Fun to Make Origami Advent Calendar
You will need:
• 24 – 3 ½ ” X 3 ½ ” squares of sturdy, patterned paper, like wall paper, heavy, gift wrap or patterned printer paper. Choose several coordinating patterns to make your project fit your holiday décor.
• 1 piece of cardboard approx. 18-20” high by 14-16” wide, covered in small print pattern or plainer pattern, such as foil paper, parchment, etc.
• Double-sided tape and/or glue (Spray glue is helpful in covering the backboard.)
• 24 – 1/2“ to ¾” circle stickers
• Optional felt for back of board 16” X 20”
Cover backboard with wrap by lightly covering cardboard with glue. (spray glue works well), then affixing paper carefully on board. Trim any excess paper leaving about 2” around the perimeter. Fold corners like you would sheets or gift wrap and glue down the excess paper on the back of the board. If you would like to cover the back of the board, you can glue a piece of felt or more paper on the back to cover the edges.
How to make an Origami for each pocket:
1. Turn the paper square upside down on table so pattern faces down.
Now fold the square in half so the bottom corner now evenly reaches the top corner, pattern showing.
2. Looking at triangle with point side up, fold down front top corner to just the bottom edge, and make a crease. Then unfold this flap, so you can see crease mark.
3. Fold bottom right corner up to the crease shown from the previous step. Line up the edge of the paper perfectly along the crease.
4. Repeat same fold with bottom left corner to form octagon shape with “basket”. Secure these two flaps with glue or the circle sticker. (Note: neatly number circle stickers from 1 – 24.
Glue or tape each “basket” onto the paper covered board, 5 baskets wide by 5 baskets high, except the bottom row, which only holds 4 baskets. Arrange in order from 24 (top left) to 1 (bottom right. In the spot where the 5th basket would go on the bottom row, neatly print on plain or colored paper “MERRY CHRISTMAS!”
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by Jan Cox
When Susanville local, Allison Templeton graduated from Chico State University and returned to her hometown to work, she needed to find a studio for her art. She soon discovered the perfect place at 1015 Main Street. Not only did this building have a studio, it also had a front room for a gallery.
Templeton opened the Crow’s Nest Studio in November 2011. Here, she has room to display her own art along with showcasing the art of many local talented artists. Interested artists can call and set up a show or make a plan for consignment art.
After graduating from Lassen High School in 2003, Allison received her Associate degree from Lassen Community College and went on to receive a double major in Art Education which prepared her for teaching and Art Studio with an emphasis in sculpture and glass. Her double minor added Art History and Theater Arts to this well rounded degree.
The Crow’s Nest Studio has art for everyone. Much of it is geared toward youngsters who do not always have access to art training due to lack of funding in schools for these programs. She loves working with children and even substitutes at local schools where she will try to fit in some art whenever possible.
Each month a flyer listing the dates of workshops offered can be picked up at the studio. In April the children made “Unique Umbrellas”, “Rainsticks” and did “Rain Painting”.
Adults, too, may come and work on projects or attend specific workshops to learn more or experiment with various media. You may request workshops in any area of interest. Art 101 is a once a week class offering the basics of an art medium through four session by appointment. Specific dates are also set aside for B.Y.O.P. (Bring Your Own Project) for an evening of creativity, conversation, and camaraderie from 5-7 pm.
Allison reminds the reader that “art has little to do with talent and lots to do with practice,” while the beauty of doing art work teaches us to “think outside the box, look at things in a different way.” She emphasizes that this is a place to work with no judgment or grading. It is a place to learn, explore and have fun. And if you are one of the people that is sure you can’t draw, she emphasizes that there are many other ways to express through the arts.
Her shelves are lined with art books, materials, paints, crayons, etc. and she welcomes donations of art supplies any time. She also has many art supplies for sale.
Please call for prices and availability. Space is available to rent for clubs such as 4-H, scout meetings, birthday parties, etc. Depending on the theme for birthday parties, she will present 2-3 crafts per party.
Presently, the studio is open Tuesday-Friday from 3pm-7pm and Saturday from 11am-4pm. Anyone can drop in to work on their art at these times. Watch for new summer hours, workshops yet to come and special 5 day summer camps for children, each with a different theme.
