CREATE: holiday handmade

the weather has been so darned cold this holiday season that we have been forced to spend a lot of time inside.  i have been trying to make the most of it by working on different holiday crafts and handmade gifts to give.  we've had some fun and have a few challenges…mostly being the attention span of a toddler.  mama usually ends up finishing most of the projects.  but, we've been having fun experimenting and creating some fun goodies! 

cinnamon applesauce ornaments.  here are directions.  these guys were so easy to make!  especially with only 2 ingredients (we did not use glue as the recipe calls for).  channing loved playing with the dough and our hands and the house smelled good all day long! 

birdseed ornaments.  here are the directions.  these were fun but a bit messy.  i am still finding birdseed on the floor!  also, these are best made with tall metal cookie cutters, as shown here in the photo.  i had a bunch of plastic cookie cutters that we used but they made the ornaments really thin and they broke apart easily.  also note the no sweet little birds got to eat these outside…our darned squirrels got to them first! 

snow globes. we made some with water and some without water.  they were both a lot of fun.  one interesting little detail is that when you use green colored trees in your with water globes, they most likely will dye your water green as well.  all 6 that we made dyed the water green.  it still looks kind of fun…just don't be surprised if this happens to you!  these are such a fun little gift.  the birds and glittery mushrooms are from michael's and the trees and dear figurines are from hobby lobby. 

gingerbread house.  this is one that i would like to continue each year, as a fun tradition. i do not have time to make a gingerbread house from scratch so, i purchased this kit from target and it came with icing and candies.  i bought a few extra candies, like the dots and peppermints and decorate christmas lights.  channing particularly liked this activity…mostly due to its involvement with so much candy.