Christmas Crafts--Links

I spent about an hour or so early this morning looking for things for the kids and I to do to make Christmas somewhat "homemade." I focused primarily on making ornaments for our tree.

A few of my classmates at Simplify 101 expressed interest in what I'd found, so I'm going to publish this list, as is, now. I had been going to wait and post it with pictures after we had chosen what to do (and done it!)--but hey, I can do that later, too!

So, I apologize for a (mostly) pictureless post--there are pictures at each link. (You will notice I went off on a rabbit trail chasing snowflakes. Those will be fun to do as a home school "lesson.")

Paper Chains.
Remember those? The easiest garlands, ever.
You can make them out of any sort of paper: shiny paper is nice.

Martha Stewart has a twist: make them out of ribbon instead. (Pictured above.)
http://www.marthastewart.com/good-things/recycled-ribbon-chain?backto=true

The staff at Martha Stewart are truly creative. Here are a few more of their ideas which appeal to me:

Button Wreath Ornament
Instructions: http://www.marthastewart.com/article/button-wreath-ornament?backto=true

Fabric covered balls
Instructions: http://www.marthastewart.com/article/fabric-balls?backto=true

Jingle Bell wreath:
Instructions: http://www.marthastewart.com/good-things/jingle-bell-wreaths?backto=true

For our first Christmas as a "family," (our son was three months old), I made what was probably the world's longest popcorn garland. AT MS, it's been transformed into a wreath. Adorable.
Intructions: http://www.marthastewart.com/good-thing/popcorn-wreath?backto=true

Others:

Hanging paper ornaments (double sided scrapbook paper would be best for this. As well, instructions forgot to include cutting two strips 12" long):
http://www.betterbudgeting.com/christmasornaments/ovalpaperornaments.htm

Pie plate ornaments:
http://www.betterbudgeting.com/christmasornaments/pieplates.htm

Felt monogram ornaments:
http://www.betterbudgeting.com/christmasornaments08/monogramfeltcircles.htm%20

Felt Gingerbread man ornament:
http://www.canadianliving.com/crafts/other_crafts/make_a_felt_gingerbread_man_ornament.php

Lots of ideas to choose from at Kaboose:
http://www.theknackkids.com/ProjectView/Code/kn0474.aspx

Specifically, Polka Dot Glass ornaments: http://crafts.kaboose.com/polkadot_orn.html

More clever ideas with clear glass ornaments:
Using paint: http://www.save-on-crafts.com/howtomakcero.html Same idea but with easy to follow pictures for the visual learners among us: http://parentingteens.about.com/od/christmasornaments/ss/ornaments3.htm

Stuff with interesting stuff: http://www.save-on-crafts.com/babfiror.html

3-D Paper ornaments.
http://www.theknackkids.com/ProjectView/Code/kn0434.aspx
(Use cardboard and cookie cutters for templates. Paint, decorate.)

String and Ribbon Ornaments:
http://www.holidaycrafter.com/article1086.html

Bread Dough Ornaments.
For older children or adults, I think. http://www.save-on-crafts.com/doughornaments.html

********************
6 sided snowflakes
http://www.papersnowflakes.com/6sided.htm

How to fold:
PDF File: http://ms-t-inc.com/pdf-file/snowflak.pdf

The Science Lesson to go with:
http://expertvoices.nsdl.org/polar/2009/02/03/teaching-about-snowflakes-a-flurry-of-ideas-for-science-and-math-integration/
***********************

Hope that was helpful.

Planning for the Holidays

Thank you all so very much for your feedback on the living room and the ottoman, especially. Tonight, when the hubby asked me for my final decision, I was able to say, without hesitation, that I was keeping it. I even quoted some of your comments.

I am content.

Earlier this week, I signed up for a course called Organizing for the Holidays at Simplify 101. Last year I was in such a funk, I nearly missed Christmas altogether. It was sad. The happiest Christmas I remember was when I followed Flylady's Christmas plan, many years ago. I didn't want to return to Flylady: but I feel I need something to keep me on track and moving forward.

This course is structured very differently from what Marla Cilley would do, but it also offers a gallery and message board to help keep each other moving forward which will be helpful to me, I think.

There are lessons: a pre-lesson, 3 proper before Christmas, and 2 after. Our first (pre-lesson) assignment was to create a Holiday Planning Binder with an optional decorated front. I did mine tonight and I'm pleased with it. I'm even more pleased that I was able to put my hands on all the various scrap booking supplies needed to assemble this, even though I haven't scrapped a thing for about two years, now.

That's it up there. (Very 2007, but that's what I had on hand!)

