It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas!

I have to admit it but this year I'm feeling so excited about Christmas. Seeing twinkling Christmas tree lights in windows of homes as I walk home, sampling mulled cider, and hearing Christmas music on the radio has got me into the spirit of things. This year I've decided to make a special effort to rekindle the magic of Christmas.

I hope that the countdown to the big day is full of joy and happiness, a time to enjoy traditions, and a chance to spend quality time with friends and family. I've been inspired even more than normal by doing Journal Your Christmas, a brilliant scrapbooking and journaling e-course run by Shimelle. Thinking about a Christmas manifesto at the start of December has been encouraged on the course. For me one of the core elements of my manifesto was to think about Christmas traditions and my favourite Christmas memories. I decided to try and make this Christmas even more special, by starting new traditions, recapturing old ones and creating new magical memories...

I'm rekindling the magic of making decorations for the home...I finished a Christmas cross stitch pattern from CrossStitcher Issue 244, Christmas 2011. I started this last year but never finished it. Take a look...

It is so pretty I want to make another one! I'm going to put this on display every Christmas to remind myself to take time and make things by hand and to relax.

I'm rekindling the magic of having a stocking...I'm making a stocking for Mr C and one for me too, so that we can recapture the fun of having a stocking. The fabric has been bought and over the next few weeks these fabrics will be turned into stockings, I can't wait to make them and start a new tradition of finding fun presents for our stockings.

I'm rekindling to joy of making and giving handmade Christmas cards...I've set aside time to make cards, which is something I haven't managed to achieve for a few years. I've made around 20 Christmas cards so far and still have quite a few to make! Here is a sneaky peak of what I have been creating...

I'm enjoying getting into the festive spirit listening to carol singers and sampling mulled cider and mulled wine...This weekend we've been getting festive in a local pub with a log fire and lovely Christmas tree, and seeing our friend Jo sing her heart out at a carol concert.

There are plenty more things to look forward to during the run up to Christmas...we need to decorate our home and put up the tree, see friends and sing carols by candlelight.

What are you doing to make it feel like Christmas? Are you making any gifts or decorations?