Santa Magic...

I tried to keep this holiday pretty simple, but I did have two projects (in addition to stitching a couple of quick and easy "camping pillows" to go with sleeping bags) that are worth (I think) noting here.  One was planned and the other caught me a bit off guard... both involved some Santa Magic!

Project #1:  When my little guy asked for a castle and knights for Christmas, I instantly thought of the Fisher Price castle my sisters and I grew up with (the very one my kids love to play with when we visit Yaya)!  I was very grateful that my mama said that she'd be happy to ship it to us... though she reminded me that it might need a little sprucing up!  When it arrived, I saw what she meant.  The "wood" floors on the bottom level were completely torn up and the moat and one exterior wall were in ruins!  On one of my trips to the craft store, I purchased some craft paper that I thought would work.  Then I carefully cut the paper in the right shape (this took some trial and error) and glued it down where it needed it!  I used a Sharpie to draw on some details here and there... and that was all it took!  It cleaned up nicely if I do say so myself!!  I made sure to explain, in a note from Santa, that Yaya had let him bring her castle to us!  Both of my kids were so excited to see it on Christmas morning.  My daughter said, "Wow! Santa brought it all the way from Yaya's house and he fixed it up real nice!"  He sure did:

Project #2:  We didn't get to see Santa until the 23rd of December this year (I will not repeat this mistake again).  Up until that point, my daughter had been consistently saying she was going to ask Santa for a doll.  I had planned accordingly.  Then as she sat on his lap, I overheard her ask him for a "stuffed animal koala bear"!  I was surprised, to say the least, and later that afternoon I found myself running all over the place trying to find a koala bear (it was too late to ship anything).  I was stumped.  And then as I picked up a few things at the craft store, it dawned on me that I could probably sew her one myself.  I grabbed a few pieces of felt that seemed appropriate and hit the internet for inspiration.  I was planning to sew it for her, but wise friends suggested I create a kit so she and I could sew it together!  It was a brilliant plan and she was so excited that Santa had given us a mama/daughter project to work on... and so was I!  It was a win-win to be sure.  She stitched the eyes, nose, ears, and stuffed the thing while I stitched it together.  Our little koala bear came out even cuter than I had imagined (and she is very very well loved):