From our family to yours

Merry Christmas!

I hope you have a very blessed day and all the best in 2014!

^{And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,}

^{"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!"}

^{Luke 2:13,14 (ESV)}

lets not go ice fishin', how bout we stay inside

So I've been doing some tons of projects for Christmas and I'm pretty close to giving a 100% home made. I kind of feel jipped of the Christmas shopping experience but I'm getting used to the idea especially since I'm not constantly handing over the credit card. 

There is not much I can share with you pre-Christmas but I figured a couple of 3 year old's probably wouldn't be checkin the blog anytime soon.

For our nephews I made them each a magnetic fishing set. 

(7 different fish and rod with a worm attached to the end)

Each fish has a washer sewn to the end. The 'worm' is made out of a leftover piece of tights (used for the Jillian Jiggs Pigs) stuffed with two strong, long and skinny magnets which I found at Home Hardware. I quickly whipped up two drawstring bags from fat quarters and threw in each set.

 I don't even need to wrap these gifts, they are good to go.

Happy Friday!

*** Update: I knew I saw this somewhere on Pinterest and I found the pin that was stuck in my head (not on one of my pinboards). Check out Home Stories A2Z's Fish set.

Advent fun continued

 Well I was able to throw this post together before we dive into our family celebrations. 

Just a few more of the activities we have included in our advent this year (Find the first week HERE).

On the 12th the girls painted wooden ornaments to attach to the gifts we were giving. 

We finished them off with some glitter glue to make em' sparkle.

The next day we did a super simple project, decorating their doors like snowmen!  

Using construction paper and wrapping paper.

 On day 15 we were busy with our church Christmas concert and potluck 

so I planned something easy and relaxing. 

An early present under the tree for the girls to open. 

It was a new Wii game, Just Dance Disney. 

For a 4 year old S is pretty awesome at it already!

 

On Monday we decorated these mugs and then filled them up with McDonalds hot chocolate.

And earlier today we made snowglobes out of baby food jars. 

Kind of messy with all the glitter but we got through it.

And to finish off the snowglobe theme today I plan on printing out these FREE snowglobe templates from Handmade Charlotte for the girlies to color on.

Happy Wednesday!

a little Advent fun

The girls have been really enjoying our activity advent this year. After getting the tree and making Derek the indoor snowman we have been doing plenty of crafts as well as some other special things.

On day four of the advent the girls went downstairs to find this huge Christmas tree collage on the wall to color. 

(a FREE printable from Mr. Printables !!). 

This has been a fun ongoing project as I have the box of crayons on the floor beside it and they can color whenever they please.

Last week on day 5 we attended the Santa Claus parade. 

All bundled up we braved the -29 weather. 

It was quite chilly but it was a great evening!

The girls woke up from naps on day 7 to search for Derek who had a special Christmas treat for them: 

A new story book, which he was reading to the other Christmas stuffies.

On day 9 the girls colored/scribbled filled out Christmas cards for some of their friends.  

Which gave me a few minutes to work on my Christmas cards too!

We've had a couple days of dollar store Christmas crafts as well. 

My favorite were these little foam nativity scenes.

There are a few more days left, hoping I can get around to doing another post.

Happy Thursday!

Meet Derek

Remember my muffin tin advent calendar? 

Well this year instead of tucking candy inside of it I have put together special activities for the girlies.

On Sunday we went and got our tree and today we made Derek, the indoor snowman. 

(S named him, not sure why that name but that's what it is)

 

He was super easy and cheap to make.

I just went and bought a plain white pillow (around $3-$4) and tied string around it to make a neck as well as sewed the four corners in to make it more rounded. The girls picked buttons for the face and chest as well as the scarf and hat. 

It was actually quite fun! The girls played around me as I quickly sewed on the buttons. They love the finished product and couldn't wait to show hubby when he came home.

 I'm definitely looking forward to the fun stuff I've planned for the other 22 days! 

Kind of gives me a reason to post this month as I've been busy busy making gifts that I won't be able to share until after Christmas. And believe me there will be a lot to share...I've been really trying to stick to the 100% home made Christmas this year.

Happy Monday!

I don't always go to retreats, but when I do I mean business

 At the fall scrapbook retreat I beat my all time record and finished a total of 36 pages!

At the time getting me totally up to date with my 2013 album!

(now there is halloween to scrap and other cute pics of the kids)

Here are a few of my favorite layouts from the weekend! 

 Family pics from my cousins grad party.

layout inspiration: Scrapbook.com  paper: Stampin Up

 5km fun run that the girls and I ran in. 

layout: Club CK  paper: Stampin Up'

 

 T's Circus birthday party. 

layout: No source paper: Imaginisce

 My bro-in-laws 30th bday (my sis threw a surprise mustache themed party)

layout: My own  paper: CTMH cardstock

 S and two of her cousins.

layout: Dolores Schaeffer paper: Echo Park

 Fun at the Fair with my mom and sis.

layout: Dapfnie Design  paper: Echopark

 S's Princess and the frog birthday party.

layout: No source paper: Stampin Up'

 A day hiking in the mountains.

layout: I Said I'd Never Have A Blog  paper: My Minds Eye

 Fall family photos.

layout: Scrapbookers Rock  paper: Echopark and CTMH

 Autumn at my parents farm.

layout: Scrapbook Generation paper: Doodlebug

Happy Tuesday!

A Slight Chalk obsession

 

A fad these days in the crafting world is to paint anything and everything with chalkboard paint, 

this was a train I did not want to get on. 

But having found the below framed pictures for a steal of a deal at a garage sale ($5 and $2) and seeing a super easy clipboard project I couldn't help myself. 

They all got a couple coats of the popular black paint.

 

With the long skinny one I painted the frame a cheery yellow and ditressed it by sanding.  

I wrote on a favorite Bible verse (Matthew 7:7) and hung it in our main living area.

I haven't finished the largest one yet, but you will see it when it is.

The clipboard is going to be our 'First Day of School' sign for years to come. 

So cute....

 Like I said before I have been doing projects just not posting them so this one was from way back in August before school started. 

I really need to get my butt in gear, haha.

Happy Tuesday!