It’s December, and that means holiday stuff! Yay. Time to get out those decorations and make your home look like a tacky explosion of Ernest Saves Christmas.

Just kidding, we’ll make super classy, non-holiday-specific, don’t-have-to-take-down decorations. Because, as I’ve said before, if you don't have to take your decorations down, you don't have to put them up so don't make religious decorations.

I don't think I've ever said that.

What you’ll need for Christmakkuh Balls:

Clear Glass Ornaments

Fake Butterflies

Dried Moss

Twine

Poking Sticks

Other Stuff You Have Laying Around That You Want To (Creatively) Throw Into a Clear Ornament

What you’ll need for Kentucky Mulled Cider:

Apple Cider

All Spice

Bourbon

Cinnamon Stick

Lemon

Disclaimers!

"Other Stuff You Have Laying Around That You Want To (Creatively) Throw Into a Clear Bubble" = anything from feathers to tissue paper to pine cone bits to sand to tree branches, to...wait why do I have so much junk laying around? Pine cone bits?

Poking/stuffing sticks can be a variety of things. We used chop sticks? But you can also use pencils. Or anything long and skinny.

As it turns out, the moss kinda smells, the glass can break and the butterflies can have a pretty hard time getting into the ornaments. So, moral of the story = keep those buzzed fingers nimble and your disappointment in check.

I’m aware there’s no real tie together for the drink and the craft. But, I like hot drinks and I like bourbon. And this is my blog that no one reads so, ball me.

Ball me.

1.) Pick what kind of ball you want. They come in various sizes and some are iridescent. So, ya know, decisions.

2.) Gather all your stuff to stuff.

Don't forget the dreidel and also what a ridiculous photo.

3.) Start stuffing! If you want to do a terrarium-type ball, put your moss in first. And MAKE SURE to use your stuffing stick cuz those glass balls are not nice and will quite possibly cut you like a bitch.

4.) Put your butterfly in! Which...is....tricky. Thank goodness you aren't using a real butterfly? Weird!

5.) So wipe your tears, pay your respects/pour a drink and then just gently try to guide the next butterfly into the ball. Tell yourself you can do this.

6.) Start poking/moving the contents in your ball around to make it look nice. Stop paying attention. Immediately wreak havoc.

So what you're saying is, I have to be careful when I'm crafting. That or I'm the hulk.

7.) Wipe your tears, pay your respects/pour a drink and then just..start over. Cool.

8.) Ok now that we're all caught up and not crafting amongst shards of glass, put the top/metal thing on.

9.) Tie your twine through the metal top and hang it. But rather than show you how to do something you learned in first grade, I'll show you pictures of what else we put in our balls. Because you don't have to do a terrarium, gasp. You can also do Tissue Paper Chrismakkuh Balls, Sequin Chrismakkuh Balls, Chrismakkuh Twine Balls, Chrismakkuh whatever. Will all of them look good? I mean, you know that answer. The answer is no:

10.) And I mean, if we're going that crazy, who's to say you even have to hang it on a tree?

Part !! - The Real Holiday Tradition

AKA Drinky Drinky Time!

Kentucky Mulled Cider

1 cup Bourbon

4 cups apple cider

1 thinly sliced lemon

6 cloves

½ tsp. ground allspice

2 small sticks of cinnamon

"They" say to combine 1 cup Bourbon for every 4 cups of Apple Cider. But, ya know, it's the holidays so let's just say that's open to interpretation. Once you figure out how "Kentucky" your milled cider is going to be, add 1 thinly sliced lemon with rind, 6 cloves and 1/2 tsp of ground spice and 2 small sticks of cinnamon to the pot that everything is in. Oh yeah, put everything in a pot. Heat to a boil, let it slightly cool. Serve. Speak with southern accent upon sipping.

Mmmm mammy this is good ya'll. Or something.

Well I have a rule that once a "get real drunk around family" suggestion enters a blog, it's time to wrap things up. I hope you enjoyed this week's Crafty Hour and that it brings you hours of friendship happiness.