Coloring Pages, Christmas Tale Treasures & a Giveaway - Oh My!

WARNING: To my sister-in-law Taylor. If you're reading this. Make sure PJ is nowhere around before you continue scrolling, or it will ruin his surprise from Chloe for the cousin gift exchange!

Now, for the rest of you, scroll away. You are going to want to see this FOR SURE!!!

This year for Christmas, all the kiddos on the Bennett side of the family drew names and we put a $5 limit on the gifts. Chloe drew PJ's name and I was at a loss of what to get a child for under $5 (that he would actually like)!

So I did a web search one night of 'creative child gifts' or something like that, and I came across this idea to turn your photos into coloring pages. That sounded like a good idea, but I didn't have the foggiest how to go about it. So I searched again and. found this link that tells you just how to do that - in 3 easy steps. Excuse me? Did you say easy? Sign me up!!! I started playing around with a few pictures of PJ and here's what I came up with....

Chloe and PJ before and after.

Are you dying? I know! So cute! I turned a bunch of PJ pictures into coloring pages, printed them, stuck them in a binder, grabbed a few other goodies at the dollar store (including crayons) and voila! A $5 gift that is also a book of memories!

That coloring page binder is chuck-full because it was too hard to narrow it down, so I just did all the photos I had or could find of PJ. I'm a bit over-the-top like that. Here are a couple of my favorites....

PJ, Tonio & Henry in the motorhome

Brothers PJ and Henry with their Uncle Oby

If you're interested in finding out how to create coloring pages out of photos, go to fototiller.com or just click here.

Wait, I'm not done. I have another idea for making memories! Inspired by none other than my mom, otherwise known as Saint Bonnie. She's a crafty tender-heart and one year for Christmas she gave me this little treasure:

Not only is it cute, it is filled with all my mom's favorite Christmas stories, and even some family recipes and traditions we do at Christmastime. It is one of my favorite Christmas keepsakes.

Today as I was browsing through this book, enjoying the Christmas spirit, I realized - I've got to share this idea with everyone for Making Memories Monday!

(Insert sound of screaching brakes here). 'Well, it's a good idea, but all I can do is show a picture. I can't tell them how to do it because I don't know how.'

So I sat down to start searching for answers when I remembered my tried and true bloggy friend, Tip Junkie, who is bound to have an idea and tutorial on this, as she does on almost everything else.

Sure enough, posted just yesterday was a link to this little beauty....

Isn't that just beautiful? It's a book and a decoration and a keepsake all wrapped into one! Go here if you want a tutorial. She even gives a link to Christmas stories you can print off if you don't have your own. What a gal!

NOW it's time for a giveaway! The winner of last week's comment giveaway.....

2 Martha Stewart Craft Kits

reindeer puppet kit and

pom-pom insect kit

is......

Midwest Mommy!

All she did was leave a comment which put her in the entry for the weekly giveaway, and now those cute craft kits are all hers. Congratulations Midwest Mommy!

Jealous? Then leave plenty of comments this week and you'll be put into the drawing for....

a PediEgg - your foot's best friend!

The winner will be announced Monday, December 15th.

Don't forget....

to stop by Nana's Kitchen and see what's cookin'!!!

Have fun, Congrats, and good luck - oh my!