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.

Christmas Eve Centerpiece

We are lucky enough to have real holly in our yard - berries and all :) Sometimes a simple centerpiece is my favourite and I like this one extra because the height is so low, it is great for visiting over. The lit candles are so cosy reflected in the thrifted silver tray.

Do unto Others Advent

Christmas is such and fun and special time of year, it becomes easy to get too busy and forget to emphasize why we celebrate Christmas in the first place.  The night the Savior of the world was born.

I don't know if anyone else if following this but I love the ideas on


Today she has a great idea that can be added to any advent calendar, I'm going to quickly print up her list and slip the activities into mine...what a great way to follow the example of Jesus and serve others.

Kids Ornament Swap - Received

This beautiful angel is made from one of the family's own chicken's feathers.





This had a note that said it was a fairy tale house, reminds me of Hansel and Gretel.

What a pretty snowflake.











This is such a pretty felted fairy and she hangs so beautifully!


My boys loved this joker! What a clever use of a walnut plus amazing details. E has featured him in several drawings since he arrived!

For more ornaments that others swapped see the flickr group.

Kids Ornament Swap via Crafty Crow

This year we participated again in the Crafty Crow's Kid's Ornament Swap. We had fun making and receiving our ornaments. This year's theme was Fairy Tales!
"Inspiration for ornaments include: gnomes, kings and queens, castles, enchanted forests, fairies, unicorns, knights, princesses, dragons,
mermaids, etc."



When my boys think of fairy tales, they first thought of knights!

I wanted to do something a bit different, I found these foil sheets in my stash (I had from a long time ago from Close to My Heart) about the thickness of paper that you can cut easily with scissors, paper punches even. The boys punched out the stars. Then we used brass embossing stencils and stylist for the designs on the shields. They are backed with felt (glued on). I was going to use the metal rings but ribbon hangs better so that's what we sent off.

(more pictures to come of the fun we got in the mail.)

Gingerbread, Sugar Cookies and Sprinkles

Merry Christmas!

Thank you Mom and Dad for hosting a wonderful Christmas!

A Christmas Nativity

It has been a tradition as long as I can remember to act out the nativity story on Christmas Eve. My dad reads from the bible - St. Luke chapter 2, and everyone dresses in make-shift costumes. It is a great way to remember the birth of our Savior and celebrate the true meaning of Christmas.

This year there were 4 children (with an extra babe watching), who had their own opinions about how things should go. E knew immediately he wanted to be one of the Wisemen, and was especially pleased when he got a gold wrapping paper crown and a ride on the camel (thank you Luke). C did not want to be involved at all, not liking any of the parts until he found out the angel got to fly (thank you Luke again). By the way a white pillow case pinned to your sleeves works great for angel wings in a pinch. There were two Marys to start with, then a small kerfuffle about that until my sister offered to be a sheep for a pretty Shepherd. That Shepherd was then recruited as a second wiseman by lure of a gold crown. A rather dramatic and disjointed enactment, but great memories.

An Angel of Christmases past

Despite a rather disheveled appearance, this little angel has a special place in my heart. She has seen many Christmases with me. My grandmother gave her to me in my early teens. Because I love (and miss) my grandmother, I love her too and she brings me fond memories. I've never named her myself, but C calls her my wish angel. She is sweet and when wound up she plays silent night old school music box style. Do you have any wonky, but special Christmas decorations? I'd love to hear about them.


She kind of reminds me of the angel in this story "The Littlest Angel" by Charles Tazewell (not perfect but with a genuine heart.)

If you don't know this story it about a rather mischievous little angel, who is constantly getting into trouble, not fitting in as angel, with a tarnished halo and wings that aren't quite right. He searches his heart for a gift for the Christ Child...I think a very touching story...but it could bring up some questions you/your children aren't ready for about death and heaven, so read it before you read it to your kids. I haven't read it to mine yet.

An Entire Suburb of Gingerbread Houses

My friend Jenn G. is one of those people you feel very lucky to know. Honestly, I don't just love her for her gingerbread. She is a truly amazing person, fun, generous and kind. But let's focus on the gingerbread for a moment here. She had this party amazingly orchestrated.

1. She didn't just invite a couple of friends - there were 30+ kids there! The lower right corner picture is just the first wave of gingerbread houses on the block. Seriously, the buildings sprawled all over the kitchen.

2. Homemade gingerbread, her own template for the houses and enough for each child to decorate and take their own - did I mention how many kids there were?

3. Homemade icing with Meringue powder that was a fantastic cement and tasty (not that I licked my fingers)

4. She had each house sorted so all the pieces were ready on a plate for each child. 2 roof pieces, 4 sides, two with windows, one with a door, two with roof points, a door, a tree, and two gingerbread guys! (did I mention how many kids there were?)

5. She had amazing amounts and assortment of candy - all the necessities and cool extras like chocolate rocks?

6. She had older girls helping ice/glue the houses together - the hardest part, which they made look easy.

7. She had the kids work in shifts and other activities running simultaneously - LEGO building in one room, trains in another and even a Christmas movie for those that needed some down time.

8. She had healthy snacks - apple slices and carrot sticks and kids ate them (mine too) How did she do that with all that candy around?

9. She had a candy system - it was all up on the bar in containers and the kids each got to come choose a cupful at a time to decorate with.

10. She keep things tidy, she looked put together in a cute Christmas apron, she remained breezy, cheery, festive and positive through the ENTIRE party, even with some twists like kids running around or letting the dog.

THANK YOU JENN! You are AMAZING!++++

Santy Claus, Why, why are you taking our Christmas Tree? Why?

"I know just what to do!" The Grinch laughed in his throat.

And he made a quick Santy Claus hat and a coat.

And he chuckled, and clucked, "What a great Grinchy trick!

"With this coat and this hat, I look just like Saint Nick!"

Make your own Santa Claus hat -

Supplies:
- Large piece of construction paper
- Batting or cotton balls

These would also make great elf hats in green.





















E doesn't look too "Grinchy" in this shot, but that what we have been acting out. It's a favourite story around here.

Christmas Countdown - Letters to Santa

Don't forget your letters to Santa. It was the boys idea to decorate their play mail box as a direct connection to the North Pole. They are filling it with wish lists, letters and pictures for Santa to open when he comes on Christmas Eve.

Recycle Envelopes into gift bags

I don't think I'm the only one that has extra envelopes from the stack of greeting cards I sent? These could also be made from received envelopes.

1. Trim off one end of the sealed envelope.

2. Create a fold crease (both forward and back) and the uncut end of the envelop

3. Open envelop from cut end.

4. Fold corners into envelop seam.

5. Use double-sided tape to secure corners to base of the new "bag".

6. Stand and fill.

7. Decorate (this is a lesson learned - easier to decorate before assembling)

8. I sealed the top of the envelop with double-sided tape.

For another way to make a gift bag from an envelop to create a more square shaped bag - see the great tutorial on How About Orange...

These are great for small gifts like the little items I'm taking to a "Favourite Things" party tonight...should be fun.