Popsicle Stick Christmas Tree

Yesterday was a very busy day full of last minute Christmas preparations. Both kids had to make their ornaments to hand out as gifts. We also had a special dessert to make, presents to wrap, and snow to play in. We ended up skipping Liv's nap which we paid for late in the day. But I still think we had a lot of fun! I wanted to share the ornament Bennett made. I really had no idea what he could make. He is not quite 1 1/2 and only somewhat interested in crafts of this scale. However, he did have fun and I think we have a pretty darn cute ornament to hand out to family over the next two days.

What You Need

Popsicle Sticks
Paint
Paint Brush
Embellishments
Modge Podge (If you want to have the glossy look like ours and protect it for years to come)
String to hang your ornament

What To Do

1. I started by squirting a little paint onto a plate and giving Bennett a couple of sticks and a paintbrush. This later turned into me just blobbing the paint right onto his highchair and letting him go to town on all 7 of the ornaments we needed to make. Funny story Alivia was not happy with the "missed" spots. I think they add character :)

2. Once the main layer has dried you can embelish your tree. I used Bennett's finger to mostly decorate his trees. Then I punched out stars for the top and painted some of the "missed" spots brown to represent the tree truck.

3. Once this had all dried I had hubby drill small holes at the top to loop string through.

4. If you are wanting to add a protective coat over the paint this is when you do it! I used Modge Podge for the very first time and was very impressed with the results. The colors seem more vibrant now and somehow the ornament seems more impressive.

5. Once protective coat has dried thread string through hole and wahlah...new ornament :) Bennett was so proud!

Puzzle Fun

I love the woodworking isle at a craft store. That is where I pick up a lot of the little gadgets for Liv to paint. I picked this wooden puzzle up from Hobby Lobby for $1. Although it was difficult to take apart and put back together (come on it was only $1!) Liv and I had a lot of fun doing this together. Alivia simply painted the pieces and once the puzzle was dry we took it apart and put it back together over and over again!

I have a stash of wooden items just waiting to be painted. They are inexpensive and fun!