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By Melissa Wynn
For many years now Lassen and Plumas counties have been without a music store. Each time one of the many musical members of my family needed guitar strings or drum sticks it meant a long trip out of our area, oh bother!
On December 1st of 2011, local luthier and inventor of the MiniFlex Microphone, Ken Donnell and his partner Jim McBean opened Donnell’s Music Land at 207 Main St. in Greenville, finally bringing music back to the mountains. It’s a great little shop and so much more than a place to buy, sell and trade instruments and accessories.
The day of my tour, I arrived to find the storefront full of customers watching local teen Christopher Gibson practice his skills on a beautiful red drum set in the corner. A few minutes later jazz lover Andrea West came in to sell her Alto Saxophone and joined Christopher in song to play it one last time. She was very happy when Ken Donnell invited her to come back and play it again at Donnell’s Music Land’s weekly jam night. These Wednesday night get togethers welcome all musicians from 6-7:30 pm.
It’s all about the music and a walk through the back of the shop showed me the true passion of Ken and his staff . In the first workshop area we found electronics tech Micheal assembling Miniflex Microphones and tapping his foot to the beat he was hearing in his headphones. Sold on a global scale for acoustic instruments Donnell’s Music Land is the only place to purchase yours from the inventor himself.
A man of many talents, Ken also has a large work area for his luthier work. This is the room where instruments are created, including a gorgeous fiddleback guitar of stunning walnut in progress. Repairs and restorations of musical instruments as well as fine wooden antiques are also on the list of services that keep the melodies flowing through our neighborhood.
Wanna join the jam sessions but can’t play a note? No worries, Donnell’s has you covered again. Several local musicians give lessons and Music Land has the information to get you started.
Donnell’s Music Land is open Wednesday-Friday 12-6pm and Saturday 12-4pm. The man himself, Ken Donnell will also open for you by appointment, just give him a call at the store at 530-284-1689 or after hours at 530-230-7842. He’s happy to open the door and bring music back to the mountains.
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By Lorraine Shoemaker
Holly has long been associated with Christmas, its deep green and vivid red are the traditional colors of Christmas. Make an old-fashioned holly wreath to adorn your door this holiday season!
What You Need:
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Wire cutters
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Wire wreath form
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Florist wire, 24 gauge
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Holly branches
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Holly berries
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Gather or purchase a large shopping bag full of holly in 6-inch-long trimmings.
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Use a wire wreath frame or make your own frame from a wire coat hanger (Simply unbend it and shape into a circle).
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Attach number-24 floral wire to the wire wreath frame.
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Select several stems of the 6-inch holly pieces and place them together in a bunch (Thicker bundles make fuller wreaths).
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Place a stem with berries on top of the bundle of holly. Place the bundle on top of the frame where the floral wire is connected.
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Hold the bundle in place and wrap the floral wire around the bundle and frame. Wrap the floral wire around the bundle a second time and then pull it tight. Make sure to leave the wire attached to the frame – you’re not finished!
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Gather another bundle of holly and place it so that the leaves overlap the first bunch and cover the stems. Make sure that the stems on both bunches face the same direction.
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Continue overlapping the bunches of foliage and wiring them to the frame until you complete the circle.
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Lift the first bundle and tuck the last one under it. Twist the wire tightly around the last bundle. Knot the wire onto the frame, leaving 1 inch of wire for hanger.
Add our own personal touches, such as clusters of small pine cones, bows, small ornaments, or stand a figurine (deer, angel, santa) in the bottom center of the wreath and attach with wire or hot glue. Have a fun and happy holly-day!
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By Lorraine Shoemaker
You can enjoy having your favorite produce year around even if you live in a short growing zone. One way is to learn to dry food yourself. You can buy an expensive electric food dehydrator, make a solar dehydrator or simply dehydrate your food in the sun au natural.
Solar food drying is an ideal way to dehydrate and preserve foods. A solar dehydrator can be simple or complex, small or large. A solar “hotbox” is an enclosed wooden box that protects your food during drying. It is a box with drawers and a clear covering (glass or plastic),with screened openings on the bottom and sides for circulation. Solar rays enter through the clear glass top of the dehydrator box, then the box traps the heat and dries the food. The dehydrator may have an absorber plate inside, which indirectly heats your food by creating a convection current of air that enters the vent at the bottom of the dryer. The cool, fresh air enters the vent, heats up and circulates through the dryer, then exits through a vent at the top. As your food dries, moisture is carried away with the hot air. The inside heat must remain at no less than least 86 degrees to avoid mold and spoilage.You can have fresh food all year if you can get as little as two days of sunshine in a row, depending on the food.
