This year I made my little girls an Advent Activity Calendar. Starting December 1, we’ll open a bag everyday that has a fun Christmas activity in it to do together that day. When most of us think back to special memories growing up, it’s not the stuff our parents bought us we remember, it’s the special things we did together as a family. I’m hoping that doing this calendar together will create some special family memories for us.

Some of the activities are really simple, some are more involved. I’ve come up with over 60 different activities so there should be something to fit every budget and every schedule, from “Let’s drink hot chocolate with marshmallows”, to “Let’s have a “Red and Green” dinner with only red and green food”.

I had the opportunity to do this activity over the last month with three different moms and tots groups. We had lots of fun embellishing the little bags with all sorts of fun scrapbook papers, stamps, tags, ribbons and embellishments.

I told them all, it’s not meant to be just one more thing on mom’s busy Christmas to do list. I printed a blank calendar for everyone, find one here, and encouraged the moms to think about things that they will be doing anyway this time of year, and incorporate it into the advent activity calendar on the appropriate day. I also encouraged them to consider what nights are really busy at their house -like swimming and music lesson night-and choose something really simple that night. By the same token, consider a bigger project for the weekend when you have more time -like Christmas baking for example. If you record when you’re doing what on the printable calendar (and hide if from your kids!) you can always shift things around a little if you have to. This is meant to be something fun that creates special family time and builds memories. Remember also, you can always replace a few activities with something simple like a chocolate treat if you need to.

Here’s the link to the Advent Activities I created -all 66 suggestions! Just choose your favourite 24, clip out the little boxes and create your own personalized Advent Activity Calendar.

When I made my calendar for my kids, my colour scheme was pink and green to match my kitchen Christmas decor. I spray painted some simple wooden clothes pins bright pink to match, and used them to attach the bags to a garland.

I love how it turned out, it looks like a Christmas decoration, and my kids can’t wait to get started! Let the count down begin, and Merry Christmas!

This post is linked up at Blue Cricket Designs.

I love, love, love how this Christmas Wreath turned out, and wanted to share with you how easy it is to make.

It’s made out of dollar store silver pot scrubbers! I was inspired by Chatelaine magazine. I used 4 packs of 3 for my foam wreath form. You open up the circle of the pot scrubber and cut in half, then you break out the old glue gun, and hot glue it to the wreath.

Here’s the view from the back.

I embellished it with some simple white and silver Christmas balls. I love all the sparkle!

I also added some silver satin ribbon.

I love how it looks on the front door, with my Christmas urn decked out in silver this year too, and these sweet glittered skates. Stay tuned for the tutorial on them!

Merry Christmas, hope you’re having fun decking the halls too!

This post is linked up at Tatertots and Jello, the Shabby Nest, French Country Cottage, Thirty Handmade Days, Between Naps on the Porch, and Blue Cricket Designs.

When I first saw the free pattern for this sweet bag -The Buttercup Bag- I knew I wanted to make one! It’s so cute. Ages later, I was in Fabricland during a big sale and decided to go for it. I really like how the denim came out, it has a nice weight and natural stiffness so I didn’t need to worry about a liner or anything. I added the pop of red as the liner and button detail for fun!

I am not a very experienced sewer -think back to grade 7 home ec, and a few projects at Grandmas house. I found this you tube video -Giddyup Buttercup really helpful, so if your thinking of giving this a try check it out. The free pattern is available here, and there are tons of photos of this bag that others have made if you’re having trouble imagining what fabric combo or colour to do it in, just check it out in google images!

I’m really pleased with my first attempt. It only took a couple of sewing evenings to complete, so even if you’re a beginner, it’s really do-able. I even did a fancy magnetic snap, and small inside pocket. I also lengthened the strap, cause you know they’re always just a little too short, especially with a winter coat on. I love how it turned out. Wouldn’t this be a lovely handmade Christmas gift. You’ve still got time to try it. I want to try a larger one next. I hope your handmade Christmas gifts are coming along…tis the season!

This post is linked up at Blue Cricket Designs, and Between U and Me.

Today was our local Santa Claus Parade, and we helped put together a sweet little float for our church.

The parade is always a little tricky, with really limited time and resources, but it’s always a lot of fun too, and a great way to be a part of the community!

This year our theme was “Every good gift is from God“. We dressed up a hay wagon and some big appliance boxes. The tags on the gifts were things that God has given us like: a home, food, friends, love, health, peace, and joy! We dressed up our little (and some not so little) folks as gifts.

We had a great time spreading a little holiday cheer and welcoming Santa to town! That’s what we’ve been working up to this week, now is it too early to start Christmas decorating?

Life is a party…a Christmas party!

I’ve shared our Kindness Coupons with you before. We use them on and off. Whenever it seems like some little ones need some encouragement to find ways to be kind to each other, we break them out. It’s a super easy idea, if I catch you being kind, you earn a coupon. The coupons get cashed in for fun family activities, like a trip to the coffee shop for hot chocolate, a movie rental, a walk in the woods. For our family they are activities that we do together anyway, but I feel like it’s a really positive reinforcement that kindness and good behaviour equals extra fun family activities together -kind of a win-win. It always gets great results for us, and encourages my girls to go out of their way to be helpful and kind -I like that.

The first time I made them we had great results. A while later we made a Valentine’s themed version with sweet little coins, that we called kindness coins. It’s fall now, and I found the sweetest little fairy autumn printables at Over the Moon, and thought they’d be perfect. (We used page 14 of their document, the sorting game.) I made some simple stamped tags, and added a little glitter and fall ribbon to create the jars that hold the coupons. Simple as that. Now, let the kindness begin!

This post is linked up at Between U and Me.