Painted Canvas Nativity Backdrop

 

I bought my first ever Nativity set this year - from Hobby Lobby.  I went in not really knowing what style I wanted.  I didn't want anything too formal or anything too whimsical.  Something in-between.

 

 

And I think these are just perfect - I LOVE that it looks like they're all wearing sweaters - even the animals!

 

 

So I placed them on top of this bookcase.  And thought the setting looked stark, boring, disappointing, diminutive...  It was lacking something.  I considered buying a stable for them, but decided that was a purchase for a future year.  I don't need to spend all my Christmastime money on new nativity accessories!

 

After briefly considering building a nativity, I came up with a different idea.  I had a canvas lying around and decided to paint a backdrop.  I looked online for ideas.  I decided to keep it simple and paint a night sky.

 

So, I got out black, white and navy paint, on a professional palette....or a Styrofoam plate... and a foam brush and a cup of water (the M & M's and bowls are for a different activity) and settled in in front of...

 

 

 

The Voice!

 

And just had fun mixing colors and adding in layers of color!  (Obviously I had enough to drink - Freddy's soda and Starbucks salted caramel hot chocolate!)

I was very happy with how it turned out and once it dried I had one more touch to add.

 

 

The star of Bethlehem!  I happened to have a silver leaf foil pen from another project and that is what I used for this.  I found a star shape I liked online, re-sized it and used an exacto knife to cut the shape out.  Then I used the colored in the open shape in the paper.

 

♪♫ O Little Town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie...♫♪♪

Thanksgiving Activity with M&M's

I'm Thankful for...

This is a fun way to get people thinking about things they are thankful for.

I think it would work great at a Thanksgiving dinner or for any youth group or small group.

The instructions are easy:

1. Have a bowl of M&M's, small bowls for each person and a scoop ready (as well as the free printable below, but keep it hidden until the activity begins);

2. Tell people to take a scoop of M&M's for an activity.

3. Then distribute this free printable.

4. As the printable instructs - For each red M&M they have, they have to share about a spiritual blessing they are thankful for

For each orange M&M they have, they have to tell about a freedom they are thankful for

For each green M&M they have, they have to tell about a thing in nature they are thankful for

For each brown M&M they have, they have to tell about a physical object they are thankful for

For each blue M&M they have, they have to tell about a freedom they are thankful for

For each yellow M&M they have, they have to tell about a small thing that makes their day brighter.

As they share about each M&M, then can then eat them.  This process can take a while and people who took big scoops start to feel stressed about coming up with things, so it's ok to go on as long as you want, and then say you'll quit after another round.  It gets kind of funny if you have a lot of one color, you have to start being creative! 

Punched Leaves-Baker's Twine Garland - Perfect Embellishment to Mason Jars

I saw a picture of this garland somewhere, but didn't have any instructions.

 

For this Project You'll Need:

 

a jar

2 colors of baker's twine

a paper punch

paper

sewing machine

 

 I cut the same length of baker's twine from each color and I punched out a bunch of leaves from fall-ish colors.  Then I set my sewing machine to zig zag and sewed the baker's twine together, sporadically adding a leaf on top. 

 

Pretty simple, but I love how it turned out!  I added a little card that said "I'm Thankful for You" and gave one to each girl in my Bible Study, so they could fill them and give them away!

 

 

Sensory Play

One of my favorite people is my niece Hadley.  When she visits, I like to plan a fun activity for her.  Not because she needs more to do - she gets to see her Grandma, Grandpa, two aunts, an uncle and a baby cousin and she has a room full of exciting toys when she visits, but it's who I am - a planner-of-activities and hopefully it creates fun memories and a bond between us.

One visit we took her to the zoo.

One visit she had a little swimming pool to play in.

One visit was a trip to the park.

One visit was a contact paper face..

One visit was playing with sock puppets that I made.

One visit was a trip to Target.

One visit was all about pipe cleaners (throwing them, making them into chains).

One visit she got really into playing with the dirt out of my flower pots and transporting it in her new dump truck.

We've hunted Easter eggs, played with sidewalk chalk, blown bubbles, went to the theater for a movie, trick-or-treated, sang Christmas carols. 

This time, my research into a fun activity led me to sensory bins.  (I know preschool teachers and moms have known about these forever, but they're new to me!)

