Baby Jesus craft from The Friend Magazine

I found this adorable craft in The Friend Magazine.
 Here is a link to the website it came from :http://www.lds.org
and here is a link to the craft: http://media.ldscdn.org/pdf/magazines/friend-december-2013/2013-12-05-make-your-own-manger-eng.pdf

I thought it would be fun to come up with a pattern for the basked rather than relying on having paper bags around. (I don't usually.)  Also, for their craft they filled the basket with shredded paper while I filled mine with goodies.. = )

Here is the pattern:

and here is the diagram showing the score/folding lines:

Here are the photo directions for assembling the basket:

                             After you have glued the glue tab, fold the side with the longer tab in first.

                                                         Then fold the shorter tab in.

                                            Fold the sides in.. pushing the tabs to the inside.

 Here is the basket bottom all done.  The bottom doesn't need glue to stay together.  (Unless you put really heavy stuff in it then you might want to put a piece of tape across the bottom..)

Cut out the baby Jesus and put him in the manger/basket.  Put a dot of glue to hold the handles together then glue the star on.  The Friend Magazine has a craft in every issue (I think).  This particular issue also has an advent calendar with an activity you can do each night in December leading up to Christmas.  Look at the other Friend Magazine issues.  They're great = )

crochet heart stitch

so I found this stitch on Pinterest and modified it.  This is a fun way to use up ends of yarn.

First off, here is the diagram.  oh, the stitch is multiples of 8 with 6 on each end and an additional ch 3 for the first dc.

Here is what it looks like from the front.

and here on the bottom is what the back looks like.  I like the front to look clean - not able to see the colored yarn joining the "hearts" together and the only way I could figure out how to do that was to have a somewhat messy back.

so here's what I did:   yo and put the crochet hook under the ch2 on the row 2 rows below...

then put the crochet hook through the top loop of the first chain on the row below.  This is a lot like the pot holder stitch... (I don't know if that's it's official name or not, it's just what I call it.. )

yo and pull through and work dc.

here's what it looks like on the back...

next, yo and put the hook through the V of the stitch as shown.

then put the hook through the top loop of the middle chain from just one row down...

Here is the third dc in the process...

here is the third dc done.  ch 2.

sc in ch1 space as shown

ch 2.

and it starts all over again....  = )

As I get more rows on this I'll post updates.  It will probably take a while since it's being made out of scraps!

tatted scallops

Tatted scallops...

Here's the finished sample... now for the directions:

First, the diagram... it's sort of confusing so look over the pictures..

Here are the first 8 stitches formed into a ring then two stitches.  Here is where you add the additional thread.  I used purple so you could see better.

get your cro-tat hook out and work the scallop on the hook.

The thread is tightened on the hook.

remove the hook and put the tatting needle through the first loop...

Use the ball thread and put 5 stitches on the needle.

now pick up the other end of the scallop onto the needle.  Work 2 more stitches.

then use the cro-tat hook again to create another scallop...

Here are two scallops done.  Work as many scallops as you want.  When you have enough, work 2 stitches with the ball thread then finish off with a circle of 8.

I left the threads so you can see them.  

Christmas village silouette

Christmas Village Shelf Decoration

The cut file for this decoration can be purchased here

my version of the 2 x 4 popsicle stick paint stick turkey...

I know that there are many versions of this turkey and here's mine... = )

It's kind of hard to see the yellow "feather"...

Do you like the feet?!

Here are the patterns.  The body, front, and feet are all wood.  The legs are dowel pieces about 1 - 1 1/2 inches long...  Be sure to drill corresponding holes in the bottom of the turkey body for the legs...

Here is a placement guide for the "feathers"...  Figuring this out took a while but now it's all done for you.  For the feathers, I cut the wide craft sticks in half.  Then smear a thin layer of white glue all over it then stick it onto the paper.  When the glue is dry, trim the paper around the craft stick.  Glue the "feathers paper-side-up to a piece of cardstock the same size as the turkey body.  Then glue the turkey body on top.. = )  The eyes are black paint dots..

little wood dolls

Here are my written directions.  I don't really have a photo tutorial for this one.  If anyone wants one, I can do that. = )

 Here is the wig.  You can see where it fits on the head.

                                                         Here is the dress from the top.

Here is the dress from the bottom.

Here is the doll disassembled.  I glue the wig on but my girls wanted to be able to change the clothes so I didn't glue the dress on.  The wood piece was purchased at Michales in packages of two.  Sometime I need to come up with a prince...

Paper-Punch Art

Many years ago when my son (he was 8 at the time) was going through Chemo for Leukemia I would channel my stress through scrapbooking and by creating paper-punch art.  I thought that I'd share those patterns with you. = )

Paper-Punch Art - Zoo