Saturday, July 22, 2017

12 Days of Christmas in July Blog Hop - Day 9!

Hi, all!

Do you have favorite Christmas traditions that you observe every year?  I think every family does - one of ours is to use a different wrapping paper for each family member, so that our littles can hand out the packages even before they can read.  Another, as I mentioned yesterday, is to have orange rolls for breakfast.  It's just not Christmas without those orange rolls!

Here are today's blogs for the hop...

Saturday, July 22nd

All Points of the Compass

Leanne of Devoted Quilter, Kathy of Kathy's Kwilts and More, and Jean of All Points of the Compass have a wonderful array of Christmas inspiration to share with us today - I can't wait to see their posts!  Head on over there and leave your comments to be entered in today's giveaway!

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Today's step in the Santa's Trip Around the World quilt tutorial?  Well, it's a little "second verse, same as the first" as we repeat the steps from Thursday again to make the third quarter panel for the quilt.  

And as you do that, here's a little more Christmas inspiration!  How about some fun things to do with the kids?  We are always looking for crafty things to do during the holidays when the kids are off - and here are some cool ideas...


These ornaments are made with plastic pony beads, and melted in the oven.  Super simple!


Do you remember making pinecone trees as kids?  I remember these, but also taking pinecones and smearing them with peanut butter and rolling them in birdseed, then hanging them in the trees.  So many fun things you can do with pinecones!


There are always fun things to make with popsicle sticks, but this is one of the cutest trees I've ever seen.  And just think - nowadays, you can buy the popsicle sticks in bulk, nice and clean!  No more having to eat them all summer and save up the sticks!


And finally, another great use for that button box!  I love this in green, but I think it would also be cute made with gold or white buttons...

You can find the links for all of the above ideas on my Pinterest page, 12DCIJ Pins.

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We're getting closer and closer to the end of the hop, but there's still a lot more to come!  Remember to check out all of the day's stops and leave a comment to be entered in today's giveaway...

Hugs!

Sarah


Here are the blogs participating in the 12 Days of Christmas in July blog hop!

Friday, July 14th


Saturday, July 15th


Sunday, July 16th


Monday, July 17th


Tuesday, July 18th


Wednesday, July 19th


Thursday, July 20th


Friday, July 21st


Saturday, July 22nd



89 comments:

  1. One of the reasons we have grandkids is so we can do these crafts, too!! Very good ideas! Thanks, kthurn@bektel.com

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  2. I love all the fun crafts. Ornaments at Christmas are my favorite next to cookies. Jmikebalou (at) aol (dot) com

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  3. More goodies for us to save till December, or earlier. Ornaments galore, we have been spoilt for choices.

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  4. A plethora of Christmas ideas Sarah. I can see me having a busy time with my granddaughter in the run up to Christmas.

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  5. The bead ornaments and the popsicle stick ornaments look great, I will have to give them a try. My 3 visits have been completed and I have subscribed to all. Thanks and have a great day delissac@hotmail.com

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  6. So many great Christmas ideas! The crafts will be fun to do with my grandchildren. Thanks!

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  7. Love these crafts for kids - I am always looking for ideas for when the grand kids visit - these are perfect.

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  8. These are such cute ideas, especiallt the button wreaths and popscile trees!

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  9. Kids are always marveled by any kind of Christmas craft-yours are just wonderful-love the melted beads idea! I still find myself saving the sticks from popsicles, lol! Thank you, Susan

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  10. Love your kids craft ideas! When my kids were younger we always spent a day or two making gifts for the grandparents. Now that my kids are older, they continue the tradition, but on their own and its always fun to see what they've made--a year ago my daughter crocheted a lobster for me!!

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  11. I remember trying to save popsicle sticks but they always got thrown out because they were stained with orange or red! Love the little button wreaths. Advent calenders were our family's tradition.

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  12. Love the button wreath. Janice.snell@gmail.com

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  13. More good ideas for crafting with kids. I like the melted bead ornaments. Thanks for sharing.

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  14. There are lots of things you can do with pine cones. One I have seen is a pine cone wreath.

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  15. My favorite idea today is the popsicle stick christmas trees!
    eahorgan@gmail.com

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  16. We usually get cinnamon rolls for breakfast Christmas morning. It's so much fun doing your Blog hop and I've learned some pretty cool things to make.

