Crafty Things...

I have always been a crafty person. I have always loved DOING things, MAKING things, INTERACTING with things.  I remember being in elementary school and just LOVING the teachers who offered a project option for assignments.  So, rather than take a test or write a report we could choose to do a project. One teacher in particular was amazing. We did a unit study on China and each of us was given a "menu" of points. We had to reach a certain number of points throughout the unit but we could choose how we earned them.  A certain number of points for taking a test, points for creating a map, points for doing a speech, etc.  Although I firmly believe that kids need to be exposed to all kinds of "testing" I do love the idea of letting kids learn (when possible) in the way that fits them best.  After all, this was 22 years ago and I remember it clearly. I also remember the flour and salt relief map of Marco Polo's travels that my mom and I made.

That said, I have always loved crafty and creative things.  When I was a senior in high school I convinced a group of people to join Odyssey of the Mind.  We won first place in the State and placed third in the world.  It was an amazing experience and it was the first time in my life that I realized that my creativity was a gift instead of something I needed to "work around" and ignore.

I guess that is why scrapping has fit so wonderfully into my life.  Ever since high school when I saw my first scrapbook page, I KNEW it was something I wanted to do.  I did pages here and there but for the most part, the ideas flowed more freely than the pages. The thought of getting everything out and putting everything away always discouraged me and in 12 years I probably did less than 50 or 60 pages. So when I found digital scrapping and (at the time) could do it in the one room in my house in Malaysia that had A/C, I was hooked.

But I still love to actually MAKE things..it has been fun over the last six months to dabble in hybrid scrapping...to mix the ease and endless possibilities of digi with the fun of getting hands dirty and making something out of nothing. I have also really loved having Alaina being older and really interested in crafting.  She would choose making crafts over almost anything.  And so, even though the crafts are pretty simplistic, it feels sooooo good to get an idea and see it come to life. And I love seeing Alaina be a part of it, loving the process as much as I do.

So here are a few things we have been doing lately.  Simplistic, yes.  Memorable, you bet!

First, a few quick fall decorations.  We picked these up for $1 at Michael's.  Love that everything is pre-cut and ready to go...works well with my almost five year old who has an attention span of almost five minutes.

I was reading Ali Edward's blog a week or so ago and saw her fun little Advent Boxes.  Our kids are finally old enough to start understanding Advent and all that the season entails, so I really wanted an Advent calendar of some sort.  I love that these are handmade and that they are bigger than most store-bought box-types.  I plan to fill each of them with a little symbol (hoping for tiny ornaments) and a little treat.

I bought these little boxes at Michael's for $1 each.  The squares are 2.5 inches and the circles are 3 in (the only sizes they had in stock).  I made the numbers digitally (Shabby Princess Holiday Joy papers and chipboard numbers) and then printed them.  I then mod-podged the top (with lots of help from Alaina).  Inside, I glued in that days verses to read.

I also saw some of these fun little button trees  on Ali's blog.  I decided to go a different route with this idea.  I bought green tissue paper and pearlized straight pins.  I crumpled up the paper and stuck it in the Styrofoam. Alaina helped too but this definitely proved to be beyond her attention-span.

I was thrilled with the final result.  So fun and oddly therapeutic!

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Alrighty...off to start my day.  I ended up spending almost all day yesterday out with Alaina.  We were just going to run to Walmart to pick up the tissue paper and straight pins, but we decided to go to the mall and do some Christmas shopping.  Feels good to have made a dent.  I always end up doing it last minute.  With more than a month to spare, my parents are done, one of my sisters is done, Jason's parents are half-way done, Alaina's gifts are planned, Caleb's are in research mode, and I have a few stocking stuffers purchased.  Do I get a gold star for being so on top of things?

Have a great day!

p.s.  This is my first entry done solely on my new computer...from importing my photos, to editing, to posting.  My laptop didn't even get turned on.  I am proud :) However, please excuse my photos and the coloring...I haven't calibrated my monitor yet and to *me* they look cloudy and soft, but I can't be sure it isn't just my monitor.

Comments

[Jacki]

Everything looks great from this end! What a great new computer (hmm, little jealous here! :) Fun projects with Alaina. I'm anxious to use our advent calendar from Bandung - finally bit the bullet and bought one! We're off to Sunway, ice skating and IKEA early in the morning. Have a great Thanksgiving!

[sarah vrolyk]

Love your Advent boxes! Would you be so kind as to share the verses you put in each box? I have a wooden Advent calendar box that I got at Target and I need to get my verses printed out for each day. Thanks so much! :)

[Brooke - in Oregon]

Photos look fine to me. Love your projects, my DD was not so much into crafting until she moved out of the house. Now we have a blast!

Love all your projects, now if I had not seen the photo of the tree I would not have thought it sounded cute, but it is fabulous!!

I truly love your advent boxes, such a great idea and to put a scripture in each one...now that is the best!! LOVE LOVE LOVE it. You actually topped the AE ones! :)

My grandaughter is a bit to young for this but I am so keeping this idea for when she is older!!

Happy Thanksgiving, hope you have a great day with Family and Friends!

[Brittany]

I totally LOVE how you did the advent calendar. I'm not bothering to do one this year since it's just me, myself, and I....but I love how you did it digitally AND how you put verses inside. Totally what I was imagaining in there!

Happy Thanksgiving!

[Jennifer Caputo]

Super fun stuff Janet, that tree is over the top awesome!! Happy Thanksgiving sweetie. Hey, where are you going to be over Christmas? I'm flying in and out of Orlando this year (will be down there Christmas - New years), would love to get together again!!!

[Hollie]

Janet--third in the world is AWESOME! Wow what an achievement!! And I totally looooove your craft ideas! I look and look for ideas but never seem to find good ones, except the ones you post. I will have to try these out. Pleeeeeeease make sure and post all your kid crafts and stuff, cuz I really use the ideas! Thanks!!!!! Happy Thanksgiving!

[Hollie]

Oh yeah--the photos look good to me. Crisp and I can't tell if the color is off. It looks correct.

[Margie S.]

Oh my goodness...your tree came out so good!! You have such patience!! Love the Thanksgiving people :) Great idea on the Advent blocks. I love when there is a verse to read each day. Keeps us focused :)

[Brooke - In Oregon]

Ok, just me again :) Wondering if you would post the daily verses. I decided to do these for my Niece and Nephew's families. They have young kids and I think this would be a great family gift! THANKS again for sharing the idea!!