The next assignment is to come up with an "inspirational guiding statement" to bring us through the holidays. I'm working on it!

In Progress

I went out last night and indulged in some retail therapy. You'll see three of the things I bought yesterday in this photo, taken in the depths of the night, early this morning.

There's the brown lampshade (being returned for something lighter), the brown ottoman (haven't made up my mind. I've been looking for this piece for 5+ years--and now that it is finally available at my price point, it is passe. So, I'm not sure what to think. The trunk has never been a) big enough, and b) stable enough.



I want to focus in on the rug. It is 6x9--and a $40.00 Wally World Wonder. It is going back. My instinct was for an 8x10 in this room and alas and alack, that instinct is correct. The rug is turned so the 9 feet is across the room--and under the couch. The width is 6 feet is across--and the furniture is just too close to the edges to be aesthetic pleasing. (A foot on either side would be terrific: I guess what I really need, then is an 8x8 or 9x9). Trying it the other way--nine feet across in front of the couch squished the chairs to close to the ottoman, as you can imagine.



Still, I wanted to see how the room would look "pulled together" by a rug--and it is indisputable. I think I am going to "ask" for this as my one and only Christmas present this year.

(I have read that one can get broadloom cut and bound to a specific size--and that it is "cheaper" than area rugs of the same size. I may investigate that.)

Week 4: The Living Room: Intro

My living room is never to my satisfaction. I got close, very close, during the Spring Cure of 2008, but in less than a month the dog chewed his way through everything that could be chewed.



And I wanted a rug.

The goal this year was to lighten everything up. We finally finished the faux fireplace face-lift and painted the walls. There are no pillows, no blankets, no artwork on the walls, and the brown drapes need their annual dry cleaning.

(The unflinching, extremely embarrassing before:)



And I still want a rug.


To do list:

Errands:
Buy shade for "new" lamp base
Take broken mirror sconce in for fixing
Take Brown Drapes in for cleaning

Decisions:
Commit to either a warm or cool colour scheme
Decide on artwork/mirror for Mantel
Declutter books and videos

Actions:
Steam clean couch

Entryway Wrap Up

I like the rhythm of the Cure. One week for the projects is perfect. I got bogged down this week and didn't get as much done as I wanted: but there's been a major improvement just from the decluttering alone. I like the accountability, too. I really pushed to get everything done yesterday so I could post this in a timely fashion.

Before:





To Do List:
Ta Da's (done) in blue.

1a. Get new rug for front door.
1. Clean out cleaning closet
2. Clean out coat closet
3. Clean out dresser drawers
4. Clear off dresser top


5. Paint dresser top or replace dresser
6. Replace artwork in both parts of the hallway

Front:
(I'm thinking this is too small for the space, but I am enjoying looking at it after having it stored away for many, many years)

Back:



7. Solve mitten/hat/scarf storage problem
8. Fix boot storage problem (if possible)
9. Paint up closet door trim
10. Clear stairs.
Also done:

Removed wax blobs from floor
Washed walls and baseboards
Sorted old mail, pitched and filed all sorts of paper clutter.
Painted little alcove.



Bought and installed new knobs on cabinet.

First Repair.

It wasn't on the list.

I was quite happy about it, actually. Since the day we attached the original wood seat, I hated the brass fittings. What a mess!

So, yesterday, I spent a little extra and got a white wooden seat (I hadn't known you could get wood in something other than natural) with chrome fittings. My taps now match my toilet seat. Looking down at them while I wash my hands makes me smile.




Health update:
My daughter's fine, my husband has been diagnosed with Bronchitis--he took one sick day and then worked both of his days off this week for the over time, and my son is feeling miserable. We've misplaced the thermometer.

Week 2: Fall Back.

Taking Aurelia (not her real name) to the hospital Monday night messed with my already messed up circadian rhythms. I am now going to bed at 5 or 6 am and getting up at 3 or 4 in the afternoon. Then, I make supper and we sit down and watch about 3 hours of House in the evening. And then, I get on the computer. We've one more season to go before we can't go any further and then, perhaps, life will calm down.

This is where things stand right now:



I did get this done:



It doesn't look quite "done," somehow. Any other ideas for this little space? It is a former "phone alcove" and it's right in the entryway. I'd like it to make me smile.

I am going to do my best to push through this afternoon and see what I can accomplish.

re comments: keep them coming! I like the idea of covering the metal spice "rack" with a lightweight paper, just to take the hard metal edge off the whole thing. Similiarly, I like the idea of putting down a cloth, or fabric, or again, paper on top of this dresser and then placing a piece of glass over it. I'll know whether it's feasible as soon as I price out a bit of glass. Thanks for the suggestions!