Let the Crafting Begin

It's the most wonderful time of year and the Christmas crafting has begun!  After initially deciding that it would be too much to have any kind of ornament exchange this year -- you know, since we have a newborn and all -- I quickly changed my mind when looking at pictures from last year's blog of how much fun the kids had making their ornaments and realized I just didn't want to give up the tradition.

So, I decided I could handle making it happen and still hold the Kids' Ornament Exchange this year.  The kids spent Sunday afternoon culling through Pinterest for easy ornament ideas, and yesterday, while they were at school, I shopped for the necessary craft supplies.  After chores were {kind of} done that evening, they settled in for some fun.

When Scott walked in the door last night, they were all happily and busily engaged in their work.  It was easily the most cooperative and delightful the kids have been all week.  Hahahaha.  :)  I mean, come on -- Ethan essentially took over making Jane's ornament (because it was just too cool NOT to) -- and Jane happily acquiesced and became his assistant without a single tear or meltdown!  It was a Christmas miracle.

Ethan's actual ornament will be a popsicle stick Olaf snowman; Grace is making "ninja stars;" Sophie was planning on making "stained glass" ornaments out of melted plastic cups colored with Sharpies {until we discovered today that they don't melt the way the tutorial said they would}; Jane is using melted crayons in glass bulb ornamnents; and Alex is planning on decorating popsicle sticks.

Ethan did the blow-drying to melt the crayons inside...

...while Jane assembled all the crayons in the bulbs.

{He was SUPER into making these ornaments.}

{Jane wanted to decorate a cup, too.}

Even though the craft mess on the table will probably stay there for another week, I never mind when messes are made if creativity is being pursued.  And you can stitch that and put it on a pillow.  :)  The only hitch in the ornament plan at this point is that Sophie will have to start over from scratch and find a new project.  She was quite distraught when she discovered this afternoon that her stained glass cups will be filed in the Pinterest Fail category.  :(  Oh well!  She's still got plenty of time to make something work. Stay tuned to see all the finished products!

{I couldn't close the post without a little Squeaker representation.}