the freedom that we are celebrating today. Happy 236th America!

As the winter holidays are quickly approaching, we’re thinking about how to bring joy to homes that are less fortunate. So, we’ll be featuring one way to give every day this week in a blog series called ‘Help a Houston Home’! Here’s the first giving opportunity we’re featuring this week!

Neighborhood Centers, Inc.

What is it?

Neighborhood Centers Inc. brings resources, education and connection to more than 236,000 people throughout Houston and the Texas Gulf Coast area each year.

Ways to Give

Wrap and sort toys on December 23 and 24th. Call or email to choose a time that works for you!

La Porte Neighborhood Center (Map & Directions)
526 San Jacinto
La Porte, Texas 77571
Phone: 281-471-1824
Email: mcasares@Neighborhood-Centers.org

Volunteer at Breakfast With Santa on Dec. 21st (10a-12p) at Independence Heights Neighborhood Center

Donate toys or volunteer as Santa!

Independence Heights Neighborhood Center
Taking gifts until December 19 at 7pm.
205 W. Crosstimbers (Map & Directions)
Houston, Texas 77018
Phone: 713-691-1393
Email: nchapa@neighborhood-centers.org

Neighborhood Centers Central Services
Taking gifts until December 19 at 5pm (closed weekends).
4500 Bissonnet Ste 200 (Map & Directions)
Bellaire, Texas 77401
Phone: 713-667-9400
(Entrance at glass block atrium)