As I said in my Thanksgiving post, I'm a sucker for ANY holiday. I'll take any excuse (as if I need one...) to party with my family. Maybe I should have named my blog "The Holiday Honey" or something equally as ridiculous. Joking aside, just because another beautiful Christmas came and went does not mean I've given up posting for the year! In the months ahead, I'll be posting crafts and ideas for nearly every holiday you can imagine, birthdays, family gatherings, and to simply share the love of God that is found in Christ Jesus, our Lord.
With that being said, Happy New Year! Now, I realize the start of the new Church year already occurred but I will maintain this simple fact: You can find Jesus ANYWHERE, even in the secular, if you CHOOSE to put Him there. That's a reoccurring theme you will read throughout the life-span of this blog.
I think the start of a new calendar year is a wonderful opportunity for us as Christians to spend some time in reflection. As I posted on my personal social media page, "2015 has been one of the very best, filled with an abundance of love and happy memories". How could it not be? We welcomed our Chunky Money into the world and more importantly, into God's family. We became a complete family with his arrival and to watch the way our daughter loves him is impossible to articulate.
Our year wasn't all sunshine, rainbows, and unicorns, I'm sure you realize. Yes, there were difficult days, there were marital disagreements, there were struggles with screaming children and a drama queen toddler, there were uber-tight budgets, and there were days we were thankful to have, yet happy to know would pass with the setting of the sun. As I look back on those times, I know they were there. I know they happened. Yet, I have a difficult time remembering the context or details of even one of those days. What a blessing!
No, we are not perfect. We don't have a perfect family or a perfect marriage. We ARE, however, PERFECTLY FORGIVEN. Think about that. Perfectly forgiven. There's no, "I forgive you but I don't like you." Perfectly forgiven; red to pure white. Done. Over. In the past. May we always be slow to anger and quick to forgive. May we also forgive perfectly, just as we have been.
I know many who will read this struggled this year and some of you also suffered loss. I'm not insinuating you ought forget those struggles and if you don't, then you must be, in some way, inferior. Not at all. I'm simply asking you as we embark on this new year, to reflect on all that has happened and to await God's merciful plan. We don't know why He chooses to remove His protective hand but we do have this promise: Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.
What a humbling thought. Even our struggles will benefit us in the end. He promised us this and we have proof in His Word that our Savior keeps His promises. Worry is an easy emotion to succumb to and if I'm honest with myself and those reading this, I know that it's my "pet sin". Well this year, my resolution is to give up worrying like the bad habit it is. I'm giving it up because it's toxic for my health but more importantly, because God demands it: Luke 2:25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life."
Draw near to your Savior this year. Hold true to His promises. Let go of your fear, worry, and your anxiety. Leave it all at the foot of the cross. I'm filled with humility and awe, when I reflect on what He has worked for my benefit in 2015. I wonder what He has planned for 2016? Come quickly Lord Jesus!
May the Lord bless you and keep you this new year and all the days of your life! May you humbly await His plan!
In Him,
Alyssa
Thursday, December 31, 2015
Wednesday, December 23, 2015
Luke 2:1-20 - NIV 1984
The Birth of Jesus
2 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.
4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
Monday, December 14, 2015
Winter Project!
So many of the projects I do are both Christmas themed and geared towards children or families. I thought I'd change it up a bit today! Here's a great project for adults and one that is appropriate for the whole winter season.
My dad is a woodworker and he always has scraps strewn about the garage. This summer, I asked if I could snag some and he was happy to see them go, honestly. What I took was in pretty sorry shape; random holes and even boot prints. If you don't have a woodworker in the family. Ask around. Someone may be demolishing an old barn or building, you can buy reclaimed wood online, you can even buy unfinished wood with pretty, finished edges at craft stores.
I cleaned them up, painted them with a gold glaze (you can find at any craft store) and free-hand painted snowmen on them. If you are not the crafty sort, you can trace a picture or even a mixing bowl to get the round shapes. Do all your work in pencil and fill in as you go!
I went to school for Interior Design and an art teacher once told me that any project can be saved. Mistakes can be worked with and around; often times they make the project better. You just can't be afraid to start!
To make these projects look finished, I added fabric, floral elements, bells, metal stars, grapevine floral wire, and lettering with squeeze style paint bottles.
These can be hung (you can purchase a mounting kit for a reasonable price at any hardware store and even some craft stores) or they can lean!
They make great gifts, too. One I made as a thank-you gift and my mom commissioned the other as a birthday gift for a friend. Keep them... give them... either way, they're adorable!
Cheers,
Alyssa
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| This one had the family's last name - not shown for their privacy. |
Friday, December 11, 2015
Wrapping Idea
If you read yesterday's post, "Stressed Much???" you know what kind of week I've been having. My attempt at wrapping gifts this week added insult to injury.
We have a family Christmas celebration on Saturday and we will be giving our nephews their gifts then. On Friday, I hauled everything out to wrap the gifts, only to discover I had no tissue paper. Great. When Adam got home from work at 8:30, off to Target I went.
This morning I hauled everything out all over again, only to discover all my paper from last year (before our son was born), is pink. Now, I know two little boys won't care and they're only going to rip it off but... c'mon... I'm The Princess of Christmas and I do all things Christmas to excess.
I turned my paper over and wrapped the boxes with the wrong side showing, dug in the Little Lady's construction paper, and in less than 3 minutes, I had all the parts and pieces to build snowmen!
So, it may be excessive BUT it's darn cute, if I do say so myself. I hope they get a kick out of it and I'll feel good knowing I spent a little extra time on them. That's really what it's about... the thought.
This would be cute with an elf, reindeer, Santa... I bet creche would be beautiful. The wheels are turning, people.
Enjoy the weekend!
Alyssa
We have a family Christmas celebration on Saturday and we will be giving our nephews their gifts then. On Friday, I hauled everything out to wrap the gifts, only to discover I had no tissue paper. Great. When Adam got home from work at 8:30, off to Target I went.
This morning I hauled everything out all over again, only to discover all my paper from last year (before our son was born), is pink. Now, I know two little boys won't care and they're only going to rip it off but... c'mon... I'm The Princess of Christmas and I do all things Christmas to excess.
I turned my paper over and wrapped the boxes with the wrong side showing, dug in the Little Lady's construction paper, and in less than 3 minutes, I had all the parts and pieces to build snowmen!
So, it may be excessive BUT it's darn cute, if I do say so myself. I hope they get a kick out of it and I'll feel good knowing I spent a little extra time on them. That's really what it's about... the thought.
This would be cute with an elf, reindeer, Santa... I bet creche would be beautiful. The wheels are turning, people.
Enjoy the weekend!
Alyssa
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| After this picture was taken, I wrote their names along the brim of the hats. |
Thursday, December 10, 2015
Stressed Much???
I'm feeling so stressed out today. Seriously. Overwhelmed.
There's just SO much to get done! The house needs a serious scrub and polish, there's a sink full of dishes, spilling onto the counter. Don't even get me started on laundry. Our bedroom is being overrun by boxes of wrapping paper, ribbons, bows, and hidden gifts. The things I truly LOVE doing this time of year are falling by the wayside. My wrapping isn't even started... and here I am on the computer...
