Nativities on Parade

So, I wanted to show off my nativity collection - I love nativities.  My ultimate goal is to have them from all over the world, but it'll probably be awhile.  In the meantime, let me show you what I've got so far.  If you love nativities as well, enjoy the ride.  If not, at least scroll down to the bottom to see one you won't want to miss!

 This one is from Italy . . . Dave and I got it while we were on our honeymoon.  We bought it in Venice - it's all glass, which is what Venetians are famous for.  I love the simplicity.

Here's another one I love.  It was given to me by one of my best friends ever . . . she knows my love of nativities and gave it to me as a gift.

I can't remember where I got this one.  It's so small, and yet so perfect.  As you can see with the hinge, it can be opened or closed.

This next one is a gift I received from my in-laws last year.  It is unique and wonderful.  If you notice, it has 4 spaces around the outside for candles, and when you light them, it makes the paddles turn the nativity around.

 Here's a closer look:

 Here is one given to me by my brother- and sister-in-law, they sent it to me from Hawaii while they were stationed there.  It is carved from a coconut!  It's probably not going to surprise you when I say I love this one as well. :)

 And, another favorite.  I hope to eventually get all the pieces.

 A few closeups:

 And here it is, all together:

Yes, we finally got our stockings up!

Sigh.  I just love Christmas.

Okay, okay, and now for the GRAND FINALE - 

I received permission to share this with you and hope you'll love it as much as I do - 

How to make a kid-friendly creche:

Keep the spirit of the season in your home by re-purposing contents in the toy box to produce a viable nativity scene. Get the kiddies to help.

First, suspend your belief that only sheep and donkeys were present on that Holy Night. Giraffes, aliens, dinosaurs...why not? And in that vein, Joseph could be an astronaut, and Mary, Mulan. See where this is going?

Second, it helps to have a little toy baby to put in the center of a teething donut (from Darlybird!) but if you don't have either you could probably use a Lego guy and a real donut. (I like glazed.)

Third, use action hero guys to play the shepherds, (I beg you to defy that appropriateness). As it happens, these shepherds in particular are also excellent hygienists, but that's another biblical story for another holiday...

Fourth, it would also be appropriate to use your Made in Japan toys to represent the wisemen because everyone knows they came from the Orient! Thanks Dumo Kun and your twin and puppy. Their gifts, twin briefcases and myrrh are found in front of manger. They never forget the presents those wisemen, it makes them happy. See? See?

Fifth, if you believe in them, put a "floating angel" (Trompe d'oeil! It's really just a leg to a Connect Four game piece) blessing the blessed congregation.

Welp, there you have it. Five easy steps to a complicated creche. Easy to be destroyed, easy to be repaired--which is symbolic in away right?

Anyway, I think it's sorta sweet.

Thanks so much for letting me share this Jane!

Go visit Jane @ C Jane Enjoy It!

Deck the Halls

I finally have (almost) all of our Christmas decorations up.  This year we are seriously running out of space to put them all!  First of all, we finally finished our tree.  All of our ornaments come from one's my husband made and received growing up . . . he has a great collection.  Here are a few of my favorites:

Miniature Carousel

Pinocchio - I didn't even notice his nose was missing until I took the picture!

Winnie the Pooh and Piglet

(don't you love the list??)

I also put up our little advent village . . . I think it's adorable.  I love it for two reasons: 1) you put in your own candy - so it's refillable, and 2) it was only $15!  What do you think?

If you look carefully you can see the little knobs where you open up the doors to get the candy.

I also put up my collection of nativities, but I haven't got all the pictures of them, so I'll have to show you later.  But here is one thing I put together this year - a little "Let it Snow" display.  The reason I'm showing you is because I think it looks really nice, but it's so easy and cheap, anyone can do it!

Here it is:

Okay, here's the breakdown - most of it comes from the dollar store or the thrift store.  The tiered candleholders and candles come from the dollar store.  The hanging snowflakes also came from the dollar store.  The vase is a dime a dozen - you can buy them for about $1 at the thrift store (I just used an old one that some flowers came in).  I filled it with ornaments that I bought at the dollar store, and the ribbon and big ornament also came from the dollar store.  The star I just had around my house.  And finally, the sign - I bought the frame at a thrift store for $1, and I put in a free printable I found online.  It looks like this:

Click here if you want to go to the website and download it.

Anyway, super simple and I love how it looks!  Christmas is definitely my favorite time of the year.  I'll show you my nativity collection soon! :)

P.S. For more fun and simple project ideas, click on the buttons below!