Mustard Seeds

From the archives: Soap Snowballs

From December 2008:

As promised, over the next week or so I'll be sharing our homemade gifts. Feel free to rip off any ideas. Afterall, it's never to early to begin working on next year's Christmas list (especially when you are handmaking gifts.)

This year, I really wanted to begin teaching Anne how meaningful it can be to handmake gifts. So we started with making "surprise" soap snowballs. I got this idea here.

Basically, you grate Ivory soap, put it in a bowl, add water and have your little one make snowballs around small toys.

We hid plastic rings, rubber balls and small farm animals inside these snowballs. I love this craft because it's actually something her little friends can use and play with in the tub.

I wrote a poem to attach the bags (feel free to copy).

Here's a snowball for some fun,

But it will melt in the bath, not in the sun.

So jump in the tub and sing “rub-a-dub-dub,”

This snowball will give you a bubbly scrub.

And when the soap-snowball melts away,

You'll have a little prize for which to play.

 

From the archives: Pinecone Angels

I thought I'd re-post some of last year's crafty ideas, in case you're looking for some Christmas ideas.

From Dec. 28, 2008:

Anne's Handmade Gifts-part 2

The other item Anne and I made together were these pine cone angels.

We gathered tons of pine cones this summer while camping and walking through our neighborhood. I got instructions by combining ideas from here and also from here.

We did this craft over several days. That is the key when making items in mass with little ones. One day we did all the painting, one day all the gluing and glittering and one day all the hot gluing (that was my part).

 

The Crafty Crow has some really excellent tips on how to help young children paint the cones. Basically, I poured paint into a plastic container and then Anne was able to easily paint, roll and coat the entire pine cone in color. She chose pink, turquoise and white.

I used the same container technique for painting on the glue and also for "glittering." You can't see the glitter very well in the pictures because we used the "ultra-fine, fairy-dust" glitter, which doesn't show up very well in the pics but looked great in real life.

The hot-gluing part definitely needs to be done by an adult. I attached the heads, wire hanger, halo and wings to the cone.

If you don't want to mess with the angel heads, etc. you can just glue a bow and hanger to the top of glittered pine cone. (This is what we did with all our extras.)

 

Here's what the gift tags said:

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." Luke 2:13-14

These pine cones were gathered from one of our many camping trips this summer. While, mommy did help Anne with the gluing and angel heads, she did all the pine cone painting and glittering. (which, of course, was the most important part!)

Advent: Week 1--Hope

Okay, I know I am a few days late starting Advent....This is week one of advent..the week of HOPE.

"Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations ... In his name the nations will put their hope." Matt. 13:18, 21

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Yesterday (Dec. 1) Anne opened the first door of our Advent countdown. Mary was the first object she pulled out and we read/talked about how the angel came to tell Mary she was going to have Baby Jesus. I explained how I had to go to the doctor to find out that I was pregnant. But, God sent an angel to Mary. Pretty special!

 

This shows some of the items she'll receive throughout the month. Hint: I only put the item in right before she wakes up in the morning to prevent the temptation to take it all out at once. But, once she's received the item, she gets to keep it in this box to look as much as she wants. I'm waiting one more year to include Jack on the activity. Then, he'll get his own little set of items, too.

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If you are looking for daily scripture readings check out Joanne's has a free Advent bookmark (look down the post for the link).

From the archives: Give Thanks Pumpkins

From Thanksgiving 2008:

Our Thanksgiving table will be decorated with these "Give Thanks Pumpkins," which I helped Anne make out of egg carton cups. We made one for each person who will be present at dinner. Inside each, Anne wrote (dictated to me) a note to the person thanking them for something. At mealtime, everyone can pop open their pumpkin and read their blessing from Anne.

Thanksgiving is all about giving thanks to God, but it is also a great time to teach your children to thank and appreciate the people who serve and love them.

Click here to view the tutorial and make some "Give Thanks Pumpkins" for your table.

From the archives: Apple Turkeys

If Turkeys Thought

If turkeys thought, they'd run away
a week before Thanksgiving Day,
but turkeys can't anticipate,
and so there's turkey on my plate.

