Hair Clip Dress Directions

Hair Clip Dresses

Basic tutorial, we use wood instead of foam. More how to pics coming next couple days.

Ways to make Christmas more Christ Focus

FHE - Ends focuses on what we can give Jesus for his birthday.

Advent Calendar from the Friend - Has questions and scripture references with the answers about Christ's birth each day.

Hang a stocking on the Mantel for Jesus. In it have kids right what they are giving Christ that year, such has choosing the right, giving service, read scriptures every night, be kinda to others, the list is endless.

Soft Straw Bed for Jesus (Another FHE Idea) - Share this story and then give each child a small manger to have them but straw in through service for baby Jesus. I've made a manger before out of a brown paper lunch bag by cutting it down and folding over the edges. Then for the straw I've used yellow paper that I curled with scissors.

Say Merry Christmas instead of Happy Holidays

Decorate using a nativity set.

Have a Nativity set your children can actually play with, so they can retell the story of the nativity without worrying about broken pieces.

Have your family act out the story of Christ's birth. (Another FHE Idea)

Do a service as a family such as helping at the Soup Kitchen.

Watch the Nativity movie or Mr. Krueger's Christmas
Amy Grant "Breath of Heaven" in background of Nativity Movie
or order from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, has both Mr. Krueger's Christmas and the Nativity and a couple others. This also makes a great Christmas gift. I actually like this Nativity, some video but without the music, instead you hear them talking in different language and hear the fly buzzing, an even realer feel of what it would have been like.

Scripture Study - Alma teaches about Faith

Tonight was when Alma taught the people about how faith it like a seed, found in Alma 32 of the Book of Mormon. I started first showing them this video, which is a time laspe of a seed growing. Every few seconds I pointed out how much the roots had grown, and how it would get harder and harder to pull the plant out of the ground. We then went over the story in the Book of Mormon stories, and read a verse from the Book of Mormon, corresponding to each picture. I think printed off this picture at the bottom of this page from the Friend. I used only the side picture, which has a heart, that you cut out the middle of and then slide the row of pictures through. Each time I moved the next picture in to the window of the heart I would say "Now look what happens to our seed when we read our scriptures". The for the next picture "Look what happened now, when we go to church." Other ideas I used were, keep the commandments, try to be like Jesus, take the sacrament, pray, etc. This was the big hit for the kiddos (and ended up fighting over it..sigh).

Scripture Study - The Rameumptom

Tonight we went over the story of the Zoramites and the Rameumptom in Alma Ch. 31 of the Book of Mormon. We have the book "Book of Mormon Stories" that the LDS church produces. We go over the story with the pictures, and then we read one of the verses listed under each picture. Tonight, I decided to act out the story with the kiddos.

K. was a rich Zoramite, with lots of gold, and jewlery standing on top of the Rameumptom. We pointed out that everyone said the exact same prayer, and that in the praryer they said they were thankful that they were better than everyone else. Also that they believed God doesn't have a body. We also stressed the fact, that after they said their prayer, they didn't talk about Heavenly Father or pray for the rest of the week.

Moo and Little Man were the poor people (no idea why putting a blanket on your head makes you poor, but they got the idea). Then went to K. and asked if they could come inside and pray. K. asked them if they had money, and when they said no, he kicked them out of the synagogue. Then we all pretended to be Alma and the other missionaries, and knelt to pray. We read the verses which cooresponded to the prayer. We finished by explaining that the poor people asked "How are we supposed to worship God, if we can't go inside the church?" Before we told them what the missionaries said, we asked where they thought it was okay to pray, until Moo Moo said "EVERYWHERE!". That was the main point that we wanted to get across. Of course everyone had take a turn standing on the Rameumptom and be the rich Zoramites!

Minute 2 Win It

These can either be you have to do them in under a minute or last one done is eliminated.

Once There was a Snowman - 3 sheets of paper for each player - Crumble each sheet and stack on top of each other to make snowman without them falling.

Princess in Training - one book for each player - Balance book on head and race across the room. If book falls then start over. Last on to reach the end of the room is eliminated.

Popcorn Popping - bag of popcorn - Throw popcorn in air and catch 10 pieces in mouth. Last one to complete the task is eliminated.

Jake the Snake - container of play dough for each player - Each player has one minute to make a snake. The player that makes the shortest snake is eliminated.

