Christmas is coming!

This Christmas, we are trying to do a debt-free Christmas.  This means that we are saving our pennies specifically for Christmas things, instead of using a credit card.  So far, so good!!  We are hand-making a lot of our own ornaments and decorations this year, so we are going to post some of the fun things that we are doing! 

The first craft we attempted is sun-catchers.  I saw this post on Play At Home Mom (LOVE THIS WEBSITE!!), and we had to try it!!

Supplies Needed

Picture frame (We got ours at the Dollar Store)

Clear glue

Clear, plastic gems (either colored or clear.  We got ours at the Dollar Store)

Hot glue gun and glue

Newspaper

1.  Remove the wrapping, paper and backing from your picture frame.  You can decide if you want your gems to be behind the glass or in front of it.  If the gems are thicker than the frame and you put them on the back, the sun catcher won't sit flat on the window.  We stuck ours on the back, and we actually ended up using a second framed attached to the back to give it extra depth.

2.  Using your glue gun, run a line around the inside of the frame where the glass sits.  Then insert your glass.  This will seal your frame, which will prevent the clear glue from leaking out of the frame.

3.  Spread your clear glue onto the glass.  Clear glue is key, as white glue will look a bit filmy. 

4.  Attach your gems!!  Remember, the thicker the layer of glue, the stronger the hold will be.  However, it also means that your project will take longer to dry.  Ours dried for about 2.5 days before it was finally ready! 

5.  Enjoy!  We used a large suction cup to attach it to the window that gets all of the light in the winter, and we'll move it in the spring.