Crafty Christmas Countdown: 12

I've never really understood the appeal of the Christmas village thing. Until I rediscovered my childhood farm playset and recognized it's potential as a Christmas decoration. This is the third year I've put it out. This year I added a bonfire and a decorated tree.

Crafty Christmas Countdown: 13

I found this little plush elf at the dollar store. He's pretty cute but a bit bland. I knew it wouldn't take much to jazz him up.

 Half a Christmas sock, a pompom, and some fancy ribbon did the trick, especially after I took in his waist a little bit. He looks especially cool riding on the camel puppet I altered earlier this year.

 

Crafty Christmas Countdown: 14

Ever get an idea that won't leave you alone until you try it out? That's the source of today's craft. And unlike some of those ideas that I get, this one worked out marvelously. I got it into my head to make some dinosaur Christmas cookies. And the combination of my mother's gingerbread cookie recipe and a little bit of buttercream frosting was a winner. 

They are a joy

 

Crafty Christmas Countdown: 15

I have a fondness for making my own greeting cards. They feel a bit more personal when the image and saying are of my own invention. These are the cards I'll be giving to my co-workers this year.

Crafty Christmas Countdown: 16

One of my favorite Christmas traditions is crafting with kids. Today's craft is one I put together to do with the kids at church. 

 

Crafty Christmas Countdown: 17

Some animals seem especially Christmasy to me: sheep, camels, reindeer, and donkeys. I think sometimes that donkeys are unfairly ignored. They have kind of ugly-cute faces. So for my sock puppet this season I made a Christmas donkey.

Crafty Christmas Countdown: 18

I have a fondness for blind bags and the like. I got this little cat in a holiday chocolate capsule. It's a sold figure but I was never fond of it's angry expression. So it's been in my craft bin for a while now. A little paint makes it a happy little Christmas kitten.

still a little mischievous though