Candy Cane Christmas Tree

Blowing Easter Eggs, Painters Tape & Dye Resist

Easter? Already? Wasn't it just Christmas?

Valentine's Day Thumbprint Hearts

Using red craft paint, friend and photographer Jen Schleicher helped her two little loves create thumbprint hearts for their daddy. After labeling it with names, ages and the date, it is now displayed in a blue frame as a keepsake and Valentine's Day decoration for years to come.

Valentine's Day Cards

Snowflake Greeting Card

Holiday Card Display

Wide ribbon was tied into a bow, left long, and staple gunned to the wall at the knot of the ribbon. Holiday cards are sliced at top and bottom using a slide paper cutter. The ribbon is then weaved in and out creating a lovely display of friends and family.





**UPDATE**
We received a plethora of Christmas Cards this year and so five additional ribbons were hung.  A couple weeks into the slicing each card, I decided that clothespins worked just as well.  Perhaps I will make little Rudolph clothespins for next year!

Linking to this party:

Christmas Craft Ideas for Kids

Baby Food jar decorated with acrylic paint, small wooden Christmas tree and wire wrapped around top with colorful beads

Cinnamon stick with painted wooden star, jute ribbon tie and green plaid fabric knotted and cut to angle of tree branches

snowmen made from white tube socks stuffed with batting and beans, decorated with ribbons, buttons and bells

Holiday, Christmas Cards

It may seem like a ways away but Christmas is really just around the corner when it comes to being prepared. Think ahead now and avoid feeling the anxiety and last minute stress that really shouldn't be part of the Holiday Season. Shop the sales racks at your favorite stores now and save time and money. A couple of my favorites are TJ Max and Home Goods (usually located in the same store), Target clearance end caps, and of course Craigslist! Don't be afraid to get something used and turn it into something fabulous. Everyone loves a home made gift.

Christmas Cards should also be on your mind. I absolutely LOVE receiving Christmas Cards, especially photo Christmas Cards. Add a family newsletter in there and I'm a "happy clam."

Here are a couple ideas:

1. Have your baby walk across a long strip of butcher block paper using green and/or red paint (not at same time). Cut that up in 4x4 squares and glue it to folded colored card stock. Use Winter and Holiday shaped paper cutouts to decorate a couple spots, or all four corners.
2. Get your kids to draw a picture of something seasonal, or turn their handprint into something seasonal yourself using a sharpie. Feel free to glue a design to cover with sparkles. Scan it. Go to Vista Print and (using one of their highly promoted sales) make a bunch of copies of one sided cards (or splurge and do a folded card).
3. Support a local photographic artist and do a fun family shot! Order through your photographer for high quality cards, or buy a cd and order your own through shutterfly or snapfish, etc.
4. Take pictures of your kids yourself. Cut and crop and paste mutliple together in a collage form. Use adobe photoshop or hey, scissors and glue (scan finished product at high photo quality) See Vista Print at above #2.

Gift tag finger painted by one year old and labeled with computer printed stickers.

Halloween Decorating

Halloween is a special Holiday for me. My birthday is 2 weeks before and so growing up I had Halloween birthday parties and have always enjoyed dressing up both myself and my home. I wish I had pictures of the grave headstones I made out of styrofoam for the front yard when I was in high school. Gotta love the big classy decorations but honestly you can't pick those up for too cheap even at Home Goods. Yes there are great sales on November 1st but who's really in the mood to spend money on Halloween decorations when it's November. One thing I did shop for on November 1st last year was princess costumes from target for my daughter for a Christmas gift. At 50% off, show up early and you'll have a huge selection of make believe clothes for your kids!