I am super excited about the fun holiday crafts and activities I have planned.  I am trying really hard to be realistic this year.  Here is my first idea: Handprint ornaments.  You will need:

Plastic ornaments.  Available in lots of great colors at Target.  Be sure you do NOT buy the glass ones!!

White paint (I used Crayola washable)

Paint brushes

Hooks/Hangers

Cord or rope (hang across the room or outside for drying the ornaments)

Step 1: Paint your child’s palm and fingers with the white paint.

Step 2: Have your child place hand on the ornament firmly enough to make hand print.  Basically, they just have to hold the ball for a few seconds. (Let me say again…do NOT buy glass ornaments for this craft!)

Step 3: Hang painted ball up to dry.

Step 4: When dry, write child’s name and the year on the ornament, then tie a ribbon around the hook.

Very inexpensive and simple.  If you have any left-over ornaments, let your kids paint them for their friends.  My daughter made a few with polka-dots and a few with snowmen.   I will confess to you that I am very proud of myself on this one.  It was as easy as it seemed it would be, but more importantly, I actually executed on the plan!  I am notorious for thinking of an idea and either never following through or waiting until I am out of time.

Happy holidays!

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It’s November 12.  Exactly 29 days until the start of Hanukkah.  Exactly 43 days until Christmas.  Exactly 44 days until Kwanzaa.  All of these celebrations can include some gift giving, however large or small.  In preparation for these, and other gift-giving occasions (there are, surprisingly, people with birthdays and anniversaries in December!), you might want to mark your calendar for two great artisans’ markets.

• Tonight, November 12, there is a Holiday Sip and Shop at 4020 Clairmont Drive.  6-9pm.  Vendors include: Shawna Riddle (The Painted Picket: Hand painted Decorative Accessories); Emily Woodard (Personalized Hand-painted Ornaments);  Ellen Parker (Handmade Recess); Mary Beth Hultstrand (Dragonfly Dreams Personalized Stationery & Invitations); Laura Ingram (Lia Sophia Jewelry); Leigh Ladd (Ethiopaper Handcrafted Cards); Cami Hutchinson (Original Oil Paintings); and Christal Smith (Molly-Pops!).  I know first-hand that the Dragonfly Dreams stationery is awesome.  Sounds like a great opportunity to see some unique gift items, so check it out if you can and support these local artists and businesses!

• On Sunday, November 15, there is another Artisans’ Fair & Sale at the Columbia Museum of Art.  I would love to see this Artisans’ Market continue to grow.  I recall last year being the first year, and from the information on the web, it looks like it has expanded this year.  I love love love artists’ markets, and it makes me very happy when I see the indie arts and crafts movement emerging in our fair city!  The more we support these local events, the more of them we will see.

Happy shopping season!

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Don’t miss out on a wonderful Halloween-related craft workshop coming up on October 17th and 18th.  Christine Discoe will be hosting a spooky craft studio for children ages 7 and up.  The event is a beginning sewing class that promotes creativity and basic hand-sewing skills.  Parents can choose either a Saturday or Sunday class.  Cost is $18 (all materials included) for the 2.5 hour workshop.  See the flyer for more details and to register to attend.

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I am so excited that it is October 1!  Now I can officially get into Halloween season.  There are so many things going on around town.  I’ll kick off the month with this adorable cover from Martha Stewart Living magazine.  I don’t really read or follow Martha, but I couldn’t resist this cover!  (image from Design Genie)

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Use cloth napkins instead of paper ones. I started doing this a month ago and it is really great.  Not only does the table look prettier, but also, I feel better about reducing our trash footprint.  Even better, take this opportunity to stimulate the economy and go treat yourself to some new cute cloth napkins!!!

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In January, I decided to start adding a “featured blog” on my site.  Last month, it was Design Mom.  I love this site.  Gabrielle Blair is a mother of 5!  That alone is impressive enough, and yet she finds time to create this amazing blog.  I think the images she displays are beautiful, and her posts are interesting.  If you didn’t check it out in January, check Design Mom now!  Be forewarned….you will get so many great new ideas for decorating, activities, parties, and gifts, your head might explode!

For February, I am featuring Read ‘Em and Leap.  The mom who created Read ‘Em and Leap has a background in producing children’s educational websites, and decided to combine her interest in children’s literature with her current job as stay-at-home-mom.  If you want some great ideas for tying hands-on activities to children’s stories, don’t miss Read ‘Em and Leap!

