Elf Christmas Stockings

Supplies:
1. Elf Christmas Stocking template (best to download it and save, and take into a print shop to print out, since it is larger than your average home printer).
2. 1 yard wool felt (and small coordinating wool felt scraps for the stocking toe cap and heel)
3. 1 – 2 yards of pom pom trim (depending on how many lines of pom pom you’d like to do)
4. Scissors
5. Embroidery floss
6. Embroidery needle
7. Yarn
8. Tissue paper (optional, this is for stuffing to provide stability to prevent the toe portion from flopping over)

Directions:
1. Using the Elf Christmas Stocking template, cut out your necessary pattern pieces: 2 pieces for main stocking (this includes the toe and heel on the main stocking body), 2 pieces for toe cap, 2 pieces for heel.

2. Place the wool felt toe cap and heel in its proper position (on top of stocking body, lining up the curved edges) on the right side of the stocking fabric, and attach onto the main stocking wool felt using a running stitch.

3. Hand sew on the pom pom trim onto the top of the stocking using a running stitch to attach it. Measure and cut your trim as you work through each line, and double up the pom pom trim for some lines for some variety. I only did one side of the stocking, since only one side is really seen when hanging on our mantle, but you can most certainly add pom pom trim to both sides if you’d like.

4. Place both stocking fabric pieces with their wrong sides together, and blanket stitch around the entire perimeter, except the top (make sure to leave that open for filling!).

5. Add any additional trim you’d like. I had a wool felt ball and added it to the toe, and made a yarn pom pom of sorts and attached it to the top and sewed that onto the stocking. This gives it a loop for hanging. If omitting the large pom pom at the top, just cut off a 6″ piece of yarn, knot together, and sew onto the top corner of the stocking to allow for hanging.

6. Add some tissue paper inside the stocking to fluff it up a bit and give the toe part some stability to prevent it from flopping. I take out the tissue paper when it’s time for filling the stocking up! Hang on your mantle and start plotting the goodies that will fill it up! Elf stockings aren’t as roomy as traditional stockings, but I put little goodies in ours, so it works perfectly for us.

I made my first set of elf stockings for True’s first Christmas. I loved the one Anthropologie had for sale that year, but could definitely not pay that price for something I knew I could make. Every time we added to our family, I kept making a new elf stocking. It’s kind of quirky and Dr. Seuss-ish, but they’re so fun and made with lots of love from mommy to her little babes. I love this recent Anthro stocking (they really come out with the best ones!) and decided to make this little project merging the elf style and the pom pom one together.

I’ve had readers in year past asked for a tutorial, but never get around to making one. Though I probably should have gotten this up earlier in the month (most of you probably already have stockings up!), but I’m mommy first, so getting things up for the blog always happen later than I originally plan, but better late than never, right?! So either you’ll be ready for next year’s stockings early, or you still have some free time to make this to get some elf stockings up!

This definitely could be made machine sewn, which would go faster, and if you want to do that, I’d just add an extra half inch all the way around to account for a 1/2″ seam allowance, and straight stitch the pom pom trim on before you sew your two body pieces together. If you have some old wool sweaters you’re wanting to give new life, you could most certainly use those for elf stockings too.

As you can see from our mantle above, there are many different ways to decorate your elf stocking. My parents filled our stockings with toothbrushes and fun little toys. I fill the girls’  stockings with yummy snacks and a disposable camera so they can take their own pictures on Christmas. What do you fill your stockings with?

p.s. nothing to do with elf stockings, but misha lulu is having a two day sale in her shop (maybe you still need stocking stuffers)!

We are Sound of Music fans through and through, and though the acting in the live Carrie Underwood version wasn’t stellar, we still loved every bit of it. We love the musical not because we want to recite lines of the movie, but because we want to sing-a-long, and Carrie Underwood still made us want to sing along (True gets intensely passionate when she sings along). It’s been stuck in our head ever since we saw that newest version, and I think we might watch the Julie Andrews version for Christmas. It just feels like a Christmas thing to do.

