Salt Dough Ornaments

This year we added several new ornaments to the tree, including several salt dough ornaments.

Making the salt dough ornaments took a couple days; we baked one day, pained another, and then finally sealed them another day before hanging them on the tree.

Freddie is very product oriented so he was determined to execute his vision.  Hansie is more about the process so he was apply to just fool around with the dough and then the paints.

We soared them with an acrylic sealant to help the glitter adhere and hopefully help them to last for quite some time.  

They were both proud of their finished creations and I look forward to opening the ornament box each year and finding just the right spot on the tree for each of these.

If you'd like to try your own:

• Mix 1 cup flour, 1/2 cup salt, 1/2 cup water to make the dough.  This will make a dozen or so ornaments depending on the size.
• Roll out the dough to about 1/4 inch and cut shapes with cookie cutters.  Don't forget to add a hole with a straw so you can hang them!
• Place on a cookie sheet and bake at 250 degrees for 4 hours or until completely dry.
• Paint with acrylic paints and let dry before spraying with an acrylic varnish.
• Don't forget to add the year to the back!  You'll want to remember when these were made.

Christmas and December Wrap Up

Our decorations are packed away until next year, and we're all a little sad December is over.  I am not sure how I didn't get anything up here about "Christmas" itself, considering all of the build up.  Turns out I am just now pulling photos off my camera from Christmas and I only took 28 photos.  Sigh.  Ah well, it was a great day.  Santa managed to find us in Oklahoma, and left some surprises in NYC as well.  We received thoughtful gifts from friends and family, and enjoyed giving gifts we picked for others.  The boys are still commenting on how much the "love" one thing or another.

I loved all of December, and the fun we had together.  I've blogged about a lot of it, and cannot wait to do it again.

 
Some other highlights include our gingerbread house.  The gingerbread kit was a Black Friday purchase at Michael's, and was $4 well spent.  Although not exactly tasty. it really simplified this activity.  Perhaps next year I'll bake gingerbread sheets.  I actually thought we did a great job, until we had dinner at a friend's house and saw their creation.  It put ours to shame.  Freddie loved doing the frosting more than placing the candies, and was very proud.

Avan, our Elf from the North Pole, spent the month with us.  The boys loved finding him each morning.  I need a remainder each night to move him to a new spot.

There was shopping...

At FAO Schwarz

Wrapping...

And making snowman sundaes that didn't look anything like those on the internet.

We saw Christmas lights...

And the Polar Express (in 4-D!)

And just spent a whole lot of time enjoying the season and each other.

Even when we all of the boys had the flu.

Peppermint Bark

This is yummy and very easy.  It makes a nice addition to a try of cookies during the holidays.

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds white chocolate chips
• 1 cup crushed peppermints (8-12 candy canes)
• 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract (or oil)

Directions:

1. Melt chocolate.  This is easily done bu placing chocolate in the microwave.  Try 30 sencond intervals and stir in between.  Continue until smooth.
2. Meanwhile crush the candy canes.  I placed them in a ziploc and gave Freddie a large, heavy spoon to hit it them with.
3. Stir in half the crushed peppermint and the oil.
4. Pour the melted chocolate and peppermint mixture on a rimmed cookie sheet lined with foil or wax paper.  Smooth to evenly distribute.  It does not have to reach the edges or fill the pan.  You're just going to break it up anyway.
5. Sprinkle the remaining crushed candy canes on top and gently press down to make sure it is stuck int he chocolate.
6. Place in the refrigerator for an hour or until firm.  
7. Remove and break into pieces. 

Variation:

• Use half dark chocolate chips.  Follow the above instructions (1-4) with the dark chocolate, and then again for the white chocolate, adding a second layer.

Little Plaster Hands

I hosted this "craft" for Hans' playgroup in our building's lounge.  Mamas like them some little hands keepsakes.

Freddie

Hans

Here's a step by step guide.  Pictures aren't fabulous but you get the idea.

About an inch of salt dough pressed into a disposable "gladware" container

Find a container that will accomdate your child's hand, and fill with about an inch of playdough/clay.  I used salt dough.

It's ok if they curl their fingers in there a bit.  Just make sure the impression is relatively deep.

Smooth the playdough and press the hand in, making sure each finger and palm has made a nice indentation.

Pour in the plaster.  I got the plaster of paris at Home Depot.  (The ratio is 2:1, plaster to water.)  My containers were about 5.5 inches wide and I felt like 1.5 cups of plaster (mixed with 0.75 cups of water) was adequate to give a nice thick result.  To keep mess to a minimum we placed the plaster and water in a bag and mixed, then snipped a corner off the bag to pour it into the container.  Not exactly eco friendly, but great for a big group in an area you don't want to get messy.

Now just wait.  The plaster sets and is relatively hard within 20 minutes.  The problem is there is moisture in the playdough underneath, so to be sure it is completely dry I recommend waiting 8 or so hours.  Wiggle the plastic container and out pops the plaster.  Peel off the playdough.

Freddie on the left, Hans on the right.  Hans curled his fingers a bit which made for a nice effect.

Voile.    I used epoxy to adhere a picture hook to the back.  You can try sticking in a string in the back while the plaster is still wet, but I felt like the epoxied hook was a more stable option.

Any inperfections can be sanded off, but I like the rough look.  I have seen plaster prints epoxied to decorative plates to make them stand out a bit and give border, but I like the simple white plaster. Don't forget to note the name and date!

Bead Ornaments

I loved making these as a kid and I love watching Freddie enjoy it too! 

Materials needed:  Pipe cleaners and "tri beads"  I'd like to add some metallic pipe cleaners to our craft box because I think they'd add a little sparkle to these.  Try using wire cutters to turn the ends of the piper cleaners in tightly to prevent beads from falling off.

Hans as been taking this one off the tree and pretending to eat it. 

Adding a little kink on the end of the pipe cleaner helped Freddie to not push the beads off the end.  He's been talking about patterns a lot lately so this activity was perfect for him.

I had only made candy canes and wreaths but aren't the snowflakes great?  Clip a the pipe cleaner into three equal parts and twist together to get the form.

Lovin'

I recommend coffee filters for paper snowflakes.  Freddie was able to do two all on his own and like unfolding mine.

• Paper snowflakes
• Warm boots
• Hot chocolate
• Christmas music and new dance moves
• Family adventures
• Christmas cards in the mailbox
• Hot Wheels cars all over every room in the apartment
• Brothers cuddling
• Elves
• Requests for snowman sheets
• Watching the boys watch street performers
• The wonder of Santa!

Jingle

So simple and so much fun.  Freddie jingled through the subway, and wore his to yoga class.  That little bell jingled as he got into all his yoga poses.  Not exactly zen, but it sure made me smile as I watched. 

Holiday Windows Walk

The city is filled with decorations.  Most storefronts are decked for the holidays, so we went on a walk to specifically to check everything out.

We started at Macy's and walked along Fifth Avenue.  There are tourists everywhere and everyone is out getting holiday shopping done so the sidewalks were packed. 

The window displays are popular attractions, but if you're patient you can eventually get a glimpse. 

We walked about three miles from Midtown to Uptown and stopped at Macy's, Lord & Taylor, Saks, Henri Bendel, Tiffany's, Bergdorf Goodman, Barney's, and Bloomingdale's.  The details of the department store windows could have kept the boys entertained for quite some time.

Perhaps another yearly tradition in the making.