Fun to Make Straw Christmas Tree Ornaments

Fun To Make Straw Christmas Tree Ornaments or Package Decor

Hello everyone, I’m Courtney. I hope you’re ready for AWESOME Christmas kids craft!

http://simpleasthatblog.com/2014/11/kids-decorative-paper-straw-christmas-tree-ornaments.html

You can find me over at Crafts by Courtney where I blog about kids and home decor crafts with someDIY party inspiration!  I’m very excited to be guest posting over here at Simple as That for the talented Rebecca!

I was super excited when Rebecca asked me to guest post over here at her amazing blog. I really wanted to pick the perfect project for her readers. I thought why not a kids craft!! I have three boys so I’ve become a professional on kids crafts, LOL!

Plus I love working on projects with the kids and Christmas is right around the corner.

I did several Christmas ornament crafts with the kids last year and they were a hit. I’ve been stocking up on paper straws this year and I’ve really been wanting to use them for a project.

Materials

• Decorative paper straws
• Hot glue gun
• Star punch or sticker
• Ribbon
• Scissors

Getting Started

I rounded up all my Christmas-y looking decorative straws and the kids to get started on this project. I think we were all excited about this craft!

Step 1 – Create Back of Tree

Your are going to need two paper straws for the back of your tree. Add a little hot glue (with parents supervision of course) to the back to keep the straws together.

Step 2 – Create Your Tree

Now it’s time to start putting your tree together!

Start off by adding the top of your tree, we cut our first straw about the same width as the two green straws. Then leaving a little more to the ends as we added for straws down the tree.

Each straw we added a little hot glue to the back. My six year old was able to do this party by himself.

Step 3 – Trim Your Tree Trunk

Next your going to cut off any extra at the bottom of your tree trunk.

Step 4 – Add Your Star

I pulled out my “trusty” star punch and some glittery paper. We hot glued on our star for the top of the tree.

I think the glittery star finishes the tree off perfectly, don’t ya think?!

Step 5 – Add Ribbon

Finally we needed to add our ribbon so we can hang our ornaments up on the tree. We picked out a simple white and hot glued that into place as well.

Finishing Touches

Now we are ready to hang our cute and super easy ornaments on the Christmas tree!! We really had a blast working on them together.  I really think these paper straw Christmas trees are adorable.

I want to give Rebecca a BIG thank you for letting me guest post for her blog today!

I really had a great time talking with her and getting the post ready. I hope you all can find some great holiday inspiration here and make some special memories with your kids.

Working on projects with your kids are great ways to have fun together and create beautiful long lasting memories together. And now you’ll have a special keepsake to pull out every year to decorate the tree with.

If you’d like to keep up with all my craftiness, be sure to follow me on my socials:

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Thanks for reading and HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

Tuesday's Jewelry Spotlight features Wild Woman Beads by Meredith Jordan

This Tuesday's Jewelry Spotlight features the shop Wild Woman Beads by Meredith Jordan

https://www.etsy.com/shop/wildwomanbeads


A Passion for Creating Beauty!

Ten or so years ago, I discovered and began to collect beautiful artisan lampwork beads. In time, the beads took on a life of their own and started coming to me in dreams, showing me how they were meant to be put together into earrings, bracelets and necklaces. I took this as a sign that it was time to ease out of the business of counseling and into the business of making beauty.

Working on simple projects where making beauty was the objective (rather than selling or marketing my work), I re-discovered joy, color, fun and, well, whimsy. 

Beading became a meditation and, in many ways, a spiritual practice. My spirit was lighter, my life filled with more grace, tranquility, peace and serenity. 

For a long time I worked quietly and privately at developing as an artist. One piece sold here, another there, and soon others were asking about and following my journey from therapist to artist. Not only was I counseling women and men who wanted to make fearless career leaps from stressful workplaces and situations, but I was modeling a leap of faith as well.

A decade later, my life as an artist has taken wing. Oh, I still love working with clients, teaching, gardening and all the other ways I make beauty come alive in the world around me. I have a versatile and interesting life. But creating the wearable jewelry art of Wild Woman Beads seems like my destiny, and I am grateful to have found it.

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Ready for the Weekend Recipes: Simple Shepherd's Pie

EASY SHEPHERD'S PIE

Simple Shepherd's Pie

from:  http://www.recipelion.com/Savory-Pies/Simple-Shepherds-Pie

    

      

It doesn't get simpler than this easy ground beef casserole, otherwise known as a Shepherd's pie. This classic favorite never gets old with my family. Make up some Simple Shepherd's Pie for a wonderful weeknight meal.

