Best 30-minute stockings

I idea I amend postal service these stockings earlier Christmas is over. Well, I gauge it pretty much is over, but amend belatedly than never, right?! We possess got been using random stockings over the terminal few years... I made mine together with Pete's when nosotros were foremost married, together with the kids stockings were given to us yesteryear family... none of them matched of course. So I decided to whip out some matching stockings for the whole identify unit of measurement (and the newest member-to-be.) I made these inward November, exactly when the Christmas busyness was beginning, thus decided to maintain them every bit unproblematic every bit possible. They literally took me less than thirty minutes each (which all the same added upwards to iii hours, but I idea that was pretty good!) And I fifty-fifty possess got some textile left over inward illustration of whatever after additions to the identify unit of measurement :)



I didn't possess got pictures for a tutorial because I idea they were pretty self-explanatory, but hither are the instructions inward a nut shell.

What you'll need:
* Quilted fabric
* Bias tape
* Sewing machine

Instructions:
* Trace an one-time stocking for your pattern. Cut ii stocking shapes out of the quilted fabric. With correct sides together, sew together them together, leaving the overstep open.
* (I didn't produce this, but if you lot desire to add together a lining, it would last super slow at this point... but cutting ii of the same stocking shapes out of a thinner fabric, sew together correct sides together leaving overstep open, together with then insert into the quilted stocking. You could together with then sew together the tops (the quilted textile together with thinner fabric) together... together with then maintain on to the side yesteryear side step.)
* Sew bias record around the top. Make a modest loop amongst the bias record together with sew together on ane halt of the overstep of the stocking thus it tin last hung.

It actually is that easy! I was able to possess got a painting present of our stockings on my parents' mantle... sadly nosotros possess got no fireplace inward our house, thus had to hang them on hooks that nosotros stuck to the wall. Someday!

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Best 30-minute stockings

I idea I amend postal service these stockings earlier Christmas is over. Well, I gauge it pretty much is over, but amend belatedly than never, right?! We possess got been using random stockings over the terminal few years... I made mine together with Pete's when nosotros were foremost married, together with the kids stockings were given to us yesteryear family... none of them matched of course. So I decided to whip out some matching stockings for the whole identify unit of measurement (and the newest member-to-be.) I made these inward November, exactly when the Christmas busyness was beginning, thus decided to maintain them every bit unproblematic every bit possible. They literally took me less than thirty minutes each (which all the same added upwards to iii hours, but I idea that was pretty good!) And I fifty-fifty possess got some textile left over inward illustration of whatever after additions to the identify unit of measurement :)



I didn't possess got pictures for a tutorial because I idea they were pretty self-explanatory, but hither are the instructions inward a nut shell.

What you'll need:
* Quilted fabric
* Bias tape
* Sewing machine

Instructions:
* Trace an one-time stocking for your pattern. Cut ii stocking shapes out of the quilted fabric. With correct sides together, sew together them together, leaving the overstep open.
* (I didn't produce this, but if you lot desire to add together a lining, it would last super slow at this point... but cutting ii of the same stocking shapes out of a thinner fabric, sew together correct sides together leaving overstep open, together with then insert into the quilted stocking. You could together with then sew together the tops (the quilted textile together with thinner fabric) together... together with then maintain on to the side yesteryear side step.)
* Sew bias record around the top. Make a modest loop amongst the bias record together with sew together on ane halt of the overstep of the stocking thus it tin last hung.

It actually is that easy! I was able to possess got a painting present of our stockings on my parents' mantle... sadly nosotros possess got no fireplace inward our house, thus had to hang them on hooks that nosotros stuck to the wall. Someday!

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Best Christmas stuff napkins

I was making our identify unit of measurement to a greater extent than or less fabric napkins to purpose this Christmas flavour in addition to persuasion they would brand fun gifts every bit well. I'm ever on the scout for gift ideas that people tin genuinely purpose in addition to won't only accept upward space, in addition to thus I persuasion these would move perfect! I gave a ready of 8 to my sis in addition to sister-in-law who both cause got kids, inward hopes to brand their repast times a fiddling to a greater extent than festive. I originally got the persuasion from my friend burp cloths. Thinking ahead, they would brand fun Mother's Day presents every bit well! But amongst a bloom designing of course.

