Monday, December 15, 2008

Pretty Easy Ornaments You Can Make With Your Kids

Welcome to...


Thank you for joining us! If you're new to this carnival and would like to enter your post, please check HERE for the rules and regs. (By the way, if you have been featured on Homemaker Monday in the past, your name is on my left sidebar. Check it out!)

YOURS: This week's "YOURS" goes to Joan over at "How to be a Housewife". Joan has a love affair with being a grandma, as you will see once you read her post about making gifts with a toddler. Her grandson, Brayden, is at her side every step of the way as she teaches him that Christmas is about giving, not getting. After reading her post, I can't wait to be a grandma myself! Her post lists lots of gift ideas toddlers can help make and one of my favorite gifts is a personalized art desk calendar using these dollar store finds...


For Joan's entire post about gifts toddlers can help make, click HERE. Thank you so much, Joan, for linking up with us and please feel free to take the "I Was Featured" button on my left sidebar! We'll look forward to more about toddlers in your future posts!

MINE: Easy Ornaments You Can Make With Your Kids

This is a fun project my husband introduced to the kids the first Christmas we were together. All you need is pipe cleaner and beads of varying colors, like this...


(If you want, you can separate them into color categories, as shown above.)

Next, simply grab the pipe cleaner in one hand and slip a bead onto it with the other hand...


It may help with your concentration if you wet your hair and comb the sides straight down, but the top straight back, as shown...


Once you've threaded several beads, you have the potential of feeling THIS happy...


Keep working at it...


...and working at it...


(The eight-year-old boy looks like he's in the process of creating a candy cane.)


...and after bending the pipe cleaner into the desired shape, in the end, you will be rewarded with a finished ornament like this bell...


These ornaments really do look beautiful on the tree as they pick up and reflect the light. The kids and John not only made bells, but angels, candy canes, wreathes and holly leaves. They last from year to year and the kids are left with great memories from one year to the next. If you try this, I'd love to hear how your family likes it!

OURS: Okay, now it's your turn! Don't be shy. Let's see what words of wisdom all of you wonderful homemakers have for us today. Just enter in your screen name and the "permalink" (address of your title page, not your blog home page) and share your tip, how-to or homemaking idea. Thanks so much for joining us today and we'll see you next week!



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12 comments:

Dawn @ simply transparent said...

I love the idea!
I may even borrow it!

Thanks!

Stephanie Appleton said...

Looks like a lot of fun!

threesidesofcrazy said...

I love how there was something for kids of all ages - perfect family time!

Rhonda said...

I love doing crafts with the kids. You have a great time doing it while creating memories and then have something lovely to show for it as well! Perfection!

Petula said...

This is an absolutely great idea. I think I will actually try this with my crew... I even think my teenager will enjoy this. Thank you. It's easy to remember and the supplies are inexpensive. I will try to remember to come back and tell you about it.

By the way, your pictures are absolutely adorable and your accompanying comments gave me a welcome chuckle!

Bethany Cox said...

Claire is so cute. i just love when she does her hair like that. and john got a hair cut! he actually looks more gray than the last time i saw him...:-)

CompleteLee Blogger said...

Very cute idea. I like how it works for many ages!

I am finally remembering to link u with my part 3 on natural remedies. Totally spaced last week!

Angie said...

What a great idea.. I think I know what we are doing for FHE tonight :)

Anonymous said...

Easy...my kind of fun. Cute idea.

Connie said...

Cute family--sharing good times. I love it!
P.S. How's your mom?

~LL~ said...

I can remember making them with styrofoam balls, stick pins and sequins....so much fun.

Unknown said...

Great blog, I mean it! Lovely pictures and lovely family.


Happy blogging,

Toddler Gifts