Christmas Gift Tags

Below are some gift tags I made for all my packages this year.

Feel free to download here, cut out and enjoy!

{Sized for 8.5 x 11 paper, 300 dpi}

A&J

Advent Calendar/ Christmas Countdown

We haven't ever had an advent calendar in our house. Only because I haven't really seen one that I just fell in love with.   I saw so many ideas found from blog land at Tatertots and Jello. Wow the creative bar just gets higher and higher!

This below is my take on the advent calendar. It was mentioned to me by someone as a tradition they did with their kids every Christmas and it was something that their kids remembered even after they were grown and out of the house. 

The idea is that you have 24 books to read with your child or children. One for each day up till Christmas, with the final book read on the Christmas eve being "The Night Before Christmas" of course. They can be all Christmas books or even special books that your family likes to read. They can be books you already have or add a few new ones each year.  Because really, most of the fun for the kids is getting to open a present each day....

{It's also good incentive to get the kids in the jammies and ready for bed each night!} 

And if you haven't started yet this year, don't worry just start today with less books. 

It's just a tool to countdown to Christmas!

Need some cute tags to add to your books?

You can download the # tags I've used here.

Linked up here @ Tatertots and Jello Weekend Wrap Up Party.

A&J

Music Sheet Bows

While I had the music sheets and hot glue out I figured I'd try to make some of these bows for my upcoming Christmas wrapping. I've seen them made with old book pages and even old magazines.

I know there's many different ways to make bows like this, but here's a quick tutorial of how I made mine:

First cut some 3/4 inch strips from some sheet music.

You will need:

3 ~ 8.5 inch strips, 3 ~ 7 inch strips & 1 3 inch strip.

I twisted them around to make these shapes and hot glued them into place.

{note: you could also use double stick tape, glue dots, staples or whatever you have on hand}

Start assembling by taking the 3 larger ones and gluing them into a shape like this:

Continue with the second row and then the 1 smaller loop in the middle.

I chose some simple kraft brown paper and some twine to go with my bow.

And there you have it, simple and unique wrapping for the holidays or any occasion!

A&J

Music Sheet Christmas Tree Tutorial

Today I made one of these cute little music sheet trees.

Here's a little tutorial to make one of your very own.

It's very simple really.....

What you will need is a styrofoam cone, some sheet music, scissors and a hot glue gun.

 

First off, I cut the music in 2 inch strips.

 Then took the strips and curled them a bit. 

{I used the end of a wooden spoon and that seemed to work well}

Then I cut slits all alog the bottom about halfway up.

Take these pieces and hot glue them around the cone.

One row at a time.

Keep going till you get to the top!

It's really that easy....

Although I think it may need something at the top.
I haven't thought of anything yet.
What do you think?
Any ideas??

Need some free sheet music for the project??
I have a page here you can download and print (8.5x11).
It looks best on some sort of antique or ivory finish paper to make it look a little vintage. Enjoy!

Linked up at Funky Junk's SNS
and at Tatertots and Jello Weekend Wrap Up Party
and Under The Table and Dreaming Sunday Showcase Party.

A&J

Christmas Scavenger Hunt

A totally fun idea for the kiddos to add to the excitement of Christmas is to create your own scavenger hunt. This year, we are going to have one on Christmas Eve. I've created several cute clues like this one.

Of course I had to make it super easy because my participants are itty bitty.

I'm going to have them running all over the house for clues. The last one will lead them to one present that they can open that night. It's going to be matching Christmas pjs and a couple of Christmas books.

Kids are so much fun. I can't wait!

A&J

Zoo Membership for Gift

Need another gift idea. Give the gift of a membership to your local zoo. This is great for families and especially new parents that haven't figured out yet how many times they will be going to the zoo.

Just make a cute tag.

And tie it to a cute little guy like this one.

Something for the whole family to enjoy.

A&J

Snow Day Bucket

Trying to find the perfect gift for those friends who have EVERYTHING. I made this snow day bucket for a couple of our friends this year.

I found this snowman kit at Gordmans. Added some Starbucks mugs, some hot chocolate, the perfect movie "It's a Wonderful Life," and some movie candy. I did hide some butterscotch rum in the bottom for the parents to spike their hot chocolate. Depends on your recipients of course. The bucket I chose looked so cute with the theme, but it was a tad small. I would have liked to add some gourmet popcorn, but it just wouldn't fit. This was a huge hit anyway.

Now Bring on the Snow!!!

A&J

Magic Reindeer Food

This is such an easy thing to make and will be a hit with your little ones. It's also very inexpensive to make which makes it a good idea to give to neighbors and friends.

You can find recipes for this just about anywhere, but it's really just Oats and Sprinkles.
Use as much or as little depending on how many you're making it for.

Pile some oats in a bowl, then sprinkle lots of holiday sprinkles on top. I also used the white sparkly sprinkles so that it will "sparkle" in the moonlight, making it easier for the reindeer to see. (you could substitute with some sugar).
Mix it all together and place in little bags. Easy as that!
I got the awesome ready to print labels here. You can download and print.

They have these directions on the back:
"Sprinkle on the lawn at night
the moon will make it sparkle bright
as Santa's reindeer fly and roam
this will guide them to your home"

A&J