Easy and Adorable Homemade Mitten Ornaments



originally posted 12-16-10

Here is a fun little Mommy-craft that I've been working on lately. This is a pretty simple craft and would be a fun activity for older kids to do too!





If you are interested in making some of your own, here are the basic steps:

1. Using felt (I LOVE FELT!), cut out 4 mittens of the same color. I made a pattern out of felt and use that to cut out 2 at a time. The dimensions of the mittens I've made are appx. 2.75" x 2.75". You can make them bigger or smaller!


2. Using felt, cut out circles of whatever color you want your flowers to be. I just cut the circles out freehand. They aren't perfect, but that's part of what makes them look cute and handmade.


3. Cut triangles out of your circle to make it look like a flower. You could round the edges more also if you like. I've kept mine straight.


4. Layer the flowers however you desire, and stitch them onto your mittens. I usually just do a single stitch, but sometimes have done a cross-stitch, or a french-knot.


5. Choose what color of thread you want to sew the mittens together with. I usually choose one of the colors of one of the flowers.

6. Using a blanket-stitch, stitch the 2 mittens together. (There are some good videos on YouTube of how to do a blanket stitch. It's very easy, and the videos are a good way to learn!)

7. (Optional) Leave an opening so that you can fill the mitten with a pinch of batting.
OR you can just leave them flat. Both ways end up looking really cute.


8. Cut a piece of twine appx 8" long and tie knots on both ends. Then, place one knot inside the mitten and continue to blanket-stitch, securing it inside.

9. Repeat steps 5-7 with mitten #2, stitching the other end of the twine into the 2nd mitten.
And you are done!!

I have gotten quite felt-happy over this little project, and have thoroughly enjoyed coming up with various color-combinations for mittens a-plenty! Here are some of the combos I've already made:











And here are several others just waiting to be finished!

 Because I'm planning on giving these to family & friends, I'm making a bunch. But I bet that even if you just want to make 1-2, you may end up like me and just not be able to stop!! haha.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!




10 Super Creative Ways to make Homemade Snowman Ornaments!



I was looking around the internet the other day for ideas for homemade snowman ornaments. There are so many cool ideas out there! Seriously. I want to make them all!

Here are links to some of my very favorite ones. They are just so creative and unique. Hard to choose just which one to do!





And while I was finding these cuties, I also happened to find some really awesome ideas for some big snowman projects. Bonus! These are so cool.

Homemade Snowman Pinata
Giant Snowman made with Plastic Cups!


Time to get crafting!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Fun and Easy Christmas Games with BOWS!

This was one of our activities for our "Presents" - themed week. Was so easy and fun, just like our Candy Cane Hunt, and 
And don't forget to check out this post where we show you how to use practically any Christmas wrapping paper to make cute file-folder Christmas games for kids!
Keep reading to find out how you can create some super fun and easy games with gift bows! 
These Christmas games would be great for parties or even as Birthday party games! All you need is a bag of bows and kids who like to have fun. 



You will need:
  • A bunch of gift bows (You can buy them fairly cheap this time of year. I actually bought this big bag of bows 3 years ago and have barely made a dent in using them---so finally I can put them to good use!)
  • 2 big bowls or buckets or bins.
  • A child or children with lots of energy!





Here are a few easy game ideas:

1. Bow Run:
    • Place 2 buckets each at opposite ends of the house. Fill one of the buckets with the bows.
    • Have the child pick up one bow at a time and run it to the other bucket, then run back to get another one. Continue until all the bows have been transferred. Then do it again!
      • OR you can have the child place a bow on their head and walk slowly to the other bucket and drop it in.
      • OR you can have them balance a bow on their arm(s).
      • AND/OR you can have them find 2 matching bows at a time and take both of them. (Here's LB(3) playing):



2. Bow Pick-up Race

    • Have your child grab handfuls of bows and throw them up in the air. Then time them to see how fast they can pick up all the bows and put them back in the bucket.
      • OR you could choose a color and have them just pick up bows of that color. (Here's LB in action!):


3. Bow Hunt
    • Just like an Easter egg hunt---only with BOWS! Hide all the bows in a room, or all around the house and have your child(ren) search for them.


