Scout, our Elf on the Shelf

Back in November, my Grandma got the boys an Elf on the Shelf.  She thought it would be so much fun, and that they would love looking for it every day.   I was a little hesitant at first, but after doing some looking around online at all the funny things other people's elves had done, I realized how much fun it could be!  Now that the holidays are over, all the decorations are packed up & put away, I wanted to share a few of the funny things our elf, Scout, did this year.  Sometimes he was a little bit mischievous...  :)

 

 

The boys were sad to see Scout go, and sad that they didn't get to tell him goodbye on Christmas Eve.  So Scout got special permission from Santa to come back on Christmas morning to tell them goodbye, and leave a letter for them.   

 

 We will be waiting for you next year, Scout!!

Paper Peppermint Ornaments

 
The annual Christian Paper Artists Ornament Swap has transpired once again.  This year I made paper peppermint ornaments.  Simple and sweet, I thought they turned out really cute!  This project is also a great way to use up some scraps from your stash.  :)



 
 

1. Cut circles from white paper 
and patterned red paper.   
Snip the red patterned circles 
into triangles. (Imagine slicing a pizza.)  

Keep in mind you will need 2 
white circles for each ornament.

 2.   Arrange 
the red triangles 
on the white circles
as desired & glue.


 
 

3.  Decorate your peppermints 
as desired.  I used clear and red 
stickles (glitter glue) on mine.

  

4.  Cut small tissue paper strips and accordion fold.

 5.  Attach tissue and a loop of twine to the back side of one white circle.   I ran these through my Xyron so the back was completely covered in adhesive. 




 
6.  When you have the tissue arranged the way you like it, attach another peppermint on top.   Now they are ready to hang!

Ornaments Everywhere!!

WOW!  We have been so busy around here, we just got the Christmas tree up.  This is only about 3 weeks later than normal for us... we are traditionally Thanksgiving Weekend Tree-Decorators.  I decided I didn't want to deal with the headache of a full-blown decorating scheme this year, so we decided to go simple.  I have to say, I have NOT regretted it in the least!!  You know the stress of making the house & the tree & everything look "perfect" every year?  I decided to scrap "perfect" and go for "simple" and "fun".   Guess what??? IT IS PERFECT!!!!!!!!   I know, the irony kills me. 

Instead of dragging all the boxes of decorations & ornaments out of the attic this year, we got out the tree and a few of our favorite things, and called it good.   We made home made salt-dough ornaments for the tree instead of spending hours unboxing & unwrapping all the regular ornaments.  Here's the recipe we used:

Salt Dough Ornaments

4 cups flour
1 cup salt
1 1/2 cups water
2 tsp. vegetable oil


Mix all ingredients.  Knead well.  Roll out & cut with cookie cutters.  Bake at 300° for 25-30 minutes.

I used a straw to poke holes in the ornaments before we baked them.  The kids had fun making & painting them. Even Gramma, Aunt Jenn & Uncle Eric came over to help. :)

Some of them we painted, some we used glitter glue to decorate, some we used both!   All told, we had close to 75 ornaments out of that one recipe.  

We ended up with two tree toppers on our tree, because each of the boys had made one at church last weekend. and of course you can't choose one and not the other... :)