In an unexpected series of a events, I went from a being a stay-at-home mom who enjoys DIY projects to doing a few segments as a “DIY Expert” on a local news’ morning show.  (You can watch the first segment HERE.)   The whole thing is still quite surreal – I watch the segments and think, “Is that really ME on TV???”  I find the title of “DIY Expert” to be especially hilarious.  (I guess “stay-at-home-mom-DIYer” doesn’t quite have the same ring to it in the news industry.)  But, I’m enjoying the unexpected change of direction my path has taken.  Probably not ironically, it all began with a Pinterest project. [read more=”Read more” less=”Read less”]

It all started when I made an L-shaped table to go behind my sectional sofa.  The table was inspired by a Pinterest project that my friend M had pinned, so I had shared my progress with her and our friend P.  P worked for a local parents’ magazine, and asked me if I’d be willing to write a monthly how-to craft article.  While I’ve loved making crafts since I was a kid, I had never thought about being the one to actually write the directions.  The pressure!!!

So, I took on the magazine “gig.”  It’s fun, it doesn’t add too much on to my plate, and the monthly check pays for my supplies (with a little leftover.)  My third project that I did for the magazine was the Christmas Wishes Ornament.  This project is near and dear to my heart, as it is inspired by a gift my two younger boys made for me in first grade, with one of our family’s very favorite teachers.

How To: Christmas Wishes Ornaments

Supplies Needed:

• Clear glass or shatter-resistant (plastic) ornament
• 3/8″ wide ribbon
• Colored or decorative cardstock
• White cardstock
• Printer paper
• Fillers (such as curling ribbon, or paper shreds used for gift-wrapping)
• Glue stick
• Paper cutter (or scissors)
• Hole punch

Let’s Get Started:

1. Ask your child to fill in the following three wishes:
   • Something you wish for yourself
   • Something you wish for someone else
   • Something you wish for that would make Christmas extra-special for someone this year
2. Type or write out each wish on printer paper.  You’ll be cutting each wish into a long strip, so keep your letter-size in mind.  (I used the font Cinnamon Cake in size 14.)  A couple of my wishes would have made for a LONG strip of paper inside the ornament, so I made those sentences into two lines.
3. Type or write out a label on white card stock – “Johnny’s Christmas Wishes, 2016”
4. Cut the individual wishes into strips, then cut off excess paper on either end.  Cut out the Christmas Wishes label in a rectangle shape.
5. Insert the three wishes into the ornament.  Fill the ornament with your filler of choice – curled ribbon, shredded paper, etc.  Try to keep the wishes against the “walls” of the ornament, with the filler on the interior.  The contents will shift a bit, and that’s OK!
6. Glue your Christmas Wishes babe on to a slightly larger rectangle of colored or decorative card stock.  Punch a small hole on one edge of your label.  Using a 5-6″ length of decorative ribbon, the the label on to the ornament.

If your child is too young to answer the three wishes above, try one of the following variations:

• Your child’s height and weight, and any significant developmental milestones
• A small picture of your child
• Funny things that your child has said recently, or funny things that he or she has done

[/read]