My 12 Days of Christmas will definitely cost you less than the items talked about in the 12 Days of Christmas song. According to The PNC Financial Services Group, who shares the PNC Christmas Price Index every year, the 12 Days of Christmas will cost you approximately $24,263.18 in 2011.

So now you have a choice, spend a lot of money on the real thing, or enjoy my 12 Days of Christmas gift items. Curious? Then start out On The First Day Of Christmas...

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- 12 Days of Christmas Crafts Newsletter
- Making Gag Gifts
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12 Days of Christmas originally appeared on About.com Family Crafts on Tuesday, December 6th, 2011 at 09:00:04.

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I have gathered together some quick and easy craft ideas. Most of these crafts can be done in about 10 minutes and take very little preparation. Actually though, I would rather see your ideas for fast and easy craft projects.

What craft and activities do you turn to as an 'instant craft activity' if kids are bored, use as a momentary distraction, or as projects for kids with a short attention span. Share your ideas and read craft ideas shared by others'.

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- Favorite Crafts for Ages and Stages
- Favorite Crafts for Boys
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(Photo © 2011 Sherri Osborn licensed to About.com, Inc.)

Your Favorite Fast and Easy Craft Ideas originally appeared on About.com Family Crafts on Wednesday, December 7th, 2011 at 09:00:32.

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Here is how I display the Christmas cards we get:

Sorry, I don't have a pattern for this quilt... I made it a few years ago and there was no commercial pattern... It was part of a kit I purchased from a quilt store and the directions were simply printed on a piece of paper which I can no longer find! :-( The main part of the quilt is simply a panel, with 6X6-inch squares down the side. Each square has a pocket sewed to it to hold the cards. Then I simply added a border. The fun part was quilting this. I stippled around all of the pictures in the panel.

Don't forget, you can check out ways other people display their holiday cards and then share your own ideas and photos.
RELATED:
- Cards to Make
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Displaying Holiday Cards originally appeared on About.com Family Crafts on Thursday, December 8th, 2011 at 09:00:00.

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• Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery - How to make a recycled sweater wreath with a candy style bow.

• Mixed Media Artist - If you've still got any autumn leaves available, here's a pretty idea for using them up!

• Craft. You. - This week on Craft. You.: Heather Mann of Dollar Store Crafts.

• Eileen - The Artful Crafter - Do you know about yarn bombing? Whimsical hand knit and crocheted art is circling the globe!

• About Family Crafts - Play along with the current craft challenge and submit an angel craft or two.

• Aileen's Musings - Aileen not only offers you a fantabulous Glitzy bleached Christmas tree project but also a giveaway on her blog this week!

• Carmi's Art/Life World - A post about remembering the December birthdays!

• Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at our crafty world - This week at Craftside there is a fun new video on how to tint gesso with pastels by Traci Bunkers, tutorials on how to draw Christmas trees and poinsettias, tips on cleaning glassware and a yummy recipe for vegan maple bacon doughnuts.

• Crafty Princess Diaries - Tammy takes a look at a craft book packed full of projects.

• Margot Potter The Impatient Crafter - It's a video! It's two craft projects with instructions! It's RETROFABULOUS! Yay!

(Graphic is courtesy of morgue.com)

Explore Crafty Blogs - Recycled Wreath, Leaf Roses, More originally appeared on About.com Family Crafts on Friday, December 9th, 2011 at 09:00:37.

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• Candy Cane Mouse Craft - Make this adorable felt mouse submitted by Angie Edwards. Perfect for a Christmas tree ornament or a gift.

• Light-Up Snowman Craft - Follow these free instructions, submitted by Smurfie, and discover how to make an adorable light-up snowman.

• Simple Shaped Soap Bars - Make these fancy, shaped bars of soap using cookie cutters.

• Ribbon Wreath Craft - Find out how you can easily create a unique wreath using pieces of ribbon.

• Greeting Card Box Craft - Find out how you can easily create small boxes using old greeting cards. This is a great way to use up Christmas cards, birthday cards, and more.

• Make Puppet Crafts With Household Items - This video shows you how you can use a variety of items to make a variety of puppets.

• Grinch in Chimney Ornament - Make a Grinch craft! Make this adorable Christmas tree ornament that looks like the grinch stuck in a chimney.

(Photo © 2011 Sherri Osborn licensed to About.com, Inc.)

Spotlight Crafts - Light-Up Snowman, Shaped Soap, More originally appeared on About.com Family Crafts on Saturday, December 10th, 2011 at 09:00:19.

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Dig through your craft cupboards and recycling bins and see what kind of angels you can make. Craft an angel and then submit it to be published here.