Old Navy wanted us to put together a little list of our favorite things for gifting and this is what we came up with based on things we are personally loving (and wearing):

I’m loving their sweater dress paired with a cozy scarf (my plaid one is from Old Navy, but sold out online)…
True loves her color blocked dress paired with glitter boots, leopard print socks, and topped with a pom pom hat…
Brave loves her polkadot toggle-front coat and she stole my chunky knit pom pom hat (that’s why hers is slightly big)…
Soul loves the critter ballet flats we gifted her for her birthday…
Glow kept trying to steal Soul’s cat shoes, so we got another pair of critter flats just for her, a pair of striped leggings (it’s perfect for keeping her little legs covered!), and a pom pom hat with a pom pom bigger than her face…

I hate procrastinating, so I’m pretty well done with Christmas shopping. I still have to get a couple stocking stuffers (my fave stocking stuffer is a disposable camera so that each of my girls can take their own pictures throughout the day), but I think we’re good to go. How about you? Are you done shopping or do you still need to run off and pick a few things up?

This post was sponsored by Old Navy. Check out Old Navy’s latest fashion lineup in store or online at oldnavy.com. Thank you for continuous support of this space and my sponsors. It’s because of you that I’m able to join in to fun opportunities such as this! 

Black Bean Chili Soup. Made this for our Thursday night dinner club and it was spicy and warm, just what was perfect for our colder days lately. I made 3 lbs. of dried beans, so let’s say we have leftovers for days!

Couscous, Crab, Tomato & Feta Cheese Salad. I kind of threw lots of things together for this. It’s probably more summery, but since True can’t have real crab, and some of us were having crab cakes, this was a good option on the dinner table.

Crab Cakes and Kale Crispies. Seriously so, so good! It’s a spin off this recipe, but I’ve learn to adapt it and make it my own. It’s not quite as golden brown as most crab cakes, but it’s cause ours isn’t fried, but baked. I think I’m going to make this again as an appetizer for our Christmas dinner.

Week of 12/15 – 12/20
Monday: Black Bean Chili leftovers
Tuesday: Kimchi Soup
Wednesday: Chicken Enchiladas
Thursday: Leftovers
Friday: Pizza night

Ben and I are trying to figure out our Christmas menu; we’re thinking of going with a fish dish. What’s on your Christmas dinner menu? Do you have some traditions or do you do something different each year?

This week was crazy busy; I felt like I could never catch up! Last week I was sick, so things were out of sorts, and we got behind in some schooling lessons, so this week was spent catching up, but I felt like I couldn’t. Just when I felt like I had a handle on things, life happened (as it always does), and it didn’t go the way I planned. I have two Christmas projects to share with you, but I haven’t had much time to get to this space. They’re really easy though, so if you have a free afternoon between when I get those post up and Christmas (free afternoon, what’s that?!), you might want to make them!

This week’s learned, links, and thankfulness…

I made oatmeal pecan pie again, but this time I cut the amount of sugar to 1/2 cup and added a little bit more oatmeal, and I think it’s way better this way!

It’s so hard to find a trustworthy general contractor/handyman, but I think we found one. If anyone in SoCal needs one, email me and I’ll share you our find. We’ve had him do a few things for the house, and so far so good. He’s honest and competitive in his pricing.

That picture above is my mommy, me, and Santa many moons ago! #mymomstilllooksthesame

Ben injured his rotator cuff and is in a lot of pain. I’m praying he feels better soon.

How delicious does this caramel dutch apple look?!

We’re so excited about Christmas and to be with family we haven’t seen in awhile!!!

Check out the Misha Lulu Surplus Store for all her new goodies. She has prints and dolls up for sale.

The biggest news of the week (in our home) is that we brought our refrigerator back in our house! We moved it to our garage a year and a half ago when we put in wood floors, and we never brought it back in. Our friends all laugh at how ridiculous it is that we go back and forth to the garage all day long.

Anyone watch The Sing-Off?!! Our really good family friend’s nephew is in The Filharmonics and they are so good! Ben took the girls to a Danika Cares benefit concert a couple weekends ago, and my girls were fans ever since, especially my Brave!

We’re looking at window coverings for a couple windows in our house, but I can’t ever commit to something. Woven shades or shutters? And why are they so darn expensive?! It’s insane. Maybe I’ll just forever stick with my burlap and cheesecloth solution.