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Don’t miss the new art available for purchase at K.D.’s Treehouse .  South Carolina artist Kris Neely’s guardian angels would make the perfect addition to your art collection…and would look adorable in a nursery!  Get yours now, and while you are there, check out the sale rack!

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First, let me just say that I hate the fact that Christmas shopping seems to start on Halloween. Target had Christmas items on display before the Halloween candy had even hit the trick-or-treat bags. So disappointing. I am starting a movement called "Keep Christmas in December!" That being said, today is December 1!! I know lots of local merchants are really struggling with the economic downturn. So, I thought I would point out some awesome gifts that can be purchased right here in our fair city. Support local business, eliminate shipping costs (and therefore reduce pollution emissions from those shipping trucks!), and take advantage of your ability to actually see/touch something before you buy!

• Your first stop should be K.D.’s Treehouse, where you can get your son or daughter some cute organic cotton pants and shirts, pajamas, jackets, blankets, bibs, and hats, as well as Plan Toys doll houses, train sets, tricycles, rocking horses, pull toys, and more. I promise you will find something you love, and the prices are very reasonable. Please support Columbia’s only modern children’s shop!

• While you are on Devine Street, stop in at Retail Therapy and get a Christmas ornament with your child’s name or initial on it. If they can’t do the personalizing while you wait, you can pick it up the next day!

• Stop by Burlap on Rosewood Drive (near the Rosewood Dairy Bar) and purchase some stationery for your children. The cards will come in handy when thanking family and friends for holiday gifts!

• Creative Kids in Five Points has a great selection of children’s toys.

• Sid & Nancy has a couple of racks of hip children’s clothes. They also have some colorful purses and bracelets that would be great additions to any little girl’s dress-up bins, not to mention some cool artwork by local designers/printers The Half and Half.

• While you are in Five Points, stop at the Gourmet Shop and get some Haribo Gummi Bears or some chocolates for the stockings, or better yet, grab a seat and have a little snack to get you through the rest of your shopping day!

• You probably think the Vista is mostly for adults, and you are mostly right. But not entirely. The State Museum gift shop has a great selection of hand puppets. You don’t have to pay admission to the museum to get into the gift shop. Same for the gift shop at Edventure, which has some unique toys and games.

• If you haven’t before, you need to check out the Junior League Holiday Market. Dec. 4 - 7 at the State Fair Grounds. Vendors from here, as well as from out of town, bring their wares for 4 days of shopping frenzy. In the past, I have purchased cute raincoats, backpacks, books, stuffed animals, growth charts, tree ornaments, jewelry, and more.

Happy holidays!

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If you haven’t shopped on Etsy yet, you are missing out! Not only can you find handmade, one-of-a-kind items, but you can search by location! Etsy makes it easy to support your local artists and crafters…and you can do it from the comfort of your own home. Who knew there were so many creative-types lurking in the far reaches of South Carolina! Below, I have listed some Etsy vendors that sell cool stuff for kids…and they all have ties to our great state! Honestly, you can find just about anything on Etsy, including jewelry, clothes, artwork, pillows, costumes, graphic design services, books, stationery…you get the picture. Check it out when you have a few minutes.

• Jack and Jane - Super cute hair accessories (shown below). They have some boy items, as well.

• Jelene’s Pop Shop - Colorful, affordable Pop Art will brighten up your child’s playroom, bedroom, bathroom…you name it! Some great choices for the little boys out there!

• Moppet Murals - Local creator of do-it-yourself murals. She provides the pattern, you do the painting!

• Palmetto Threads - Former Columbian, currently living in Atlanta, offers custom-made dresses for girls and appliqued t-shirts for boys and girls.

• The Dreamy Giraffe - This artist has an interesting style. She really tries to capture all the different emotions/hopes/dreams/fears that girls experience from time to time - some would be great for a little girl’s room (like The Sweetest Dream, which is shown below), others would be more appropriate for teens, and still others would make great gifts for adults.

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• 
• Swellkid is a seller on etsy who has the coolest Retro Alphabet art. Animal Alphabet also available.

• Love these toys, tables, and chairs from Small Paul by Paul Frank. Not cheap, but definitely high on the design meter.

• I love Ida Pearle - cut paper collages. Purchase an existing design, or place a custom order. The alphabet cards are beautiful.

• Bilibo is a versatile seat/rocker for kids. It is designed to be used in a variety of ways, leaving the uses to the child’s imagination. The best part is… you can get one at Creative Kids in Columbia’s own 5 Points. Save on shipping and buy local today! $27.99 at Creative Kids.

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