Weekend Craftiness

A jewelry hanger made by Rat_girl and I

I'd been painting a couple of my projects and she was bugging me because she wanted to paint.  I was originally going to just give her the egg cartons to paint and be done with it.

Then decided on helping her make a pin board....which then ended up a jewelry hanger.

Now I would like one for me, but I think I'll make mine from corkboard or something.

Kids Craft Corner

I'm attempting to plan a craft style activity once a week with Rat_girl, this was yesterdays creation...

She took the first three photos herself :-)

She was very chuffed with the finished result

It was a Woodworks kit by http://www.colorific.com.au/ and was quite easy.  She needed a little assistance from me but all that really was, was direction where to paint the glue I then helped with the assembly it's a bit fiddly.

She did all the painting, with little help or direction and she decorate with stickers.  i even threw in a little bling from my craft kit.

I'll have photos updates of the kids soon, maybe tonight once they are in bed and I'm sitting watching Greys as concrete_man is away!

Christmas, more of

I guess you could say that this year our 'theme' for Christmas was 'handmade.

We made some Christmas decorations and I made quite a few gifts and cards.  Mind you I can't say if I'll do it again.  I put a lot of effort into some of the gift yet of Christmas day when the southern counterparts spoke to Concrete_man on the phone they didn't even mention if they received them let alone say thank you!  And when he had a more in depth converstaion the next day he waited until the end of the conversation and when still nothing was said he asked and got the response "oh yes we received them, very nice thank you"  That was it.  Yet when Rat_girl didn't want to speak to her autny on the phone on Christmas day she chucked a wobbly staing "well after all that effort I went to with her present and I don't even get a hello or a thank you" and was upset that we didn't force her to speak to her.  And don't eve get me started on the present.  She gave her a Cabbage Patch Doll, yess very lovely and obviously she spent a fortune.  But a) Rat_girl is a little young and doesn't quite understand how special these dolls are and b) that is what I had already planned for her 5th birthday and I really would have rathered something special like that come from me or someone she actually knows not an aunty she never sees or speaks to.  Anyway just gotta let it go whats done is done.  The auntys kids all they got was gift cards from me, I tried to put the effort in and ask what they actually wanted or needed but she just sais gift cards...I tried.

Anyway some of our handmade items...

Our tree decorations.  I let Rat_girl run with these, I did the mixing and kneading and she rolled out and cut the shapes.  Then her and a friend painted and decorated. I think they turned out great, not sure if they will last for next year but you never know.  OH and the smell, I put some christmassy spices in and they smelt good enough to eat.

Christmas Decorations

The Christmas puddings that I posted earlier, these are just delish and so easy.

A couple things I made for myself.  We did a photo shoot with the kids early Nov especially for Christmas gifts and cards

Hanging frame

Start brag book

And another little glitter picture that the Rat_girl made

The presents I made for the inlaws on the Gold Coast

Hanging frame for 10yo nephew, from his trip here earlier in the year

Hanging frames for Brother in law and Sister in law

And a could star brag books for Nanny (mother in law) and Nanna (grand mother in law)

And the little gift bags I made to give out to some neighbours and some friends.

So there is still more to come on Christmas, I guess the next post should be about Christmas eve and preparing for Santa's arrival.

Christmas

We have done so much this Christmas in the way of gift and decoration making and baking etc that I just don't know where to start posting.

So i think after the BIG even tomorrow I'll post it all then and do a big Christmas wrap up.

But here is a preview of a couple of the things we did.

Mini Christmas Puddings for Kindy

Awesome little glitter pictures made by Rat_girl

Christmas decorations handmade and painted by Rat_girl, baked by me

Lots more to come...it's been very exciting this year getting in to the hand made suff for Chrissy but I do need to start and plan earlier next year.  I just got carried away and kept adding more things to my list this year.

Anyway speaking of getting carried away, I'm just doing up some more lil puddings, some green and red cake mix biscuits and some christmas bark....I'm searing for these recipes I'll link you up when I find them.

Christmas Gifts

This, or something similar is what I plan to do for Christmas gifts this year.

Plus I am thinking, we're having a little disco party for Rat_girls 4th birthday in December.  I might do one for the parents of each child along with some home made playdough as party favours.