For today’s post I wanted to share a “dollar store gem” I recently found. For $1.25 at my dollar store (which is owned by Dollar Tree in the USA) I got 15 Christmas balls that are the perfect size to decorate a doll or miniature tree.

The fun begins when you personalize the ornament with your dolls name and then use it when you set your doll’s holiday table, as a place card.

To personalize your Christmas ball you will need:

• Small Christmas ball like the ones shown above
• A permanent marker
• * optional stickers, glitter glue, gem stickers, or other items to personalize and decorate the balls
• *optional a copy of the poem below

Step one: Use the permanent marker to write your doll’s names on the ball, let it dry. Make one for each of your dolls or some for your friends and family.

Step two: Decorate the ball with stickers and glitter or glue on gem stones if you would like.

Step three: Print out or copy the poem below and attach a copy with the ball when giving it to friends.

I was sent a Christmas Ball with this poem which you may wish to copy and include with your personalized Christmas Balls to friends, family or even your dolls.

“A ball is a circle, no beginning and no end. It keeps us together like our circle of friends. But the treasure inside for your to see, is the treasure of friendship that you have granted to me. Today I pass the friendship ball to you. Pass one on to some one who is a friend to you~ Anonymous”

So weather you use your Christmas balls to decorate your own doll Christmas tree or you use them to set the perfect holiday table place cards I hope you have a wonderful time making this craft for your dolls.

UPDATED!! Entries are now closed, but scroll down to see the winners list and all the amazing photos our readers sent in.

Our Halloween Parade was such a hit and we have had so many requests for the Doll Diaries t-shirts that we decided to have a Holiday Gala party! As you can see, Natalie has already started working on her display – she has a metallic tree that we found at Target today for $8 and she hung all her American Girl Hallmark ornaments on it. Kit and Gwen brought their shopping bags – maybe they have gifts in them?

Winners were chosen using numbers generated by random.org and include:

#3 – Lena

#8 – Dacia

#16 – Hannah

#21 – Priya

#22 – Holly

#23 – Diana

#69 – Britts

#76 – Moe

#78 – Marina

#81 – Paula

Thanks to all who entered!! This has been so much fun that  we are looking to do something similar every month next year.

Here are the entries! Click on an image to view it larger and be able to leave a comment or holiday wish.

One of our readers, Auntie Paula, is an Auntie who got snowed in on Christmas with three feet of snow.  Since her dolls and she could not go visit her 5.5-year-old niece, they had a party instead.  Here are a some of pictures of Samantha (Sammy), Nellie, Felicity, and Nicki on Christmas Eve and Christmas morning.

The dolls getting ready.

Welcoming their guest.

The tree – isn’t it beautiful?

Christmas Eve

Christmas Cookie

Opening gifts on Christmas morning.

Auntie Paula – your scenes are gorgeous! Thank you for sharing these with us and we would love to see more of your collection/scenes in the future!

This year has been awesome and I have to thank all the Doll Diaries readers, commenters and fans for that! You all have made Doll Diaries the most fun place to visit for doll related news, scoop, discussion, pictures, and games.

Since Christmas is just a few days away, here are more reader photos of their dolls getting into that holiday spirit!

Click on each of the photos to see the full picture.

Have a great holiday and let’s make 2009 even better!

When my son was little we had the Playmobil Advent Calendar Christmas in Forest that he loved – each day you opened a box to find a new toy to add to the Christmas scene. As my girls have gotten older, they want ones of their own, but they want advent calendars that are a little more girly. There are some really cute ones out this year!

Littlest Pet Shop Figures Exclusive Advent Calendar has 24 days of fun! Each window reveals a new surprise including 3 pets (like the purple penguin) and accessories for the scene.

Barbie Advent Calendar doesn’t contain a Barbie doll, but has 24 different fashions and accessories to help Barbie get ready for the holidays.

The Ponyville Advent Calendar contains 3 ponies and 40 accessories to help your My Little Pony fan count down the days until Santa arrives.

Playmobil makes great toys for imaginations at work. This Unicorn Fairy Advent Calendar is sure to be a hit with the girliest of girls – too cute!

LEGO Belville: Advent Calendar contains all the pieces to create a beautiful holiday party scene complete with refreshments.

KidKraft Advent Christmas Calendar – this is more of a traditional advent calendar that is perfect for little hands. Open each little box to reveal another piece of a traditional nativity scene.

Here are a few more advent calendars that girls (and some boys) will love – just click on the images for ordering info:

Playmobil Advent Calendar – Emperor’s Knights Playmobil Advent Calendar Dragons Land Playmobil Advent Calendar – Dinosaur Expedition Simpsons Chocolate Advent Calendar Deluxe Christmas Chocolate Advent Calendar Magnetic Advent Calendar Really Woolly Kids – Christian 3-D Advent Calendar Peace On Earth – Christian Nativity Advent Calendar Santa Mickey Mouse Advent Calendar Red and White Holiday Mickey Mouse Advent Calendar Precious Moments Advent Calendar Bratz Advent Calendar A Charlie Brown Christmas Advent Calendar Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer Christmas Advent Calendar Santa & Reindeer Christmas Advent Calendar Crafty Advent Calendar Nutcracker Christmas Advent Calendar Santa Moon Christmas Advent Calendar Eric Carle’s Dream Snow Pop Up Christmas Advent Calendar Reindeer Ride Christmas Advent Calendar Olive, the Other Reindeer Pop-Up Advent Calendar Christmas Chocolate Advent Calendar Santa`s Workshop Chocolate Advent Calendar

I wish they made one for American Girl, but there are plenty of girly choices that will help make it even more fun to count down the holidays.

Just in time for the holidays, the newest Barbie animated movie, Barbie in a Christmas Carol, comes out on November 4th. Barbie in a Christmas Carol is a heart-warming adaptation of the classic Dickens story filled with cherished Christmas carols, fabulous fashions and lots of laughs! The movie stars Barbie™ as Eden Starling™ – a glamorous singing diva of a theatre in Victorian London. Along with her snooty cat, Chuzzlewit, Eden selfishly plans to make all the theatre performers stay and rehearse on Christmas Day! Not even Eden’s costume designer and childhood friend, Catherine can talk Eden out of her self-centered tantrum.

It’s up to three very unusual Christmas Spirits to take Eden on a fantastical holiday journey that will open her heart to the spirit of the season and the joy of giving. Barbie™ in A Christmas Carol is a family favorite to enjoy every holiday season!

Some of the DVD features include:

• Barbie and the Diamond Castle Secret Scene! An exclusive scene from the latest Barbie Princess movie.
• Christmas Carol-oke Party — Sing-Along to your favorite songs from the movie.
• “Jingle Bells” Music Video starring Chuzzlewit the Cat.
• Collecting Dreams: The Making of the 2008 Holiday™ Barbie® Doll.

Other titles in the Barbie animated series:

• Barbie and the Diamond Castle
• Barbie in the 12 Dancing Princesses
• Barbie Mariposa and Her Butterfly Friends
• Barbie as The Island Princess
• Barbie As The Princess and the Pauper
• Barbie Fairytopia: Mermaidia
• Barbie of Swan Lake
• Barbie as Rapunzel