The Christmas ABCs****

****If you happen to be Rebecca's in-laws, PLEASE refrain from reading this post until AFTER your gift exchange on the 27th. Okay, THANKS! I know, I shouldn't post presents, but I'm too excited!

Okay, so I don't know really if this counts as a do-it-yourself crafting post...and if the verdict by you lovely readers is that's it's NOT, well, SORRY! But I am SOOO uber stoked about this ginormous crafting project I've done up for a Christmas gift for my four beautiful, crazy, precious nieces I HAD to show it off and gloat.  I haven't even wrapped it yet 'cause I keep pulling it out to show it off when people pop by the house!

I'm pathetic, I know.
 
Anyway, the story goes like this:

I login to Facebook one day, well, not exactly minding my own business (isn't Facebook about minding everyone else's? I mean, really.) when I notice that I have un-dealt with event invitations. One of which is from a BYU roommate of mine (Hi, Elisha!) inviting me to the month-long "ABCs of Christmas." I'm like, WHAT the heck, I hate these invitation thingies.

Then I opened it.

SHEER BRILLIANCE. I LOVED it so much, I took the idea and turned it into a book for my nieces! And I absolutely will be making one this year for MY family to institute as one of our Christmas traditions!

Here, first, is the text from the event page (copied and pasted directly from, so these are totally Elisha's words, not mine!):


My sister sent me this idea to help our little one's learn about the true reason of Christmas. I think it is a great reminder for all of and will help us to remember the true reason we are celebrating this season, the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! Enjoy!

December 1st “A” is for angel – Luke 1:30-31, “Hark, The Herald Angels Sing,” and be and angel – do a secret deed.

December 2nd “B” is for bells – Luke 2:13-14, “I Heard the Bells,” and ring the bells – sing songs or add bells to your tree.

December 3rd “C” is for candle – Matthew 5:14-16, “O Little Town of Bethlehem.” Eat by candle light.

December 4th “D” is for drum - D&C 25:12, “The Little Drummer Boy.” Decide what to give Him (pa rum-pa-pum-pum).

December 5th “E” is for evergreen – Psalm 100:4, “O Christmas Tree.” Put up your evergreen tree.

December 6th F is for friendly beasts – Luke 1:26-38, 46, 47 “Away in a Manger” -2nd Verse. Feed the friendly beasts – make a bird feeder with peanut butter and seeds and hang in a tree.

December 7th G is for gingerbread- Luke 19:29-38, “Up on the Housetop.” Make a gingerbread house.

December 8th H is for hug – 1 Nephi 11:8-23, “Because I Have Been Given Much.” Give a hug and make cookies for a friend/neighbor.

December 9th I is for inn – Luke 2:1, 3-7, “O, Come all Ye Faithful.” Help someone in need.

December 10th J is for Joy – 3 Nephi 1:13, “Joy to the World.” Make a joyful noise – go caroling.

December 11th K is for kings – Psalms 24:9-10, “We Three Kings” Set up a nativity adding kings.

December 12th L is for lamb – Isaiah 40:11. “While Shepherds Watched.” Add lambs to the nativity.

December 13th M is for manger. Luke 2:12 and read the definition of “manger” in the dictionary.“Away in a Manger.” Add the manger and
Mary and Joseph to the nativity.

December 14th N is for names. Isaiah 7:14. “Tell me the stories of Jesus.” Names, names, names – address cards while listening to or watching the nutcracker.

December 15th O is for ornaments. Matthew 6:19-21. “Deck the Halls.” Decorate or make ornaments.

December 16th P is for presents. Matthew 7:11. “12 Days of Christmas.” Wrap or give presents.

December 17th Q is for quiet. Luke 2:19. “Silent Night.” Be quiet! Enjoy a puzzle, book or game at home.

December 18th R is for rod. Luke 2:8-18, 20. “Far, Far Away.” Make hot chocolate and stir it with a candy cane rod.

December 19th S is for Santa. Helaman 14:3. “Here Comes Santa Claus.” Visit Santa.

December 20th T is for twinkling stars. Helaman 14:5-6. “The First Noel.” See the lights or go to the planetarium.

