Hand Made Angel Message Ornaments

For Christmas, once I again, my cash flow was low... but I wanted to get my sisters and my nieces something.  I came up with these little angel ornaments with little messages on them.  I made four of them.  I had all supplies already, I even used some vintage sequin edging (I can't think of the right word??) from my mom's craft stuff that I got from her.  I think from now on I'll always put little halos on them.  They are cuter that way!

This was the first project I've ever done that I've printed on fabric. I kind of held my breath as the muslin went through my brand new printer, but it worked fine!  I learned I actually needed to make the font a lot bigger than I did, but it was fine in the end. 

Interested in a custom angel for a gift?  You choose the quote or sayings!  Just send me a message! 

Copy Cat Snow Globe - Tutorial

I've seen the snow globes that you can make out of a mason jar, but I had never seen them like this until I saw it on a friend's Instagram widget on her blog that she took at some festival or something.  Immediately I knew we would be making these for family night, and we did!  (Trust me, our family home evening nights are NEVER this involved!)

I knew my kids would enjoy shopping for and picking out their little figures.  I had to reign in my nine year old son because he wanted to put everything and the kitchen sink in his.  He had to have birds in his trees even though they weren't going to be "to scale."  They really enjoyed it, and fought over the snow in the store, of course!

This is a cheap project if you have bowls/containers already lying around your house!

I love that each globe represents each of my kids so well...

We had something else picked out for my three year old, but when I saw this train I knew I had to do it!  He LOVES it.  He was a bit sad for a second when he realized he wasn't going to be able to pull the train around anymore after being put inside the snow globe.. 

I realized this morning that this is so appropriate for my six year old daughter - always picking on her brothers (everyone)!

This represents my nine year old, happy go lucky!

Snow Globe Tutorial

Fish bowl (or any clear container - could be plastic for the little ones)
Snow
Foam board
Hot glue gun (and glue sticks!)
Little figurines and trees (Now is a good time to get them - they are 60%, but slim pickings!)
Puffy Paint (I wasn't sure they even made this anymore, but they do!)

1.  Trace the opening of your container - then cut it out inside the line a bit. You kind of have to play with this.

2.  Glue your figures to the foam board.

3.  Put a pile of snow in the middle of your foam board, kind of piled up in the center.

4.  Put hot glue around the rim of your container.

5.  This picture is kind of misleading because first I actually put the bowl on top of the foam board while the foam board is on the counter and press to make a seal, then if I have to adjust any I pick it up and do so.  That's what the picture shows below. I use hot glue to seal up any cracks in between the foam board and the container.

6.  Then, I put the puffy paint (snow) around the bottom and any foam board still visible.

7.  Leave upside down to dry.

8.  Three drying snow globes!

9.  After dried, shake and enjoy! 

**  I wasn't sure I was going to like this snow once I opened it, but I like how some sticks to the container making it look like it is always flurrying inside!!  Love!

Sourdough Bread

Some people may think I have weird items on my bucket list, but one of them was to make my own sourdough bread from an actual sourdough starter. I had tried to make my own sourdough starter twice. It didn't quite turn out very well. I got a starter from my friend's mom, and brought it back across the United States in a cooler. I made it one day, and totally loved it! I had to play with the temperature some, I think due to altitude, so some of my first batches were a little dry, but I think I got it worked out. It's so exciting to knock stuff off of my bucket list! I have to admit there are a few things on my bucket list that have to do with cooking...

I think it would be great to make your own starter, and give as a gift. Make something from the starter (i.e. bread, muffins), include the starter, directions and recipes. I would love a gift like that! A gift that keeps on giving!

Valentine Gift Idea

My gift to my husband this Valentine's Day is a week of love. Some people like to give fun personalized coupons for holidays, or buy those cute pre-made coupon books, but really, in my experience, no one ever cashes those in. So, instead, things or items that I would have put on a coupon, I am just going to give to my husband one day at a time for a week. It's something he can look forward to every day. His week of love from me. This is so easy, and inexpensive, but I know he'll love it. You can customize it for your significant other.

I made heart shaped envelopes, and put a heart shaped card inside. I hot glued a ribbon on the back of the card to enable him to get the card out of the envelope easier.

Ideas for your cards:

Breakfast in bed
Day off from any fatherly duties (I gave my husband a week off from doing dishes)
Favorite dessert (home made or store bought)
Foot Rub
Back Rub
Movie night of his choice
Favorite Dinner
Surprise him at work with lunch
Free reign of the remote control for a night


I plan on giving my husband his week of love cards at different times of the day to keep him on his toes.

During the week of love you can leave other love notes for him to find, and surprise him with Hershey's hugs and kisses to find in random places.

Tomorrow I will post some Valentine breakfast ideas (you could use for his breakfast in bed), including my new favorite breakfast recipe!

A gift idea for your Valentine

A long time ago, before diapers and babysitters, my husband and I used to date...

My husband and I decided not to exchange any gifts at Christmas because we got so many big ticket items before Christmas, but I still wanted to get him something. I came across this idea on the How Does She? blog.

So, for Christmas I gave John a membership to the Date of the Month Club. I did it a bit different than how they showed on the blog, but you can totally customize it to fit you.

How I did it:

I bought and wrapped up two calendars. One to use as our family calendar that stays on the fridge, and a mini calendar for John to take to work with him. I printed off two copies of twelve dates typed on mailing labels. John could then choose the day of the month to put one of the dates on. I gave him a mini calendar to take to work, so he could look forward to our dates all year at work too! We have our first date from our Date of the Month Club this Saturday!

This would make a great Valentine's Day gift as well, especially if you want to do something that is inexpensive and shows a little more thought. I love gifts of the heart.