Architecture of a Mom: December 2013

Culinary Creativity

Juicy Barbecue Spice Turkey Breast {Slowcooker Recipe}

5:00:00 AM

Menu Planning

Menu Planning Monday 30-12-2013

8:16:00 PM

Blogging

2013 Recap at Architecture of a Mom

9:11:00 PM

Designing Family

When Christmas Isn't Perfect

7:00:00 AM

This Christmas, remember that there is no perfect Christmas.

The first Christmas, a small family was far from home…

They made their bed in straw in an oppressed land.

Their future was uncertain, and they had a hungry new baby.

Everything about the situation looked like it was going downhill fast.

And yet, there was still peace, and joy to be found:

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,

and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. (Luke 2:1-19, NIV)

Do you know what sticks with me? “But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” My Christmas is not likely to be perfect. Far from it with little ones running around, and out of town guests and just life. But I want to be like Mary and treasure all the little things so I can think on them later.

May you and your family find peace and joy this Christmas day, and remember to keep those imperfect moments close to your heart.

I love to party! Sometimes I link up my posts to Organizing Junkie, Tidy Mom and these link parties! You should come party with me and check out some awesome new bloggers!

Menu Planning

Menu Planning Monday for Holiday Guests 2013-12-23

5:00:00 AM

Creative Outlets

Rustic Wooden Children's Nativity Set

5:00:00 AM

Since the first Christmas that I had children, I have wanted to have a child-friendly nativity set. I believe that my children should have a hands on experience with the story of Christmas. I have 3 beautiful nativities that were given to me as gifts. The only problem with them is that one is unfired clay from Haiti, one is porcelain, and one is glass. None of these sets are really child friendly, and this mommy would love it if they survived to be heirlooms one day for my girls.

I know that there are a couple “toy” nativity scenes from Little People and Melissa and Doug. But I had something different in mind. I wanted my girls to be able to play with a nativity, but at the same time, I want it to look grown up and beautiful, because we all know that if something is played with in my house, it will be left out, right? I wanted it to be a decoration as much as a toy.

Last year, I took some wooden craft blocks and attempted to mod podge paper onto the blocks to make them into nativity characters. I stopped after only a couple of figures. I blame my lack of experience at the time with Mod Podge--I just wasn't loving the nativity. So the project was abandoned. This year, I picked up those same blocks to try to figure out how to make a nativity set that I loved. Fortunately, I was blessed in the last year to receive a Silhouette Portrait cutting machine, and so I had a new toy to attempt to make a nativity!

Here’s what you need:

Various size wood blocks. I used a wooden “whittlers block” set I picked up in my local craft store.

Chalk paint. I used Annie Sloan pure white and paris gray

Sandpaper to distress the paint

Paste wax. I used clear, but you can use the dark wax if you wish

Gold vinyl

Silhouette Portrait or Cameo

Brush for the paint

Brush for the wax (it will forever be your wax brush)

Soft cloth to buff the wax

Since I had put some paper on my blocks previously, I had to sand them to get the paper off. If you’re working with new wood, you can skip that step.

I painted my blocks with pure white, first.

Once that was dry, I painted them with the paris gray. I layered the paint so that when I sanded the blocks, I'd get a nice chippy rustic look.

I applied a coat of wax and buffed it lightly. I did this first to cut down on the sawdust when I sand, but also so that it starts to smooth down some of the roughness of the wood. Then, I sanded the edges. This gives them a rustic look, but it also serves to knock off the sharp edges and corners to make these blocks safe for kids. I lightly sanded the faces, but only to knock down any rough spots.

I added another coat of wax and buffed to a shine. Let wax set overnight.

I then found a nativity scene that I liked on the Silhouette Online Store. You can find the shape file that I used here.

First, I scaled everything down to approximately the size I needed.

Then, I ungrouped the file and deleted the shapes I wasn’t going to use (the donkey, the text, etc).

Then I regrouped everything again into two groups: the wise men and their camels (I duplicated the camel so I could have two) and everything else. Because of the wood I had on hand, I didn’t have enough to make every character their own block. So since the story of the wise men happens much later, when Jesus is a toddler, I made them small enough to fit on one block. They were really far off…J

The rest of the shapes I tweaked a little (why does Joseph have a shepherd’s staff?) but mostly, I just scaled them down so they fit on the blocks.

Then I let my Silhouette do its magic.

All that was left was to weed out the extra vinyl and apply the vinyl to the blocks.

I love the look of this nativity.

And even better, I know that this project was a success. How? As soon as I finished photographing this project, my oldest started playing with the nativity (I had told her that it was for her and her sisters). It makes my heart feel good that they finally have a Christmas decoration that isn’t “look and don’t touch” and even better that it is a nativity!

Note: This nativity is not for kids that are still chewing on stuff. I don't think you're supposed to consume the paint, wax or vinyl in this project.)

I love to party! Sometimes I link up my posts to Beyond the Picket Fence, Organizing Junkie, Tidy Mom, It's Overflowing, and these link parties! You should come party with me and check out some awesome new bloggers!