More Paperback Trees, Crafting with my Grandson, and Day 16 of the Jesse Tree

Advent is a time of preparing.  Most of the morning was spent giving half the house a good (almost) spring cleaning.  Then off to the library. 

The paperback Christmas Tree competition put on by the library is always so fun.  I like to participate mostly to see if I can "start" and "finish" the project.  Everyone is so talented.  Here are some of the entries.  (I do often wonder if, as we fold the pages, if anyone begins to  read the book they are folding and want to finish it... despite only being a partial book. smile)

After school today my grandson and I got together to make ornaments.  It is still too cold for him to go skateboarding so crafts it is!

The first one is the melted snowman... not that that is ever going to happen anytime soon in real life but we made an attempt in our creativity. 

We filled an ornament a 1/4 of the way with fake snow. (this was not an easy concept for him, as melted snow is water he says) He wanted to know if this was real but warm snow?

Blurry snowman parts...

Oops we realized we forgot his scarf!

He is showing his ornament but more than that, he is proudly displaying his missing tooth!

In the scarf goes!

Next up a fun one but seriously cautious craft so we don't make a mess. We prepared to make an acrylic pour Christmas ornament. 

We mixed up 50% floetrol (a paint additive)

30% acrylic paint (one color per cup)

20% water 

mix each one thoroughly. 

We put each clear ornament turned over on a popsicle stick into a piece of Styrofoam to hold them in place while we poured paint slowing over each one, one color after another. 

Now we let them dry for 24 -48 hours , read a book and play hide and seek.  Then spray with an enamel seal in a day or so. 

Crocheted a few scrunchies before dinner .

After dinner I realized I need to make today's Jesse Tree Ornament.

December 16 - Jesse: 1 Samuel 16:1-13 Symbol: sheep & shepherd's staff 

"He then asked Jesse, 'Are these all the sons you have?' Jesse replied, 'There is still one left, the youngest; he is looking after the sheep.' Samuel then said to Jesse, 'Send for him, for we shall not sit down to eat until he arrives.' "

Time to felt up some of my wool.

peace 

Day 20 A few of quick crafts

One in the morning and I just couldn't sleep. I figured if I stay up until two , I would get tired and could sleep until 8am and still get six hours of sleep.

I stayed up and made this... A tray for Santa's milk and cookies ...or tea and jerky. 

Remember the carbon paper I bought ? I also had gotten a wooden tray for a very few dollars  and painted it.

I found a free printable online. 

Layered the tray on the bottom, then the carbon paper, and then the reindeer picture. 

Then simply traced with a pen. 

I think I turned out beautiful.  I may outline again with a marker. 

Here is another quick craft.

We spent the morning with my son and grandson in Denver.  Wonderful breather from the world. 

I had off today since I work the holiday next week.  I came home and took the dog for walk.  The white you see is from  our water... sodium. 

I found a tumbleweed to decorate.  There were so many from the recent winds, I had my pick of weeds. 

The prairie dog entrance but it hasn't been used in a while. 

Thank goodness our prairie dog has vacated.   Happiness.

I finally got a paperback book tree finished … the dog ate the others. 

 Spray painted it silver. 

My friend, Kelley, made the paper topper bow. I decorated the tree with ribbon and leftover stickers from this year. 

Ohhhh.. I spray painted the tumbleweed pink! 

Added fairy lights and tiny pompoms then sprinkled with glitter... of course.

Gracie requested a photo for her Christmas cards. 

I love it. Dude was less than thrilled because unbeknownst to me I dropped the sticker seeds (we call them hitch hikers because they end up on your shoes and pants) all over the house trying to get it in the back door. 

It's time to settle in with a book. It isn't bitter cold but it is in the 30's. 

peace

December 1st is here!

I joined a 30 day blog challenge... here we go, day one. 

It was a snowy night with big, fluffy flakes.  We cleaned out the fireplace and kept it going all night.  It's how we heat our home. Today was in the forties and suppose to be the warmest day of the next seven.

December 1st is the Feast of St Eligius who is known for his kindness and work with the poor. He is also the patron saint of horses. He had a flare of prayer and helping shoe horses who were difficult with blacksmiths. We had two such horses.

They greatly enjoyed life just not the farrier. 

It was an exhausting day. The plan was to transform our bedroom something with visions of sugarplums for Christmas time but like most people our plans were changed.

We weren't home most of the day, helping my elderly mom transition to the next phase of her life... preparing to go into a senior living apartment.  We offered a home here but the homestead is a bit isolated... as did all my brother and sisters.  She is an independent type of gal and wanted her own senior living apartment. 

It was late when we got home.  The sun was down and it was time for me to collect the eggs while dude went out to feed the sheep. Chickens don't lay much this time of year. 

I did take time when I got home to get on the treadmill (blustery, windy and cold outside) and worked a craft challenge from the town over's library, a Christmas tree book. 

oh, and I did put cherry brownies in the oven - smile.

I will show you the final product tomorrow of both the tree and the brownies. 

peace