Check it, self!!!
What is the Christmas season all about? Celebrating Christ's birth! All that he came here to accomplish began with his birth; God made manifest. This time of year is for us to reflect upon what HE did, not what we are doing. It's about praising him for HIS work, not our own.
When God returns, He isn't going to care how clean or tidy our home is. He certainly won't care if our Christmas gifts were wrapped in a timely manner that year or what was in them. He absolutely WILL care if we believe and were baptized. While our good works could never earn our salvation; even our good deeds are like filthy rags, we will have to answer for how we lived during our Time of Grace.
So instead of being rushed, overwhelmed, stressed, and disappointed about all the things we are not going to get to this year, I'm starting today with a prayer:
"Almighty Father, sometimes my priorities are simply wrong and my heart isn't always loving and sincere. You promise that You will work all things to the good of those who love you and yet, I'm all to quick to ignore your purpose and trade it for my own. How foolish! Please forgive me Lord and be with me in my moments of weakness. In Your Son's name, Amen."
His mercies are new every morning and I'm both humbled and thankful to see what this fresh start will bring.
Are you feeling the Holiday crunch? When standing is tough, kneel.
Yours in Him,
Alyssa
There's just SO much to get done! The house needs a serious scrub and polish, there's a sink full of dishes, spilling onto the counter. Don't even get me started on laundry. Our bedroom is being overrun by boxes of wrapping paper, ribbons, bows, and hidden gifts. The things I truly LOVE doing this time of year are falling by the wayside. My wrapping isn't even started... and here I am on the computer...
Check it, self!!!
What is the Christmas season all about? Celebrating Christ's birth! All that he came here to accomplish began with his birth; God made manifest. This time of year is for us to reflect upon what HE did, not what we are doing. It's about praising him for HIS work, not our own.
When God returns, He isn't going to care how clean or tidy our home is. He certainly won't care if our Christmas gifts were wrapped in a timely manner that year or what was in them. He absolutely WILL care if we believe and were baptized. While our good works could never earn our salvation; even our good deeds are like filthy rags, we will have to answer for how we lived during our Time of Grace.
So instead of being rushed, overwhelmed, stressed, and disappointed about all the things we are not going to get to this year, I'm starting today with a prayer:
"Almighty Father, sometimes my priorities are simply wrong and my heart isn't always loving and sincere. You promise that You will work all things to the good of those who love you and yet, I'm all to quick to ignore your purpose and trade it for my own. How foolish! Please forgive me Lord and be with me in my moments of weakness. In Your Son's name, Amen."
His mercies are new every morning and I'm both humbled and thankful to see what this fresh start will bring.
Are you feeling the Holiday crunch? When standing is tough, kneel.
Yours in Him,
Alyssa
Saturday, December 5, 2015
Cookies!
OH MY GOSH! IT'S BAKING DAY!!!
Every year I take the kids over to my mom and dad's to bake Christmas cookies. It typically ends up being a weekend affair and when mom text me last night that we are making 14 varieties of baked goods, I realized this year was no exception.
We will start today and this evening, Adam and I will enjoy an adult night out at his company's Christmas party. The kids will enjoy a sleepover with grandma and papa; hope they will sleep after the inevitable sugar rush of today (laughs sinisterly - sorry mom). Then we'll have Sunday to finish. No doubt my dad and Adam will spend the day in the garage, avoiding the sprinkles and girl talk.
We love to to eat all these yummy sweets but we love to share, too! Did you know sweets make a thoughtful gift? Wrap a few and place them in a coffee mug (see my post "A Dime A Dozen - Part III). Put some in a pretty tin or platter from the dollar store! Teachers, neighbors, friends, hostesses, I could go on and on.
Maybe it's a little obvious but it will be appreciated, none the less!
Consider who could use a little sweet treat and a warm smile in your community? Your local Police and Fire Departments? NICU at your local hospital?
I'm looking forward to making thin mints, cracker cookies, frosting cut-outs, peanut butter balls,.... Mostly, I'm looking forward to spending some quality time with my mom. I only have this day, December 5th, 2015, for 24 hours. My kids are only going to be this age, in this moment once. I only have this ONE mom. By gosh, we are going to MAKE IT COUNT; today and each day we have together.
Cherish the ones you love, enjoy your TIME together, do something thoughtful for others. MAKE TODAY COUNT.
Please feel free to share your favorite cookie recipe and baking memories by commenting here or on my social media pages! I'd love to hear from you!
Cheers,
Alyssa
Every year I take the kids over to my mom and dad's to bake Christmas cookies. It typically ends up being a weekend affair and when mom text me last night that we are making 14 varieties of baked goods, I realized this year was no exception.
We will start today and this evening, Adam and I will enjoy an adult night out at his company's Christmas party. The kids will enjoy a sleepover with grandma and papa; hope they will sleep after the inevitable sugar rush of today (laughs sinisterly - sorry mom). Then we'll have Sunday to finish. No doubt my dad and Adam will spend the day in the garage, avoiding the sprinkles and girl talk.
We love to to eat all these yummy sweets but we love to share, too! Did you know sweets make a thoughtful gift? Wrap a few and place them in a coffee mug (see my post "A Dime A Dozen - Part III). Put some in a pretty tin or platter from the dollar store! Teachers, neighbors, friends, hostesses, I could go on and on.
Maybe it's a little obvious but it will be appreciated, none the less!
Consider who could use a little sweet treat and a warm smile in your community? Your local Police and Fire Departments? NICU at your local hospital?
I'm looking forward to making thin mints, cracker cookies, frosting cut-outs, peanut butter balls,.... Mostly, I'm looking forward to spending some quality time with my mom. I only have this day, December 5th, 2015, for 24 hours. My kids are only going to be this age, in this moment once. I only have this ONE mom. By gosh, we are going to MAKE IT COUNT; today and each day we have together.
Cherish the ones you love, enjoy your TIME together, do something thoughtful for others. MAKE TODAY COUNT.
Please feel free to share your favorite cookie recipe and baking memories by commenting here or on my social media pages! I'd love to hear from you!
Cheers,
Alyssa
Thursday, December 3, 2015
A Dime A Dozen - Part III
Part III - Decorated Coffee Mugs
If there were ever a project you've seen 95 million times, this is it. It makes sense; an inexpensive, practical gift that you can personalize for the people you love.
While I am the self-professed "Princess of Christmas" and I craft nearly 5 days a week, I've still had my fair share of epic fails. Last year, my personalized mugs were totally it. I picked up mugs from the dollar store, cleaned, decorated with permanent markers, and baked in the oven. Yeah... the pictures all washed off. I felt pretty ridiculous when I saw my mom using her "cute", blank mug the week after Christmas.
As it turns out, you have to use a special kind of permanent marker for this project and they are not inexpensive. I loved this idea SO much that I considered investing in a set (and I still might for future projects) until I stumbled upon something else.
