Teenage Ninja Turtle Handmade Ornaments - Simple Craft, Keepsake

When our cousin came to visit for a month from Guatemala, I had four kids at home for christmas. It was also one of the coldest Chicago winters in a long long time. Winter is a good time to craft. I take a break in the summer because, well its warm and we are outside mostly. So Winter Solstice brings out crafts.

TMNT are all the rage this year with the kids. There is a new cartoon on netflix, and the movie was available on DVD, which they love. Event baby girl gets into it. You would think she is the "girl" ---nope. She is Leonardo. Partially because he loves blue. I explain to her he was a great artist. As were all 4 of the Renaissance turtles (you knew that right?). 

Making the TMNT Craft ornaments.

• These were once clear bulbs, thrifted. 

• I had acrylic paint in the basement and I filled each bulb and I'd roll the paint around inside the bulb. returning every 40 minutes to roll the paint around. 

• Even once the bulbs were finished, and hung on the tree, I continued to Roll the Paint around inside the bulb --- it takes forever to dry. 

• I used permanent marker to draw in the faces.

• Felt pieces from other crafts served as their masks. 

If you are reading this post, please post a comment below on what you liked - or didn't  - about this read. Does the topic interest you and you want to know more? Submit a question and I am happy to tackle it.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Handmade Ornaments.
Notice the different smiles.

Names and Dates on the Ornaments.

In addition, the elf left us a cute note this year before he
left for the North Pole on Christmas Eve.

Chrispy Cold Dragon Breath, frozen boogers, cold Chicago
Christmas 2014.

Make Mistakes, breathe, reflect, Laugh.Out.Loud.

A Chicago Experience for Our Winter House Guest

Yes I did paint our Guatemalan cousins name on a shovel! And yes i did make him shovel snow, in Chicago on a freezing day!! When we were planning his Visit and his bucket list - his father said to include "shoveling snow" as a Chicago Experience! I said I'd have a shovel with his name on it!! And we did. 

Other Chicago experienced he had that he would probably never have at home included Archery with us and holding several pieces from my fathers gun collection! 

Handmade Gift: Butterfly Feet from Baby Girl

We recently had to accumulate gifts for our cousin heading back home to Guatemala. On the list were cheap tchotchkes like Chicago keychains and magnets. But when I was a young traveler my parents taught me not to spend money on - well - crap. Unless it was something I really wanted or was requested specifically. (I'll post the full list of guft ideas for families abroad shortly.) 

So I convinced our cousin that we would send food and drinks that couldn't be gotten at home. In Guatemala culture there is a lot of coffee drinking, so cookies and biscuits go well with their breakfast and dinner coffee. Amongst ither edibles like Wendel Polish Chocolates. But all this guest shopping brought me to grandmas birthday. Aren't we all tired of crap gifts?

Maybe I am overly sentimental but I love handmade gifts, both giving and receiving. Who has time to make things anymore? And that's partially what make these type of gift all the more special! The thought is time consuming as is the making of it. 

And so came the first "gifts" for 2015. And Baba got this glorious painting, framed. It was inspired by my baby girl who was excited her own birthday was coming one day after Babas. And when we were sharing her bday present wish list, she said "I will give Baba a Kiss and a Hug for her Birthday." That was sweet enough - amd when I happened to see a pair of baby feet on Pinterest, I knew where the quote belonged!!

 

Here are nearly 3 year old baby girls feet, in Pink Acrylic, pressed on. With sharpie marker outlining the details of the butterfly image form, and the quote.

Happy Birthday Mom's, Grandmas and Baby Girls everywhere!!

Make Mistakes. Breathe, reflect and Laugh.Out.Loud.