Celebrate with Stars, Angels, Sheep and the Manger!

Today at church we had a family Christmas celebration with games, crafts, music...all as families. Here are a few crafts we made:



1. Cut out two stars.
2. Tape some ribbon to the back of one star.
3. Staple the two stars together, leaving a space for the pencil.
4. Decorate the star, and place on a pencil.



1. Fold a piece of 12x18" construction paper in half lengthwise, then add stars to one side.
2. Attach some streamers along one edge of the paper on the other side.
3. Cut out and add angels to some of your streamers. (a cookie cutter works well for a template)
4. Staple the construction paper into a tube.
5. Punch two holes and add a pipe cleaner for a hanger.



1. Draw an angel shape, like in the photo, onto a paper plate.
2. Cut around your line.
3. Punch some holes to decorate the angel’s wings and skirt.
4. Add a bit of glitter glue for extra sparkle!



1. Wrap a napkin around a sucker, then secure with a rubber band.
2. Trim off some extra napkin so that the bottom is smooth.
3. Glue on two wiggle eyes.
4. Glue on two ears, and a snout.



1. Draw a face on the large end of a wooden ice cream spoon.
2. Wrap a piece of cheese cloth around the smaller end of the spoon.
3. Add some glue to secure the cloth.
4. Tuck the Baby Jesus into some “straw”.

We also made Nativity scenes out of clay pots.







There are lots of variations on this idea out there, but ours basically followed the instructions at this site. (I wish I had the sources for all the others, but I don't...)

Making simple things like these is a wonderful way to remember what this season is all about...enjoy!

Cut Apart Christmas Cards!

If you save the cards you receive each year, there are lots of ways to use them for new things. Google Recycling Christmas Cards, and you'll find plenty of ideas.

Our cards this year are designed to become ornaments...right away! Just cut apart the front, attached the enclosed string, and voila! You're set! But, if you don't want to cut it apart, or if you want extra ornaments, or you are visiting this blog but aren't on our family's Christmas card list, we have a PDF of the ornaments for you!

Download the Nativity Ornaments

Make an Advent Chain!

To start counting down until Christmas, make an Advent Paper Chain. Create one loop in the chain for each day before Christmas. You can decorate the strips or add one of the following Christmas Bible verses to each loop. Each day, remove one loop. You've created your own Advent Calendar!

1. Luke 1:11-17
2. Malachi 3:1
3. Isaiah 9:6-7
4. Luke 1:26-33
5. Matthew 1:18-19
6. Isaiah 7:14
7. Matthew 1:20-25
8. Luke 1:39-56
9. Luke 2:1-7
10. Luke 2:8-14
11. Luke 2:15-20
12. Exodus 13:2
13. Luke 2:21-24
14. Matthew 2:1-5
15. Micah 5:2
16. Matthew 2:7-12
17. Luke 2:25-35
18. Luke 2:26-38
19. Hosea 11:1
20. Matthew 2:13-15
21. Jeremiah 31:15
22. Matthew 2:16-18
23. Matthew 2:19-23
24. Luke 2:39-40

Make an Advent Calendar!

There are so many ways to count down to Christmas, and Advent calendars are a tradition at our house. Lately Mollie has been finding some amazing calendars that you can make yourself! The photo above was made last year by Sonia, an internet friend of hers. Each pocket has a simple activity to do. She's got new activities for this year.

For more fun calendar ideas, check out:

Whip Up's List of 30 Advent Calendars

Red Velvet Art's Advent Calendar Kit

JennyB's Advent Calendar Tutorial