December 21st U and W is for unto us. Isaiah 9:6. “Angels We Have Heard On High.” Unto us a child is born. Go to the visitor center on temple square or watch a live nativity.

December 22nd V is for visit. Matthew 2:1 -14. “With Wondering Awe.” Visit neighbors bearing gifts.

December 23rd X is for extra visitors. 1 Nephi 11:20-24. “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.” Have extra people over to visit (play games,
dinner, or for FHE).

December 24th Y and Z - 3 Nephi 1:19 and John 3:17. Sing or read “The Night before Christmas.” Yawn and get some ZZZ's

Isn't that just FANTASTIC? I LOVE it!! 

So, I collected my enormous stash of Christmas scrapbooking paper (as usual, with me, everything I used was Close To My Heart paper and products soooo... there's their credit for that awesomeness!) fired up my Cricut (HIGHLY recommend using some sort of paper cutter for this - there are a LOT of letters, PHEW!), gave myself some rules as to what type of techniques I'm NOT allowed to use (I had 26 letters to double-page scrapbook, 'cause I'm insane, so my favourite distressing techniques - i.e. sanding - were OUTLAWED! hahaha) 

And here's what I got! 

E is for evergreen!  The list suggested putting up your evergreen tree, but I think on Dec 2 (B for bells) you're supposed to put bells on the tree....sooo I changed it and said to sit around the tree and say what you're thankful for this season. It goes with the scripture in Psalms. :-)

A is for angel - be an angel today and do a secret good deed!

G is for gingerbread, and one of my favourite pages!

Dec 24th it says to read "The Night Before Christmas" so I figured I'd better include that at the end of the book for easy access come story time! We HAVE to be all ready for Santa to come, and what better way to get ready than to read this classic?

We're a little strapped for cash this Christmas, so instead of using an actual scrapbook cover I made a cover, and then inside the page protector reinforced it with a couple extra pieces of cardstock, so it's not flimsy. Not that cardstock is overly flimsy, but you know, you want your front and back cover to have some, uh, "meat" to them.

And I used 1" binder rings to "bind" the book, and then decorated them by tying on oodles of red & green ribbons!

So there you have it! Unless you're the fastest worker ever there's probably NOT time to get this done for Christmas this year, but what a fabulous idea to help us focus our kids on what the heck this whole season is about - for Christian folk like my family, of course!  My wonderful 4-year-old daughter the other day, stood looking at my nativity scene set up near the Christmas tree and I'm told announced to my hubs "I don't like Jesus. I like Santa." hahahaha which is awesome and adorable - I'm so happy she can speak her mind so freely! - but hopefully next year we can start a new tradition in our home so she can see that while Santa's the super-FUN part of Christmas, he's not really what it's all about. Like when the Grinch realizes that maybe Christmas doesn't come from a store, but perhaps means a little bit more. :-)

Merry Christmas, everyone! Happy last-minute crafting! I have to quit blogging now so I can get back to finishing up my OTHER giant project that is NOT finished yet - oy WHY do I do this to myself every year? hahaha 

The Betties will be taking a blogging break over the Holidays - we'll be back in Januray. :-)

Cheers, all!
 

Paper Christmas Tree

I learned that when i was a kid, and i remember me and my sister doing many paper Christmas tree to help my mom to decorate the house ( i never asked my mom if she liked or not, but i"m sure she was very happy that we were spending the day doing something). We never could find any magazine at home in Christmas season that was not in a form of a tree.

We gonna need an old book or magazine

Than we need our hand and patience, because we gonna fold the pages according to the pictures:



 

Then comes the "patience" we have to do all the pages, but i promise that is something i always loved to do when i was a little kid. Lets give the kids the chance to make their own decoration!

iPad, Nook, or Kindle Handmade Cover

Finished Product with "Real Book" as an Example.

Although I do not own an iPad, a Nook or a Kindle (I'm a little old-school when it comes to my method of reading), many of my friends do. When one such friend went out of her way to do something special for my family, I wanted to return kindness with kindness by making something specifically for her. This post will teach you how to create a handmade cover for any electronic device.

Craft Ingredients:

old hardcover book
craft knife
1/2 " wide elastic 
scissors
fabric
ribbon
hot glue gun
cardboard
scissors
fabric

Craft Directions:


1. Cut the pages out of the book with a craft knife.
2. Iron the fabric.

Step 3. Elastic Inserted into Back Cover.

