Easy clay tags

Today I am taking a breather.  The kids are at school, its overcast, the fire is going, and a Hallmark movie is playing and I am sitting here taking a breath, doing some writing and finishing up the Christmas cards.  My kids have 3 weeks of school between Thanksgiving vacation and the start of Christmas vacation and that has been filled with lots of soccer, errands, and a lot of life.  It's been great!  We have one more week and it's crunch time!

This week, one of my goals  was to work on my gift wrapping for the year.  This year, I decided to try making tags from Sculpey bake-able clay.  I've always wanted to play with this stuff for fun and not for kids class projects (like the time Ethan needed to create some sort of 3 dimensional version of his wolf-finnick fox hybrid or a model stegosaurus).  This time, I got to play with it and I had so much fun!  It was like playing with play doh for adults!  

I rolled it out and cut out my shapes.  Basically, like making sugar cookies. . . except flour isn't everywhere and you don't get to eat them when you're finished! 

I poked a hole a the top of each one with a random chopstick that I found. 

 

I have gathered some beautiful stamps over the years, and it was so much fun to use them for something other than paper!  I picked some of my favorite words, wreaths, and snow flakes and I carefully pressed them into the clay, making sure each little part made it's way in. Then, I very carefully lifted them out and placed them on the baking sheet.  

While, I was doing this, I preheated the oven to 285*F.  I baked them for 15-20 minutes and then let them cool.  If you want to paint them, this is when you do that.  I left mine white since I was going for a splash of white with each present.

 Then, I wrapped up my first present.  I can't wait to finish my shopping so I can finish!  So cheers to the weekend, cups of marshmallow topped hot chocolate, cheesy Christmas movies, and wrapping presents!  
 

Sparks of Joy {Links that Make Me Smile}

 It's Friday!  Wowzers this week sped on by!

 I'm pretty sure I am going to blink and Christmas vacation will be here!  In just 2 short weeks, both kids will be home for 3 weeks!  I am excited!  But, I've got a clean house that is pretty much decorated for Christmas. I've have every intention of being finished with Christmas shopping before the kids get out! I want to go into this season with every intention of slowing down and savoring the days leading up to Christmas. . . I've got some projects, some baking, and a long list of Christmas movies saved up to watch. . . thank goodness Hallmark keeps coming out with new ones all the time!  

Every now and then, I like to sit down and just share some things that have sparked joy in my life lately.  So this post is just that. . . some fun, silly, yummy, creative, weird things that brought a smile to my face.  I hope that you take the time to click on maybe one of them. . . and maybe you will smile, too.  There is no space for joy robbers here. . . let's share the joy have some fun! 

::Advent started this week.  I am doing the She Reads Truth advent and the we are doing the Kids Read Truth advent cards as a family.  I love the intentionality of slowing down each night and opening our Bibles together. It is often the only time of year it happens and it's my favorite. It's not too late for you to join in. . . you can find the plan here.  It has links to the study, the verses and the podcast (which week 1 is with Annie F. Downs and it's so much fun!).  The Kids Read Truth Cards are have been bringing great conversations and suprisingly, still work with the teenager!  You can find the link here. (It looks like they are sold out of all the Christmas ones. . . but there are others!)

:: Amanda over on instagram (@graccieone) has been doing mini quilt Mondays and I think I'm going to go back and try them out after Christmas.  They look so much fun!  

:: I'm currently drinking this coffee and it's my new favorite! I also love their Buena Vista

:: I've been working through the 12 week workout program (second time!!) using my Flobody.  I love it!  

:: Have you seen 8-bit Christmas yet?  So good! 

:: Trying to decide if we are going to Elf some friends this year. . . have you seen this printable I made last year?  

:: There's also some free gift tags, a delivery driver treat sign, and a cookie exchange for free on the blog. 

:: This baked potato bar looks amazing for some Christmas gatherings! 

:: I saw a post (somewhere???) about a soup party that I want to do sometime. Everyone brought soup to share, and also a mason jar with soup for everyone to take home to freeze for quick, warm lunches.  Do you do a soup party? 

:: These sandwiches are going to be on our menu soon. I'm drooling just thinking about them!

:: Jon kept we awake and alert driving home in the fog last week listening to podcasts at half speed.  So much laughter!  You should try it! 

:: Emily Lex has been drying oranges and I want to give it a try.  They look gorgeous!  Maybe next week?

 :: Have you checked out the new Maverick City Christmas Album yet?  It's so good! 

:: And, if you are in need of some warm fuzzy animals doing absolutely hilarious things in the wild and got caught on camera. . . check out this!  I promise it will put a smile on your face!

Well, that's it for this week.  Let's bring on the weekend and all the Christmas stuff!  

Have a great Christmas! 

p.s. do you have something that is sparking you joy?  Post in the comments here or on facebook!  Can't wait to see what you share!

 

  

Weston's favorite snack: GORP

 Snack mix of any sort is always a good idea.  I can remember years ago, when I was in girl scouts and my mom was my troop leader.  My mom always had the best ideas and somewhere I have a ton of badges to show it. . . in fact, my mom recently found a random patch that never made it on my sash in their move.  One girl scout Thanksgiving, we did crazy things like churn our own butter and assist in all the food making.  I think Gorp was on the menu.  It might not have been. . . but I remember making a batch or two during the many years I was a scout.  

I've always loved the idea of combining favorite snack items to make a yummy treat.  When I was teaching, I always had the kids bring in their favorite snack items to make what I renamed as "test week snack mix." The kids had so much fun making a really large batch of what was essentially Gorp.  The kids got to snack on their mix while taking their annual state tests and it brought a little bit of fun to an otherwise kind of stressful week. 

 

This year, I started adding Gorp to the kids lunches with some snacks that we had lying around the kitchen.  I didn't realize how much of a hit it would be and I kind of had laughed in my head because I was using the snacks that had been forgotten in the pantry.  All of a sudden, the kids were eating some of the forgotten snacks right up.  This mom is celebrating that victory! Plus, my youngest started making the snack mix for after school snacks and basically any chance he could find.  I think it's because I add just a little bit of chocolate. . . and it's an excuse to have a few bites! 

This recipe is so flexible.  Use what you have and get creative!  Extra points if you get your kids involved in the kitchen. . . it will empower them!  

Here's the recipe. . . but really it's just a list of possible ingredients.  Feel free to add your own ideas. . . and please share them in the comments!  

 GORP

Ingredients:

 pretzels

dried BARE coconut chips

dried apples

dried cranberries

raisins

mixed nuts

Unreal chocolate candies (less sugar and no extra stuff)

popcorn

chex cereal (or any cereal!)

Annies Bunnies

chocolate pieces (we use the Thrive chunks. . . they use coconut sugar)

cheese its

oyster crackers

Directions:

  mix together desired ingredients and give a little stir or shake.  Pour in snack bags or snack cups and munch away!  have fun!