At a local craft store, I found a mug that came with 4 small tubs of special paint and a brush. They were $1.99! They turned out perfectly, do not wash off, are dishwasher safe, and food safe. We made a couple and decided to go back for a few more and they were on sale for 2 for $3. Are you kidding me??? We bought 8. I also bought a bottle of enamel craft paint in black for about $2. With that, I added names to the mugs. In the end, The Little Lady decorated all her mugs using only 1 set of the included paint so I saved the rest for future projects.
Regardless of what you purchase (these inexpensive kits, individual bottles of enamel paint, or the special enamel paint markers), wash your mug before you start and follow the directions on the kit or your painting medium of choice. Some paints/paint markers will specifically state what type of dishware you need to purchase. Start by shopping for the paint! If you start there, you'll avoid an epic fail like I had!
These make awesome Christmas gifts! Here are a few ideas:
I love this gift idea because it's personalized and can be as inexpensive as $5 or you can really fill it out and spend whatever you're comfortable with.
I included a photo of our mugs for inspiration but use your imagination while decorating your mugs. If you have children, let them do the work!
Cheers,
Alyssa
If there were ever a project you've seen 95 million times, this is it. It makes sense; an inexpensive, practical gift that you can personalize for the people you love.
While I am the self-professed "Princess of Christmas" and I craft nearly 5 days a week, I've still had my fair share of epic fails. Last year, my personalized mugs were totally it. I picked up mugs from the dollar store, cleaned, decorated with permanent markers, and baked in the oven. Yeah... the pictures all washed off. I felt pretty ridiculous when I saw my mom using her "cute", blank mug the week after Christmas.
As it turns out, you have to use a special kind of permanent marker for this project and they are not inexpensive. I loved this idea SO much that I considered investing in a set (and I still might for future projects) until I stumbled upon something else.
At a local craft store, I found a mug that came with 4 small tubs of special paint and a brush. They were $1.99! They turned out perfectly, do not wash off, are dishwasher safe, and food safe. We made a couple and decided to go back for a few more and they were on sale for 2 for $3. Are you kidding me??? We bought 8. I also bought a bottle of enamel craft paint in black for about $2. With that, I added names to the mugs. In the end, The Little Lady decorated all her mugs using only 1 set of the included paint so I saved the rest for future projects.
Regardless of what you purchase (these inexpensive kits, individual bottles of enamel paint, or the special enamel paint markers), wash your mug before you start and follow the directions on the kit or your painting medium of choice. Some paints/paint markers will specifically state what type of dishware you need to purchase. Start by shopping for the paint! If you start there, you'll avoid an epic fail like I had!
These make awesome Christmas gifts! Here are a few ideas:
- The Little Lady has 2 dance teachers and guess what they're getting? A mug, pretty hot chocolate, a gourmet chocolate bar, a pair of slipper socks, a mug cake mix, mini rubber spatula (I found Christmas ones), and a kitchen towel (with a crocheted top). With a basket and a basket bag from the dollar store, it came to $15/gift.
- A family member will receive a mug, coffee, coffee spoons, mug cake mix, little bottles of coffee liqueur, and a fleece blanket. Wrapped in a basket, the total came to about $25.
- A sweet couple in our family will each get a mug, hot chocolates, coffee liqueur, box of microwave popcorn, a Christmas movie, a fleece blanket to share, and we couldn't forget some treats for the puppy. Also wrapped in a basket, the total came to $35
- Make your own coffee spoons (Simple instructions to follow)! Purchase individual bags of ground coffee or a big box of single serve coffee cups. Include one bag of ground coffee or a couple cups and a chocolate spoon with each mug. Cost should come to about $5 per gift.
- Melt chocolate, pour into ice cube trays, put a popsicle stick in as they set up, top with crushed candy canes. Pop out of tray when completely set.
- There are a few children we do something small for each Christmas. This year, they will get a mug with their name on, a book, home made bookmark, hot chocolate, and slipper socks. Cost was less than $5/gift!
- Fill your completed mugs with candy, chocolate, a gift card, the sky is the limit.
I love this gift idea because it's personalized and can be as inexpensive as $5 or you can really fill it out and spend whatever you're comfortable with.
I included a photo of our mugs for inspiration but use your imagination while decorating your mugs. If you have children, let them do the work!
Cheers,
Alyssa
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| The Little Lady and Chunky Monkey dotted their fingerprints all around the mug, each in their own color. I connected with black, swirling lines and topped each fingerprint with a dot of yellow. The result looks like a string of Christmas lights! On the bottom where my finger is, I painted a tiny heart in the color corresponding to each child and their name. |
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| These the Little Lady did on her own after I painted names on. I did let the names air dry before I gave the mugs to her to paint. |
Wednesday, December 2, 2015
A Dime A Dozen Part II
Part II - Decorated Tree Skirt
Hand prints on the tree skirt. This idea a certainly not new, though it has regained popularity through social media lately. I've seen adorned tree skirts ALL OVER online recently but I can also remember a friend having her hand print stamped on her mom and dad's tree skirt when I was a kid, some 20 years ago.
Why is this suddenly so popular??? Because it's a GREAT idea, that's why! Think about Christmas 20 years from now. Your children are grown, maybe you have grand babies, you reminisce as you decorate your home for the holidays and you pull out your tree skirt. There are the little hands, commemorated forever, that you once had to keep from yanking all your ornaments off the tree. Sigh. Sweet Memories.
From a practical standpoint, it's beautiful, sweet, and adds interest to an area that is empty for most of the season.
So how did I make this oldie but a goody my own? I added a scripture reference; 3 John 1:4 which reads, "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth."
Our tree skirt was purchased when we were first married for $5 because that's what was in the budget. There are so many stunning tree skirts out there and I've always felt like mine was a little less than spectacular. Now I wouldn't trade it for the world! Be creative, too. If you can't find a bargain like I did and the price of tree skirts is beyond your budget, pick up a few yards of fabric from a sale bin at a craft store. Tuck the edges under and it will be beautiful. It may require more primping but it will still work for this project!
This isn't a project only for moms and dads! I think this would be beautiful in a teacher's classroom with that year's students. Aunts and uncles, godparents and certainly grandparents could also do this!
We used acrylic craft paint and bottle of paint in a "squeeze" style bottle for the lettering. Our 3 year old is a pro when it comes to stamping her hand print; 9 month old, not so much. My husband held him while I painted his foot and we stamped the tree skirt, which was up on the counter top. So simple. So precious.
Our skirt has a nap and the prints turned out a little more faint than the white of the lettering but I'm still very satisfied with the results. * Remember to put your tree skirt under the tree and decide where you want your prints to go before you start!
So, how can you make this project your own? Here are some other passages that apply to children for inspiration!
Proverbs 22:6 Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it
Psalm 139:13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.
Psalm 22:10 From birth I was cast upon you; from my mother's womb you have been my God.
Matthew 18:4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Joshua 24:15 But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.
I Peter 2:2 Like newborn babies, crave spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.
Matthew 19:14 Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these."
This project would be wonderful with just a simple reference or the passage written out, too! With or without the hand prints, I hope you enjoy trying this "dime a dozen" project and remember, make it your own!
