CHRISTMAS CRAFT # 21

We didn't get to all the kids making a stocking but tonight I did make Indy a stocking.
I cut two stocking pieces out of the natural unbleached cotton. I cut two brown wool pieces to line it.



Next I cut various polygons out of 2 Christmas fabrics. Then I cut some heart shaped pieces from a third and finally from the fourth I cut a top, toe and heel trim, and a "W" as it is the first initial in Indy's given name. It is also the first initial in Ko-Ko's given name and she likes it more then he does. Maybe they will trade.

I over lapped all the polygons, on the front pieces of raw cotton. Then I placed the trim and hearts. Since I am out of heat n bond to hold the pieces in place I made sure everything overlapped. No raw edges meeting each other. Finally I zigzagged it all together and assembled. It took less then an hour and I am thrilled with it.

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2 DAYS, 7 HOURS, 45 MINUTES

Yep the time us almost upon us. My three youngest received video messages from P.N.P. (portable north pole) this morning. They were very impressed. My only concern now (hindsight) is that the PNP Santa is very unique. Many "good" Santa's are generic with average length natural beards and such. Like the one from Miracle on 34th street. The PNP is a very nice looking Santa but his beard is very distinctive. I planned on capturing a pic of Santa but now am worried about how they look different.






Today I stopped by my brothers on the way home from buying diapers. He is in a big push to finish his house in the next 2 days. I am so glad I am not him right now. I came home with his middle daughter. She wanted to help me bake. That lasted about ten minutes.

I made the gingerbread cake with cream cheese filling. From my top ten Christmas baking post (#7). I had to even up the bottom when I was done. So I tasted it. I really like this one much better then my previous gingerbread cake. It is moister and a gentler gingerbread taste.

I didn't have enough sugar for sugar cookies so I made chocolate gingerbread cookies. I made them into melting snowman cookies. My icing skills are not as good as the ones featured on yesterdays Top Ten Snowman List Oh well I am sure I will get better with icing over time.





Out tree has a broken tree stand. It is getting worse. I think we will meet to tie it to the curtain rod (something we did with our old-last tree.)

The middle kids are cleaning their rooms, Indy is sleeping and Sunny not is relaxing. The pic is not great cuz the light over her is off





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TOP TEN SNOWMAN LIST

Crafts, baking and of course snow! (also lots of great links)

It's Top Ten Tuesday and my list is all about snowmen! Also I am counting down to #1 this week.

#10 Snowman poop. This adorable stocking stuffer involves a sandwich bag, mini marshmallows and this free down-loadable tag for the top of the bag. I think it is cute and am putting it in my sister in law's stocking this year (we draw names). I got the idea here, with the free printable I also blogged the one I made with my sis in law's other stocking stuffers here.

#9 snowman doughnuts. These are adorable. I came across them on the internet one day and bookmarked them. Simple to assemble, do baking need, just a trip to the grocery store. Check out Skip to my lou's blog for the doughnuts and other neat Christmas things.

#8 Snowman glass ornament. Add some snowman to your tree for #8 found here with instructions

AND

#7 Snowman felt ornament. Seen on my blog here as made by my eldest Sunny Not. Both crafts look easy to make, I know the felt one is since it is Sunny Not's first time sewing on her own.

#6 Snowman soup balls. Snowman soup is a wonderful crafty way to gift some hot chocolate. It has been around for a while. This year I added a twist with the ones we made. We made put ours in clear plastic Christmas balls. Check out the blog post we did this on.

#7 Snowman Chocolate bars. Just found these today and so excited to go buy some chocolate bars and decorate them up. I am especially happy because Sunny not who was to spend Christmas with her Dad has declared she isn't going, she will see him on Christmas eve. Now I have another stocking to put together, one with out candy-canes or anything peppermint flavored. These will be a lifesaver. Find the free printable here at Laurie Furnell – art that will make you smile, the crafty lady who had this brilliant idea.

#8 Melting Snowman Cookies. Saw these today over at Creative Bubbles. The pic I included is hers, I think she did a wonderful job. She found them elsewhere, but they are all over the internet. Go to google images here and pick your favorite...guess whats happening to my sugar cookies this year?

