This is intended for everyone to wear their Mickey or Minnie Ears and share your happiness on social media.

I don’t usually wear Mickey ears on headbands because I’ve never found one that didn’t give me a headache. However, I do love the look. The best part is that a lot of people are making their own ears, so you can model them after any character you want.

Some of the ears are fun, and some of them are elegant. Some don’t even require a sewing machine. There truly are ears for everyone.

I think I’ll make a pair to wear on National Wear Your Ears Day. We can never have too much Disney.

“Everyone wants sewers to make face masks right now (akin to knitting socks during WWll?). That could keep you busy plus reduce your stash! Patterns abound.”

This is a good idea if your area needs masks. Check with your hospital or clinic. My local hospital has posted a notice on their website that they do not need handmade masks at the moment. Other hospitals do though, so do some research.

There are many online instructions for making masks in a variety of styles. Check with the facility you are donating to so you make the right style.

Being creative is important. Being creative while helping others is important and kind.

Be kind.

A lot of people in the Facebook groups I follow (positive, uplifting groups, all of them) have been lamenting that they are not handling things well. Things may not be easy right now, but it is the perfect time to get creative.

Everyone is creative. Humans, by our very makeup, are creative. So, don’t tell me you aren’t. You may not be Da Vinci or Michelangelo, but that’s okay. We are all creative. Repeat that until you believe it.

Do you believe it now? Great. Now do something creative. It doesn’t have to be complicated, and it doesn’t have to be expensive. Cut out a heart from a piece of paper and write something on it. There you were creative. That is all it takes.

Do you have a phone? Does it have a camera? Go take close up pictures of ordinary things. Do they still look ordinary? You did something creative.

Now, obviously, you can do more. You can color, or knit, or quilt, or forge knives, or bake a cake in the shape of the Empire State Building. If you can do any of that, great! Have fun being creative. But creativity doesn’t have a size. You can do something small, like draw a picture for someone, or glue a ribbon to a plain lampshade. It’s all creative, and that’s what I want to you be.

If you need inspiration, google the project you want to try. There will be tons of advice and instructions for you to follow.

Show me what creative projects you are making as you practice social distancing. We can inspire each other.

If you want to spruce up your house with a bit of green for the holiday, check out these fun and easy crafts from Country Living. I am fond of the wreath and the coloring page, but there is something for all ages and crafting abilities. 

This is the perfect time for crafting. Have the kids work on a project or do it by yourself. Adding a bit ‘o the Irish to your house can bring a smile to everyone’s face, and that’s the point. Holidays should be happy days.

You can buy cheap bows by the bag at the dollar store or spend more money on fancy ones. However, in the same amount of time and for no money, you can make a bow that matches the package and is much nicer.

I’m not kidding about the time needed. These bows take just a couple of minutes once you learn how to do it, and there are no special tools needed. I learned to make these from my personal librarian, Amy. She teaches a bow-making workshop at our public library around Christmastime, but they are useful year-round.

These are some of the ones I’ve made at the library.

Any colorful paper can be used. I find that the pictures from old calendars are the perfect weight and length. Save your 2019 calendars, and you will have year-round bow making material.

Here are the instructions to make your own bows. I’ve taught young and old friends how to make these, and they all mastered them. I’ll gladly teach you if you live nearby. Give them a try, and you may not want to stop.

Yesterday, I wrote about the history of Christmas tree lights, and on my second podcast episode, I talked about the science of Christmas trees. (Have you heard the Footle and Grok podcast? You can listen and subscribe here. Thanks!) So today, I want to give you instructions to make a fun, easy, and festive Scandinavian Fabric Stars. (Click here for instructions.)

If you’re having a Christmas party, these ornaments would make a lovely party favor. Or you could cut the strips ahead of time and have everyone make their own. They look complicated but are simple and fast. Below are the ones I made with leftover Christmas fabric. You could use any fabric you have in your stash, and it would look great.

If you want to combine this idea with today’s activity, make the ornaments with your family before dinner and then place them on the tree with all the house lights off. As you eat, you can admire your new and old ornaments.

I have never lived where it snowed every year. Growing up, we visited Sequoia National Park after Christmas to get our snow fix. Where I live now, it might snow twice a year, but not enough to make a really impressive snowman.

I don’t know where I got the idea for an ice cube snowman, but I don’t think using toothpicks would work. How would you stick them in the cube? I’d used pipe cleaners and wrap them around the cube, like Forky’s arms in Toy Story 4.

I wasn’t thinking outside the icebox when I came up with this activity. Snowmen can be made out of anything from glass jars to fabric to tumbleweeds. Click here for twenty-five fun and easy snowman crafts. You could create a snowmen family with your own family.