While some people perhaps started thinking about Christmas on June 25th, Leon Day, July seems to be a common time for some to start thinking planning for Christmas.

It is the perfect time to start looking for ideas for homemade gifts. Start making your Christmas gifts in July and you might have them all done by the time December rolls around. You also have plenty of time to design and create your own personalized Christmas cards. At times when summer boredom might be settling in a little bit, especially with the kids, why not pull out the craft supplies and start making a variety of Christmas tree It is also a good time to start making some Christmas tree ornaments.

When do you start crafting for Christmas?

RELATED:
- Make an Advent Calendar
- Sign Up for the Christmas Crtafts Newsletter
- Christmas Printables

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I am going to run the current make it over Monday challenge for another week. While you are waiting to see other people's handprint craft submissions, enjoy some of mine.

• Fairy Foot and Handprint Craft
  
• Fabric Tree Handprint Craft
  
• Handprint Garden Stepping Stone
  
• Lamb Handprint Craft
  
• Sun Handprint Craft
  
• Spider Handprint Craft
  
• Submit Your Handprint Craft

I hope these crafts inspire you to create your own handprint crafts for this week's Make-It-Over craft challenge. 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. You can look through projects submitted for past challenges if you want some inspiration.

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.)

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This week you can make paper, visors, books, and so much more:

• How to Make a Paint Sample Card Book - This fun recycling craft was shared by Jan Henning. Discover how to make a booklet by recycling paint sample cards you can find at a hardware or home improvement store.

• Patriotic Craft Foam Visor - This visor will make the perfect accessory for Independence Day or any other patriotic event.

• Wedding Card Box Craft - Follow these directions and you can make a fancy decoupaged box to collect wedding cards in. Stack three decoupaged boxes together so your card box looks like a wedding cake!

• How to Make Paper - Looking for a fun project to do with your kids? Try making decorative paper at home with flower petals and bits of recyclable paper.

• Duct Tape Cell Phone Case Craft - Follow these simple directions and you can make a colorful cell phone Case. Discover how my technique for making a duct tape sheet makes this craft very easy.

• Denim Memo Board Craft - Sassy Gal explains how you can transform an old pair of jeans into a unique message board!

• Helping Hands Craft - This unique handprint craft idea was submitted by Cindy of St. Paul's United Church of Christ.

Enjoy, and remember, if you complete any of these crafts, take a few moments to send me a picture and it can be featured here too!

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

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The crafter bloggers have a great variety of crafts this week. You are sure to find something for everyone:

• Craft Buds - Learn how to sew a messenger bag for your little guy or gal with this tutorial. Also, visit the giveaways page for a chance to win an Accuquilt fabric cutter and three dies.

• Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery - See how to make an American flag motif 4th of July decoration from Christmas ornaments on a chain link fence.

• Crafty Princess Diaries - There is a lot more to loom knitting than you think and not a ton of web information either.

• Aileen's Musings - Aileen has reposted her tie-dyed deli paper background technique and some freebie fractal backgrounds.

• Mixed Media Artist - Cyndi got inspired by an old lullaby this week!

• Eileen - The Artful Crafter - 3D Paper Tole work is very popular on The Continent. Watch this video illustrating how you can take your decoupage into the next dimension.

• About Family Crafts - The current make-it-over craft challenge is handprint crafts! Do you have one to share?

• Carmi's Art/Life World - Carmi experiments with a transfer technique on resin clay.

• Craftside- A behind-the-scenes peek at our crafty world - This week at Craftside there are 4 pattern adjustments from the book Tailoring, a cute doll purse pattern, recipes for vegan bacon cheeseburgers, homemade vegan bacon bits and a Nectarine and Nasturtium salad with a simple summer vinaigrette.

(Graphic is courtesy of morgue.com)

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