3. Cut two (2) openings in back cover. Insert elastic and hot glue to book cover. Turn elastic to inside of book cover. This elastic will be used to keep your iPad, Nook or Kindle in place and keep the electronic screen protected.
3. Measure the book's height and width, add 1" to each, then cut the main lining piece (should be shaped like a rectangle).
4. Using the same book measurements, cut two (2) cardboard pieces the size of both book covers.

Step 5. Glue Fabric to Cardboard.

5. Glue 1/2" edge of wrong side of the main lining to one (1) cardboard side piece. Turn fabric over, right side out.
6. Glue the main lining and cardboard into the back of the book.The ends of the elastic should be hidden by the fabric covered cardboard. Glue lining in place along spine of book.
7. Glue lining in place along spine of book. Repeat directions in STEP 5 and STEP 6

Steps 8 and 9. Glue Lining to Cardboard and Book.

8. Repeat directions in STEP 5 and STEP 6 for the second piece of cardboard/ front cover of book.
9. Now that the book lining is place, glue any gaps or puckered fabric to the hardcover of the book.

Step 10. Glue Ribbon to Book Lining.

10. Cut ribbon to the size of the book lining perimeter. Glue ribbon to cover gap between lining and book cover. This ribbon will be used to create a seamless edge and give your lining a polished look. Just because something is handmade does not mean it needs to look cheap.

Not Christmas-ey...but awesome! Introducing....Banoffee Pie!

My sister and I love to get together for a weekend and try new recipes. This one we tried recently and I had to spread the word...it was AWESOME! (and so easy to do!)

Banoffee Pie

Total Time: 4 hr 15 min

Ingredients:

• 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
• 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 1 stick unsalted butter, melted
• Pinch salt
• 4 bananas, sliced
• 2 cups heavy whipping cream

In a saucepan, cover an unopened can of sweetened condensed milk with water. Let it simmer for 3 hours, adding water as needed to keep the can submerged in the water.

Set your oven to 375 F.
Mix the graham cracker crumbs, melted butter and a pinch of salt in a small bowl. Press the mixture into a 9-inch pie plate. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, then cool completely and refrigerate until ready to assemble the pie.
Remove the condensed milk from heat and let cool enough to be able to remove the can from the water. Let cool another 10 to 15 minutes before opening the now dark and creamy toffee.
Thinly slice the bananas (1/4-inch) on the bias. Evenly arrange 1 layer of bananas over the cooled crust. Pour the toffee over the top and spread evenly. Put another layer of bananas on top of the toffee. Whip 2 cups of cream, in a large bowl, until soft peaks form and spoon it on top of the bananas, spreading it out to make an even layer.
Refrigerate the pie for at least 1 hour before serving.

Hope you enjoy! Let me know what you think!

Teacher Gifts

I don't know if you're like me at all; but I have the toughest time coming up with a (half-way) deceent gift for my boys teacher's at school every holiday season.
So....since I had to figure out a post for the Betties, I thought that I would get prepared
(and hopefully get your creative juices flowing)
for a great holiday gift for a teacher, friend or neighbor.
(b/c if I'm not thinking ahead, it usually doesn't happen!)

AND the great thing about all this is that it is extremely affordable.
Practically everything I got was for about $1.00 (with a few exceptions, of course)

*When it gets closer to the end of the school, I will post a picture of the completed teacher gift, I just didn't want some of this stuff sitting around for another three weeks getting stale and yucky. But I think that you'll get the general idea*
Let's get started!
Here'a what I'm starting with:

The cute little box to put everything in I found at Target in the $$ bins.

Gloves: 2/$1 @ Dollar Tree

Candy cane sticks @ Hobby Lobby for.....well you can see it: $2.49 --- but this will make you more than one little box.

boxes to put the candy cane sticks in at Hobby Lobby for $1.99 -- 4 to a package.

Little jar @ Hobby Lobby for $1.99

NOW, here is the inspiration for all of my goodies for my boys teachers:

Aren't these adorable?!?!

Microwaved Popcorn wrapped with gloves for the hat! So clever

(and functional at the same time!)