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  17. Well, found two more Christmas gifts. The owl for a SIL and the Pillow with a quilt for a neighbor. 8-)

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  18. The button wreaths are adorable!

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  19. I love the button wreath idea!!!

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  20. I love the melted pony ornaments and the popsicle trees. I may just forward those to the 4H group. Thanks!

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  21. My kids made the Popsicle stick trees, way back in the day.

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  22. Great craft ideas today. My favorite is the button wreath.

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  23. Thanks for the kid friendly ornaments, love the button wreaths.
    patsystitch@gvtc.com

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  24. We have Christmas brunch with lots of yummy treats between opening gifts.

    I love every one of these ideas! Your Pinterest board is a fantastic holiday resource!

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  25. I love a Christmas Eve service, then driving around to look at the Christmas lights. Great ideas for kids (or anyone)!! Think I may have to try a pine cone Christmas tree -- so cute! Thanks for the great ideas!!

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  26. Thanks for the ideas. I love those pinecones and button wreaths. I could probably have 100 kids over and not even dent my button/charm stash!

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  27. When my children were small, their Christmas stockings alway contained fun, quirky surprises. When getting up early (which they did EVERY year!), they could "play with their stocking" as the youngest called it. The sleepy parents could have a bit more sleep...maybe...sweet memories!
    I like the button wreath!
    Thank you for all the fun!!!
    Debbie
    ollieami@aol.com

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  28. We don't have a part tradition but I do make Walsall every year!

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  29. I finally have my strips cut better late than never.

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  30. Great ideas to get kids involved in gift giving. We have a Christmas tradition of making an old favorite, family recipe, cookies. My great aunts used to make them for us when we were young.

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  31. I love those button wreaths :-)

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  32. Thank you for doing this--I'm looking forward to it daily!!!

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  33. i have to try those button wreaths, i have tons of buttons.

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  34. So many great ideas, so little time. Love the button wreaths.
    Pat

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  35. Love the crafty ideas! Popsicle trees are cute and easy!! Thanks for all the great ideas.

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  36. I like all the trees--pinecone ones are my favorite--although I could do a lot with buttons--I have lots!!
    barbkaup(at)(yahoo)(dot)(com)

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  37. Love the tree fun...I bet dropped needles are not a problem with any of them!

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  38. What fun ideas! I don't know if I can get my kids to buy Christmas in July, but it could happen. :)

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  39. I love getting ideas for crafting with the grandkids. Thanks for the great ideas.

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  40. I like that melted bead ornament. How easy to make it in a cookie cutter to get the shape! Love it!

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  41. Such beautiful crafts...Thank you!!!
    kcummings71@gmail.com

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  42. Thanks for the craft ideas. I especially like the pinecone trees.

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  43. Our Christmas tradition has always been to give the kids Christmas pjs, but I am changing it up this year. With grown children, and a lovely daughter in law, I will begin giving Christmas Pillowcases, and probably a sheet set for the kids. My niece, who is 8, will still get pjs from Santa. Crafts... they change every year, but always something with a photo. D. Weeks (aka Momma Llama)

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  44. Loving the kid ideas! Until a couple years ago we always cut our Christmas tree. Cinnamon rolls and fresh orange juice are a tradition that I grew up with and still make for my husband and myself.

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  45. cute projects. Nancy A: rangerer@sbcglobal.net

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  46. Oh, those kids crafts bring back memories! Thanks, Sarah, for all you are doing for this blog hop!

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  47. I remember those crafts when I was little, and that was long ago!

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  48. I'm marching on with my quilt top. I don't remember making all four quarters the same when I made a TATW last year (two had strips in opposite order), so I hope I'm doing it right! I'll lay it out before I stitch.

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  49. Thanks for the great ideas. I love the popsicle stick tree. Someplaces sell those sticks in different colors so you can get right to the gluing and decorating.

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  50. This years blog hop has been full of great ideas for children. Can't wait until my grandchildren will be old enough to have ago at these projects

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  51. No more having to eat them all summer and save up the sticks!

    So what's wrong with this???? LOL!

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  52. Cute ornament ideas! Off to see the other bloggers today....

