Christmas Crafts 2011: Kids Houses

Petra

Sherman



Kay



Christmas Crafts 2011: Twin Super Capes

This was my 2nd attempt at making capes.  Many years ago I made a read cape for Reye.  Yet it wasn't all one piece and the seams kept breaking with play.  The strap at the neck also needed continual reinforcement.  So I cut this cape from one piece of fabric and left the edges raw.  No seams to unravel.  The neck strap has been reinforced with some felt at the neck.

Can't wait to see my boys flying come Christmas Day.

Advent Adventure

How do you manage the Advent Calendar with 5 kids?  Do you get them each their own chocolate calendar?  A neighbor ruined my kids last year with just that treat.  Petra has been pining for a new advent calendar.  Yet times are tough.  So this momma had to come up with a plan.  How I love the challenge. 

1st I looked the WEB for inspiration.  All those tiny boxes, drawers, etc. just weren't going to cut it for this LARGE  family.  So I combined a few ideas.  We now have a scripture tree made from cardboard, old Christmas cards and verses for each day. 

They read the verse,  I hide the Advent Box, and then they get to try and find it with clues.  I will put different things in the box every day.  I would love some ideas.  Mine so far are:  Chocolate, Christmas stories, a game, pictures from Christmas past, a craft, etc.What fun.

Planning on using this site:  http://www.thrivingfamily.com/Features/Web/2010/dec/advent-calendar.aspx

Here are the verses for our tree:

December 1 -  Psalm 51:10-12

December 2 - Isaiah 7:14

December 3 - Luke 1:26-38

December 4- Hebrews 11:1

December 5: John 3:16-17



December 6 - Mark 15:17

December 7 - Deuteronomy 32:7

December 8 - Psalm 19:1

December 9 - Luke 2:8-14

December 10 - Luke 2:15-18

December 11 - 1 John 4:7-12

December 12 -  Romans 5:1-2

December 13 - John 12:45-46

December 14 - Psalm 126:2-3

December 15 - Psalm 37:23-24

December 16 - Psalm 98:1-6

December 17 - Matthew 2:1-12

December 18 - Philippians 2:5-11

December 19 - Isaiah 9:6-7

December 20 - Luke 1:26-38

December 21 - Luke 4:18-21

December 22 - Luke 2:7

December 23 - Mark 16:15

December 24 – Psalm 33:20; Luke 25-32

December 25 – Luke 2:1-20

Christmas Crafts 2011 - Ski Mask

I just found a picture of this on the web and copied it.  I love the idea of him being able to wear it as a mask or pulling the whole thing down around his neck.  This was very easy to make.

Christmas Crafts 2011: Sock Arm Warmers

These were great fun to make.  See Pinterest tutorial.

Source: iammommahearmeroar.blogspot.com via Christy on Pinterest

Christmas Crafts 2011: Vintage Childs Apron

Christmas Crafts 2011 - Fabric Flowers

This was the 1st of my flower making days. I do not have the contraption they used to cut the perfect circles so I printed circles on paper and glued Velcro to them. I can cut pretty good circles this way and my pattern stays put.

Here is the Pinterest tutorial:

Source: stampwithtami.com via Christy on Pinterest

Christmas Crafts 2011 - Wine Bottles

I have definitely had a love hate relationship with this craft. I just loved the idea of lace decoupaged on the wine bottles. I 1st was going to make lights but didn't want to have to drill a hole in the glass. So I decided that it would be fun for folks to be able to fill the bottle with what ever they like (dish soap, olive oil, plant watering can, etc. Yet this has posed another obstacle as I want the bottle to be able to be at least wiped down if it get's dirty. So my cheep project of bottles and Grandma Sterlings lace became expensive with Modge Podge and Triple Thick Brilliant gloss.

Then trying to get the lace to stay put around the bottle left an ugly seam. The roses purchased for $3.50 a yard were definitely needed.


Here is the Pinterest inspiration.

Source: urbancomfort.typepad.com via Christy on Pinterest

Christmas Crafts 2011 - Baby Maze

This was another supper easy craft for the twins. I plan on bringing these along to DRs. appointments, etc. Who wouldn't love pushing a bead around in some cossy fabric.

Here is the Pinterest tutorial:

Source: servingpinklemonade.blogspot.com via Christy on Pinterest

Christmas Crafts 2011 - Leg Warmers

I really liked making these for Petra. They were super easy. I also love how my mistakes turn into my creative repair. I sewed one of the top ribbing on the wrong way so that is what encouraged me to add the ruffle. Nothing like a little mistake to prompt inspiration.

I made a hat from this fabric last year.

Here is the tutorial from Pinterest.

http://crochetncrafts.com/sewing/sewinglegwarmers.html

Christmas Crafts 2011 - Snowmen

Painting these snowmen was one of my favorite. I just can't wait till all 5 of my kids are old enough that I can just enter into the dreamy place called artistic expression for more than a moment. Yet even with interruptions I am learning how to stay in the flow of my artistic design. I had such fun adding the shading, texture and depth of color.

These little guys were so inexpensive to buy that I would like to plan even FURTHER ahead next year and paint some BIG ones to sell. Maybe Randy and I would work together on it. The neighbor use to make these. I could easily draw the picture to be painted. Just need the wood cut.

No Pinterest to post on this one.

Christmas Crafts 2011 - Stretchies

Wow. This craft was much more difficult than I expected. Yet once I bought the fabric for $15.00 for the 2 gifts I couldn't turn back. My problem was how slippery the bathing suit material was to to keep together. I tried everything. Then after sew a few of these it just worked. Some how I figured out how to give the fabric just the right tention to keep those edges together. Kind of like riding a bike.

Then for the cute little bag these "stretchies" come in. I made them out of the legs of an old pair of Kay's jeans, a few beads and the strap came from Grandma Sterlings stash of crafting goodies.

Here is the craft as found on Pinterest.

Source: thismamamakesstuff.com via Christy on Pinterest

Christmas Crafts 2011- Hot/Cold Packs

I made a bunch of these hot/cold packs using every grain I had in the house. I started out with just rice but when that ran out I used lentils, barley and even a few pinto beans. I scented most of the bags with lavender and a few with eucalyptus.

I was determined to NOT spend any money on this project. I used all fabric that I had on hand or was given to me. Once you get sewing it is quite tempting to want to make your crafts flashy using the latest material, but times are tough, and I believe that God will bless my thriftiness.

I really loved this craft found on Pinterest. I used the tutorial listed bellow.

I am hoping to sell a few at a craft fair for $7.00. The fair is the day after Thanksgiving.

Source: brassyapple.blogspot.com via Christy on Pinterest