Cheers,
Alyssa
Hand prints on the tree skirt. This idea a certainly not new, though it has regained popularity through social media lately. I've seen adorned tree skirts ALL OVER online recently but I can also remember a friend having her hand print stamped on her mom and dad's tree skirt when I was a kid, some 20 years ago.
Why is this suddenly so popular??? Because it's a GREAT idea, that's why! Think about Christmas 20 years from now. Your children are grown, maybe you have grand babies, you reminisce as you decorate your home for the holidays and you pull out your tree skirt. There are the little hands, commemorated forever, that you once had to keep from yanking all your ornaments off the tree. Sigh. Sweet Memories.
From a practical standpoint, it's beautiful, sweet, and adds interest to an area that is empty for most of the season.
So how did I make this oldie but a goody my own? I added a scripture reference; 3 John 1:4 which reads, "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth."
Our tree skirt was purchased when we were first married for $5 because that's what was in the budget. There are so many stunning tree skirts out there and I've always felt like mine was a little less than spectacular. Now I wouldn't trade it for the world! Be creative, too. If you can't find a bargain like I did and the price of tree skirts is beyond your budget, pick up a few yards of fabric from a sale bin at a craft store. Tuck the edges under and it will be beautiful. It may require more primping but it will still work for this project!
This isn't a project only for moms and dads! I think this would be beautiful in a teacher's classroom with that year's students. Aunts and uncles, godparents and certainly grandparents could also do this!
We used acrylic craft paint and bottle of paint in a "squeeze" style bottle for the lettering. Our 3 year old is a pro when it comes to stamping her hand print; 9 month old, not so much. My husband held him while I painted his foot and we stamped the tree skirt, which was up on the counter top. So simple. So precious.
Our skirt has a nap and the prints turned out a little more faint than the white of the lettering but I'm still very satisfied with the results. * Remember to put your tree skirt under the tree and decide where you want your prints to go before you start!
So, how can you make this project your own? Here are some other passages that apply to children for inspiration!
Proverbs 22:6 Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it
Psalm 139:13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.
Psalm 22:10 From birth I was cast upon you; from my mother's womb you have been my God.
Matthew 18:4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Joshua 24:15 But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.
I Peter 2:2 Like newborn babies, crave spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.
Matthew 19:14 Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these."
This project would be wonderful with just a simple reference or the passage written out, too! With or without the hand prints, I hope you enjoy trying this "dime a dozen" project and remember, make it your own!
Cheers,
Alyssa
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| Our children's names are written under the ribbon. |
Monday, November 30, 2015
A Dime A Dozen - Part I
We've all seen them; trendy craft projects that have been posted, shared, pinned, snapped, uploaded and now appear in our newsfeeds 12 times in one day. They're a dime a dozen.
Be inspired by what you're seeing out there but be sure to make it your own! Add your own creative spin! Use different media/materials to create your version of the projects you love. Add your own quotes, passages, or slogans. Use your imagination!
In this three-part series, I'll be sharing some of my favorite "dime-a-dozen" projects and how I chose to make them my own! Some of these will become cherished parts of our holiday season for years to come!
Part I - Snowball Fight
SNOWBALL FIIIIIIIIGHT!!!!
Some are blessed with a white Christmas and some have never seen snow. Some have big yards, perfect for playing in the snow, and some (like us) have virtually no yard at all. Others simply love to have some good ol' fashioned fun. Do you fit the bill??? This is absolutely the project for you!
Not only have I seen something comparable to this on virtually every social media outlet, I've even seen massed produced ones in the store. Why not spend some time making your own, along with some memories! Here's what we did:
Wrap white yarn around 4 fingers, multiple times. 75-100 times should do it. Slip the bundle off your hand and tie securely around the middle with several knots. Give it a haircut! I included step-by-step photos below. I am a crocheter so I always have yarn around but you could also hot glue cotton balls together to give them some weight. I had a small blue tub left over from a 4th of July party and I used craft paint to write a cute slogan on the front.
I made various sizes and would also like to note that I was not too particular about how perfect these looked. If I were attaching these to one of my hats, they would be trimmed evenly and I would have used a comb to fluff them up a bit. Keep in mind that these are going to be tossed around your living room. I considered making one yellow one as a joke but I wasn't sure the kids would be old enough to understand the humor behind that. Maybe next year?
The kids have been enjoying this a lot since we made it last week. Even our 9 month old tosses them around.
It should go without saying but make sure these are large enough so they aren't a choking hazard. They can shed a little, also, so pay close attention to little ones while they play! Better yet, play right along WITH them!
Cheers,
Alyssa
Be inspired by what you're seeing out there but be sure to make it your own! Add your own creative spin! Use different media/materials to create your version of the projects you love. Add your own quotes, passages, or slogans. Use your imagination!
In this three-part series, I'll be sharing some of my favorite "dime-a-dozen" projects and how I chose to make them my own! Some of these will become cherished parts of our holiday season for years to come!
Part I - Snowball Fight
SNOWBALL FIIIIIIIIGHT!!!!
Some are blessed with a white Christmas and some have never seen snow. Some have big yards, perfect for playing in the snow, and some (like us) have virtually no yard at all. Others simply love to have some good ol' fashioned fun. Do you fit the bill??? This is absolutely the project for you!
Not only have I seen something comparable to this on virtually every social media outlet, I've even seen massed produced ones in the store. Why not spend some time making your own, along with some memories! Here's what we did:
Wrap white yarn around 4 fingers, multiple times. 75-100 times should do it. Slip the bundle off your hand and tie securely around the middle with several knots. Give it a haircut! I included step-by-step photos below. I am a crocheter so I always have yarn around but you could also hot glue cotton balls together to give them some weight. I had a small blue tub left over from a 4th of July party and I used craft paint to write a cute slogan on the front.
I made various sizes and would also like to note that I was not too particular about how perfect these looked. If I were attaching these to one of my hats, they would be trimmed evenly and I would have used a comb to fluff them up a bit. Keep in mind that these are going to be tossed around your living room. I considered making one yellow one as a joke but I wasn't sure the kids would be old enough to understand the humor behind that. Maybe next year?
The kids have been enjoying this a lot since we made it last week. Even our 9 month old tosses them around.
It should go without saying but make sure these are large enough so they aren't a choking hazard. They can shed a little, also, so pay close attention to little ones while they play! Better yet, play right along WITH them!
Cheers,
Alyssa
Friday, November 20, 2015
Traditions
This time of year is often filled with tradition. This particular weekend is no exception for me.
For twenty-odd years, my grandmother was part of an immensely popular craft show in our area. I come from a family of hunters and every year, this craft show fell on opening weekend. Each year, dad would go hunting up north and my mom would take us to the show. We loved to look at all of the holiday treats crafts people were making. The originality and ingenuity was always fascinating to me. Later on in the day, we would do some decorating at home with a Grandma. The whole weekend was filled with fun, girly adventures.
I missed my dad so much (I would always hide one of my toys in his suitcase so he had something of mine close to him) but the girls always had a blast and created lots of special memories together.
