CHOCOLATE DIPPED PRETZELS

Supplies:
One (11 1/2 oz.) pkg. chocolate chips
One 1/4 c. Crisco
Fifty (3 inch) twisted pretzels or 1 lb. mini pretzels
Sprinkles

Directions:
Combine over hot (not boiling) water, chips and Crisco; stir until chips melt and mixture is smooth. Remove from heat but keep chocolate over hot water. Dip pretzels into chocolate and coat evenly; shake off any excess coating. Place pretzels on waxed paper-lined cookie sheets. Chill in refrigerator until coating sets (15 minutes). Gently loosen from wax paper. Serve immediately or store in refrigerator.

These are great for giving to friends and neighbors!

The Hand Prints Poem Framed

Supplies:

Paint
Card Stalk Paper
Frame

Directions:

It is so much fun to dip our little one's hands in paint and plop it on everything. It never gets old. I suggest for this home made gift, you buy the frame first. That way you can compliment or match the colors of the paint that you choose for their hand print to the frame. If your child is especially wiggly, and you are afraid to mess up the creation by him or her moving, use this tip. Simply try doing his hand print on regular paper the color of your project. Then, when you get it right, you can cut the hand print out and paste it to the actual project. I have done this several times and it looks just as good. You could even use a different color paper if you want it extra colorful or are going with a series of colors for the right look.

For a fancier look, try using a really nice black or brass frame and use a bold color like black to do their hand prints. You can also experiment with different kinds of paper. You can print the poem on several sheets to start in case you have a hard time getting the hand print just write. You could also do it only once and use the extra paper tip. Here is the poem.

Sometimes you get discouraged
Because I am so small
And always leave my fingerprints
On furniture and walls
But every day I grow a bit
And I'll be big someday
Then all those tiny finger prints
Will all be washed away.
So here's a print of my two hands
To help you recall
Just how my hands looked
When they were very small.

Garden Plaque

Supplies:
Plaster of Paris
Aluminum pie case
Shells, pebbles, acrylic gems, marbles or other water-resistant treasures to decorate. You could even use small plastic toys such as figures or toy cars.

Directions:
Make sure that you have a covered surface to work on and your children have overalls to protect their clothes. Gather all your materials in advance, as Plaster of Paris dries quickly.
Mix up the Plaster of Paris in an old jug according to the instructions on the packet. Pour into the pie case.
Carefully lay your decoration on top (note: they will sink a little no matter how carefully you do this; if you are too rough they will sink a lot!)
Leave to dry for a couple of hours and then remove the plaque from the pie tray.
Dig a hole in the garden and pop in the plaque. Back-fill with soil so that the top of the plaque sits level with the flower bed.

Box of Love

To make this gift you'll need:

Small plain boxes- Jewelry boxes work very well
Glitter, sequins or any ornamentation
Ribbon
Printed poem, on good
Stock paper if possible


This is a very special gift
That you can never see.
The reason it's so special is,
It's just for you from me.
Whenever you are happy,
or even feeling blue.
You only have to hold
this gift and know
I think of you.

You never can unwrap it
Please leave the ribbon tied.
Just hold the box close
to your heart,
It's filled with love inside.
Have your child decorate the boxes in anyway
she/he pleases. Add ribbon and the poem
with the signature.

Tips:
Try your local Jewelry Store for boxes.
I was able to purchase them for
25 cents each.

Week 48: Time to Craft

*Suggested Reading*
(Fun books!)
The Snowy Day By Ezra Jack Keats
Harold and the Purple Crayon By Crockett Johnson
Jamberry By Bruce Degen
Cars and Trucks and Things That Go By Richard Scarry
Charlie and Lola Series By Lauren Child

Items needed this week:

One (11 1/2 oz.) pkg. chocolate chips
One 1/4 c. Crisco
Fifty (3 inch) twisted pretzels or 1 lb. mini pretzels
Sprinkles
Paint
Card Stalk Paper
Frame
Plaster of Paris
Aluminum pie case
Shells, pebbles, acrylic gems, marbles or other water-resistant treasures to decorate You could even use small plastic toys such as figures or toy cars
Small plain boxes- Jewelry boxes work very well
Glitter, sequins or any ornamentation
Ribbon
Printed poem, on good
Stock paper if possible


Preparations to be made:
This is a good week to start working on your advent calendar for Christmas!


Advent Countdown:

LIST OF GIFTS: (LISTED IN THE ORDER THEY ARE USED)
1. Quarter
2. Grape flavored gum
3. Picture of a smile
4. Goldfish Crackers
5. Birthday candle
6. Bell
7. Fish crackers
8. Cotton balls
9. Piece of a map
10. Soap
11. Heart sticker
12. Cross
13. Packet of salt
14. Sand
15. Flowers(silk)
16. Raisins
17. Seeds
18. Christmas carol
19. Small rock
20. Crumpled foil
21. Mustard seed
22. Dove
23. Small scrap of woolly material
24. Blue marble
25. Picture of a baby.

December 1 - A quarter! That equals 25 cents. But 25 also stands for the number of days till Christmas, when God gave us His best present. Jesus told about one woman's gift and the way she gave it. Read: Mark 12:41-44

December 2 - Grape Gum! Grapes make jelly and juice, raisins and wine. But Jesus didn't need grapes to perform His first miracle. Read: John 2:1-10

December 3 - Here's a smile! A smile usually expresses happiness. Jesus gave us many instructions to keep us happy. Read: Matthew 5:1-12.

