advent christmas activities- jpeg

i just learned how to convert a word document to a jpeg file. 

maybe you already know how ~ sometimes i take awhile to catch up ;)

anyway, here are the jpeg files for the advent calendar activities!

i've edited them to have 2 family parties, 

rather than making them personalized. 

now that they're saved as jpeg's, you don't have to worry 

about downloading any fonts! talk about time-saver!

please let me know if these work for you!

merry christmas!

advent activities

i rarely blog. obviously. but i did today. twice now. :) 

the holidays bring out my creative side.

see these? 


remember this?


they're m.f.e.o. (have you seen sleepless in seattle? love it. quote it all the time.)

this link is for your printing pleasure. but be warned, it's personalized for my family. if you'd like to make a few adjustments in your own microsoft word document, you'll need this list. and if you need to know what other fonts i used, please contact me.

merry christmas!

christmas advent calendar, stockings and tree skirt {aaaak!}

okay, i'm finally ready to reveal my

"magnum opus" ~ or is it opuses? or opi? 

nevermind. 

isn't it beautiful?!

i thought long and hard about what to put in 

each pocket. i decided to make cute

cards on picnik with activities for us to do as a family.

they're wallet-size, so the pockets won't get stretched out.

clever? i think so. 

 i know i've said this before ~ i adore the little plug on

the end! all the little details make this so perfect! 

 on the 22nd, we'll be watching "rudolph the red-nosed reindeer".

i had to make new stockings this year since we had 

another baby. they turned out so precious! they're all

personalized with our names and the kids each

chose the picture on the front {to match the advent

calendar of course}. 

also, i found a great tutorial to make these stocking

holders. they're pottery barn copies and super cheap & easy

to make. i love love love them!

 i got this painting for my birthday in october. i love it so much 

i think we'll keep it up all year long.

 these styrofoam "trees" came from another tutorial. i can't find 

the link ~ sorry! if you want to make it, let me know and i'll 

either find it or tell you how to make it yourself.

 while i was at it, i decided to make a matching treeskirt. 

i'm not at all a seamstress, so it was much harder to make 

than i thought it would be ~ but totally worth it!

merry christmas!

christmas advent calendar

yes, i know it's august 1st, but i couldn't help myself!

last sunday afternoon, i decided it was time to start this

craft i've been planning for nearly a year.

abby over at a feathered nest shared 

the tutorial for this advent calendar.
and let's be honest~ she is a genious! 

{remember~ she is the one that shared the 

recipe for this delicious strawberry stuffed french toast?!}

to tell you the truth, i had never worked with 

embroidery thread before and had no 

idea how on earth i would
ever manage all the detailed stitching. 

the cute cutouts i knew i could do, 

but the stitching... yeah, not so much.

i am eternally grateful for her. seriously, 

she made it so easy!  i could

go on and on. you really need to just hop over

there and see for yourself. 

well, okay. here's a glimpse of hers:

is that not the cutest thing you've ever seen?!

since she is my idol{!} i copied a lot of her ideas,

and some i made up on my own {shock!}. 

let's get to it! i am proud to present 

my 25 squares of christmas:
 

i decided to make the snowman's scarf multi-colored. 

and his nose, incidentally, is on the large side {oops!}.  

i thought rudolph turned out so perfectly!
{he was my own design!!}

abby's gingerbread man was adorable!
i decided to give him a scarf to change him up a little. 

santa's sleigh is another one of my own designs
{and i think it's my favorite!!}

i love the christmas lights!!
did you notice the cute little plug on the end?! {gasp!}

not to brag or anything, but the snowflake is all mine! 

what you see is the product of my 

first attempt, free-handed!! i know!!!

 

if you look closely, you might see santa's round pink nose. 

i wish my sheep's nose was a little smaller- that part was kinda tricky.

 

i love love love the music notes! they were so fun to make!!!

not thrilled with these two, but oh well.
they'll go just fine once they're all together on the "tree".

the stocking is hanging from a mantle!! how cute is that?!

i had to copy abby's baby jesus~ it's so perfect! :)

     

so there you go! doesn't look too hard, does it? 

really. if i can do it, anyone can!
{and having my sister come and
help a little doesn't make any difference!!
right? btw, thanks monica!! ha!}

 

i'm waiting on the almighty dollar {and time of course}

to make a run for hobby lobby to buy the rest of 

the supplies i need to finish this beautiful baby. it's a bit
of a drive from here, but totally worth it!

    

here is abby's finished tree to give you an idea of what it will look like:

   

it's so precious! i can't wait to finish mine!! 

oh- and there's plenty of time to make one for your family!! 

wouldn't your family love to countdown to christmas

with a treat or note in each pocket?! 

♥