Cooking Time: 45 min

Ingredients

• 2 pounds ground beef
• 1/2 onion, chopped
• garlic powder and seasoning salt to taste
• 3/4 ounce package brown gravy mix
• 2 cans (10 3/4-ounce) cream of mushroom soup
• 2 1/2 cups water
• 1 1/2 cup frozen sliced carrots, thawed
• 10 ounces package frozen peas, thawed
• salt and pepper to taste
• 2 1/2 to 3 cups potatoes, peeled, cooked and mashed
• paprika to taste

Watch How to Make Fisher® Nuts Pecan Pie

 

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
    
2. Brown beef and onion in a skillet; season to taste with garlic powder and seasoning salt. Drain; pour into a large bowl.
    
3. Stir in gravy mix, soup, water, carrots and peas; mix well.
    
4. Spoon into a greased 9 inch deep-dish pie plate; sprinkle with salt and pepper.
    
5. Spread mashed potatoes over top; bake at 350 degrees F for 45 minutes. Sprinkle with paprika.

Read more at http://www.recipelion.com/Savory-Pies/Simple-Shepherds-Pie#pa01GfWSICmacfOq.99

FOR THE KIDDOS: 170 TURKEY CRAFTS TO MAKE

FOR THE KIDDOS:  170 TURKEY CRAFTS TO MAKE

 Submitted by Amanda Formaro

Filed in: Craft Collections, November, Preschool, School Age, Thanksgiving, Toddler  http://funfamilycrafts.com/turkey-crafts-for-kids-to-make/

If you’re looking for some fun turkey crafts to make, you’ve hit the jackpot! We’ve collected over 170 turkey crafts for toddlers, preschoolers and older kids too! We’ve selected ten of our favorites below, but you can find all 170+ turkey crafts right here.

1. Rainbow Turkey
2. Paint Chip Peacocks or Turkeys
3. Paper Plate Turkeys
4. Family Handprint Turkey
5. Thanksgiving Sock Turkey
6. Paper Plate Turkey Hat
7. Leaf Art Turkey Magnets
8. Thanksgiving Turkey Treats
9. Mason Jar Turkey
10. Turkey Utensil Holders

Browse the entire collection of turkey crafts here

20 Healthy Holiday Treats

http://totallythebomb.com/healthy-holiday-treats

As soon as the weather starts to coolI start thinking about healthy holiday treats! The thing is, I can make fruit salad for the family and they will be happy, but with office parties, get-togethers with friends, school parties etc., I feel like there’s a party every week. I need easy ideas for holiday party treats that aren’t candy!

So, I decided I need to be prepared this year. Check out these 20 healthy holiday treats everyone will love.

 20 Healthy (But Still Yummy) Holiday Treats:

1. Strawberry Santas are so totally adorable. Plus they taste amazing!
2. Frozen Yogurt Trees are good for those of us who live where it’s still warm at Christmas time! (Like here in Texas, y’all!)
3. I think these Snowman Popcorn Cups are just the cutest things ever.
4. You can make the cutest little Santa’s Belly with Babybel Cheese.
5. Or you can even make Santa’s face. Seriously, who knew Babybel cheese was so versatile?
6. These little Snowman Cheese Sticks are super cute at a party, but I also just stick them in my daughters’s lunch every once in a while for an extra treat!
7. Of course if you’re extra fancy, you can always fix a batch of these Spinach Artichoke Frittata Trees. (Side note: I really like saying frittata.)
8. Make a little grinch fruit kabob. These are totally adorable!
9. We always make this Reindeer Pretzel Candy and hand it out to the neighbors!
10. But we also LOVE these little snowmen pretzels and can’t wait to make these this year!
11. Snowy Chocolate Pine Cones are like, sort of healthy because they’re made with Fiber One. :)
12. This little bento Christmas tree would be the perfect after-school and now the holidays are starting snack!
13. Or you could make a little reindeer sandwich instead. I kind of want to eat a reindeer sandwich.
14. I love everything candy cane. Including this totally adorable Candy Cane Jell-O snack!
15. I like to serve these Santa crackers to little guests. (I use turkey pepperoni.) They love them so much!
16. I let the kids make their own banana snowmen. It’s tasty AND a great activity for kids!
17. I love these little snowman milk jugs! So easy and your kids will just be drinking MILK!
18. Make a Christmas tree fruit plate for everyone to enjoy. Who doesn’t love a fruit plate?
19. Christmas tree pita snacks could totally be a whole lunch! Yum!
20. Or you can even make Christmas Tree watermelon wedges. Adorbs.

I love the idea of a healthier Christmas this year. Maybe I won’t need to make as many New Year’s Resolutions!