You can find the cute sowman wrapper printable at Sherelle Christensen

LOVE this one.....dipped candy cane sticks for a hot chocolate stirrer

--- super-easy to make and pretty to give.

Found @ countryliving.com in their 14 homemade food gifts.

And finally some homemade lemon sugar hand scrub found at Stephanie Lynn

(I've made this for the girls that I visit teach and they have LOVED this stuff

--- I think I need to make some for myself!)

You must know, that the inspiration for all these little goodies, I found at Pinterest.

I love the people that are creative enough to even think this stuff up so that

I have something great to give as gifts.

I will aslo be throwing in a handmade card from my child and

 an ornament to complete my little box for the teachers.

I can't wait until they are actually all done so that I can show it off.

It's gonna be super-cute!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Well, it's officially December 1st, which, in OUR house, means we decorate! (Yes, we are THOSE people, who ban Christmas decorating and music until we're officially in the month. It's only a teeny bit Scroogey of us...right??)

And in honour of Christmas decorating (or whatever other holiday you're decorating for - I think the signs downtown say "Merry Christmas," "Happy Hanukkah," "Happy Diwali," "Happy Eid" - if there are others then our fair city has overlooked something and I apologize on our ignorant behalf) I thought I show you this really cool little decoration that one of my best friends taught ME how to make last year! She did up a bunch as parts of Christmas presents for her friends at work, and I'm not going to lie, I did a bunch because they look so FABULOUS on my Christmas tree!

So, here we go!

You need:

• 18 gauge [jewellery] wire (any colour) - I used approximately 12 inches for this one
• beads - use as many as you can fit or as few as you like! Here I used 5 fabulously sparkly Chinese crystals - these beads look FABULOUS on the Christmas tree next to all those lights!
• round-nosed pliers
• wire cutters

Step 1: Measure and cut your wire.

Step 2: Grasp the very end of the wire with the pliers and turn the pliers so that you make a loop in the wire.

Step 3: Now, keep your pliers in that loop, grasp the other end of the wire with your opposite hand, and gently keep the twisting motion going, as though to make a loose circle. Just don't come all the way back around - you're making the hook that you're going to hang on your tree.

Step 4: Thread your beads on the unfinished end.

Step 5: Grasp the wire again with your pliers below where you want the beads to sit, and bend the wire around the pliers so that it's at least about 90 degrees from the beaded portion.

Step 6: Let go and then grasp the wire 1/2 to 1 inch from the bend, and wrap the wire around the pliers so that it's going back the other way.

Step 7: Let go and grasp the wire again, a little further than you did last time, so it's a bit off-kilter. Then wrap the wire back around the pliers so it's going the other way again. Kinda' like a loopy-zig-zag.  Do this back and forth a few times, until you're either sick of it or you've just got enough wire left to finish off. I did mine so there are uh, I dunno, 4 zigs. Yes, that's for SURE the technical term. ;-)

Step 8: Use your fingers or your pliers, whichever is easiest for you, shape your zig-zag by squishing the middles...

Step 9: Once you've got them shaped how you like it, grab the very tail of your wire with the pliers and make another loop just like you did in step 2 above.  Then, just like step 3 keep your loop going around, more loosely to make a wee spiral. It should be tighter than your hook was, but still a bit loose, yes?

Step 10: Step back and admire your awesome work!!

It's fanTASTICALLY simple, just a few bends and twists in your wire, with some sparkling beads and voila you have a decorative masterpiece to hang on your tree! The sparkly-er the beads the better it looks next to a mini lightbulb on the tree!! When ours goes up tomorrow night I can't wait to hang mine!

Give them out as gifts, add them to your gift-wrapping bows, whatever you please! They're simple, inexpensive yet classy, and add that handmade specialness to the gift-giving season.

Happy Crafting!

Christmas Penguin Ornament

We set up our Christmas tree today and i have to say that my penguin was a success and the middle of so many sparkling balls :)

It's as easy as you can see, and great for the environment. You only need:

an old light  bulb and suitable paint for glass!

You can start painting the white part and finish with the black, for the yes an nose you can use a pencil to help you.

I"m not a great painter buy i enjoyed doing that just like a child!!!!

