Easy Gnome Christmas Ornaments

These easy Gnome Christmas ornaments are perfect for crafting with the kids this holiday season.


We love to make easy crafts with the items we already have on hand. Some of my best ideas and favorite projects have stemmed from the junk drawer and items destined for the trash. These Christmas gnome ornaments are a great example of what you can make with simple stuff you probably already have.


These are awesome because with a different pattern of paper, or bigger googly eyes, your gnome looks totally different. If you don't have the supplies in the junk drawer or your craft supplies, you can get all of these things from Dollar Tree or even better- improvise!



Supplies per 1 gnome:

2 googly craft eyes
3 craft sticks
cotton balls
Red Pom Pom
Glue
Brown Bag
Scrap Book Paper
Confetti
Sharpie
Ribbon


Directions:

With the 3 craft sticks glue them together to form a triangle.




Cut a triangle from the brown bag to fit in the craft stick frame.



Add a generous amount of glue to the craft sticks and place the bag on top of it.


Cut a smaller triangle from scrap book paper to form the hat of your gnome.


Add eyes, a pom pom nose and draw on a mouth with a sharpie.


Add a chunk of confetti or some type of adornment to the hat.
Add a row of cotton balls for the beard.


Flip the gnome over and glue a ribbon to the back.


Hang your cute and easy gnome Christmas ornaments from your tree or share them with friends and family!


You can make dozens of these and make them all unique by simply changing the paper of the hats and the size of the pom pom of the nose.


This is such a fun craft to make with the kids! We loved making and naming our gnome ornaments!


Find all of our DIY Christmas Ornaments here.


20+ Christmas Books for Preschoolers

Christmas is near, so why not check out some fun holiday themed books with your preschooler? My kids helped me pick these titles from our collection to inspire your bedtime stories. I am sure you will find a bunch of titles you want to check out.



This list includes affiliate links. If you buy a book from the list, I will earn a small advertising fee at no cost to you.

My kids have a collection of favorite books for every season. It is one of the perks of having a librarian for a father. We love to rotate our titles to keep the experience of reading exciting. These are some of our favorite titles from over the years. I know your kids will love them all. Find them on amazon, or stop by your local library and borrow a few.

Elmo's 12 Days of Christmas
It's Christmas, David!
That's Not My Snowman
Dream Snow
Llama Llama Jingle Bells

Related: Magical Reindeer Food


Who Is Coming To Our House?
Thomas Counts on Christmas
Construction Site on Christmas
The Christmas Elf Countdown
Paw Patrol Holiday Helpers

Related: Mickey Mouse Jingle Bell Ornaments 


Bear Stays Up For Christmas
Biscuit Gives a Gift
The Not Very Merry Pout Pout Fish
Pinkalicious Merry Pinkmas
Pete the Cat Saves Christmas

Related: Green Button Tree Ornaments


Christmas Cookie Day
Mickey's Clubhouse Christmas
Berenstain Bears' Night Before Christmas
Santa's Toy Shop
The Grinch's Great Big Flap Book

If you have a favorite Christmas book for preschoolers I would love to hear about it.

You can find all of my Christmas posts here.

Easy Ribbon and Craft Stick Ornaments

This easy ribbon tree craft is a fun way to decorate your tree this holiday season. These are easy to make, economical and perfect for sharing with your friends and family!




This post contains affiliate links. If you click and purchase I make a small commission.

You can mix and match ribbon colors, or stick with one color, whatever you prefer. I used a thin strip of ribbon that fit perfectly with my chunky crafty sticks.



Supply List:

Glue
Scissors
A Pencil



Directions:


  • Line up 4 craft sticks
  • Lightly draw the outline of a tree on the craft sticks, as you can see we simply made slanted lines.
  • Cut the craft sticks per the lines you made.


  • I made a tiny pointy triangle from the scraps of craft sticks for the top of the tree.
  • Cut and glue ribbon to fit the cut craft sticks.

  • Trim the ribbon to fit.
  • Now assemble your tree and glue it on to the remaining craft stick.



  • Cut 6 inches of ribbon and form a loop, glue this to the back to act as an ornament hanger.
  • Allow to dry, then hang from your tree, or share with someone special this holiday season!




These were so easy to make! Last year I added them to my wrapped gifts to add something extra to the presentation.

We have so many other fun Christmas ornament crafts you will want to check out. A few of our favorites include:

Mickey Mouse Jingle Bell Ornaments

Ribbon Tree Ornaments








12 Cheesecake Recipes to Make for Christmas

Cheesecake is one of those things in life that should be savored and shared. I think it is always one of my favorite options at the dessert table. I found 12 Cheesecake Recipes to Make for Christmas that are perfect for sharing and celebrating this holiday season!

Cheesecake recipes for Christmas


I have found 12 incredible cheesecake recipes to make this Christmas and I know you are going to find a few on this list that you can't wait to try! From Peppermint varieties to Pecan Pie Cheesecake, this list has something for everyone on it!

