Christmas tree skirts

I made a few Christmas tree skirts this year.  First I started with one I already have and folded it in half and laid it onto my folded fabric, lining up the folded side of the skirt with the fold of the fabric.  Cut around the half circle and around the little hole part. Cut through one of the folds and open up the fabric.  You will have a basic skirt.  I doubled the thickness of each of these to add some stability and to make them a nice reversible option.  The rag-quilted flannel one has all exposed seems that fray when they are clipped and tumbled in the dryer a few times.  

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Thanks pumpkin

Advent Calendar

I finally made the advent calendar I've been planning for 3 years!  Please don't get too excited.  This certainly does NOT look like it's been worked on for 3 years, it's just that I finally made the time to do it.  I had several ideas in mind, but here's what I finally chose to do:

I painted a canvas dark brown and then cut out 25 tags (these are actually the tags I use for the Calico Barn so I already had them made).  Then I put brads through each hole to hold the tags onto the canvas (pins stuck into a framed cork board would be nice too).  I bought these brads at the $1 spot at Target.

Some of the numbers are hand written, but most are just stickers from my scrap-booking stuff.  On some of the brads I hung little things.  On the backs of each tag I'll write something special for our family to do together each night this month.  

Now, practically speaking we're not going to be able to have a perfect little family warm and fuzzy holiday- spirited, cookie- baking, craft- making, cocoa- sipping, carol- singing, story- reading, movie- watching, popcorn- stringing night every one of these 25 days, but we'll have fun trying!  This was fun and EASY to make.  If you don't have an advent calendar I recommend making one and by all means don't wait 3 years to do it!  :)