FUNTASTIC FRIDAY LINK PARTY 570 AND CHRISTMAS CHEER

Welcome to the party! How is your December going so far? With no kids in the house this year (except after school) I didn't decorate quite as much. We did put the tree up and I decorated it with my penguin ornaments. Inflatables in the yard. Nativity on the china cabinet. Lots of wrapping paper out, here and there. 

This year, we will have an early Christmas with the 2 youngest grands, as they will be spending the holiday with their dad out-of-state. My husband and I will be traveling to Arizona to meet our very first great-grandchild (we married very young lol). What a treat that will be! Also, to spend time with the AZ kids and grandkids. Maybe enjoy those 70-degree temps, too. Let us know in the comments if you have any Christmas travels or family coming to visit!

I will be making a few of our FELT SANTA (STUFFED WITH GOODIES) for various teachers and friends. They go together fast and the most expensive thing about these Santas are the candy you stuff him with!

I'm also in the process of sewing this adorable Very Beary Christmas calendar for one of my sons (possibly for his daughter, too, but he seems to have called dibs on it lol). My friend Sheri at SUNSHINE IN THE ATTIC sewed one for our family years ago when my boys were small.

My son found the fabric panel on Etsy recently so I ordered it and have been working on it. I did order a second panel just because who knows when it will be available again?

Onto our party!

MEET YOUR HOSTS

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Donna & Staci @ Two Chicks and A Mom

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Heidi @ Building Our Hive 

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Michele @ CoastalBohemian 

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Features from last week

MOST VIEWED 

25+ Christmas Mason Jars Candles by Mason Jar Crafts Love 

Lucky Draw 

Vintage Christmas Tablescape with Thrifted Finds by Thrifting Wonderland

Michele's Pick

Grand Gift Giving for Our Littles by Our Grand Lives 

Heidi's Pick 

White Chocolate Peppermint Fudge by Recipes Simple 

 

Donna's Pick

No Bake Eggnog Pie Recipe by Recipes Simple 

If you were featured, please grab a button to share on your blog!

ON TO THIS WEEK'S PARTY!

Party Rules

1.  Post up to 4 links.

2. Family-friendly posts only.

3. Old posts are welcome.

4. Comment on at least one post at the party.

5. Follow the hosts on as many platforms as you can.

We are your online friends. 

Let’s interact, comment, and enjoy one another while supporting each other.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

FUNTASTIC FRIDAY LINK PARTY 569 AND BRING ON THE HOLIDAYS

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Join a variety of talented bloggers for the 12 Days of Christmas Ornament Blog Hop! Lots of creative DIY ornament ideas.

MEET YOUR HOSTS

PLEASE FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA!

Donna & Staci @ Two Chicks and A Mom 

| Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | BL |

Heidi @ Building Our Hive 

| Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram |

Michele @ CoastalBohemian 

| Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram |Hometalk |

Features from last week:

MOST VIEWED

Thrifting Wonderland THRIFTING TREASURES FOR A RELAXED HOLIDAY SEASON

Lucky Pick

Esme Salon GF CANDY CANE BUTTER BISCUITS

Michele's Pick

Petticoat Junktion UPCYCLED CHRISTMAS CARD TREE ORNAMENTS

Heidi's Pick

Darcy and Brian COFFEE FILTER CHRISTMAS WREATH FOR KIDS

Donna's Pick

The Kitchen is My Playground 20 SWEET TREATS FOR YOUR CHRISTMAS COOKIE TRAY

Congrats to the Featured bloggers! Grab a button to add to your post!

ON TO THIS WEEK'S PARTY!

Party Rules

1.  Post up to 4 links.

2. Family-friendly posts only.

3. Old posts are welcome.

4. Comment on at least one post at the party.

5. Follow the hosts on as many platforms as you can.

We are your online friends. 

Let’s interact, comment, and enjoy one another while supporting each other.

Time to share what you have for this week!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT HOP 2025

Welcome to the Twelve Days of Christmas Blog Hop! Excited to collaborate with such talented bloggers in sharing our Christmas ornaments with you!

Check out the first 12 Days of Christmas Ornament post HERE by Janet at Try It Like It!

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Above is the pattern with the measurements of each piece.  You could even use a Star-shaped cookie cutter if you like.  The beard and face pieces are cut out of muslin.

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Place "face" material on front of star according to placement on pattern.  Sew in place either by hand or machine.  Place right sides of fabric together of star-shaped pieces.  Sew a small seam of 1/8 to 1/4 inches and leave a small opening.  Turn right-side out and then stuff with polyfill or similar material.  Using a whip stitch, close opening. 

Place hat pieces right sides together and sew using small seam; turn right-side out.  

For beard, sew down middle of both muslin pieces to sew together.   Fold over and then using scissors or pinking shears, cut strips to make beard--be careful to not cut thru the seam you just sewed!