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Best Christmas stuff napkins

I was making our identify unit of measurement to a greater extent than or less fabric napkins to purpose this Christmas flavour in addition to persuasion they would brand fun gifts every bit well. I'm ever on the scout for gift ideas that people tin genuinely purpose in addition to won't only accept upward space, in addition to thus I persuasion these would move perfect! I gave a ready of 8 to my sis in addition to sister-in-law who both cause got kids, inward hopes to brand their repast times a fiddling to a greater extent than festive. I originally got the persuasion from my friend burp cloths. Thinking ahead, they would brand fun Mother's Day presents every bit well! But amongst a bloom designing of course.

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Best Homemade ornaments

Last calendar week the kids together with I made these ornaments for our Christmas tree together with to give to grandparents. Dan helped me brand them spell John was at schoolhouse together with Joe was sleeping... Dan's becoming my craft/baking buddy inwards the afternoons, I dear it! He loves next me or hence together with helping me amongst any I'm doing. Then the adjacent morning time the kids all got busy icon them.



Here's how you lot brand them:

* Combine iv cups flour, i loving cup salt, together with i 1/2 cups H2O inwards the mixer together with knead for 10 minutes (or knead past times manus for 15-20).
* Roll dough out together with cutting out amongst cookie cutters or role kids hands to brand handprints (if you lot postulate to curlicue out dough a 2d fourth dimension you lot tin add together a niggling H2O to soften it a bit).
* Use a straw to poke a hole inwards the overstep hence it tin last hung together with prick amongst a toothpick to foreclose air bubbles.
* Transfer shapes to a baking canvass that has been sprayed amongst nonstick spray together with bake at 300 degrees for nearly i lx minutes (times may differ depending on the thickness of the dough).
* Paint away!
* You tin gum felt or cardstock to the dorsum for a to a greater extent than finished look, hence hang amongst a slice of string.

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Best Homemade ornaments

Last calendar week the kids together with I made these ornaments for our Christmas tree together with to give to grandparents. Dan helped me brand them spell John was at schoolhouse together with Joe was sleeping... Dan's becoming my craft/baking buddy inwards the afternoons, I dear it! He loves next me or hence together with helping me amongst any I'm doing. Then the adjacent morning time the kids all got busy icon them.



Here's how you lot brand them:

* Combine iv cups flour, i loving cup salt, together with i 1/2 cups H2O inwards the mixer together with knead for 10 minutes (or knead past times manus for 15-20).
* Roll dough out together with cutting out amongst cookie cutters or role kids hands to brand handprints (if you lot postulate to curlicue out dough a 2d fourth dimension you lot tin add together a niggling H2O to soften it a bit).
* Use a straw to poke a hole inwards the overstep hence it tin last hung together with prick amongst a toothpick to foreclose air bubbles.
* Transfer shapes to a baking canvass that has been sprayed amongst nonstick spray together with bake at 300 degrees for nearly i lx minutes (times may differ depending on the thickness of the dough).
* Paint away!
* You tin gum felt or cardstock to the dorsum for a to a greater extent than finished look, hence hang amongst a slice of string.

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Best Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 elementary Christmas menu display

I honey getting Christmas cards from friends as well as household unit of measurement as well as am ever trying to come upward up amongst a proficient means to display them. This was the solution this year. I ran 2 ribbons from the transcend of our pantry door to the bottom, using a apartment thumbtack to secure them. Then I only stimulate got to staple the cards on to the ribbon equally they come. It doesn't stimulate got upward counter infinite (which is really express inwards our house) as well as makes it slowly to run across all the cards.



What exercise you lot exercise amongst your cards?

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Best Painted block presents

I did these concluding year, but sentiment I'd percentage this sentiment again. Painted block presents. H5N1 fun Christmas ornamentation for a table, desk, counter or merely nether the tree. They could likewise brand a fun gift. All y'all create is pigment a block of wood, sand the edges in 1 lawsuit the pigment is dry out to plough over them a distressed look, too thus cutting a long strip of cloth to role for the bow. You tin sack function out it similar that or attach a wooden tag alongside twine. I actually similar the await of the cloth bow, I mightiness exactly role that sentiment to twine exactly about of my ain presents this year!

