Bella Dia

Advent Day 16: A Pussycat's Christmas and A Rainbow Flyer Kitty Toy

Book: A Pussycat's Christmas by Margaret Wise Brown
Activity: Rainbow Flyer Kitty Toy

I love the illustrations in this book! Anne Mortimer really knows
her cats and captures their expressions perfectly. In A Pussycat's
Christmas we see Christmas and all its preparations through the
cat's eyes. You can see a preview of the book here. I hope the kitties
in your life enjoy this jingle toy. The needle needs some pushing
to get through the pompoms but otherwise it's a pretty easy
and simple project.

Rainbow Flyer Kitty Toy Tutorial

Supplies:
• 1 yard round cord elastic
• small pieces of felt in rainbow colors
• large eye needle that will accommodate the elastic
• 3 jingle bells
• pompoms in rainbow colors to match felt

Step 1: Cut felt into long rectangles with pointy ends. 

Step 2: Knot one end of the elastic and thread the other
through the needle. 

Step 3: String on a jingle bell, then purple felt, purple pompom,
blue felt, blue pompom, etc. Put another jingle bell between
the green and yellow and then another one after the red pompom
and tie a knot around the bell. 

Step 4: Tie a loop around the other end of the elastic to be able
to hang it on a door knob

Step 5: Have fun with your kitty!

*This post includes affiliate links for your reference. If you make a 
purchase through the links I will receive a small commission without it 
costing you any more. Win win! I only recommend products that I like 
and think that you will like too. Thank you for your support!

Advent Day 15: Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree and Stacked Paper Christmas Tree DIY

Book: Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree by Robert Barry
Activity: Stacked Paper Christmas Tree 

Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree is one of the sweetest books around.
It's the story of how one tree becomes the perfect tree for many
people, and animals, as it keeps getting clipped shorter and shorter
and passed down to someone else. Apparently it was made into a 30
minute TV special in 1995 - I wish it would be aired
again because I would love to see it.


Stacked Paper Christmas Tree DIY



Supplies:
• solid and patterned green scrapbooking paper 
• scissors
• glue
• compass
• pencil
 

Step 1: Use the compass to make circles on the back of the green
papers. This tree has 8 levels but you can do as many as you'd like.
The smallest size tree is 1" in diameter and increases by 1/2" each
level to the largest size which is 4 1/2" in diameter. The paper cones
are made from half circles so one set of circles will make two trees. 

Step 2: Cut out the circles, then cut them in half. 

Step 3: Twist each half circle into a cone, overlap the edge and glue.
A clothespin works well as a clamp to hold it while it dries. 

Step 4: Stack the cones to make it into a tree!



*This post includes affiliate links for your reference. If you make a 
purchase through the links I will receive a small commission without it 
costing you any more. Win win! I only recommend products that I like 
and think that you will like too. Thank you for your support!

Advent Day 14: The Gingerbread Man and Gingerbread Bean Bags & Games

 
Book: The Gingerbread Man by Jim Aylesworth
Activity: Gingerbread Man Story Bean Bags

It just wouldn't be Christmas without this holiday classic, The
Gingerbread Man. Go to Sur La Lune Fairy Tales and read an
annotated version of the story and learn a bit of its history. Jenny at
Allsorts has a wonderful on-line gingerbread house for you to decorate
too. Jan Brett's The Gingerbread Baby is another fun version. She also
has a lot of great activities to go along with her book on her site.


Gingerbread Bean Bags Tutorial

Supplies:

• pins
• beans
• scissors
• embroidery needle
• brown felt for gingerbread, red for the fox
• embroidery floss to match felt (brown & red)
• puffy paint (dimensional paint) in assorted colors
• template (sorry again for the quality, my scanner is still down)

Step 1: Print out the template and cut out the patterns. 

Step 2: Use the patterns to cut out 2 gingerbread man pieces from
the brown felt and 2 fox pieces from the red felt.

Step 3: Decorate one side of your gingerbread person and fox with
the puffy paint and let dry for about 24 hours before proceeding. 

Step 4: Match the front and back pieces of the gingerbread
man together and pin. 

Step 5: Use two strands of floss and stitch about 1/8" from the edge
with a running stitch - leave an opening for stuffing. 

Step 6: Fill gingerbread person with beans, not too full, then
stitch up the opening and knot off.

Step 7: Repeat steps 5 and 6 for the fox. Now you're
ready for the game!


How To Play The Gingerbread Man and The Fox Game

Goal: Keep the fox from eating the gingerbread man!

Number of players: 2

How to Play:

One player uses the gingerbread man bean bag and
one player uses the fox bean bag. 

The gingerbread man player tosses his bean bag and then
the fox player tries to toss his fox bean bag so it touches
(eats) the gingerbread man. 

