You've Got Mail... from Santa

As I posted before, instead of buying a creepy Elf on a Shelf (and I do think they are a bit creepy), I spent a few dollars at Ocean State Job Lot and got a Santa mailbox (gift box, but we are using it as a mailbox). So I'm taking advantage of my alone time to write a letter to Hazel from Santa.

I put it in an envelope and used a calligraphy pen to write Hazel on it. Then sealed it up and stuck it in the mailbox. When Hazel gets home today I will tell her about the mailbox and to look inside. This is going to be her way of communicating with Santa and she will know that we can as well. I love this idea instead of having a little elf spy on your child and having to worry about where to move it to.

In case you want to try something similar here are a few different backgrounds for Santa letters. I did these in Print Shop and did her original letter in it as well.

Stocking                                               Christmas Tree

Gingerbread Man                                  Sleigh Bells

Craft Night

I just returned home from a lovely  craft night with a mothers from the parent/child classes at school and our teacher and the handwork teacher. It was so much fun to meet new mothers and share experiences while we made a simple craft. We made an angel. This angel has been added to our Advent calendar. I have through the 8th done. I better get crafting some more for the rest of the month.

Anyway, this angel came from the first issue of Living Crafts Magazine. However, we changed it a bit since we had wood balls and not wood beads for heads. Instead the handwork teacher quickly needle felted each of us a head for our angel. It came out beautifully.

She is relatively easy to make. Her body is one piece folded in half with a small hole cut for the pipe cleaner neck to go through (for the head needle felted or wooden to be attached). The pipe cleaner also makes the arms. You attach the head and the hair to the head and the halo (a felt circle) with glue. You glue wooden beads for hands and sew on the felt wings. Then you have a stick with a wooden star on it (glued on) and just fold her arm over it. You can add a string to make it an ornament, but I didn't since I want her to be part of our homemade nativity.

One of the things I love about the Waldorf School is how much they encourage community among the families as well as the students. It was so nice to have time with other mothers and share handwork and snacks. I am so glad we made this decision for Hazel's schooling.

Since I have an early doctor's appointment tomorrow morning, Hazel slept at my mother-in-law's so I wouldn't have to rush her over to her house in the morning. Therefore, Steve got the evening off. We went out for dinner before I went to the craft night. What a great evening! Now it is off to bed. Good night!!

Cinnamon Applesauce Dough Ornaments

As promised here are some of our ornaments. The ones above were ones I decorated. We started this after I saw so many pins on pinterest of them. I decided to go with the recipe at Homemade Gifts Made Easy. I liked this one versus the other ones because it didn't have glue in it. I didn't like the idea of glue on my rolling pin. I also originally saw a recipe that called for 2 cups of cinnamon and bought accordingly, but then couldn't find that recipe. If I make these again I would use less cinnamon since the dough was a bit dry--though I'm guessing it depends on the applesauce you are using. Hazel loved helping mix by hand and get her hands dirty. We had a lot of fun with this recipe. I thought about taking pictures while mixing, but my hands were just as dirty. Sorry!

I loved having them in the oven. It made the whole house smell so wonderful. I hung a few around (the broken ones) already. Hazel began to decorate with glitter glue. We started with the ones I got at the Dollar Tree. However, Hazel had some trouble with them so we took a field trip to Lakeshore Learning to buy the ones she had used there. I was shocked to see the exact same ones as the Dollar Tree, but they also had the bigger ones.

Hazel went to town decorating and they make take several days to dry now.

I had to take some away from her saying they were decorated enough. See below. But we had fun!

Hazel's over decorated ornaments

Works in progress

Some I decorated

Toddler Craft Fun

I have to say I love the smells of our house right now. In the oven drying out are our cinnamon applesauce ornaments. Our hands smell of cinnamon and so does the house. I will post pictures tomorrow.

Yesterday and today Hazel and I made some popsicle stick puppets. We started by making an elf for a gift for one of Hazel's friends. Then she wanted one for herself and we made a few others. While she was sleeping I dressed one as a princess, which we named Hazel and sewed the sides to make it look a bit fancier. Hazel has been loving decorating them. I gave her glitter glue and ribbons and trims to decorate with. These are easy for kids with a bit of help.

To start we glued a popsicle stick as arms to a tongue depressor. Then cut a popscile stick in half for the legs and glued them on. I used markers to draw on eyes and a mouth.

Then I cut clothes out of felt--a front and back for everything and glued it on. I used embroidery floss for hair or wool roving or stuffing. Then Hazel went to town decorating. She was loving cutting the ribbon and trims as well as the glitter.

I love that they are something fairly easy to make that she can decorate and play with and they can be different things for the various holidays or just a regular day.

Tomorrow is December 1st. I wanted to share a quick picture of our Advent calendar. We are very fortunate to have received it as a gift from my parents one year. This year I'm filling it with mostly needle felted figures for a nativity so we can talk about the story with Hazel and she will have the figures represented in toys she can touch and play with.

Isn't it beautiful? It is such a wonderful tradition to have.

Just thought I would share a few other "decorations" we have around.

Ornaments from Steve's House before we were married

Some pine cones I spray painted green and gold (for a craft but we had extras)

Hazel got Mail!

So today a package arrived for Hazel from Australia!! Remember how I told you Kelly over at Happy Whimsical Hearts suggested her son, Master D and Hazel exchange postcards. Well, Master D sent a postcard and a gift. Hazel was so excited to get mail let alone a homemade gift! We were just discussing send him another postcard, so now we will have to think of a good gift to make him. The best part is that Master D received his postcard from Hazel today as well.

Peg Doll Made by Master D for Hazel

I also want to share the amazing Cyber Monday Giveaway Beth over at Living Life Intentionally is holding through Dec. 4. Go over and check it out. If you win it will take one children's gift off your list. She has four choices covering various ages.

And finally!! I have updated the button codes at Sharing Saturday since so many people have been having trouble. I have gotten a good report of them working so far. And Sharing Saturday #7 is still open. Please go share a wonderful idea with us and check out all the amazing ideas already shared.

Have a great night!!