#9 Snowman Kit. I found this idea earlier this year also from creative bubbles who found it at Make It Do.. I made them for my nieces for their Christmas present. I think they are adorable. They can be made by anyone (with light supervision) and they will save you from finding your hat on the snowman in your yard, when YOU need it. Also it will really help with

THE NUMBER ONE SNOWMAN THING!

#1 Make A Snowman. That's right get outside, bundled in snow-pants, hats and mitts. Grab your snowman kit, and get out side and make a snowman. It is great fun and the best snowman of all.

And if your in Japan for the Sapporo Snow Festival you can take part in the snowman competition where everyone works together to make the most snowmen in one place! Read about that here.

AND WHEN THEY ARE NICE

Today the kids took some money out of their bank accounts to buy each other gifts. My parents set up these accounts and they can only take out money to buy gifts or do something as a family. They ha a great time drawing names for gifts and deciding what to get each other. I had them read on-line reviews before purchasing. While we were out we got some bird seed for making suet balls or decorations tomorrow for winter solstice. Tomorrow is also the lunar eclipse and Full Moon so we are going to give the birdseed suet as gifts to the Women who come yo ceremony as well as decorating our outside tree as we do each winter solstice. It will be a very bust day.


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IT IS BEGINING TO FEEL A LOT LIKE CHRITMAS

Snow, Skating and Christmas Baking.
everyone awoke this morning to a new fresh snowfall. The kids went out after morning chores and went sledding. I normally go with but I had a few more thing to do and I had not been feeling well last night.

After my chores I made some chocolate shortbread. The recipe is on my top 10 Christmas baking list (#4). I have edited the recipe a bit.

I unfortunately could not fit one of the little shortbread hearts in my tin and I had to eat it as a sample :( Also this year instead of baking in pie plates I placed cookie cutters on a cookie sheet and filled them to the top and then removed the cookie cutters. This made it much thicker, like a little cake then if I had rolled and cut them.

The kids came in while I was putting Indy down for a nap. They stayed to watch a movie except Ko-Ko who grabbed her skates and headed back to the park. Her skates are a bit snug but she is determined to go, they are at the borderline where they just fit without pinching and it is mild, (only a few degrees below freezing) so I let her. There are skates in my closet waiting for Christmas eve ;)

While Indy was napping I made a picture list to go with the eye spy jar I made the other day. I got the idea from The Magic Onions. It is a wonderfully crafty blog. When I first made my eye spy jar the other night I was all in a panic because everything was ending up on the top :( I eventually discovered that shaking it all around really good on its side and stuff got it ll back in order. I made one from things I found around the house.

So it has been a good day. I work in a few hours so I am going to relax a bit more then get ready.
Have a good day all!

A QUESTION FOR READERS

When we move we will have a schoolroom / playroom. I am looking for suggestions on your favorite must haves in your school rooms. I want a nice place to work, comfortable place to read. Good organizing system for books, papers and supplies and somewhere to organize toys so they are out of the way during school time, plus accessible toy storage for Indy. As we will be on budget I would be looking to convert and improve second had furniture and build stuff too.
Thanks ahead of time for your ideas.


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FINALLY BRINGING IN THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT.

Usually the tree, the shopping
and the baking are done. Not this year.


Anyway today was the day to change that. I got two sets of cookies done. The eggnog and the orange spritz. However the cookie press I bought this year for them is not co-operating. Either it's a hunk of junk or I don't know what to do.


I decided to roll the dough and get out the cookie cutters. I am happy with the result. I used the recipe Here on my top 10 baking list
The dough was very stiff so I added more orange juice (and eggnog) (1/2 cup). I also used twice the orange rind and for the nutmeg I used 1 1/2 tablespoons.



We also got the tree up and the decorating started. The kids are still putting up decorations. I think it looks lovely now. They will keep going though.


It's funny how these thing put you in the mood. A lot of the procrastinating was various family members (young and small) not bin in the mood. I think maybe to be in the mood we first have yo act like we are in the Christmas spirit and the rest will follow.



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