A solar food dehydrator is a great way to enjoy nutritious, tasty, high quality foods all year long. Favorites foods for drying: Apples, apricots, bananas, peaches, pears, plums and strawberries, carrots, corn, green beans, onions, peas (sweet, in pod), peppers, potatoes, summer tomatoes, zucchini and mushrooms, and of course all your favorite herbs.
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 Those of Scandinavian descent may recognize this basket as a Christmas tree ornament. I have been using the pattern for Valentine’s Day for years. It’s great for holding a card. napkin, candy, or jewelry.
Materials: scissors
2 identical or contrasting strips of paper, fabric, or ribbon : cut 3 times as long as the width (see pic 1)
Directions:
1. Fold strips in half, trim corners on open ends.
2. Make “legs” by cutting up center lengthwise from folded edge 1/8 ” longer than the width of the material, then cutting up once more on each half (3 cuts on each strip).
(see pic 2)
3. Place the strips at right angles to each other. Start weaving. Instead of “over/under” you will pull the top folded leg “through/around/through/around” the bottom (folded) of the legs on the other strip. (see pic 3)
4. Alternate “through/around” with “around/through”, gently pushing each leg “up” as you go to bring the strips closer into your “heart”. (see pic 4)
5. Trim open tops for better shape. Fill and give with love.
 pic 4
- pic 3
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Rustic Country Napkin Rings
By Susie Baston Adorn your holiday napkins and spice up your dinner table settings with these easy and simple napkin rings. All you need are cinnamon sticks, dried apple slices, berry sprigs, and decorative ribbon. Glue one of each to a strip of ribbon, slightly overlapped, and tie ribbon around each napkin. Amount of supplies needed vary depending on number of table settings.
Here are steps on how to dry your own apple slices to avoid pesticides that may be used in store bought options…
Pick and Slice Your Apples
Choose apples free of bruising and blemishes. Slice apples from top to bottom into 1/4th inch thick pieces.
Soak Apple Slices
In a bowl, soak slices in a mixture of 2 cups lemon juice and 2 table spoons salt for about 20 minutes. When finished, dab each slice with paper towel to dry off.
Dry Your Apple Slices
This step takes some time- however its well worth drying the slices slowly to avoid burning. Place apple slices on a wire rack. Then place wire wrack onto a cookie sheet. Place in a preheated oven (150 degrees) for 6 hours. Turn if slices begin to curl at edges.
Assemble!
Let cool. Begin to assemble your Rustic Country Napkin Rings and be amazed with a beautiful touch to your holiday table!
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Festive Gift Basket
A QUICK GIFT!
This holiday season, stock up on a few extra nice ornaments. When you want that last minute gift, you can simply stuff some greenery and a pine cone in the basket and top it with an ornament. Tie a bow and tag on top and a quick gift is ready. A larger basket can be used by adding some oranges, lemons, limes and whole walnuts to the basket.
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OLD FASHIONED FAMILY FUN
 Just like in the good old days, families can enjoy stringing popcorn and cranberries to hang on the tree or use in wreaths or garland. Make a batch of fresh soft popcorn and get out a bag of cranberries. Load up a needle and thread for everyone involved. If little ones can’t thread the popcorn, have some kid safe craft glue handy. They can glue together 3 pieces of popcorn and add a few berries for color. Then the popcorn stringers can alternate larger clumps of popcorn onto the strings and everyone can get creative.
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Deck the Fruit with Nuts and Pine Cones!
 Have some fun with your fruit bowl for a quick centerpiece. This will give you an idea but you can arrange any fresh fruits in season in a basket. Adorn them with nuts, berries and a couple of pinecones for a quick gift. This arrangement uses Cranberry fruit in an olive wood bowl with oranges, brazil nuts, holly leaves and pine cones simply laid out on the counter for decor.
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Special People Deserve Special Gift Wrap!
