You know you can't have Christmas without a little gingerbread fun!!

So my posts may be getting a little bit shorter since it's getting closer to that magical day, and I just haven't finished my shopping (or creating!! eeeep!) yet! I'm a lot closer! I LOVE LOVE LOVE that Christmas is on Sunday. Somehow that is making it easier for me! and I've been sneaking into the stores early when there aren't as many people. LOVE that, too!! 🙂 and of course, Amazon online has been a little Santa-ish for us this year! yay!!! But I hate when the packages arrive and the kids are all "What is that????" "is it for me?" "Are you sure you don't want me to get the door? The UPS man has a LOT to give you!!" LOL!!! 

But while we are ordering and fending off children from their packages, we can take a moment to whip up little fun crafts!! Like this one today!! A little gingerbread man to add to your package or just for the tree or you can do like I did and use it to mark the days off in your advent calendar!

Here's the tutorial!!

This is what we are making!! yipeeee!!

supplies:

red embroidery thread

brown felt

little bitty buttons

patience

poly-fil stuffing

 

instructions:

I found a pattern online HERE! I tried to follow the instructions, but apparently I have bad luck with gingerbread men. So I created my own instructions using this fun pattern!

Fold your felt twice and pin your pattern against both folds and cut that sucker out! (basically you are cutting 2! 🙂 )

BTW, I reduced the pattern so my little guy could fit in the pocket of the advent calender!

Using cool embroidery thread and a straight stitch, sew around the gingerbread man leaving an opening in the side of it's leg. You are basically doing this on the outside of your guy (ie…wrong sides together). and this is where the patience comes in!! Make sure you get it all sewn together well!! :) 

Once you have it all stitched except that one little spot on the leg, fill it ever so slightly with poly-fil! Just enough to give it a little puff!

Add some eyes, a mouth and a button for embellishment sake! Yay! And you have a cute little gingerbread man!! yay!!

Of the Father's love begotten
Ere the worlds began to be,
He is Alpha and Omega,
He the Source, the Ending He,
Of the things that are, that have been,
And that future years shall see
Evermore and evermore.

Oh, that birth forever blessed
When the Virgin, full of grace,
By the Holy Ghost conceiving,
Bare the Savior of our race,
And the Babe, the world's Redeemer,
First revealed His sacred face
Evermore and evermore.

O ye heights of heaven, adore Him;
Angel hosts, His praises sing;
Powers, dominions, bow before Him
And extol our God and King.
Let no tongue on earth be silent,
Every voice in concert ring
Evermore and evermore.

~of the father's love begotten lyrics

Wanna see a really inspired blog with eye candy galore and picture after picture of a Winter Wonderland! I could spend days on Torie Jayne's blog!!

 

Aren't her pictures phenomenal??? 

Check out her gingerbread houses!! They are sooooo gorgeous!!

Thanks, Torie Jayne, for the inspiration!!

 

I have to tell you what I did yesterday! I made some gingerbread cookies!! Check it out!

Check out that very cool pan I got!! LOVE!!!

Didn't they turn out great???? 

Here's the kicker, though…

A darling friend gave this mix to me…5 years ago!! I don't know why I waited to use it, but I did. So I tried eating one…nah…not really good!!

So I decided to paint them!! so fun!!!

Cora joined me, too!! pure awesomeness!!

We were watching Holiday Inn while painting! Now everytime I see these, I think of Fred Astaire and Bing Crosby!!

How fun!! I will probably use them to decorate packages!! I love Christmas!!

Ohhhhhh we are nearing the end of our 12 day journey here! If you want a chance to win a little somethin' somethin' for yourself after Christmas, just comment!! Each comment you leave (you can leave more than one on a post, but I'll only count one per post!) I will put your name in the proverbial hat!!

Want another glimpse at something else I'm including in your Grand Prize Pack???

Because I'm in Texas, I thought you'd need some fun Southwest mini quilt kits!!

Fun, huh????

And they are all yours, too! If your name is drawn…but your name won't be in the pile unless you comment!! Let me know what special things you do when making your gingerbread houses!!