Wooden Doll Nativity

I fell in love with this Spool Doll Nativity from {Holes in my Shiny Veneer}.  Here's {part 2} of her adorable nativity, in case you're interested.  So, I set out to make my own. 

Within a week, I came across this wooden nativity backdrop at Target in their dollar section for only $2.50!  I was seriously so excited!  Then, I went to get some wooden spools and doll heads at the craft store and while I was looking I saw these little unfinished wooden doll bodies:

They already have a head and I love skipping steps, so I bought them.  They have two different sizes, too.  Perfect for a nativity, since you need a smaller one for baby Jesus.

Anyway, I spent an hour one day cutting scraps of fabric and ribbon and hot gluing them onto these dolls.  The link mentioned above has a great tutorial which I looked at just to get ideas and see how she did things.  For me, it was as easy as cutting strips of fabric and wrapping them around the doll bodies, and in some cases their heads.  Then, putting on embellishments to create different characters.

I'm absolutely in love with the way they turned out!!  And my son was very excited with each new addition I put out for him to put in his "house".

I might eventually paint faces on them, but I'm kinda worried I'll totally mess them up, and I kind of like them faceless... 

It's a perfect little durable nativity that my little guy can play with to his hearts content without me worrying about him breaking something.  And even if he did, the whole thing cost under $8.00, so it wouldn't be a big deal.  I think this is a really cute and easy way to help my 3 year old understand the real meaning of Christmas.  We love playing "Baby Jesus" with them, and I hope we will continue to play with them year after year.

Since I found my Creche (backdrop) at Target last year, I have been asked so many times where to find something like it.  I don't know if Target will carry it again this year, but I've found a few comparables:

You can find this cutie at {Mud Cats Pottery} on Etsy for $12.

This small Nativity Creche is $15 at {avwod37} on Etsy.

And this one is $18 at {ClickityClack} on Etsy.

I'm tempted to try and make one myself to sell it to everyone who is looking! ha.  I'll let ya'll know if it happens.  But here are some measurements in case you want to make your own:

Jingle Bell Joy

I saw this last year somewhere and thought it was a super cute craft idea!  Love the way it looks!!

Christmas Book Bags Advent

There are so many great Christmas books!  I think a good advent idea would be to read one every day until Christmas.  And to make it fun, you could make book bags to put them in, so it's a surprise every night.  

Visit {Design Dazzle} to get the scoop on how to make these cut book bags.

Merry Christmas!

Thankful Chain

I really love this idea from {Silverbox Creative Studio}!  Everyone gets write one thing they are thankful for on a link of this chain.  What a great thing to do on Thanksgiving Day!  I'd like to make this a tradition.  You can imagine that the chain might get quite long as you continue to remember things you're thankful for all day long.  Here is the {printable}.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Nativity Advent

If you were to look back over all my {Christmas Posts} you would see a little obsession I have over advent calenders  I have documented plenty, and here's another great one!

It's a Nativity with 25 pieces - add one a day until Christmas! 

Not only do I love the religious nature of this one, I love that it is a kid friendly decoration! 

How much would a child love putting this together piece by piece!!?  Find out more about this Nativity Advent at {Craftiness is not Optional} and you can purchase it, or a kit to assemble it, or a pattern to make  it {here}!  Super cute!!

Thanksgiving Tables

Just some decorating ideas for your Thanksgiving table.

Sweet and simple corn bundles sitting on top of a bare table.  Love that huge wreath! 

Love the gold theme here.  Golden pumpkins in hurricanes.  A gold charger under each plate, and a pumpkin on top.  Love the little frame, too!  It says "Blessed Thanksgiving". 

Love the simplicity of the leaf tied on top of a napkin here!  And I adore this centerpiece!!!  The candles, the berry garland, the gourds and the fact that it all sits on a piece of old wood. 

I really love pears this time of year, and incorporating them into a Thanksgiving place setting is my idea of yummy!  

Love how these artichokes look!  Kind of a different color scheme here, but I really like it!!

Love this simple centerpiece!  The pretty fall branches in a vase surrounded by pumpkins.  Sweet and simple!

I'm in love with the lanterns used as a centerpiece on this table!!  And the pinecones are lovely!  This would be a great Christmas table, as well.

The ABC's of Christmas

Just thought this was a really cute idea from {Poppies at Play}

If you were really creative you could make it into an advent calender...but you'd have to start a day early...  Anyway, just a fun idea.

Farewell to Fall

Are you ready to say goodbye? 

to the harvest? 

to the colors? 

to the warm chill? 

to the beauty? 

Before you do, make sure you check off every item on your fall bucket list.

Pumpkin Gingerbread Trifle

My mouth started watering as soon as I read the name of this dessert.  Doesn't it sound divine!!?  And perfect for Thanksgiving!

Visit {My Blessed Life} for all the yummy details.

Sharing

I saw this on {A Thoughtful Place} and kind of fell in love with it.

Too funny, right!?  I'd like one in my kid's playroom someday. :)

Fun with Sweaters

This is just a collection I've gathered of some new ways to use old sweaters.

Some pretty cute wintery bracelets if you ask me!

Wouldn't sweaters make the most comfy cozy blanket!!?

How about some cup warmers?  Love it.

And I love this sweater scarf idea I blogged about a while ago {here}.

Love these sweater pillows, and the tutorial to make them on {Brassy Apple}. 

And here's a cute idea to winter up some candles, or vases.

Time to get cozy!

Acorn Ball

Isn't this pretty!?  I love the way it looks, and I think it would be a good transition piece between Thanksgiving and Christmas. 

Spray paint a foam ball brown. 

Get a bunch of acorn tops. 

Glue them to the ball and then brush some mod podge on the edges and sprinkle them with glitter. 

Isn't it a pretty tree ornament? 

But, I love the way it looks all by itself, too.  So pretty!  Visit {Sweet Something Design} for all the details.