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

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

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:

• 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!

   It's a dreary, rainy day here today.  I've gotta say... I'm diggin' it.  I don't know what it is about these crummy fall days but I really LOVE them!  It must be something about the warm glow in the house against the grey backdrop out the windows.

   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

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!  

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.

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.

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

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.

   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. 

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!

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

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

Pine Cone Turkey

Popsicle Stick Scarecrow

Fingerprint Turkey

Place Cards With Stickers

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.

Better Than Salt Dough, with food coloring

Better Than Salt Dough, as is

Cinnamon Salt Dough, with bronze glaze

Felt

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.

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