Day 8: More Fun with Snowmen

 

Images by thesoireecafe.com

Oh I really do just LOVE snowmen. So when I found these amazing ideas from an absolutely brilliant website called thesoireecafe.com, I was bursting with excitement and planning a snowman party for my kids. I thought you might like some of these super cute ideas…AND enjoy a few more I’ve listed below.

 

 

 

 

 

Image by etsy.com

Let’s start with these adorable peanut snowmen! You can order these online at etsy.com, but what fun you’ll have making your own with your kiddos! Simply transform roasted, unsalted peanuts into your own silly characters with white acrylic paint; a Sharpie; some bent wire; felt, yarn or boiled wool; bakers twine; acorn caps; and a good batch of glue.

 

Image from whatilivefor.net

Here’s another simple snowman for the tree. All you need are three bottle caps; white paint; a Sharpie; glue gun; and a little ribbon. Check out the directions (with photos each step of the way) by visiting whatilivefor.net

 

Image by bakerella.com

 

Now if these aren’t the cutest cake pops ever made, I don’t know what is! I LOVE the bakerella website, where you’ll find specific instructions, photos, shopping lists, and fab photos that make the end result look much prettier than ours (aren’t you glad I’m showing you their photo and not ours?!) Plus…they taste yummy, too! TIP: Find cake pop sticks in the wedding section at discount stores or in the baking section of grocery stores.

 

Image by frostmeblog.blogspot.com

How’d you like to wake up to a happy batch of donut snowmen? With edible ink and a little bling (think powdered sugar and Reese’s peanut butter cups) this morning treat is easy peasy. You could even release your inner Martha Stewart and top the hat with a roasted marshmallow!

 

Image by http://www.theidearoom.net

Still hungry? Try these super simple snowman pops by dipping oreos into melted white chocolate almond bark (or buying the white chocolate oreos already prepared).  Add details with edible ink pens and candy. Then…the fun part…share the love by giving some away. What joy!

 

 

 

Image by littlebitfunky.com

These five finger snowman ornaments are some of our favorite keepsakes on our tree, and I’ve made them in my classroom for parent gifts several times. For detailed directions with photo tutorial, visit LittleBitFunky.com. (Tip: You can also make these with just one snowman by only stamping one finger.)

 

 

Here’s a cute little snowman bow with directions at girlythingsbows.com. Because my daughter no longer wears bows, we crafted a similar design out of thin wire and used it as gift tags (and a few as ornaments for our tree).

image from pinterest.com

Finally, let your older kids come up with creative ways to turn everyday objects into snowmen….such as this one pictured here made from inexpensive craft store wreaths. Think outside the box. Instead of the same ol’ tree decorations, add a black hat on top of a miniature white artificial tree. Use ornaments to create facial features, buttons, and arms…and voila! You’ve created a will-never-melt snowman for your tween’s room.

 

Watch for great ideas coming for fun snow sculptures (outside), holiday photo ideas, sweet traditions, and much, much more!

 

Be sure to subscribe for Julie’s Journal for great ideas each day to keep your Christmas season simple and stress-free.

 

(Okay, sorry but I have to say it…beware of choking hazards, peanut allergies, and hot glue gun dangers…all you good parents of the world already know how to monitor your kiddos, of course, but I’ve had it smashed into my brain cells by executive legal teams to always point out the possibility of losing life or limb when crafting :) There…you’ve been warned. Ho! Ho! Ho!

 

peace, love, & joy,

j

Day 7: Can’t-Fail-to-Connect Activities for Teens/Tweens

Image by oncloud8.blogspot.com

As the mother of a teen and a tween, I’m always on the lookout for ways to connect with my kids. They’re changing daily, and the things that kept their interest even a week ago may not work today. If you work with teens or want to spend some quality time with your adolescent children this holiday season, try some of these fun ideas.

At our home, we always start with crafts.

Image from keytoflow.blogspot.com

Try this messy but fun project to make colorful yarn balls. I love these year round, but they also look great tucked among holiday greenery, stuffed with white miniature lights, or hanging in the windows. For wonderful directions along with step-by-step photos, visit keytoflow.blogspot.com

 

Image from ilovetocreate.com

 

If your boys want to do something a little more manly, try this fun craft made with old washers. The folks at ilovetocreate.com have provided excellent instructions, along with a suggestion for a good adhesive to bond these metal washers together.

 

Image by SheeDesigns.blogspot.com

SheeDesigns.blogspot.com has another cute idea with excellent directions listed on her site for this little snowman. I think it’d be fun to raid the old rusty tools and make vintage looking snowmen that may be a little worn and off balance. But if you prefer the shiny look, a full shopping list is provided on the SheeDesigns site.

 

 

Image by etsy.com

If you’re anything like me, you love all things etsy.com. There’s nothing better than a homemade item…even if you order it and let someone else make it! This wire ornament can be ordered online through etsy’s website, but your kids might enjoy making their own versions with various wires, beads, and jewelry pieces. Try making stars, circles, angels, or crosses. There’s no right or wrong way to do this one…just have fun!