Get some kid-safe paint in bright colors and white freezer wrap from the grocery store. Place shiny side down on cleanable counters. Place each color of paint in a paper plate. You can lightly cover the plate with paint and add more as needed to proven spills. Let kids arrange handprints in colors of their choice. Let dry and use the wrap for Grandmas and other special people in the kids’ lives.
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Spring Bloom Jar
 Create your own early signs of
spring by placing this outdoors on a porch or in a sheltered garden
area for early color or greenery
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What You Need: a Mason jar, string of beads, glass decorative pebbles, and a flower stem of your choice- artificial preferably- you can add water if you plan to use a real flower.
First place the decorative pebbles at the bottom of the jar. Next, the string of beads. Finally, stick the flower into the jar and you’re done! It’s a fun decoration and an easy and thoughtful gift for the first day of Spring or Earth Day.
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Creating a festive wreath is a simple and
affordable way to spruce up your home for the holidays. It is also an easy craft young and old can enjoy.
Wreaths are a timeless decoration and as versatile as your imagination. There are no rules. Anything you love can be incorporated into this special decoration. Below are a few of our favorite ideas.
- Bake a wreath of braided bread and decorate with dried and candied fruits and nuts.
- A Traditional pine bough wreath can be made from the trimmed Christmas tree branches with pine cone and ribbon accents.
- Straw ring wreaths decorated with silk autumn leaves and miniature pumpkins make a great Thanksgiving centerpiece with a large candle inside.
- Braided cloth wreaths adorned with Christmas Tree ornaments of any kind have endless possibilities.
- Small wispy wreaths of berry branches add a homey touch to holiday tables as napkin rings or around the base of each beverage glass.
Happy Holidays from the staff of Mountain Valley Living. Please share your wreath making ideas with us at mountainvalleyliving.com
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Christmas Tea Basket
*Tea for Two!*
 Christmas Tea Basket
To Create The Basket Above You Will Need:
Large to medium sized Christmas basket or container
Smaller basket or container- should fit easily into larger container
Wreath (matching the size of your container width)
6- 10 sheets of tissue paper (green or white)
3 small red tree ornament balls (plastic-so they won’t break)
Christmas dish towel (rolled up)
Loose leaf tea
2 Tea diffusers
2 mugs or tea cups
Christmas themed small goodie bag
Cookies or chocolate
Instructions:
Take larger basket and stuff tissue paper at the bottom until 2/3 full. Place wreath loosely around top rim of large basket, and push wreath down into basket where you plan the front to be. This will make the wreath in the back hold contents in upright position. Take smaller basket and place towards back of basket. Fill small basket with tissue paper until 2/3 full. Place loose leaf tea container, rolled up dish towel, and tea diffusers into smaller container. They should sit tall to create dimension. Next, Place mugs side by side in front of small basket. Bag cookies or chocolate in small goodie bag, tie, and place in front of cups. Lastly, place tree ornament balls around basket securely, glue if needed. Add detail with a Santa or snowman ornament. In the basket above, a Santa decorative plant stake was used, to insert easily into a tight place. Remember, you don’t have to use these exact items, personalize it with desserts or items you know the receiver will love.
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Potpourri Christmas Tree Center Piece
*Center your holiday table with three of these trees or use as a single focal point on a shelf *
 Potpourri Christmas Tree You Will Need: (for a single tree)
1 dowel rod
1 bag of potpourri (Christmas colors: greens, reds, white…)
1 foam cone (size is up to you)
1 bag hot glue gun and glue sticks
1 small glass votive (shaped like a flower pot)
1 can glitter spray
Brown acrylic paint
Small paint brush
Instructions:
Heat hot glue gun. Break small dowel rod in half. Stick rod, broken end first, into bottom of foam cone and push until centered and sturdy. Bottom of rod should be sticking out about 5 inches from cone, with a flat end. Lightly brush some brown acrylic paint onto visible dowel rod to create the look of a tree trunk. Let dry. Hot glue a large amount of glue into the bottom of the glass votive. While hot, press rod firmly into center of glue and hold until dry. To make more secure, fill up the rest of the votive with a small amount of potpourri and layers of hot glue. Carefully begin to glue individual pieces of potpourri to foam cone, pressing pieces gently for a few seconds to dry. The more obscure the pieces the better. This may take some time. Create dimension by gluing a single layer of potpourri, and then filling in spaces and holes with pieces on top of pieces. Finally, in a well ventilated and protected area (best if outside) spray tree with gold glitter spray until desired. Let dry completely before displaying.
