Christmas Spider

Materials:
4 pipe cleaners
Small Christmas ornament
Med Christmas ornament

Instructions:

Take one pipe cleaners and fold it in half. Twist it together forming a circle the size of the med ornament in the center. Repeat with one more pipe cleaners. Place these two, one on top of the other. Wrap the ends around both pipe cleaners in opposite directions, for about ¼ inch. This will hold the circles together and place the legs about ½ inch apart. This forms the two center legs on each side. Now add one more pipe cleaner to each side. Start about ½ inch from center leg leaving enough length to form the top leg. Twist around the circles through the center legs. Stop twisting about ½ inch past the second center leg. End will form the bottom leg. Repeat on the other side. Take the top off of the ornaments. Using hot glue, glue the legs to the med ornament. Place the top of the ornament to form the neck. Glue the small ornament into the med ornament to form the head. Trim the pipe cleaners off so they are the same length. Arrange the pipe cleaners in the shape of spider legs (up around the body like a bowl, then out away from the body, then a bend for the knee, and a bend away from the body for the foot.)

For more gift ideas visit www.mom-stuff.com

The 12 Days of Christmas

Amber, One of the mom-stuff team members has posted her version of the 12 Days of Christmas to share with other moms. If you are looking for some cleaver gift ideas you would love this.

Last year I decided I wanted to bring some joy to a family's life that I knew was struggling due to the troubled economy. Everybody needs a little bit of cheer all the time but especially at Christmas. I focused on family time to bring some joy to this family each evening. This is my version of the Twelve Days of Christmas.

My version of the 12 days of Christmas is very different than the original version. I took a variety of poems and printed them out on Christmas stationary.

To use my format buy stationary with printing across the top as in a header. I then bought or made an item that goes along with each poem I have listed. The items I used are listed next to each poem title. I put each item into a Christmas sack with the tag tied with curly ribbon. Each day I would deliver the poem and the item to the family's house. My hope was to create a family bonding time for each of the 12 days before Christmas and add some Christmas JOY. I hope you will enjoy this and have a Merry Christmas.

On the 1st day of Christmas my true friend gave to me. This is what the tag read just change the 1st to 2nd or the pattern can be found by clicking here

The 12 poems are listed below by clicking on each one it will take you to the actual poem

A Parent's Night Before Christmas
With this poem I also included a variety of packages of batteries and I also put $100.00 in with the batteries with a note that said I hope this helps make Christmas a little less stressful.

Legend of Christmas Stockings
On this day I bought Christmas Stockings both kinds the ones that are for Christmas eve and also Christmas socks for each of the family members feet.

Legend of Mistletoe
Of course I gave them fresh mistletoe on this day.

Legend of Poinsettia
I bought a fresh poinsettia to give with this poem.

Legend of the Christmas Rose
Since I wasn't sure if roses would last I decided to buy an oil burner and some rose scents to smell their house of roses. I also bought a glass rose to put in the bag.

The Candy Cane Legend
Included in this bag was a box of red and white candy canes

The Legend of the Christmas Bell
I found a fancy bell that had Christmas decorations around it and put it in a fancy box to give with this poem.

The Legend of the Christmas Balls
I knew the family I was giving to well so I found a box of bulbs in the color of their Christmas tree to give with this poem.

The Legend of the Christmas Spider
This is one of my favorite Christmas stories and has been apart of my life since I was a little girl. We have always had a gold spider sitting in the center of our Christmas tree. For this gift we made a gold spider similar to the one I had growing up to pass on the tradition my family loved so much.

Under Santa's Hat
With this story I bought each of them a Santa hat and also some snack foods cheese and crackers with a summer sausage with Eggnog.


Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus
For this story I bought hot chocolate mixes and mugs for each member of the family.

The Night before Christmas for Moms
With this story I gave the mom a few bath items to pamper herself and a Christmas movie for the rest of the family to enjoy.

Friends Giffs

Are you looking for simple and inexpensive gift ideas for friends and neighbors? I have put together a great collection see them at http://www.mom-stuff.com/public/department33.cfm

Santa Cookie Plates

Fun and inexpencive Gifts
This gift is simple for people of all ages. Take an ordinary glass plate (no decorations on the center plate works best so you can read your saying). Find some 3D paint that will stick on glass. Find the saying of your choice here are a couple we have used:
Dear Santa, Here's a cookie for you and some carrots for the reindeer
1 Day of Coal 364 Days of fun,
I'll take my chances Santa, I know I've been bad all year through so here is my bribe for you!
P.S. We've been good! Santa I Can Explain.
All you need to do is take the 3D paint and write the saying on the plate wherever you want it. This gift is so simple that kids really enjoy making these for their teachers and friends.