Here's what they're all about:

Young children learn about their world by exploring and experimenting using their senses. By observing a young toddler exploring  their environment you will see this in action. They look at,  touch, smell, and taste just about anything they come in contact with- this is how they learn. When their senses are stimulated, messages are sent to their brain which builds neural pathways that are needed for future learning.

Sensory bins are a great way for children to learn using all 5 senses at once. Child development theorist Jean Piaget described the way children learn by calling them “little scientists“. Through sensory play and sensory bins children are using the scientific method and are also building pre-math skills, fine motor skills, language skills, imaginative play, and much, much more. Not only that but sensory bins are so visually appealing and fun!
Source: LovePlayandLearn.com

So this visit I had colorful cheerios and colorful measuring cups for Hadley to play with.  It was cool that all the senses were truly involved and it provided learning opportunities.  I counted the cheerios as I put them into measuring cups.  Then I put them into cups sorted by color.  Hadley mostly scooped and poured and licked and threw the cheerios - I thought it was great!

100th Blog Post!!!

My blog has reached a milestone - this post makes 100 blog posts.  Let's celebrate!!

My blog started in 2012, with me sporadically posting about various craft projects.  I think I stared my blog as a way to share my creativity and passion for creating with the world. 
It continues to do that. 

An unintended benefit is the chronicle it keeps for me about life events and changing interests.  And it's almost like an online recipe book for craft projects - I can go back and remind myself how to do something.

Today is a kind of behind-the-scenes analysis of my blog.  Click on any picture below to open a window to that blog post.

My most successful blog post (as measured by number of views - 4,147 views) is:

My least successful blog post is (8 views):

Easy Vase Update - It's a short post, but not my shortest.  I made it for a baby shower, so maybe it's not a post targeted to a general audience - I don't know...

 

My personal favorite blog posts are (it's so hard to choose!):

Springy Striped Rag Quilt - it was fairly time consuming, it challenged my current set of skills and I had so much fun styling it for pictures!

DIY Chalkboard

Outdoor Metal Chairs Get a New Look

(I notice that my top three favorites have two elements in common - a well-styled final photo and the color turquoise!!)

My most challenging blog post was:

Zippered Makeup Bags - even now I am amazed I could make them as well as I did and don't think I could do it again.

The Posts I Wish More People Would See:

Updated Wooden Bench

Colorful Ruffled Apron

Both of these were pretty big projects and I loved the results, but for some reason, the number of views they got was relatively low.

A trend I see:

Weddings - my Wedding Activity Book for Kids and Wish Tree posts are both really popular - people love to take an active role in DIY projects that make their wedding unique and personal.

Wish Tree

 

 

and

Wedding Activity Book for Kids have both been very successful posts.

 

Thank you to anyone who regularly reads my blog, occasionally reads my blog or just happened to stumble across it!

 

Post in the comment section the title of your favorite "Lyndi's Projects" post and you could win a set of my adorable Heart Bunting Notecards!

 

 

Peanut Butter Ball Bats - Halloween Treat

This is a special Halloween edition of my blog!  My office is doing a Halloween Treat Competition and I am excited to share my entry with you ! 

I used this post from One Sweet Appetite as my inspiration, but instead of truffles, I made a favorite of mine - peanut butter balls. 

First step: make the wings. 

Print out a bat wing pattern and lay it under a sheet of waxed paper.  Then put your melted chocolate into a Ziploc bag and cut the corner.  Use your piping bag to trace the outline of the wings onto the waxed paper and then fill in.  I started out trying to make a fine outline, but then found that a thick outline produces sturdier wings.

My Dad insisted these were dinosaurs...

Then make your peanut butter balls - 1 stick of butter, 1 1/2 cups of creamy peanut butter, 1 tsp. vanilla and 4 cups of powdered sugar.  Mix together and form into balls.  Then refrigerate.

Halfway through the refrigeration, stick the bat wings into the sides.  I was so excited at this point - it was going to work!

Melt your chocolate - I like using a makeshift double boiler.

Get your pieces ready (using your cute bowls from World Market, if possible).

These are the eyes I used:


Baaaaats!!

POST UPDATE:  You'll be happy to know these bats won the "Most Creative" category!!