Super Easy Ornament Craft

I recently found myself roaming the aisles of Hobby Lobby alone.  It's such a rarity, I almost didn't know what to do with myself!  

I found these little wooden blanks and thought it would be fun to decorate them with the kids.  We've done similar crafts before, painting nude woodies.  We even made a really great apple wreath one year!  (You can *almost* see it over the computer in front of Sam?)

I put out the blanks, the glue bucket, some glitter, some random bits from the sewing room, ribbons, craft paint, and asked Bri to contribute some jewels.  Then I sat down and started our read-aloud, knowing it would be better for me to let them do their own thing than to hover and over-direct them.  

Brianna hits her tree with some glitter glue.

Hey, look, there's a better shot of the apple wreath over Sam's head!  Each of my students that year ('07-'08) painted their own apple and wrote their name on it, and I wrote our school name and the year on the bottom apple.  I "cheated" and glued all the apples to a paper plate that I cut the middle out of.  Easier than easy, and I love it as a keepsake of who we homeschooled that year.  

But back to the trees and the people.

Each child got to make two ornaments.  MY plan was for them to each make a tree and a gingerbread man.  

They weren't aware of my plan, so Bri made two trees, and Jack made 2 guys.

Today, we finally got around to putting ribbon hangars on the back so the kids could put them on the tree.  

Super easy, and a fun keepsake for the kids to look back on someday.  

Don't forget to write names and the year on the back!  

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Piczzle Photo Puzzles GIVEAWAY

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.  

When I was looking at the Piczzle Photo Puzzles website, Eli asked, "Can you really make a puzzle out of any picture you want?"  I told him yes.  He said, "That's so cool!  Can I pick the picture?"  Of course, I said yes again.  Brianna has had a bunch of reviews lately, so I thought it was only fair to give him a turn.  

Eli selected a photo of himself in the cockpit of a C-17, taken at an air show.  

He was pretty excited when it arrived!  This is a nice puzzle.  The premium grade cardboard is precision press cut, so the pieces fit together perfectly.  

Picture puzzles make a great gift!  

Turning a photo into a puzzle is also a fun way to commemorate a special event in your child's life.  I'm imagining an Adoption Day puzzle, a Birthday puzzle, a Halloween puzzle, a First Day of School puzzle... the possibilities really are endless.    

Piczzle Photo Puzzles are available in cardboard or wooden varieties, with as few as 8 pieces, up to over 1,000 pieces!  They come in rectangles, or you can try something really unique, and get a circle or heart shaped puzzle!  Prices start at just $14.95.  

Are you ready to win your very own Piczzle Picture Puzzle?  

Enter now!  

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You can connect with Piczzle Photo Puzzles on Facebook or on YouTube.  

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

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Guess what's coming to QVC?

Remember when we reviewed the My Image Bracelet Maker?  

Here's a quick heads up!  They're putting out a special QVC edition with sparkle tiles TOMORROW, 12/11, at 1 p.m. eastern time.  

This would be a great Christmas project for your daughter to make gifts from the heart for her friends.    

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Hot Dots GIVEAWAY

I've mentioned before that Jack is a struggling reader.  Anything that makes reading seem more like FUN is worth trying, so I was thrilled to be selected to review Hot Dots!  

What is Hot Dots?  The Hot Dots Let's Master series are interactive books that come with a pen that lights up green when pressed to a correct answer, and lights up red when pressed to a wrong answer.  

Hot Dots are the brainchild of Educational Insights, makers of such cool products as Smencils and GeoSafari, which I was already familiar with, so I had high expectations.  We were given a choice of grade levels K-3, and a choice between subjects, Reading or Math.  

I selected Hot Dots Let's Master Grade 3 Reading for Jack, who is 9 (and in the 4th grade).  The box comes with two lay-flat, spiral bound books and the pen inside, and has a handy carry handle for fun on the go.  The books have 100 questions (altogether), 15 of which are "challenge questions," at the next grade level.  

Initially, he wasn't crazy about reviewing a "reading thing" for me.  But once I convinced him to give it a try, he realized it was painless.  

In fact, it might even be fun!  

As you can see in this picture, when you choose the wrong answer, the red light comes on, and the pen makes noises or says phrases to let him know it's incorrect.  

And when you get it right, it lights up green, and says something positive.  I was pleased with the quality of the materials in the set, and the content was challenging and engaging.  

Since everything turns into a group activity around here, Hannah came over to see what Jack was up to and asked, "Cool!  Can I play, too?"  Fortunately, Hot Dots are available for multiple subjects and grade levels, so I can get her a set that is more appropriate for her first grade skills.   In fact, the Hot Dots Jr. line has sets for kids ages 3 and up, so even Katie could get in on the fun.  

How would you like to WIN one of these great sets?  One lucky winner will get to choose the set that best suits their child, from Reading or Math, grades K-3.  The Kindergarten level sets have the dog pen pictured at the top, while grades 1-3 have the pen like Jack's.  Contest open to US residents only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Too impatient to wait to see if you win?  If you've gotta have 'em right now, you can purchase Hot Dots Let's Master sets at Educational Insights for $24.99.  You can connect with Educational Insights through Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and YouTube.  You can also sign up for their newsletter!  

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

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Premium Solid Cordz 1' Extension Cables

Today, I want to tell you about PREMIUM Solid Cordz 1 Foot Extension Cables.

These are one foot extension cords.  They come in a pack of 5.  Initially, I thought, "Why would someone need a 1' extension cord?  Let alone 5 of them?"  I clicked out of curiosity.  

When I saw this, I understood.  You know those big, bulky plug ins that don't play nice with others on a power strip?  Well, here, let me show you mine.

If you look down under the little table that holds my printer and CPU, this is what you see.  One power strip on the left, not being fully utilized, because some plugs take up more than their allotted space.  Another power strip in the bottom right corner to handle the last two plugs.  

I sent Eli in with a couple of these handy little cords.  Eli is my go to guy for socks behind the dryer, too.  He's built for confined space scenarios.  

Plugging a Solid Cordz into an adapter plug.  

And unplugging the now superfluous second power strip!  

Voila!  Empty!  

Now, everything fits on one power strip!  

Okay, that's two cordz, what about the other 3?  

This is the power strip under the table in my sewing room.  (And our aging kitty, Wheelie.)  The table was a dining table, so it's fairly wide.  In order for the cords to plug in, the machines have to sit rather far back, making sewing slightly awkward.  I thought it would be nice to have the power strip sit up on the table to be closer to the machines, but the power strip cord was a little too short.  Before now, that is.  Another Solid Cordz to the rescue.  

Okay, this is fun!  What's next?  Hmm, how about the cell phone charger by my bed, that only reaches the table, and not the bed?  Where's my red office supply store button?  Because, "That was easy."  

Before

After

Now I have one left, and I just know there's going to be some circumstance that calls for just a little more cord, and I'll be prepared.  If you need some handy Solid Cordz, too, you can buy them on Amazon, where they are currently selling for $14.99, with Free Shipping for Prime members.  Solid Cordz also makes extension cords in 6' or 10' sizes.  

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

I appreciate you taking a second to click for my blog!  :)