Welcome, friend! Today we’re pairing three of my favorite things in the world −books, crafting, and the Christmastide!
All you need to turn your house into a literary Christmas wonderland is one used book, a few basic crafting materials, and a frightfully-weathered afternoon!
Our family made all the following crafts using one old, falling apart series of Little House on the Prairie for an old-fashioned, rustic, cozy, cabin-y Christmas look that we love. We call it “Little Christmas in the Big Woods.” For inspiration selecting your own literary wonderland style for the season, check out a few of our other book recommendations at the end of this post!
Need a used book? There are very affordable used books on Thriftbooks.com as well as on Amazon off to the righthand side when looking at a book, listed as a “buy used” option, when available. But my go-to spot for a seen-better-days-book is my own home! Just select an old favorite, give it new life, and upgrade your copy with a new one!
First up . . .
Oh, My Literary Stars!
Get crafting with our full tutorial here!
Next on the shelf . . .
Once Upon a Snowflake…
We are loving this fresh, literary twist on the classic paper snowflake! Simply make snowflakes as you normally would; trace out circles, fold them in half, half again, and half again. Make lots of little snippets. Unfold, iron between sheets or towels, and display!
Quick, turn the page . . .
Christmas Reading Logs!
Log this look away with our full tutorial here!
Another for the stack . . .
MINI Christmas Reading Logs!
Harness your little inner lumberjack with our full tutorial here!
In which we come to the end . . .
Country Christmas Book Bunting
Deck your hallways with our full tutorial here!
OTHER CHAPTER BOOKS TO CONSIDER FOR YOUR CHRISTMAS LOOK:
A Boy Called Christmas Series by Matt Haig (for a black and white, whimsical look)
101 Dalmatians by Dodie Smith (for a bold, black and white, vintage look)
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson (for a black and white, homespun look)
COLORFUL PICTURE BOOKS TO CONSIDER FOR YOUR CHRISTMAS LOOK:
The Grinch Who Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss (classic version for a retro look, or the new full-color version for a vibrant Christmas color pop!)
The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree by Gloria Houston with illustrations by the one-and-only Barbara Cooney (for a breath of fresh Christmas charm!)
The 12 Days of Christmas illustrated by Jan Brett (for something colorful and unexpected!)
The Night Before Christmas illustrated by Kathy Wilburn (for a charming, vintage cartoon look!)
Humphrey’s Christmas by Carol Heyer or One Christmas Night by Keith Christopher (for a vibrant, Christ-centered holiday look!)
Bear Stays Up or Mortimer’s Christmas Manger by Jane Chapman (for an adorable, full-color, little-kid, cartoon Christmas!)
Whatever look you go for, whatever book you choose…
It’s lovely weather for a craft day together with you!
Have yourself a merry, little, cozied-up Christmas!
Love, Candace Arden
