One of the best parts about the holidays is spending time with your friends and family. You all work and run around so much during the year that it can be hard to set aside a few hours to just get together, talk about your lives, laugh and enjoy each other's company.

Even still, during some busy holiday seasons it can be difficult to even set aside time to have fun. We all get so carried away with planning that we forget about the reason for the season.

But when you create your own decorations for your house, you not only help to prepare for the upcoming holiday, you also have a fantastic opportunity to spend time with the ones you love. Having a craft night to help get the house decorated is the perfect way to get all the people you care about together. Here are a few great ways to have some fun with everyone while still getting the house in a more festive mode.

50ct Electric Pink, Blue & Yellow Lights White Cord

The last few weeks of winter before spring comes around can be tough on everyone. After long months of cold and ice, we all start to get cabin fever eventually. Even when you reach the first official day of spring, you may still get a few bitterly cold days and weeks.

This is the time of year when you have to remind both yourself and everyone around you that sunshine and warm weather is on its way. When the last winds of winter are still relentlessly blowing on your windowpanes, that is when you need to fortify the house with springtime cheer.

Most people think of strings of lights only for the Christmas season, but you can find varieties that are great for any time of year. This set of lights comes in festive spring colors of blue, yellow and pink. There are 50 lights strung about on a white cord. You can set them to burn steadily or flash one by one. The best part of these lights is that even if one burns out the rest keep on shining!

Don't let the last days of winter blues get you down. Remind yourself that the sun will be warming your body soon by engulfing your house in the glow of these festive bulbs.

Metal Waving Flag with Pole Cookie Cutter

The Fourth of July is a great holiday for making the most of a day with your family and friends. The best part of this celebration is that it really requires very little pre-planning. You don't have to worry about buying presents or planning out a big meal. You can just walk down to the park to watch the fireworks with your family or plan a big barbecue where everyone is invited!

If you want to make your next Fourth of July party extra special, you can add a little fun into the mix by making festive flag cookies. This cookie cutter makes it easy for you to punch out patterns in the shape of a flag.

Of course, this handy baking accessory doesn't just have to be for the American Fourth of July. Are you planning a fiesta for Cinco de Mayo? Well then, you can use this very same flag cookie cutter. Just make sure you decorate the cookie featuring the Mexican flag instead of the old "stars and bars." With a little creative food coloring mixing, you can decorate your cookies to look like any flag you can image! Paint a skull and crossbones on your sugar cookies and have your own pirate party!

7 Inch Red Felt Stockings - Package of 6 Stockings

Decorating the house for Christmas can quickly turn into an exhausting endeavor. It starts out with a few strands of lights and some fake snow and the next thing you know, the house looks like Clark Griswald's in "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation."

Of course, getting the house ready for your big holiday celebration can also be a fun time to hang out with your family. This set of six red felt stockings can easily be turned into a great night with the family. Just pick up a pack of colorful puffy paint (sold separately) and you can decorate these stockings however you like.

This can also be a fun activity for your Christmas party. Fill them up with treats and let your guests decorate them to take home as a keepsake. Holding an office party this year? Fill these up with gift cards (or coal) and give your employees a festive surprise!

When the holidays come around, getting your house decorated can help everyone to get into the spirit of the times. With these great holiday crafts, you can not only decorate your home, but you can also have fun activities that allow you to have a blast with your friends and family.

Author's Bio: 

Mike Colman is a freelance writer who writes about hobbies and interests including products such as craft supplies.