No Bake Peppermint Cheesecake

Eggnog Cheesecake

Candy Cane Cheesecake with a Sugar Cookie Crust

Peanut Butter Cheesecake Balls

Raspberry Cheesecake Shooters

Pecan Pie Cheesecake

No Bake Eggnog Cheesecake

Strawberry Swirl Cheesecake

Gingerbread Pumpkin Cheesecake

Santa Hat Peppermint Cheesecake Bars

Raspberry White Chocolate Cheesecake Bars

Easy Lemon Cheesecake Pie

Which of these sounds like the cheesecake of your dreams?

You can find more awesome recipes here

These Christmas tree inspired snacks are sure to be a hit with the kids!
My family is crazy for these fun Christmas treat ideas.


If you have a favorite cheesecake recipe, please do tell me all about it!


Nail Polish Ornaments

Nail Polish Painted Ornaments are a great way for tweens and teens to craft up something pretty for the Christmas tree! These are easy and economical with supplies from the dollar tree for a fun decoration to share this holiday season.



I have a tendency to hoard nail polish. I can't buy just one color. I am compelled to buy them all. As I was browsing my collection, I realized I could be doing so many things with my nail polish, and I wanted to try using it for decorations!


I picked 2 pretty shades, specifically one with confetti, and grabbed a 2 pack of ornaments from the dollar store.


First, I carefully removed the top.
Then I poured in a touch of each nail polish.

Nail Polish Ornaments

The first attempt at this craft, taught me an important lesson.
You must allow this to dry before replacing the cap, or the nail polish will remain liquid.
To dry the polish, I recommend blow drying on the cool setting for about 2 minutes, but be careful to not place the dryer right up against the ornament!


This is such a great and easy craft. The ornaments turned out lovely and were so much fun to share! We made red and blue ones!


You can find all of our ornament craft ideas here

You might also want to check out these Christmas tree inspired snacks.




10 Projects to Make for Hanukkah



 The holidays are near and it is time to get crafting! I have 10 Projects to Make for Hanukkah that you aren't going to want to miss! These are so fun you are going to light up at the sight of them!

These 10 Projects to Make for Hanukkah are perfect for crafting with the kids and are a great way to add a little festive decor to your home without having to head to the shops to get it!







Hanukkah Party Poppers by Frugal Elegance
Shimmering Star of David by Crafts by Amanda
Hanukkah Stained Glass Craft by Kid World Citizen
Modern Menorah by Delicate Construction
Handprint Menorah by Mom Endeavors
Elegant Menorah by Mod Podge Rocks
Hanukkah Gelt Tree by Yesterday on Tuesday
DIY Menorah by Sugar Bee Crafts
Hanukkah String Art by Delicate Construction

I can't wait to make the party poppers with the kids! They are going to LOVE these!
If you have a fun craft or DIY for Hanukkah please leave a comment to share with us! If you make any of these ideas make sure you share a pic on facebook!

Find all of our holiday posts here



Easy Rudolph Ornaments

These easy Rudolph ornaments are fun to make and share this holiday season. These come together with the most basic supplies and are perfect for making with the kids.

Easy Rudolph DIY Christmas Ornaments

I got everything for this project at Dollar Tree. So, you know it is going to be a cheap and easy project that is perfect for the kids!

Supplies

Gold Pipe Cleaner
Clear Bauble
Red Button
Craft Eyes
Brown Paper Bag
Scissors
Glue



Directions

Attach the gold pipe cleaner o the top of the ornament and form Rudolph's antlers.


Have the kids cut or tear the brown bag into bits.

Fill the ornament with bits of the brown bag


Glue the eyes and button nose on the ornament.  Allow it to dry overnight then hang on your tree or share with someone special.

Easy Rudolph Ornaments. Kid Made Ornaments. Kid Crafts, Christmas Crafts. DIY Ornaments

You can find all of my ornament crafts here



Thanksgiving Dinner Sandwich

There is no shame in my game. I get way too excited about Thanksgiving! The actual meal is pretty wonderful, but the days and days of leftovers are what dreams are made of for me!

There are so many ways to serve them, but my favorite is the Thanksgiving Dinner Sandwich!
I like to serve this on croissants. The flakiness adds so much yum to this! 



This sandwich can be made anyway you like it, with whatever leftovers you have on hand.
I like to stick to the basics, but my husband adds the veggies to his!




To make the Thanksgiving Dinner Sandwich, Sara Style:
Cut a Croissant in half.
Add a layer of stuffing,
a drizzle of gravy,
Then top with turkey and another drizzle of gravy.
Pop in the microwave for about a minute and a half, or better yet, warm in a 350 degree oven for about 13-15 minutes.




This is the way to eat your leftovers on a crusty, flaky open face sandwich! You will need a knife and fork for this one!

From my family to yours, Happy Thanksgiving!

Christmas Gift Guide For Seniors

Image


Now that we are in the tail end of November and December looms around the corner, it is time for us to
think about Christmas once again. Christmas is a time of year for fun and cheer, and when we think
about celebrating the special day we think about treating our family to gifts

Whole buying gifts for children and younger members of the family might be easier; when reaching over
65 years old it can be difficult to choose the right gift to give. This is why today we have come up with a
handy list of gifts you can get for your older family members at Christmas. 

