Creative Gift Ideas for Christmas Part One

In preparation for the Christmas holiday, I am putting together a list of creative gift ideas.  I will share links for instructions on how to make them.  Most of these are very simple, fairly inexpensive but nice to put together for an easy gift for a neighbor, children, parents, grandparents. Most of these are gifts that another woman and I put together for a Creative Gift Ideas presentation to a mom's group at a church in our area. 

Glass Magnets

The first gift is a relatively easy one - Glass magnets.  The link shows using lettered scrapbook paper for making the magnets.  This is a great idea for a child just learning letters, or how to spell or read. Another way to use these would be to make decorative magnets using scrapbook paper.  These would also make a great gift using pictures to make a gift for a grandparent with pictures of the grandkids.

http://papervinenz.blogspot.com/2011/09/back-to-school-magnet-board-tutorial.html

Tile Coasters

The next gift is also easy.  I made some tile coasters using inexpensive tiles from the home improvement store, scrapbook paper, mod podge, and polyurethane.  This were very easy to do.  The longest part of this project was the time it took for the glue and polyurethane to dry.  Here is a link to how to do these. 

http://www.curbly.com/users/DIY-Maven/posts/6125-Curbly-Video-Using-Paper-Napkins-to-Make-Decorative-Tile-Coasters

I used scrapbook paper instead of napkins.  I also used mod podge to glue the paper to the tile.  Then I put three more coats of mod podge on top of the paper.  After that was completely dry I put a coat of polyurethane and let that coat dry.  I put a second coat of polyurethane on top to ensure a good seal. 


Quiet Time Basket

As mom's we don't always have time to have our quiet time with God.  However, this a very important time for us to connect with God.  It helps us to be better moms, wives and women in general.  I put together a basket that contained Ann Voscamp's book, One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are.  I also included a pen, a journal and a ceramic travel mug.  The journal was a composition book that I altered by covering with scrapbook paper and ribbon.  Here is a link for an example of an altered composition book.  http://www.squidoo.com/altered-composition-books?utm_source=google&utm_medium=imgres&utm_campaign=framebuster

For the pens, I took a scrap of paper 3 1/2 inches by 7/8 inch and a Pentel RSVP pen.  I removed the top and rolled the paper around the barrel.  I then slid the paper down into the barrel and replaced the ink tube and top. 

Girlhood Basket

In this basket we included a book, an eye mask, fuzzy socks, a pillowcase, rag rollers, bath salts, notebook, and pen.  I picked up the eye mask and fuzzy socks at Michaels in the dollar section. 

Here are in the instructions for the rag rollers:  http://rocksinmydryer.typepad.com/shannon/2008/09/works-for-me-ra.html .  I really need to make these for a stocking stuffer for my daughter. 

Here is the link for one style of pillowcase: http://raisinghomemakers.com/2011/sewing-tutorial-how-to-make-a-pillow-case/  This link does not have a contrasting border.

Here is a tutorial for a pillowcase with border.  She also has some great tips so be sure to read through the whole tutorial before starting.  http://kirstencan.typepad.com/kirstencan/pillowcase_tutorial/

I will continue the ideas in the second post.  I hope that some of these help you with your holiday gifts.  Remember, even if you are not a crafty person you can still put together a great gift very inexpensively. 

God's Great Power

Tonight as I was cleaning up some stuff, I ran across some papers.  I was ready to throw them away, but decided to look through them to see if I needed to shred something.  In the stack of papers I found a song that Eoin had written.  It brought tears to my eyes.  I asked if he had copied it from some where or if he actually wrote it.  He said he wrote it and did not copy it.  Here is the song:

God's Great Power (he says to the tune of Amazing Grace)

The power of God is so so great. It saved my soul.  I asked He gave.  He is the Lord. He healed my heart.  Sin is conquered.  No greater power than God's presence.

I know that it is short but the words came from his heart.  Simple words that mean so much to any of us that believe in the power of a mighty God.  Simple words from an 8 year old boy.  I still tear up when I read them.

Simple words that come from God. 

Will this ever be a hit song.  No, but it will be a hit with this mommy who loves her little man so much.

Busy

We have been busy.  Life has been busy.  School has been a work in progress at best.  Some days are great and run smoothly but other days.....let's not even discuss them.  It seems we are having more of the 'let's not discuss them' days than we are the wonderfully smooth days.  Part of it is because winter is NOT ending in these parts.  We had several inches of snow yesterday morning.  It was melted before dinner but still.  It was tough to wake up to that again.  It is almost May and I am craving warm sunny days of spring and summer.  My patience has been sorely lacking with the kids and myself.  But let's move on to other things than my complaining, shall we?