4. Bow Fight
    • Place a long jumprope or string or line of pillows in the middle of the floor to section the room into 2 equal halves. Have team A on one side, team B on the other.
    • Each team starts with an equal number of bows. Set a timer for 2-3 minutes and say "go!" Everyone picks up the bows and throws them to the other team's side of the room! 
    • When the timer beeps everyone drops all the bows and counts how many bows are on their team's side. Whichever team has the least amount of bows wins.
    • Then play again!




This post contains affiliate links.
originally posted 12-3-12

Christmas Activities and Crafts for kids!


We've got a bunch of fun ideas for crafts and activities this Christmas season!
Just click on the links below to check them out!
Merry Christmas!

             



Holiday crafts are so much fun for kids. You can find more Christmas crafts, along with crafts for more Holidays in my book!!




(this post contains affiliate links)

Christmas Gift Idea!





Christmas is coming and this book is a perfect gift for so many people on your list!

Kids
Parents
Grandparents
Siblings
Aunts & Uncles
Cousins
Teachers
Friends
Neighbors

And best of all....IT'S ON SALE!

Click below to order it on Amazon!


or





Here is a little glimpse at the inside of the book:



All 50 crafts come with a big full-color photo of the finished craft, and step-by-step photos and instructions for how to make it! It is so fun and easy to use!

There are 10 Holidays listed in this book and each one comes with 5 different craft ideas for kids. The Holidays/Special Occasions included in this book are:

Valentine's Day
St. Patrick's Day
Easter
Mother's Day
Father's Day
Fourth of July
Back to School
Halloween
Thanksgiving
Christmas

Most of these crafts are not found on my blog, so you don't want to miss out. Get this book and you are set for a whole year of festive crafting!

Happy Holidays!!





Spider Halloween Craft



originally posted 10-29-14
Looking for a quick and easy Halloween craft for kids? You've come to the right place!
This cute spider craft is about as quick and easy as they come. Check it out!

Supplies:

Craft Time!

1. Cut out a black rectangle, and 6 green strips:




2. Do a fan-fold on each of the green paper strips:



3. Glue 3 of the strips to one side of the rectangle, and the other 3 to the other side.



4. Glue on 2 googly eyes, then draw a smile with a marker.




All done! 
Enjoy your spider, and 
Happy Halloween!


You can find more fun, cute, and EASY to make crafts in my Book!


(this post contains affiliate links)

Apple Buddy - Back to School craft for kids




RE-POST

Supplies:

Get it all ready:
  • With the red foam or paper, cut out a a big apple shape. 
    • (an easy way is to cut out a circle first, then trim the top and bottom inward to make it look like an apple!)


  • With the green foam or paper, cut out:
    • 4 green circles (for hands & feet)
    • 1 leaf
  • With the black foam or paper, cut out:
    • 4 rectangles (for arms & legs)
    • 1 skinny triangle (for the stem)



Craft Time!

  • When it's all ready to go, sit down with your child and help them put it all together:
    • Glue all the foam & paper pieces on
    • Glue on the eyes & nose
    • Draw a smile with the marker


And there you have it! Your child's very own Apple Buddy!
Starting another school year is always fun.
Starting it with an Apple Buddy is even better. :)

Have fun!


(this post contains affiliate links)

Spring Kite Craft for Kids


Originally posted 4-17-13
'Tis the season for KITES!
And if you don't have enough wind to go out and fly one,
Get out some paints and paper and MAKE one!

How to make it:
  • Out of a piece of white paper, cut out a kite shape.
    • Let your child paint (we used watercolors) their kite however they desire (this was LB's job)





  •  Get out another piece of white paper and have your child paint it however they desire (this was LL's job, AND her very first time painting! She loved it.)



  • After the papers have dried, use a hole-punch to make a small hole in the bottom corner of the kite.
  • Cut a long piece of yarn (however long you want it for the kite string), and tie it through the hole.




  • Out of the other sheet of painted paper, cut out 3 (or more) bow-shapes. Start at the top of the kite string and tie the yarn around each one, working your way down the string.



There you have it!


HAVE FUN!




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