Felt Christmas Tree

We put up and decorated our Christmas Tree the day after Thanksgiving, also known as Black Friday. We are not Black Friday shoppers.

This year, I let all 3 of my kids help decorate the tree. I have an almost 7 year old, a 4 1/2 year old, and a 1 1/2 year old. Each year, I buy an ornament for each of my children. These ornaments are specific for each child. The ornaments are memories of what the kids have loved for the year. My oldest is into Super Heroes, so Batman for him. My middle is all about Princess, so Rapunzel for her. For my youngest, her first word (besides mama & dada) was tractor. Of course it is pronounced 'ractor.' Her other favorite word and thing to look for is combine.

After getting the new and older ornaments, we began. We tried to help the youngest hang the ornaments on the tree. She did not want anything to do with hanging the ornaments on the tree. No, instead she would pick one up, look at it, and then throw it. (And she has quite the arm for a 1 1/2 year old.) When she started to pull them off the tree to throw them, we stopped decorating until she took a nap. After nap time she no longer pulled off the ornaments. She has learned which ones have buttons to turn on for more fun.

Since they had so much fun decorating the tree, I made a felt one so they can decorate and un-decorate the tree as much as they want. I used felt to make the tree and ornaments.

Princess Finger Puppets

I have been working on a Homemade Christmas. For my 4 yr old daughter, I made these princess finger puppets. Of course, I also made a bag would to need to carry these 5 Princesses. These were super east to make! I found the idea and tutorial over at Made it on Monday.
Now, shhh...Don't tell her what she is getting from me!

Bench and Shoe Storage

With trying to finish up the new room for my youngest and the Holidays, I did not get this posted.

Here is another power tool project. We took the top hutch thing off of our computer desk. My hubby was going to cut it up and throw it away, but then he left for some military school and it did not end up in the trash.

So, my plan was to re-purpose it into a shoe bench...You know, a bench where you can sit and put on/take off shoes. It would also store these shoes. I used a rubber mallet to take off the back. Then I pulled out the circular saw. I cut the sides to make it shorter. I added a piece of wood to the bottom.

While working on these I changed my mind and thought I would like it better as a toy bin in my youngest daughter's new room. It ended up being a little long for her room so, back to the shoe bench.

A little primer, some paint and...

Now, I need to cover some boxes to store the shoes!

Easy Braided Fleece Blanket

How many of you have a tied 2 sided fleece blanket? Are those knots comfy to sleep on? Probably not. My son found this eagle fleece material that he loved. I was not going to get it because he has so many blankets. I did go back later to buy it. I found this tutorial or this one over on Pinterest and wanted to try it. It only takes the 1 piece of fleece! This braided fleece blanket was super easy! I used a paper clip.

Chicken Tetrazzinni

Chicken Tetrazzini (Freezer Meal)

(serves 4-6)

2 cups spaghetti, cooked and drained

2 cups chicken, cooked and diced

1 can cream soup

½ cup onion, chopped

¼ cup green pepper (or any color you pick)

1 cups chicken broth

1 ½ cup Cheddar cheese, grated

Sauté onions and peppers in a little oil. Mix with the rest of the ingredients Cook and put in freezer bag and freeze flat.

When ready to use, thaw and place in 9x13 pan and bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes until heated through. (You may sprinkle additional cheese.)

**This recipe may be doubled and split it into 3 freezer bags **

Barbecued Chicken (Freezer & Crockpot Meal)

Lately, I have been asked for a few of my recipes. Here is one of my favorite because I freeze it, thaw it, and then cook it in the crockpot. Enjoy...

Barbecued Chicken for Buns (Crockpot & freezer meal)

6 cubed boneless, skinless chicken breast halves

2 cups chopped celery

1 cup chopped onions

1 cup chopped green bell peppers

4 tablespoons butter

2 cups ketchup

2 cups water

2 tablespoons brown sugar

¼ cup white vinegar

2 teaspoons dry mustard

1 teaspoon salt

24 sandwich buns

In large bowl, stir together all the ingredients excepts for the sandwich buns. Pour into a labeled 1 gallon bag and freeze. Slip the buns into 2 more 1 gallon freezer bags and attach to the chicken bag.

To serve, thaw the barbecued chicken and the rolls. Pour the chicken into a slow cooker, cover, and cook on low for about 6 to 8 hours. Stir the chicken until it shreds. Pile the shredded chicken in the rolls and serve.

NOTE: This may be frozen as two or three entrees instead of one large one.

Serves 16 to 20

Book Shelf on Dresser

We recently added a bedroom to our house for our youngest. She is so happy to have her own night-night. Her bedroom is a little smaller than the other kids' bedrooms, so I need to be a little creative with her furniture. I did not want to put a book case in the room to take up space. I pinned this idea and decided I could make something similar.

I found some small wooden boxes at Joann Fabrics to use. I dug out the circular saw to cut them in half. Then I painted them with White Krylon Primer and Paint. To attach each half to the dresser I used Liquid Nail. I am planning on adding some to the other side of the dresser also.

My youngest was so excited to have her books in her room. She immediately went and pulled all her books off the shelves looking for her Dora and Elmo book.

Linked to Fix It Up Friday