December 4 - Fish! Well, if you were surprised to find these fish, wait till you read the story today! Others were surprised to find fish, too. Read: Luke 5:4-7

December 5 - A birthday candle? As you know, we are getting ready to celebrate Jesus' birthday. However, Jesus talked about something else that is related to this candle. Light! Read: Matthew 5:14-16

December 6 - You could make some noise with this. But it would not have bothered a certain man--until he met Jesus. Read: Mark 7:31-37

December 7 - These would not go very far if you were really hungry! But Jesus could make much out of little. Surely He knew how to multiply! Read: Matthew 14:13-21

December 8 - These cotton balls would be helpful in a thunder storm, wouldn't they? We could use them for ear plugs to muffle the loud noises that thunder makes. But we know someone who doesn't need cotton. Jesus can control the weather. Read: Matthew 8:23-27

December 9 - People needing to use the other parts of this map are in trouble! Don't you get lost today! Read: John 14:1-6

December 10 - It's soap. Do you like to wash? Behind your ears? Washing turned out to be a happy time for a man who met Jesus. Read: John 9:1-7

December 11 - Hearts. Wordlessly, they speak of love, don't they? Jesus spoke some commands about love. Read: Matthew 25:17-41

December 12 - We use the cross as a symbol, representing Jesus. Do you know why? Read: Philippines 2:1-11

December 13 - Ordinary salt. Yes, Jesus related salt to us and our behavior. He also gave us some advice. Read: Matthew 5:14 and Colossians 4:6. (Notice that He doesn't recommend pepper!).

December 14 - Don't try to eat this! It's sand. It reminds us that Jesus knows something about architecture, about buildings--and building lives. See His instructions: Matthew 7:24-29.

December 15 - Flowers are pretty, aren't they? Jesus used flowers to teach us a reassuring lesson. Read: Matthew 6:28-34.

December 16 - Raisins! Many children are given raisins instead of candy for a snack. That's because they are a health-promoting and delicious fruit. Jesus told us how we can produce good fruit. Read: John 15:1-5.

December 17 - Jesus told a story about seeds that man planted. Then He explained it, revealing its deep meaning. Read: Matthew 13:3-8 and Matthew 13:18-23.

December 18 -Christmas is just about a week away. And here is an appropriate song. Sing it loudly! Read: Psalms 100.

December 19 - A hard stone! Can you change this stone into a piece of bread? Do you think Jesus could? Jesus was asked to do just that. Do know how He handled it? Read: Matthew 4:1-4.

December 20 - Try to smooth out this piece of aluminum foil and use it as a mirror. It's hard to see your reflection plainly, isn't it? Many circumstances are hard to understand, but someday everything will be clear. Read: 1 Corinthians 13:12.

December 21 - The mustard seed is the smallest there is! When it sprouts, it grows into one of the largest plants! See what Jesus said. Read: Matthew 17:20.

December 22 - We've learned that the cross represents Christ, but do you know what the dove stands for? Read: Matthew 3:13-17.

December 23 - The threads that compose this fabric came from the wool of a sheep. Jesus called Himself the good shepherd. Do you know who His sheep are? Read: John 10:7-18.

December 24 - A marble! Do you know what is sometimes called the "Big Blue Marble"? The world. God made the world for us. What does God continue doing to the world? And who is the world? Read: John 3:16.

December 25 - Isn't this baby cute? When he was born, he made a whole family happy. Jesus was born a baby, too. He came to make the whole world happy. Read: Luke 2:1-20. Enjoy your celebration today. Continue to learn about Jesus--and love Him forever!
Comments about This Craft:

We used the Advent Countdown idea using cardboard egg cartons in our recent Advent Rotation. First, I painted all of the egg cartons. This took some time, so plan ahead. Then I took circle-shaped labels from the dollar store and numbered them 1 - 24, and placed one in each holder. Finally, we set up an assembly line and had the children put each item in a holder. As we went along, we briefly talked about what story the item could be representing. I typed out the list of what the items represented and the scripture reference to take home. The kids all enjoyed the activity, especially trying to guess which Bible story was represented by the items.

Mayflower Craft

Supplies:
• 1/2-gallon milk or juice carton
• X-acto knife
• Paper bag
• White glue
• 2 bamboo skewers
• 2 apples
• White paper
• Construction paper


Directions:
1. Close and tape shut the opening of a clean carton, then lay it on its side. Using an X-acto knife (a parent's job), cut out the side of the carton that's facing up.

2. Cut 1-inch strips from the paper bag, dip them into a glue mixture (made from 1 part white glue mixed with 4 parts water), and wrap the strips around the carton. Repeat until the carton is covered with paper bag panels.

3. Stick one skewer in each apple and attach white paper sails (made by cutting out large white triangles and then cutting the tops off them). Attach a flag over each sail. Set the skewered apples in the boat.

4. Invite your family and guests to write down on paper slips something they're thankful for, such as "I am thankful for Grandpa's homemade cranberry sauce." Fold and place the slips in the "Mayflower" for reading before your Thanksgiving feast.

Pine Cone Turkey Craft

Supplies:
• Nice plump pine cone
• Feathers (assorted colors)
• Brown, red, orange and yellow felt
• Goggley eyes
• Turkey pattern
• Scissors
• Glue

Directions:
1. Wash and dry pine cone if you picked it outside.
2. Cut out the turkey body pieces.
3. Glue head, eyes, nose, gobbler and feet on the pine cone.
4. Glue 4-7 Feathers on the top of the pine cone.