Clay Pot Nativity Tutorial: Last Minute Gift

What you'll need to get started for 1 Nativity

2- Mini Clay Pots (Packs of 6 for 99 cents)
1- 1 11/16" x 5/8" Wooden "Boy Pieces" ($1.47 for 5)
2- 1/4" x 1 3/16" Wooden Ball Knobs ($1.47 for 4)
Skin Tone Acrylic Paint
Black Acrylic Paint for eyes
Various Acrylic Paint Colors depending on you preferances
3- 5" circles of fabric again depending on your preferances ( I buy 1/4 yard of each color= 32 or more fabric circles)
Spanish Moss or staw
1- Mini Clay Pot Saucer
Total Cost for 1 Nativity Under a dollar if you get your supplies 1/2 off at your crafting center

Begin by painting your pieces skin tone

Next Paint your pots their base color: I chose a tan color for Mary and only painted the rim a rust color for Joseph

I paint "Mary's" body like so

and Joseph's like this

Next: attach your heads to their bodies using hot glue

Mary's Headdress: Fold 1/3 of the fabric down

Attach to the top of her head with hot glue making sure the back of the circle of fabric is even with the bottom of the pot

Press the fabric forward like so

Add a dab of hot glue to her neck and press the fabric forward

Repeat with other side of fabric, tie a bow with twine or hemp

Josheph's Headdress: Fold 1/3 of the fabric circle down

Hot glue the fabric to his head

Push the back sides of the fabric forward around his neck and glue to the inside of neck

Next push the sides of the headdress down to create a fold, glue the undersides down

Tie a circlet of twine around his forehead and knot it in the back

secure the knot to the nape of his neck with hot glue

Swaddling Baby Jesus: First fold 1/3 of the fabric circle down

Fold the bottom half of the fabric up over the baby

Fold the right side straight down to create a triangle

Repeat on the left side

Loosely fold the right side over and glue in place, repeat on the left

For the eyes: Dip the end of a small paint brush in black paint

Make sure to reload the end for each eye to get EVEN eyes

For Baby Jesus' eyes I loaded the end and then tapped it off once on the plate for a smaller circle

Isn't it sweet?

Option: to finish the nativity you can add a bed of straw or spanish moss to a mini clay saucer (I was unable to find any at the local HL recently) for a manger. Have fun making these and I'd love to see them if you use this tutorial. Have a great day!

Misty

Linkin' up to Li'l Luna's Linky Partay #7

Oh, Christmas Tree

Aaron and Tessa were asked to decorate Christmas trees for "Snowy Tree Lane" at their school. Since Daddy is super talented with electronics...each of their trees were adorned with actual lights...which meant that they were each glued to a piece of MDF and cut out on a band saw...to be preserved for all eternity or until the lights go out.
Aaron loves that his tree has a bunny looking right at it!

Tessa Loves Being a Big Sister

Here's Tess with baby brother Jonah. They're tight.

Baroque Copper Button: Special order for Ms. Nancy

Shimmery copper flowers and an old jean button along with some fabric remnants...sure makes a pretty headband!
$12.00

Ready, set, load!

A simple lo of my family's time spend cutting and loading wood to heat our home during the winters. Stampin' Up woodgrain background stamp.
Have a great day.

Traaaansfomation, Traaaansformaation

Have you ever seen the movie "A Bug's Life"? Whenever I do a remake project like this I always think of the moth in the Chinese take out box..."Traaansformaation" but I digress. I saw these sweet looking dears (play on words). Pair of deer and I thought they had potential...They're pretty tacky no?...I guess many people wouldn't think so but I'm not into shiny gold deer with holly.
Got out my can of trustycan of Rustoleum Heirloom White and sprayed those puppies down.
I then added some jute type trip and some fabric rosettes. Also added in some cranberry red beads for holly berries.
Finished it off with a hemp twin bow and I think they look pretty amazing. They're welcome at my buffet anytime. Have a great day. Linking up to TEA ROSE HOME and the SHABBY CHIC COTTAGE

Olive you Polka Dots: Special Order Ms. Amanda

$12.00
Who wouldn't be GREEN with envy over this band??!?! Mostly greens with touches of aqua and turquoise. It's a stunner.
Hope Ms. Amanda is just as happy with it as Tessa was when she saw it!

