I found this cute Christmas votive craft at Crafts for all seasons!It's a great way to transform our original Jesus is the light of the world candle craft and bring it back out as a reminder this Christmas Season!Supplies:glass votive candle holderDecoupage medium, like Mod Podge (I used glossy)Paint brushFake Snow Flakes from Michael's or JoAnnsPaper plateInstructions:Place fake snow flakes on paper platePaint outside of votive holder with mod podgeRoll votive holder into snowflakes until well coveredOnce dry, re-coat votive with another layer of Mod Podge and allow to dry until medium turns clear!Light candle at dinner and remember that Jesus is the Light of the World!Discuss:It is in John's Gospel chapter 1, verse 4 that we read, "In him was life; and the life was the light of men". Again, in verse 9, "He was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world."What does all this mean? "God is light." (1 Jn 1:5). Not only does he give light and provide light, He is … [Read more...]
2009 Annual Family Calendar
Each year, each month, I take photos of the kids. Why you ask? For our annual family calendar! I give these as Christmas gifts each year and its time once again. Typically I take the calendar class at our local Archiver’s, however, this year, being that I went digital mid-year, I decided to make my own! No more embellishments falling off or calendars held together by paperclips because of poor adhesive, just nice, crisp, digital scrapped pages! Here’s the year in review. Note: If you happen to be one of my family members, you may want to skip this post! : View Full Album … [Read more...]
The Jesse Tree
Each year we take the month of December off of our regular curriculum to focus on the birth of our Savior! As we began our 'Christmas School' this year, I found a great website for making a Jesse Tree. Its a fun, hands on way to retell the story of the family tree of Jesus! You can download the ornaments as well as daily lessons for The Jesse Tree Here. (Just scroll down to the bottom for reflections(lessons) and Ornament downloads.) Here is a sample of what your tree can look like. Some people use real trees and hang the ornaments on it. I'm planning on printing off the ornaments then either laminating them, or gluing them onto felt for durability. here's a picture as we start our tree this year: I also found this great book and we read a story from it each night: The Jesse Tree I also found a fun list of Advent ideas from Teaching Mom. Just click on the calendar day you are on and you'll find TONS of ideas for that day! (Note: This is the 2008 calendar, but the … [Read more...]
Santa Clause Craft
Here's an easy and fun Santa craft to do with your kids this Holiday Season!Supplies:Red Construction Paper (For hat, nose and Holly Berries)Light Pink Construction Paper or Peach colored (for face)Black Construction Paper for eyes (I used a 5/8" hole punch for eyes and berries)Green Construction Paper for Holly Leaves1 Sheet of any colored construction paper you choose for backgroundCotton Balls (For hat and beard)Instructions:Print off my my Santa Template, and cut out. Trace each item on appropriate colored paper and cut out.Glue cut out pieces onto construction paper background. Glue on face first, then hat, eyes, nose and mustache. Glue on cotton balls on tip of hat, brim of hat and all over for beard.I've also seen this used as an Advent Calendar, Instead of gluing on all of the beard, simply write numbers 1-25 where the beard would go and glue on one ball a day until Christmas!Read the REAL story of who St. Nicolas was from Lisa Whelchel's book:The Adventure of Christmas: … [Read more...]
Thankful Turkey Craft
We used my felt turkey template and instead of using felt, we cut everything out of construction paper to make our own Thankful Turkey Craft! After gluing on the basic turkey body and head etc. we wrote something we were thankful for on each feather then glued them on the turkey.Happy Thanksgiving Week! … [Read more...]
