Truth in the Tinsel; Or, How Other People Plan My Crafts for Me

It's both a relief and panic-inducing to me that Libbie is finally old enough to do craft-type things. I longed for her to be able to color, glue, and maybe even cut. And now that she can, I try to take advantage of it!

I'm not a crafty person myself, but thankfully I live in the era of Pinterest. We've done several creative things from there recently, including cloud dough and toilet-paper-roll turkeys!

I'm thankful to continue letting others plan my craft projects, and in December we're undertaking a big one: learning about the nativity story by making an ornament every day.

Amanda (of OhAmanda and Impress Your Kids) is my oldest blogging friend. Her passion for teaching her children about Christ never fails to amaze me. And this year she's put all her crafty energy and passion into Truth in the Tinsel: An Advent Experience for Little Hands.

I was thrilled to see how thorough each day's experience is: Amanda provides a "clue" for the kids to discover in an advent calendar or on a paper chain, a Scripture to read together, questions to discuss, an ornament to make, and a further activity to do if you choose. There are also supply lists and recommendations for only doing selections from the 24 days of Advent.

The Truth in the Tinsel e-book is $4.99, but for Black Friday it's $2.99! WOOHOO!

I sincerely hope you'll take advatage of the opportunity to teach your child the importance of Christmas. I've read through Truth in the Tinsel and it's so full of gospel truth, creativity, and love. I can't wait to do it with Libbie and watch her grasp the Truth. And I'll be sharing some of our projects on the Truth in the Tinsel Facebook page, so make sure you like it!

Yes, I will make a small affiliate fee if you buy through my link. If that bothers you, just type in TruthintheTinsel.com and buy it from there. But please DO IT! Cause this is an awesome resource.
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10 Fun Activities for Little Kids

If you're like me, you probably feel like you should be doing things with your kids. Sometimes I struggle to come up with anything my two-year-old can and will do. (Today she even refused to COLOR something just because I wanted her to do it. Sigh.)

For those of us who are not crafters-by-nature, thankfully the Internet is full of people who DO have good ideas! Yay!

Thanks to Pinterest, here are 10 ideas for fun projects to do with your little kids.

Source: theidearoom.net via Vanderbilt Wife on Pinterest

Source: familycorner.blogspot.com via Vanderbilt Wife on Pinterest

Source: crafty-crafted.com via Vanderbilt Wife on Pinterest

Source: countingcoconuts.blogspot.com via Vanderbilt Wife on Pinterest

Source: fairydustteaching.blogspot.com via Vanderbilt Wife on Pinterest

Source: meetthedubiens.blogspot.com via Vanderbilt Wife on Pinterest

Source: parents.com via Jill on Pinterest

Source: hiphiphoorayblog.com via Vanderbilt Wife on Pinterest

Source: ucreatewithkids.blogspot.com via Vanderbilt Wife on Pinterest

Source: youllthankmeoneday.blogspot.com via Vanderbilt Wife on Pinterest

Clicking on the "source" link will take you straight to posts with instructions!

Added to Top Ten Tuesday at OhAmanda.

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Alphabet Bible Crafts: A and B

On Libbie's birthday, October 27, she turned 2 and I decided it was high time we started some Bible learnin' around here. I have long admired Amanda's alphabet crafts at Impress Your Kids and thought that would be a good place to start. So we did A.

Libbie didn't even try to say the Bible verse and was mostly concerned with plastering stickers all over the picture.

It was frustrating to me, and I've gone back and forth on whether it was worth it to do any sort of "organized" craft just because it makes me feel like a better stay-at-home mom if I do. Is it profitable to her at all?

Then early in February, my sweet #sisterchicks and Hillary gave me some gifts for David, and Amanda included a big bucket of craft supplies for Libbie. My sister, the elementary school teacher, dug right in and showed Libbie how to string beads, use glitter glue, and dig a penny out of play-doh. Since then Libbie has been obsessively playing with the crafts any time I will let her (i.e., any time I don't mind picking up streamers and buttons off the floor).

Today I finally found the oomph to do letter B (4 months later, if you're keeping track).

"What letter is this Libbie?"
"14."
"What LETTER is it?"
"Uh ... B!"

I was so proud.

She was still mostly interested in gluing on buttons, but I kept repeating the verse to her all day long. And soon she was repeating it back. And to hear my sweet baby say her first Bible verse is a finer thing--and enough to make a mama tear up.

[there is a video embedded here if you can't see it in your reader. click through!]

"Believe in Jesus and you be saved!" Acts 16:31, New Libbie Version

I've decided crafts are now a good use of our time together.

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Saturday Linky Love

Many the Miles from Home Sanctuary - a beautiful post for those of us with little bitty children

How to Set Goals with Your Children from Inspired to Action - I am in awe of Kat. Always have been. I so desperately want to be the kind of intentional parent that she and Amanda and others are modeling for me.

This birthday wreath from How Does She...? is SO CUTE! Maybe I'll make one for my own birthday (May 26. Feel free to send presents). ;)

I think these homemade bath bombs may be a good Christmas present to make this year! (From Petit Elephant)

I guest posted yesterday at Once a Month Mom about how to make yummy Maple Cinnamon Apple-Pearsauce. Yeah, usually I make it for Libbie ... but I've been known to eat it myself it's so yummy!

Speaking of birthdays, OhAmanda's is today! Go leave her happy comments or Twitter love.

Read anything good this week? Leave a link in the comments!

Added to Saturday Stumbles at It's Come 2 This.
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Saturday Linky Love

My husband has brought it to my attention that all I've done this week is link to things. (Disclaimer: he now claims I had ONE real post, which is better than usual. I suck.) (Apparently he does not consider recipes a valid post, even though they do take time!) I apologize if y'all are like him and don't love the links. I kinda do! I promise I'll work on writing more "real" stuff!

I thought for this week I'd actually follow along with Mandi's Saturday Stumbles and share some items I've "favorited" on Stumble Upon!

Let's Craft with the 1970s! - I know I followed someone else's link here, so thank you for it. This is pretty hilarious!

Red Enchilada Sauce - I'm all about making things from scratch. Looking forward to trying this out!

Road Map to Craftiness - Super easy and cute craft to decorate any room in your house!

Recycled Paper Tube Flower Craft - I must have been pretending to be crafty this week. (I'm not. When I taught Girls in Action my first disclaimer was, "I don't do crafts." Thankfully I had some crafty co-teachers!)

Parenting One on One with Children - Sweet reminder for when I have more than one kid! I loved meeting little Asa when I visited Amanda a few weeks ago.

Oh! I forgot to mention that I guest posted over at Alli-N-Son today about going from working mom to SAHM. Go check it out and give comment love! 

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