You can share your simple ideas and tips using the comments feature on this blog post, but to get your project possibly featured in the next Make-It-Over Monday blog post, please submit it using this simple form. If you make the project you are submitting, take a picture of it and submit the photo. Some of the submitted ideas will be shared in the next Make-It-Over Monday blog post. Preference will be given to those projects that are submitted with photos.

If you want some inspiration, you can look through projects submitted for past challenges.

• Apron Handprint Craft
• Facial Tissue Holder Craft
• T-shirt Headband Pattern
• Clown Hat Craft
• Con-Tact Paper Bookmarker Craft
• Button Snowman Craft

If you have questions or comments about this craft challenge, use the comment feature below. Suggestions regarding this feature? Again, use the comments feature to post your suggestions; and, thanks for playing along. If you want a reminder when Make-It-Over challenges are posted, sign up for the Family Crafts newsletter.

RELATED:
- How to Submit a Project
- How to Submit a Photo

(Photo © 2011 Sherri Osborn licensed to About.com, Inc.)

Make-It-Over Monday Craft Challenge originally appeared on About.com Family Crafts on Monday, December 12th, 2011 at 09:00:11.

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There have been a few ideas shared; one is called Spirit of the Holidays Letter, another is called Twas the Weeks before Christmas Letter Surprise, and the last is the Ghost of Christmas Spirit Letter. A big thanks to VicRae, Heidi, and Phyllis for sharing these ideas...

If you have an idea for a neighborhood letter/gift for any season or reason, please share your ideas to be shared here with everyone.

RELATED:
- 100 Gifts to Make
- Christmas Crafts
- Share Your Ideas

(Image - Nivek Neslo/Getty Images)

Christmas Neighborhood Gifts originally appeared on About.com Family Crafts on Tuesday, December 13th, 2011 at 09:00:00.

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RELATED:
- Christmas Crafts
- Winter Crafts
- Craft How-To Videos

(Photo © 2011 About.com, Inc.)

Holiday How-To Videos originally appeared on About.com Family Crafts on Wednesday, December 14th, 2011 at 09:00:58.

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If you participate in fundraisers or church bazaars or sell your crafts in other settings, please take a minute to share your tips and experiences with everyone. We want to hear your success stories and about the lessons learned when things didn't turn out quite how you wanted them to. You can also share your stories and tips about donating crafts. If you know a craft that you think would make a good project for craft shows, please take a moment to submit it using this simple form.

RELATED:
- Selling and Donating Your Crafts
- Easy Fundraiser and Bazaar Crafts
- Share Your Craft Stories and Craft Tips

(Photo - Getty Images)

Share Your Tips and Stories About Selling Crafts originally appeared on About.com Family Crafts on Thursday, December 15th, 2011 at 09:00:27.

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• Cardboard Roll Puppets - This how-to video shows you how to make fun puppets using cardboard toilet paper roll.

• Door Knob Hanger Craft - Send a message to everyone passing by your room with a customized door knob hanger.

• Candy Wreath Craft - Make a wreath using hard, wrapped candies, ribbon, and a hanger! A fun decoration that you can eat.

• Hot Chocolate in a Jar Craft - Make this fun and simple gift idea - hot cocoa in a jar!

• Pine Cone Basket Decoration - Follow these instructions to make a simple gift or decoration using pine cones.

• How to Make Sock Puppets - This fun how to video shows you a fun way to make a puppet using a sock.

• Star of David Ornament Craft - These lovely stars are easy to make and can be hung on doors, windows or walls.

(Photo © 2011 Sherri Osborn licensed to About.com, Inc.)

Spotlight Crafts - Candy Wreath, Puppets, More originally appeared on About.com Family Crafts on Saturday, December 17th, 2011 at 09:00:48.

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When we are describing regarding animation, it is important to discuss about Animation Software because this is the only key factor. Let’s talk about 2D animation software, if you are working in preliminary level, then Adobe Flash is a tool which helps to make motion or graphics animation but for movies or website designing Cartoon is best because that can be used to create cut out animation and there is an another software Toonboom digital pro which is used by the professional. In 3D animation, also several types of software are used and those are beginners for them 3D studio max is very essential. In 3D max, the most effective work is 3D modeling such as interiors, sculpture, etc., But if you want to create movies based on 3D, then Maya is necessary because in Maya, we can get most realistic features of animation and most important is using of different shades and the widest range of lights.

With rapid growing of animation business most important part is played by the Animation Factory because it gives us the revenues by which we can develop our industry. Before 10, years ago there was a myth that only in USA and UK animation business can flourish but now In India animation business is booming. From Asia, animators are hired by the USA animation companies because it is seen that Indian animators are very skilled in every category, which is related to animation as well as Multimedia. It is noticed that in Asia, India is booming to create animation industries because of the presence of huge talent. It is accepted that already animation business created a new bonanza in entertainment industry, as we all know that almost every Hollywood movie depicted on it.