--Jack Preluntsky, It's Thanksgiving

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These apple turkeys are fun and EASY to make even for the youngest hands. I remember making them as a young child with colored marshmallows. I think there may have even been a Thanksgiving that I made them for each place setting.

Anne and I use gum drops for the turkey above, which Anne calls "gooies" for some reason... Simply stick gum drops on toothpicks and insert them on the back end of an apple. I made the neck/head from construction paper and glued it around a toothpick. Use three toothpicks on the bottom of the apple to make it stand (think tripod).

Tutorial: Sweet Words of Thanks Lip Gloss

Help sweet words of thanks roll off little lips a little easier with this sweet homemade lip gloss.

Pleasant words are a honeycomb,

sweet to the soul and healing to the bones." Proverbs 16:24

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Before beginning to make the gloss (or balm for boys, ahem), talk to your little sprout.

How do we give thanks? We can give thanks with:

WORDS: ^"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." I Thessalonians 5:16-18

SONG: "The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song." Psalm 28:7

PRAYER: "Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people." Matthew 15:36

ATTITUDE: "Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving..." Colossians 4:2 (NASB)

What do all these methods involve? In most cases...YOUR MOUTH. To help us remember to keep sweet words of thanks on our lips, let's make some sweet lip gloss/balm.

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We got our recipe from Kid Concoctions of Biblical Proportions.

Supplies:

• 2 Tbls. solid shortening
• 1 Tbls. or 1 envelope unsweetened powdered drink mix (Kool-Aid)
• 1 tsp. honey
• microwavable bowl
• spoon for stirring
• small containers for gloss (we used containers used for storing beads--found in the bead section of the craft store)
• needle-less syringe (like the kind that you use to measure/administer your kid's medicine)
• small stickers

STEP 1: Decorate your container with stickers.

STEP 2: Place shortening in bowl and microwave for 30 seconds until shortening is completely melted.

STEP 3: Stir in honey and drink mix.

STEP 4: Using the syringe, draw out the mixture and carefully fill the containers. Some of the drink mix will form a thick goo on the bottom of the bowl. Don't suck this stuff up. Just use all the liquid mixture that is on top.

 

Here's what the stuff at the bottom looks like.

STEP 5: Put in the refrigerator until firm.

STEP 6: Put on your lips and start saying some sweet words of thanks.

Prairie Party

Anne received the set of My First Little House books at her family birthday dinner last Friday night. We read several of these books throughout the party and then did an activity represented in the book. For example, after we read A Little House Birthday, we opened gifts. After we read the Going West book, we went to look at a real-live covered wagon.

I dressed as Ma, of course.

 

Anne eagerly opening her gifts.

 

Then, each girl got to open a gift too. Inside were their new dresses. The girls already had matching bonnets (given to them on their birthdays earlier this year).

 

This covered wagon is a local monument just up the street from my house. We took the girls to have a look.

Here's the birthday girl. Memaw (my mom) knitted her this lovely shawl. Note: Since Anne received her dress last Friday night, she has been living in it! Now, she's insisting on braids (like Laura) everyday. I love it that she's so "into" Little House.

Doing some coloring sheets.

We also played Olsen's Mercantile. The girls got to "purchase" some fine goods and calico.

 

We also did some embroidery work. For Holly (who is a bit younger), we used burlap and a large, blunt needle.

 

The older girls used a regular embroidery needle and muslin.

Pink birthday cupcakes.

 

Here are the two pregnant "Mas." My good friend Erin came to help with the party and "play" Little House with us. Thanks for all your help, Erin and for taking pics!

Translating the Bible

In Martin Luther's time, the Bible was only available in Latin--a language very few could read. While he was in hiding (many people wanted to kill him), he translated the Bible into German. This way, the common man would be able to personally read and reflect on God's Word, instead of relying on priests and scholars.

Have your little one "transcribe" the Bible by copying an entire page or just a chapter of the Bible in their own handwriting. Or just have them write one verse. Or, if they don't know how to write (like mine), they can just pretend to write. 

To make it more fun, let them use a quill or feather. And let them use a fun color of watered-down poster paint.

Tutorial: Full Armor of God

Outfit your child with the "Armor of God." This a great activity for this time of year, as the season of costumes approaches. Save your armor for Reformation Day activities (more post on that in October).

