whatever

well…i did it!

at first the kids were bummed to be torn away from the tv and computer.
but on wednesday morning while getting dressed out of her jammies annie asked excitedly
"what's our craft today mama?"
that made me so happy.

it was very low key…very laid back…small crafts….took very little time.
and they really did like it. 
and i did too.

scott informed me he "wasn't into crafting" so he would not be participating…at all.
bummer….that time has come.  i missed him.

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monday:

popsicle stick christmas trees
 

 
 

we made them into ornaments.
i let them use the glue gun…i thought they would like that…turns out they don't….HA.
at one point i looked over and sean was playing in the glitter making it like snow.
UGH.

***edited to add…we used green craft sticks that come pre-colored and i cut them with big scissors to get the different sizes.  don't use good scissors for this…and watch out…the pieces fly everywhere!
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tuesday:

pompom ornament



cottage cheese break.

 

it's simple as can be.  
push stick pins through pom poms and stick them into the Styrofoam. 
 
and even a big kid sat down and made two ornaments herself…

these were easy and fun.
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wednesday:
 
felt gingerbread men


i googled "gingerbread man shape" and printed out an image to make a pattern.
we cut them out, picked out buttons, strung our (huge blunt) needles,    
sewed the face and belly buttons first…then sewed the back and front together with a big stitch.
just before we closed up the last few stitches (10-15 of them….)
we stuffed it with just a few cotton balls for plumpness.

this was a hard craft.
but rewarding.
 

annie was tired and playing barbies ALONE-DON"T-BOTHER-ME-GO-AWAY so we let her be.
lauren was studying.
scott was playing ball.
so the just three of us sat on the couch and sewed gingerbread men.
talby said many times "this is fun…i didn't know i could sew!"  
made me feel a little guilty.
but now she knows.  
and sean liked it too…he made one for his friend with his initials on the back…sweet.
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thursday:

sugar cookies (used this recipe from REAL SIMPLE)

i almost gave up.
i was tired and they were spastic.
but i just plowed through…and i only yelled twice.
 
 
  
****edited to add:  in case you weren't aware…you need TONS of flour on your counter, rolling pin
and hands when working with sugar cookie dough.  it's very sticky.  i don't want you to give up because
you thought you were doing it wrong.  the flour was why i was yelling…SO MESSY!!!****
 
we only baked them…the  frosting part was way more than i could handle.
i was on my own with kids all night.
i was tired.
did i tell you that already?
because i had already been baking all day…
 
 

yes…i made the peppermint swirled cupcakes.
so good.
i think i will have another one right now!

i also made the chocolate mint brownies that IS christmas tradition for me. (left sidebar for recipe)

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friday:

gingerbread house.

it deserves it's own post…when (and IF) i do it!     
i have paid my friend to bake it the past two years but this year on my 35 things list (right sidebar)
i said i wanted to make one myself…what was i thinking?
i have all day today to figure out how to bake one.  
yuck…i get weird about having to learn something new.  change is hard.

are you feeling crafty now?

here is a collage of the arts and crafts i was inspired by and wishing i could make all of them.
maybe i could still…over winter break.
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1. cafe mom  2. clover lane  3. nini makes  4.  5. parents  6. sarah's art house  7. the joy of today 
8. no time for flash cards 9. just for fun  10. parents 11. zakka life  12. elise blaha 13. sara's art house  
14. martha stewart  15. crafty crow  16. oh so happy together

although i linked everyone individually i found almost all of them through THE CRAFTY CROW.
i love that site.  i check it all the time!
 
are YOU going to craft with your kids this week?
no pressure from me.
but tell me if you do…..i want to know.
i hope my kids still want to do it next week also.