Moving right along…this item was store-bought and dressed up a skosh to further depict the spirit of the yuletide…
No. 6—A laser-cut wooden decoration, with a mini landscape with trees and a snowman, boasts a central NOEL declaration, but that’s only half the joy. I glued on available mini-ornaments, like another snowman, a string of mini-lights, and two tiny ornaments (a tree, a penguin) and the party only gets brighter and more festive.
A Nutcracker is a traditional icon for the yuletide, and as this countdown continues, it’s also a part of our yearly Christmas mission. So, here’s No. 5…
No. 5 – I never fail to dress up a Nutcracker decoration for a dear friend. Spotted this rocking-horse ‘cracker last season, put it to test by adding a few accents, like a red bow, a tiny Christmas tree, and party-pickswith holiday hues. So this one’s a keeper. And it rocks!
Henry Kapono, Na Hoku Hanohano Award-winner and Grammy nominee, will put his Hawaiian spin on Christmas, at 6:30 and 9 p.m. Dec. 6 at Blue Note Hawaii, Outrigger Wakiki Hotel.
The theme is “Merry Christmas to You,” his annual holiday song
Henry Kapono
Alx Kawakami also will be featured.
Doors open at 5 and 8:30 p.m. for beverage and meal service.
“Ukulele All-Stars Christmas,” a gathering of ukulele talent, is set for 7 p.m. Dec. 18 at Blue Note Hawaii, Outrigger Waikiki Hotel.
Participating strummers are Cynthia Lin, Brittni Paiva, Kalei Gamiao and Abe Lagrimas Jr.
The event is touted as a fun and cozy kanikapila-jam, with the four-string instrument featured in a round of interpretations of songs of the holiday season Doors open at 5 p.m. for food and beverage service.
“Elf, the Musical,” that yuletide musical comedy at the Marquis Theatre, has made a splash in the Broadway landscape, landing at No. 4 on the Top 10 compilation. Also making its first appearance this week: “Gypsy,” starring Audra McDonald, at No. 10. Consequently, a Tony winner last summer, “Hell’s Kitchen,” has been bumped off the Top 10.
Moving right along, today’s rundown of holiday decor involves buttons.
No. 4—Buttons are underrated but they make fun ornaments; I’ve had a huge tub of bright buttons, used sparingly, so hauled out these gems this year. You need to secure just the right size brush tree to make this work, but I designed two this season. Smaller buttons are best for smaller trees; I have a smaller jarful of mixed little buttons in all sizes, too. Option: you can do all-red or all-green buttons, but I favor a blend of colors and shapes, shown here.
Our rundown of holiday crafts, from Dec. 1 through Dec. 25, proves no two creations are alike…
No. 3 – Shadow boxes have emerged as a must-do, too; this season, I did three.
I added red, green and white glittery paper cut to fit the slots, then assembled miniature icons of Christmas: a Santa, candy cane, Santa cap, trees, gingerbread man, snow man and reindeer and more. Flat visuals, like adhesive stickers, work best. For this particular creation, I utilized images from the same set of stick-on brand, so there’s kind of a uniformity in the figures in each slot. No two creations are ever the same, however.
The North Pole and thin-Santa on either side of the shadow box are clothes pin adorments.