The Full Armor of God--Ephesians 6:13-17

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Materials:

• Plastic/play armor (I got mine really cheap at the Dollar Store. Many stores will probably be carrying armor outfits since Halloween is approaching.)
• • Breast plate
  • Sword
  • Helmet
  • Shield

• Old shoes or sandals
• Belt of some kind 
• Permanent marker

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Step One: My plastic armor had creepy dragons on the front of them, so I removed those and drew crosses to replace them. Then, using a permanent marker, I wrote the appropriate words on each piece of plastic armor.

HELMET OF SALVATION

BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

SHIELD OF FAITH

SWORD OF THE SPIRIT

Step Two: I had to get a little creative with the belt of truth and the shoes of readiness, because (of course) they didn't have these at the Dollar Store. So for the feet/shoes of readiness, I grabbed an old pair of sandals. (Fall is a good time to repurpose summer's sandals since they won't fit next year, anyway.) I cut a piece of silver duct tape to cover the top of the shoes and then split the word readi-ness across them. 

SANDALS OF READINESS

Step Three: For the belt, I took two pieces of duct tape and sandwiched them with the belt in the middle.

BELT OF TRUTH

Step Four: Now, you've got on your full armor of God. Wear it proudly and sing some songs like these for your little Solider of the Lord to march to...

Onward, Christian solider!

Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war, with the cross of Jesus going on before. Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe; forward into battle see his banners go! 

Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war, with the cross of Jesus going on before.

I'm in the Lord's Army

I may never march in the infantry, Ride in the cavalry, Shoot the artillery.
I may never fly o'er the enemy, But I'm in the Lord's army. (yes, sir!)
I'm in the Lord's army, (yes, sir!) I'm in the Lord's army, (yes, sir!)
I may never march in the infantry, Ride in the Calvary, Shoot the artillery.
I may never fly o'er the enemy, But I'm in the Lord's army. (yes, sir!) 

Christmas in July

I've been reading through Victorian Family Celebrations, by Sarah Ban Breathnach, as the year unfolds. (Thanks for the great gift, Molly!) I was interested to learn a new meaning of  "Christmas in July." The book explains that for many Victorian families, "Christmas in July" meant that it was time to begin preparations for homemade Christmas gifts. Since most gifts during that time were handmade, they took some planning, preparation and time.

"Observing Christmas in July was the custom of resourceful Victorian mothers who starting thinking about Christmas long before Thanksgiving." pg. 144

This must be why I've been having an urge to get my handmade Christmas list in order! When making homemade gifts, I like to plan ahead so that I don't end up spending the weeks before Christmas "slaving away." I find waiting until the last minute makes me anxious, stressed and grumpy, thus robbing the initial joy I take in making gifts.

"...God loves a cheerful giver..." 2 Cor. 9:7

Here are some of my gift ideas and projects that I've either started, or plan on starting soon.

• Embroidered Handprints
• Photo Tea Bags
• Prairie bonnets with a My First Little House book
• Jams
• Fingerless gloves
• Springerle cookies using my new cookie mold

• Mani/Pedi Scrub
• Elf-embroidered flour-sack dish towels
• PJs for Jack and Anne
• Fabric Rocket for Jack
• Fabric placemats and napkins

Anne has also been working on items:

• She has been painted wooden items like these birdhouses and these wooden cars (for Jack)

• She also made these bark-covered tin can pencil holders.

If you want to join the homemade Christmas making, you can also check out some of my posts from last Christmas.

• Snowball Soap
• Pinecone Angels
• Knifty Knitter Hats
• Rice Pillows
• Other Misc. Gifts

If you're not the "handmade" kind of giver, but appreciate handmade things, try browsing through Etsy. In the next few months, I'll also be putting some new gift items in my shop. If you have gift item in mind, that's not in my shop, I'm up for taking custom orders. Feel free to drop me an email or leave a comment.

Woo! That is some list I've got going up there. But it's nice to get it all down somewhere. I'd better start knitting, sewing, crafting.

"Creative handiwork is a gift that brings joy and satisfaction to both children and adults, whether they are the givers or receivers. You need not be an experienced craftsperson to create something lovely--just willing to invest the time and energy." pg. 144