Our December in Review

It's been soooooo long since I post a week in review.... The last one was at the beginning of December! YILES!!!! We have just been so super busy!! So busy that I have even forgotten to take pictures!! GASP!!!!! That's a big blogging no-no!!! 
But I did manage to get a few. ;)

We did a few crafts.

Some of them with friends.

We got ready for Santa.

I made our Christmas stockings. (I also made one to sell.)

We opened presents!!!! (And then they played on the laptops, well, ever since.....)

And one of the cats is still try to fit in tiny places. 

Our December was crazy busy!!! I hope yours was WONDERFUL!!!!!!

Christmas Book Picks from Our Personal Library

As I was pulling out all of our Christmas books the other day, I had the thought that this might be a good post to share. I *think* these might be all of them but there could possibly be a few more hiding somewhere. 

Just click on the link, it will take you to Amazon for a description. 




















I've had this copy since 1999!




No link to this one. :(
























Books We DON'T Have But I Wish We Did





We LOVE the Bear Books!!!




We borrowed this one from the library one year.

















I thought we had this one but if we do, I can't find it. LOL






                                      MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!

Blog with Friends - Jolly Jinglers - Elf Hat and Shoes Tutorial

Welcome to the Jolly Jinglers edition of Blog with Friends!!! This month we have 8 bloggers joining together to bring you some holiday fun!!!!

For my part, I will be showing you how to make elf hats and shoes. Don't be scared, it was MUCH easier than I expected once I worked it all out. ;)

WHAT I USED - 

For 1 set 
1 yard of fleece
Ribbon in 2 colors
Stiff interfacing (you can use cardboard, poster board, etc.) 
Stuffing (you can use scrap fleece or whatever you like)
Freezer paper to draw my pattern


STEP 1 

I drew out my pattern and cut it out. The height is 17" and the width of the base is 10 1/2. This makes it big enough for Cailey (10), Colin (7) and myself. 

Fold the fleece in half. Place your pattern with one edge on the fold and cut.

I also cut a strip for around the bottom of the hat at 5" x 10". 


STEP 2

Now, pin your ribbon on the hat. I spaced mine out by 2".

Then sew on the ribbon. 


STEP 3

Now, fold the hat over, lining up the ribbon ends.
Pin in place and sew the side seam. 


STEP 4

Fold the strip in half and pin the cut ends to the bottom of the hat as shown.
Sew with a zigzag stitch while pulling slightly on the long strip.
After it is attached to the bottom of the hat, pin the ends of the long strip together and sew the seam.

Turn right side out and your hat is DONE!!!!! 

WOOOO HOOO!!!!

Now, on to the shoes!!!!!


STEP 1

Trace around your child's foot onto the freezer paper. This will be the pattern for the bottom of the elf shoes.
DO NOT TRACE their shoe!!!!!! LOL I learned this the hard way. It will make the elf shoes WAY too big and you will have to start alllll over again. ;)

Then draw out the sides of the shoes. I am TERRIBLE at drawing but that was easy. Don't be afraid to draw out your own patterns. If I can do it, anyone can. Seriously, I can't even draw stick people very well. ;)

Anyway, you want to keep the proportions similar to what I have drawn so that the tops of the shoes will fit around the bottom of the shoes.


STEP 2

Use your patterns to cut 4 sides and 4 bottoms. (One of the bottoms will go inside the shoe when it's done.)


STEP 3

Cut 2 of the bottoms from the interfacing, cardboard, poster board, whatever....


STEP 4

Pin and sew the heel seams and stop. If you are using a print, make sure the right sides are together.


STEP 5

Open up the sides and pin the bottom to it. You can pin one side and sew the seam or both sides and sew the seam, whatever you are comfortable with. 
In either case, do NOT sew the front of the shoe.
When pinning the sides, make sure both pieces meet in the center of the front of the bottom piece. Make sure to sew it securely.


STEP 6

Now, pin the rest of the sides together and sew the seam all the way up to the top.

Turn the shoe right side out!
Stuff the front all the way to the tip of the toes.
Insert your interfacing piece.
Now insert your extra bottom piece. 

Do all the steps again to make the 2nd shoe!!

Cailey and Colin LOVE their elf hats and shoes!!!!


Now to the rest of the Jolly Jinglers!!!



Karen from Baking in a Tornado shows you how to make the CUTEST Edible Holiday Trees!!!! LOVE them!!!!!




Shellybean from Follow Me Home will teach you how to make these darling Cloth Christmas Trees!! Easy to whip up before the holidays! 




Sarah from The Momisodes will be sharing Christmas Bookie Goodness with you! I know we would love to add some new stories!!!!




Robin from Someone Else's Genius shows you how to make this beautiful yet Simple Festive Wreath. SOOOOO pretty!!!!!! I need to try this for our door!!!!




Melissa from Home on Deranged will give you some awesome ideas for High Tech Stocking Stuffers That Won't Break Your Budget. I am ALLLLLL for that!!!! LOL 




Christy from Uplifting Families has a very cute Handprint Christmas Wreath! I love handprint and footprint crafts!!!



How about this GORGEOUS Twisted Paper Angel from Cluttered Genius??? OMG!!!!! Beautiful!!


Make sure to check out all the AWESOME projects!! :D


                           HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!!

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