Image from oncloud8.blogspot.com

 

And finally, my absolute favorite find online this year was posted by a delightful blogger at oncloud8.blogspot.com about her Christmas party in 2010. We’ll definitely be using some of the Minute To Win It  ideas around our house this year. What a fabulous way to get kids of all ages laughing along with their parents! Check out her post and learn all about fun competitive games such as: The see-how-many-marshmallows-you-can-get-through-the-wreath-and-into-the-bucket-in-a-minute game; The Can-you-stack-the-cups-with-one-hand-in-a-minute game; The How-many-ornaments-can-you-balance-on-a-yardstick-and-papertowel tube-without-it-falling-over-in-a-minute game; The Can-you-get-the-red-pompom-on-a-string-up-on-your-vaseline-covered-nose-in-a-minute game. And much more!

 

For additional Christmas Minute-to-Win-it  game ideas, check out a more extensive list with directions for each game by visiting: parties4me.com

 

Don’t forget to subscribe to Julie’s Journal for daily updates on ways to keep the Christmas season meaningful and delightful for your family. If you’re still looking for special Christmas gifts for the little ones in your life, be sure to check out God is with Me through the Day and God is with Me through the Night.

 

 

j

 

 

 

 

 

Day 4: Cute Christmas Handprint Art Ideas

Image by Squidoo.com

Who doesn’t love thumbprint art? There is no end to what you can make with a stamp pad, a thin-tipped Sharpie, and your hands! In fact, Ed Emberley has written entire books with unique ways to make handprint art that will take any family far beyond the holidays, but the folks at Squidoo.com put a few of their favorites ideas together for Christmas cards.You might enjoy making some of these holidays scenes for cards, an art board, a scrapbook, or personalized gifts….maybe at a paint-your-own pottery studio.

And two of my favorites, especially for baby’s first Christmas, came from the fabulous Craft Rookie. Take a look!

Be sure to subscribe to Julie’s Journal for fun ways to connect with your family each day of the Christmas season. And don’t forget to check out the Order Books page if you’re looking for meaningful picture books for the little ones on your list.

 

Day 3: Advent Day Three: Crafty Cone Trees

Image by Katie Steuernagle, http://www.ohdeedoh.com

Oh how I love glue, glitter, and all things that kick creative little minds into  gear. Today, release your inner Martha Stewart with this super-simple starter. The options are endless, and your kiddos might create an entire forest for your mantel, coffee table, or special shelf.

How? You’re going to love this!

1. Open a pack of white Solo water cooler cones.
2. Break out the art supplies. Think paint, markers, glitter, yarn, felt, stickers, paper strips, buttons.

That’s pretty much all there is to it! Of course, the cones are flimsy and young children will need your help as they decorate them, but that’s where the family bonding comes in! And older kids might really enjoy letting their minds run free. (Don’t forget about supervision of course…I know I don’t have to remind you all about the risks of choking on things like buttons and swallowing things like paint, but I have written way too many magazine articles not to hear the editorial department shouting at me about the many ways this fun little craft could put the universe out of whack with such a high “danger factor.” :)

Remember, I’ll be posting a new idea each day throughout the Christmas season, so be sure to check out ideas for teaching kids about the epiphany as well as giving your kiddos 25 Books of Christmas.  Also feel free to subscribe to Julie’s Journal if you’d like new posts to be sent directly to your email inbox.

j

Quick and Easy Craft Fun

Out of money, time, and ideas to keep those little hands busy today? Grab a stash of pipe cleaners or a roll of aluminum foil and encourage your little ones to create balls, angels, monsters, animals, or any imaginary creature they can design.

Foil can be folded, crumpled, drawn on, etched into, or torn into a wide array of structures. With a few bends and twists, pipe cleaners are the ultimate art tool. Get creative. Have fun. And see what you can create as a family with these common, inexpensive household items.

Happy Creating!

j

Olympic Torch Project for Kids

 

Help your children carry the ceremonial Olympic torch with this simple project.

Materials

• 1 sheet of white construction paper or poster board
• Clear tape
• Red, yellow, and orange tissue paper (12″ x 12″ square of each color)
• White craft glue

Instructions

1. Roll the construction paper into a cone shape and secure with tape.
2. Layer the tissue paper squares, red on the bottom, then orange, and yellow on top.
3. Gather from the center of the squares and hold in your hand like a bouquet of flowers.
4. Put some white craft glue into the sides of the opening of the cone.
5. Place the tissue paper into the cone and let the glue dry completely.

Alternative Materials: If you don’t have tissue paper, use construction paper or printer paper. Simply cut the paper sheets into flame shapes and glue inside the cone opening.

While your children may have seen highlights of the opening ceremony, including the lighting of the final symbolic torch, they may not realize that the torch had been carried across Canada’s beautiful landscape for 106 days (45,000 km)! Take a moment to view a video documenting just a few highlights throughout the breathtaking Journey of the 2010 Olympic Torch. Then, have fun discussing these interesting facts.

• The torch was originally lit during a special ceremony in Olympia, Greece. It was then carried on an airplane all the way to Canada.
• Nearly 12,000 people helped carry the torch across Canada.
• The torch passed through more than 1,000 communities and special sites.
• The torch was carried for more than 100 days.
• Torch bearers carried the torch in many unique ways, including bike, canoe, paddle wheeler, and on top of the Grouse Mountain Sky Ride.
• Anyone could apply to be a torch bearer. Even teams of up to 20 people could work together to carry the torch. And guess what — kids carried the torch too!
• The torch relay was added to games the 1930s, but the tradition of burning a torch at the Olympics dates all the way back to the original Greek games.