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Now 11 days away from Christmas, the pressure is on to make sure your decorations do their job in getting you in the holiday spirit. So for a low-cost and family-fun activity, bring out your art supplies for some 'do-it-yourself' holiday fun for the whole family.
With fewer Christmas events taking place in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus, this is one way to have fun at home with the family. Even if you're not the most crafty, crafting is a fun activity to do with family and friends.
Here are some DIYs you may like to try this holiday season:
Spray painted Christmas pillows
Is there such a thing as too many decorations during Christmas? If you're looking to add a touch of christmas spirit to your home, try making these cute and easy DIY spray-painted Christmas pillows. This DIY is a perfect activity for kids and anyone looking to add a sophisticated (but totally Christmasy) look to your year-round couch or chair. You can find how to make this DIY here.
Christmas Scrabble tile coasters
With all the hot chocolate and fun holiday cocktails you'll be drinking in the next week, it might be time to swap out your everyday coasters for these fun Christmas Scrabble tile coasters. This DIY is simple, and can be customizable to fit any room in your home. You can find how to make this DIY here.
Mason jar lid wreath ornaments
If you're looking to use the last of those craft supplies at home, this might be the DIY for you. Simple, uncomplicated and cute, these ornaments could be the final touch to your Christmas tree this year. This craft uses only mason jar lids and any craft supplies you can find, making it an inexpensive and fun project for the whole family. Personalize your ornament to fit your personality and show off your craft talents. You can find how to make this DIY here.
Dried orange garland
Everyone loves a good candle, but how does having a decoration that can make your house smell like citrus sound? This DIY is completely inexpensive, easy to make and can add a fun pop of color to any home. The holiday season is filled with fun and bright things, so why not add a natural element to it? You can find how to make this DIY here.
Christmas wreath
To add a final touch of holiday cheer to any home, Christmas wreaths are perfect DIYs to show off your decoration skills. Just like Christmas lights, a wreath can add that final touch to any front door. Whether you live in an apartment or a house, a wreath is a must for any home. This project can be customized to fit your taste and the decor of your home. You can find how to make this DIY here.
Check out your local craft store for the supplies you need to start one of these projects.
This is part of a holiday series counting down to Christmas so make sure to visit Austonia tomorrow, as we reach 10 days until Christmas.
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Historic preservationists, for their part, overwhelmingly support historic zoning, which would preserve the buildings in perpetuity. The Historic Landmark Commission unanimously voted to initiate historic zoning in July, citing architectural significance, landscape features and association to historic figures. City staffers recommend historic zoning, calling both structures one-of-a-kind examples of vernacular architecture.
Tarrytown neighbors have also banded together to stop the demolition. Many have written letters, and a few spoke at the meeting. “How could anyone buy this property with the intent of destroying it?” Ila Falvey said. “I think it’s an architectural treasure.”
Michael Whellan, an attorney representing the property owner, said that the claims made by preservationists are shaky. The buildings are run down, he said, and have had substantial renovations. A structural engineer hired by the owner said any attempt at preservation would involve tearing down and rebuilding – an undertaking Whellan said would likely cost millions.
Whellan also argued that any historical significance derived from the property’s association with Delisle and longtime owner C.H. Slator is dubious. “These men are not noted for any civic, philanthropic or historic impact,” he said.
What’s more, according to Whellan, Slator likely participated in segregation as the owner of the Tavern on North Lamar Boulevard between 1953 and 1960.
A city staffer, however, said she found no evidence to support the claim. “We would never landmark a property where a segregationist lived, or there was a racist person,” Kimberly Collins with the Historic Preservation Office said.
Commissioner Awais Azhar couldn’t support historic zoning in part due to lingering uncertainty about Slator. “Focusing on that factor is not here to disparage an individual or family. It is not about playing the race card. This is an important assertion for us to consider as Planning commissioners,” Azhar said.
Commissioner Carmen Llanes Pulido said that allegations of racism should come as no surprise. “We’re talking about white male property owners in the 1950s, in Austin, on the west side – and of course they were racist,” she said. But she argued that allowing the house to be demolished based on these grounds does nothing to help people of color who have been harmed by racism and segregation.
The question of tax breaks was also controversial. Michael Gaudini, representing the property owner, said that the tax breaks associated with historic zoning would exacerbate inequality by shifting property tax burdens to less affluent communities. City staffers estimate that the property, appraised at $3.5 million, would get either a $8,500 or $16,107 property tax break annually, depending on whether a homestead exemption is applied.
Commissioner Grayson Cox preferred the commission focus not on tax breaks but on whether the structures merit preservation. “To me, nothing in the historic preservation criteria lists, is this person deserving of a tax break or not?”
Azhar, on the other hand, said he plans to propose a code amendment getting rid of city property tax breaks for historic properties.
The commission fell one vote short of recommending historic zoning, with six commissioners in support and three opposed. Azhar and commissioners Claire Hempel and Greg Anderson voted against.
The odds of City Council zoning over an owner’s wishes are slim. Nine out of 11 members must vote in favor, and there have only been a handful of such cases over the past several decades.