As an adult, the memories of those special weekends mean so much to me. To this day, my mom and I have a unique and incredible relationship. The bond we have was built on TIME spent with one another. I'm so thankful to be continuing the traditions of this special weekend with my children. I'm so blessed my children have my mom and grandma to love, too.
What are some of your favorite memories? Can you share those traditions with your family? What new traditions can you start? Don't get too wrapped up in the commercialism of this time of year. Our kids enjoy "stuff" for a while but they'll hold onto the memories and time we give them for a lifetime.
I Love you mom! You were my first fan in life and I'm so thankful for your influence .
Lots of success, Adam! Fill our freezer, baby!
Enjoy your weekend,
Alyssa
For twenty-odd years, my grandmother was part of an immensely popular craft show in our area. I come from a family of hunters and every year, this craft show fell on opening weekend. Each year, dad would go hunting up north and my mom would take us to the show. We loved to look at all of the holiday treats crafts people were making. The originality and ingenuity was always fascinating to me. Later on in the day, we would do some decorating at home with a Grandma. The whole weekend was filled with fun, girly adventures.
I missed my dad so much (I would always hide one of my toys in his suitcase so he had something of mine close to him) but the girls always had a blast and created lots of special memories together.
As an adult, the memories of those special weekends mean so much to me. To this day, my mom and I have a unique and incredible relationship. The bond we have was built on TIME spent with one another. I'm so thankful to be continuing the traditions of this special weekend with my children. I'm so blessed my children have my mom and grandma to love, too.
What are some of your favorite memories? Can you share those traditions with your family? What new traditions can you start? Don't get too wrapped up in the commercialism of this time of year. Our kids enjoy "stuff" for a while but they'll hold onto the memories and time we give them for a lifetime.
I Love you mom! You were my first fan in life and I'm so thankful for your influence .
Lots of success, Adam! Fill our freezer, baby!
Enjoy your weekend,
Alyssa
Tuesday, November 17, 2015
Santa
In our home, Christ is the reason for the season but we feel that there can be room for secular traditions, too, as long as Christ remains at the center of our celebrations.
Here are some of the ways we accomplish this, in regards to Santa and the elves:
This year, we found a new tradition. reindeercam.com
This website is so incredibly fun! These folks have a 24/7 webcam focused on their reindeer and barn. At 10AM CST and 6PM CST, Wesley Elf, Santa, Santa's dog, Cocoa, and sometimes The Grinch, come on camera to feed the reindeer. At 6PM CST, Santa reads letters from children, sometimes a bed time story, reminds the children watching to do as mom and dad say, and to say their prayers. On the first night we tuned in, Santa read a beautiful poem about Christ's birth.
This is quite interactive, too. Children are encouraged to write to Santa and doing so will put their name on the "Nice List" posted on the page. You may also donate to the reindeer fund, or join the "Nice List Club". The club even has its own benefits! Additionally, Santa's take-off is filmed live at 7PM CST Christmas Eve! It is ADORABLE!
While Santa and his family do accept donations to help feed the reindeer, the website is free of charge. Can I just take a moment here to say how generous this is? Think about that for a moment... Santa suit every day, twice (sometimes 3 times) a day, going on camera... These are SPECIAL people. I love that they are having some good-ol'-fashioned fun and keep the reason for the season in mind while doing it!
I just KNOW this will become a family favorite the moment of your first visit! Please also look for them on social media!
Cheers,
Alyssa
*I would like to take a moment to note that while I received permission to post this information directly from reindeercam.com, I am not receiving any compensation for doing so.
Here are some of the ways we accomplish this, in regards to Santa and the elves:
- Our elf, Lady, often holds baby Jesus from our nativity and Bible passages. Lady is a Christian, too.
- We begin Christmas Eve by worshiping together as an extended family in our church.
- Baby Jesus from our nativity is wrapped and he is the first gift that's opened after church at our family celebration. We do this again on Christmas morning before we open Santa's gifts as an immediate family. This idea was from a family friend and I'm so glad it's become a tradition in our household.
- Santa is the one who wraps baby Jesus. We make sure to use the same wrapping paper and include a note from Santa. It explains that we give in honor of the gift God the Father gave and that Jesus is far more precious and more valuable than any toy. Santa, like Lady, is a Christian.
- We talk about it! We discuss how wonderful and generous Santa is but that Jesus is MORE wonderful and MORE generous. We discuss that Santa's generosity was motivated by his Savior's generosity.
This year, we found a new tradition. reindeercam.com
This website is so incredibly fun! These folks have a 24/7 webcam focused on their reindeer and barn. At 10AM CST and 6PM CST, Wesley Elf, Santa, Santa's dog, Cocoa, and sometimes The Grinch, come on camera to feed the reindeer. At 6PM CST, Santa reads letters from children, sometimes a bed time story, reminds the children watching to do as mom and dad say, and to say their prayers. On the first night we tuned in, Santa read a beautiful poem about Christ's birth.
This is quite interactive, too. Children are encouraged to write to Santa and doing so will put their name on the "Nice List" posted on the page. You may also donate to the reindeer fund, or join the "Nice List Club". The club even has its own benefits! Additionally, Santa's take-off is filmed live at 7PM CST Christmas Eve! It is ADORABLE!
While Santa and his family do accept donations to help feed the reindeer, the website is free of charge. Can I just take a moment here to say how generous this is? Think about that for a moment... Santa suit every day, twice (sometimes 3 times) a day, going on camera... These are SPECIAL people. I love that they are having some good-ol'-fashioned fun and keep the reason for the season in mind while doing it!
I just KNOW this will become a family favorite the moment of your first visit! Please also look for them on social media!
Cheers,
Alyssa
*I would like to take a moment to note that while I received permission to post this information directly from reindeercam.com, I am not receiving any compensation for doing so.
Fast, simple, and inexpensive projects!
I have a big to-do list today: Laundry, dishes, make baby food, and I'm thinking I might start wrapping some packages while we listen to our Christmas music. I know it's early for some but we enjoy it. Little Lady actually asks me to turn it on when she wakes up in the morning.
Today, I want to share with you some simple, fun things to do with children on days like these.
I have always been artistic by nature. I graduated with a degree in Interior Design and had my dream job before choosing to become a stay-at-home mom. That choice came with an extreme change in lifestyle and many sacrifices. However, for Adam and I, it was the best decision we ever made. That being said, I'm still Alyssa. I still thrive on and deeply enjoy anything artistic.
I know not all people enjoy crafting and the thought of using paint and stamping footprints is just too overwhelming.
In that light, here are some SIMPLE, FAST, and INEXPENSIVE project ideas for you; perfect for those dreary fall/winter days. They make great stocking-stuffers or host gifts for grandparents, aunts, and uncles, too! Take a peak at the photo captions for instructions!
