Ornament Lab

This afternoon, T attended an ornament lab...where he had the opportunity to make an ornament, dress up as a shepherd, and listen to an author read a Christmas book she wrote.

Eileen M. Berry read her book, Benjamin's Sling.

It is the story of the nativity through the eyes of a shepherd boy.

Afterward, T was given a copy of the book, personalized and signed by the author!

The store was decorated festively.

This year, the attendees were given a choice of three ornaments to make:

a star

the holy family

a lamb

Without hesitation, T chose to make the lamb.  This is the sample ornament.

Here is T, hard at work.

wrapping the yarn

still wrapping the yarn

getting a little carried away
with wrapping the yarn

T did a terrific job making his lamb ornament.

He was happy with his handiwork...although, it is a little difficult to tell by his expression!

He also dressed up as a shepherd boy.

This is the third year T has attended the ornament lab.  It seems to get better every year!  I so appreciate the time and effort that goes into creating what becomes a memorable experience for T.

Linked to:
   Family Fun Friday
   Share It Saturday
   Show-and-Share Saturday
   Thoughtful Spot
   Titus 2 Tuesday
   From House to Home

Book and Ornament Advent

T and I had such a good time last year with our book advent.  So, we are going to do it again this year!  :)  Here are the books I've selected for this year:

     A Shepherd's Gift
          by Mary Calhoun
     Careful, Santa!
          by Julie Sykes
     Christmas in the Barn
          by Margaret Wise Brown
     Gingerbread Baby
          by Jan Brett
     I Love Christmas!
          by Hans Wilhelm
     My Christmas Stocking, Filled with God's Love
          by Crystal Bowman
     My Merry Christmas and the Real Reason for Christmas Joy
          by Sally Lloyd-Jones
     One Snowy Night
          by M. Christina Butler
     Room for a Little One
          by Martin Waddell
     Saint Francis and the Nativity
          by Myrna A. Strasser
     Santa Mouse
          by Michael Brown
     Sugar & Spice - The Yummy Scents of Christmas
          (author unknown)
     The Christmas Story
          by Carol Heyer
     The Donkey's Christmas Song
          by Nancy Tafuri
     The Little Christmas Tree
          by Karl Rühmann
     The Littlest Christmas Tree
          by Janie Jasin
     The Night Before Christmas
          by Jan Brett
     The Twelve Days of Christmas
          by Jan Brett
     The Very Snowy Christmas
          by Diana Hendry

Actually, this list is all of the books we didn't get to last year...which is most of
them!  :P

I especially want to read the book, The Christmas Story by Carol Heyer.  She (the author!!) was so kind to visit my blog and leave a comment last year!  :D

For the first 18 days of December, T and I will read a Christmas book and make an ornament each day.  Then on December 24th, T and I will read the book, The Night Before Christmas...and hopefully make an ornament!

We will see if we can manage to read more Christmas books and make more ornaments than we did last year!  ;o)

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Today we read Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer as adapted by Rick Bunsen and made a Rudolph ornament.

Rudolph is a reindeer with a glowing nose.  When the other reindeer make fun of him, Rudolph runs away.  Hermey, a misfit elf, and Yukon Cornelius, a prospector, help Rudolph learn that he shouldn't run away from his problems.  Rudolph returns to the North Pole and discovers that Santa desperately needs his help!

T loves this story.  We have the DVD, also, which T watches all year long!  ;o)

          Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer
          had a very shiny nose.
          And if you ever saw him,
          you would even say it glows.

Working as an advertising executive, Robert May had a natural flair with words and was able to compose the Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer poem which was specifically designed to appeal to children.  This marketing ploy was a massive success, and approximately 2.5 million poems were given away in the first year of its publication.

In 1949, singer Gene Autry recorded a musical version of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, composed by Johnny Marks.

T made a Rudolph ornament from craft sticks.

Supplies:

• three craft sticks
• brown paint
• paintbrush
• glue
• wiggly eyes
• red pom-pom
• hemp cord (for hanging)

Directions:

Paint the craft sticks brown.  Allow them to dry thoroughly.

Glue together two crafts sticks to form a "V" shape.  Glue the third craft stick on top of the "V" and close to the top* of the "V" to form a triangle.  *Allow approximately an inch of the top of the "V" to stick up (to resemble antlers).  Allow the ends of the third craft stick to stick out beyond the "V" (to resemble ears).

Glue a red pom-pom to the tip of the "V" (for the nose).

Glue two wiggly eyes to the "V" below the third craft stick.

Glue a piece of hemp cord to the top back of the ornament.  Let it dry thoroughly, and then hang the ornament on your Christmas tree!  :)

My inspiration for the ornament:

   DLTK
   The Ramblings of a Crazy Woman

Linked to:
   Christmas Ornament Party
   Christmas Craft Party
   12 Days of Christmas Party
   Read Explore Learn
   Read-Aloud Thursday
   The Children's Bookshelf
   Love Books
   Mom's Library
   Learn & Link
   Link & Learn
   For the Kids Friday
   T.G.I.F. Party
   Shine on Fridays
   Show-and Share Saturday
   Show & Tell
   Tip-Toe Thru Tuesday
   Enchanted Thursdays
   Clever Chicks
   Pin Me Party

O Little Town of Bethlehem

Today we read O Little Town of Bethlehem by David Mead and Chris Sharp and made a town of Bethlehem ornament.