If the fox touches the gingerbread man then he wins,
if not then gingerbread man wins!



Gingerbread Cookie Beanbags DIY

Supplies:
• same as above but no template
• find a good circle to trace and use that as a template - try
a coffee cup, measuring cup, etc.

Step 1: Cut out two circles for each cookie. For the following game
you will need six cookies all together so 12 circles.

Step 2: Decorate 3 cookies with the same pattern, such as a Christmas
tree, and the other 3 cookies with the same pattern
such as a snowman; let dry for 24 hours. 

Step 3: Match a decorated cookie front with a plain
cookie back and pin. 

Step 4: Use two strands of floss and stitch about 1/8" from the edge
with a running stitch - leave an opening for stuffing unstitched. 

Step 5: Stuff cookie beanbag with beans - not too full. 

Step 6: Finish stitching up the beanbag and knot off. Do the same
for the five other cookies and your ready for the game!

How To Play Gingerbread Cookie Tic Tac Toe Toss

Goal: Get three beanbags in a row - horizontal, vertical, diagonal. 

Number of Players: 2

How to Play:

Mark a tic tac toe grid on the floor with masking tape. 

Players take turns throwing their bean bags on the tic tac toe board
trying to make three in a row and at the same time keep their
opponent from making three in a row. 

If the beanbag toss doesn't make it on the grid or lands in an
already occupied spot then the player loses his turn. 

The first person to get three in a row wins!

I hope you enjoy these games and your new beanbags! You could
package them up with written game instructions and have a great
handmade gift for a child on your gift list. Have fun!

*This post includes affiliate links for your reference. If you make a 
purchase through the links I will receive a small commission without it 
costing you any more. Win win! I only recommend products that I like 
and think that you will like too. Thank you for your support!

Advent Day 13: Winter Lights and peace dove ornament

Book: Lights of Winter by Heather Conrad
Activity: Peace Dove Ornament

Lovely illustrations by deForest Walker are the perfect complement
to this well written story about winter traditions around the world.
This book really leaves you with the sense of belonging
to a world-wide community. 


 
Peace Dove Ornament Tutorial

Supplies:

• white or cream wool felt for dove
• shade of green wool felt for olive branch
• embroidery floss (I like DMC) to match your felt
• embroidery needle
• polyfill for stuffing
• 3" length of ribbon
• scissors
• template (sorry for the quality of the template -
my scanner is acting up and I had to work with a photo)

Step 1: Print out the template and cut it out. 

Step 2: Using the template, cut out two pieces from the
white felt for the dove's body and one piece for the
olive branch from the green felt. 

Step 3: Fold the ribbon in half and insert it between the two
felt pieces as marked on the pattern and pin in place. Make sure
it is perpendicular to the dove so it hangs straight. 

Step 4: Start stitching the two dove pieces together using a
running stitch. Leave an opening at the bottom for stuffing. 

Step 5: Lightly stuff with poly-fil beginning with the tip of the wing,
the tail, and the head; finish stitching and knot off. 

Step 6: Stitch the middle of the olive branch to the tip of the
dove's beak with your coordinating floss. 

*This post includes affiliate links for your reference. If you make a 
purchase through the links I will receive a small commission without it 
costing you any more. Win win! I only recommend products that I like 
and think that you will like too. Thank you for your support!

Advent Day 12: Frosty the Snowman and sock snowpeople

Book: Frosty the Snowman  
Activity: Sock Snowpeople

Frosty the Snowman is actually a song first recorded in 1950 by
Gene Autry. There are lots of book versions of it but my
favorite is this Little Golden Book.

Would you like to hear a few Frosty jokes?

What does Frosty have for breakfast?
snowflakes

Where does Frosty keep his money?
a snow bank

What did Frosty's girlfriend give him when she was mad at him?
the cold shoulder

Want more? Go here.


 
Sock Snowpeople Tutorial

Supplies:
• small white sock - infant to toddler size
• polyfill stuffing
• string or strong thread
• black Sharpie or fabric markers
• felt, knit gloves, pompoms, buttons, beads, etc. for decorating
• two twigs per snowperson
• fabric glue such as Fabri-Tac (my favorite)
• scissors


Step 1: Stuff the foot of the sock with polyfil;
shape so it's fairly smooth. 


Step 2: Cinch the sock together above the filling by tying
with string, thread or even a rubber band. 


Step 3: Cut off the ankle part of the sock about 3" above
where you just cinched it together.


Step 4: Fold over the cut off part to form a little
hat for your snowman. 


Step 5: Tie a string, thread, etc. around the sock about
where a neck would be to form the head. 

Step 6: Use felt, pompoms, markers, etc. to bring your snowman to
life; knit gloves are fun to cut up and popsicle sticks make great skis.


