Tag Archives: crafts

DIY/Crafts, Personal

Gingerbread House

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I decided on a whim (the way I make most of my decisions) to do a real Gingerbread house this year.

Last year we did the Graham Cracker House/Shack.

We were in the store and my son saw one of the kits to make a real one and asked if we could get it.

So, I said, sure.

My decision making process is really awesome to behold.

It STAYED together!!!

I was pretty much done after I had assembled it and it stayed together.

Score one for the craft impaired!

Before they even started putting it together they wanted to know when they could eat it.

I might be a little dense but I did not know if you were supposed to!

I knew that it was basically made of all edible products but I had never actually scene anyone eating one.

I evaded the question for a while until I finally figured out that if there was a nutrition data panel on the box it must mean you can eat it.

So in case you are like me.

You CAN eat it.

Don’t laugh.

Done!

I think it is a Gingerbread house worthy of Hansel and Gretel.

It was demolished the next day.

Since my boys are more into eating then decorating I think we will make the Graham Cracker version again next year.

It is easier to eat.

This was a fun thing to check off of my imaginary Christmas must do list though.

DIY/Crafts, Personal

Clay Ornaments!

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A picture I found on Pinterest is what started it all.

I saw it a couple months ago and knew that I wanted to try to make something similar.

I knew I would never be able to make the same one because I just do not have the patience for perfection.

It is a good thing I like the rustic, half done look.

I used the air dry clay because I already had it on hand.

You can use the oven bake kind if you want.

We used Cookie cutters for the shapes and straws for the holes!

I really loved the straw idea.

I found it, here.

We used stamps I had laying around for these.

I got that idea from this site.

These were MY ornaments. I did not let the boys help.

I knew the moment I saw them on this site that I wanted them all for myself.

I let the boys have a say and help out with the others but not these.

It is good to be selfish sometimes.

At least for me.

These are pure boy.

My youngest had a starfish figure in his hand all day and so decided to use it for his ornament.

My oldest decided to use a pig for his…

I used jute/twine to hang them up.

I am really happy with how they turned out!

I am becoming addicted to homemade ornaments!

Anyone else having this happen to them?

I blame Pinterest.

It makes me think I can do things that I can not do…

DIY/Crafts, Personal

Fingerprint Tree Art

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I knew when I saw this that I wanted to do one with my boys!

And since they hate to get messy it was a real struggle to convince them to dip their fingers in paint.

Right…

First I sketched out a tree.

I just did a google search for tree sketches to be inspired in the design, you could copy one or even find a coloring page to use.

I tried to not put too much work into this sketch since I knew that the boys might decided to ruin it and smear the whole thing with paint.

I used acrylic paint for the “leaves” but you could use an ink pad.

I used one color of  green acrylic and then just added a little bit of white, yellow and “gasp” black(my art teacher would not be happy with me) to get the different shades.

I had the boys each do a side of the tree so as to keep the process peaceful.

Not that my boys would ever fight over something like painting…

They are practically perfect in every way.

I love works of fiction, don’t you?

I then had them use toothpicks to add grass, I thought it needed something on the bottom but you would not have to do this.

I like toothpicks because it is hard to go crazy with them, you only can do a little bit of paint at a time.

My oldest loved mixing the colors the most.

Done!

I can’t wait to hang it in my livingroom!