Super cute family tradition idea!

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I have been searching the internet for Christmas gifts already. I have compiled a GREAT list of very cost effective, creative and highly rated toys for kiddos and everyone on my list actually. I'll be sharing that later, but in the meantime check out this SUPER cute product I found on amazon. It's called The Elf on the Shelf.

The product is a story book and a little elf.  The idea is to tell the kiddos that Santa sent the elf to watch over the kids and the elf reports to Santa each night. Us parents are supposed to move the elf into a new spot each night so it looks like he "left" for the North Pole and came back. There are over 200 positive reviews on amazon and many claim how excited kiddos were each morning to see where the elf was in the house.

Isn't this just the cutest idea ever for a family tradition for young kids?? I'm ordering one right now and thought I'd share :)

xoxo

B

Homemade hand print ornament…easy!

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Now that I have two little ones, the holidays seem even more special.  As we get older as a family I want our tree to be a reflection of memories of years past. 

I remember making a handprint ornament when I was a kid and thought it would be fun to do with my own kiddos this year.  Something we can put on our tree each year to remember how small they were when we lived in Germany. This is such an easy way to create a memory and a keepsake for your Christmas tree!  It would also make a great gift for grandparents.  I found the recipe here.

I didn't use food coloring, but instead just painted the handprint after the mold had dried.

Enjoy!

B

DIY Cake Stand

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A do it yourself cake stand has to be the coolest craft project I've ever seen! I love cake stands. It's one of those things I've always wanted, but never really had a use for and never got around to buying one. But now that I am starting to love entertaining and planning parties I have a definite need. Not sure where in Germany I could go and definitely find a cake stand. And sure I could probably eventually find one somewhere, but it might cost more than I want to spend and who knows if it would look cute.

There are tutorials galore on how to do it.  It's easy and super fun. I'm addcited to spray paint now btw. I plan on making one in every color that spray paint is available!

I used this tutorial from eat.drink.pretty.

I turned a little tiny vase and a plate



Into my very own cake stand.  So cool!



This is how Michaelangelo must've felt after carving the Staue of David.

Canvas hand and foot artwork

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What better gift to give a family member or good friend then a homemade piece of artwork?  Not only is it sentimental and thoughtful, it can be personalized.  For DH this year I wanted the kids to do something special that would remind him of how tiny they were in 2010.  I wanted the artwork to be displayed in our living room, so I chose neutral earth tones.  I love canvas because no matter what you do to it, it somehow still looks artistic.

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  For this project you need:

-4 canvas of the same size.  I used 8in. x 8 in. square canvas because the kids have such tiny hands and feet and I didn't want a bunch of empty space.

-2 paint colors of your choice.  I used acrylic paint because the craft store here in Germany has a very limited choice of colors for canvas paint.  It worked just fine :)

- Sponge paint brushes

Directions

1) Paint 2 of the canvas chocolate brown and 2 of the canvas tan (or whatever colors you choose).  Let them dry and add a second coat.  Mine actually needed a third coat.

2) Once completely dry, paint a hand an alternate color.  So for the brown canvas, paint the hand tan.  Press the hand down firmly and hold for at least 5 seconds.  Slowly remove. Repeat for all 4 canvas.

3) Once all the canvas are dry, add touch ups if needed.

Note: I used 2 feet because getting a 3 month old to open his hands was impossible.  Do all feet, all hands or alternate like I did.

xoxo-

B.