Christmas Photo Backdrop

We are making a Christmas ornament with pictures of the children in our church nursery. I recycled the Platform 9 3/4 Wall (Do you remember this post?) to become our holiday backdrop. I am hoping that it looks like a chimney!

We needed to do something to break up the boring white walls of the church. There is one other back drop option besides white walls. The brown accordion divider that separates the room in two. But that looks even worse!

Even if you don't have a Hogwarts Train Platform, you can paint your own holiday backdrop. I took an old shower curtain and painted it by dipping a box in a mixture of brown, red and orange paint. Then I placed my rectangle shape across the curtain like bricks. It took about a half hour and then another hour or two to dry. Since I had the paint and the shower curtain it didn't cost me anything.

I think this would be fun to use for a family party. I am thinking about pulling it out when my nieces and nephews come over. They would be so cute holding Christmas stockings in front of the backdrop!

Pin It

{DIY} Pop-Up Christmas Card

Today we made the cutest Christmas cards at school. I love pop-up books and I was so excited to find this tutorial for making Christmas cards in the style of Robert Sabuda. Find the complete tutorial here.

This project took us about 30 to 45 minutes. The kids were surprised at how easy they were to make and how impressive they were when the cards were finished. I think this is a project that could be completed by kids as young as first and second grade, if they have fairly good cutting skills and fine motor ability.

Here are the things you need: the free pattern found below, card stock, ruler, paper clip, scissors, glue, markers

Ornament stickers were fun but optional.

First, print out the tree pattern on your card stock paper. Then using the ruler and the paper clip to help you, score the tree on the dotted lines. When that is done, fold the card in half with the lines visible. Cut across each of the sections of the tree along the solid black lines.

When that is done fold the section of the tree back towards the dotted lines. Then unfold the card and push the tree out the front or blank side.

Cut a back piece the same size as your tree section and then glue the pop up card to the back. When you close the card make sure that your tree pops forward and sticks out of the front of the card just a little bit.

Now it is time to decorate your tree with markers or stickers.

Then you can embellish the card with Christmas greetings and message of love.

Look how great these hand-drawn ornaments look on this sweet card. I know that these cards will be treasured by their recipients and displayed with pride!

Christmas Tree Pattern Pin It

Elf on the Shelf QR Code Treasure Hunt

Here is fun Elf on the Shelf Treasure Hunt! 

Keep this ready for that miracle day when your child has survived shopping or a Christmas party or any form of holiday craziness without a meltdown! Then whip out this introduction QR Code.

When it is scanned, it will take your child to this picture to reinforce his or her great behavior and start the fun.

It says:

I'm you elf on the shelf

And I'm happy to say

You've been extra darn good

This whole long crazy day!

To reward your behavior

I'm leading the way

To a Christmas Surprise

That comes early....

Today!

Next hand off this first QR Code clue.

Put the one below in your child's Christmas stocking.

                 

 Put the one below under the tree on a low hanging ornament or on a Christmas train.

Put the one below near a Nativity Scene. 

Put this one on a Christmas wreath.

Put the one below near some shining Christmas lights. 

Put the one below in the Bible in the Chapter of Luke. 

Put the one below with a small treat under your child's pillow! 

I have included just the free QR Codes for easy and cheap black and white printing.

Elf on the Shelf Treasure Hunt QR Codes

Or if you want to use it as a treasure hunt without the QR Codes, the Elf on the Shelf pictures are included here:

Treasure Hunt Pictures w/out QR Codes

Have fun! Wishing you many days of great Santa-better-be-watching behavior from your kids! Pin It

{DIY} Cheap and Easy Nativity Candles

We made these super easy nativity candles in our classroom this week. The total cost was less than $1.00 per candle. I recycled mason jars that I already had. Each candle used half a sheet of vellum (25 cents) and one battery operated candle (about 50 cents each). We used scrap ribbon to embellish each one (free!). The project took us about 35 to 40 minutes to complete.

They would make a great project for a classroom party or cub scout den meeting. Or just make a few for your mantel with your own little ones.

Print out the free patterns below on a piece of vellum. I gave my students a choice between two different nativity scenes.

Color the vellum with some colored pencils.

Attach the vellum to the outside of a mason jar. Embellish with ribbon. Then insert a battery-operated or real tea light inside.

These photos didn't really show how pretty the nativity looked. It almost had the appearance of stained glass.

Nativity Candle Patterns


Pin It

The Reason Behind Christmas

If you haven't seen this Mormon Message before, you are going to love it. It took my breath away. I had to show it to my children and my students at school.

Here are the gifts I hope to give this holiday season.
This Christmas I am going to slow down.
This Christmas I am going to savor the tastes, smells and sights of the season.
This Christmas I am going to express my thanks more.
This Christmas I am going to look, really look, at my kids.
This Christmas I am going to smile and greet strangers at the store.
This Christmas I am going to compliment others more frequently.
This Christmas I am going to pray more fervently.
This Christmas I am going to sing more joyfully.
This Christmas I am going to give more hugs.

And here is another favorite in our family. We love the Piano Guys!




Pin It

Past Christmas Posts

Here are our favorite Christmas posts from the past. If you haven't seen them before, we think you will love them! And if you have, we think they are worth looking at again.


Santa's Pack

Christmas Mosaics

Baby Sock Nativity

Santa Countdown Calendar

Favorite Christmas Books

Pin It

Christmas Shopping

By Deborah Rowley

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving with their families. Now the frenzy of holiday shopping has begun. I was visiting with one of my sister-in-laws on Black Friday and she told me about her family rule. She tells her kids that they will be getting four gifts for Christmas-- one in each of these areas:


Something You Want

Something You Need

Something To Wear

Something to Read

They can write down several suggestions in each area and then "Santa" will choose which gift in each area to give.

I loved this idea! It helps kids learn to distinguish wants vs. needs. It encourages literacy. It prevents kids from running around butt naked! Just kidding. I love that it sets limits and curbs materialism. You may want to try something like this in your family.

Pin It

Gratitude Games to Play With Kids-- Help your child be more thankful today!

By Deborah Rowley

The QR Code Activity that I posted yesterday is a fun way to get your kids thinking about what they are grateful for. See that post here. Here are some other fun gratitude games that you can play to help your child be more thankful. You can play these games on Thanksgiving or any other time of year.

*Note: These ideas came from my book: Before They Turn Twelve.

 Alphabet Gratitude

Write the 26 letters of the alphabet onto a sheet of paper and cut them out. Place all the letters in a bowl, and have a family member draw out a letter. Give the family members one minute to write down-- individually or in teams-- all the things they are grateful for that begin with that letter. Award one point for each item listed. Choose another letter and play again. Draw as many letters out of the bowl as you want. To increase the challenge, award a point only for the blessings that no one else in the family has written down.

The Thanking Chair

Designate one chair at the dinner table as the Thanking Chair. Whoever is sitting in that chair tells five things that he or she is grateful for. Take turns sitting in the Thanking Chair. For added fun, use a silly hat as the Thanking Cap, and place it on the person who shares his or her five grateful things for the night.

Count Your Blessings Candy

Serve a variety of small candies and call them "Count Your Blessings" candy. Family members must name a blessing for each piece of candy they eat.

A Pebble in the Shoe

Give each family member a small pebble to put in one of their shoes and a piece of candy to eat. Have them walk around the living room, eating the candy and feeling the pebble. Ask them which experience they noticed more. Would the candy have been more enjoyable to eat without the pebble as a distraction? Explain that when we are ungrateful and complain, it is like we have a pebble in our shoe. We don't fully experience the sweet blessings that God has given us, and we don't notice them as easily.

Pin It