Welp, I was at an ornament exchange at a girlfriend’s house with a group of dear friends a couple of weeks ago, and we got to talking about the pinterest parties the moms’ group in my neighborhood is always having, and we decided to do one too!

I gathered plenty of supplies for everyone to make two ornaments (one handmade burlap and felt, and the other handpainted ceramic).

Skipping a “centerpiece,” I laid out all the supplies in easy reach along the middle of one of the tables (I had a second table set up in the foyer beside our dining room too, and we filled both with crafting fun!).

Anything missing was in easy reach from the fabric-holding painted china cabinet or the craft supply and paint-holding refinished buffet! [*More details, pictures, and a how-to to come next week on the ceramic hand-painted ornaments!]

And of course, there was food. nom nom nom

[Usually for pinterest parties, we say to bring a “pinterest inspired” treat to share, but some of it was positively pinterest inspire-ing y’all. YUM.]

And then, of course, something wonderful happened (as it always does!):

I mean we all sat down to craft, yes, and that is pretty wonderful, but it was just so incredible (and just inspiring to me, frankly) to see everyone create something unique.

And while it lends great fuel to my passion when I see something useless–some scraps of burlap and some felt–turned into something beautiful, it was the myriad ways that these supplies were transformed that really spoke to me last night. Such lovely and varied takes on the same project (just like with our growth charts from a while back!).

We all looked at the same example and listened to the same directions and had the same selection of supplies, but no two ornaments were identical.

They were created “in the same image,” but so varied.  I couldn’t help but feel God’s presence and pleasure as we played out a microcosm there as we crafted, each created in God’s image, but each so different and beautiful in her own way.

But however the ornaments looked, one thing is for sure…

…In that room, there was a lot of JOY.

To make our burlap and felt ornaments, we just cut out two of a basic shape from burlap (like a heart or cross or star), added a simple word or design (painted polka dots with a stippling brush, stamped letters, cut letters, formed felt letters, sewn or faux-sewn borders, yarn pom-poms, scrap bows…), tucked a bit of batting in between two layers, and glued around the edge with tacky glue–tucking in a string or yarn loop at the top for a hanger.

I’m a total sucker for polka dots. So I especially love this one. But I was so impressed with how my friend cut little tiny strips of red felt and formed her letters. Beautiful!

And while some friends pulled out needle and thread to sew a cute border, one smart girl achieved the same look with a sharpie “sewn” border! Smart! I love that! And once one person added a little shabby scrap “bow,” it was all over but the crying–we all jumped on board!

Anyway, I hope this season of life affords you times and friends like this! Nothing quite like putting on some jammies, enjoying some delicious food & encouraging conversation, and CRAFTING!