Christmas Eve Gift 2015

Merry Christmas Eve Gift from The 4-Crows!

Christmas Eve traditions around our nest include gifting our neighbors before we gift ourselves. This year's gift was pretty much made all by Miss K! To find out how to make them you can go to this post. It pretty much follows the same concept except we used red glitter, ribbon, and coke tabs for the Santa ornaments and pom poms, googly eyes & recycled foam antlers from another project last year. Too easy! Too fun! 

Out delivering the gifts....

Our Sparkle Box Season

What acts of kindness and generosity do you and your family participate in during the Christmas Season?

I asked this question on October 25, 2013 in a post in which I reviewed the book The Sparkle Box.  I didn't "toot" my own horn about what I was doing in my own home, because I'm kind of  personal when it comes to these things. I do share with you each year the pictures of my children giving Christmas Eve Gifts to the neighbors.  I placed our Sparkle Box on top of our curio cabinet and throughout the month of December, filled it with slips of paper that contained various acts of kindness that our family did throughout the month. 

Miss K, kept asking if I had put anything in it. I have a feeling she thought it should be bursting at the seams. 

On Christmas morning, before my children opened the unopened gifts, I gave them the silver box. I told them that since it was Jesus' Birthday, his present would be opened first. 

The kids were amazed at the things I had written down, some they didn't even think twice about doing, yet I wrote down. They didn't even know about some of the things their brother and sister had done. They thought it was "cool" and wish we could do it all year. I reminded them that their lights for Jesus can and should shine year around. 

I made these labels to use in our Sparkle Box
Click here to get a copy of this. You can copy and paste into Word.

And now, the 2013 Christmas Eve Gift pictures....I can't believe how my kids have grown. 

A Very Pinteresting Christmas Day 13: Our 2013 Christmas Eve Gift for the Neighbors, Snow Button Ornaments

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If you are a neighbor of mine, stop reading this post right NOW! Take your mouse to the upper right corner of your screen and hit the "X" button. Thank you. Whew, now that the nosy neighbors have quit reading this post I can share with you their Christmas Eve Gift. 

On Christmas Eve, before my children are allowed to open one single gift, they take a special gift to each of our neighbors. This has been a tradition of our now for 10 years. I believe that it instills in my kids that it is better to give than receive and that giving of oneself is the greatest gift we can give to others. I try to make it a crafty gift and have even baked. This year's gift is an ornament. A snowman ornament. I found this pin and immediately knew it was the one. Now I know mine is not as fancy as hers, she is a professional with an Etsy shop and all. 

Here is what we did: (we includes my 6 year old daughter)

1. Cut 4.5" shape with Cricut 

2. Painted three different sized buttons white, glued them on

3. Used scripture stamps to put a verse on the shape

4. Made a tiny fork bow for snowman out of bakers twine 

 (yeah this can be done, watch this video) 

5. Hole punched top and made a hanger out of bakers twine

I think they turned out pretty cute, and will be a yearly reminder of my kids to the neighbors for years to come! 

Be sure to tune in each day this week as I bring you "A Very Pinteresting Christmas" Linkup and if you have any Pinterest inspired activities throughout the week, be sure to grab the above button and linkup your ideas! "A Very Pinteresting Christmas" will be 15 days of Pinterest inspired food, fun, crafty days of linkups that all can be used during this wonderful season of joy. It will run from December 2-20 here at The 4-Crow's. I hope you will join in on the fun!

A Very Pinteresting Christmas: Final Day

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Today's Pinterest project is one I found some months ago and have had so much fun doing. 

 Etching.

 This time it's for the neighbors Christmas Eve gifts, along with a few other people on my list.  Sure hope no one is reading. I've shared with you before here and here the how on this project. You just need a Cricut, Armour Etch, contact paper, a glass object and an imagination.

This time I chose a oil/vinegar cruet

Did a reverse etch, taped off the edges, I wanted straight lines.

Brushed on the etching cream, let it sit for one hour

Once I washed it off with soap and water, I filled it up with dish soap and it now sits very pretty upon my sink.
And soon upon several neighbor's!

I hope you all have enjoyed this series of A Very Pinteresting Christmas with The 4-Crow's. If you have any Christmas Pinterest Projects, please link them up.  Merry Christmas from Our Nest to Yours!

Christmas Eve Gift Tradition 2011

The annual tradition at our nest before the Crow children open their presents is to deliver something from themselves to others. 

Our Christmas Eve Gift to the neighbors has been going on now for four years!

 Each year Braden and Kaybrie don their nicest clothes and their Santa hats and take off either by wagon, foot, or car to deliver the goods!

They weren't the only ones delivering today- thank you USPS for all you do!

Look at my sweet babies, I love seeing how they change from year to year- side by side!

Knocking on the doors!

Checking out who is next on their list!

Merry Christmas to All from Our Nest to Yours!

The 4-Crow's