Make: Easy Snow Globe

Waiting for a white Christmas? Create one inside a simple, plastic container!

Have you child pick out an item or two to put inside your snow globe. Happy Meal toys work great! We actually found this festive tree at the local Dollar Store ($1/each). Use a glue gun to adhere the figurine to the inside of the lid. Press down firmly.

While the glue is drying, allow your child fill the plastic container 3/4 of the way full with some sort of household oil. We used baby oil, but canola or olive would work too. Oil is preferred to water so that the sparkles float and flutter more slowly when shaken.

Add a couple teaspoons of glitter to the oil. Landon loved this part! 

Mom can now put the lid back onto the container. For an extra tight seal, I applied a thick layer of hot glue all the way around the lid.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Make: Light-Up Coffee Filter Ornaments

Pardon the hiatus...we've had some big things going on at our place. We have managed to fit some fun into the mix though! Here's a simple, fun little activity that I came across from Kids Craft Weekly. We altered the idea a bit to make our creations into light-catching ornaments. Hope you're having a fun holiday season! 

Materials: 

coffee filters, scissors, markers, clothespins, glue, water (spray bottle)

Cut Christmas bulb shapes out of coffee filters.

Color with washable markers. Press down firmly, and cover all white space.

Spray a little bit of water (one or two squirts) on each light. Let dry.

Glue a clothespin to the back of each light.

Clip to tree branches, turn on "real" Christmas lights, and be amazed! 

Make: Christmas Crayons

FunMoms is so happy to introduce Marcie from  www.dontwasteyourhomemaking.com!! She has a GREAT idea to share with us. Spoiler alert: If my little boy is friends with your child, THIS is what he or she will be getting from Landon this Christmas...Cute. Easy. Practical. Affordable! It doesn't get better than that! Thanks, Marcie!

This past week I have seen cutsie crayons popping up all over the web! I thought I would try them and see if I could make a few for Christmas gifts for the little ones. I tried it and I LOVE it! It's super easy to make and fun!

Ingredients

Crayons (Box of 64 for $1 @ Dollar Tree)

Ribbon and jewels (craft room)
Silicone Bakeware (mine cost $2.50 @ Target)

 

Step 1

Peel all the wrappings off the crayons. This is the longest process of the project... don't do it alone! I took a ton of crayons to the youth and asked for their help before church. 

Step 2 Break the crayons into small pieces {the smaller the pieces the better they will blend}. You can use the same color or mix colors. For thick crayons fill to the top of the shape, for skinnier ones only fill half way in the shape.

Step 3

Place in the oven at 200 degrees for approx. 20 minutes. I checked on the crayons and stirred them about halfway through. Once the crayons are completely melted remove the bakeware from the oven. Let the crayons cool completely before getting them out.

Here's what they look like when their cooled off! So cute, I can't wait to give these to my kids!

You can also fancy it up a little with some ribbon on hand and a jewel!

 

 

Marcie says, "I'm a girl who has been undeservedly saved by grace through Jesus Christ. I've been a wife for four years and love serving God through my home. It's my passion not to waste my life but, to make it count for the glory of God. Therefore,I am seeking to do this in every area of my life including my role in the home. I want to encourage women who are homemakers to use this delightful occupation for the glory of God."

Munch: Gingerbread Nativity

A fun way to bring the "Reason for the Season" into the kitchen...and to other people's doors! These turn out so cute, you won't even want to eat them! But don't worry, your kids probably won't hesitate at all! :)

L-R: King, Shepherd, Jesus, Mary, Joseph

A whole batch, ready to be sorted and given to our neighbors. 

And the Winner Is...

Thank you to everyone that left a comment on yesterday's post, Mayflower Mercy Ship and Giveaway. Your sweet words meant so much! I just visited www.random.org to get our winner for the book. 

Congratulations to...the 6th commenter, Alyssa, from Loving Life 365!!

I will be announcing the winner of our OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD GIVEAWAY on Tuesday morning. If you packed a shoebox this year, please click here. The giveaway for that drawing is the VeggieTales movie, Saint Nicholas,  a Story of Joyful Giving. Good luck! :)

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Move: Make a Difference...Win a Giveaway!

I'm so excited to share this week's "MOVE" activity! If you've never participated in Operation Christmas Child, your whole family is in for a very special experience! 

"Operation Christmas Child brings joy and hope to children in desperate situations around the world through gift-filled shoe boxes and the Good News of God’s love. Since 1993, more than 61 million shoe boxes have been packed, shipped, and delivered across the globe. People of all ages can be involved in this simple, hands-on missions project while focusing on the true meaning of Christmas—Jesus Christ (thecarpentersyard.org)."

Landon and I prepared our shoe boxes for our "Special Time" yesterday, and it was such meaningful, precious time spent together. I explained to him that we were going to go shopping to find fun toys for kids that might not get Christmas presents otherwise. I also showed him the flyer of two children smiling ear-to-ear after receiving their Christmas shoe boxes. With faces put to the mission, he couldn't wait to get started! We spent the rest of the afternoon searching store shelves together for treasures to delight friends (as sweet Landon referred to them) across the world! 

Philippians 2:4 says, "Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." This does not come naturally to us. It also doesn't come naturally to our kids (especially when they're standing in a toy aisle...). But, what a great way to teach a biblical lesson! 

Fellow, Moms, I challenge you to do this week's MOVE activity with your children. So much good can be accomplished in such a short amount of time...for you, for your kids, and for our "friends" across the world! Here's all that you need to do:

1. Pack a Shoebox:
Here's what Landon and I came up with after our shopping adventure! Visit this link to learn some great suggestions of what (and what not) to include in your box: http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/OCC/Pack_A_Shoe_Box/

2. Download a Label: 
This website will allow you to download and print as many labels as you need! Don't forget to include your donation for shipping and handling ($7 suggested per box). You can do that online too.
http://www.samaritanspurse.org/pdf/PackABoxwithLabels.pdf

3. Drop it off: 
Many churches participate in this amazing ministry, so there is probably a drop-off site right around the corner! To find out for sure, simply visit this site and enter your zip code: http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/OCC/Drop_Off_Locations/

4. Report back!
If you are participating in this activity, please leave a comment below (or on our FunMom Facebook page) letting us know! Tuesday, November 23rd, one family will be entered into a drawing to win a very special prize: Veggie Tales: Saint Nicholas, A Story of Joyful Giving. This movie, which emphasizes the importance of giving over getting, will be a fun, and fitting, addition to your holiday collection.

Can't wait to hear from you!
~Leslie