25 Days of Christmas 2012- December 8th: "It's No Puzzle" Picture Frame Gift and Giveaway

Christmas, a time of giving. 

I remember when I was growing up how much homemade gifts meant to my mom. I don't know if you feel the same way, but I can understand where she was coming from. In fact, I know she still feels the same way. A gift made specifically for a loved one is made from the heart. Our children LOVE to make things for us all the time and we accept them with such enthusiasm, because we know they were made out of love.

It is so easy to go to the store and pick out gifts for those on our list and  I realize it takes time to make a gift.   But, I hope you will think about helping your children make this special gift for the special people in their lives. We are making these photo frames for both my mom and hubby's parents because I feel they make great gifts for grandparents. I know my mom will love to have the little ones make one of these for her because she still has the frame the older children made for her 11 years ago.

They are really simple to make, yet they put a new spin on giving pictures as gifts.

Here is what you will need:
Old jigsaw puzzle (60 pc or 100 pc)
Red, Green and Glitter acrylic paint
White school glue
Cardstock or Poster board
Cardboard cut just a little bigger than the Card Stock/Poster Board
Picture(s)

We started out by painting the back of some puzzle pieces red and green.

When they were dry I gathered the glue, cardboard, cardstock, and pictures.

I made the cardboard just a little bit bigger than the cardstock because I wanted to have a little extra room for the puzzle pieces. I didn't want to pictures to be crowded.

Whatever you do, don't forget to paint some outer edge pieces. You will need the flat part for the bottom of the frame so it will sit flat on whatever surface the receiver of the gift places it. By the way, I almost forgot.

I showed the girls how to place the puzzle pieces so that the cardboard edge wasn't showing. 

Then we added the pictures and I wrote, "It's no puzzle" on one side, and "We love you" on the other side.

When it was dry I prepared to add a stand. I cut a strip of cardboard about 1 inch taller than the height of the frame. I had to play with it a bit and ended up cutting off 1/2 an inch to get it to sit right.

Fold the top of the strip at about 1 inch and attach almost to the top of the frame.

Then I cut a smaller strip to help hold the stand steady. I folded it 3 times because the ends are attached to the frame and the stand, then the middle fold helps it to bend to lay it flat for shipping.

I am linking this up with the Schoolhouse Review Crew Blog Cruise

This giveaway is now over. 

However, You can enter to win a different prize each day, from Nov. 29th through Dec.24th, with the 25 Days of Christmas Blogshare Giveaways!

Muffin Tin Monday: Dreaming of a White Christmas

This is the third week of Christmas themed muffin tins.  I decided to use the following theme:

"I'm dreaming of a white Christmas" (Though I am really not, as I would like to go visit my mom and I really don't relish driving in the snow.)  

We had

Cheese quesadillas  on white flour tortillas

Cauliflower

Ranch dressing

Banana yogurt (plain yogurt mixed with baby food bananas)

Mini marshmallows

Rice Krispie treat from last night's Christmas program at church.

This was not a very well received muffin tin.  They had never had the cheese quesadillas before.  I used to make them all the time for the older children.  Just put the tortilla in the fry pan and sprinkle with cheese.  When the cheese is melted roll it up.  Yummy, however they only nibbled at those.  They ate the cauliflower after being nagged at.  Refused to touch the yogurt.  Must have had bad memories from last week when I gave them plain yogurt. Unfortunately, because they didn't eat, the Krispie treats which had been taken away were never given back.  They were told they could have them at dinner.  One thing that was offered that they devoured was...

The hot cocoa made from the hot cocoa mix we made today.  I found a recipe for homemade hot chocolate over at A Country Classroom and decided we would make it to give away as gifts.  I found some cute jars over at the thrift shop that I am going to use to give to friends at playgroup tomorrow.  Then I thought I would give it away to others in peanut butter jars or something.  

Here are the girls getting ready to make the hot cocoa mix:

We used:

1 quart of dry milk

16 oz Nestle Quik (actually we used store brand)

2 cups confectioners sugar

2 cups coffee creamer

This was a nice simple thing to make and it will make a nice gift.  You just need to take 1/3 cup of mix and add it to 2/3 cup hot water (I always boil ours).

Head on over to Muffin Tin Mom's blog to see what other cute tins others are giving their children.