Homemade Christmas: Make an Easy Fairy Crown






Take two cheap wired based headbands that have a knit like covering. They are often sold in packs of 4 at your local drug store. The wire base will allow you to manipulate the shape of the headband and the knit exterior will allow you to sew them together. I used a combo of sewing through the knit exterior and wrapping the thread around to ensure it was a strong connection.



Use your child's head to size. Sew together as shown in the picture. After sewn together I pulled and manipulated the headbands to make it look more circular.



Have ready: long pieces of ribbon and tulle cut and ready to go for the back of the fairy crown. Take a really long piece of ribbon (I am sorry I didn't measure mine.) I used satin ribbon. Starting in what will be the back of the fairy crown. Leave a long tail - you will be tying it off at this point. Hold the tail tightly. Start wrapping ribbon around. Overlapping as you go. Make sure it is tight and neat. I ended up holding the tail between my knees once I had wrapped a few inches. Wrap all the way around until you get to the tail piece. Tie together once - pull tightly. Place the cut tulle and ribbon in center of knot and tie again - securing tulle and ribbon in place. Tie a bow - double knot it so it doesn't come loose. You could put a dab of hot glue there too. If using satin ribbon you can slightly melt edges of ribbon by holding end briefly above a lighter. Do this in a well ventilated area as I don't know that it is good to do this. Please be careful! What this does is it ensures the ends won't unravel. If using grosgrain ribbon - use fray check.



You could jazz it up even more by adding silk flowers or leaves. The color combinations are endless. I chose red for Christmas but can't wait to try it in a rainbow of colors!
This would also be beautiful done in white for the little ones who like playing bride!

Christmas Stockings: A Family Tradition

Lu, Christmas Morning, 2008

The stocking tradition started with my Grandmother (my mother's mother.) She made all her grand children red felt stockings that were hand sequined. In our house it wasn't Christmas until the stockings were hanging on the mantle.


Mama's Stocking, 1973

When my sisters and I started our families, my mother carried on the tradition and made each of her grand children one, using one of the original stockings as a template.


Lu's Stocking, 2005


Em's Stocking, 2008

I even made my husband (Papa King) one. He likes cars so I added a new shiny car with a big red bow...probably the only car he'll see at Christmas any time soon!


Papa King's, 2003

I know that when my girls start families of their own someday I will lovingly trace my stocking and think of my Grandmother and Mother as I carry on the tradition. Each stocking is a little different and shows the hand and style of the woman that made it...which I love!

What is a family tradition you cherish and hope to pass on to your kids and grand kids?

Great Children's Book Gift Recommendation


If you are looking for a great gift for toddlers on up, under $15, check out this fantastic book and included CD by John Lithgow. I Got Two Dogs is an ode to the owners much loved and very silly dogs who are complete opposites. The girls never get tired of singing this song (nor do my hubby and I.) Even before Emme could speak she would howl along with the song. It is just one of those books and songs the kids keep going back to time and again. I just realized I can change the Dogs names to Emme and Lu (instead of Fanny and Blue.) Well the girls just think I am the funniest Mom in the entire world!

I Got Two Dogs: (Book and CD) by John Lithgow and Robert Neubecker
(Hardcover - Oct 21, 2008)
$12.95

This review is completely unsolicited and purely my opinion.


It's begining to feel a lot like Christmas...



Gingerbread House...Check!




Christmas card photo shoot...check!

Typo on the Christmas Card...Check!

(Don't design Christmas Card with toddler on your lap. Kodak Gallery will not stop orders after you press send. Oh well.)

Wishing you a joyful holiday and and an amazing 2010! (Can you spot the typo?)

The Frugal Family Fun Blog Rocks!


As many of you know I have been battling some health issues and recently underwent surgery. I shared this information more to explain my dwindling posts and often uninspiring posts. I was not expecting to receive this truly amazing package from Valerie over at Frugal Family Fun Blog. She and her awesome daughter Emily put together the most thoughtful get well care package I had to share it with you.


Included were Valerie's lovingly hand made felt pastas. Packaged so beautifully and just begging to be poured in a pot and "cooked" in our toy kitchen. They would make a great stocking stuffer! You can purchase them at Valerie's Etsy shop.


As if that were not enough, we also received fun activities for Em...

and Lu...

and Mama!
How could she have known that I love Lavender?

Valerie and Emily brightened my day!
Thank you for your thoughtfulness and generosity of spirit!

I can honestly say that I have found some wonderful friends and kindred spirits blogging.
Strange as it may sound to a non blogger! What you've never met any of these people?!
I feel fortunate to be apart of this online community.
Thank you all for your kind words and support over the last month!
Hugs! Mama King

Feed The Birds


Todays Advent Calender note said to feed the birds. A simple and time tested activity perfect for preschoolers. We used Crisco instead of peanut butter (Lu's allergies.) Lu had fun smearing on the"glue" with her own plastic knife. I put the seeds in a Dixie Cup and had her sprinkle them on to the pine cone and Crisco.

Even though she is not allergic to seeds I just wanted to be safe she didn't touch them since it was a blend and who knows if some nuts got mixed up in the blend.

We'll be watching for some bird friends to visit our treats.

Hope your making time for some quiet moments amidst all the chaos than can be the holiday season.

Kids Craft: Handmade Wrapping Paper

This project was inspired by the wonderful mess made over at Adventures of Mommydom's Blog recently. She and her kids had a blast creating their own wrapping paper. We just had to get in on the fun and make our own mess...I mean masterpiece!

While Lu was at school, Em and I had at it. Boy did she have fun! We used a paper grocery bag that I cut open. This special paper will be used to wrap her Daddy's Christmas gift.

For those of you who are mess phobic try these tips:

Have a vinyl table cloth designated for craft projects.
Have a damp sponge and or dish towel on hand to wipe up spills and or messy hands as you go.
Have child wear a smock. We use Daddy's old t shirts.
You control the paint. Distribute a small amount onto a paper plate or old yogurt container.
Even better use DOT style paints. The paint is contained in the bottle and your child dabs on the paint as they go.
Help smaller children by rotating the paper if they are over working one area.
Keep telling yourself it is all washable!
Have your camera ready to take the requisite messy painted child picture!

Have fun crafting with your kids!

Model Magic Ornaments & Beads


Once again Model Magic comes to the rescue. Monday was my first day home solo after surgery. My girlfriend wisely brought us a huge bag of Model Magic for the girls and some yummy food for the family. Out came the bead jar and the cookie cutters for a simple craft. We even broke out the Christmas music while I watched the girls make Christmas ornaments.


Both girls were having so much fun we moved onto making beads.

Crafting After Surgery

Usually this is my favorite crafting time of the year. Unfortunately, this year I will be scaling back on the projects and decorating as I am recovering from some pretty major surgery. Fortunately the surgery went exceedingly well and I will be in tip top shape by the new year!


I had my surgery the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. By Thanksgiving Day I thought I felt well enough to tackle this ornament kit I bought off eBay. I was pretty much bedridden so why not do something productive...always the multi tasking mom (right?)

My mother had made these same ornaments when I was little. They were always my favorite and I looked forward to seeing them on the tree every year. Being the middle child I assumed that my oldest sister would end up with them since she loved them as much as I did. I did a Google search for Wizard of Oz felt ornaments and voila! Up came several eBay listings for the original kit.



OK, I don't know what I was thinking because I was in no state of mind to translate these directions or do any minute bead work. I was on some serious pain killers and well... Dorothy looks pretty messed up after my drug induced attempt to craft. I won't even show you it is too embarrassing! So moral of the story kids, don't craft while on pain killers!




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