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DIY December Bucket List

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December. The holidays. The events. The parties. The traditions. There is so much to be mindful of this month because before you know it, the month is over and we are left wanting to do some things we inevitably missed during this magical season! I have just the thing to get you in the spirit, spend some quality time as a family and help you plan what matters most to you this month! For under $15, you can create your own December Bucket List, DIY style! This will help you prioritize the special events & traditions you don’t want to miss as well as make a nice decoration you can use year after year!

The supply list is simple to find items and can be customized depending on budget and desires:

Photo Frame
White computer paper
Sharpies (or markers in any color you want)
Paint/brushes (any color you want)
Sticker or embellishments (holiday/winter themed)
Glitter glue or loose glitter
Ribbon
Hot glue gun or tape

You probably read the list of supplies and thought to yourself that you have most of them already at home! Chances are if you have kids or are a habitual crafter like me, you have at least 50% of them stashed somewhere! The next step is really up to you. Paint the frame any which color you want and in any style you wish. Add as much or little embellishments and stickers to the frame as you crave. Skip the glitter or go crazy!  This is you time to be as creative as you want!  My son really was very symmetrical with his design, but there is no right or wrong way to use your imagination. A December Bucket List your way is the best way!

The last step was in my opinion the most fun! We thought of 12 things (sticking with the 12 days of Christmas theme we all know & love) to add to our DECEMBER BUCKET LIST. We cut a piece of computer paper to fit inside the frame before we started. We started reminiscing about all the things we like to do, things we wished we did, things we never wanted to do etc.. We started jotting them down on the scrap paper we just cut from. This helped us narrow it down to the items we knew needed to included and those that did not.

We were so excited to start our list that after we made it, we went out and completed 2 and started a few more! The holiday movie one is an activity that we have been working on since Thanksgiving so thankfully we have a nice head start! Each year I will scrapbook the list with some photographs of the activities listed. Then we will rewrite one every year on Thanksgiving when we decorate the tree. A new tradition is born!  What are some of your not-to-miss bucket list items for the month of December? Let me know what activities you are going to put on your December Bucket List by commenting below!

Merry Holidays~
Joy

Art Therapy – Wordless Wednesday

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Art Therapy: Art is an amazing thing. I could talk all day about the benefits of doodling, painting, crafting, sculpting and all facets of art. But- I will just show you how art transcends age limits, disabilities, handicaps: for it is a universal language. One you can interpret how you see fit. Landon had his Intro to Watercolor class today at the Warwick Museum of Art. He went this summer as well- the only 5-year-old in the program designed for 6+ and up. His artwork caught the attention of the instructor and she knew he would excel and take it seriously. He was back for more during February vacation! Here are his pieces that he named himself:

Dragonfly- Elanna's memory

Dragonfly- Elanna’s memory

Flower Brought to Life

Flower Brought to Life

Sunset over Waves & Rock

Sunset over Waves & Rock

I love Colors

I love Colors

 

 

 

Wearable Art with a Purpose

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December 14th 2012, a horrible act was thrust upon the town of Newtown, CT. 20 children and 6 adults lost their lives at the hands of an unstable young man with a gun. Gun violence in schools is an all too common occurrence lately. For me, a mother of a young son it hits way to close to home. Children are sent to school to flourish, grow and find themselves. They should be safe first and foremost.

Photo- Nami.org

Photo- Nami.org

Peter Thum, an entrepreneur was in the process of creating a company when the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting took place. Those events only acerbated the process and Liberty United was created.  He collects and destroys illegal guns, then uses the material from that process to create wearable art. Each piece is hand stamped with the serial number from the guns it was created from.  Their motto is More Beauty, More Jobs, Less Gun Violence. A portion of each sale is donated to local organizations that help reduce gun violence.

Photo - Liberty United

Photo – Liberty United

Thum created a similar business back in 2009 named Fonderie 47 that makes high-end jewelry from illegal AK-47 rifles in Africa. Many of these confiscated guns are from child soldiers. They have been able to remove over 32,000 guns from circulation in Africa. As a mother and a humanitarian, this makes my heart happy. No child should be on the other end of a gun- in any fashion whatsoever.

Photo- Liberty United

Photo- Liberty United

 

In the wake of such a tragedy, I can only imagine despair and hopelessness were some of the emotions running wild. Although nothing can take away the pain from the day, I feel these pieces bring a sense of hope and positivity. When you wear these bracelets, you can feel good about knowing that gun or bullet can no longer hurt anyone. I wish for the world to have more Peter Thum’s and for more people to be reminded of how a community should unite in the wake of a tragedy. You are all my heroes.