Elf on the Shelf Story with Stickers

So we have an Elf.  He has been with us for 7 yrs now...

He is a good Elf, no mischief from him.  :)

He usually likes to hid and listen to the kids.  These kids for the most part are good kids...always on the nice list.

Our Elf, Percy, knows that we have been working on storytelling in Homeschool.  So he decided to help us out...

One night he left for the kids a pack of stickers and he started a story for the kids using the story.  He encouraged the kids to add on to his story.  The kids looked through the sticker pack to get ideas.

The Elf's story started with 2 penguins that wanted to go sledding...  :)

Homemade Christmas 2012

Another Homemade Christmas...

Another apron for my girls.  The aprons are personalized with their intials.  These are made from repurosed jeans.  Here is a tutorial for the jean apron.















A rose scarf - this is made from felt.  I sewed the scalloped circles together to make the flowers.  Then I sewed the flowers to the felt scarf.  This could be a no sew project by using a glue gun.

A friend of mine asked if I could make a dress for her daughter out of some material that she had.  This is what I made.  From what I hear, the daughter loves it!  

Front of Dress

Back of Dress

Is it an Apron or a Bag?

Is it a bag? or...

an Apron?


It is both.

My girls love to paint.  With these bag aprons, it is easy to keep our paint and paintbrushes put away.  When  they are ready to paint, we empty the bag and change it into an apron.  

These were gifts for Christmas.

Carry It All Bag

For Christmas, I was given fabric and a pattern for a bigger bag.  The giver thought that I would make it for our cruise.  Well, I made it sooner!  I love this bag.  It is big enough that I can carry my kindle, and some entertainment for the kids.  Well, my other bag could do that...but this bag is bigger because I can also carry gluten free treats.  :)

 It has a zipper for my phone, keys, and money.  On the other side it has two pockets.  Great for the snacks or Kindle.

This pattern also included a mini bag.  The mini bag does not have a zipper, but it does have the pockets.  I have made one for one of my daughters.  I need to make another for my youngest daughter.  The mini size is perfect size for kids.  I let both girls pick their colors for the bag.  

This is the bag for my almost 6 year old daughter.

This is the inside of her bag.

Here is a picture to compare the bags.  

I don't think this picture really shows how much bigger my bag (on right) is compared to the mini (on left).  

My daughter with her bag.

Santa's Recycle Program

Have you heard of Elf on the Shelf?  (If no, go here.)

We have one named Percy.  This year, I wanted my kids to take a bigger part of cleaning out their room for the new stuff.  I came up with Santa's Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Program.  Santa sent an email to my kids about this program.  This email basically said that our Elf, Percy, will be bringing toys bags for broken and unwanted toys.  The Elf will take them back to the North Pole when he 'flies' back to give Santa the daily behavior report.  The unwanted toys will be passed on to other well behaved children.  The broken ones will be fixed and returned, if wanted, or passed on.

I have also decided that on Christmas Eve, Santa will also leave his presents in their bags, instead of wrapping them or putting them under a blanket.

I made a simple pull string bag.  What do you think?

A Christmas Outfit

Yes, I realize it is March and I am posting something I made for Christmas.

  

I made this outfit for a friend's daughter.

  

My daughter saw them and thought I was making it for her.  She was very sad when I told her they were for a friend.  So, what is a mother to do??? 

 Yes, that is right, go and make a pair for my daughter too.  I also made a matching shirt by adding candy canes from the same fabric.

A happy daughter :)

Christmas Picture Block Ornament

When decorating our Christmas tree, I love looking at the pictures of my children from years past.  This year, I saw this idea on Pinterest and decided to make some for Grandparents, Great Grandparents, Uncles, and Aunt.

You may either purchase craft blocks from the store or I opted to make my own from a deck banister.  I pulled out my husband's power saw and went to work cutting blocks.  I also drilled a hole through each block for the string.  I used Krylon black spray paint to paint each block.  Using my computer, I printed each child's name with the year to add to a side of each block.  A few pics, some mod podge, a few beads, and string and here the finished project.

Another Christmas Gift - Army Apron

For Christmas, I made my SIL a new apron.  I used an old pair of my husband's army pants.   I trimmed the apron with pink and added a pink ruffle to the bottom.   I added some iron on bling to the pocket (which was the cargo pocket).  

Grandkids...Make Life Grand

Now that Christmas is over, I can post a few of the gifts that I made.  I made these for the Grandparents.  Here is a simple one that I found on Pinterest.   Yes, I pulled out the husband's power tools for this one.  :)  I found some extra wood and cut it to size.  I have been staining the our deck (little by little) and used stain for this board.

Superman!!!

A while ago, I made a Batman cape for my son. He mentioned that he would also like a Superman Cape. For Christmas, this is his homemade gift.

Nativity Story using M&Ms

Remember the Reason for the Season?

Two of my three children attend Parent's Day Out one day a week at a local church where we Iive. I wanted to find something to give their teachers. I found this on the internet and pinned it to use. With so much focus on Santa and presents, I wanted to bring back a little reminder of the true meaning of Christmas. My 4 year old's teacher loved this so much that she went and made copies of it to give to each of the children in the class. She told me that in the kids' treat bags were M&Ms and this would be the perfect addition to their goodie bags.

A, B, C, D

My youngest loves playing with Letters! She will find a little B and scream, "B!" She will also write her letter "A". For an almost 2 year old, she is pretty close at writing an A. For Christmas, her homemade gift is the Alphabet with extra 'L.' Do you see why I included an extra L?

To make this, I used some of my leftover material. I printed letters using Word and a font that I liked (I do not remember which one). I traced the letter backward on the fabric, added quilt batting (2 layers), and sewed along my line.

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!