Merry Christmas 2011

Wishing everyone a Very Merry Christmas!

Recycled Wrapping!

After making this TP roll wreath last year, I am always looking for places to use these fun TP roll flowers. Here is my take on recycled wrapping. It's a present wrapped in a paper grocery bag, (my trick to make the paper look nice since it's so thick, is to use double sided tape so you don't have big chucks of tape on the outside) then I wrapped a strip of burlap and ribbon around the top, (also secured with double sided tape) and then just used clear thread to tie the TP roll flower on top, and added a label. I think it is super cute, green, and thrifty.

Favorite Kids Christmas Crafts/Ideas Recap

Here are some of our favorite kid ideas and crafts
from past Christmas posts.

Handmade Nativity Set

Christmas Light Fingerprint Bags

Popsicle Stick Sleds

Handprint and Footprint Reindeer

Bow Wreath Craft

Favorite Christmas Crafts Recap

Here are a few of the most popular past Christmas craft posts from my blog, the Reindeer Rootbeer/Beer I made last year have exploded all over Pinterest! I am SO flattered and glad people love this fun, easy craft! (Clink on the links or pictures below for the original posts.)

Reindeer Rootbeer / Beer

Candy Cane Mittens

Personalized Bags

Ornament Wreath

For more of the fun projects we've done the past few years, check out my old Christmas posts HERE. And come back tomorrow for some of my favorite kids Christmas crafts from last year. :)

Happy 102nd Birthday Great Grandma!

Today is my Great Grandma's 102nd birthday! This picture is from our Christmas party this year. She just loved Nora, and Nora loved talking and smiling to her. I am so happy my girls get to see there Great Great Grandma!

Hope Your Christmas Was Merry!

Hope your Christmas was filled with love, family, health
(even though you can see Nora's cold in this picture)...

Happiness, Joy, Miracles...
(We are SO grateful for Molly's Miracle this year)

Coziness, Grace and Peace!
(Nora loves her new cozy pillow)

Candy Cane Mittens!

After my Mother-in-law made Candy Corn mittens for my girls this fall, I just knew I needed some Candy Cane ones for this winter. Seriously adorable! We are so lucky she loves knitting for my girls.

Molly modeling her new Candy Cane mittens!

And a little pair for sweet Nora. Poor girl has the worst cold right now! Hoping and praying she gets better before this weekend.

Nativity Plate

I love Nativity scenes, and think they are the best Christmas decoration to help remind us of the reason of the season. I used the Silhouette I won to cut this Nativity scene in black vinyl, and then put it on a white dollar store plate. So easy, but really pretty. I saw this idea over at Craftiness Is Not Optional, along with a million other great ideas!

If you want to see more great Nativity sets, check out the Nativity Parade at Crap I've Made. I put Molly's Nativity in it. Merry Christmas!

"Wrapped" in the Spirit

If you need a quick gift for a teacher, neighbor, etc. I thought this idea was great, who doesn't need extra wrapping paper this time of year.

And we added these fun tags, "Hope your getting "Wrapped" up in the spirit of the season!"
I found this idea over at Nannygoat, head over there to print off her adorable tags.

Tissue Paper Tree!

When I saw these fun tissue paper trees, I knew I had to make some. Then, when I read the tutorial and saw you used lots of hot glue, I was in LOVE. Most of you know about my addiction to hot glue. :) I used green tissue paper I had left over from wrapping presents to make this fun tree. It was super easy to make, but took quite awhile to do. I just put Love Actually in the DVD player and got to work.

Head over to Spunky Junky for an awesome tutorial on how to make these great tissue paper trees.
And take this tip from my soon to be released new book, Confessions of a Hot Glue Gun Addict; if you get hot glue on your skin resist the urge to wipe it off right away or your skin will come off too! If you wait a few more seconds and let it dry, then you can peel it off. You may have a little blister, but not the open wound you would have had!

(P.S.- I am not actually writing a book, I am just in a crazy mood today, heehee)

Christmas Tree Onesie

I made up this cute Christmas tree onesie for my friend's sweet little girl. It is SO easy. I used Steam-A-Seam to applique the fabric to the onesie, and then just top stitched around it. I am totally addicted to applique.

Personalized Bags!