Cheers,
Alyssa
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| Snowflakes I found these snowflakes and the silver glitter at a craft store for about $1ea. I used some blue yarn and a blue sharpie to write the names but use whatever you have! |
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 Framed Paintings These are water color - paint books. They have the paint right along the bottom of the picture. Your child will only need water and a brush (a q-tip will work in a bind!). Simply cut the paint card off the bottom when your little one is finished. We glued popsicle sticks around the picture, acting as a frame, decorated with markers, and glued a yarn hanger on the back. |
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| Sun Catchers I found these at the dollar store! With paint and string! I picked up the suction cups for $1 at a craft store. I'm still undecided about the string. It didn't look like enough to do all the ones in the package. I'm pretty sure 6 came to a package. |
Thursday, November 12, 2015
Mistletoes
In my previous post, I teased about having a specific "keepsake" project to share. Well, here it is! Mistletoes!!! I have seen 100 variations of this adorable project but here is what I made:
First, I put our 8mo old, Chunky Monkey, in his high chair. We played peek-a-boo while I painted and stamped his foot. I used, and have always used, acrylic paint for this type of thing. It washes right off with warm water, even after it has dried. But use whatever you feel comfortable with. A green ink pad might be a little less messy. Our 3 year old was old enough to understand that she needed to sit on her little chair while I painted her foot. I helped her stand up onto sheets of paper.
It was convenient for me because Adam and I have 2 children. One footprint for each child. If you have one child, do 2 prints for the same child. If you have 3 children, make 3 sets! I think 3 grouped together, hanging from an archway would be ADORABLE.
After they dried, I cut them out and glued them onto foam sheets and cut out again. Felt would also work for this. I'm sure you could also put a backing of construction paper on. It was important to me, though, to use something more sturdy so it wouldn't fade or fall apart in storage until next Christmas. *Remember to put a loop of ribbon in between your footprint and your backing so you have something to hang it from.
To finish them off, I used mini, red ornaments - tiny, red jingle bells - small red pomp poms. Basically, whatever I had on hand. These are the sort of things you can find for about a dollar at any craft store. I also had some burlap on hand that I cut and tied into some bows. You could use ribbon, twine, scraps of fabric or... Here's an idea... Pick out one of your child's outgrown shirts and tear it into strips that you can use to tie bows. Man, I kind of wish I had thought of that when I made these!
We made 12 total. Some will be wrapped and given as a gift to loved ones and some will be tied on top of wrapped packages. Ours will be hanging in the archway between the living room and kitchen. I feel LOTS of extra kisses coming on! DON'T FORGET TO MAKE ONE FOR YOURSELF!
This would be such a fun project to do with students, children you babysit for, nieces and nephews, or with grandchildren. Make it your own and HAVE FUN!
Cheers,
Alyssa
First, I put our 8mo old, Chunky Monkey, in his high chair. We played peek-a-boo while I painted and stamped his foot. I used, and have always used, acrylic paint for this type of thing. It washes right off with warm water, even after it has dried. But use whatever you feel comfortable with. A green ink pad might be a little less messy. Our 3 year old was old enough to understand that she needed to sit on her little chair while I painted her foot. I helped her stand up onto sheets of paper.
It was convenient for me because Adam and I have 2 children. One footprint for each child. If you have one child, do 2 prints for the same child. If you have 3 children, make 3 sets! I think 3 grouped together, hanging from an archway would be ADORABLE.
After they dried, I cut them out and glued them onto foam sheets and cut out again. Felt would also work for this. I'm sure you could also put a backing of construction paper on. It was important to me, though, to use something more sturdy so it wouldn't fade or fall apart in storage until next Christmas. *Remember to put a loop of ribbon in between your footprint and your backing so you have something to hang it from.
To finish them off, I used mini, red ornaments - tiny, red jingle bells - small red pomp poms. Basically, whatever I had on hand. These are the sort of things you can find for about a dollar at any craft store. I also had some burlap on hand that I cut and tied into some bows. You could use ribbon, twine, scraps of fabric or... Here's an idea... Pick out one of your child's outgrown shirts and tear it into strips that you can use to tie bows. Man, I kind of wish I had thought of that when I made these!
We made 12 total. Some will be wrapped and given as a gift to loved ones and some will be tied on top of wrapped packages. Ours will be hanging in the archway between the living room and kitchen. I feel LOTS of extra kisses coming on! DON'T FORGET TO MAKE ONE FOR YOURSELF!
This would be such a fun project to do with students, children you babysit for, nieces and nephews, or with grandchildren. Make it your own and HAVE FUN!
Cheers,
Alyssa
Tuesday, November 10, 2015
Holiday Gift Giving and Budget-Friendly Ideas
Sometimes, I wish I was a millionaire. For so many years, my dad drove a pretty humble vehicle and I've always thought about how much I'd like to buy him a brand-spankin' new truck for Christmas. I'm sure I'm not the only one who's had this kind of wish.
Plan, Financially, Ahead of Time
Make Gifts
Experiences
- For example: 1) Gift certificates to a children's museum. 2) Pick up a basket and fill it with candy and popcorn. Include a note promising a movie at the theater over Christmas break. 3) Invite a parent or grandparent to dinner out or prepare a nice meal for them at home!
I hope these tips will help you to enjoy the holiday season without breaking the bank. Remember, gift giving is only a small part this time of year. We give gifts as a reminder and a symbol of the gift God gave us. He didn't give in order to receive in return. He didn't give in order to impress. He didn't give to out-do someone else. He gave out of pure love. I think the most important tip I can give is to encourage all of you, and myself, to evaluate your priorities this holiday season.
As much as I wish I could buy that vehicle, I know dad would be (and some years has been) thankful for a hug and a kiss. Also... New trucks are simply not in the budget.
So for all my readers on a tight budget or simply those who are budget-conscious like we are, here are some of my favorite holiday tips/ideas!
Plan, Financially, Ahead of Time
- Pick a dollar amount to spend per person and stick to it. Decide what is manageable within your own budget and stay within your means. It's not about how much money you spend or how impressive of a gift you bought with X dollars, it's the thought you put into it that counts!
Don't Wait Until the Last Minute
- Shop early and buy one or two things each payday. We start in July. (Perhaps an idea for next year?)
Use Coupons
- Watch for coupons and discounts from your favorite stores. There are so many couponing blogs out there. Look them up and get some tips. I love Target's cartwheel app, in-store coupons, and online coupons. You can combine them and get some great deals! I also save Kohl's cash when I purchase something the kids need and I use that towards Christmas gifts
Save on the Stuff We All Forget About
- Once Christmas is over, buy all of your wrapping paper and supplies at a deep discount for the next year.
Make Gifts
- You do not have to be crafty in order to give a handmade gift. It takes absolutely no creative talent to pick out a Christmas card and write a heartfelt letter. It takes no creative ability to have your child color a picture for a grandparent. It takes no creative ability to print a photo and pick up a frame at a discount store.
Photo Gifts
- Speaking of photos... This time of year, Walgreens typically has promotion codes for prints and/or photo gifts (albums, mugs, calendars,etc). You can pick up a nice frame at the dollar store or your favorite discount store. There are hundreds of ideas online for making your own picture frames, as well.
Keepsakes from Children
- Hand print, footprint, and fingerprint keepsakes. You can buy a bottle of paint for less than a dollar at most craft stores. Simply paint your child's hand, foot, or their finger tip, stamp, and create your own work of art. I'll be posting a specific Christmas project idea for you soon. So keep checking in!
