Handmade Ornaments

I love them. I didn't make any {(yet)} for Christmas this year.

I did find a few I really liked on etsy.

yarn-ball-christmas-tree-ornament

This one comes in other colors as well.

black-and-white-christmas-ornament

crochet-ornament-in-coral

babys-first-christmas-ornament

Grumpy Cat

is my newest favorite. And I'm not even a cat person usually.

I LOVE these.

AND check it out; 25% of Profits go to her favorite no kill shelter, Sun Cities 4 Paws Rescue.

grumpy-cat-christmas cards

Christmas Music

Oh, I had forgotten about the Sirius channels I have on DISH.

Although I love Christmas music, there is not one channel that really suits me.

I love what are deemed modern hits all the way through to the traditional, classics.

The modern was a miss, as it had Mariah Carey, N'Sync etc. Not my kind of music, to say the least.

The Ultra Hip was jazz. Which I do like, in small doses. Blame my father, he wore down my tolerance long ago with Jazz Flavors or something in the car every Sunday evening.

Even the traditional started to get tiresome, as I think there are 10 songs by various artists. So it is the same song over and over and over basically. The only one I think I like in multiple is Blue Christmas.

Now I remember why I made my own playlist on my i-pod.

A sampling;

Blue Christmas, Porky Pig....because I am eternally a child and it never fails to make me giggle.
Blue Christmas, Elvis. One of my favorites.
Baby, Please Come Home for Christmas, U2. Another favorite.
You're a Mean One, Mister Grinch, Hip Heavy Lip
Christmas Wrapping, The Waitresses

Portable North Pole

Someone on Facebook passed this video on to me last year. The Munchkin got her very own Santa video and she was in complete and total awe. 

She is still deep in belief of Santa and so I wanted to do another. However, recently, she has been particularly naughty and we keep telling her she better be careful, Santa was watching.

Last year she got a good girl video. This year I chose naughty. I watched it first, as I did not want to ruin Christmas for her, just put the fear of The Santa Good Girl List  into her.

I think it will be ok. The video does not say she was naughty, just not quite on the nice list. 

Yet. 

But Santa has faith she'll be really good until Christmas. 

With THIS and the Elf on the Shelf, I figure we are gong to have a good December. 

You personalize your own video, including your child's picture plus pictures of 2 events from this year. 

Make your own here.

Santa Video for Your Child

Handmade Crap

A long-ago relation, before I was even a twinkle in my father's eye, was not a fan of the artsy-crafty gifts that he had received. Apparently, he was one for saying, oh, not more handmade crap. Or something.

So it has become a long-time joke in my little family.

I love handmade goodies. Giving and receiving.

For the music lover.

Circular Ear Bud Carrier

And, while you're at it;

diy-tangle-free-earbuds

This drives me crazy.

Even Your Hair Can Be Festive

These reminded me of the movie version of How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

Old School. These were from the 50's, I believe.

Newer version.

Advents and Countdowns

I love these.

We currently have this one from Avon.

It has mini ornaments that you put on the tree and it talks. It's fine, unless the Munchkin is abusing it. Like putting them all on. In five minutes. Gah.

I did find a lot that I would love to do.

50-cool-diy-advent-calendars

It's Official

....we have kicked off the Christmas season a wee bit early.

I have put up my tree.

I have not been in the holiday mood this year. And not just for Christmas, but I couldn't get into Halloween this year either. Poor Thanksgiving was looking bleak as well.

And I am not alone, I know several folks who expressed the same feeling.

So in an effort to pull myself out of the doldrums this year, I put up my tree.

And it has worked, I feel a lot better.

And Itty Bitty, as you can see, loves the tree.

Magic Elf Seeds

I have been looking for Elf on the Shelf ideas, as this is our first year of having the Elf come to stay with us for the month of December.

I found this on East Coast Mommy's blog Magic Elf Seeds {Tiny cookie decorations in the shape of Christmas trees}

The directions came with a letter from Santa, to plant the seeds in sugar and to get a surprise in the morning.

How cute is this?

As for the Santa letter, get free stationary HERE

And 100 other ideas here;

101-elf-on-the-shelf-ideas-

Now How About Felt

There are trees for everyone.

Buttoned Up and Beautiful

I found this little beauty on one of my forays around google images.

I tried to find out more about it, but the link was gone. It appears to be made from buttons and brooches and beads, I just fell in love with it.

I just may try to recreate it, I have an abundance of buttons.

And speaking of button trees, I found a lot of cute ones. In varying degrees of involvement;

I also found a couple of ornaments.

Ugly Christmas Sweater

Now in t-shirt form.

They had several to choose from, and personally I would wear this over a sweater. I am just really not a sweater kind of girl.

I found this one at fab DOT com.

Time to REALLY Get This Party Started

Let's start with some crafts, shall we?

Due to the recent power outage, I have recalled just how hard it is to amuse the kiddos. With winter well on its way, we are certain to have a few snow days along with the Christmas break.

Perhaps I can finally make a lot of those things I have been collecting over at Pinterest!

Snowmen crafts are popular at my house.

We'll even go by craft level.

Beginner/easy; Cotton Round Snowman

Find the instructions and supply list for this HERE.

We'll go with Messy for this next one.

Snowman footprints!

I found this HERE plus a lot of other cute handprint and footprint projects. I especially love the fingerprint Christmas lights!

Intermediate. Just because it has a lot of steps and detail work. But how cute is this?

Find the supply list and directions HERE plus a few other projects.

Naturally, you will need a snack.

Recipe found HERE




And please, when you are out shopping;

So Much For That Head Start

Oh my!

Source: xmasclock.com via Mel on Pinterest

But there is still plenty of time.

Right?

RIGHT?!?!?!

Yes. Calm down.

Just a little less time than I had originally plotted.

Bah. This year I just can't get it together.

So with 52 days left to go, where are we?

I have done some shopping. Good grief, I may be in the midst of bedlam this year. I haven't been this late shopping in years.

The Christmas stuff is segregated from the other holiday stuff in the attic, in hopes for a smooth preparation process.

I won't get the baking ingredients until the beginning of December.

I need to plot out the kiddo crafts and gifts to the relations. Munchkin likes to give everyone something handmade every year, I wonder where she gets that from?

I still need wrapping paper. For the little ones and the family.

Time for the lists!

You remember my notebook, right?