Hand Print Santa Ornaments

It's been a while since the girls and I have made a hand print craft, so we decided we'd get out all of our craft supplies and make something that would add a little extra craftiness to our Christmas tree. Ava made one using her hand print (the larger one on the left), and Audrey also made one with her little hand print (on the right)... all with mommy's help, of course!

Here's what we needed:
* Card board
* Scissors
* Paint
* Cotton Balls
* Googly eyes
* Puff balls
* Ribbon
* Pencil
* Glue

Here's how we made our very special creations:
(F.Y.I. - The girls did a lot of "helping", especially with the painting, hence the reason mommy didn't get the camera to take corresponding images for the directions below).
1.) Trace one hand on card board using a pencil.
2.) Using scissors, cut out the hand print.
3.) Paint a beard, hat, and face on the hand print. Let dry.
4.) Glue cotton balls (cut into smaller sizes, if needed) onto Santa's hat (the thumb of the hand print will become the end of Santa's hat).
5.) Glue googly eyes and a puff ball nose onto his face. Also glue a portion of a cotton ball onto his face for his mustache.
6.) Glue ribbon to the back to use for hanging on your tree. (I also wrote my girl's names and year on the back of each ornament, so I'll always know who made it and when!).

Our tree looks beautiful with these new additions! Have fun making a few of your own!

Look Whooooo's Snapping {9}

This linky party is for sharing your favorite photo(s) {of the week}. Just make sure to grab the button below to share on your blog post, showing others that you are linking-up!
(If this is your first time linking up, be sure to click here for rules and details).

<center><a href=" http://www.mommyknowslife.blogspot.com "><img border="0" src=" http://i1127.photobucket.com/albums/l630/ThePhotoMommy/lookwhoooossnapping-4.jpg"/></a></center>
**********************************************************************************Thanks so much again to everyone who participated in last week's party! I hope you all had a very wonderful Christmas!
Now on to the "awards"!
Last week's most popular photo was...("Winners" are chosen by your popular vote).

This beautiful Christmas garland and lights capture was submitted by Linda 

{from linda makiej *photography}.

Congrats Linda and thanks for participating!You are rewarded the button below :)
<center><a href=" http://www.mommyknowslife.blogspot.com "><img border="0" src=" http://i1127.photobucket.com/albums/l630/ThePhotoMommy/lookwhoooossnappingpopular-1.jpg "/></a></center>

My favorite photos from last week were....

I love the Bokeh effect (as you saw in my last week's party post). This image is full of lovely Christmas color. 

Ewa {from Blueberry Craft and Hobby Time} shared this photo with us.

Such a sweet little pirate. Don't ya think?! Sarah {from Naptime Momtog} provided this photo.

Thanks Ewa and Sarah for participating!

You both are welcome to grab the button below :)

<center><a href=" http://www.mommyknowslife.blogspot.com "><img border="0" src=" http://i1127.photobucket.com/albums/l630/ThePhotoMommy/lookwhoooossnappingfavorite-1.jpg "/></a></center>
**********************************************************************************Now it's time to get this week's party started!
Here is my favorite photo of the week.....
I haven't actually had a chance to go through all of the photos I took on Christmas morning, but while quickly glancing through what I did capture, this photo of my dad and nephew, Trey, caught my eye. I think Trey was sneaking some Granda lovin'. I'm so glad I was able to snap the love!

Now it's your turn to share your favorite photo(s) of the week! 

And THANK YOU in advance for participating :)

Look Whooooo's Snapping {8}

I'm posting this week's Look Whooooo's Snapping photo linky party a little early since we'll be traveling this evening for the Holiday, and where we're going has very questionable internet connection. Thanks and Enjoy!
********************************************************************************** This linky party is for sharing your favorite photo(s) {of the week}. Just make sure to grab the button below to share on your blog post, showing others that you are linking-up!
(If this is your first time linking up, be sure to click here for rules and details).

<center><a href=" http://www.mommyknowslife.blogspot.com "><img border="0" src=" http://i1127.photobucket.com/albums/l630/ThePhotoMommy/lookwhoooossnapping-4.jpg"/></a></center>
**********************************************************************************Last week's most popular photos are...("Winners" are chosen by your popular vote).

This very gorgeous winter scene comes from Libbi {from Pioneer Photography}.

Such a fun shot of this little guy is brought to us from Dina {from 4 Lettre Words}.

Congratulations Libbi and Dina!You both are rewarded with the button below :)
<center><a href=" http://www.mommyknowslife.blogspot.com "><img border="0" src=" http://i1127.photobucket.com/albums/l630/ThePhotoMommy/lookwhoooossnappingpopular-1.jpg "/></a></center>

My favorite photos from last week were....

I love the the grace and beauty of this photo collage. There's just something magical about it! 

Kim {from Picking Poppies} submitted this lovely set of photos. 

Isn't she just the cutest little thing?! This very adorable portrait was brought to us by 

Jeska {from Living Our Love Song}. 