Keep it Up - 1 feather for each player - Keep feather up by blowing it in the air. First player to have feather land is eliminated.

Scrambled Breakfast - 1 cereal box (front or back) cut up into 20 pieces per player- Put the puzzle back together. Last player to complete the task is eliminated.

Defying Gravity - 2 or 3 balloons per player - Each player must keep all their balloons from hitting the ground. First player to have a balloon hit the ground is eliminated.

Cookie Faced - 1 cookie per player - Each player starts with a cookie on their forehead. Then using facial movements moves their cookie to their mouth. If cookie falls must start over. The last player to eat get their cookie to their mouth and eat it is eliminated.

Family Home Evening Ideas

LDS Living has several topics to choose from for FHE. With each topic they include a conference talk, thought, song, scripture, lesson, story, activity, and treat. If giving as a gift print off several topics and put in folder for the family.

FHE Jar is another great way to get ideas, In the jar you have to colors of paper. The one color has a scripture, song, and question for thought. The other strips of paper have simple dessert ideas.

Car Garage

What do you need for this work of art?
2 cereal boxes
5 empty tp rolls
4 paper cups
scissors
duct tape markers

If giving as a gift, give a couple cars, cereal boxes and tp rolls. The important thing here is making it with them. You are all will have fun.

Four (Dice Game)

All you need for this simple game is to print off the how to play and a die. If you want to get fancy include one pen and paper. The number that you swipe the pen on does not always have to be four, feel free to change it up.

Four
1) Players take turns rolling die until a player roles a 4.
2)When the player rolls a 4 they grab the pen and starting writing 1 to 100 on their own sheet of paper as fast as possible.
3) When another player roles a 4 they getto swipe the pen and start writing on their own sheet, 1 to 100 as fast as possible.
4) When a player rolls a four again, they swipe the pen and start writing where they left off.
5) First player to reach 100 first wins.
6) If you want to change the 4 to a different number each round feel free to change it up.

101 & More Super Cheap Chirstmas Gift Ideas

Don't have a lot of money, but still want to give?
It really is the thought that counts.
Here is over a hundred inexpensive gift ideas.
Several involve service.
Even more involve activities that will help bring families together.

