Create-Celebrate-Explore

Blissfully Domestic: Christmas Traditions

Do you have traditional things you do with the kids each Christmas? 

I'm sharing 10 of our traditions over at Blissfully Domestic.  Here's a sneak peek at one of them:

Hot Chocolate Reindeer Ornament Craft

Looking for a last-minute gift idea that also makes a great stocking stuffer? 

Marisol and Flynn handed these out to their classmates today at school.

What you need:

• Clear ornament
• Pom pom - red
• Googly eyes
• Pipecleaner - brown
• Glue
• Hot chocolate mix
• Mini marshmallows - I found mini chocolate ones at Target

To make:

Remove the top off the clear ornament.

Combine the hot chocolate mix and mini marshmallows in a large jug.  Using a funnel, slowly add the mixture into the clear ornament until filled just below the top.  Place the top back on the ornament.

Using the glue attach the pom pom nose and googly eyes.  Twist a brown pipcleaner into the shape of antlers around the top.

Tip: Don't forget to include a note letting the recipient know that the ornament contains hot chocolate and mini marshmallows.

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Happy Holidays!

Rusty and Rosy: Snowflake Books, Crafts and Activities for Kids

There's not much snow in these parts.  Unless you count the little patch of snow at Legoland for the kids to play in.  That doesn't mean that we can't learn about snowflakes and create fun snowflake crafts.

I've rounded up lots of snowflake books, crafts and activities for kids over at Rusty and Rosy.  These are sure to keep them entertained this holiday season, and through the rest of winter too.

The Centsible Life: Matchbox Holiday Gift Boxes

If you are giving little trinkets this holiday season, then re-use matchboxes to make little gift packages that will co-ordinate with your gift wrap or color scheme.  I'm showing you how to make these over at The Centsible Life and I'm showing you three different ways to do it.

DIY Holiday Gift Tags

'Tis the season for crafting.

Marisol made gift tags for all of our Christmas packages this weekend.  Don't they look fabulous.

Okay, she did have a little help.  I made a few ahead of time so I could show her how to do it, and pre-cut the glitter card stock into gift tag sizes so she could get straight to work with the stencils. 

We posted a tutorial on how to make these on YouTube.  Enjoy!

I just love our new gift tags.

As we mentioned in the video they were made using the Klutz Stencil Art Book.

Here are the details:

Stencil Art comes with an eight-color pigment ink pad and eight foam-tip dabbers. To give the color form, there are three bound-in plastic pages of stencils in kid-selected designs (everything from ladybugs to aliens), plus a bonus stencil page of abstract shapes you can put together to make anything you want (which is what we used). Super-clear instructions and friendly hints make it easy to master all kinds of impressive-looking techniques, like masking, layering colors, reverse stenciling and more. We've also provided plenty of inspirational artwork and, best of all, space for you to stencil right in the book.

Comes With: An 8-color pigment ink pad, 8 custom-molded foam-tip dablers, a black felt-tip pen, 4 plastic stencil pages

For ages 8 and up (shhh, don't tell them Marisol is only 6)

Price: $19.95

Product Page

Note:  You can also purchase an extra inkpad and dabbers.

Don't forget to 'like' Klutz Books on Facebook.

Disclosure: This post has been compensated in connection with my appointment as 'Klutz Crew' Brand Ambassador.

Multiples and More: Santa Belt Treat Cups

Looking for a fun craft project that you can use for holiday parties, or cookie and gingerbread house decorating?  Take a look at these:

Miss M helped me make them.  I have the tutorial over at Multiples and More so head on over there.  And what did my kids use them for?

That's right, the toppings for their gingerbread house.