Fulfill a Need
- Listen to your family and friends when they mention a particular need. Fulfilling a need for a loved one is a completely thoughtful and generous gesture.
- For example: 1) Gift certificates to a children's museum. 2) Pick up a basket and fill it with candy and popcorn. Include a note promising a movie at the theater over Christmas break. 3) Invite a parent or grandparent to dinner out or prepare a nice meal for them at home!
Sentimental Gifts
- A couple of years ago, my grandma and grandpa gave me an ornament off their tree that my dad had made when he was a little boy. Let me tell you, that really tugged at the heartstrings and it's one of the most special things I own.
Use the Talents You Were Blessed With
- Do you bake? Gift a plate of cookies or other treats. Do you crochet? Give a scarf, afghan, or kitchen towels. Do you sew? Consider a holiday table runner, stockings, the sky's the limit! Do you have a way with words? Again, write a heartfelt letter. Do you enjoy cooking? Offer to contribute to the holiday meal as a gift.
I hope these tips will help you to enjoy the holiday season without breaking the bank. Remember, gift giving is only a small part this time of year. We give gifts as a reminder and a symbol of the gift God gave us. He didn't give in order to receive in return. He didn't give in order to impress. He didn't give to out-do someone else. He gave out of pure love. I think the most important tip I can give is to encourage all of you, and myself, to evaluate your priorities this holiday season.
Proverbs 3:6
In all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
Cheers,
Alyssa
Monday, November 9, 2015
The Princess of Christmas is Ready for Turkey Day!
While I'm a self-proclaimed Christmas nut, I'm also a sucker for any excuse to party with my family. Recently, I did some Thanksgiving themed crafts with the kids to decorate Guh-Guh (that's how the Little Lady pronounces "Grandma") and Papa's house on the big day.
Most of these ideas were inspired by things I saw on Pinterest. I just love Pinterest *sigh, swoon*. Here's the trick I've learned: Don't pin it unless you intend on doing it!
Most of the supplies were left over from our Christmas ornament projects or from the Dollar Tree. I'm so impressed with their craft stock lately. We found colored popsicle sticks, google eyes, glue, paint, etc.
Michael's sells Holiday themed sticker books and watercolor paint books for $1, also!
I hope you and yours have a blessed Thanksgiving and are able to thank our Savior for all of His influence in your life this year. Please keep the men and women of our armed forces in your thoughts, prayers, and "thankful list" this year. Remember, not everyone can go home for the holidays.
Enjoy these cute projects! Gobble, Gobble!
Alyssa
Most of these ideas were inspired by things I saw on Pinterest. I just love Pinterest *sigh, swoon*. Here's the trick I've learned: Don't pin it unless you intend on doing it!
Most of the supplies were left over from our Christmas ornament projects or from the Dollar Tree. I'm so impressed with their craft stock lately. We found colored popsicle sticks, google eyes, glue, paint, etc.
Michael's sells Holiday themed sticker books and watercolor paint books for $1, also!
I hope you and yours have a blessed Thanksgiving and are able to thank our Savior for all of His influence in your life this year. Please keep the men and women of our armed forces in your thoughts, prayers, and "thankful list" this year. Remember, not everyone can go home for the holidays.
Enjoy these cute projects! Gobble, Gobble!
Alyssa
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| Pine Cone Turkey |
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| Popsicle Stick Scarecrow |
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| Fingerprint Turkey |
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| Place Cards With Stickers |
Saturday, November 7, 2015
Christmas Ornaments
In keeping with my introductory post earlier today, I'd like to share my FAVORITE Christmas tradition.
CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS!!! EEEEE!!!!
Growing up, my sister, B, and I received an ornament each year as a gift. They came from both our mom and dad, and our Grandma, sometimes other loved ones, too. When Adam and I were married, all of my childhood ornaments became ours and our tree was FULL our very first Christmas. Cool, hu?
Absolutely... but then there was mom and dad's tree... it was a little bare. So what did we do? We started the tradition in reverse and bought ornaments for THEM. That extended to my Grandparents on both my mother and father's side, my in-laws, and our nephews. Let me tell you, we almost went broke before we bought anything else that Christmas.
During a failed hand print craft, I came across a recipe for "Better Than Salt Dough". This stuff is ah-freaking-mazing (I'll include the recipe below). It's the most beautiful, white dough. Easy to work with and cheap to make. Thus, our ornament factory was born!
This year, I had our daughter start a list of everyone she wanted to make an ornament for. As she tweeted in her little chirpy voice, I wrote. Yeah... along with some extras for our local police department, that little love had 100 names! It felt like too much at first but then I thought about what I want for my children. We give because He gave. I came to the conclusion that God gave His best, so we were going to give our best, too!
In addition to our "Better Than Salt Dough" ornaments, we also made "Cinnamon Salt Dough) (recipe below), felt ornaments, and Perler Bead ornaments. Look over the photos I included for some inspiration. By the way, we did all this without breaking the bank. Here are some tips:
- Save birthday money, money from holiday cards, etc. If your house is anything like ours, you don't need more clutter (or toys, probably). We save a portion of our older child's birthday money for "project days". With it, we take her shopping and let her choose $1 supplies. Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Store has a whole section of felt, glitter, sequins, pom-poms, bells, etc. She has a BLAST picking things out, it teaches her a little lesson about money and staying within her means, and we have lots to work with later.
-If your child enjoys working with his or her hands, tell your family members when they ask for birthday/holiday ideas! The Perler Beads we used for ornaments were a birthday gift and I KNOW that family member will be so touched to see what Little Lady used them for.
-Put back one bag of chips on your next trip to the grocery store and buy salt, flour, corn starch, and baking soda instead.
-Use what you already have! We used sharpies to decorate some ornaments, paint leftover from other projects, q-tips for paintbrushes, empty egg cartons for paint trays... you get the idea.
-Use brown paper lunch bags to wrap your finished ornaments. You'll get more bang for your buck AND you can personalize them. Use pinking shears or decorative scissors to cut a pretty edge along the top, add some tissue paper (cut each piece into fourths to make it stretch! ) and they're adorable!
Spend some special, quality time with your children this year, make special memories, and as an added bonus, you can give something hand-made. Hey, who says this needs to be a kid's only project? Check out some of the pictures below. Some of them I worked on decorating myself and put the Little Lady on glitter duty (P.S. relax about the glitter mess... use a broom and smile!). For babies and very small children, use their fingerprints to decorate ornaments. Anyone can be involved in this!
I hope you enjoy putting your own twist on one of my Christmas Favorites!
Cheers,
Alyssa
Better Than Salt Dough
1C Baking Soda
1/2C Corn Starch
3/4C Water
Mix ingredients together over medium heat until mixture comes together. Will look like mashed potatoes. Cool in a bowl, covered with a damp cloth. Roll out, just like cookies! Use more corn starch on counter top and rolling pin to prevent sticking. Use cookie cutters and remember to poke a hole for your string to hang them! Place on a parchment lined baking sheet. Bake at 175 for 1 hour, turning after 30 minutes.
