Crafty Kid: Passing the Christmas Torch

Yesterday my husband had his first law school final for the semester, so he didn't get home until nearly 9:30 p.m. After dinner, the Lil Monkey started to get antsy, so I enticed him to clean up so we could make some Christmas ornaments for our holiday gifts (and a few for the tree). 

Now, I am a self-diagnosed with control issues when it comes to crafts and creative stuff for sure. So, I really have to remind myself that doing crafts with him does not have to be picture perfect or even make sense some times. It's about being creative and having fun. He's 4, so there is lots of time for people to put him "in a box" or give him parameters later.

Earlier this week, we had tried to make some reindeer ornaments but didn't get too far because he was getting frustrated with the glue no drying instantaneous! This time, we were making wreaths, from a prepared kit, just like the reindeers. This time, I set him up at the kitchen table, with all of the pieces sorted and said we were going to do an assembly line - I would tie the string on foam wreath and then he could glue the buttons on them. Later we would tie the bows and glue them on. He had no idea was assembly-line was, but said we were working like elves. Ok, elves it is. 

We got quite a few of them done in that last hour before bed time. He event invited his imaginary friends, Stella and Sam, to help us. Then he helped them with the glue and buttons later on so that they would have some ornaments too.

I guess tonight we may try to get some more done. It was fun working on this project and watching him decided what "patterns" he wanted to use for the red and white buttons. We talked about taking the "centers" that we pulled out of the middle and making about half of them Mickey Mouse themed, but we'll see. I'm not sure if he will want to put a photo in the center or not. I'll let him decide when we get to that stage.

While we are on the subject of kids crafts, the Lil Monkey also made these ornaments with my sister, Moo-Moo, when we were visiting my family last weekend. 

I encourage you crafty moms to include your children in activities. Sometimes it hard, I'll admit, because I want something to be perfect. But I always try to keep a spare project nearby so that if he does try to help on a not-so-kid-friendly project, I can give him something to do to keep his creativity inspired.

Until our next cup of tea ...

Batter Up! Time to Rally Around the Home Team!!

Well our little Monkey has just finished his first season of Little League Baseball and it was an experience for us all! He was one of only 3 4 year olds, all who barely made the cutoff age by a month or so. The other 8 kids had played both Sping and Fall of last year in Instructional T-Ball and are moving to T-Ball.

Oh, was fun it was to watch him play, though most of the time he was dancing, practicing to be a Ninja Turtle or Superhero or picking clovers. The three of us moms were assured that all of the others did the same thing at this age, so hopefully next year will be more actual playing.

He was great at hitting and fielding, but once he was bored, other interests took over.

He did swim for about a year (you'll see that in previous posts from 2011) and even spent six weeks in soccer (the coach spent all her time on her phone and we had a lot of "breaks" where the kids sat around.) I decided that I should probably start a scrap book for him with photos and stuff because if I wait too long, it'll just be overwhelming. So I spent a few hours pulling out scrapbook paper I'd collected, sorting through digital photos and ordering prints and gathering notes of what I wanted to do. Finally I was ready to start!! Let the fun begin!!

Here is the first page for baseball. I wanted to get all his team info on there because I'll never remember. I can't even remember kids from his preschool class last year, much less any of his teammates years from now.

Well, I'm off to get some more pages done while he is running errands with Daddy. Ah, the life of a crafty mom!!

Until our next cup of tea ...

 

Christmas Stocking Update ... Week 11

It's begining to look like Christmas ...

Well, I can see the end in sight, but still got lots to do before we can fill it with goodies. I got a little more done this week. I'd hoped to be further this week, but I didn't like the letters in the original pattern so I spent a little time looking through other books and stuff for ones I liked, then last night I found them ... in the pattern before this stocking in the same book!

This week was also Veteran's Day so hubby had a 4-day holiday and we spent some family time together. He even went with me to the craft store on Friday (Michael's) and Saturday (JoAnn's) so I could pick up some stuff I need for the stocking and to make my nieces a little present for the holidays. My brother is self-employed and they had their first baby 3 months after Jamie ... my mom's second grandchild, a girl! My younger half-sisters, whom he and his wife adopted shortly after they got married and are now considered "nieces" are in college (2) and high school (2), so they voted to just get one big family gift this year instead of individual gifts. Mom makes afgans like crazy, so she's going to pull some that she finished and put away for them. Anyway, they're really great girls and have been a great help to my brother and sister-in-law after a difficult pregnancy, so I wanted to surprise them with something. (My SIL has muscular dystrophy and was off her feet starting at about 3 months I think.)

Anyway, back to the stocking, now I'm ready to get the header done this week and hopefully some of the face ... UGH! I hate the intricacies of faces ... all those half and quarter stitches! Oh, well, hopefully this time next week it'll be over ... then I can concentrate on finishing the filler parts and then the dreaded backstitching!

Week 11 (Nov. 14)

Until our next cup of tea ...

Christmas Stocking Update ... Weeks 9 & 10

Week 10 (Nov. 7)

Well I didn't post a photo last Sunday (Oct. 31) since I hadn't gotten anything done that week. We joined Baby Jamie's godparents at DisneyWorld for Halloween weekend. But that following week I more than made up for it! I feel like I'm in the homestretch now. I just have the face (UGH!), nameplate and filling in to do, to do, then the outlining and sew it into shape! I'll probably be cutting it close, but as long as he has it for Christmas theres no use stressing the rest.

Christmas Stocking Update ... Week 8

Just chuggin' along! I'm trying to enjoy it rather than panic over how much time I have left. Here is this week's update.

Week 8 (Oct. 25, 2010)

Until our next cup of tea ...

Christmas Stocking Update ... Week 7

So another week has gone by, and though I didn't get as much done as I wanted I was happy that I got some time on it. I'm hoping that maybe the next two weeks will have some progress because 1.) The children's playgroup I lead is cancelled for Halloween activities at the location and 2.) I really need to get it done!

Here is this week's progress:



Until our next cup of tea ...

Christmas Stocking Update ... Week 6

So I'm going to try to post this every Monday, but yesterday was a busy day. Hubby was off of work (and again today) so we were out and about enjoying some family time.

Anyway, I don't feel like I got much progress done last week, but something is better than nothing! Here is progress as of Sunday morning ...



I'm hoping this week to get the teddy bear and some of the toys in the center next the to block done this week, finishing the top and rest hopefully by the end of the month and just do the backstitching (which I HATE!) at the beginning of Novemeber. My goal is to have it completely done by end of November sowe can use it with his Christmas pictures.

(Fingers crossed) Hopefully, I can stick to the schedule. I'll keep posting updates.

Until our next cup of tea ...