I thought I could share a few of the moments from Christmas 2011.  

We had fun mixing the different styles to a christmas song.  What I love about it, is that you don't have to be a good singer to do it. I sometime just talk a nursery rhyme and make it into a mix. Again, it is free to use and you can sign in with your facebook login.  Let loose and go try it, I promise  you will enjoy it. Don't forget to share it, I love to hear yours.

Merry Christmas, enjoy yours!

This is a painting of one of my college students did.  She did a great job adding texture to piece.  She mixed toilet paper and paper towels with gel medium and gesso to create the texture.   

Tranferring the Thanksgiving vase into Christmas vase.

The Elf on the Shelf,  is a book about a little elf that watches over you to make sure you are behaving.  He reports at night back to Santa Claus all the good and bad things you do. You can not touch it or it will lose its magical powers. You also must give your elf a name.  We called ours, Red. 

Looking at pictures above, they both seem so excited about getting a special deliver gift from Santa, right!  Wrong, Isabella HATED, Red.  She wanted me to put it back in the box and "give it to some other kids". Well I gave in to her, and I put it back in box, but that now how Red (the elf) works.  To Isabella surprise, Red was waiting for her the next morning by her bed.  O, she was mad!  I explained that Red is magical and Santa Claus sent him for the special task to watch over Sam and her.   Few nights before this Santa Claus actually called her (a friend does this every holiday to boys and girls in our community), which I told her that Santa told me that he was sending an elf to watch over them.  Well long story short, she finally told me she LOVES, RED!  Now she loves to show Red to anyone that comes over! Tough one!

You never know where he will be?

I always want to make a Christmas wreath, well one of my favorite blogs ashleyannphotography directed me to Martha Stewart Living, which in turn gave me this wreath idea. I used 
Embroidery Hoops + Boxwood & Evergreens+twist ties+ Ribbon= My Wreath

 
"The tradition of Christmas wreath may have its beginnings in the ancient Roman practice of hanging a wreath as a sign of victory.  Julius Ceaser is often pictured wearing a wreath upon his head as a sign of his importants status. The Greeks made crowns of wreaths which they awared to their winning athletes.  

The origins of the Advent wreath lie in the pagan customs of people in the far northern counties of Scandinavia- customs that originated long before the birth of Christ.

Because they couldn't do farm work outdoors in the winter, people brought into their homes the wheels of their wagons, decorated them with greens, put candles on them, and hung them from the ceiling on a wire.  Then they could twirl them to become a glowing prayer to the god of light in this time of winter darkness.

Christians later adapted this to celebrate the coming birth of the Light of the World." Little Blue book, 2011 (www.littlebooks.org)

My church handout these little books that includes facts and short scripture passage. The book said it one oldest traditions of prayer called lectio divina- sacred reading.  I enjoy them.

So much fun!  Whole family chimed in. I hung up some wrapping paper and used Photo Booth. A hour of pure laughter.

I bought some .94 cents gift bags and cut out these shapes and back it with cereal box cardboard.  Add a wooden stix, some tape and the fun began. 

Credit Idea From: Host with the Mostess

Pin it ornaments are easy to do.  I found this great idea from puglypixel.  Ironically one of my college students also does these and shared helpful advice when making my own.  Give it a try!

Today at school was a fun day!  This last week I had the Commercial Art students design a card for someone else.  Any type of card, I told them.  Some did Christmas cards others did I love you, etc.  I prompt the lecture with this video about Valentine day.  Well today they finished the letters. After I taught then how to correctly write on front of a envelope, we made their cards into animations. I told them, it like designing a digital card.  It was fun and always good to do something for someone else.  I hope those individual receiving the cards in mail enjoy the messages from my students.  Gift of give... a little more... then just a text.   

They didn't use any clip art.  Design from scratch.
Photoshop, Illustrator, ImageReady

A site to try out goanimate.com.  I haven't use it but other teachers have.  Love feedback.

Thanksgiving was a great time to rest, relax, and just be a mom.  I had sometime to look back at photos and ideas I been wanting to post and share with everyone.  Stay tune to future posts!

I found this post draft that I must of started during thanksgiving break.  Well I guess the rest break is over and December is here! Stay tune to see what December brings for the Humphrey's!

DYI's post to come...
- Santa on a Stix
- Picture Gems
- Push Pin Oranment
- Bottle cap Snowmen
- Cynotypes

Websites post to come..
- Pinterest (must get sign up)
- Storyjumper (Humphrey Christmas story)
- ujam (Christmas song)
- uncommon (iphone cover)Excited to share!