LUMP OF COAL SURPRISE BALLS

It wouldn't be a holiday without a surprise ball, right? These are so very easy to make and you can just plop them right into the stocking for easy gifting. What I really love about these surprise balls is because they are lumps of coal, they don't have to be perfect! In fact if they are too perfect, they wouldn't look like coal. Awesome. These might be my favorite surprise ball DIY to date. If you would like the step by step, you can see the how to over here. Basically, you just cut up thin strips of black crepe paper folds and one by one wrap your little gifts inside. They are always a blast to unravel and I think they would be perfect for stockings. Especially if your little ones are a teensy bit naughty. With these they get a lump of coal and a treat! It's a win, win all around.

SHRINKY DINK GIFT TAGS

I wanted to make some fun gift tags for Elliott and his favorite little people for their gifts this year and I came up with these! Aren't they fun? The kids will love them and will have a blast rummaging through the piles of gifts looking for their faces. They are perfect for any age too. I think I might make some for everyone on my gift list this year! Oh, and they are super easy to make. So that's a definite bonus! Here's how you make them.

Find some good front on pictures of your loved ones. I actually had to do a mini photo session with my niece to get a good one! Print them out onto the shrinky dink film and cut them out.

Next, punch a hole toward the top of the heads. Keep in mind the whole will shrink considerably during the baking process so make sure the hole is big enough to be usable.

Now it's time to bake! The directions on my shrinky dink film said to lay the images out on cardboard or parchment paper. I went with cardboard and they turned out perfectly! Just be sure to follow the directions on your packaging and you'll be fine. Bake them at 350 degrees for 2-3 minutes and they should come out all tiny and cute.

Now add some twine and wrap them up! So easy and the kids are really going to love this little touch. Happy gifting!

PAINT CHIP TURKEY TREAT BAGS

I have to admit, I might be a little obsessed with these turkey bags. They were so easy to make and there are a million and one uses for them this Thanksgiving! Doggy bags for Thanksgiving dinner, treat bags for friends (or yourself), lunch sacks for the kids. The list goes on and on! All you need to make them are some paint chips courtesy of your local hardware store and some paper bags. We have been filling ours with popcorn because we are popcorn addicts. But you can put whatever you like inside! We won't judge.

Cut out the shapes of the feathers and the faces from the paint chips. You can use a stencil to make them more uniform, or you can wing it! I used a hole punch for the eyes. I am a hole punch hoarder.

Next, glue your cute faces onto the bags! Then arrange your feathers however you like and glue or tape those on as well.

PLAY TEEPEES

With Thanksgiving coming up I wanted to make some teepees for Elliott to have some fun with. They are seriously so easy to make and the little ones will love them. You and the kids can decorate them however you want, no matter how they are decorated they'll be loads of fun! You can see all the details on how to make your own over here on The Neighborhood. 

THANKSGIVING COLORING SHEETS

Remember these erasable coloring sheets? Well, I decided we needed some more! And since it's turkey season, why not make them Thanksgiving related? You can print them out and color them on paper, or you can take the extra step and hard laminate them so the kiddos can color them again and again. Either way, the littles will love them. My favorite is the turkey. So cute and so round. The ship and the teepee were obviously a group coloring effort. Again, fun! Hope you love them as much as we do! You can download all three below.

Download them here:

Ship / Teepee / Turkey