O little town of Bethlehem
how still we see thee lie.
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
the silent stars go by.

~from O Little Town of Bethlehem

This board book features instrumental music and lights.  The Christmas carol, "O Little Town of Bethlehem," plays and stars light up when the cover is opened.  The story of the first Christmas is presented very simply.

T made a town of Bethlehem CD ornament.

Supplies:

• bright yellow card stock
• scissors
• CD
• glue
• ribbon (for hanging)

Directions:

Print the town of Bethlehem, and cut it out.

Glue the picture to the center of the back of the CD.

Front of the ornament =
Back of the CD

Glue a yellow circle to the front of the CD, catching the ends of a piece of ribbon under the edge.

Back of the ornament =
Front of the CD

Let it dry thoroughly, and then hang the ornament on your Christmas tree!  :)

Linked to:
   Christmas Ornament Party
   Christmas Craft Party
   12 Days of Christmas Party
   Focus on the Nativity
   Love Books
   T.G.I.F. Party #57
   Shine on Fridays
   Clever Chicks #12
   Pin Me Party #10

A Winter Secret

This afternoon, T and I went to a book store to hear an author read a Christmas poem she wrote.

Dawn Watkins
author

She's written a number of books; however, this poem is not available in book form....It was made into a movie.

A Winter Secret
DVD

Afterward, T received an ornament which the author personalized and autographed.

                                Tanasee could not
                                close the door now,
                                For wonder.
                                It was no tree at all,
                                Swaying on the high hill.
                                It was a great stag...

                                ~from A Winter Secret

Then, T had the opportunity to make an ornament with materials the book store provided.  There was a display of five different ornaments, and T was allowed to choose which one he wanted to make.  He *We* chose the ornament that most closely resembled the story line of the poem.  T did a great job...

and was pleased with the outcome!  ;o)

This Is the Star

Today we read This Is the Star by Joyce Dunbar and made a star ornament.

This is the star in the sky.

~from This Is the Star

This retelling of the Nativity story is written as a simple, cumulative poem describing the holy night.

The illustrations are stunning oil paintings.

T made a Christmas star ornament from craft sticks.

I provided lots of embellishments, but T wanted only to use the gold sequins to decorate his star!

Supplies:

• six yellow-colored craft sticks
• glue
• gold cord
• gold acrylic jewels, gold sequins, yellow and gold buttons, yellow and gold beads

Directions:

Glue together three craft sticks to form a triangle.  Catch the ends of a piece of gold cord between the ends of two of the craft sticks (to form a loop for hanging).

Glue together the other three craft sticks to form another triangle.

Glue one triangle on top of the other to form a Star of David.

Decorate the star!

Let it dry thoroughly, and then hang the ornament on your Christmas tree!  :)

My inspiration for the ornament:
   Activity Village

Linked to:
   Christmas Ornament Party
   Christmas Craft Party
   12 Days of Christmas Party
   Read Explore Learn
   Love Books
   T.G.I.F. Party #56 (Living Life Intentionally)
   Shine on Fridays
   Clever Chicks #11
   Pin Me Party #9

Asleep in the Stable

Today we read Asleep in the Stable by Will Hillenbrand and made an owl ornament.

In this engaging book, a mama owl tells her baby owl about the Holy family.

"WHOOOO," asked Baby Owl, "is the Holy Child?"
"He is the gift from God," whoooed Mama.
"WHOOOO," said Baby Owl, "forgot to give his Holy Child feathers to keep him warm!"
"God, his Heavenly Father, has given him the warmth of his love instead of feathers," said Mama.

~from Asleep in the Stable

The illustrations in the book were done in mixed media with collage on vellum.  ~So brightly colored and simplistic.  :)

For the ornament, T made a cut-and-paste owl.

T's owl does have feet; they're glued to the back.  He insisted...and since it was his creation, I was okay with it.  ;o)

Supplies:

• white card stock
• scissors
• glue
• adhesive wiggly eyes
• brown craft feathers
• hole punch
• hemp cord (for hanging)

Directions:

Print out the template.

Cut out the pieces.

Glue together the owl.

• Glue the tan oval onto the brown oval so the bottoms line up.
• Glue the dark brown triangle onto the brown oval so the tops line up.
• Glue the orange triangle (beak) and the yellow circles (eyes) onto the owl.
• Attach the wiggly eyes to the center of the yellow circles.
• Glue the orange circles (feet) onto the bottom of the owl.

Glue on craft feathers.  Allow the ornament to dry thoroughly.

Punch a hole near the top of the ornament, add a loop of hemp cord, and hang the ornament on your Christmas tree!  :)

Linked to:
   Christmas Ornament Party
   Christmas Craft Party
   12 Days of Christmas Party
   Read Explore Learn
   Love Books
   T.G.I.F. Party #56 (Living Life Intentionally)
   Shine on Fridays
   Clever Chicks