Using your beeswax dipped fall leaves, you can make a simple Autumn inspired wreath with you children.
All you need is a pile of leaves along with an inexpensive grapevine wreath (purchased at your local craft store, although I’ve seen them at Goodwill as well) and a hot glue gun.
No instructions necessary, really. Making these is very simple. We used one little squirt of glue per leaf (the glue was squirted on the wreath, not the leaf,) and pressed it gently. My children are especially fond of any project that involves a hot glue gun, so this was a lot of fun for them.
A bit of news:
There will be two giveaways here this weekend. If you are already thinking about gift ideas, I think you will really appreciate them.
Thinking of Christmas, but backing up first to Advent, I have added my Advent and Christmas book list in the sidebar. If you have any suggestions, I’d love to know! My list grows a bit every year as we typically add a book or two to our collection during each Christmas season. This year’s purchase was Something for Christmas, a sweet little story that reminds me of my girls and their desire to give gifts on every occasion, including lots of little occasions that they make up (the “pretend” birthday is especially popular at our house.) It arrived yesterday and I read it quickly, before tucking it up into my closet.
Finally, I was nominated for several different categories in the Homeschool Blog Awards. Wow, thank you!! While I truly appreciate all the nominations, one area where I take special care is my photographs. I would appreciate your vote for Small Things in the Best Photos Blog category. You can vote once per day through November 16th and I would appreciate your vote!
Have a great weekend!
Kerri says
While I enjoy your photographs immensely, what I really love about your blog is the character and heart that is you and your family. It always warms my heart and lightens my spirit to read your blog. I appreciate your sharing so much. Thank you!
Jackie says
Hi! I just found your blog today, and love your pictures, and your story. Our views and family life seem similar 🙂 As I was looking through past posts, I also saw that you are from Virginia, as are we! Have a good evening, looking forward to reading more
Jackie
Lianne says
Hi Ginny — I noticed you have “Jotham’s Journey” in your Advent booklist. We have all three books in the series, and have alternated reading them since the kids were quite small (though Jotham was definitely the favorite). Those same (5) kids are now between 10 and 17 years and STILL we read them! I am quite sure these books will be read to THEIR kids someday! (I think there was a Lenten book in the works by the same author, but I’m not sure it ever actually went to print.)
Kate says
I love your photos Ginny – they really are very special and stand-out from many other blogs. When I voted it told me there was a total of 666 votes – yikes! Quick somebody else vote! 😉
Jill says
I voted, and I wanted to tell you that we collected and dipped a large quantity of leaves a couple of days ago to make into a garland. It was so much fun from start to finish, and I, personally, could have dipped leaves for hours. It was so fascinating. Thanks!
Sarah says
My kids are only 2.5 and 6 months so instituting a book basket for the first time this advent, but one of my favourites growing up was The Nativity illustrated by Julie Vivas. Your post has reminded me to order it.
http://www.amazon.com/The-Nativity-Julie-Vivas/dp/0152060855/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1352493287&sr=8-2&keywords=the+nativity#reader_0152060855
Oh, and The Christmas Book by Dick Bruna. Which seems to be out of print – fortunately I still have my old copy.
Sherri says
LOVE your photos! You have my vote… and everyday too. Good luck!
Nahuatl Vargas says
Voted!
Maggie says
Loved the smell of the melted bee wax, the warmth of the waxed leaves and the variety of the colors. A real smell, touch sight experience.
Will vote daily for your photos.
Have a great week end
heathermama hawkes says
love the craft. 🙂
and yeah on the nominations. your photos are truly inspirational. (shhhh don’t tell anyone but i voted for you. 🙂 )
Stephinie {gypsyforest} says
I *love* the gingko leaves! That yellow is stunning 🙂
Christine says
What a good way for me to use my pruned grape vine leftovers. I wouldn’t have thought of this since we only have pine trees around our home. Looking for leaves will be an excellent excuse to go for a walk this afternoon. Thank you!
Baby by the Sea says
Good luck at physical therapy. It changed my life and got me strong again. It’s made such a difference I don’t know where I’d be without it.
And yes, the tearing apart of opinions was hard this week. I just can’t believe how openly split the web opinions of folks are. And, yes, I do love you anyway:) I can look past a preference into your creative soul. We are all so much more than what and who we vote for. We are who we stand as beside the ballot.