Hand stitch the beard onto Santa's face--the beard is folded in half and you will sew thru or near the seam you sewed earlier.  Instead of straight across, I sew the beard on with a slight curve to match Santa's round face.  Next take two small strips of muslin, twist 2 times thru the middle and hot glue or fabric glue to the top of Santa's beard.  Santa needs his moustache:).

You can also add eyes to Santa, just above the beard at the top of his face.  You can use fabric paint, puff paint or even a dot of nail polish for his eyes.  I usually make his eyes blue but you could do green or any color you prefer.  Be sure to allow the eyes to dry!

Now add Santa's hat.  Place on his head and check for size--if too large you can take up a bit by turning the bottom under and making smaller.  Glue gun or fabric glue in place.  Add any embellishments such as rick rack, decorative ribbon or trim, fake fur, etc.  Just for show I turn down the top of the hat and glue in place but this isn't necessary.

If you would like, add a decorative ribbon to the back of Santa's hat so your Santa Star can hang on the Christmas tree.  You can even sit Santa on a tree branch!

CHECK TOMORROW'S ORNAMENT SHARE AT DOODLE CRAFT BLOG!

12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS

Follow along with many wonderful bloggers (and us lol) as DIY ornaments and instructions are shared! Begins today, 11/28/25, at TRY IT LIKE IT!

DAT DATE	ARTIST	LINK	WEBSITE
Nov   11/ 28	Janet Trieschman	https://tryit-likeit.com/no-sew-fabric-ornament/	https://tryit-likeit.com
Nov   11/29	Donna Wirthlin		https://twochicksandamom.blogspot.com
Nov   11/30	Natalie Shaw		https://www.doodlecraftblog.com/
Dec   12/1	Susan Brown		https://www.sbartist.com
Dec   12/2	Michelle James		https://ourcraftymom.com/
Dec   12/3	Julie Nyanyo		https://www.sumoftheirstories.com
Dec   12/4	Christie Troxell		https://Ritzyparties.com
Dec  12/ 5	Gail Griffin		https://www.purplehuesandme.com
Dec   12/6	Katie Adams		thecraftyblogstalker.com
Dec   12/7	Janet Trieschman		https://tryit-likeit.com
Dec   12/8	Terry Ricioli		terryriciolidesigns.blogspot.com
Dec   12/9	Janet Trieschman		https://tryit-likeit.com

FUNTASTIC FRIDAY AND THANKSGIVING BLESSINGS

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING 2025

BLACK FRIDAY DEALS FROM AMAZON LIVE NOW

This post contains Amazon affiliate links. If you make a purchase using one of these links, I will earn a small commission, which will not affect the pricing for you. 

Amazon has begun the Black Friday sales early! Why wait till next week if you can get a jump and relax a bit more over the Thanksgiving weekend?

I wanted to share some products that I have used myself AND are on Black Friday sale!

Below you will find pics of our beloved pets:

Aloy and Jack. Aloy belongs to Staci but she spends weekdays here while her mom is at work. Jack was found living under a shed in our neighborhood at about 5 weeks old; he's been with us since then in 2021.

Buddy is our "old man" cat. We have no idea how old he is (the vets say not as easy to tell with a cat as a dog) and he was grown when we found him in 2017.

My boy, Teddy. He will be 8 years old next Valentine's Day!

My point of sharing my pets is that pets make messes. Pets have accidents, even the most well-trained ones. Kids and grandkids do, too 😉 So a few years back, I purchased a BISSELL LITTLE GREEN MINI PORTABLE CARPET NAD UPHOLSTERY CLEANER and it has been a lifesaver. Sometimes you have small messes, and you don't need a full-size carpet cleaner (like the time recently Jack thought it would be fun to break my plant terrarium on the carpet). Grab one today while at Black Friday prices!

Another product I love are Ruggable washable rugs. They come in a variety of sizes, colors, and designs. So handy that you can wash them and dry them at home! I have several of the 2' x 3' rugs for the entry way and I have two 2.5' x 10" that I use along my work area in the kitchen.

Take a look HERE for a variety of sizes, designs and colors. Don't forget the Velcro backing mat if you haven't ordered before!

While we are discussing floors, rugs, etc., Amazon does have a great buy on iRobot Roomba Robot Vacuums. My husband and I purchased a similar one from Amazon this summer and while it doesn't have all the bells and whistles that more expensive ones do, we found it is great for busy days and with a click of the button on the app, off "Robbie" goes (yes, I am old so named him Robbie, after Robbie the Robot). If you have been on the fence about purchasing a robotic vacuum, maybe do what we did and start less expensive and see how you like it.

Robbie, waiting to be called to duty!

Thanks for stopping by! Hope you enjoyed my pet photos!