Paint/decorate as you wish
Salt Dough
1/2C Salt
1/2C Water
1C Flour
Cinnamon - amount is up to you! I used 1TBS in one batch and 2TBS in another
Mix ingredients together in a bowl, turn out onto floured surface, and roll out like cookies. Use cookie cutters and remember to poke a hole for your string to hang them! Place on a parchment lined baking sheet. Bake at 175 for 1 hour, turning after 30 minutes OR air-dry.
Paint/decorate as you wish
*note* In my experience, salt dough can turn powdery as it dries out. I had this occur with one batch and not another. I chose to paint the ones that did with a bronze glaze I had on hand.
CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS!!! EEEEE!!!!
Growing up, my sister, B, and I received an ornament each year as a gift. They came from both our mom and dad, and our Grandma, sometimes other loved ones, too. When Adam and I were married, all of my childhood ornaments became ours and our tree was FULL our very first Christmas. Cool, hu?
Absolutely... but then there was mom and dad's tree... it was a little bare. So what did we do? We started the tradition in reverse and bought ornaments for THEM. That extended to my Grandparents on both my mother and father's side, my in-laws, and our nephews. Let me tell you, we almost went broke before we bought anything else that Christmas.
During a failed hand print craft, I came across a recipe for "Better Than Salt Dough". This stuff is ah-freaking-mazing (I'll include the recipe below). It's the most beautiful, white dough. Easy to work with and cheap to make. Thus, our ornament factory was born!
This year, I had our daughter start a list of everyone she wanted to make an ornament for. As she tweeted in her little chirpy voice, I wrote. Yeah... along with some extras for our local police department, that little love had 100 names! It felt like too much at first but then I thought about what I want for my children. We give because He gave. I came to the conclusion that God gave His best, so we were going to give our best, too!
In addition to our "Better Than Salt Dough" ornaments, we also made "Cinnamon Salt Dough) (recipe below), felt ornaments, and Perler Bead ornaments. Look over the photos I included for some inspiration. By the way, we did all this without breaking the bank. Here are some tips:
- Save birthday money, money from holiday cards, etc. If your house is anything like ours, you don't need more clutter (or toys, probably). We save a portion of our older child's birthday money for "project days". With it, we take her shopping and let her choose $1 supplies. Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Store has a whole section of felt, glitter, sequins, pom-poms, bells, etc. She has a BLAST picking things out, it teaches her a little lesson about money and staying within her means, and we have lots to work with later.
-If your child enjoys working with his or her hands, tell your family members when they ask for birthday/holiday ideas! The Perler Beads we used for ornaments were a birthday gift and I KNOW that family member will be so touched to see what Little Lady used them for.
-Put back one bag of chips on your next trip to the grocery store and buy salt, flour, corn starch, and baking soda instead.
-Use what you already have! We used sharpies to decorate some ornaments, paint leftover from other projects, q-tips for paintbrushes, empty egg cartons for paint trays... you get the idea.
-Use brown paper lunch bags to wrap your finished ornaments. You'll get more bang for your buck AND you can personalize them. Use pinking shears or decorative scissors to cut a pretty edge along the top, add some tissue paper (cut each piece into fourths to make it stretch! ) and they're adorable!
Spend some special, quality time with your children this year, make special memories, and as an added bonus, you can give something hand-made. Hey, who says this needs to be a kid's only project? Check out some of the pictures below. Some of them I worked on decorating myself and put the Little Lady on glitter duty (P.S. relax about the glitter mess... use a broom and smile!). For babies and very small children, use their fingerprints to decorate ornaments. Anyone can be involved in this!
I hope you enjoy putting your own twist on one of my Christmas Favorites!
Cheers,
Alyssa
Better Than Salt Dough
1C Baking Soda
1/2C Corn Starch
3/4C Water
Mix ingredients together over medium heat until mixture comes together. Will look like mashed potatoes. Cool in a bowl, covered with a damp cloth. Roll out, just like cookies! Use more corn starch on counter top and rolling pin to prevent sticking. Use cookie cutters and remember to poke a hole for your string to hang them! Place on a parchment lined baking sheet. Bake at 175 for 1 hour, turning after 30 minutes.
Paint/decorate as you wish
Salt Dough
1/2C Salt
1/2C Water
1C Flour
Cinnamon - amount is up to you! I used 1TBS in one batch and 2TBS in another
Mix ingredients together in a bowl, turn out onto floured surface, and roll out like cookies. Use cookie cutters and remember to poke a hole for your string to hang them! Place on a parchment lined baking sheet. Bake at 175 for 1 hour, turning after 30 minutes OR air-dry.
Paint/decorate as you wish
*note* In my experience, salt dough can turn powdery as it dries out. I had this occur with one batch and not another. I chose to paint the ones that did with a bronze glaze I had on hand.
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| Better Than Salt Dough, with food coloring |
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| Better Than Salt Dough, as is |
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| Cinnamon Salt Dough, with bronze glaze |
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| Felt |
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| Perler Beads *Line a cookie sheet and melt beads at a low oven temp, inside cookie cutters. Wear gloves and CAREFULLY pop out of your cookie cutter RIGHT out of the oven. You may also let them cool and keep them inside the cookie cuter to hang. |
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| I made a 1/2 batch of Cinnamon Salt Dough and these will be our gift tags this year. I used mini-cookie cutters for these. |
Introducing
I, rather boldly, refer to myself as, "The Princess of Christmas". The title of "Queen" belongs to that of my mom, Carla. It is she who has instilled in me a passionate love of all things Christmas!
I grew up in a very loving, Christian home with my mom and dad and younger sister. The Holiday season in our family has always been pure magic. Cliche, I know. I truly wish I could put it into more eloquent terms. When I became a mom myself, I tried desperately to recreate that same warm glow my childhood home always had. While chatting with mom one evening, she explained that I would never create that exact same smell, lighting, ambiance, etc. because what I was remembering was a feeling. It made perfect sense.
I decided then and there, I was going to stop trying to recreate that beautiful past and I was going to focus on creating a beautiful NOW.
What makes the Holiday season so special is realizing that we are celebrating the birth of our Savior and He belongs in the center of all our celebrations. Consider this for a moment: God, the Creator of all things, chose to come to this world as a baby. He could have come in a firestorm of vengeful judgement; that's what we deserve. Instead, He chose to be born into this world in the weakest and most dependent form... a baby. He lived the life we could not and He suffered the death we deserve. As a result of His grace, we have an eternal home waiting for us. All His work began with His birth. What a WONDERFUL thing to celebrate.
THIS is why we celebrate. THIS is why we give gifts. THIS is what we teach our children. THIS is what makes the season pure magic.
Please stay tuned for future posts where I will be sharing many craft ideas for children and adults, gift ideas, budget tips, and more. All things Christmas! I hope all who are reading this are as blessed as I am with happy memories. Regardless of our past and upbringing, NOW is the time to create beautiful, lasting memories with our children, family, and extended family!
My husband, Adam, and I have two incredible children. Little Lady is 3 and our little guy, Chunky Monkey, is 8mo. I'm so excited to share our adventures with you!
Cheers,
Alyssa
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