General Conference weekend has always been a favorite time for me. I love having two days to listen to our prophet and apostles, and I love having a chance just to sit and work on something with my hands while I watch/listen to all the talks. (It has always helped me focus more to be doing something with my hands.)
Well, Kevin and I both accomplished quite a few projects. Kevin began by painting the basement, but he actually did that between sessions. It sure is awesome to have it all painted now - so exciting!! We matched the pain in the rest of our house for the most part, but Kevin did get to have a bright green wall that his TV will go on.
And in the bathroom, I did a gray/blue that will look so nice with the tile we picked out :).
One of Kevin's big projects was to make Lily's Halloween costume. He is officially the costume guru in our home, and so she made a plan, they had purchased the supplies the week before, and so he set to sewing as he listened to conference.
She wants to be the superhero she made up called "Math Girl." She even made a costume design, which Kevin is doing an awesome job of putting all together.
Lily and Derek didn't have real projects, and so they played with wooden blocks while they listened. Lily sure can make some amazing creations, while Derek usually turns them into spaceships :).
I had a few projects, both of which, Kevin helped me out a little with. I wanted to make a cute dishsoap dispenser using a fancy jam jar, which he kindly drilled a hole in the lid for me. Then all I had to do was glue on the spout. I love how it turned out :).
My other big project was to make all the ornaments for the yearly ornament exchange I go to. Since the past two years found me frantically getting them all finished the day of the party, this year I had vowed to get them done early - very early. And thanks to Kevins help with a little cutting and drilling, I did get them done :).
Aren't they the cutest little Nativity ornaments? I had seen them for sale on Etsy, and I figured I could make them. It just took a little creativity to figure out how they all fit together, but it worked. Just in case you want to make them, this is how. First, you need hemp twine, clothespins - the cute kind, wire, wooden stars, rafia, and a glue gun.
You need to cut the top off of some of the clothespins to make the little ones you will use for the baby Jesus. This is one of the things Kevin did for me - he even sanded the rough edges. What an awesome husband. You also need to drill a small hole in each star - just big enough to put a wire through it. (He did this for me too.)
Then you glue two of the clothespins together to make Mary and Joseph - slightly off center, so one looks taller than the other.
Then you add the star and the twine. The star wire needs to be long enough that you can glue it in between the two pins. Then immediately glue the twine on to make a look that is just slightly higher than the star.
Then you tie a raffia bow on each othe baby Jesus pieces, and then glue them to the front, and you are done. So simple, and so cute :).
It was so nice to have those projects done. And I can't wait for Halloween to post the pictures of Lily's Halloween costume - Kevin outdid himself, thanks to his new toy, his grandma's old surger :). It was a wonderful weekend, full of productivity and being inspired by the words of our prophet and apostles.
Can you tell me the length of your clothespins please?
Posted by: Becky | November 25, 2019 at 09:40 AM
Hobby Lobby has both flat bottom and tappered bottom clothes pins.
Posted by: Alisha | November 27, 2018 at 03:06 PM
I just feel in love with these...they are beautiful! Can you tell me, how or with what did you cut the clothespin for the baby Jesus figure? Thank you!
Posted by: Debbie | January 11, 2017 at 04:49 AM
I too cannot find these type of clothes pins. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. My mother used this type of pin in the 50's.
Absolutely love this idea. Would like to make several for family and friends as gifts in a crafting session with my young granddaughter. Mahalo
Posted by: Donna Lewis | January 24, 2016 at 01:17 PM
I love the clothes pin Nativity but can't find the clothes pins any where. Everyone has the clip on kind. Any suggestions will be appreciated !!
Posted by: Jovanm@aol.com | October 06, 2015 at 04:52 PM
Hi Leslie,
That would be just fine :). Have a great Christmas!
Lisa
Posted by: lisabrown | December 13, 2013 at 10:18 AM
Hey Lisa. Love the ornaments. I was wondering if I could use one of your pictures and link back to your project in a crafty round up. Let me know!
Posted by: Leslie | December 13, 2013 at 09:49 AM
Love the ornaments. I made 43 of them for co workers.
TYFS
Posted by: califncsun | December 18, 2012 at 08:40 AM
Awesome projects, great colors on your walls. Looks like you have a very productive weekend! Happy Day
Posted by: teresa | October 14, 2012 at 01:21 PM
really cute ornaments!! and I love that soap dispenser, too.
Posted by: jill | October 13, 2012 at 10:23 AM
Lorraine Wagenman said: Love the ornaments!
Posted by: Lisa Brown | October 13, 2012 at 07:04 AM
Beautiful basement! I can't wait to see it all finished!
And those ornaments are darling--what a cute idea. And funny thing I noticed: we have the exact same granite! :)
Posted by: Becca | October 12, 2012 at 09:06 PM
Tacy Melvin said: Ya'll are amazing!
Posted by: Lisa Brown | October 12, 2012 at 07:15 PM