On Sunday, the day directly
following Halloween, I saw my first Christmas commercial. And when I ventured
out to the grocery store, the shopping center was just finishing hanging up
their Christmas wreaths and lights. If that doesn’t send you into a panicked
tailspin, I am not sure what will! I am trying my hardest to stay way ahead of
the game this year because on top of the holiday season, we are getting married
in January ten hours away in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Didn’t really think that
one through, did we? Actually, it’s all falling into place and we’ll get there,
figuratively and literally, hopefully. But I still need to stay ahead of the
holiday craze for my own sake which is why my Christmas cards are done and
partially addressed, thanks to the lovely Kate Hall and her photography skills/talents and Shutterfly. Hashtag LIFESAVERS.
Sidebar: I used two “Ten Free
Cards” specials and one $20 credit and I got my 30 cards for the price of
shipping, which totaled out to about $18. Not too shabby. Shutterfly is great
with promotions that can range anywhere from a free magnet or calendar to a fun
gift like a free pack of customized playing cards. Those are also great for
stocking stuffers or teacher/grandparent gifts. I received 2 separate offers
for ten free cards and then got the $20 credit from Kellogg’s rewards. Kelloggs
also sends you great offers and free gifts from Shutterfly and product coupons
with barely any effort on your part. This will motivate me to get my act
together early each year so I can take advantage of all these offers!
As much as I want to avoid jumping
into the holiday season, I am starting my DIY projects early this year. A
simple and fairly cheap keepsake idea are handprint ornaments. Now, I have done
the salt dough deal, and I can never get them to be thin or attractive enough.
I gave those bricks out (to those who really love and won’t judge me) for
Lily’s first Christmas. Her footprint was so tiny! Last year, Ash got us kits
to make ornaments so I combined the basic idea of that with store bought
ornaments I found in my Christmas Box of Wonders.
My mom gave me two packs of these glass disc ornament last year that she didn’t use. You can find these (and bulb shape ones) at A.C. Moore, where you can also almost always find a 50-55% off coupon or some sort of great deal. You can also usually find acrylic paint 3 for $1 there so stock up on some red, green, white, and whatever other holiday color your heart desires. I used some bright blue to make the snowmen really pop on a few of the ornaments. This is a simple project that kids can help out with for almost all the steps, and is a great way to throw in a little lesson about Christmas coming from the heart and home and not just the store. Plus they’ll be so excited to show off what they made on the tree.
Step 1: Remove the top of the
ornament. These things are cheap and bend, so be careful with them when you
take them off and even more careful when you put them back on. Keep some damp paper towels or wipes handy cuz this could get messy.
Step 2: Squeeze some paint into the
bottom of the ornament and PUT THE LID BACK ON. I will let you learn from my
mistakes (and paint soaked hands). There is a slit in the top of the lid so be careful not to let any paint leak out of there. Or just be aware that it could happen.
Step 3: Rotate the ornament around
and around and around and watch the paint move like that gooey stuff inside a
lava lamp. It’s actually pretty soothing. If you need to multitask, fill up a
few and just rest them upside down or on their sides. Or give them to your big
helper to twist and rotate. If the paint seems to have stopped moving, add a
little more. With the bulbs, you can sometimes shake the paint around, but
these discs did take some time to fill. If it seems there is an excess of paint inside, remove the lid and let the excess paint out onto a paper towel or into another ornament.
Step 4: Clean off the top of the
ornament. There is a little slit at the top, so some paint may have found its
way out. A damp paper towel is all you need to wipe it off.
Step 5: Have your big helper spread
out their hand and paint it white. Keep their fingers spread slightly and have
them press their palm towards the bottom of the ornament and their fingers
toward the top. It should look like five happy snowmen on a winter’s day!
Step 6: Once the white paint is
dry, you (or your helper) can add eyes and buttons and a carrot nose. I added a
top hat and some bows.
Step 7: Add a ribbon and
shamelessly wrap these bad boys for Grandma and Grandpa and anyone else who may
enjoy them. Make sure to save one for your tree as well!
You’ve got 50 49 days left to make
these. So get on it. :)
