Math Makes Better Snowflakes, Starflakes & Swirlflakes

While in public school I performed poorly in my mathematics classes. I'm not sure why, because now I feel I'm pretty skilled in the art of home renovations and the various math calculations that come with them. Maybe I'm more of a practical, hands-on-sort-of-girl, whereas my high school teachers were insistent on learning theory.

No matter.

Now I know enough math to make some pretty awesome paper snowflakes, starflakes and swirlflakes. Thanks to this Youtube video by ViHart, we can help our children, students, siblings, spouse, friends, and other family and friends learn that math + paper = LOTS of FUN.

Have fun!! 

This the ceiling in my basement family rec room showing what my three kids and I did for fun the other day:

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!
 

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

Heart Paper Chain

This "heart paper chain" i made for our wedding paper anniversary. Its super easy, you can use the old scrapbooks paper that we usually have at home or be more creative and use different kinds of paper. What i like about this idea is that you can use just imagination and do wherever you want, and use like a decoration for your celebrations.

Basically you'll need:

• Paper strips or felt ( about 5cm )
•  Ruler
• Scissors
• Stapler
• Fabric ribbon (to hang the chain somewhere or just help to decorate)

Align the strips forming a heart, before stapling put the the tips of the next heart to staple them together.
Repeat the step by step to form a chain with hearts, adding more strips of paper as many times as you need.

Be creative!!!

Seasonal Wood Blocks- AUTUMN

Seasonal Wood Blocks- AUTUMN

After visiting autumn craft fairs and drooling over Autumn, Halloween and Thanksgiving decorations, I came to the conclusion that my home was sadly under-dressed. Personally, I prefer to have items that I can change in and out with the seasons (or when I get bored!) so this Seasonal Wood Block- AUTUMN set is perfect for this time of year.

Craft Ingredients:

* (6) Six 2" x 4" wood blocks CUT to size of your choice and SANDED
* (6) Six fall-colored decorative PAPERS cut to fit blocks
* (3) Three 1.5' RIBBONS for embellishment
* (1) AUTUMN vinyl sticker decal PHRASE in BEIGE (or any other light color)
* Paint. I suggest Rust-Oleum Painter's Touch, SATIN finish, in CINNAMON (see picture)
* Decoupage Glue & Sealer. I suggest Martha Stewart Crafts Decoupage Glue & Sealer (see picture)

Wood, Decorative Paper, Ribbon, Decoupage Glue & Sealer, Paint

Directions:

Paint your sanded blocks of wood with the paint color of your choice. Wait about two hours to be sure that your paint is dry if you're not using a fast-drying paint.

Painted Wood & Decorative Paper Cut to Size

During this wait time you can choose and cut the decorative papers you will use as your block back-drop. I like to cut my papers smaller than the actual size of the block, thus allowing a border of paint color to show around the paper. If you're like my sister, who did this project with me, she did not prefer to see a paint border. Thus, she cut her papers to the exact size of the blocks. This is a personal choice, so make it your own!  

Once the paint is dry, brush the decoupage glue and sealer over one side of the block and adhere your choice of paper. Brush on a second coat of decoupage glue to seal the paper in place. Let dry over night.

Block with Paper & Vinyl Letter 'A'

When the block and paper are dry (& smooth!) to the touch, you can now apply your vinyl sticker letters. Typically, the letters are purchased as words. Cut each letter out of the word and apply to each block individually. Smooth the letter onto the block and paper, and then peel off the mask tape.

Now you may begin embellishing your blocks! This is my favorite part :) Tie your ribbons around your blocks any way you see fit, and then trim to size.

Viola! You just brought a little bit of the outdoors in by declaring how much you enjoy this Autumn/ Fall season!

PS- A great place to buy the Seasonal Wood Blocks- AUTUMN ingredients (if you don't have the time to shop but still want to make it) is: Write@Home



**DON'T FORGET** to share your photos and experience if you give this project a try!