Decking Our Halls
Hey Y’all!
Though I’d planned a post for you this morning I’m helping with some download issues for my new book, DIY Organic Beauty Recipes. As my public service announcement for the day, iPad does not play well with PDF’s unless you download one of these free apps to help them get along. It’s easy peasy!
While I’m working on that, I thought you might like a peek into one of our holiday traditions. Sometimes we create masterpieces and sometimes we mostly slather glue on ourselves, but every year the kids and I make an ornament for the tree. This is from a couple years ago is my favorite set so far. ♥
Oh, Christmas tree! Oh, Christmas treeeeee!!!
How richly God has decked thee!
With yarn, balloons, and Elmer’s glue . . .
We’re redefining gooey!
See? Proof that I worked HARD!
Now how do we get those balloons out of there???
Oh Christmas tree! Oh Christmas tree!
How richly God (and Katie) have decked thee!
Kid-friendly craft alert! Spread some holiday cheer as you and your little ones create these elegant homespun ornaments. Simple supplies like water balloons, white glue, wax paper and yarn are all you need to get started.
A boxed set would be perfect for grandparents or a favorite teacher. Or keep them yourself . . . your kids will have fun and you’ll get the keepsake! Hope ya’ll are cherishing the moments, making paper chains and chugging down some real, authentic egg nog. 
Sarah K.
Those are so neat! I love the colors!
Heather
Thank you, Sarah! I went through aisle after aisle searching for the right yarn and then found this in the clearance section. It reminded me of a candy cane ; – )
Kristine
Cute idea! Love the photos!
Heather
You’ll get copies . . . eventually
Nikki
These are so cute!!! I wonder if Liquid Fabric Stiffener would work instead of Elmers? What did you use to make the snow flakes?
Heather
Hi Nikki! Are you crafting like crazy right now??? It’s times like these that I wish I had your skills. We had so much leftover yarn and I have no idea what to do with it.
Regarding the fabric stiffener, I think it would work. The Elmer’s was a little difficult to work anyway so if I were you I’d give it a shot. The snowflakes are just basic white craft glitter from Joann’s. If you make these I would love to see the finished product!
Nikki
I immediately bought balloons when I saw your crafty brilliance. The fabric stiffener experiment is happening right now but will need to dry overnight. I am just using leftover yarn so they aren’t very Christmas-y…yet. You’ve completely inspired me and I am so excited about it! Thank you for the great idea, I’ll let you know as soon as they are finished. Evie will be 2 1/2 next Christmas so I really hope we can make these together!
As for leftovers – I love to decorate with yarn and wrap everything I can in it! Maybe make a pompom garland with those wonderful peppermint hues!
Nikki´s last [type] ..I’m No Slouch
Heather
I googled instructions for pompoms and they look pretty simple. We just may give it a shot. thanks, Nikki!
Vivian
So glad you all are enjoying your Christmas season, and what precious decorations! Merry Christmas to the Potamus family!
Heather
Merry Christmas to you and all your precious T’s!
Daniel
There’s almost nothing I can think of more precious than watching you two making Christmas decorations. The house suddenly felt more festive, more creative, and more intimate. Thank God for children, through whom we’re rediscovering the joy of using our hands to create and have lots of fun!
Heather
If I could remember how to make that little heart symbol I would put it here. Love you Daddypotamus!
Kathryn Nordyke
I LOVE this!! Now I know what to do with all of my “scraps” of yarn!! Love the smiles on Katie’s face!
Kathryn Nordyke´s last [type] ..Living out of Abundance
Heather
Oh wow, I’ll bet you almost have enough scraps for the Time Square tree!!!
Kathryn Nordyke
Haha! Pretty much!
Kathryn Nordyke´s last [type] ..Living out of Abundance
Hunter
I love the ornaments… Now I know what to do with all of my leftover yarn!
Anthropologie has some great pictures of how to use yarn to embellish presents on their “ways to wrap” section- I tried wrapping it around presents in thick bands and it looks so pretty… A nice way to put those scraps to use.
Heather
I love that idea! In fact, I think I’ll combine the inspiration I found at Anthropologie (especially this one http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/catalog/category.jsp?popId=HOME&navAction=middle&navCount=60&isSortBy=true&pushId=HOME-WRAPOUTFITTING&id=HOME-WRAPOUTFITTING3) with Nikki’s pompom suggestion for something extra special!
Esther
Simply beautiful and precious! Katie is going to look back and cherish all of the memories you are making with her. Merry Christmas!
Heather
Oh yes she will. That’s what scrapbooks are for . . . proof that we are fun parents just in case our kids forget!!!
Whittney
How crafty! Love that you’re making memories with your sweet beebs.
Whittney´s last [type] ..Christmas Traditions – Cookies!
Heather
Thanks! As we were making them I thought it was going to be a disaster. But we had fun and they turned out beautifully. Now that we’ve had a little success we’re on to another project!
Yarn Hat Ornament | stitch.tac.sew
[...] it. I think it looks fabulous and was a great way to use scrap yarn! Thanks to Mommypotamus for a gorgeous blog on crafting ornaments with yarn and inspiring me to find ways to use up scrap pieces. My yarn-ball [...]
caitlin
i want to save this blog so that i can remember to make these in a couple years when denver is old enough to help. what a sweet idea. love it!
Heather
This has been the best Christmas season ever, hands down. At three years old Katie is old enough for crafts, she can sing Jingle Bells and Silent Night, and she LOVES going out at night to look at Christmas lights. Christmas was totally magical when I was a kid, but it doesn’t compare to seeing my daughter experience all this for the first time.
TuTu's & More by FayeRaye via FB
Love this! I’m going to make some with my girls this weekend! Thank you for sharing!
Mommypotamus via FB
Yay! Have fun! We gave a set to Katie’s grandparents last year . . . and of course, I kept a set for myself. Sweet memories! <3
Kati
We did something kind of like this for continent day at Montessori (South America, “weaving” bowls, long story). Anyway, in that craft you mixed a little water with the glue – I think it was perhaps 50/50 and that made it easier for the kids to work with the materials. It still dried well, although having a high quality yarn that will soak up the glue/water mix was helpful. I noticed some of our cheapo stuff repelled the liquid a little too well. LOL!
Kati´s last [type] ..Grandpa Gunk’s Kraut
TreaSon Holdings via FB
Brilliant!!!! I am going to have one happy 3 yr old (& grandparents too!)
16 Homemade Holiday Gift Ideas - Holistic Squid
[...] for the tree? And all the better when given as a homemade holiday gift. These Woolen Ornaments and Yarn Ornaments are easy enough that the kids can help to make them. And check out these pretty Ornaments from the [...]
Britt @ Honest to Goodness Living
Love this tradition… I grew up with fake trees decorated to the nines (they seriously look like they belong in the center of a really fancy mall) – and my husband grew up with real trees and homemade ornaments. So we decided early on that we’d do one fake fancy tree, and when kiddos came along, we’d start buying a real tree each year to do homemade ornaments (and string popcorn and cranberries for garland!) LOVE the idea of creating a new set of ornaments each year… Can’t wait to start this with my future little ones!
Cara
I LOVE this! We’re so doing this tomorrow
Rebecca Fuentes
I crochet dolls. Many are gifts, other are sold. It was my goal to make as many presents as possible this year, instead of buying. In theory, this would be thrifty, but only if you don’t ask how much the yarn for my sister’s sweater cost. My kids would love to make these ornaments, so we will give it a try closer to Christmas. We don’t do our tree until Christmas eve.