Printable: Christmas Advent Calendar

 Christmastime is such a wonderful time of the year. It is a time of giving and making family memories to last a lifetime. We finally put all of the "orange" away and brought out the Christmas colors. Trimmed the tree and remembered all of our loved ones. And...it's not even December yet. It's just around the corner and I thought I'd make up an advent calendar. The challenge was to only use what I had in house.

    I painted some frames turquoise and added red polka dot paper behind the glass of the picture frame. I then glued some twine around the back and clipped my numbers on. On the back of each numbered card is a fun thing to do as a family.

 Small as reading a favorite Christmas story and big as creating a ginger bread house from scratch.

You could totally put clues on the back of the cards for your family to find small treats or fun activities to do together this December. I didn't put treats on the cards because I think some people around here might just get to them before the intended date. Ahem....no naming. ha. Anyway, I love how it turned out. I hope you will be inspired to make one of your own and have lots of holiday fun this season!  {Below is the printable I created.}

~Christie

Christmas Advent Calendar

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Happy Thanksgiving

           My dear daughter drew this sidewalk chalk masterpiece. She has a good sense of humor. I love to watch my children through their creativity. They are so imaginatively inventive. I look back on my many years of motherhood and remember all of the special moments I have shared with them. Their endless questions, boundless energy and  laughter fill my memories of our family. My husband has always been a constant and my best friend. We embarked on this crazy thing called parenthood together more than a decade and a half ago. We are still learning and growing together. For this I am thankful for his love and giving spirit. I have so many things to be thankful for. I feel so blessed. May your holiday be filled with special moments, laughter and good food! 

~Christie

Printable: Santa Letter

   I just can't believe it. Holiday flair everywhere! Christmas lights up around the town, Christmas music in the stores and Christmas trees decked out. Where did the turkey go? Because we busy mom's have a turkey to roast this weekend, I thought it would be fun to have the kids fill out their Santa letters for the upcoming holiday. This might help some of you Black Friday shoppers. Good luck...and Happy Holidays.
{Click on the link below to download this free Santa Letter Printable.}

 Santa Letter Printable

 ~Christie

Gratitude Journal

        Tis' the season to take the time to remember all of our many blessings. There are so many small and simple things to be thankful for. This gratitude journal idea is not new. I just wanted to share the way I created these ones for our young women in our church group. The idea is to keep a daily thought of gratitude. To help us remember and see our many blessings  and to keep our perspective in how truly loved we are. 

    I measured and cut scrapbook paper. I then adhered it to the front and back cover, as well as the inside of the cover. The bookplate I designed myself and adhered it to the front of the journal. I also added black dots for a dandelion look. If you would like a copy of the gratitude journal bookplate then you may find it below. Hopefully, you will create your own gratitude journal or give them as gifts this holiday season. Let us give thanksgiving year round and develop an attitude of gratitude. Mahalo.

 Gratitude Journal Bookplates

~Christie

Sew Fun

    My older daughter recently had a birthday. She was super excited for her day to arrive. It began beautifully...her attitude was simply radiant and her list of the days fun was long. She got to spend time with every one in the family and ended the day with a yummy birthday dinner, that included shrimp and a slice of pink birthday cake. She received some very lovely gifts that all made her the perfect best birthday ever. But, I had to share one from her grandparents that will bring many fun days of creating and sewing by mom's side. Too cute.

{I wish my sewing machine was a Hello Kitty. :)}

~Christie

Ugh!

Getting ready for the holidays? 

      Maybe you share the same frustration and anxiety as Snoopy and I. It's a hectic, crazy, most wonderful time of the year! I'm still thinking..."I haven't even eaten all of my Halloween candy!" Ugh! Bringing some humor to the situation I think it is safe to say that the holidays are upon us. May your pre-holiday crafting time be productive and full of joy!

Happy crafting!

~Christie

Craft: Fall Art

     I had a bunch of coffee filter paper left over from a paper chromatography chemistry lab. I found this delightfully fun idea for a watercolor look fall leaf over at The Chocolate Muffin Tree. Simply beautiful idea. Basically, you gather all your tots around and let them at it with the washable markers. After cutting the filter paper open to one flat piece, let them color on the textured side of the paper. Then take a spray bottle of water and let them spray away at their colored paper. The colors will blend together and create beautiful patterns on your filter paper. Then take the paper outside to dry in the sun. When they are completely dry, cut fall leave shapes out and display for all to see. Quite a gorgeously simple project.

~Christie

Crochet: Bookmarks

        I have been working on some gratitude journals for the young women in my church and thought a cutesy little bookmark would be 

a nice side note to this gift.

I found these great easy patterns at  

Little Birdie Secrets  

for a butterfly,

 heart 

 and a little flower in crochet.

     This is a great way to use up any yarn you may have around from previous projects. In addition to that all you need are some large paperclips and embellishments. I crocheted up fourteen littles and assembled the bookmarks in a matter of two hours. Not too shabby. I hope you check out Little Birdie Secrets. They are a super fun blog full of great ideas. 

~Christie

Crochet: Scarves

I had a lot of fun crocheting up these scarves for gifts. One pattern into many different combinations of color. I found this free pattern here at Lionbrand. It is rated easy and makes quick work.I am currently working on another but lengthening it into a wrap. If you want to take up crocheting or whip up something totally cute and functional try this Daniela's Scarf Free Pattern at Lionbrand.

~Christie

Thanksgiving Subway Art

Click here to download.

It's November. Time really does fly by fast! 

It's chilly up here on this mountain and I am starting to feel 

the climate change for our fall season. 

Looking forward to a fun filled holiday season. 

I can't believe it's that time of year once again!

~Christie