Make your own Christmas wreath!

 

It is easier than it sounds!

 

First off you will need an old wire hanger

or you can buy a wire base:

http://www.amazon.com/FloraCraft%C2%AE-SimpleStyle-Wreath-Green-Gauge/dp/B00BTDBL2I/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1418691547&sr=8-2&keywords=wreath+wire

 

Here is what I used:

 

Lay your greens on the wire,

wrap the floral wire around a couple times,

and make sure it is tight.

 

 

Lay the next branch on top of the wire. You don't want to see it! ;)

 

Continue to wrap with wire, then lay another branch. Repeat.

Keep all the branches going in the same direction.

 

When you get to the end pick up the first branches you put on and tuck the last ones under those so that the ends are hidden!

 

Once you are done attaching the greens you can trim any parts that stick out too much.

Add your decorations and hang it on your door!

 

This one was a gift for our new neighbors!

 

This is the one My 10 year old made for her Grandpa!

This is the one on our door!

 



 

 

Paper Snowflakes!!

 

 

I love cutting snowflakes!

I have passed this love onto my kids and they have gotten pretty good over the years!

Here is one my oldest who's 11 (almost 12) did! 

 

 

Here's What you need! 

(A cup of coffee with a candy cane in it is optional)

  First you need to fold the printer paper in half...

You can cut the paper to different sizes to make smaller snowflakes!

 

  

 Fold in half again

 

 

 Crease the edges

 

 

 

 Now for little ones you stop there and draw lines for them to cut

 

 

 

 These triangles will become diamonds once it is opened up!

 

 

Have them cut on the lines

 

 

 

My 5 year old cut this one!

 

 

 

 

For my 8 and 10 year olds I make the design a bit more complicated. 

 

 

Here's how it comes out!

 

 

If you want it to be even more intricate, fold the paper one more time so you have a triangle on top!

 

 

Draw the design

 

 

Notice how the lines continue past the point the top fold of paper onto the bottom paper.

 

 

 

To put them in our windows

I roll a piece of tape 

 

 Then put a roll of tape on each of the points

 

 

It looks even better at night! 

 

 

Let it snow!  Let it snow! Let it snow!

Nativity Advent Calendar

 

One of my kid's favorite Advent traditions in our home is our Nativity Advent Calendar!

I wrap up all the figures to our set and each night they take turns unwrapping one!

(It's my way to ensure baby Jesus makes it to Christmas!)

We don't unwrap Baby Jesus till Christmas!

 

All you need is what you use to wrap any other gift! You could also use small gift bags and put them on a mantle or bookshelf !

I number them so that we unwrap the animals first and the Holy Family last!

This year I'm keeping them in this pretty bin!

In years past I have put them along a shelf!

 We also have a "good deed" bin of ideas of charitable acts they can do throughout Advent.

When they do one they get to put a piece o straw into the manger to make a soft place for baby Jesus!

 

 

Things like:

Make your brother/sister's bed

Do someone else's chore

Clean out the car

Make a picture for mom

Put something in the money for the poor can

 

Blessed Advent!