Tray Makeover

I found this adorable footed tray at the Salvation Army the other day for about 50 cents (it's a solid piece). It was really tarnished but there was no silver or silver plate stamps anywhere and I couldn't get it to come all the way clean. I took out the trusty Rustoleum Heirloom White and went to town (after I polished and cleaned it. Lookin' good!
I love the details on it.
And the super cute handles!
Linking up to TEA ROSE HOME

MidWeek Mojo #17

Using scrapbook steal sketch #17 as a jumping off point. Had to do a layout on this costume I bought years ago when Jakob was almost two. All four of my children have now worn it for Halloween. Glad I captured it and too bad Jakob was in it before digital cameras were cheap enough for me to have one. Good old 35 mm film baby! Have a great day!

Midweek Mojo #14

Used scrapbook steal Mojo sketch #14 for this lo. I finally scrapbooked and I'm super happy abuot that!

Ally Clips: Marvelous Midnight and Tropical Coral, Special Order for Ms. Kim S.

I accidentally posted this here instead of my Li'l Buck's Boutique Bands page and almost deleted it but then I thougt...leave it here this IS what's comsuming my life right now. Having a blast creating hair ware for others!!!You know, it's fun creating in "miniature". It really makes me focus in on the few elements I can use to really make the clip balanced and as special as any hair band would be. I really love the flat alligator clip I've been using. It holds fast in Ms. Tess's hair and there's hardly any slippage, she comes home from school with her clip still IN her hair and that's an accomplishment. Hope you're all having a great day!

$8.00
$8.00

Disguising Turkeys 101

Aaron's teacher sent home the funnest family project the other day. We were given a turkey cut out (which I traced so that we'd have two turkeys) and told to Disguise Tom Turkey so he wouldn't be caught for Thanksgiving! Aaron took some time thinking about what he wanted his turkey's disguise to be...green power ranger, turtle, batman, and then he got settled on a dragon. Tessa picked the theme of the other turkey and we were surprised to see a turkey turn into a mermaid. I helped the boys with the dragon and Travis helped Tessa with her mermaid. The kids had a blast for FHE and we got some creative juices flowing again. I love getting my hands dirty with paper and glue...SO FUN! Try it with your family...I'd love to see what disguises your turkeys end up with! Have a great day.


Tessa designed the ocean scene beside her mermaid all by herself.Jakob drew, colored and cut out the fire for the dragon to breathe.

Sweet Pea Band: Special Order for Ms. Abbey

$12.00 Go to Li'l Buck's Boutique Bands for more info.
These colors just compliment eachother so well. I was contacted by Ms. Abbey about making a set of coordinating bands for her and her daughter to wear in an upcoming family photo shoot. Her amazingly, talented momma already sewed dresses for the two of them and she wanted bands that would be complimnetary and not too matchy, matchy. I'm so thrilled with the way this band came together. The coral, sage, grey and even hints of pink are timeless and beautiful. Stay tuned for a post on her daughter, little Ms. K's, band. Have a great day.

Jonah turns 2...again...kinda...sorta

So, you may have heard that somehow all of Jonah's pictures from his second birthday were deleted. I was devestated. I just found out earlier this week and, yes, it's been a month since he turned two but we had ourselves a little re-birthday for my baby. I can't have him being my only child without pictures for his b-day. I know that may seem a little extreme but I felt so bad and every one had fun and got to enjoy cake and ice-cream again. I'm debating on wether or not I'll tell him whe he gets older. I want my kiddos to know that they are the most important things to me...my family. PLUS we were so busy last birthday he had a store bought cake and this time around I got to make one special for him.


Even found the original bag and toy from Gramy and Grampy...I amaze myself. Have a super day!

A Drawing we will go...

So, I purchased this awesome book the other day at Jo-anns called 52 creative exercises to make drawing fun: Drawing Lab for mixed media arts.

Lab 1: Draw 30 cats while sitting in bed with your paper on a pillow or the bed. I started of very rough and then found things I liked and went with them. The kiddos are joining me in this endeavor. Should REALLY be fun. Today we'll be taking a few of our favorites and rendering them in various ways.I still think drawing cats is pretty hard.