Hope you enjoy too and find a way to recycle old items , helping our planet. I'm sure the kids will love to make that.



DIY Pottery Barn Holiday Card Holder

Holiday Card Holder from PotteryBarn.com

My favorite stores include Restoration Hardware,Williams Sonoma and Pottery Barn. Often I can be found curled up in my favorite plush red velvet arm chair longingly browsing their catalogs, thinking of ways I can imitate the chic farmhouse look without having to pay the chic boutique prices.

This Holiday Card Holder can be found on the Pottery Barn website (or catalog) for the 2011 Holiday Season. In years past I have taped my cards from family & friends to cabinets in the kitchen, paper clipped them to twine, or tucked them anywhere I could to display the beautiful works of art.

That is, until now. This year, cards sent to my home (and yours!) can have a home of their own with this 6" x 72" DIY Pottery Barn inspired Holiday Card Holder.

Craft Ingredients:

Large gauge spool of wire (any major home repair store)
Wire cutters
Electrical pliers
Safety Glasses
Yard (Meter) stick
Floral wire (optional)
Black spray paint (optional)

Craft Directions:

1.) Measure & cut 5 strands of the large gauge wire at 80" in length. Four (4) of the strands will be the main body of the holiday card holder.

Steps 1 & 2.

2.) Measure 4" from one end of the group of four (4) strands, and using the 5th cut strand of large gauge wire, wrap around the group of 4 strands three times. This can be done either by hand or using the electrical wire pliers. Repeat every 12", or one foot. There should be more wire left open, or un-wrapped, at the top of the Holiday Card Holder.

Step 3.

3.) Now that the body of the Holiday Card Holder is in place, use the electrical pliers to curl the bottom of the four strands of large gauge wire. Repeat step 3 with the top of the strands of the large gauge wire.

4.) Using your yard stick, measure and cut three (3) strands of large gauge wire at 64". The wire for this step can be substituted with floral wire, though not shown in the pictures of this project.

Step 5.

5.) Beginning at the bottom of the Holiday Card Holder, wrap one (1) strand of wire around the body two times, and then make a loop two times to one side. Wrap wire around body once, and make a loop two times to the opposite side, as shown in picture. Repeat until wire is completely wrapped around the body of the Holiday Card Holder. Repeat Step 5 two more times with each remaining strand of wire. (HINT- the shorter wires allow ease in creating the loops and wrapping around the body of the holder. One long wire is REALLY difficult to work with as it easily becomes tangled with everything it comes in contact with.)

6.) Optional Step. If you used floral wire to make the loops on either side of the Holiday Card Holder, now would be the time to spray paint the holder black to give it a unified look.

Finished Product. Looks JUST like the one from PB!

All in all, this project only took me 2 hours to make and I didn't have to spend the $49 price tag at Pottery Barn to create a home for my holiday greeting cards.

Thanks for stopping by! Please feel free to leave a comment or post a question. :) Kristen

Close up of Finished Product.

Paper Christmas Tree

Christmas is always a go big or go home holiday with our family. Usually the tree is up by now and carols are playing; however I became an Auntie this weekend and thus I am a little behind. It will be up soon though no worries. This is a craft I made last year and it was a lot of fun. I hope you enjoy!

Materials Needed:

Cardstock made into a cone about 7-8" high
Strips of double sided scrapbook paper cut about a half inch by 2/12 inches
an 8" piece of thin ribbon
Small terra cotta pot
Flower foam
Moss for base of tree in pot
foot long thin dowel rod
glue gun and glue sticks
scissors

The first step it the part that takes the most time. You want to take your strips of double sided scrapbook paper and glue them into loops. Ribbon can also be used as an alternate material. Careful to not bend and crease the paper loops. you will need to cut the corners off your loops as you get further up the cone.


Then you start glueing your loops around the base of the cone and work your way up keeping in mind to overlap your seams.

Once you get to the top tie your ribbon around the top to give it a nice finish.


Cut your flower foam to fit in your terra cotta pot. make sure it does not go above the height of the pot.
Add your moss and dowel and then you can put your finished tree on top of the dowel (glueing optional) and you are done! It makes a very cute, very country-ish Christmas decoration. Hope you like it!
-Rachel