Holiday Crafts To Do With My Kids

Guest post written by Kylie Sanders

     I do a lot to try and discourage my kids from watching too much TV, so I try and plan all kinds of other activities for them to do. I grew up sitting in front of the TV and I'd prefer for them not to spend as much time in front of the TV as I did, plus doing more things with them keeps me from spending too much time in front of the TV myself.

     I thought that it would be good for me to find some Hanukkah themed crafts for the kids. So while I was doing that I saw the site http://www.clearwirewimax4g.com and read through all of it. I think that we're going to change over internet access to that company pretty soon.

     I found all kinds of possibilities for Hanukkah kids crafts and had a hard time picking just what I wanted to do with them. So I let them pick out what they wanted to do. After about 10 minutes of them arguing, I made an executive decision and picked the paper chains of menorahs for us to make.

Needle Felted Santa

Is it strange to have a life-size Santa head on your windowsill? I'm on the fence on this one. You'll have to let me know what you think in all honesty. Most of the time I feel pretty good about this guy. He was so much fun to make and watch as he was coming into creation. I love the look of an Old World Santa (even if it is just his head). I made this guy last year, just when I was beginning blogging....but I never posted about him. What better time that now?? It's after Thanksgiving right?? Do I have your permission to go hog wild on the Christmas decor?? :-) 

I wish I could give you a full tutorial, but it was a year ago and I'm a little fuzzy on the details. I can tell you some basic things you'll need to make it:

Muslin fabric

Poly-filling

Fabric Paint

Clean Sheep Wool (uncarded)

Red fleece

White fleece

Needle Felting tool

Hot Glue

~Take the muslin and sew it into a oval pillow shape. Fill it with poly-filling and sew it closed.

~ Shape the wool into a beard with the felting tool by gathering bits together and tamping them firmly together with the tool. Make a separate mustache that is nice and full. Sheep wool that hasn't been carded or dyed makes the BEST beards, and most of the time they come in pieces that are already beard shaped. I bought and cleaned this wool all by myself. You can read about it HERE in my very first blog post about traditional felting.

~Use lots of hot glue to glue the beard and mustache in place. I used some straighter pieces of wool for Santa's hair, which I glued separately. I also made some fluffy eyebrows from wool as well.

~Use pink and red fabric paint for some dramatic rosy-red cheeks. Brown and tan colors work well for the eyes. 

~Sew two large red fleece triangle shaped pieces together and sew on a white trim for the cuff of the hat. I attached a little bell to the tip of the hat for fun. 

~Hot glue or sew ( or both, which I did) the hat onto Santa's head. 

Voila!!

That's about the best I can remember of how I made Santa's disembodied head. ;-) 

Let me know what you think!!

P.S. YAY!!!! This post was featured on Punkin Seed  Productions here:




I shared this post at these wonderful linky parties....check them out and be inspired!!
Frugalicious Friday

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A Shutterfly Christmas

When it comes to choosing seasonal cards, there is usually only one choice: mine. I have always enjoyed making my own. I've done iris folding cards, pop-out cards, strange marbelized paper cards....you name  it, I've done it!! This year I've been feeling a little *bleh* about making my own. With the craft fair looming and my blog becoming a much more permanent part of my day, I'm feeling like a just don't have time to devote to it. So, I've been talking myself through this process and here's what I've come up with: There is nothing un-crafty about photo cards, because you are using your art (the photos) to make them.  To make a nice card there has got to be the perfect picture (or pictures) to make the whole card work. That takes craft!! I have sufficiently convinced myself that Photocards are good and therefore I can do them. ;-) 

Have you heard of Shutterfly before?? Let me introduce you:

~You can store all your pictures on shutterfly free of charge.

~Share pictures with friends instantly (and friends don't have to sign up to see the pictures!!)

~Pick up your 4x6 photos at Target, Walgreens, or CVS in less than an hour!!

~Turn your photos into gifts (books, cards, etc)

~Find plenty of articles and "how to" videos to help you edit your collection.

After perusing their catalog here are some special products that really caught my eye:

Christmas Photo Cards

Folded Cards

Desk Calendars

Christmas Invitations

Address Labels

Christmas Gift Tags

Aren't these great??

So, yeah, I'm sold. I am definitely going with Shutterfly this season. :-) 

You can find Shutterfly here as well:

FACEBOOK (They are currently holding a Holiday Photo Contest!!)

TWITTER

~Brought to you by your friends at Shutterfly. All opinions in this article are my own and I stand by them!!