O Christmas Tree Cards

Now that Thanksgiving is over, it's time to get your Christmas cards out. These are the cards we made last year, it is an easy fun way to make your own Christmas cards your kids can do it themselves. My cool cousin Jamie made these a couple of years ago, but I couldn't find the exact link, but you can check out her blog, Confessions of a Narcoleptic, here.

Supplies:

1. Green tissue paper, we used several shades because I had some in a stash, but you could keep it simple with a light and dark.

2. Clear contact paper

3. Scissors

4. White pre-folded cards, or white cardstock to fold into cards

5. Anything you want to decorate your trees with. I used a simple star stamp and silver ink (and a "Merry Christmas" Stamp too so I would have to hand write it), but other things would be fun - glitter glue, sequins, jewels for ornaments, etc.

STEP 1:  Flatten and stack your tissue paper.

STEP 2: Cut tissue paper into strips, then squares/rectangles. The pieces don't need to be uniform.

STEP 3: Peel back a section of contact paper, sticky side up - give each child a section

STEP 4: Sprinkle tissue squares onto the sticky side of the contact paper, this contributes to the randomness of the placement and the layered effect. Be forewarned, if a square sticks it cannot be moved. If you wanted you could also take the time to place each square individually.

STEP 5: Fill in any blank spaces with tissue squares

STEP 6:  Measure against the cards you have to decide how tall you want your trees. Cut your contact paper into rows that are that height, Mine are about 4" tall. Cut rows into tall triangles by simply angling your scissors. It doesn't have to be perfect, trees come in all shapes and sizes.

STEP 7: Attach the tree onto the card. I used double sided tape at the top and the bottom.

STEP 8: Decorate your trees and add your greeting.

Pastry Scrap Cookies

I remember my mother making pies in large batches when I was little. All kinds of fruit pies and it seemed like all day.  I can't remember what my mom used to call the scraps of pie dough she let us have to sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar and bake, but they were such a treat.  For something different than sugar cookies. 

For a couple of dollars each kid gets a ready made round of dough :) Cheating short cut I know.

Father's Day Cards

Cut from the pages of a falling apart, vintage children's book about a fire engine. See the great things to be had in a "Free" pile? The boys cut out what they wanted with the Hero theme and I helped adding fire to the building with coloured paper.

"Dad you are the best hero" pretty much sums it up!

Happy Easter

Luke made homemade angel food cake that was delicious. I tried my hand at Hot Cross Buns, They looked pretty but were not as good as my mother's. I've got some improvements to make. We celebrated with great friends, the sun shone on Seattle and even the flowers were blooming. Hope you had a happy Easter too!

Kiss Me I'm Irish Hat

C was pretty excited about his hat. He came up with the idea himself and I happened to have a green plastic plate for a sturdy base.  He happily wore it to school and I was surprised it survived the day!

The brim holds paper airplanes.

there is a pocket on one side that has a hole to an inside pocket to hold snacks.

Who wouldn't want to kiss that little Irish (mixed with a few other things) face?

A House for a Leprechan

Other years we've tried to set some Leprechaun traps hoping to catch a little guy and strike it rich with a pot of gold.  We are still waiting.  Fun info here about how to catch a leprechaun. This year the boys are trying a new approach - make a lovely, welcoming space that a leprechaun would like to stay.  The theory is then he will be so happy with his new home he will reward you.

This is C's house: several rooms, a poem he wrote for the leprechaun, jewels, shamrocks, coins, a rainbow - 

What more could a leprechaun want?

E's is simpler with a rainbow arched doorway and sprinkled gold everywhere.

Update: after several nights of vacancy hotel Leprechaun is closed. 
"I guess Leprechauns only live in Ireland and don't like to travel much," C

I got a brand new (to me) pair of roller skates...

Do you sometimes you wish you could back in time? You can't really change anything ,but for a few hours you can re-live some fun.  Try a roller rink. And yep, they might even have the exact same skates!
My sister and I each had a pair of skates that you would use the key to tighten them onto your shoes. Then we wore the key around our necks on brightly coloured ribbons as we skated the street. How cool were we? Anyone else having flashbacks?

This roller rink is Skate King in Bellevue, WA

And if you'd like to sing while you skate try this:

A little love note...

One night I came home from book club and found this. It's nice to know you are loved and thought of when you are not there.  I hope you all had a lovely valentine's day! Thanks for reading my blog.

Stick 'em Up Wild West Valentine from Nana

How cute are these "wild west" valentines with lollipops that my mum sent the boys?

My Funny Valentine

Let's face it the way to an 8 year old's heart is through his funny bone...Here are a few groan-worthy knock knock jokes for your valentine...

Knock, Knock
Who's there?
Howard!
Howard, who?
Howard you like to be my valentine?

Knock, Knock
Who's there?
Daryl!
Daryl who?
Daryl never be another valentine like you!


Knock, Knock
Who's there?
Gladys!
Gladys who?
Gladys can be to wish you a Happy Valentine's Day!


Knock, Knock
Who's there?
Sadie!
Sadie who?
Sadie word and I'll be your valentine!

Make Your Own Snow Globe - let it snow glitter!

With all our snow last week outside we were inspired for an indoor snow craft...

Supplies:

•  A strong, waterproof glue to create the inside/base of your snow globe (we used E6000 and let it dry overnight)  
• A glass jar with a tight fitting lid
• Sparkles or glitter + spoon to stir
• Liquid Glycerin
• Hot glue and glue gun - or caulking would work to seal the globe and prevent leaking

DAY 1:  The first thing to do to make a snow globe is decide on what should go inside.  Play around with different figures, toys, ornaments, mini trees or whatever.  The ones that turned out to be my favourites were the least conventional.  You will want to create a bit of a raised base for any figurines you use so they will be visible inside the glass, You can use anything that is not water soluble - pebbles, glass marbles, etc.  Flip the lid over and glue items to the underside of the lid, checking as you glue that the lid will still screw onto the jar.  Definitely use your strongest glue to position the items.  You can also glue something directly to the inside of the clean, dry jar if you would like it a bit more suspended. (Below we did this with the little girl on the horse ornament to give more of an appearance of flying.) Allow the glue to dry overnight.

 

DAY 2: Next you want to mix water + glitter (not too much or the glitter clumps together) + a tablespoon of liquid glycerin. Stir together. 

Take your figurines and dunk them upside down and screw the lid on. Turn upside down and see how you like the results.  If there is any changes to make there is still time...when you are sure its good, seal it shut with hot glue. 

Here are some of ours. The best thing for me was using all those little toys that get underfoot. And honestly aren't these pirates a lot happier? Swimming in gold dust forevermore...and standing on a pile of treasure.

This guy feels like he is discovering a new planet...(I think this is my favourite)

Footnote: We used glass jars without any breaks, but the glycerin is slippery and I think plastic would work as well and not be as fragile. Let it snow glitter!

Let it Snow!

We have been celebrating today - Seattle was given a beautifully heavy snowfall overnight, and the boys were given a day off school (and tomorrow too). First thing at 8am, with snow still coming down, we hit the slopes. Well, at least tried out the park hill near our house. Besides a few picnic tables at the bottom to dodge (this park was not designed with sledding in mind) we had a lot of fun.