So, you probably haven’t even gotten this far in your December yet, but your kids are going to be out of school after next week.  For two weeks.  While that is loads of fun and all, I am sure you might have a day or two or six when you might need something for them to do!  Well, worry no more.  Tag It Art would be a perfect option!  Owner Jackie Humphries has planned a series of one-day or multi-day art camps to coincide with the school holidays!  She also has other fun December plans including extended open studio hours, a holiday pj party, and even a Ladies’ Night!  Check her website for all the details, and get in there for some messy holiday fun!

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• Another great sale this week at K.D.’s Treehouse!  30% off winter coats/thick sweaters and all sleepwear!!!  All other Regular Priced Merchandise 20% off!

• Be Beep will open on Sundays (12pm - 6pm) to ensure you have plenty of opportunities to get those Christmas gifts!

Two more shopping weekends until Christmas, so be sure to get by Be Beep and K.D.’s Treehouse asap!

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We just finished holiday activity #2.  Love, love, love the way they turned out!  First, you need to save some of your empty food boxes, like cereal or pasta boxes.  Or find some cardstock you have stored in your cabinets.  Any sort of stiff or heavy paper would work.  You just don’t want to use construction paper or anything lighter, as it will be too flimsy.  (Isn’t flimsy a fun word?)  The idea is to recycle something, so I chose to cut up cardboard boxes - the kinds that can’t be recycled here in Columbia.  Cereal boxes, pasta boxes, kleenex boxes, anything that has one side that has no printing on it.

Now that you have all your stiff papers/cardboard in front of you.  You will also need some scissors, sponges or potatoes, washable paint, a hole punch, and some ribbon.

Step 1: Cut the boxes into rectangles approximately 4.5 inches x 2.5 inches.  Trim two corners on one of the short sides so your tag looks like the ones in the pictures!

Step 2: Cut shapes out of sponges or out of potatoes.  I used both.  Kids will find it quirky and fun to paint with a potato, but a sponge would work just as well.

Step 3: Paint one side of the sponge or the cut side of the potato with the paint colors you want.  I used a paintbrush to control how the colors blended, but you could just dip into the paint.  I chose green and brown for my trees, and yellow and red for my stars.  Red and green would be cute for the stars as well.

Step 4: Press the painted side onto the card.  Don’t worry about placement.  As you can see from the photos, I made each one different.

Step 5: Once your cards are dry, punch a hole in the same end that has the trimmed corners.  (again, see pictures for clarification)

Step 6: Write your To/From or holiday message on the card.  Attach to gifts with ribbon!

So very cute and really really easy.  Note that you could do these anytime of year, with any shapes you like.

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Don’t forget The Neverending Story will be shown tomorrow at the Nickelodeon Theatre.  Show starts at 10am.  Admission is $5 per person. Children under 2 are free. All children under 10 must be accompanied by an adult.

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Today and tomorrow are crazy.  Seriously. Family events:

• Tonight: Mingle and Jingle on Main
• Tonight: Sweet Seasons at Midtown @ Forest Acres
• Tomorrow night: A Little Holiday Party at K.D.’s Treehouse
• Tomorrow night and Satuday: Five Points Festivus
• Saturday: The Neverending Story at the Nickelodeon Theatre (yes!  The 80s film you saw when you were a kid!)

Gosh, there are so many things to do, it is crazy.  Be sure to check my events calendar for all the ongoing activities, but the ones above are special one-time only events!

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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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