Holiday crafts.

To say I have been busy the past few months is a huge understatment.  You probably guessed as much by my absence here on the blog.  It really bums me out to not keep the blog updated, but there just are not enough hours in the day.  During the summer I post daily, and now besides these past couple of posts this week I had not blogged in nearly 2 months (gasp!) ... I feel like I have committed some sort of blog crime.  But, I am taking the "blogging without obligation" route, and just doing the best that I can. 

As many of you know I have been back in school for nursing, and that is what has been taking up all of my time.  I have finals next week, so you will see an increase in the frequency of my posts while I am on break, and then probably a drop in posts again until around April.  Bummer, I know.  But, I am happy to report that I am doing well in school, I have just been having a difficult time with time management and setting priorities.  My head is constantly in a book ... makes me feel so bad that I am missing so much with my kids, but I keep trying to remind myself that this is temporary and I only have 3 semesters left. 

But, in the midst of studying I have managed to get a few holiday crafts done, so I thought I would share ....

A wreath.

I was inspired by a similar wreath I saw in one of those Holiday craft magazines that I always read through when I am in the checkout line.  Can't remember which one I saw it in, but I put my own spin on it anyways by adding different types of flowers, leaves, and little cardinals.   Even though I have it handing on our front door for the benefit of this photo, I actually have it hanging up inside of our house, as I just do not know how well this wreath would hold up against the elements ... especially the sun as our front door faces West.

I used wool blend felt, a straw wreath (with the plastic left on), one full skein of Vanna's Choice yarn, a hot glue gun, some pearl looking beads and those cute little birds.  It really only took me an hour and a half to make.


Next, I made this ornament ...

Every year I put an ornament on our tree of my kids ... I just think it will be fun when they are grown ups to see the photos of themselves from Christmas each year.  Some times I use a photo that I take, but this year I am being lazy and using their school photos.  Normally I just buy an ornament that has room for a picture, but this year I decided to make my own. So far I only have this one done of my youngest, but as soon as I am done with finals at school,  I am going to get the other two made.  I will try and get a tutorial together too ... if anyone is interested. 

I mainly used Tim Holtz products as well as some Martha Stewart paper, and some other odds and ends I had sitting around from swaps and such.  The base is one of those wooden circles that you can find at any craft store ... it was thin enough that I could punch a hole in it with my crop-a-dile.  I think it turned out pretty cute.

I also made an ATC at the same time that I made the ornament from above ... can you tell?  I used a lot of the same materials.

And lastly I made some glittered pine cones.  In addition to a sack of cinnamon scented pine cones, I used the martha stewart glittering glue, and martha stewart glitter.  I make these every year, and some how it seems like they always disappear ... so random.  I  think it is my husband secretly tossing them out after Christmas because of his disdain for anything with glitter on it.

I usually keep them in a wire bowl on our dining table as a sort of simple center piece.  I just love the way the light catches the glitter.  This one below is my fave ... I just love the color of the glitter ... sort of silver with a bit of gold mixed in ....

What about you, have you made any holiday crafts lately?