Ornaments

I make or get an ornament for the kids each year. I don't thing that this tradition is a unique one but it is really fun. The kids LOVE getting out their ornaments at Christmastime.
Here are the ones I made for this year.
A chicken for Zoe. She has been obsessed with chickens this year.

Liam has started writing books, so I made him a little book that he can write a story in.

Lydia's room has a lot of butterflies and she likes butterflies.

Felix is besotted with Veggietales at the moment. There was no other choice for him, except Larry.

Photo tags

I am sure I saw this idea somewhere years ago and never thought I would use it. But this year it surfaced and I did it. I made gift tags with the kids pictures on them. It is so fun for them to find their gifts with their faces smiling at them.
I used old photos that I had laying around. So some of them are of the kids years ago. I think I will use them over again. I just put them on the gifts that are from us, so they know who they are from.

Snow Globe Soap

I found this cutest tutorial that I knew I had to try.
Each year I help my kids make gifts for each other. They get so excited about their homemade gifts! I decided that I would make this one with Lydia.

They smell like peppermint and are so cute! We found the little monkey toys in those 25 cent dispensers in the front of a grocery store that you never want your kids to buy things out of because it is crap. We also put rings in some of them, and some other little toys I found in the doll house section of the craft store.

It made a lot. It took hardly any time. It was a mess. I am so excited about them!

Christmas Card Wreath

I can't remember where I saw this idea and then promptly ripped it off. I think it is a fun display for Christmas cards. I love the one's my kids made and the one my Dad printed on his press (blue with temple), and the one my brother printed on his press from a vintage plate (red santa).

Beaded watch

These watches are all the rage around here. I was asked to teach a demonstration about how to make one at our church's Super Saturday. The band is attached with claw hooks (I don't know what they are really called) so that you can switch bands.
I made this one for my mother-in-law's birthday.