Crafty

I've been feeling a bit crafty lately, so I turned to Pinterest (where else!) for some inspiration.

First up, our new advent calendar. 

It was super easy to make. I just used a piece of scrap wood, 24 clothes pins, paint and construction paper.

Just paint and decorate how you want, glue the clothes pins down, and add the paper. Jake and I really like experiences more than toys/candy, so each day is a fun Christmas/winter activity to do with the kids.

-Go on a Christmas hayride
-color a Christmas picture
-build a snowman
-bake a birthday cake for baby Jesus
-make a Christmas decoration
-do a Christmas craft
-make/buy special ornaments
-Go sledding
-make paper snowflakes
-have hot chocolate and cookies
-go pick out gifts for siblings
-go to the library and get Christmas books
-bake Christmas cookies
-Charlie Brown movie night
-make cards for mailman
-bake cookies and bring them to a neighbor
-make Christmas cards for friends
-make a gingerbread nativity scene
-Do something nice for someone
-sing carols
-go out and look at Christmas lights
-open one gift (Christmas eve)
-Go out for a special breakfast
-Paint a Christmas picture


It turned out really well (better than the pictures) and the kids love to see what the new activity is each day.

 Next was a simple project for our mantel:

All I did for this was search through the kids' blocks and find the letters I needed, then paint :)

So simple, but it looks really cute on the mantel.



This one is straight from Pinterest, but is oh so cute :)

Lily's hands are on the bottom, Jonah's in the middle, and Kate's on top. They had a blast making this, and it is displayed proudly on the mantel.



Hopefully this is just the beginning, and there will be lots more crafts to come :)