Handmade Ornaments!

I got the lovelies handmade ornament in the mail last week. It came from my Ornament Swap partner Kristen! It's a little ball of yarn with a crochet hook in it. It's so perfect! Thanks Kristen!!

Here is the ornament I made for her.

A little felt & fleece penguin with a crocheted hat.

Here is the penguin hanging by the reindeer that I made before I shipped him out.

Oh and my initial hearts that I made for my friend Maggie and her boyfriend Dallas! These were fun!

I love, love, love ornaments, especially handmade ones!

I can't believe that Christmas is literally next weekend. I'm not ready! I still have some things I want to do and make before Christmas day! Ariana and I have lots of goodies left to bake still!

xo's

Cat

Applesauce Ornaments

These Applesauce Ornaments are a great craft for the kids!

A perfect project for Christmas!

AND they smell yummy!!

My friend Bethany told me about her and her daughter Cailin making these fun ornaments. They sounded like something Ariana would like to do, so I decided to try them.

 The best part, you probably already have everything to make these in your cupboard!

Here is how I made mine. 

It was sort of trial and error, but happily, they turned out great!

What you need:

Applesauce (1 cup)

Cinnamon (2 small round containers, or about 1/2 of a big container)

Flour (1 cup. I eyeballed it since my dough was too wet, adding a little bit at a time.)

Cookie cutters, wax paper, rolling pin, toothpick

Mix all this together to make a dough. Roll it out on wax paper. (Be sure to sprinkle well with flour or it may stick)  Cut out shapes with cookie cutters. Use a toothpick or straw to make a hole in the top to string them up with later. I put mine on an cookie sheet and baked in a 150 degree oven for about 2 hours, turning them over halfway through. Bake until dry and hardened, or let them sit out and air dry (this could take a while).

 Ariana loved helping rolling the dough, and cutting out the shapes. 

My dough made about 10 ornaments, but some of mine were pretty thick.

 Once they are dry, string them up with ribbon (I used raffia for mine) and let the kids hang them on the tree!

Resist the urge to smell them all day!

Thanks for the fun idea Bethany! Ariana and I had so much fun doing these!

xo's

Cat

♥♥♥

The BEST of Christmas: Santa, Ornaments, Hot Cocoa and Candy Canes!

This blog post is full of some of my most favorite Christmas things!

Last night we got 3 packages from my Momma in the mail. They were decorations and treats for the holidays. We're still waiting on our gifts boxes! Along with all the cute stuff she sent, were 2 of the best ornaments ever!!

I simply adore this sock monkey ornament, and I'm completely in love with my owl!

 Isn't he just the cutest?

We put them on our tree right away! I love unique ornaments!

Ariana had been sick this few days. I think she had the flu or something. She's been so much better yesterday and this morning, so I'm hoping that is all behind us. It was no fun at all, and we felt so bad for her.

I still have a few fun things I want to do with her before Christmas comes. She's so excited about Santa coming. The other week we went and saw Santa at the BX. 

Here's how it went...

Me: "Do you want to go say hi to Santa, and tell him what you want for Christmas?"

Ariana: "Yea"

Me: "Do you know what you want for Christmas?"

Ariana: "PRESENTS EVERYWHERE!!!"

HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

She was so excited to meet him, then she just stared at him! This was her first time meeting Santa. I always hated those pictures of scared kids sitting on his lap, screaming and crying.Santa isn't suppose to be scary, he's suppose to be jolly. Why traumatize your kids?! We opted for a shot of her checking him out. She enjoyed talking about him after we left though. She tells us "He's coming soon to my house, in his car, and puts presents in my mittens." Sometimes, I don't know where she comes up with some things!

Last night I enjoyed a cup of hot cocoa with a candy cane in it while I finished up my Christmas cards. I feel so behind this year. I thought I only had a few to write, but then once I sat down with my address book, I wrote out 28 cards! I actually ran out of cards and had to get more! They have been sent out today, and hopefully they will get there in time.

Now, Ariana and I are about to finish wrapping up the last of the presents to Daddy!

xo's

Cat

Reindeer Ornament

A few weeks ago I joined Strumpet's ornament swap. This little reindeer was the first ornament I made. He is totally top heavy, so I decided not to send him to my swap partner, but instead kept him for myself. I'm totally in love with him though!

His body is hand stitched felt and his antlers are a cheerful red fabric. I even crocheted him a little scarf to keep the chill off when he's helping Santa fly his sleigh on that cold winter night!

I've made a few other ornaments, but I can't share them right now because they are gifts!! :)

I LOVE Christmas crafting! 

What kinds of ornaments are you making??

xo's

Cat