Santa's Little Elves ... a Wish Come True

If you haven't read my "wish post," it's probably a good idea to start there ...

So my complete and total lack of craftiness has seriously been semi-depressing me. I just can't let it go. Everywhere I look, I see craftiness. Craftiness that I can't have because well, I suck when it comes to all things craft ... except Mac and Cheese, I make seriously delicious Mac and Cheese ... but that's spelled with a K, so I don't think that counts :)

Anyway ...

As I sat nimbling my peanut butter and jelly sandwich the other day, I idly flipped through my Parents magazine, an issue that's been sitting on the table for weeks.

(Am I hungry or something? Hold on ... snack break ... )

When what to my wondering eyes should appear but an adorable holiday craft that seemed ... well, somewhat "doable" to me! Even just looking at the photo, I could feel my confidence, perhaps naively, growing. But when I flipped the page and found a list of materials and a set of clearly written directions ... well, the only way I know to describe it ... it was like the Grinch's heart - at the end of the movie - when it grows and breaks the little magnifying frame thingy. You know what I am saying, right?! This was my craft. The craft I had been wishing for. The craft that could potentially make me a little bit craftier.

And so, I gingerly tore the page from the magazine and high-tailed it on over to Michael's. That's where crafty people shop, right? My immediate response was ... "What the heck am I doing here?" And I almost turned right around and went back home to read a good book or type up a blog post. Who really needs to be crafty anyway? But a friendly employee must've spotted that look of defeat, and she offered to help me find what I was looking for. Well, I quickly explained that I am "craft illiterate" and I would need more than a little help. She graciously agreed to my terms and off we went to track down the beads, pipe cleaners, and felt I would need to make my very own troop of ... Santa's Little Elves.

In fact, I made 16 in all. The felt and hot gluing almost put me over the edge, but I persevered.

I gave them as Christmas gifts to a few of the little ones in my neighborhood. And each of my nieces and nephews will be getting one, too. For my nuggets who are old enough to read/enjoy a good story, I printed personalized story to go along with their elves.

I think it's safe to say that I am feeling a little bit craftier ... and believing in the magic of Santa's little elves :)