Eoin- this little man turned seven in October.  I am starting to see the compassion for people that he has most days and he is working at being a very obedient young man.  He is growing up and it is getting hard for this momma to see at times.  I wish he was still a little tiny baby at times but I know that this is good.  He started playing baseball this spring and boy has that been a learning experience for this momma.  The equipment that is required ........ uh, we won't talk about it.  Let's just say that his daddy had to take him shopping for a very important piece of equipment he needed if I ever want to have grand kids, and I do.  I was so not ready for that one though.  It really threw me for a loop.  
 
Emmalee - she is now nine and growing up.  I am seeing so many changes in her personality.  They are good though.  She is patient, kind, compassionate and helpful.  This girl is beyond helpful.  I love it.  She has a real passion for creative writing and dancing.  She has begun writing a book about a princess and a lost horse.  She is very obedient and loves to read her bible daily.  


This year for school we used My Father's World Exploring Countries and Cultures.  It has been a good year but we are starting to get tired.  We have been traveling the world and it has been fun.  It is a very good curriculum and there are a lot of fun things to do with it.  However, I have found that for my kids, some of the concepts are wee bit above their levels so far.  I believe that it is good to know where many of the countries are or at least what continent they are on.  But, I know we got tired of the same routine with each country.  Color this picture, color this flag, etc.  I understand the concept of teaching children where the countries are before studying about the ancient civilizations.  Anyway, after discussing with Mike continuing with MFW next year or switching to another curriculum we have decided to make the switch.  I have purchased Tapestry of Grace Year One.  I spent a lot of time praying and agonizing and getting other mom's opinions.  Mike and I looked over the scope and sequences that MFW Creation to the Greeks  and Tapestry Year one had on their websites.  Mike preferred what was on Tapestry of Grace.  He also liked that we buy the base curriculum over the next four years and just change the books the kids read until they graduate.  I like that too.  


Another subject that we had to change curriculum for this year was math.  Emmalee was struggling so much with Horizons 3 math.  Mike and I discussed this and decided to switch her to Saxon 3 math.  My thought was that Saxon would at least help to build up her confidence with math before going back to Horizons.  She finished Saxon a couple of weeks ago and is back to working through Horizons.  We are going to have her finish Horizons 3 and then move her into Saxon 5/4.  


There were so many times I thought over the last few months that I would love to do a blog post but just haven't gotten here. I promise that I will try to be more purposeful about getting here over the next few months.  We are just busy and missing the warm weather. 

Curriculum for 2010-2011

As you can see we started school today.  Here is a list of our curriculum for this year.  

Princess: 3rd Grade

Language Arts: 
Reading - Combination of Sonlight Level 2 advanced and Level 3 readers, and BJU reading.  She will also have chapter books for free reading.

Explode the Code - finishing book seven and book eight.

Handwriting - A Reason for Handwriting Book C  
Spelling - Sequential Spelling Book 1 
English - BJU English 3  


Math : Horizons 3 

Boo Boo Bear: 2nd Grade
Lanugage Arts:
Reading - Combination of Sonlight level 2 intermediate and level 2 advanced readers, and BJU 2 reading.  He will also have chapter books of his choice for free reading. 
Explode the Code - Finish book five and hopefully get through book 6 and start book 7. 
Handwriting - A Reason for Handwriting Book T
Spelling - Sequential Spelling Book 1 also (same as his sister)
English - BJU English 2

Math: Horizons 2

The bulk of our school will be My Father's World Exploring Countries and Cultures.   It covers geography, bible, science, music and art.  Princess told me tonight that she was excited about this year because it looks so fun.  


We are doing a few other things as well but this is the bulk of what we are doing.



 

First day of school 2010-2011

We started a new year of school today. It went well and I am happy with what we have for curriculum.......so far. I usually am happy with it until around Thanksgiving. We are going to be busy this year though. We have lots to learn and do. I will take you through our morning.

Here are pics of them still sleeping:


Then of course you have the traditional first day of school pancake breakfast. This year it came from McDonald's because I didn't sleep well last night and didn't get up early enough to get the pancakes ready for my little munchkins. I don't think that they really cared though. As long they got pancakes I think they were a happy group.



And the traditional first day of school pics in front of the house. Of course, I am a little biased, but I think they are little cutie pies.

Reminding myself that I am not superwoman

I read this today. I needed it today. I am not superwoman. I can not do it all. I must have priorities. This is a season of my life at the moment. It will not always be my life. I will have an organized clean home.......someday........maybe.........when the kids leave. I hope the link helps you too.

Homeschool and Headaches

Let me just say that homeschooling two children and migraine headaches do not go well together. This allergy season is one of my worst so far. It is really getting hard to do my normal day to day stuff when these headaches are bad like today. Normally, I don't complain about them because it is just a part of life, allergies and headaches. But, today, I feel the need to say that I am tired of them already. Okay, enough of that pity party. Back to my regularly scheduled day.