This Christmas has definitely been one of the best Christmases ever... Biggest reason being: Little Red!
He has been so much fun this year! His big, blue eyes just light up over all things Christmas... We spot every Christmas tree and decoration as we're driving. He asks to stop at Lowe's to see the "Kipimees" (Christmas Trees) and marvels over of those big, "blow up in your front yard" things. He asks to turn our tree lights on anytime we're at home. And he loves Rudolph...
Presents this year should be a blast! : D
(Last year was more about eating the paper...)
Anyways, this year was his first time in his class at church to get to make his own, handmade ornaments. I'm. So. Excited!
So, in the spirit of being crazy about Christmas ornaments (which you'll get to see in an up-coming post), I wanted to share an idea I got from a very, incredibly, creative gal at our church who passed on this ornament idea to me, either for your tree or as gifts (of which I did both...)
Here's what you'll need:
*Plain, 3 1/4" or bigger sphere ornament(s)
(I got a box of 4, glass ornaments at Hobby Lobby for $2.50)
*Craft paint that is safe on skin
*paint brushes
*your kids hand
*and maybe an extra set of your own hands...
Step 1: Wrangle down your child.
Step 2: Practice where you'd like to put their hand print. Be quick, because this will only be interesting to your child for about 5 seconds.
Step 3: Release child temporarily.
Step 4: Get your paint ready. I did a very light blue, almost white color.
Step 5: Repeat step 1.
Step 6: While gently holding child's wrist, paint very wiggly child's hand. Asking very lovingly for them to be still. They will like this part.
Step 7: In one fail swoop--while never loosing the painted hand, put down your brush--grab an ornament quickly--and gently place the painted hand on the ornament (try to keep fingers slightly spaced) where you had practiced in Step 2.
Step 8: Press on fingers slightly to make sure the little print made it completely.
Step 9: Remove hand from ornament.
Step 10: Again, while never loosing the still-painted hand, put down the newly--extremely cute hand printed ornament to dry, and grab the brush.
Repeat Steps 6-10 for as many ornaments as you plan to do. (We did one for us, and some for grandparents.)
Step 11: When hand prints are completed--all while still holding the wet, painted hand--rush to the bathroom, wash and rinse hand thoroughly.
Step 12: Sigh of relief. The hardest part is now over.
Step 13: When handprint is dry, paint on the snow men effects. And maybe a "to" and "from". Definitely a name and year.
And here is what you'll end up with:
Snow can be added with a paint brush, or flicked on with a tooth brush. I think I might add a spritz of spray glitter? Just considering it...
I just love these ornaments! I love his little hand print. I can't wait to give them to the grandparents!
Let me know how your ornaments (and/or experiences) go! ; )
~Page
