Even Packing Paper Can Be Fun!

Even though we got to California in May, we are still unpacking stuff here and there.  Especially with a baby coming, everything is getting un-boxed.  Last week, I unpacked our bassinet which was wrapped in huge sheets of packing paper.  Then I got the idea to put the sheets on the floor of our living room and make a little art area for our toddler.  I even drew a little road for her to drive her cars on.  I gave her crayons and stickers and let her go to town.  It ended up being really fun for the two of us to sit on the floor and play on the paper!

I love being creative like this and thinking out of the box.  I think it's really good for kids to do things like this from time to time as well.

Christmas Cheer - McKenna's First DIY Ornament

This project happened by accident.  I had all of my craft stuff out last night, and my toddler comes over.  She LOVES balls right now, so when she saw the little pompoms and the Christmas balls, she immediately wanted them.  Not really thinking, I gave her a plastic globe and set her loose with the pompoms.  McKenna started stuffing the pompoms inside the globe, and as she went, I realized it was becoming a really cute little Christmas ornament!  Not only that, but it kept her busy for probably an hour or so.  When she was done, I returned the hanging cap to the top, write her name and year on the globe with tacky glue and glitter, and when that was dry I added a pink bow.  I think this will be a yearly tradition now, and might make great gifts for grandparents if we make more!

Christmas Cheer - Eclectic Christmas Balls

Pinterest has given me a lot of ideas for DIY Christmas decorations.  With my supplies I got at Michaels yesterday, I went a little crazy last night trying out some of those ideas, and some of my own. I got plastic and glass hanging balls.  I think plastic works for some ideas, and glass is better for others.

This ornament is a large plastic ball, and I simply put some littler sparkly balls (two different sizes) inside.  I tied some wire and a velvet bow to the top, and there you go.

These are really fun to do!  I got the idea from Pinterest.  This is a small glass ball.  I sprayed adhesive into the ball very liberally and spread it around so it coated the entire inside of the ball.  Then I poured glitter inside and swirled the ball until the glitter was evenly distributed.  I dumped out the excess glitter, twisted some wire to the top, and that was it!

I got this idea from Pinterest too.  This is a medium plastic ball.  I put a glob of tacky glue on the bottom of the little tree, and using long tweezers, I placed the tree inside, attaching it to the bottom of the globe.  I then dropped in some fake snow and white iridescent glitter.  I found a cork that fit, and added wire and a ribbon.  I love this one!

Christmas Cheer - Front Door Hanging

Now that Halloween is over, I immediately want to press on to Christmas decorations.  Maybe it's because we're expecting baby #2 within days of Christmas, and I want to start early, or maybe it's because Starbucks had their Christmas drinks out already, but whatever it is, I spent over $70 yesterday at Michaels on Christmas craft supplies.  The first decoration I made was a monogram door hanging for our front door.  I already had the big G, the spray adhesive, glitter, and ribbon, so all I bought for this was the plastic greens & berries, which were $1.

This project was really easy.  I sprayed the wooden G with spray adhesive, and covered completely in glitter.  When dry, I arranged the greens & berries, tied the ribbon in a knot around the top of the G & the greens, and then tied another knot to the hook on my door, and made a bow.  All for a dollar plus what I already had.  Voila!