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Have you started planning your Christmas traditions? Every year, my boys and I handcraft Christmas cards for our local Children’s Hospital. We started our Christmas Card making tradition a few years ago and since then we have spent one afternoon every year crafting cards for the children having to spend Christmas in the hospital. This small gesture has taught my kids at a young age the importance of giving to others and that it is truly better to give than to receive.
This year I decided to create a little party for them to get into the Holiday spirit and today I’m sharing all the fun details including the ready made meal I picked up from the Walmart Deli. Did you know that Coca-Cola at Walmart has teamed up with The Salvation Army this year? What that means is that every Walmart Deli prepared meal with Coca-Cola purchased in November and December will support Coca-Cola at Walmart in providing a meal to families through The Salvation Army. Families in need will be able to enjoy the holidays together over a warm meal! How awesome is that?
Christmas Party Decorations
I wanted to set up a festive and cheerful party table for our desserts but wanted to keep my costs down. So I set out my red and turquoise Christmas decorations and linens from my Christmas stash. I hung a tulle backdrop and a Marquee star for the main focal point. I decorated two small white Christmas trees with coordinating ornaments and displayed the coordinating paper products I purchased at Walmart.
Party Plan-It Tip: You can create a simple party with big impact by using decorations you already have on hand. Not everything has to be Christmas related, using decor in the same color family can create a fun tablescape. Collect your coordinating cake plates or platters and mix them up to match your tablescape.
Gumball machines aren’t just for gumballs and can be used all year around! Fill a gumball machine with mints and you have a festive decor piece for your Christmas table.
Add color coordinated milk glasses and matching straws. See my tutorial on making decorative milk glasses HERE.
Party Plan-It Tip: Save time and make a banner in a flash! Hang inexpensive ornaments on twine with glitter clothespins and you have a simple and festive banner for the front of your table!
Add little chalkboard clips to store bought milk carton favor boxes. Write your guests names or simply write holiday words to match the theme.
Don’t spend a lot of money on decorations. Use up your extra ornaments!
Bring in the Christmas lights with a Star marquee. Don’t have one? Hang strands of white lights down the backdrop!
The Desserts
Since I wanted to spend more time crafting and less time baking, I picked up some mini donuts and cookies from the Walmart Bakery. I was lucky enough to find cute treat cups, ice cream cups and cookie boxes in my exact colors in the seasonal section at Walmart. I filled them with cherry sours and popcorn for the kids.
The cherry sours remind me of ornaments and holly berries!
Looking for a fun way to display donuts? Make a fun Donut tree and top it with a mini tree topper!
We are huge Coke fans, so we always have a stash of bottled Coca-Cola and these 8 ounce bottles are the perfect size for parties. I set them on embossed coasters, you can see my full Coaster Tutorial HERE.
The FOOD
Save time and pick up prepared meals from Walmart Deli. Christmas is the time for comfort food in my family, so when I came home with a large selection of comfort food, my kids went nuts! I picked up Fried Chicken, Potato Wedges, Macaroni and Cheese, Rotisserie Chicken, Buffalo Wings, Mashed Potatoes , Corn Dogs and of course plenty of Coca-Cola! Not only did they get to dine on some of their favorite dishes I didn’t have to spend most of the day preparing and cooking our dinner. Leaving me extra time for the fun stuff like setting up the decorations and crafting with the boys.
Party Plan-It Tip: Set the food “buffet style” using plain cake stands with festive plates on top. Elevating some dishes makes it more appealing to the eye and allows more room for the food on the table. Just add a few decorations on the table to carry out the theme. Place some ornaments in apothecary jars for more color!
Fill a bucket up with Ice and Coca-Cola!
Don’t forget the cookies! I found this little Cookie Jar at Walmart in the Seasonal aisle, it matches my Coca-Cola memorabilia collection perfectly! I picked up Snicker-doodle, Oatmeal and Peanut Butter cookies at the Walmart Bakery. The kids loved them!
I think someone was happy!
There is nothing like the holidays to bring out the Brotherly Love!
You can find everything you need to #GiveHappiness at Walmart. Pick up your meal at the Walmart Deli and all the Coca-Cola you need in the Soda aisle!
Card Making Time!
It’s no surprise that I have a large selection of craft supplies. So to start our card making session, I set up a table for the kids to craft with stacks of scrapbook paper, embellishments and my Sizzix Big Shot. My son’s know how to use the Sizzix Big shot and Sticky Thumb Glue Gun, so I just sit back and supervise while they craft their little hearts out. Not to get sappy, but my heart filled with joy as I watched them talk and laugh as they made their Christmas cards. I am so thankful for their generous hearts and desire to spread Christmas joy to those in need, makes this Momma proud!
Masterpieces!
Christmas Card Mailbox Tutorial
To take our card giving one step further, my sons and I decided to craft a Collection “Mail” Box for others to donate Christmas Cards for the Children’s Hospital. This is a super fun craft that can be done in minutes (not counting drying time).
What you will need (these are the supplies I used for my mailbox, but read on for other suggestions):
Sturdy Box (I’m upcyling our k-cup box, it even has a built in mail box flap!)
Americana Decor Chalk Finish Paint (Treasure)
Paint Brush
Washi Tape
Vinyl Die Cuts
Start by painting the box, you may need to apply two or three coats. Then add washi tape around all the corners and edges of the box, hiding the seams of the box.
Party Plan-It Tip: If you are using a kcup box like mine, secure the flap with packing tape on the underside before you begin painting. This will keep the perforated flap from separating during use.
Now for the really fun part! Get your kids involved and start personalizing your mailbox!
If you have a die cutting machine such as a Sizzix Big Shot, die cut vinyl snowflakes and words to decorate the box. Don’t have a die cut machine? That’s ok! Add stencils with paint or add stickers. It’s all up to you and what you have on hand. The idea is to up-cycle your craft stash and make something new! You can also use scrapbook paper and decoupage, or simply wrap the box in wrapping paper.
I will be taking our Christmas Mailbox to work to encourage other people to craft or donate a little card for the Children’s Hospital. What will you do with your Christmas Mailbox?
It’s so easy to take for granted the simple pleasures and get lost in the holiday hustle and bustle. Which is why I want to teach my kids to be grateful and giving, not just during Christmas, but all year long. I hope you are inspired to help families in need either through card making/giving or by simply picking up a prepared meal from Walmart Deli. Just use the hashtag #GiveHappiness to share a picture of your own family enjoying Coca-Cola and a prepared meal from Walmart Deli and you’ll help spread awareness about the program and inspire others to help families in need!
What ideas do you have for spending time with the family and giving happiness this Christmas? I’d love to hear from you!
Merry Christmas!
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