Homemade Crayons Gift

 

I'm excited to share with you over the next few days a little series I'm doing,

 

 

The first on our list this year was coming up with something the kids could make. Typically every year, I take them each separately to create something to give to the other two as their Christmas gift. (last year we made sidewalk chalk and bouncy balls). This year I wanted the kids to make a gift for some of their friends, and I just knew that crayons would be the way to go.

 

We always save our broken crayons to use with the kid's crayon maker, so we had plenty to use.

 

The first step is the worst: unpeeling all those crayons! The kid's were awesome and actually stuck it out a lot longer than I thought they would.

 

We decided for this project to separate them by colors.

 

Next, Jason chopped them into 1/2" pieces.

 

 

 

I wanted to make them into fun shapes, so I bought this Wilton silicon baking sheet in a "daisy" shape.

 

 

Our 'recipe' called for placing them in the 250 degree oven for 10 minutes. Worked like a charm. Once they were hardened, I popped them out to cool.

 

I was already over the moon with how these turned out.

 

 I knew I wanted to package them really cutely, so I started by purchasing some blank drawing pads at the dollar store.

 

I wrapped them up in kraft paper and tied different colored yarn I had around it several times. I was inspired by this gift  , so I really wanted it to be bright and colorful.

 

When it came to displaying the crayons, I had two different ways that I wanted to try out. The first way, I stacked them up and tied them together with twine.

 

I really wanted the crayons to be on display, so the second time around, I attached them right to the outside of the gift with command foam squares.

 

I am really pleased with how they turned out. I am in love with the way the second way turned out, but Jason likes the first one best.

 

Which one do you like?

 

 

xo,

Rachel

Featured

Hello, friends :)

 

I am in awe that Kara from Kara's Party Ideas  featured Braden's party. I constantly check out her site for party inspiration and am thrilled {and amazed!} to see one of my own parties up there :)

 

Go check it out here.

 

 

 

xo,

Rachel

Gingerbread Party

Happy Monday!

 

I'm excited to share with you the "sweet" little party we threw this weekend for just a handful of our children's friends. I knew that we just wouldn't have the time to throw an all-out Christmas party this year, so I have decided to throw two smaller, low-key versions ;)

 

 Gingerbread was our theme and we based all our decorations off that.

Invitations went out by hand and featured an actual hard candy, because really, shouldn't everything come with candy??!

 

 

I fastened our front wreath with some adorable lights I found on sale at one of my many late night Toys R Us runs:

 

 

Wrapped balloons in cellophane acted as large candy decoration.

 

For a real treat, we made homemade gingerbread ice cream, served with little gingerbread men.

 

I set up small birdhouses that I painted brown to act as gingerbread houses {white felt was cut out and glued to look like 'snow'}.

The got to decorate them with ribbon, poms, pipecleaners, and foam stickers. 

 

Next up was gingerbread men decorating:

 

And we were left with some beautiful creations :)

 

The guests were sent home with their little men wrapped up with with their name:

 

....and a little box of popcorn using this recipe.

 

Everyone had a blast, and we are now one step closer to Christmas!

 

How was your weekend?

 

 

xo,

Rachel



Such Sadness

This weekend I came across this image via Pumpkin Pie Photography's Facebook page and, to me, it has been one of the most touching photos I have seen regarding the tragedy that happened this weekend. A candle for every life lost, and a country in mourning. Such a simple photo that speaks volumes.

 

 

xo,

Rachel

 

Christmas Cookie Decorating

We have a tradition in our house that every Christmas Eve we bake and decorate cookies for Santa. I try to make even the small traditions special, so last year I made each of our children personalized aprons that they received the evening of our decorating.

 

 

I rolled each one up and tied it with a new cookie cutter that I backed with scrapbook paper and a sticker with their initial on it.

 

I cut out place mats from red vellum paper that I had on hand and used letters I cut out with my Cricut machine to personalize those as well.

 

Since right about this time last year I was just becoming obsessed with Pinterest, I couldn't resist creating the snowman glasses you see everywhere.

 

Adorable, right??

 

{and loved by all!}

 

 

Next up the kids made and cut out the cookies. Honestly, this year I am going to take my own advice and do this part the day before {or maybe even without them!} since the kids reeeeeeally lack the patience it takes to wait for them to bake and cool.

 

 

Besides, all they really care about is the decorating part :)

 

Now for a little bit of fun, here's a peak into our world. All I wanted was a picture of all three kids wearing the aprons their poor mother made BY HAND. {and by hand, I mean with a sewing machine :) }

 

This two minute ordeal was literally so painful to our oldest he couldn't even stand up... that's him melting away on the left ;)

 

This is what I am dealing with on a daily basis, folks :)

 

What kind of traditions do you do?

 

xo,

Rachel