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Best 20-Minute Santa Hats

Last week, piece John was at schoolhouse together with Joe was downwards for his nap, Dan suggested nosotros (I) brand only about Santa hats. We had most an hr earlier John was going to larn habitation from school, hence I laid upward to travel together with came upward alongside a chapeau that could double equally a chapeau to vesture out inwards the cold. I had only about fleece leftover from the kids Christmas PJ's, hence I used that. It fifty-fifty came out looking somewhat Santa-ish, together with I was finished alongside all iii inwards 1 hour! Dan together with Joe wore their hats for the balance of the afternoon together with hit got worn them on many outings. Joe has fifty-fifty taken a twosome naps alongside his chapeau on, hence I consider it fourth dimension good spent.




Read ahead for the tutorial...

First of all, you're going to hit got to excuse the awful lineament of these pictures. An iPhone only doesn't accept adept pictures without the correct lighting. Someday I'll larn a squeamish camera.

What you'll need:
* Fleece... 2 contrasting colors if yous desire the ring at the bottom to last a unlike color
* Sewing machine
* twenty minutes!

Start past times cutting out the pieces. I only used a ruler together with a marking to describe the blueprint on the fabric, together with then cutting them out. This size is suitable for 2T-5T. One size fits all toddlers/preschoolers.
You'll take away two triangles that are xiv 1/2" high together with eleven 1/2" broad at the bottom, one long strip that's 21 1/2"x4 3/4" together with four pocket-size strips that are 7"x1/2".


Overlap the 4 pocket-size strips to brand a star together with position a stitch inwards the meat to concur them together.


Sew the 2 triangles alongside correct sides together leaving the bottom opened upward together with most an inch opened upward at the top.


From the within of the triangles, force the meat of the pocket-size strips through the 1" hole at the top.


Sew over the strips, closing the 1" hole.


When yous plow the triangles correct side out, the strips volition last sticking out the top.


Fold the large strip inwards one-half together with sew together the 2 ends together (sorry, this pic is difficult to see).


Now flexure that strip inwards one-half lengthwise hence the seam is hidden together with pivot the edges onto the bottom of the triangle pieces, correct sides together (although the strip at the bottom won't necessarily hit got a correct side). Sew them together. And telephone outcry upward it good!

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Best Homemade Christmas Cards

Designing our household unit of measurement Christmas carte du jour is something I hold off forwards to every year. In the past times our cards get got included a lot of cutting, gluing, fourth dimension as well as break energy (which, for the most part, is enjoyable to me). But this year, every bit a utilisation of attempting to simplify every utilisation of my life (something I'll write near inward the future), I decided it's fourth dimension to blueprint a carte du jour that isn't going to get got hours away from my fourth dimension alongside my kids as well as husband. So naturally the respond was getting the kids as well as hubby involved! John drew the painting exhibit for the front end of the card, I added the type as well as got them printed, all the kids helped color the fronts, as well as Pete helped materials them 1 black afterwards the kids had gone to bed. We too included a painting exhibit of our household unit of measurement as well as highlights from this twelvemonth within the card. The kids each colored a few every solar daytime for a duad weeks (thankfully they all actually savour coloring!) until they live on got burned out. But they colored plenty then that at to the lowest degree all our unopen household unit of measurement as well as friends could teach a personalized card. And spell they colored I was able to address all the envelopes. It was fun helping everyone experience apart of our carte du jour giving this year. And squeamish for me to non get got to pass then much fourth dimension on them. Success!

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Best Christmas pancakes

This isn't anything glamorous or new, simply my kids certain had a fun fourth dimension doing it! It was John's consider to role our cookie cutters to brand the pancakes into Christmas shapes. One mode to brand breakfast fun together with festive.






Joe woke upward afterward the other kids were pretty much done, together with thus he was the lucky 1 who got to swallow all the edges together with remnants. He didn't appear to heed :)

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Best NOEL blocks

We made these blocks at a Relief Society activeness before this month. I honey how they turned out! They took nearly ii hours from kickoff to finish.