Thanks so much Kim and Jeska! 

You both can grab the special button below :)

<center><a href=" http://www.mommyknowslife.blogspot.com "><img border="0" src=" http://i1127.photobucket.com/albums/l630/ThePhotoMommy/lookwhoooossnappingfavorite-1.jpg "/></a></center>
**********************************************************************************On to this week's party!
Here are my favorite photos of the week.....
I wanted to share with you some of my Christmas Bokeh photographs just in time before this wonderful holiday season comes to an end. Below are a couple portrait shots of my darling little Miss Audrey in front of our Christmas tree. And just below her are two of my artistic renditions of fun holiday Bokeh that I think you'll enjoy!

Happy Holidays from Our home to Yours! 

Now it's your turn to share your favorite photo(s) of the week! 

And THANK YOU in advance for participating :)

Reminder: Vote for at least one other photo besides your own!

Wordless{ish} Wednesday: Decorating the Tree

So, we actually decorated the Christmas tree like three weeks ago, but after finally getting a chance to edit these adorable pictures, I thought today would be as perfect a day as any to share them with you. 

My little tree decorating helper, Ava, was more than happy to let me photograph her while she was putting her ornaments on the tree. She even takes a moment before placing them on their own very special branch, to give them a little kiss, letting her know how much she cares about them ;) 

What very lucky little ornaments, if I do say so myself!

Linked: The Paper Mama

Our Christmas Card {2011}

**********************************************************************************

I designed and created this card myself! (And I just got them mailed out a couple of days ago).

If you are interested in having me create a card for your special occasion, please contact me at ThePhotoMommy@gmail.com. In the meantime, be sure to check out the cards I already have listed on Etsy, right here.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

May you all have a very blessed and safe holiday season!

Wrapping Paper Christmas Tree Craft

Never sure what to do with those little pieces of Christmas wrapping paper that are just too small to use on any of your presents? Or what to do with the card board tube that comes inside the wrapping paper? 

Well, keep reading, because I have the perfect, very adorable solution to your problem....

A Wrapping Paper Christmas Tree

I was inspired to make this craft after seeing something very similar to it while working my per diem speech therapy job over the weekend at a Skilled Nursing Facility. The ones the patients had hanging on their doors were made with fabric and yarn though, not wrapping paper and ribbon, but they were definitely very cute!

This craft is especially fun to make with your child if he or she is age appropriate to cut, tape, and glue.

Here's what I used to make this craft:

Hot glue gun and glue

Scotch tape

wrapping paper (variety)

ribbon

puff balls

scissors

How I made it:

1.) Cut cardboard tube into several pieces of various sizes.

2.) Using tape, wrap each cardboard piece, individually.

3.) Use glue gun to adhere each wrapped tube together.

4.) Glue on puff balls in various spots, and hang tree on door knob for display.

********************************************************

Linked:

Jane Deere: Fusion Fridays

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

1. Less is More

 The LESS candy you have - the MORE healthy you are ;)

2. Holiday Lights

 I had to take a picture of the beauty of the moon the other evening and how gorgeous the light from it was reflecting off the snow. Boots and coat on, I set up my tripod in the snow-covered lawn, to capture this shot. You can also see a faint glimmer of nearby stars, which after all, are the real holiday lights. I'm sure the moon also played a part in assisting the wise men on their long journey to find baby Jesus. 

3. Ornaments

 If you click here, you'll learn more about one of our Christmas traditions - a keepsake series ornament. This beautiful "Partridge in a Pear Tree" ornament is the first in it's series and is Miss Audrey's very first keepsake series ornament for her very first Christmas!

4. Cup of Cheer

 I actually just finished drinking this very delicious hot cup of cocoa. Mmmm... so good! (And isn't the little spoon topper sticking out of the left side so adorable?!)

5. Nativity

My older daughter, Ava, is learning more about the story of baby Jesus while she colors this Nativity scene.

****************************************************************************

Linked:

Monday Rewind - Bloomin' Macro Monday

{Handprint & Footprint} Reindeer Ornament Craft

Today I'm going to share with you how to make a super cute, and relatively easy, craft that you'll want to hang on this year's Christmas tree! The craft itself is actually my idea :) 

(I was inspired however to make the design for this craft from here).

Materials & craft tools:

card board

brown craft paint

red puff ball

yellow ribbon

googly eyes
string

pencil 

scissors
glue

Directions:

1.) Trace your child's foot print on a piece of card board.

2.) Trace your child's hand prints on a piece of card board.

3.) Paint foot prints, hand prints, and medium size circle with brown paint.

4.) Cut out all pieces from card board.

5.) Glue hand prints, foot prints, circle (for head), googly eyes, red puff ball, ribbon, and string together (as shown). 

Hang on Christmas tree for all to see!

Linked: Crafty Moms Share, Crayon Freckles, One Artsy Mama, simple as that, For the Kids Fridays, The Sasse Life, Fun Stuff Fridays