Mufin Tin advent Calendar

Sorry for the long absence.  We are moved in and almost unpacked and my girls are almost better (flu for the last week. yuck)  My Internet was just set up and I'll be playing catch up for a little while with e-mails and checking out your blogs.  Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving weekend.  Don't forget about the special going on in my shop it ends tonight.  You can find more details in the Little Reminder section above.

Today I want to share a fun and simple advent calendar.  I know I'm a little early with this project but I just love Christmas.  My kids are finally getting to the age where they are excited and I want to make this December really special for them.  You may have already seen these muffin tin advent calendars but I thought I would show you how I made mine and also what I'm going to fill it with. 

Start with a mini muffin tin (at walmart for under $5).
Cut out 24 squares from different pattern papers.  (I used 4) Each square is 2 1/4 inches.  Round the edges and ink them (optional)
Cut out 24 2" circles from red cardstock or another solid or patterned paper.  If you don't have a punch or a cricut you can always cut squares to make it easier.

Glue your circles and squares together.

Add magnets to the back.  I used the pack that comes in long strips and just cut them into small pieces.

Decide on a pattern.

Add your numbers.  You can use paper (like mine), stickers, rub-ons, stamps, or whatever you have on hand.

You now have a really fun Christmas advent calendar. 

Each spot is just big enough for a little treat. 

I chose to add little slips of paper with a different activity written on it.  Here's the list of activities I'm going to add

1. Make Sugar cookies
2. Read and act out the Nativity
3. Sledding
4. Watch a Christmas movie (elf, I’ll be home for Christmas, etc.)
5. Deliver cookies to neighbors and friends
6. Visit Santa and daddy’s work party
7. Letter to Santa
8. Ward Christmas party
9. Put up Christmas decorations
10. Decorate Christmas tree
11. Pick out new Christmas ornaments
12. Play in the snow
13. Christmas shopping
14. Look at Christmas lights
15. make Christmas ornaments
16. Read a Christmas book
17. Reindeer food
18. watch The King is Born
19. Deliver Secret Santa gifts
20. Make Christmas Cards for my brother (he's on a mission)
21. Make and drink hot coco

I have some Christmas crafts for my kids and anything else that comes up to fill the rest of the spots.

I'm so excited I have this done early with enough time to plan our fun activities.  It seems like the month just flies by and before we know it Christmas has come and gone.  Hopefully with a plan we will make time to enjoy all of the fun things I always hope to get to each year.

baby keepsake frame

 I've noticed over the years that I quickly forget how little my girls use to be and I wanted a way to always remember when they were born.  So I came up with this cute way to display their newborn pictures and all of their birth stats (what mother doesn't love those two thing?)

Here's what I came up with.

Here's how I made it.  I bought an 8x10 frame with a matte.  (Matte optional but helpful.)  My frame is from Walmart for $2.50

 

I painted the frame white

 Then distressed it with sandpaper.

I picked out some scrapbook paper that matches their room.  Use the matte as a template and trace around it on the back of your paper.  (If you don't have a matte you can measure and cut one out).  Then cut it out.

 

Here's your two pieces.  Then glue your scrapbook paper on your matte.

I sanded the inside edges of my paper to make it look a little more smooth.

Now choose a picture (both of mine are from the day they came home).  You can do this next part in any program you want.  I used Microsoft word.  I opened a new document and pasted my picture.  I cropped and sized it to 5x7.  Then insert a text box.  Type in your information, change font, size, etc.  Then remove fill in box and remove outline.  Change color and move it to the spot you want it.

It will look like this

 Print your photo on photo paper and cut it out.

 

Assemble your frame and you now have a beautiful keepsake of you sweet little one.

 

Here's a close up of each

Olivia

 Aubrey

 

Super easy Superhero Cape

My 5 year old LOVES to dress up like a hero.  You should see some of the crazy outfits she comes up with.  I love it.  Well it came as no surprise that she wanted to be a super hero for Halloween this year.  I was completely on board because I knew this costume would be used ALL YEAR.  This would be a great Christmas present for your little hero.

 To make one you need a large t-shirt (I used a men's XXXL- it was on sale.)  Some felt for fabric for the applique, Velcro, and a button (optional)

Lay your shirt flat and with a yard stick draw a line from the color to the bottom corner of the shirt.  Cut along that line and to the same on the other side.  (only cut through one side of the shirt-the other side can be use for another cape or a different project)

For the neck you can keep the entire existing collar and just slip in over their head or if its too big you can cut your own.  Use the collar as the basic shape but cut down far enough so your two ends will reach comfortably around your little ones neck.

Pin and sew Velcro the ends of each side.  If you don't want your Velcro stitching to show sew a button directly on top of the Velcro stitching so you see a cute button instead.

For the applique.  Cut out what ever design you want.  Felt is great because it won't fray. 

 Pin your design on your cape and sew in place.  If you are using fabric a zigzag stitch will help with fraying.

 Now try it on your little one and watch their imagination run wild.

I'll show you a quick way to make the hero shirt and mask soon.

Count your blessings

I made this quote using my cricut (the tree is from here).  I didn't place my leaves exactly like the cut out but I love how it turned out.  Its a wonderful reminder.

I love November because it so focused on giving thanks and remembering what we are thankful for.  Here are a few things I'm thankful for:  My kids, my hubby, the gospel, my family, my friends, my husbands job, a place to live, all of you, and so much more.  You will probably see a lot of project this month focused on being thankful.  What things are you thankful for?