Step 7: For the arms, make a small snip with the scissors
on each side of the snowman and insert one end of your twig
that has been thoroughly dipped in glue. 

Optional Step 8: If you'd like to use your snowpeople as ornaments
then thread a loop of floss through the top.




*This post includes affiliate links for your reference. If you make a 
purchase through the links I will receive a small commission without it 
costing you any more. Win win! I only recommend products that I like 
and think that you will like too. Thank you for your support!

Advent Day 11: I Like Winter and Gumdrop Trees and Garland DIY

 Book: I Like Winter by Lois Lenski
Activity: Gumdrop Trees & Garland

I like winter, I like snow.
I like icy winds that blow.
I like snowflakes, oh so light.
Making all the ground so white.

I find Lois Lenski's illustrations irresistably cute and her simple
rhyming text just adds to the charm. She was a prolific writer and
artist with over 90 children's books to her name; check here for a
listing of all of her books. Today's activity is an oldie but goodie! We
made a gumdrop tree it was so quick and easy for such an adorable
result. We also decided to make a garland. The needle gets a bit sticky
but it washes off clean. You can use a styrofoam wreath or ball too.


 
Gumdrop Tree & Garland Tutorial


Gumdrop Tree Tutorial
Supplies: 
• small styrofoam tree  
• pointy round toothpicks  
• gumdrops (spice drops)

Step 1: Break the toothpicks in half.
Step 2: Poke the broken end of the toothpick into the base of the
gumdrop, then, beginning at the bottom of the tree, poke the pointy
end of the toothpick into the stryofoam. 
Step 3: Continue putting gumdrops into the tree - place tightly
together. When the tree is covered you're done. 


Gumdrop Garland DIY

Supplies: 
• heavy duty sewing thread  
• blunt needle  
• gumdrops (spice drops)

Step 1: Thread your needle. Double the thread and knot it at the end.
Step 2: Start stringing the gumdrops. It can get a bit heavy so make
small sections instead of one very long one. Wash the needle
when it gets too sticky. 



*This post includes affiliate links for your reference. If you make a 
purchase through the links I will receive a small commission without it 
costing you any more. Win win! I only recommend products that I like 
and think that you will like too. Thank you for your support!

Advent Day 10: Santa Mouse and miniature tree garland

Book: Santa Mouse by Michael Brown
Activity: Miniature Tree Garland

I include this book because it's one I remember from my childhood.
Vintage illustrations and cute rhyming text make this a fun read.
A little mouse without a name gives a gift to Santa and
makes a special friend.

Miniature Tree Garland Tutorial 

Today we are making a miniature garland to go on your miniature
tinsel tree. There are several sizes on the template so you can make
garland to fit other trees too. For your tinsel tree, try adding beads
on the branches for ornaments, so cute!

Supplies:
• assorted paper such as wrapping paper or origami paper
• glue stick
• baker's twine or similar thin string
• scissors
• template
• optional cardstock for printing template

Step 1: Print out the template, or make your own, on
cardstock and cut out.

Step 2: Trace the flag template on the paper and cut out 12 flags
(for the miniature tinsel tree use size 1 on the template).

Step 3: Fold each flag in half to make a crease.

Step 4: Cut a piece of twine about 11" long and place flags evenly
spaced apart along the twine.

Step 5: Place twine in the crease of the flag and glue flag halves
together encasing the twine.

Step 6: Finish glueing all the flags; knot the ends of your twine.

Step 7: Decorate your little tree and ooooh and ahhhh
at how cute it is!

*This post includes affiliate links for your reference. If you make a
purchase through the links I will receive a small commission without it
costing you any more. Win win! I only recommend products that I like
and think that you will like too. Thank you for your support!

Advent Day 9: Night Tree and wild bird treats

 
Book: Night Tree by Eve Bunting and illustrated by Ted Rand
Activity: Wild Bird Treats

Night Tree is about a family that has a Christmas Eve tradition of going
into the woods and decorating a living tree with food for wild animals.
A wonderful combination of author and illustrator, this book is always a
favorite in our house. If you'd like to make additional wild bird treats
check here for some ideas.


Wild Bird Treat Garland Tutorial 

Supplies:
• dried fruit such as apricots, apples, and cranberries
• peanuts in the shell
• fresh cranberries
• upholstery thread
• needle



Step 1: Using a double strand of thread, string a peanut on
first and tie a knot around it at the end - this will keep the
other items from sliding off.


 
Step 2: Start adding the dried fruits, cranberries, and peanuts
to your garland until you are about 5" from the end. 

Step 3: Finish with another peanut and a knot. 

Step 4: Hang in your trees or some place that birds will visit and enjoy.

*This post includes affiliate links for your reference. If you make a 
purchase through the links I will receive a small commission without it 
costing you any more. Win win! I only recommend products that I like 
and think that you will like too. Thank you for your support!