I always love fun and functional wrapping. So I made up some fun re-usable bags to put my friends and family's Christmas gifts in. I picked up a bunch of nice re-usable bags from Pier 1 and Micheal's for only $1 or so a piece. The picture below is what the bag looked like before. Then I simply cut out there last names in white vinyl and put it on the bottom of the bag. I think they turned out so so so good! If anyone needs a quick easy gift or bag, definitely try these!

BEFORE

I'm Linking This Project Up To:
Under the Table and Dreaming Sunday Showcase
Whatever goes Wednesday at Someday Crafts

Santaphobia!

It's Nora's first Christmas so I was excited to head to our favorite store to get free pictures with Santa. Nora on the other hand, wasn't so excited!!! Where is my cute 3 year old Molly's picture with Santa you might ask... well, she wouldn't get with in 20 feet of Santa without having a melt down. Needless to say, the only picture I have of her this night was hiding behind dad in the corner. Ah, fun new memories!

Snowman Ornaments

Today I made these fun snowman ornaments. I had a lot of glass beads around the house from making magnets, so I thought these ornaments would be perfect to use some of them up.

Here are the supplies I used:
-Glass Ornament
-Glass Beads
-Hot Glue Gun
-Paint Markers
-Fake Snow

First I just hot glued the glass beads onto the ornament. I stacked 3 high to make a snowman. Next, I used a paint marker to draw on a face, arms, and buttons. And finally, I took the top off the ornament and filled the bottom with fake snow.

Seriously, that was it! SO EASY! I think they are really fun!
I hope you like this quick Christmas ornament. :)

I'm linking this project to:
Under the Table and Dreaming's Sunday Showcase
Whatever goes Wednesday at Someday Crafts

Easy Christmas Lights Kids Craft

Today Miss Molly made up some of these fun Christmas light gift bags to fill with treats for her cousins. This was a huge hit, since she loves any craft involving paint!

Basically I just used a black sharpie to draw a black light strand with little black ends for the "lights."

Then I gave Molly little plates of red, blue, yellow and green paint for her to paint the lights onto the strands.

Ta Da! Super cute kid made gift bags! I saw the light painting idea over at Meet the Dubiens.

Christmas 2009 Favorites

Here are a few of my favorite crafts and projects we did last Christmas season.

Snowman Boxes

Reverse Applique Shirts

Ornament Wreath

Kids Bow Wreath

Hand and Foot Print Reindeer

Poinsettia Pens!

I made up some poinsettia ink pens to use for the holidays. I love how they look like decorations but are pens too. I made them just like these sunflower ones from the baby shower. (Here is a great tutorial on how to make them.) And put them in the same pot. Coffee beans smell so good!

Reindeer Rootbeer / Beer

I made up these "Rootbeer Reindeer" for Molly's gymnastics teacher gift. I saw the idea over at Fingerprints on the Fridge and just had to make them. I think they are so super cute!

I made some to add to my brother Scott's gift too, but used Guinness instead.

I just wrapped brown pipe cleaners around the tops of the bottles, and twisted smaller pieces around to make antlers. Then I hot glued on googly eyes and red pom poms on, easy peasey!

Peronalized Lap Tray

This weekend I have been crafting like crazy trying to get a lot of the Christmas gifts I am making done. Here is a tray I made for Molly. Last year my sister gave her one and she LOVED it, but after using it nonstop it broke.

So I bought this plain pink tray with my coupon at Hobby Lobby. Then I just used paint markers I borrowed from my mom to write her name and a few fun flowers. I think it turned out great, and the paint is totally washable and waterproof.

Hope Your Christmas Was Great!

I hope everyone had a great and blessed Christmas. We are definitely feeling very blessed and loved this holiday.

We have had a week filled with family parties and visiting with great friends from out of town. Although I have still been feeling really sick at some point each day (only about 7 weeks left!) and the ice and snow, we managed to make it to all of the services, parties and events we were hoping too. We have the best family and friends in the world, and we loved being able to celebrate Christmas with them.

We have also been VERY spoiled this year. Seriously! I have never felt so surprised.

Here are a few of my favorite pictures...

Watching Molly enjoy the parties and gifts was so much fun. 2 is such a fun age!

My friend Stacy surprised her with this AMAZING new bike. She hasn't got off it is days, seriously, after 3 hours I had to make her take a break for lunch. :)

Molly thought she better get out her tools to help Daddy put together her new table and chairs. Not sure the saw will help, but she loved "helping."

Hope everyone had a great Christmas and a wonderful break.