Neck Massager 


Often when we get older we start to develop aches and pains that we didn’t have when we were young
and spritely. As a result this can lead to issues with mobility as well as pain. If your relative suffers from
neck pain or back pain frequently, the ideal gift would be a neck massager to help ease the pain and
allow them to move around more independently. 


Afternoon Tea


Often the older members of the family will be more grateful for a gift that involves spending time with
their loved ones that a material thing. This is why an afternoon tea booked in a nice hotel or restaurant
can be the ideal day out and gift for them. You’ll be able to spend the afternoon out in a warm place
eating cakes and drinking tea. 

Spa Trip 


A spa trip could be a wonderful chance for you all to let your hair down and enjoy some much needed
TLC. You could choose to buy a few treatments for yourself and your senior family member or simply
hang out at the spa for the day and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere. 


Vineyard Tour 


Who doesn’t love a good bottle of wine? If your senior relatives like a good tipple, a fun and unique gift
would be to take a tour of a vineyard and go for wine tasting. This is a great way to spend a day out in
a sunny place and learn how wine is actually taken from grape to bottle. 


Pajamas


If you are thinking of something simple to buy for your senior relatives this year, nothing could be easier
than pajamas. Pajamas are always a great gift at this time of the year and you’ll be able to find some
thick cozy ones at your local store that are sure to be used and loved. 


Photo Album 


The older generation always tend to be more sentimental than us and as a result it is important for us
to give them amazing memories to enjoy at Christmas. This is why the ideal gift for a senior family
member is a photo album. You can also print off some of your favorite family snaps and put them
inside to allow your senior relative to enjoy seeing their family and reminisce. They can then keep
adding to the album over time as the family grows. 

OurPact vs Screen Time - What Do You Really Need to Keep Your Child Protected?

If you own an Apple device, it is probably you’re using Screen Time feature to control and manage the time
spent on the device. But if you’re a big fan of parental controls, it is likely you already know about
OurPact.


OurPact and Screen Time are both used to check and control the amount of time your kids spend on devices. 
You’ll have to pay for subscriptions to use OurPact app on your iPhone, Screen Time, on the other hand,
comes with no additional costs. 
But why will someone prefer to pay subscription while there is a free version of the same?  
Read below to see the difference between Screen Time and OurPact.

How OurPact Compares with Screen Time

Want to know more about OurPact vs Screen Time so you can make an informed decision? The following
points will be helpful.
1.  You’ll have to pay a subscription of $5 per month to enjoy OurPact features on your iPhone, but Apple’s
IOS 12 with Screen Time is free. OurPact has a free version too but will come with limited functions.
2.   For you to manage the device from the parental OurPact app, you’ll have to install the device
management software on each device. On the other hand, Screen Time functionality depends on Apple ID’s
, meaning, provided that the device is logged into your child’s Apple ID, Screen Time will continue with
its job.
3.  With OurPact you can create multiple downtime schedules for your kid’s devices, such as homework,
dinner, bedtime, etc. with Apple’s Screen Time, you can only create one downtime schedule for each child.
If your kids are using different devices, the schedule will apply to them all.
4.  Both OurPact and Screen Time allows you to mark specific apps as “always-on” regardless the downtime
schedule set.
5.   Apple’s Screen Time has the option where kids can send requests to their parents seeking for time
extension for a specific app. Unfortunately, OurPact iPhone does not have this functionality.
6.   With Screen Time, you can set time limits for specific app categories. OurPact does not have this feature.
7.  OurPact gives you the option of setting time allowances for each of the child’s devices. You can use a
different allowance for each day. while using their devices, kids can pause or unpause their time. You can
also set the time allowance just like OurPact on Screen Time but it does not allow kids to pause. 

Screen Time Vs. OurPact – Final Thought

Both the Screen Time and OurPact are good, and you can rely on them to see and control what you
kids do on their devices.
If you are looking forward to multiple schedules and don’t mind about the cost, OurPact can be the
right choice for you. Again if you are looking to have basic restriction over apps on your child’s device,
Screen Time is the right choice.
It all comes down to your needs and preferences.

Why You Need to Manage Your Kids Screen Time

Discussion regarding the amount of time that kids should spend on their devices is an intriguing one.
This is because there is a specific rule to govern this.
Reports from the American Academy of Pediatrics shows that overuse of screen devices can lead to
cyberbullying, sleep difficulties, disengagement from social life and also contribute to negative performance
at school.
For this reason, apps such as OurPact and Screen Time have been developed to help parents limit the
amount of time that they spend on their devices.
Parents in the 21st century must embrace the need to teach their kids the screen time etiquette.
And since parents cannot afford to be always present so they can manage their kids' screen time, apps
such as Screen Time and OurPact are there to help.
The secret to instilling good behavior is consistency and these apps help you to program the way your
kids use their devices without putting any pressure.
Managing your kid’s screen time prevents them from spending many hours on the screens. No parent
would like their children to spend time on their devices, while their rooms are still messy or when they
have homework due.
That’s why you have to set rules that will help your children to balance the time spent on devices as well
as the time to do other chores.
Both OurPact and Screen Time can help you have control over your kids so that they can use technology
responsibly.