Thumbprint Reindeer Ornaments!

Before getting into the depths of this post, I want to make something clear,.....when we decided this was the year that we were going to adopt the tradition of the "Elf on the Shelf" I will admit I went right to Pinterest and looked at all the AMAZING ideas that parents had come up with to keep the daily appearance of their elf awesome.  I was ready, I was going to do all those awesome things....well then at the end of the day, after teaching 20 six and seven year olds, coming home and spending time with my two lovies that are under four, I was just too exhausted to try to attempt hang gliding, bungee jumping, having the other toys tape our elf to the wall....

so my husband and I would move Sully (named after the famous James P. Sullivan from Monster's Inc. and Monster's University) from one shelf to another, hang him from one light fixture (which did startle our son one morning) to another, stuck him in the fridge bundled up, put him at the top of the tree, things that are quick and easy.....and guess what?! My kids were SO excited each morning!  I stumbled upon a post that a friend put on FB about a different kind of elf on the shelf, the kind that suggests to do nice things, family activities, etc.  I decided that is what I want our elf to instill in our children, acts of kindness and spending quality time together.  So on the weekends, when we have more time to do things like baking and crafts, Sully makes some great suggestions!

Last weekend Sully suggested that we make cookies!  Of course right before my kids discovered Sully, an ice storm took our power out......for 15 hours!  My son was concerned that Sully wouldn't understand why we didn't get around to making cookies, I reassured him that Sully did and we waited until the next day to bake. 

Fast forward to this weekend....Sully must have been reading my mind!  I wanted to get the kids ornaments to give to grandparents and to hang on our tree done...so leave it to Sully to bring it together.....

Now we're getting into the title of this post.....making thumbprint reindeer ornaments.  I found these really small, clear glass ornaments from Joanne Fabrics 50% off (box of 12, originally $7.99), I got two boxes because I also did a craft in my classroom (I will post another time...snowmen ornaments), then I could have the four ornaments left over for my kids to craft away!

For this craft you need:

• Clear glass ornaments
• Brown acrylic paint
• Black paint marker (extra fine point)
• Red paint marker
• 3/8 in ribbon
• Fake snow (I got the glittery kind)
• Paper plate
• Funnel

First, I wrote each of their names on different sides of the ornament with the black paint marker and put the year on the bottom (these ornaments had a flat bottom, which I love for crafting).

Then, I put just a SMALL amount of the brown paint on a plate (my son asked if it was "yucky"....pretty sure he thought it was frog poo) and dapped my son's thumb in it, making sure not too much paint was on his thumb, then carefully "stamped" his thumb print on the ornament.  We repeated three more times (one of his thumb prints on each ornament) since we were making four ornaments for loved ones....like Sully suggested.  He cleaned up and I let the paint dry for about 5 minutes, then did the same thing with my daughter. 

I let the paint dry for about an hour, then I drew the eyes and antlers on with the black paint pen and the nose with the red pen.

I went about my house chores and editing photos, then I got the fake snow, a funnel and a pencil, took the tops off the ornaments and put the fake snow in it.  You'll need the pencil to work the snow out of the funnel into the ornament, the fake snow gets a little bottlenecked!  Put the tops back on, cut some ribbon, tie and BAM....you've got a craft ornament for the loved ones!

 I think Sully was proud....now he can go report to St. Nick about what a wonderful time we had!  I have a feeling tomorrow Sully will be having me the kids do some cards for their teachers!