Here's how y'all brand them:
Cut iv blocks of woods to the size y'all wishing them (these ones are 4"x5.5"x1.5") as well as around sand them down.
Paint blocks as well as letters (can locomote industrial plant life at Michael's as well as other arts and crafts stores) the desired color.
When dry, sand edges of blocks as well as letters to hand a distressed look.
Cut scrapbook newspaper slightly smaller thus blocks as well as rip edges.
Mod podge the scrapbook newspaper onto blocks.
Use hot gum gun to attach letters.

That's it! And y'all could patently purpose whatever word: joy, christmas, the concluding advert of your family, peace... whatever y'all choose.

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Best Christmas die game

I constitute this persuasion at Pre-K Pages together with decided to brand my ain printout to use. It's the perfect game for a toddler who is learning his numbers. John together with Dan both loved it together with understood it plenty that they could play past times themselves (they played it 1 afternoon spell I snuck inward a quick ability nap!) You exactly accept turns rolling a die together with cross the numbers off equally you lot go. The start out to stimulate got his numbers crossed off wins! Try it amongst your toddler!




Click on the icon below together with impress your own!

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Best The best toy

The best toy is ane that tin last used inward a lot of dissimilar ways. One that encourages imagination as well as creativity. One that tin plough into a sword, a cave, a race track, a car, a train, a kitchen, a bed, or a target for shooting Nerf guns at. One that doesn't toll a unmarried penny as well as that tin merely last thrown inward the recycling container when fun has been had as well as interests accept changed. The best toy is a BOX! We accept a big stash of them inward our basement... moving boxes, shoe boxes, diaper boxes... that tin last pulled out when the kids ask something novel to create or play with.

A diaper box turned into a race rails alongside a tunnel for the cars.


A moving box made into a small-scale kitchen.



Do you lot intend my kids would last happy if nosotros precisely gave them boxes for Christmas??? I'm pretty certain they would last precisely equally happy alongside boxes equally they would alongside whatever other toy... tempting...

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Best Establishing a routine

I experience similar my kids send ameliorate in addition to are all together happier when they are given administration in addition to know what to expect. Lately I guide maintain been trying to honor the best daily routine that volition assist things expire every bit smoothly every bit possible. Without a routine things tin instruct awfully chaotic around here! And alongside the fourth dimension alter in addition to alongside days getting shorter, nosotros pass most belatedly afternoons in addition to nights indoors then guide maintain had to brand some adjustments. After trying some dissimilar things (what to create correct when the kids wake up, when to cease play time, when to fix dinner, what to guide maintain the kids create correct afterwards dinner, correct before bed, etc), I guide maintain lastly constitute a routine that plant best for us. For at in ane lawsuit at least! It seems similar whenever I experience similar I guide maintain things downwards something happens in addition to my basis is turned upside downwards again... similar what we'll live bringing dwelling family 4 months from at in ane lawsuit :)

Here's what our daily routine looks like:

* Read books to whoever wakes upward outset until some other lilliputian trunk joins us
* Breakfast
* Clean upward breakfast spell the kids play
* Get dressed, brand bed
* At this point, upward until dinner, our days vary a lot in addition to are real flexible. Sometimes we'll come across upward alongside friends for a playgroup, expire to the library, expire to the grocery store, play inwards the basement spell I practice or move on some project, expire to the commons (although our commons days are virtually over... sad!), color, play alongside playdough... whatsoever nosotros necessitate or desire to do
* John goes to schoolhouse from 11:45-3:30. Joe takes a nap in addition to I instruct some ane on ane fourth dimension alongside Dan... reading books, doing puzzles, making preparations for dinner, baking cookies or bread... I quite relish this fourth dimension of day!
*Dinner around 5:30 or 6. I've been trying to create all the prep move in addition to cleanup before inwards the afternoon then that all I guide maintain to create for dinner is lay something inwards the oven or opened upward the crockpot. This has helped a TON. The kids are ordinarily a lilliputian tired in addition to e'er hungry correct before dinner in addition to need a lot of my attention. Being prepared for dinner is belike the matter that has helped the most alongside things running smoothly at night. Especially since I'm ordinarily on my ain (Pete hasn't been getting dwelling family until seven or 8... hence the necessitate for a skillful routine!)
*After the kids convey their dishes to the sink they caput downwards to the basement or wherever they've been playing all twenty-four hours to construct clean upward spell I construct clean upward dinner. This is every bit good some other business office of our routine that has worked GREAT. We ordinarily move into a race, in addition to the kids guide maintain expire mighty fast!
* Pajamas
* Brush teeth
* Read books (John has to read 20 minutes each twenty-four hours for school)
* Read scriptures
* Say prayers
* To bed! Phew! If I tin instruct the kids to bed past times viii I consider it a success. That leaves two hours or then for me in addition to Pete. Then it's off to bed for me in addition to fourth dimension to create it all over again!

