THE {BURLAP} STOCKINGS WERE HUNG.....

What is it about burlap that us crafters love....the texture, the colour?? All I can say is that I was a little shocked when I walked into the fabric store last week as the fifth customer buying burlap to make Christmas stockings.

Then to my dismay I was unable to get the shade of burlap I desired, however, I settled for the lighter cream colour to make these....

HERE IS MY TUTORIAL...

1. Lay your burlap down on a flat surface and fold over

2. Trace out the shape of your stocking using another stocking or eyeballing it

3. Before cutting pin the two pieces together

4. Then CUT

5. Sew around the edge of your stocking starting and ending about half an inch from the ends
{this is done so you can fray your stocking a bit once it's sewn and folded over}

If you choose fold the burlap over at the top to make a cuff....then sew on a hook with ribbon or twine so it can be hung

6. Using my Sure Cuts Alot software I printed out EST. and each family members year of birth onto vinyl.

7. Stencil using black acrylic paint. I use Ceramcoat from Michaels

I found my wooden letters at my local dollarstore and tied them on with twine.

In the end I was happy with the lighter burlap since I have so much darker brown in my house already.

**MeRRy ChRiStMaS**

Mini Subway Art Sign

I've seen subway art all over the place so I thought I would whip up a Christmas themed sign for my guest bathroom.

I used my Cricut and Sure Cuts A Lot software to cut my letters onto vinyl.

I painted my wood using my favourite paint, Ceramcoat.

While your waiting for your paint to dry you can read the newspaper your wood is drying on like I did.....hey a craft fair this weekend....sweet!!

After I arranged and stuck my vinyl letters on my wood I glued down a few scrabble tiles with stars on them using my Weldbond Glue.

I'm thinking Ashtyn will be getting a piece of subway art for her room for Christmas painted pink and all about her!!

I'm linking my project to...

TIPS FOR TOTS TUESDAY - December 15th

We made these Santa Baby Candle Holders one year for the parent gifts at preschool and the kids and parents loved them. All you need is a clean baby jar, red tissue paper cut up into squares, a strip of black paper for Santa's belt and a tab off of a pop can for Santa's belt buckle. Cover the jar with white glue and have your child(ren) cover the jar with the red tissue paper. Run the black paper through the holes on the pop tab then glue to the middle of the jar. Cover again with a final layer of white glue and let dry. Pop a tea light in and voila!!

Here's another cute idea I found on a wonderful blog I love to visit called A Little Tipsy. I'm thinking I'm going to have to try this one out for sure. What a wonderful keepsake to be brought out each year and very symbolic since it's something the family creates together. Michelle's handprint tutorial with pictures can be found here

My Book Choices this week are Jan Brett's:

GINGERBREAD BABY- That sassy cookie! When Matti opens the oven door just a little too soon, out pops a gingerbread baby instead of the gingerbread boy he was expecting. Eluding all efforts to catch him, the flat, becandied baby is chased around the village and into the countryside. He mercilessly taunts Matti's parents, a cat, the milk and cheese man, goats, villagers, a fox, and more. In a less traumatic twist on the classic Gingerbread Boy story, this Gingerbread Baby even outfoxes the fox. Sure he's bratty, but he doesn't deserve the gruesome end the Gingerbread Boy usually comes to. Matti makes sure this naughty but appealing little one ends up right where he belongs. Amazon.com

THE MITTEN- A Ukrainian boy named Nicki wants his grandmother Baba to knit snow-white mittens for him. She warns her grandson that a white mitten will be hard to find if he loses it in the snow, but of course he promptly does just that! What happens next is the surprising part, as a mole takes refuge in the lost mitten, then a rabbit, then a hedgehog, an owl, a badger, and a fox. If you think the mitten might be a wee bit stretched out at this point, just wait: "Then a big bear sniffed at the mitten. The animals were packed in tight, but the bear didn't care. He crawled in anyway." When a tiny mouse squeezes in, her whiskers tickle the bear's nose. He sneezes, and "Aaaaa-aaaaa-ca-chew!" all the animals fly out of their crocheted cave. As the mitten sails through the air, Nicki spots it, reclaims it, and takes it home to show his smiling Baba.

Amazon.com

Be sure to check out Jan Brett's Website for free printable colouring pages, activites and more. I used this valuable resource a lot when I was teaching preschool. We even put on a play for the parents and used the free printable animal masks.

Monogram Glitter Ornaments

I found these great DIY glittery ornaments while visiting Write click scrapbook's website. As soon as I found them I got my butt off the computer and went and made my own. I love how they turned out and they took me less than 3 minutes to make. All you need is Making Memories letter stickers and some glitter. I love crafts that make a bold statement and take only minutes to make. Below is a picture of how mine turned out. This year I'm obsessed with teal and green. Now go craft some...go, go, go!

**Happy Craftin'**

ChRiStMaS CLiPbOaRd CoUnTdOwN

I made these last year and to tell you honestly I forgot about them until I opened up one of my Christmas boxes.  They were fast and easy to make and a perfect size to display on a fridge. I used a small clipboard I purchased from the dollarstore and decorated it with a Christmas scrapbook paper package by My Minds Eye. For the numbers I used white tags purchased from Michaels with Memory Makers number stickers. You could also use number stamps. I hot glued two metal washers to the the front of the clipboard where the numbers go and magnets to the back of each number tag. Good old Mod podge was used to stick down all the paper and to cover the stickers on the tags so they don't fall off in the future. Give the clipboard a final coat or two of Mod podge to seal it all up, add some magnets to the back of the clipboard, pop it onto the fridge and start countin' down the days!!!

Since it's December and we're ready to officially start counting down the days until Christmas I thought I would also share some other great Christmas countdown ideas I found while blog jogging.

Countdown Blocks found on Little Birdie Secrets Blog. There is a how to tutorial with lots of pics. I'm thinking this craft looks easy enough to make so why stop at Christmas? Make them for a Halloween countdown or Baby Blocks.

Little Tin Advent Calander by Split Coast Stampers, with a tutorial and how to pics.

Magnetic Muffin Tin Advent Calendar by Stephanie at her blog Somewhat Simple also with a tutorial and how to pics.

*Merry Christmas and Happy Craftin'*

The Cutest Little Popsicle Stick Trees

How cute are these little popsicle stick trees? I found them while browsing Michaels handmade holidays gallery. It turns out they are the project winner for this weeks contest. I might have to make me some of these. It's also a great craft for an older child to do on their own as well. Here is the link to the directions and supply list if you want to make up some of these cuties. Happy Christmas Craftin'!