Nativity Scene

I'm in between loads of laundry, so I thought I'd have time to post something! This is something I found on Pintrest - Nativity Stocking Holders - and it was one of those project that I just had to make right away, with a special person in mind to gift it to.

I decided not to make them into stocking holders, but instead as a Christmas nativity scene. The gal also used vinyl nativity pieces and stuck them on the blocks of wood, which makes for a quick and simple project. I don't have access to what ever cuts out vinyl pieces (a Cricut maybe?) and so I did consider ordering the pieces from her - she sells them every fall. But then I thought - why do that when I can paint. I googled silhouette nativity scenes and it didn't take long to find pretty much all the same images she had used. A little re-sizing and I was good to go.

I got my husband to cut some blocks for me and I sanded them, painted them an off white, sanded them again to give them the distressed look, traced the nativity scene on and painted again. It actually didn't take as long as I thought it would.

My painting is far from perfect and however in the end they look pretty good.

The faces were a little difficult since my tracing turned out to be a basic outline - the 2 x 4 I used was kind of rough which made it hard to tace a pattern without falling into the grain of the wood. I did sand them down before I painted but it didn't help.

Nativity scenes are my favourite Christmas decorations and is a project I hope to make again! It cost me nothing since I used scrap lumber and already had the paint, just took a little time!

Christmas Stockings

I finished Victoria's stocking about a month and a half before Christmas!

I took a look at my stocking, and decided that there was a small chance that I could get it done as well! And I did!

I'm so glad to have finished all of the family Christmas stockings! It only took me 4 years! But they look so nice and I think it is so special for kids to have a homemade stocking, just like I did growing up.

Notice the fabulous cookies the boys made for Santa!

They also made this amazing gingerbread house!

Merry Christmas!

Snowman Christmas Cards

Every year I say I'm going to make all of my Christmas cards. It never happens. Mainly because I leave it until December and then don't have time to make 50 cards. So I end up buying some or doing up a quick card on Print Master. This year was no different. I had an elaborate card planned, and as December neared the card got simpler and simpler until I abandoned my original plan all together.

I was still determined to make a card, so I looked around on Pintrest for super simple Christmas cards and I came across this. I knew it was something I could pull off!

I'm sure I would have been able to work more efficiently at my desk but it was (and still is) covered with Lego. I was ban to the floor. I'm afraid my desk is forever lost to Lego. I should have never cleaned it off!

Regardless, I got to work making snowmen.

Then made a snowflake background using my fabulous Cuttlebug.

Added a "Let it snow" stamp, embossed in blue and gold and called it done! It's pretty cute for just some circles!

I'm glad I got them done because with the price of stamps going up I might never be able to afford to mail letter again!

Advent Calendar

Last November I came across this Advent Calendar on Pinterest.

I decided then I was going to make it for my kids for next Christmas. The thing I really liked about it was that the nativity characters were made with Shrinky Dinks. I had some Disney Shrinky Dinks when I was a kid. I thought they were the neatest thing ever. I had completely forgot about them and certainly never thought they would still be making them. Of course, I found the plastic at Michaels. You can find everything there!

Making this Advent Calendar completely slipped my mind until a month ago but I really wanted to get it done before December 1, so I got to work on it.

Since the above link isn't a complete nativity scene I used the characters from this site.

I made mine a little smaller and put it on the fridge with magnets instead on of a canvas. For the first 11 days I put in little ornaments to hang on the Christmas tree.

Here are my awesome Shrinky Dink people ...

The finished product, and a close up of what it will look like on Christmas morning!

And it hanging on the fridge!

Christmas Cheer for the Bathroom!

I've always wanted a Christmas shower curtain. Don't ask me why! Maybe because the bathroom always gets skipped in the Christmas decorating, and changing the shower curtain is the only way to make it more festive. The only place I've ever seen them is in Jysk and I could never bring myself to buy one. When I asked my husband what he thought of the whole idea he said something like "I really don't see the point". Regardless, this year I was determined to get one. I found some online that I really liked, but wasn't prepared to pay $70! That is when it struck me - I would make my own!

On a trip to Fabricland I found some panels in the bargain bin that were perfect, picked out some fabric for the borders and then proceeded to the cutting tables where I waited and waited and waited and considered just leaving but really didn't want to give up after I was so close to having my shower curtain. People really need to learn fabric-buying etiquette. I did finally get my fabric cut, and headed home. A little measuring, some cutting, about an hour of sewing and my curtain was done! All I could find for eyelets were actual curtain sized ones, so that is what I used, but it turned out great! The bathroom is now the only room in the house decorated for Christmas!

Our bathroom is a little small, so it is hard to get a good picture, but you get the idea! Now I'm inspired to make one for every season!!

A Stocking for Anthony!

I've been working on Anthony's Christmas stocking for about a year and yesterday I finally finished it! I actually had a very productive weekend - finished another project and started a couple more. I'm going to have to make the most of my time if I'm going to get everything done before Christmas!