Felt Pizza Tutorial
Well, like I said I developed a felt food craving quite quickly after the felt doughnuts! There is a wonderful video tutorial from Lilly Bean! Here's my attempt at the felt pizza:Supplies:4 Sheets of light tan felt for crust1 sheet of light cream for cheese1 sheet red for pepperoni1 sheet green for peppers1 sheet marbled tan or brown for mushroomsneedle and matching thread, scissors, sewing machine if you have one!regular sized plate and rulerFilling: you can use 1/2" foam, or I used some sheet cotton from my christmas houses!)Instructions:1. Using the light tan felt, trace your pizza pie shape onto the felt. The straight sides measure 5.5" and then I used a plate to draw on the curve. (Repeat 4 times if you're making a whole pizza)2. Layer your traced felt piece onto another one, then roughly cut out the crust shapes going through both layers and secure layers together with a pin. Using a sewing machine, sew along the line you traced onto the felt. Once done, cut a slit into one side … [Read more...]
Felt Doughnuts Tutorial
Well, after my "I'm not a sewer turkey project", I got on a felt food kick and decided to make some doughnuts! I got the idea from Escape Artist, and here's my attempt at it!Click here to see the rest of my felt food creations!Supplies:Felt for doughnut, I used light brown, dark brown(it takes 1/2 sheet per doughnut) Colored felt for frosting: I used light pink(I got about 4 frosting pieces/sheet)Doughnut template: you could use a CD or I used a large can of chicken and a nickle for the hole LOL!Scissors, needle, matching threadFluffy stuffing, I used a polyfiber fill stuffing.Topping embellishments, I used beads as well as hand stitched on sprinkles.Directions:1. Trace your pattern onto the doughnut colored felt, you'll need 2 circles per doughnut. Then trace the doughnut hole, I used a quarter, but I think the holes are too big, so I'd use something smaller like a nickel or the inside of a CD.2. Cut out the doughnut circles and holes. Next cut out free form frosting piece and a hole … [Read more...]
Jewelry Making and Pattern Skills!
The fun way to work on patterning skills: make some jewelry!I heard my daughter saying "tiny, long, tiny, pink, tiny, long, tiny, honeybee, tiny, long, tiny..." I guess she decided one of the beads looked like a honeybee...actually it kind of did..well, a bee hive anyway. (If you happen to be one of our female family members, please don't look at the next picture as it may be your Christmas present LOL!)****And voila'! The fun way to practice patterning skills when you're 6 years old! (Or 30 something ;o) ) … [Read more...]
Mosaic Cornucopia Craft
I found this fun cornucopia craft on Kaboose Crafts and added it to our Thanksgiving Week!Supplies:1 sheet of plain white paperHalf sheets of construction paper: brown, black, purple, red, yellow, green and orangeWhite craft glue, Q-tips, small dixie cups (1 for each student)ScissorsPattern from Kaboose (I just printed 1 per student)Directions:Cut small squares from each color of construction paperProvide small cups of white craft glue for each child along with a stack of Q-tipsUse paintbrushes or Q-tips to dab small amounts of glue onto the paper and glue on the construction paper squares as follows:Brown – hornBlack - horn mouth/rimPurple – grapes at topRed – apple to the right, below top grapesPurple – eggplantRed – apple below eggplantGreen – leaves below appleYellow – apple below top grapesGreen and yellow – corn cobGreen – leaves below cornPurple – grapes below corn cobOrange – pumpkinAs your crafting, discuss what it means to give thanks and how the … [Read more...]
The Homeschool Toolbar!
I don't normally promote things like this, but I just read about the Homeschool Toolbar and thought I'd give it a try! I have to say I LOVE IT! There are tons of homeschooling resources at your fingertips and even lovely Christmas Music to listen to if you choose! The toolbar features: Top homeschool websites & resources Top homeschool blogsThe latest homeschool & parenting newsEmail notifier to organize all of your email accounts.Homeschool communities and forums. Integrated Twitter & Facebook apps. Web search using Google Integrated RSS feeds Category browsing helpful to moms and homeschoolers. Search highlighter Local Weather Organizing tools such as a To do list, notepad, calculator, conversion charts, maps and more. Radio connected to "Positive & Encouraging K-LOVE" , NPR or your favorite local radio station (this feature is optional and can be added or removed as can all toolbar features.)Check it out, you won't be sorry! … [Read more...]