Santa's Beard Countdown

Materials:
Poster board
Paper plate
Red felt
Black pom-pom
Cotton balls
Goggle eyes
Black felt pen

Christmas Tree Countdown to Christmas

Materials:
Christmas Cheer Cricut cartridge
Cardstock paper, Background color
of your choice, Green, and 5 Christmas designs
of your choice (we used red and white)
Brown, White, and Yellow
24 sparkley pom poms
Instructions:
Using the Christmas Cheer Cricut cartridge pick your Christmas tree 1 cut 8 ¾ " on green cardstock. Trace trunk and cut out of brown cardstock. Trace the star and cut out of white and yellow cardstock. Pick 1 Christmas design paper for carpet. Cut 2" strip of paper and place along bottom of your background page. Glue tree onto background paper right in the middle of the page. Glue brown trunk and white star onto green tree. On your Cricut cartridge use circle foundation to cut 24, 1/2" circles. Number the circles 1 thru 24. Your white star will be number 25 on the countdown. Glue white circles starting at the bottom randomly place in numerical order working toward the top of the tree. Take your Christmas design paper and pick 3 colors for presents and one color for bows. Cut 2 ¼" presents from cricut cartridge (We used all 3 presents from cartridge). Glue around trunk of tree. Title of page: was done using Cricut design software and Cursive 101 cartridge. Enter text 2" then weld together and cut on same designed paper as used for presents. Put pom poms and yellow star in a bag and on the first day of December let your child use elmers glue to pick 1 pom pom and glue on the number 1 circle repeat each day until Christmas. Christmas morning the yellow star is glued on the white star labeled 25

Candy Countdown

Materials:
Plastic wrap
Hershey Kisses variety
Ribbon
Instructions:
Spread plastic wrap out. Count out 24 groups (if you have three children you will use a group of three candys) Hershey kisses along plastic wrap. Start at one end by wrapping candy and then tie ribbon in between each group of candy. Continue until your you have tied off all 24 groups of candy. Hang your candy garlands on a wall or from the mantel or from a doorknob. Cut one group of candy off each day starting on December 1st. When the candy is gone Christmas will be here

Snowman Craft

Materials:
Quilt batting
Large pom poms
A little Christmas tree with star
Ribbon
A fence
3 foam balls (one small one medium one large)
Small ornaments
Corks
Hot glue and glue gun
Foam board (10 x 1" Circle)
Pipe cleaner-blue. Instructions at www.mom-stuff.com

Leafy Napkin Ring

Materials:
Gold glitter
Fall leaf (silk)
Gold rope
Mod Podge or glue

Visit www.mom-stuff.com for instructions

Thanksgiving Centerpiece

Materials and Instructions at

www.Mom-Stuff.com

Wheat Craft Centerpiece

Materials:
Water bottle
Hot glue gun
Wheat Stocks
Fall leaves (silk)
Instructions:
Glue wheat around the water bottle leaving some long to pop out of the top to the bottle I place some dirt in the bottom of the bottle so that it will stand Then place leaves and other wheat around like a fan would look Then place sticks and gourds around to finished your look Craft for Mom-Stuff.com

Pinecone Hand Turkey

Materials:
Pinecone Two
Googly Eyes (10 mm)
Low temp glue gun or tacky glue
Red pipe cleaner
Orange pipe cleaner
Wire cutters
Craft foam
Scissor

