Christmas Advent!

So there are sooo many cute ideas in the blogging world doing a Christmas advent so I decided to make one too.  Mine is really simple.  Did I say simple??? 

I used some No. 1 coin envelopes from the local Staples and some number stickers.  The stickers I used were from Oriental Trading Co. and they had them on clearance 2 sheets/ $5.00.  Not the best deal but they are cute and with the colors, I did not feel that I needed any other decoration. 

First, take your coin envelopes and put the sticker on them.

Second, put the slips of paper with the Christmas activities into the coresponding envelopes.  (This was the hardest part, I had to look onto pinterest for some ideas.  Who knew that 24 activities would be so hard to come up with?)

Third, drape a piece of ribbon or yarn across the place you want the advent to hang.

Fourth, take your clothespins and attach the envelopes to the ribbon.

Done!  Did I say simple yet??  This ended up costing me around $15.00 ($5 for stickers, $6 for envelopes, and $4 for the clothespins.)

I am looking forward to doing the activities with my kids and I can save these envelopes and re-fill them for next year!

Enjoy!

Paper Christmas Stars!

I found this post on pinterest the other day and had to try these.  Check it out the stars that I made and this tutorial for a fun, fast way to make some cute Paper Stars!

The larger stars were made using paper that was 6" x 6" and the smaller stars are made using paper that was 4" x 4".

Here is the tutorial: Paper star ornaments

Enjoy your crafting!

Recycled/ Natural Christmas Wreath!

It has been a while since I have posted.  I have to be honest and let you know that my creative juice has been empty and it is finally starting to fill up again.  I am in love with the natural materials that you see around being used for various things and I wanted to make something using natural wood.  So when my husband and I were out in the mountains cutting some firewood - I snagged a perfect sized branch for me to use.  This was an easy craft and I hope you enjoy it.

 

So I started with a log about 2 inches in diameter and using my husband's chop saw I cut this log into slices about 1/2 inch thick. 

 

 

I then laid the pieces out to a rough circle. 

 

I then started to glue.  I tried some wood glue but it took too long to dry and my husband said that the wood was still pretty green so it would take forever.  Second, I tried my hot glue gun - my go-to tool and started gluing like crazy.  That worked but I had to re-inforce it on the back with some popsicle sticks to help hold it. 
Last, I put a ribbon on it - with hot glue, of course, and put my coke 3D stars on the wreath.  I found a tutorial for the stars at: Recycled drink can stars - In the tutorial she painted them but since I LOVE my coke and on one of them there is the cute polar bear, I left them the way they are.  Besides they are red so it is already festive.  Here is another photo of the finished wreath. 

 

I love how this wreath turned out and the best part is I used some old soda cans and wood that we harvested for our firewood so it didn't cost me anything.  Let me know what you think!