I have been in lockdown in this town for what seems like soooo long (I escaped for 1 day trip, so a total of 7 hours and 36 mins away in 4 weeks) and the weather has been a little warm so we have all been spending loads of time inside.....together. So what's a girl to do? Well with Christmas around the corner I seemed to turn into Martha Stewart, or some craft obsessed Princess from another land that I don't even recognise. The thing is I didn't think I liked crafting, sure I love knitting, baking and sewing, but craft yuck!!. I actually complained at the school last year that the kids did too much Christmas Craft as they bought home paper after paper of decorations,(note: take photos of any artworks that the kids are attached to before you bin them, then you can show them the photo when they ask. For artwork and craft that are really cool create a digital art book for them, its heaps easier to store them on the computer and great to share with family and friends), but the last few weeks have made me realise while I hate crappy craft, I love useful craft.... there is a big difference (Sure!) Anyway here are some of our projects, they are quick, will keep the kids amused (which may prevent heads little being scarred for life buy cranky sisters), easy, and best of all.... USEFULL!!
Gift Tags
1. We made these over a few sessions, the kids used Christmas Stamps to go crazy out the back with butchers paper. Session 1 done!
2. Then Master 3 and I practised his scissoring skills (for like 30 seconds) then I cut the shapes out while watching re-runs of Project Runway and drinking tea.
3. Miss 6 and I then cut out some Japanese Paper into shapes, and glued them with the stamped Christmas shapes onto cardboard. Merry Christmas 2013 and a hole punch...Ta Da Christmas Gift Tags!
Outdoor Christmas Tree
This was crazy easy and was an attempt to show Master 3 that sticks are useful for things other than chasing his sisters around with. He is still chasing his sisters with sticks but this project made use of his weapon stash in his room. We collected sticks from everywhere, painted them using the left over paint from the gift tag stamping and arranged them in order. We then bought a garden stake, whitewashed it and screwed the wood on in order and... Wallah.... Outdoor Christmas Tree. (This may end up as a bean climber in a second life after December 25).
Wreath
I loved looking at these last year and we have never had a wreath. I thought the wool ones were pretty and would be a great use of extra wool I had lying around but the whole cardboard circle thing was a task in itself, so I never got round to it. Then I saw this... http://www.craftstylish.com/item/8659/how-to-make-a-finger-wrapped-pom-pom easy finger wrapped pom poms. Our little hands made many in such a short amount of time, we even had extras for the tree. I love our bright wreath!!
Teachers Gifts
We have beautiful staff at the school here. There are about 26 students and 7 staff including Administration, Teachers, Principal and Teacher Aides, so they all know the kids really well. For gifts for the teachers we made some Bliss Balls (raw cacao, LSA, raw almonds, rolled oats, dates, apricots, sultanas, blitzed in mixxy and rolled in coconut or raw cacao) and Chocolate Fudge balls (biscuits, condensed milk, coconut, and raw cacao blitzed in mixxy and rolled in coconut). We then put them in sterile glass jars topped with Christmas Fabric bought up by Granny from NSW (thanks so much xxx) and finished with a gift tag. Miss 8 sewed around all the edges of the fabric all by herself and Master 3 helped in the cooking and taste testing. Beautiful!
Our Artwork
We were so lucky to be given a canvas from one of the teachers that is sadly leaving at the end of the year. In the spirit of Klimt who I love we created a family artwork. Miss 8 painted the background, Miss 6 and I painted the trunk and branches and then we all used our fingerprints to create the leaves. Little love had to use his toes... Its now hanging in our lounge room.
Our Tree
Our Tree this year is a branch from the Mango Tree. Decorated with all sorts of decorations. When we moved here we ditched our old plastic tree and we haven't bought a new one. Last year the Mango Tree served us well, I am not sure we will ever have a plastic one again!
These craft little projects are so easy, useful and have elements that can be done by all age groups.... Me crafting away... Who would have thought? Its amazing what so much time at home, in the heat can do!!!
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