3rd Day of Christmas

A Handprint Calendar

Two years ago we sent a photo calendar to Sister Kelly for Christmas.  We do not get to see her very often, so she really appreciated seeing the photos of family members and the special dates incorporated in the calendar.  This year Sister Kelly is in Ireland, so I decided to have Braden help me with a little calendar project that I think she will really love!

I found the handprint calendar idea here on this blog.  The post includes downloads for each of the poems and the cover page.  There is also a link to purchase a complete blank calendar from her Teachers Pay Teachers site.  I used Pages and created my own poem pages and then to conserve paper I printed the corresponding calendars on the back.  Towards the end it took quite a bit of bribing to get Braden to help me finish some of the handprints.  But I am really happy with how it turned out.

Also thanks to my connections at MMS I was able to bind each calendar myself.  But, you could easily have the pages laminated and bound at Staples.  

2nd Day of Christmas

A Family Christmas Tree Skirt

A few months ago my cousin Heather asked me if I would be interested in trying to make a burlap tree skirt for her family.  The basic idea was burlap with a ruffle around the outside and incorporating red or green chevron fabric.  She sent me a few pictures to give me an idea.

I followed most instructions from this tutorial but found a few other sites were helpful as well.  Now even though she mentioned this in August/September I didn't get around to actually cutting the burlap until November.  Then I gave it to her so they could put their handprints on first, that way the paint did not go through the backing of the final skirt.

 While I was waiting to get the skirt back I cut the red chevron into 6 inch wide strips and used the full length of the fabric.  I ended up having to match up the chevron pattern and attaching the strips until it was around 220 inches long.  Then I used the ruffler foot to create the ruffled look.  Then once I had the burlap piece back I sewed the ruffled chevron on to the outside edge and also attached a red chevron S.  

Finally I laid a large piece of muslin fabric down and put the burlap piece on top.  Then I cut out another circular shape, which would serve as the backing of the tree skirt.  I made sure that the right sides were together and pinned the pieces in place.  

This was the most difficult part to sew, because there was so much fabric and I didn't want it to slide or bunch up in places.  I left a small space to turn the tree skirt right side out and then finished off the edging.  I was pleasantly surprised with how well it turned out.  If I were to do it again I might have bought a bit more chevron and made the ruffle a little wider.  I also decided not to add velcro closures, because  thought it would easily wrap around itself when under the tree.  

12 Days Of Christmas Crafts!

It is time once again for my 12 Days of Homemade Christmas gifts/crafts.  I have been MIA lately with my posts, but I had so much fun creating the gifts last year, that I wanted to try it again!  So, here it is: 

On The First Day of Christmas - Felt Fishing Set

My sister had posted this felt fishing set as a Christmas idea for my oldest niece Eva.  I looked into it, and the Etsy shop no longer had the set available for sale.  I also thought it was something that I could try to make myself.  So, I did!

 I started by finding different fish shapes online and created stencils using plain card stock.  Then I chose colored fabrics and cut out 11 fish shapes.

Next I cut small numbers 0-10 out of white felt and used embroidery thread to hand sew them onto the middle of a piece of colored felt. Then I placed the fabric on top of two pieces of the coordinating felt with the number facing on the outside.   

I sewed around the outline of the fish.  I made sure to leave enough space to insert a round magnet in between the fabric and felt, before completely closing it up.  Then I secured the magnet towards the mouth of the fish by sewing an outline around it.  

I had Mike help me with the fishing pole.  He cut a piece of dowel and drilled a hole towards the top of it and through a round magnet.  Then tied them together using some kite string.  I would have loved to have included a cute little fabric worm on the end, but I was worried that the magnets would not be strong to "catch" the fish.  

Twenty Eight Months

A little summary of the month:

*His first two year molar has started to come through - top left
* Has discovered Curious George.  Loves reading through the big book of stories and we occasionally watch the TV show in the morning.
* Had his first real haircut - daddy did a great job! He looks so grown up!

* First trip to Martha's Vineyard

* Has started to memorize other favorite books - Pig & Elephant, Baby Signs
* Starting to speak in more clear phrases and whole sentences
* Loves to ask "what happen?" "what doing mommy?" and says "I don't like that" or "I don't want it"
* Spent the whole day with Grandma & Grandpa while mommy had jury duty - 10/28/13
* Did really well sleeping on his own on the floor (MV)
* Took Braden to watch the airplanes land/take off.  Was not as interested as I had expected him to be

* Had a huge play date with our Mercy friends.  First one in a long time! - 10/17/13

* Loves hanging out by the fire with daddy & cooking hot dogs or marshmallows

* Dislocated his elbow - dropping on the ground in a store, because he did not want to go inside.  Fortunately, it went back into place on its own & we did not have to go to the hospital (heartbreaking experience)
* Visited Pumpkin Valley Farm with Uncle Jon & the Smiths.  Braden picked out a pumpkin

* Loves playing trucks and driving them across the floor or lining them up
* Watched a  record seal release (seven) through a UNE program - 10/26/13

* First time helping with the pumpkin carving process.  Named him Jack.

* First halloween to attempt trick or treating.  He made 3 steps up the neighbors driveway and wanted to go home.  We attempted at Michaud the next day as well.  

Twenty Seven Months

Well I really need to try and keep up with my blog updates.  If I don't then the months just blend together!  So, her is my best summary of Braden's twenty seventh month and the twenty eighth to follow.

A little summary of the month:

* Braden attended his first wedding - Jane & Tariq on September 7th.  He did amazingly well running up to Uncle Dave to "deliver" the rings.

* He loves to play hide and seek.  He will cover his eyes to count and will usually hide in the same hiding spot.
* Working on some letter recognition (letters A -E for now)
* Learned to play a brief game of match/memory using the pirate cards.
* Loves playing "tackle"
* Really starting to enjoy reading and has a few favorite books memorized.  He could recite "Follow Me" and "Roadwork".
* Loves participating in ring around the rosie - even if he is doing it by himself
* Went to the Sandsations - Sand Castle tournament at Pine Point Beach - 9/14/13

* Attended his first Touch a Truck event in Scarborough - 9/15/13

* Loves going to the beach and could throw rocks into the water all day long.

* Loves any type of truck, construction type vehicle.  Enjoyed watching them work on Peaks Island

* Went apple picking for the first time - 9/24/13

* Accompanied me to my dentist appointment.  He was not shy at all - running up and down hallway to receptionist and back - 10/1/13
* Visited Nubble Lighthouse 10/1/13 and sat on the benches where daddy proposed!