Happy Thankgsgiving

At this time of year we are reminded to be grateful.
I woke up early today, excited over all I get to do before the clock strikes midnight. My job is to choose what kind of day I am going to have.
Today I can complain because the weather is rainy or I can be thankful that the grass is getting watered for free.
Today I can feel sad that I don't have more money or I can be glad that my finances encourage me to plan my purchases wisely and guide me away from waste.
Today I can grumble about my health or I can rejoice that I am alive.
Today I can lament over all that my parents didn't give me when I was growing up or I can feel grateful that they allowed me to be born.
Today I can cry because roses have thorns or I can celebrate that thorns have roses.
Today I can mourn my lack of friends or I can excitedly embark upon a quest to discover new job relationships.
Today I can whine because I have to go to work or I can shout for joy because I have a job to go to!
Today I can complain because I have to go to school or eagerly open my mind and fill it with knowledge and adventure.
Today I can dejectedly murmur because I have housework to do or I can feel grateful for shelter for my mind, body and soul.
Today stretches ahead of me, waiting to be shaped, and here I am, the sculptor who gets to do the shaping. What today will be like is up to me. And I shall decide what kind of day I shall have!"
This advice came from Rex Barker at jokeoftheday.com. "How will you live TODAY?" Try reading this every morning for a week, and see how you feel afterwards. And please share this at your Thanksgiving table.
The team members here at MOM-STUFF wish you and your family a grateful Thanksgiving.

Favorite Blogs

Tell us your "Mom-Stuff Favorite Blogs" Let us know your favorite blog. We are posting mom's favorite blogs to let our mom-stuff friends know about them. You can email dianne@mom-stuff.com or make a comment on this post. Tell us the address and what you like about the blog

Best 10 minutes

I got to hold my new son for the first time. Best 10 minutes. Thanks everyone for your thoughts and prayers.

Smashed Witch Pencils

Materials: (for 1 smashed witch)
1 (6 inch) orange pipe cleaner
1 (6 inch) white pipe cleaner
1 (6 inch) and a (3 inch) yellow pipe cleaner
1 (6 inch) and a (3 inch ) brown pipe cleaner
1 (2 1/2 ) and a (1 1/2 ) green pipe cleaner
1 Pencil
1 (1 inch) green pom-pom
1 square black craft felt
Scissors
Wire cutter ·
Tacky white craft glue or low temperature hot glue
2 google eyes
2 (10 inch) strand of yarn

Instructions: -

To make each smashed witch pencil twist 1 orange and 1 white pipe cleaner together fold and wrap pipe cleaners in half around pencil about 2 1/2 inches from eraser and twist create legs of witch curl ends o1f twisted pipe cleaners to create toes -with wire cutter cut brown pipe cleaner under the orange and white pipe cleaner and wrap 3/4 way down take yellow pipe cleaner and twist with brown then shape like a broom -using paper to trace pattern pieces cut out the cape from black felt cut and discard top point of cape cut circle from felt to create brim of hat then come from top of hat clue pom-pom on to the pencils on top of the #2 then clue the cape on to the pencil under the pom-pom -spread glue along one short side of triangle spread glue along one short side of triangle over lap other side and press with fingers to secure the glued area trim excess felt glue to hat brim -glue yarn to the hat then glue on to hat -then glue on to green pipe cleaner as arm's - the glue google eyes. **Craft came from Spooky Fun Book by Marion Haslam 2005**

Bat Lanp Shade

Fun and easy way to add so Halloween Charm with Bat Lamp Shade

Materials:

1 sheet of black craft foam (with sticky back)

Scissors

Instructions:

1 trace pattern, then cut from craft foam, remove sticky back paper then stick on to lamp shade.

Craft from www.marthstewart.com 2008

Ghost Lanterns

Materials:
Clean plastic gallon milk jugs
Black permanent marker
Craft knife
String of 50 clear low-wattage holiday lights

Instructions:
Draw ghost eyes and mouths on the jugs (Tip: Leave the caps on while you do this so the jugs don't dent) Use the craft knife to cut a half-dollar-size hole in the back of each jug Arrange the ghosts near each other and string the lights between them (stuff several bulbs into each jug) **Craft came from www.familyfun.com 2008**

Shrunken Heads

Shrunken Heads

These decorations need to be made at least 1 week before Halloween in order for them to shrink
Materials:
1 c. Lemon juice
Apple corer
Firms Apples
1 TBS Salt
Paring Knife
Black Pen
Cocktail stick and a length of heavy string if you want to make garland



Instructions:


Peal and core your apples. Use the black pen to draw whatever facial expressions and features on one side of the apple. Make the drawings large so when the apple shrinks you can see them. Carve out the facial features with a paring knife. Pour salt into the lemon juice. Dip each apple into the juice solution. This will help eliminate the apple from turning too brown. Leave the apples out somewhere warm such as above a radiator or an airing cupboard. In a few days the apples will shrink and shrivel to look like wrinkled faces. **Craft came from Spooky Fun Book by Marion Haslam 2005** See more fun craft ideas at http://www.mom-stuff.com/