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  53. So many cute, simple ornament ideas! Thanks!!
    nikilsend(at)outlook(dot)com

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  54. We've always used cloth bags. The stocking bags are colour coded for the same reason you mentioned (keeping things straight) when there were littles.

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  55. THOSE ARE SOME CUTE IDEAS READINGTIRZAH AT YAHOO.COM

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  56. Great ideas. Especially the popsicle stick trees!

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  57. I know families who use a one wrapping paper for each family member, but don't label them--that way, the kids don't know which package is theirs, and it cuts down on the shaking and manhandling of the gifts under the tree, because they don't know if the gift they are eying is theirs, or if the box being shaken by their sibling might belong to them. My worry would be--I'd likely lose the master "key"! Imagine the chaos on Christmas morning. :)

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  58. Thanks for the great tips on kids Christmas crafts! Fun for all with lots of memories.

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  59. The Christmas ornaments sure bring back memories. Visiting everyone in the hop and will be following some new talented people.

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  60. Love the Christmas crafts for kids! Am enjoying the blog hop, thanks!

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  61. Oh, my gosh! I remember making melty ornaments with my children. That was so much fun and I haven't thought of it for years. Thanks for the memory. =)

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  62. Great ornaments. Will have to make some with the grandgirls. Thanks for sharing.

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  63. Wow, finally a use for that big tub of pony beads left from when my son was young!

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  64. Thanks for the additional Christmas craft ideas. LOVE that button wreath!! May have to give that one a try this year.

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  65. Sarah!... SO many wonderful ideas!
    *Thank you!*
    (Yes, that button wreath is cute, and really is a project for all ages!... It can be smaller for a younger child.)
    Pat T.

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  66. I think I'm going to have to borrow a couple of neighbor kids to make these holiday projects! The melted pony beads and pinecone ornaments are so cute! I have a neighbor who has 3 boys and I'm sure she'd let me borrow the 2 older ones near the holidays. Thanks Sarah!

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  67. Fun projects, There is still time here in the summer to try a few. Thanks Darlene dhoctor@sbcglobal.net

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  68. I love the button wreath idea in particular. What a great use for button collections. Thanks for sharing some more great ideas.

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  69. We did the same paper thing for Christmas when our girls were little, but as they got older, and presents got fewer in number, we began having mystery gifting. One year the names (random names, not our children's names) were written in different colors. Another year the last letter of the random names was the same as the last letter of the gift receivers name. The kids had fun figuring out the code and it stretched out the fun. Also, brunch is another favorite tradition.

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  70. I love those craft ideas. Thanks for sharing them.

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  71. These Christmas decorations are all awesome, perfect for kids to make. Thanks!

    Please click on the delaineelliott above for my email link.

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  72. Yes Sarah I do recall making those popsicle stick trees as a child and my son's made them too. Theirs still adorn my tree each year . Thank you for the crafty ideas and perhaps I can finally use all those buttons and make awreath w/my grandkid(s) this season.

    schimmel(dot)db(at)gmail(dot)com

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  73. Gorgeus projects to do with kids.Love them all!

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  74. I am in love with the decorated pinecone trees. It looks like a good portion of the decorations are buttons; is that right?

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  75. Another day of cute projects suggestions Thanks for all the time you are devoting to make sure we have a good experience
    Swoot@att.net

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  76. Love the melted beads ornaments. You have shown us many great ideas on this blog hop! Thank you.

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  77. These ideas bring back many great memories...we used all of these ideas when I was a Girl Scout leader.

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  78. those popsicle tress sure are fun looking! Thanks


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  79. We still have the popsicle Christmas trees that my children made when they were younger. Those ornaments bring back some really good memories.

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  80. I love that button wreath. Too cute.

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  81. Love seeing projects to do with kids; bought a melted bead kit and made it with him, for my grandson Brady a couple of Christmases ago. :-)

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  82. Awww. I don't have any children, but I sure wish I did so I could make some of these! Love the pop sickle stick trees.

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  83. My kids are always looking for crafts to do-- thanks for some great ideas!

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  84. I have made the button wreaths, they turn out awesome, and they have held up over the last few years. The pony bead ornaments are a cute idea too. Thank you for sharing!

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Comments make me smile!! If you want a PDF of a pattern, PLEASE leave your email address in your comment, or email me directly at salliesue57 (at) gmail (dot) com!