Kim Jeffery says
Hi Ginny. Among my children’s most cherished Advent/Christmas books are *The Story of Holly and Ivy* by Rumer Godden, and *The 24 Days Before Christmas* by Madeleine L’Engle. I think they were probably the two most requested books by both the girls and the boys. We also loved reading Tasha Tudor’s book *Take Joy* and we loved making foods (year-round) from a wonderful cookbook called *A Continual Feast* by Evelyn Birge Vitz. All are highly recommended by my five children and seventeen grandchildren!
jennyann1126 says
I just received St.Francis and the Christmas donkey in the mail yesterday. I bought it for my 7 yo’s Birthday in December. The story is about a disgruntled donkey who doesn’t think he has a worthwhile job until he realizes how we are are created special for something. The pictures of nature and the animals are incredible. My son is an outdoor and animal lover and St.Francis is his favorite saint.
del says
Ginny, you’ve got my vote! I love this easy little craft – my kids LOVE the hot glue gun, too, lol.
Chinacat Poppins says
Your posts are the whole reason our family now has 2 little dippers. One for “food” one for “non-food”. I do not use them nearly as much as I should.
Books… I LOVE books. We do not have funds to buy books… but I pay a fee to participate in a library system that is just incredible. We get about 50 items a week. We are constantly reading in this house (not much time for big girl reading… but there are hours of beautiful books.
I love so many of the books on your list. A few new ones I need to look into. I wanted to share a few with you (I promise only 5):
Marta and the Manger Straw: A Christmas Tradition From Poland by:Virginia Kroll
Lucia Morning in Sweden By: Ewa Rydaker
An Orange For Frankie By: Patricia Polacco
A Carpenter’s Gift: A Christmas Tale About the Rockefeller Center Tree By David Rubel
Look What the Cat Dragged In! By: Gary Hogg (This is such a fun read-aloud)
I promised only 5… ugh… I could go on and on.
Thank you Ginny, for being a great place to find myself in the morning.
Many blessings,
eve says
totally have the wreath form, hot glue gun, and beeswax-dipped leaves! we are so doing this after mass this a.m.!! thanks for an idea of something to do with all these leaves! btw, boo’s cowl is dry and looking totally fab. had to protect it from tigger who wanted to sleep on it last night!
Heather says
What a wonderful craft! I think this is something my kids would really enjoy doing! And thank you for the Advent list, it isn’t something we have ever done much with our kids (2 and 4), but I am looking for ways to incorporate more of the Advent season this year, and this will help!
Victoria @ Mommy Marginalia says
So lovely and simple! I’m not sure we’ll be able to get enough good leaves at this point (we had a big rain earlier this week) but it’s something to strive for!
Off to vote . . .
Victoria @ Mommy Marginalia says
Just popped over to check out your Christmas selection and it reminded me so much of the Brambley Hedge books. If you haven’t checked them out for the girls, and if they love Beatrix Potter-esque books, I think they’d love them! They are out of print the in US, but you can get used copies reasonably easily (and reasonably priced) on Amazon.
Joy says
Lovely little wreath! I enjoy getting new Christmas books each year too but we are almost ready to outgrow our seasonal book basket. I’ll definitely check out that book though. Good luck on the blog award!
shwell says
Ginny,
Thankyou so much for sharing your book list. It was great to be reminded of Christmas in the Trenches, I have in saved in my wish list for this year, but might have forgotten if you hadn’t also had it on your list.
didn’t you also have The Trees Kneel at Christmas on your book list last year, I know we borrowed it from the library after seeing it on someone’s list. WE eally enjoyed it and have perchased it for this year.
http://www.amazon.com/The-trees-kneel-at-Christmas/dp/B0007E2FWK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1352461031&sr=8-1&keywords=the+trees+kneel+at+christmas
We also really enjoyed this book last year, and I have ordered a used copy for us this year
The song of the Christmas Mouse
http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Mouse-Shirley-Rousseau-Murphy/dp/0060243570/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1352461108&sr=1-1&keywords=the+song+of+the+Christmas+Mouse
Two books we bought for last years Advent and enjoyed are
Humphrey’s First Christmas
http://www.amazon.com/Humphreys-Christmas-Religion-Beliefs-General/dp/0824956168/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1352461235&sr=1-1&keywords=humphrey%27s+first+christmas
Harlem Boys Choir, with CD the book has song lyrics for each song
http://www.amazon.com/Holy-Night-Christmas-Choir-Harlem/dp/B000IMV8FG/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1352461268&sr=1-1&keywords=harlem+boys+choir
My favorite Christmas CD – which I confess to have had playing in the car last month 🙂 L’Angelus – O Night Divine
http://www.amazon.com/O-Night-Divine/dp/B001SRVC10/ref=sr_1_3?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1352461452&sr=1-3&keywords=l%27angelus
Would love to know if you have any favorite CD’s for this time of year.
Many Thanks
Michelle
Carol Heyer says
Glad to read that you liked and included my picture book HUMPHREY’S FIRST CHRISTMAS in your Advent list! You can visit Humphrey’s page and see the book trailer and some other fun things. http://www.carolheyer.com/humphreys-page.html
Merry Christmas!