Finnish Star

Here's a beautiful and intricately-crafted decoration which can be made into different sizes and may serve different purposes. It may be a Christmas tree ornament, a tree-topper, or a lantern! We hope you can create your own star by following the photos that we will share today.

By the way, the materials you will need are the following:
Red Cartolina Paper
Glue
String
Scissors

And here's how to do it:

1. Cut the paper into equal strips and weave as shown below. You will be needing 12 strips to form one star.

2. Twist and glue together the ends of the paper strips. Make a pair of these.

3. Place one piece of top of the other in an alternate position. Glue all ends together and cut away the excess paper.

4. Attach the string hanger.

And here's the finish product!

Poinsettia Flowers

Known as one of the “Christmas Flowers”, poinsettia has long been a symbol for the holidays, with its rich red hue (red is the most common, but in reality its foliage has a wide variety of colors) it evokes warmth and provides a festive atmosphere wherever it is place, fresh or otherwise.

When displayed on the Christmas tree, it delivers the burst of color you need for that fuller look.

For a simple poinsettia craft, you will need:

Paper

Red and Green Craft Paints and Brush

Gold Foil (We cut mooncake plastic cases instead of buying)

Glue

Procedure:

1. Cut the paper into poinsettia petal shapes (as shown in the photos). You will need three pieces to form one flower with leaves.

2. Paint two pieces red and one piece green. Let it dry completely.

3. Paste two red and one green piece (with alternate petals) together and stick the gold foil on top.

It’s as simple as that! And here are the photos.

Jingle Bells

Jingle bells, jingle all the way!

As one of most children’s favorite Christmas tune, here’s a quick Christmas KidsCraft you can do with your kids today.

Here’s what you’ll need:

2 Disposable Cups

Newspaper

Craft Paints (Red and Green) and Brush

2 Bells

Ribbons

String

Glue

Here’s how:

1. Paste newspaper strips onto the disposable cups.

2. Paint one cup red and the other one green.

3. Prick a small hole on the bottom of the cups.

4. Attach the bells on each cup (making sure the string is long enough for hanging).

5. Fix the ribbon on top.

Now, you can hang the bells anywhere you like. Ours is on our main door!

Step 1.

Step 2.

Serious business

Ding, Dong!

Stay tuned for more!

3D Christmas Tree

It’s Christmas Season and Me&MyGirls will be sharing some cool craft projects for you and your kids to do this holidays. We will be posting 12 easy- to-do crafts, most of them using materials which you can find at home.  So before throwing that old packaging or gift wrapper, maybe we can turn it into art first.

Allow me to name it “The 12 Days of Christmas KidsCraft Series”. It’s our special way of saying thank you to our readers (all three of them J) and to greet everyone the best of the yuletide season. So without further delay, let’s begin with the first one.

3D Christmas Tree

Painting...

Piercing...

Presenting...

Perfect!

Here’s what you will need:

Paper
Craft Paints and brush
Color Pencil (or colored paper cut-outs)

Stapler

String

Procedure:

1. You can use a ready-made green-colored paper or for added visual texture (and your kid’s participation) paint the front and back sides of a plain paper with green craft paint.

2. Cut into a pine tree shape. You will be needing 2 pieces of these to make one tree.

3. Then, make circles of various colors using color pencils. If you want, you can also use colored paper cut-outs and paste onto the tree.

4. Fold both the trees into halves and staple together.

5. Attach the string as a hanger and you’re done!

You can also make a larger version which you can use as a tabletop décor. Stay tuned for the next one! Happy crafting!

The Price is Right

MyGirls (in blue) guessing the price right!

A week ago, we helped in the decorations for last Sunday’s Filipino Fellowship at Evangel. The theme was The Price is Right. The Price Is Right television game began in 1956 and was a worldwide hit. It has been adapted in several international formats around the world, and recently had a Filipino version as well.

For Evangel’s Pinoy version, they gave away fabulous prizes worth thousands of dollars pesos! Big prizes include a grocery, musical and an appliance showcase. There were special song and dance numbers too! I'm sure all went home happy and full even though not everybody won.

Speaking of prices (and prizes), Pastor Sandra Chan shared on how precious we all are. Each of us, was bought by a price. The precious blood of Jesus was shed for our redemption. That's how expensive our price tag is. So, our value cannot be weighed by the jobs we do, or what car brand we drive, or how much money in the bank we have. Rather, it is by how grateful we are with what Christ has done for us, by how we value the precious life and salvation God has given us.

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Matthew 10:29-31

Three Christmases

For the third year now, we will be celebrating Christmas in this flat. We always decorate as soon as the "ber" months kick in. This is to maximize the time for the season and we also think that this is when our place is the prettiest. So a Christmas tree in September adorned with glittery ornaments, all aglow with tiny lights is a common sight in our living room.

Christmas 2009. Our first Christmas as a family and Ashrie's first Christmas

Christmas 2010.

Christmas 2011. We will celebrate the holidays with my parents and brother for the first time in six years! My brother is already working here while my parents will be coming over to celebrate Christmas and New Year in Singapore. An event we're all looking forward to.

Our Christmas tree is up so let Me&MyGirls be one of the firsts to greet you Merry Christmas!

Visit to the Philippines 2011

When we booked the tickets for our trip, our main purpose is for Ashrie to see our hometown and meet our relatives. We ditched ideas of feeling the cool mountain breeze of Baguio City and smell pine scents. No soaking of feet in crystal waters on one of the country’s white sand beaches. So it’s not exactly a pleasure trip but an intentional effort so that both our folks can have (even a short) bonding time with their first and only grandchild.

All smiles before takeoff!

Unlike our first visit which was about two years ago, Ashrie has been more sociable, and extremely vocal about her feelings. She still has personal favorites among our relatives, a few chosen ones who don’t have to shed a tear to get Ashrie’s affection. Most of them are kids and some kids-at-heart!

Two weeks before the flight she got a shot of flu vaccine and we think it works wonders for her because when she caught a cold it did not generate into a high fever. So everything was manageable except for a few persons who we planned to meet but did not have the opportunity to do so.

We’re really not sure if she wants to go back but we’re pretty certain she had a great time playing with her cousins, Tita and Titos (Filipino term for auntie and uncles), and the pets.

We hope that even though she was born here in Singapore and known it as her home, the Philippines would still have a special place in her heart.

So before my eyes well up with tears, here are some of our unforgettable moments captured in photos.

Ashrie with her Tito Merman and cousins

With Misha, the Maltese

With Ninang Che, Tita Maui, Ate Sandy
and Mommy

Ashrie's first jeepney ride

Ashrie with a carabao (or a tamaraw)
at Greenbelt 4

Shopping is always on the itinerary.

She celebrated her 28th month there.

With Lola Idang, Ashrie's great grandmother


Click here for more photos. Until then!

The ABC Song

We're back to Singapore from a weeklong vacation or should I say, visitation to the Philippines. I know I should be sharing about our adventures in our home country but I have been very busy these past few days, so busy that I am still not finished with the photo selection.

Meanwhile, sit back, relax and enjoy this short clip of Ashrie before we went for the trip.