Thanks for reading my random ramblings!!! xoxo

Soul’s main birthday request was a “make-up” party, so earlier in the day, she got her mini spa treatment (done by mommy), and so for her birthday dinner, she got to get even more dolled up. I gave her a touch of blush (barely touched her cheek), she kissed my lipstick lips for lipstick, and I curled her hair. I was totally imagining doing this again for her for a school dance, which I hope doesn’t come too soon. She completed her fancy look with her special, fancy dress. The moment I saw this dress from the FabKids holiday collection, I knew we needed that for her “fancy” dinner! Plus, I saw this sparkly shift and this jeweled out top and skirt, and that would totally put all the girls in the fancy mood! Glow even got glammed up in her vintage velvet dress and gold shoes. Soul was absolutely giddy about the whole dressing up process. I think that about fulfilled her make-up party wishes.

Of course, we didn’t want her to be dressed up with no place to go, so we semi-transformed our dining area into a little “fancy” dining area just for them. Ben even dressed up to play the part of the “butler.” The girls were loving that idea! They all came downstairs dressed up in their party garb, and we had them wait in line, so the “butler” could escort them to the table. It was so cute! One by one, Ben took their hand, led them to their seat, pulled it out, and once they sat, he scooted them in, and kissed their hand. Oh those girls were giggling each time he did it!

He took their drink orders and we even had sparkling juice (and water) for the occasion. This is a water only house, so having juice was a big deal. They loved getting fancy glasses and True even led them in a toast. Seriously, these girls are so freakin’ cute to watch (and yes, I know I’m totally biased). For appetizers, they were served “fancy” cheese and crackers and some chocolate covered strawberries, and for the main course, I made each of them their own mini pizza. They were loving how Ben was serving them and how they were able to order things. We closed the dinner with a birthday song and a double decker chocolate cake for our birthday girl. Everyone had a slice or two, and then we put on some music and had ourselves a tiny dance party (it lasted about 10 minutes).

We were all tired by the end of the evening, and Ben and I kept hugging our birthday girl. I say we pretty much made the birthday girl’s wishes come true. Can’t you tell by her adorable little grin?! Now, her request for next year is a princess party at a hotel! I’ll have to figure out how to translate that into something, but you never know, she may change her mind, so I have some time.

We love our Soulie. She has such a special, sweet and fiery spirit. Thank you Lord for giving for giving her 4 years thus far and we’re praying for many more to come! Love you lots our little Soul! 

P.S. In case you’re wondering, the tall taper candle was moved once they all sat down, but we did leave the low little one. The girls never touched it (we told them not to and they obeyed) and Ben was nearby the whole time. If we didn’t think they could handle it, it wouldn’t have been there.

Are you done with your Christmas shopping? I think I’m pretty much done. I have a couple more things to figure out, but I think we’re mostly all set. I think we will be wrapping presents by this week’s end. Here’s a little roundup of some things that I’m loving over at Uncommon Goods…

For him
1. walnut bookend lamp. I finally got Ben’s books organized on the shelf and they could definitely use these book ends!
2. heart of gold. I would give this to him with a sweet little note. That guy of mine really has a heart of gold!
3. bubble alarm clock. This would look super cool by his side of the bed.
4. bio fuel lotion. He loves a good lotion. A side story: I have super dry, rough hands, so one of Ben’s first gifts for me when we started dating was a bottle of Kiehls lotion. I give him such a hard time about it because he gave it to me in a Neiman Marcus bag because he bought it there, but you can imagine that my mind was giddy with the idea of something pretty and fancy inside. Nope! It was just lotion. Though it was indeed fancy lotion! And it really did make my hands softer!

For her
5. handstitched Guatemalan pillow. I’m a sucker for pretty pillows!
6. stacking ring. I love the mix of metals! I’m definitely a ring gal; it’s my favorite type of jewelry.
7. cheese knife and slicer. I need this for our monthly girls’ cheese and w(h)ine night.
8. kantha blanket. I’ve always loved the gorgeous patterns on these blankets.

For the kids
9. build your city. My girls would flip for this. This is where they would have all their My Little Ponies live!
10. fox pillow. My Glow is obsessed with animals. She would definitely give this pillow some lovin’.
11. playon crayon. Things for creating are just always a must in their Christmas stockings!
12. balloon modeling kit. I think my kiddos would love this (but we’d have to be careful around Glow). This would definitely keep them captivated for a whole afternoon (and then some!).

Are you done with your Christmas shopping or are you a last minute shopper?

This post is in collaboration with Uncommon Goods. Check out some of the other beautifully curated gift guides from Uncommon Goods here. Thank you friends for your continuous support of this space!