1. Four, a dice game using one die, one pen, and paper.
2. Can of Dates
3. FHE Jar
4. Cookies on pretty plate (from $1 Tree maybe)
5. Dry Erase Board (for FHE assignments, shopping list, or whatever)
6. Pine Cone Ornament Family
7. Family Calender
8. Minute 2 Win It Game Kit
9. Framed Family Picture (print picture off computer and use $3 Walmart frame)
10. Rice Hand Warmers
11. Neck Rice Warmer
12. Framed Proclamation to the World or The Living Christ (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint Publications)
13. Movie Kit (popcorn, Kool-Aid, candy, Nativity movie or other inexpensive movie).
14. Deck of cards with instruction for some of your favorite games from the internet.
15. FHE Kit (get ideas from Friend Magazine, other church sources and the internet).
16. Gumball Machine with M&Ms (gumball machine from $1 Tree).
17. Coloring Book and Crayons
18. Mentos Rocket
19. Washcloth Candle
20. Homemade Gourmet Popcorn. Scroll to the bottom of that link, lots of yummy popcorn recipes. I love the Peppermint Bark flavor.
21. Homemade Coco Mix and Marshmallows
22. Warm Bread
23. Journal (Notebook with cover)
24. Recipe Notebook (decorate a photo album and include some of your favorite recipes).
25. Stuff toys (only a dollar at $1 Tree - I really should ask them to sponsor this site).
26. Homemade Memory Game
27. Snow Painting Kit (Squirt bottles - nice ones under $1 at Home Depot in Cleaning row, and bathtub color tablets or food coloring, then they can make pretty pictures in snow. If no snow, give a cheap white sheet.)
28. Muffins
29. Bead Stars
30. Rock Group (paint a rock for each member of family - kids will have fun playing with them).
31. Tickets to Music Concert, then on night of show invite the family to concert location (probably your home), serve dinner then lip sing to music from their favorite group. Dress the part and let kids use spoons or shampo bottles as microphones. I know it sounds cheesy but it really can be alot of fun. When our family did it were were Peter, Paula, and Mary. I don't know who had more fun, us or the family we did it for.
32. Flag Football (let everyone unwrap a scrap of material the get to use as their flag and then say what they are for).
33. Capture the Flag (give every family a flag to decorate). Flag materials can be as inexpensive as you let them be.
34. Geoboard (board with nails and rubber bands to make shapes).
35. Art Kit (Glitter glue, paper, sticker, etc., take advantage of Dollar stores and such.)
36. Marble Magnets
37. Family or Nativity Candle
38. Girls Burrets
39. Crunchy Ball
40. First Aid Kit (can make it as cheap or as expensive as you want.)
41. Books (Take advantage of thrift shops, a used book is just as much fun to read as a new book).
42.Games. (Take advantage of thrift shops, a used book is just as much fun to read as a new book).
43. Carmel Apples (apples $2, carmel $2.50, chocolate $2.50, crushed Oreos $3, makes at least 5 apples so $2 each, sorry, forgot wooden scewers.)
44. Homemade Cereal Trail Mix and Family Hike Map
45. Jigglers ( let the kids cut out the shapes).
46. Survival Kits
47. Homemade Tamales
48. Frosties Mix
49. Bag of ballons (the possibilities are endless).
50. Flower Bulbs
51. Candy Cane Reindeer
52. Homemade Frosty's Mix
52. Homemade Tamales
53. Bag of Balloons (the possibilities are endless).
54. Flower Bulb in Dirt (plan it to where it blooms just in time for the holidays).
55. Car Garage Kit (2 cereal boxes, tp roles or paper cups, tape).
56. A Box (endless possibilities, a castle, a rocket, a car, just spend time making it with the kids, they'll love it.)
57. Pillow Case (just make one and put their name on it, then let them decorate).
58. Chalk and a sidewalk.
59. Homemade jewelry.
60. Fruit Loop necklace.
61. PVC pipe and marshmallows. PVC pipe makes great blow gun for marshmallows. Let the battle begin.
62. Homemade Syrup and Pancakes
63. Homemade Play Dough or Slime
64. Glow Sticks (Multi-packs at $1 Tree)
65. Balloon Animals (Kits available at $1 Tree)
66. Offer to do a single women's nails
67. Offer to cut single guy's hair
68. Puzzle & Christmas Music CD ($2 total if you get both from my favorite store.)
69. Put together book of 20 fun family activities.
70. Friendship bracelets.
71. Bean bags for juggling or tossing.
72. 3 Free Movie rentals from your collection.
73. Tablecloth then decorate with kids hand prints (honestly not sure price of table cloth, but get creative and you'll make it work.
74. Duct Tape
75. What's Your Talent? Use it. If good at singing sing a song to them, if welding weld something, if writing, write a poem, if math offer to do their taxes. Be creative, there are so many options.
76. Free home wind cleaning.
77. Free bathtub cleaning. (Someone once actually did this for me right after I had a baby, I thought it was weird but it was so WONDERFUL!)
78. Just give paper and origami instructions.
79. Just give paper and paper airplane instructions, and then see which will fly the farthest.
80. Get ideas from craft fairs (Just ideas, generally they can be pricey.)
81. Take advantage of black Friday sales, go for the doorbusters (DVDs under $2, shop the sale.
82. Do not under estimate the thrift shop finds.
83. Put together a list of possible camping spots and details in local area for them to use this summer. Likewise if the family likes hikes, print of hike ideas, if they like recipes print off recipes, or crafts or whatever do like wise. Putting them in a $1 photo album or and folder for binding will work perfectly.
84. Crossword or Suduko Book
85. Homemade Bowling
86. Personalized Soap Bottle
87. Treasure Hunt Map leading to a prize of some sort.
88. Endroll of newspaper often less then a $1 from the newspaper and a thing of crayons, markers, or paints. Could even trace out kids and make life size puppets. Just staple together front and back and stuff with more newsprint paper.
89. Family Testimonies with hand print and picture with each.
90. Ornament with kids pic on it (million ways to do this including a Popsicle stick frame).
91. Journal with cover and flower pen.
92. Homemade Cereal Trail Mix with near by family hike idea.
93. Collage of special photos
94. Sock Puppets
95. 8 Minute Cake Kit, that website also has Milky Way Cake in a Mug and only a minute and a half cook time.
96. Offer to take Family Pictures for them.
97. Offer to babysit so couple can go on date.
98. Offer to clean their house.
99. Coupon Book of Service
100. Offer to help them with Yard Work
101. Offer another service such as helping with a big project they have coming up.
102. Candy Card
104. Rice Balloons
What are some ideas you have?

