Cookies, cookies, cookies....and a cute kid.

Today's advent activity was to make a Christmas treat. Check out what we made today...

  We made these cookies a week or so ago but I never did get around to telling you all about them. They are sinful. It's a cookie in a cookie. Sorry I didn't get a picture of the inside, they just didn't last that long. Each cookies is the equivalent of three cookies. Two chocolate chip cookies with an Oreo cookie sandwiched in between. These cookies are HUGE and so very very yummy.

The cookie idea's came from here and here....once again, Thank you Pinterest.

And because I was taking pictures of the cookies, this boy thought he should have his picture taken too. I love this boy, snotty nose and all.

Stocking Stuffers

 I made these fun stocking stuffers for the girls. The top one is for Munchkin, it's a marble maze. the marble is sewn in between two pieces of fleece and then I have sewn a maze on the fabric. The idea is to push the marble from one dot through the maze to the other dot. Another brilliant idea inspired by pinterest.

The other two are obviously a checker game and a tic tac toe game. This is an idea I have had bookmarked for a long time but had forgotten about until I discovered pinterest and started pinning all of my book marks. The pieces have Velcro on them so you can play this on the go. To keep all the pieces together you just pull up the drawstring when you are done and it makes a cute little bag to carry it all in.

Sweetpea's Christmas gift

I stayed up way to late sewing. But I was on a roll and I just couldn't stop until it was all done. Sweetpea loves to bake. She asked Santa for a cook book. But long before that happened I had scoped out some tutorials to make some oven mitts, chef hat and apron(this was even before pinterest, but don't worry I have since pinned them there too). And then while I was sitting at my table selling my creations at the local craft fair last weekend I saw these adorable aprons hanging across the way. I knew then that I had to make one, especially because they were asking WAY to much money for them, and seriously I have the skills and fabric to make it. I used the this pattern for the apron but I rounded it out and added the pleated ruffle around the edge.

 And here's a look at the other side of the apron... reversible...how fun!

I can't wait to see her in it!! It's always so hard for me to keep all this a secret. But time is flying by and it will be Christmas day before I know it. I'm hoping I'll have time to do all that I have planned.

Advent activities

Here's some of the fun stuff we've done so far or our Activity advent I posted about previously.

On December 1st we made paper snow flakes. Aren't they pretty?

On Dec 3rd we were supposed to make a Christmas craft, but we were in Lethbridge all day watching dad play at our high school alumni  basketball tournament. But we managed to make up for it the on Sunday. We made pretty borax crystal ornaments(you can find the instructions here).

On Dec 4th we decorated our Christmas tree. So pretty.

(I'll try to get a better picture when the sun isn't shining in my window)

I'll keep you posted on the other fun stuff we'll be doing through out the month.

More easy Christmas kids crafts.

Again, it's all about me today. I have two more crafts to share with you. You can also find them in this free ebook.

Quick Glitter Pine cones

Materials:

• Pine cones in various shapes and sizes
• Spray adhesive
• Glitter in assorted colors
• Ziploc bags
• Ribbons or pipe cleaners
• Hot Glue gun

Steps:

1. Cover working area with newspaper.
2. Put a couple of tablespoons of glitter in a ziplock bag. The bigger the pine cone the more glitter you will need.
3. Spray adhesive all over pine cone, being sure to get in between the cracks.
   
4. Place pine cone in the ziplock bag with the glitter and seal. Make sure it is sealed tightly.
   
5. Let your little one shake to their hearts content or until the pine cone is covered in glitter.
   
6. Remove pine cone and set aside to dry completely.
   
7. Repeat as many times as desired.
   
8. When dry, attach a ribbon with the glue gun to hang on the Christmas tree or fold a pipe cleaner in half and glue the center of the pipe cleaner to the bottom of the pine cone.
   
9. Use the pipe cleaner to fasten to the tree branch. (see picture)

Pretty Beaded Icicle ornaments

Materials:

• Metallic, crystal or opaque beads in assorted shapes and sizes
• Metallic pipe cleaners
• Large sequins of any shape (Stars in Picture)

Steps:

1. Thread one large sequin on to the pipe cleaner. Fold up about 1/4” of the pipe cleaner to make a knot (so the sequin does not slide off).
   
2. Thread on beads in desired pattern until you reach your desired length. Be sure to leave about 3” of pipe cleaner at the top to make a loop.
   
3. Bend pipe cleaner over to just reach the last bead. Twist the end to hold in place. Now you should have a loop to hang your icicle on the tree.

Easy Kids Christmas Crafts

Looking for easy Christmas crafts to do with your kids? I just might have the answer for you.

Today I am tooting my own horn.I recently received an email from an editor of the Favecrafts.com website to see if I would be interested in contributing some of my creative ideas for the Christmas season. I was simply thrilled that I had been noticed and more than excited to participate. I was already planning on posting a few simple Christmas Craft ideas here, so I decided to send them to FaveCrafts to share with the whole wide internet world.

So for the next few weeks I will share my tutorials here, as well as provide a link to the published version at Favecrafts.com.












Three Tiered Christmas Tree and Four sided Christmas Ball


What you will need:

-Scrapbook paper
-glue stick
-pony beads
-ribbon
-glitter glue
-glitter pens or markers
-paperclips

Three tiered Christmas tree instructions

1. Cut three circles(small, medium, large)from your scrap book paper using the circle template.
2. Cut out of each circle the quarter section as marked
3. Add additional decoration as desired on each circle using glitter glue or glitter pens. Let dry.
4. Using the glue stick, glue along on straight edge.
5. Pull the other straight edge to over lap the glue making a cone. Place a paperclip along the glued edge to hold in place until the glue dries.
6. Cut a piece of ribbon about 10” long. Fold in half. Tie a pony bead on to the loose end(the pony bead is to keep the cones from sliding off the ribbon or out of place). Thread the ribbon through the hole in the top of the largest cone(if the whole is to small make a small cut so the ribbon will thread through. Tie another pony bead about 1” above the large cone. Thread the ribbon through the whole of the medium cone. Tie another pony bead on about 1” above the medium cone and thread on the smallest cone.
7. Optional. Cut slits in the lower edge of each cone and curl the slitted paper upwards using a pencil.

Four sided Christmas Ball Ornament

1. Cut four circles of the same size from the scrap book paper.
2. Add additional decoration as desired on each circle using glitter glue or glitter pens. Let dry.
3. Fold each circle in half.
4. Cut about a 6” piece of ribbon
5. Using a glue stick, glue along one half of one circle. Fold cut ribbon in half and glue on the folded edge of the circle
6. Place one half of another circle on the glued side of the other matching curved edges. Use a paperclip to hold in place until the glue has dried. Repeat for each circle, glueing the forth circle to the first.

All of these crafts have been tried and tested by real kids...namely mine. Next week I'll have two more easy Christmas Craft Ideas for you to do with your kids. In the mean time you should go check out Favecrafts.com. It has tonnes of...you guessed it...craft ideas for all occasions and all levels in any medium you can imagine. Look for me in the future on the Favecrafts blog as a guest blogger.