What things create yous guide maintain inwards your routine to assist things run smoother?

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Best Family artwork

Over General Conference weekend, Pete, the kids together with I worked on creating to a greater extent than or less fine art to pose inwards the kids' bathroom. I institute these frames at a garage sale for $1 each, together with thence painted them cherry-red amongst to a greater extent than or less leftover pigment from to a greater extent than or less other project. I saw to a greater extent than or less like artwork at a children's infirmary together with used that equally the inspiration. Pete drew the smaller i for Dan to color, together with I drew the bigger i for John. But one-half vogue through coloring, the kids decided they wanted to operate together thence they could complete faster (I don't intend they understood that that wouldn't salve whatever fourth dimension inwards the end... oh well). I honey how they turned out! The kids LOVE to color, thence this was the perfect projection to proceed them somewhat busy thence nosotros could brain to Conference. And instantly their bath displays to a greater extent than or less really inexpensive (yet priceless!) artwork.

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Best Tutorial: toddler trick-or-treat bags

A twosome years agone I made some trick-or-treat bags for my kids that were basically 2 pieces of cloth sewn together alongside a grip on each side. But I speedily realized that these bags weren't going to function really well: they dragged on the flooring when the kids were belongings them downwards past times their side, in addition to my youngest wasn't coordinated plenty to opened upwards the purse alongside both handles to seat the candy in. So this yr I got a petty smarter in addition to made (what I intend is) the perfect trick-or-treat purse for immature hands! They bring 1 handle, a squeamish big opening that stays opened upwards hence the candy tin flaming survive easily dropped in, in addition to they're brusk plenty that they don't drag when held downwards to your side. AND they nevertheless bring plenty of room to fill upwards up alongside candy. The perfect bag!


Read on for the tutorial...

What you'll need:
- About 20"x23" felt
- 1"x27" contrasting coloring felt (for exceed lining)
- Small total of felt for pumpkin/ghost/bat
- Sewing machine

In the gist of a 20"x20" foursquare of felt, depict a circle. I simply traced a newspaper plate that was close 4" inwards diameter.


I pretty much simply eyeballed this part. Divide the circle inwards half dozen in addition to depict half dozen petal shapes (mine were close 8" long).


Cut that slice out, cutting the petal shapes all the agency to the circle, in addition to then cutting 1 slice that is 3"x13.5" for the grip in addition to some other 1"x27" slice of felt alongside a contrasting coloring for the lining of the exceed of the bag.


Now get sewing the petals together. I sewed mine alongside incorrect sides together because I wanted the stitching to show. I simply used a zig zag stitch, but if you're lucky plenty to bring a surger you lot could purpose that too.


You terminate upwards alongside an awkward looking upside downwards bakers hat.


Trim the exceed of the bag.


Pin the lining on to the exceed of the bag.



Then stitch it on. I used a zig zag stitch again.


Fold the felt you lot cutting out for the grip inwards one-half lengthwise in addition to stitch to a greater extent than or less the entire thing.


Sew the handles on the sides of the bag.



The kids chose which Halloween figure they wanted on their bag, in addition to then I cutting them out of felt in addition to used a gum gun to gum them on. You tin flaming impress out the ikon below if you lot desire 1 of those.


And at that spot you lot bring it! Three petty pirates who are all develop to become trick-or-treating :)

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