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Keeping Kitchen Memories
*This is a wonderful gift idea, and a special touch for your own kitchen *
 Keeping Kitchen Memories You Will Need:
A handwritten recipe that’s been passed down or a recipe card of your family’s favorite meal, or a recipe with special meaning- your wedding cake recipe for example.
A frame- design and color to your preference. Just make sure the recipe card will fit-the average card is 5X3 inches.
Frame recipe cards or written notes. Look for recipe cards that have classic or old fashion designs to add character. You may overlap to put multiple recipe cards in one frame, or showcase a specific card by itself. The possibilities are endless; enjoy the flashbacks as you create a framed piece of family history to keep for yourself or share with others.
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Harvest Centerpiece
*Gourds galore and falling leaves, a beautiful centerpiece you will achieve!*
You Will Need: (for one)
1 glass vase
Small gourds (enough to fill your vase)
1 fall themed garland (4 ft)
10 branches of wheat
3 thick branches
5 branches of filler branches( your choice)
Instructions:
Fill vase with gourds. Randomly begin to stick wheat branches into gourds. Make sure they are placed evenly around the vase and not sticking straight up. Take 1 thick branch and stick in the middle of the vase. This branch should be higher than the wheat branches and angle slightly back. Now take the remaining two thick branches and stick one out the left at an angle, and one out to the right at an angle. These will help hold up the garland. Now take your filler branches and stick them where any holes or spaces are that need to be filled. Very carefully take the garland and twist in and around the existing branches for support. The end of the garland should be supported or attached to the center thick branch so that piece has height. Refer to the picture for help.
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Hand Etched Candles
*A fun craft and gift from the little artist in your family *
 Hand Etched Candles You Will Need:
Candles (height does not matter- make sure your colors aren’t too dark)
Acrylic paint (colors are your choice)
Small paint brush
Dull pencil or a pen
Instructions:
Decide what design you would like to create on your candle. Using your pencil or pen, lightly create a rough draft. If you draw lightly at first and mess up, you’ll be able to cover it easily. Do not paint the top of the candle where the wick is. When happy with the results, go back and trace the design firmly so that it is etched into the candle. Do not press too hard or you may chip or break the candle. Brush off any excess wax. Then paint the lines of your design. Make sure the color of paint will show up against the color of the candle. Let the candles dry completely.
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Festive Button Card Pins
*Collect old buttons and display your holiday cards or pictures in a unique way*
 Festive Button Card Pins You Will Need:
Buttons
Wooden clothespins
Hot glue gun and glue
1 can gold glitter spray
Raffia or Ribbon
Acrylic Paint- color your choice (optional)
Magnets (optional)
Instructions:
Spray clothespins with gold glitter in a well ventilated and protected area. Let them dry completely before handling. Heat glue and glue individual buttons onto clothespins. You may do multiple buttons, or a single one. You may also glue raffia bows or ribbon too. If you would like a color of a button that you do not have, simply paint it and let dry. When you’re finished decorating your pins, hang delivered holiday cards or pictures along a garland or thick piece of yarn. Or, glue magnets on the backs of each clothespin to display on your refrigerator.
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This holiday season finds many of us tightening our purse strings, but a heartwarming gift doesn’t have to break the bank. A simple photo album or scrapbook can be a very affordable and touching gift. A few years ago I bought a small photo album and made a book of You and Me for my sister. On the first page I put a picture of myself holding her on the day my parents brought her home from the hospital. I filled many pages with pictures of us together throughout the last thirty years. I left several empty pages at the end to be filled with memories yet to come. The whole project cost under $2o and she was genuinely touched as she flipped through the pages. I know it is a gift she will treasure always. It makes me happy to know that she will think of me each time she adds a picture to our special book of You and Me. Stickers, pressed flowers, lace and ribbon are just a few things you can add to personalize your own special book. Another great gift album is pictures of holidays past. It is very inexpensive to make copies of photos, so everyone on your gift list could have one. Remember to leave those empty pages at the end. Filling them up is half the fun.
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