Washcloth Candles

Here's what we are making.

Here's what you need plus felt or flower pedal for flame and ribbon.

Here's the base put happy smelling soap in middle.

This will be our base.

Fold the white wash cloth in half and roll. This will be your candle.

Use pins so it doesn't unroll.

Put candle on top of bar of soap and use other washcloth and ribbon to hold in place.
You can use felt for the flame or I used a flower pedal leftover from the flower pens.

And you're all done.

Try other colors too and have fun.

Dry Erase Board

If you are wanting a classy dry erase board just use, a favorite picture frame, or get one from the Dollar Tree and spruce it up by gluing a ribbon or flower to it. Then fill it with whatever you'd like as the background. You can even change it out with the seasons. The glass is a natural dry erase board.

Thank You Card with a Wiggle

To make the Thanks on the front I made a stencil with the Cricut. Then smeared glitter paint in it. Just put strip of paper on the bottom. Then for the inside I used the Cricut for the cut outs. On the back off the butterfly I taped on a little wire (beading section) that I curled around a pencil a couple times. Then I taped it to the card. So that butterfly naturally stuck out a little and when tapped it would actually flutter or wiggle.

Reindeer Candy Cane

Yep, it is as easy as it looks. All you need it a candy cane, wiggly eyes, pipe cleaners, pom pom for a nose if you want, and a glue gun to stick them on with. Kids will love them.

Make a yummy ornament. Here's the how to site at Mormon Chic.

Themed Bowl

So Halloween bowls were on clearance, but I needed a bowl to use for popcorn for a Christmas activity (stringing popcorn). Simple solution, wrapped Halloween bowl in Christmas paper. No one ever knew the difference.

Flower Pens

For those who can never seem to find their pens or just want to make a cute decoration the Flower Pen will most likely be perfect for you. The pens were a WalMart Special and the flowers were just from the Dollar Tree. Not the best flowers but they did an okay job.
Here's the how to link for Flower Pens.

Thanksgiving Countdown Jar

Instead of asking your toddler what they are grateful for and hearing toys every day of November, this cute Thanksgiving Jar, has ideas of what to be grateful for and each leads to a family activity. The kids will love pulling out a scroll and participating in the activities. Thanksgiving countdown. Something new to be thankful for every day.

Here is the link to this fun Thanksgiving Countdown Jar.

Reindeer Card

Trace out childs foot for face and hands for antlers. You can use wiggly eyes for eyes and thumb print for nose. Can also use fabric paint and do the same thing on a tshirt. Makes for a cute pj top.

Pine Cones

What you need:
Pinecones
Any scarp craft type things you have.

What to do:
Decorate the pine cone using ribbons, paint, and whatever else you have. For the Nativity one I broke off three things off the pinecones and used those as the faces. For the bodies I used pieces of felt and rolled them. Then used a glue gun, to get them to stay that way and glued the faces on. Then I glued them to the pine cone where I had already taken off the three pieces.

Glass Ornaments

What you need?
Clear glass ornaments
Glitter glue or glitter fabric paint
Ribbon

Just pop of the top, put in some paint and shake it around. Careful not to hit it on anything.
Or curl ribbon with scissors, cut into pieces with a few curls. And put in glass ornament. Or fill with potpourri. Can always add ribbons to the top and use point on the outside to make designs. Be creative.

Some Ideas

This website has some fun and inexpensive ideas:

"A-B-C ABOUT ME" BOOK
GEOBOARD
SWEET TREAT
FELT BOARD
SOAP CRAYONS

I'm most interested to try the Geoboard and Soap Crayons.
Pictures to come after I try them.

Chocolate Pilgrim Hats!

The other day it was Little Man's turn for snack at Preschool. In his opinion the ideal snack was Mac N' Cheese cookies (I'll pause for you to savor that image in your mind) But thank my lucky stars, I came across this cute idea, and it went along with the Thanksgiving theme at school. We were able to use the generic versions of everything to cut down the cost (made about #30, for a cost of about $7) and they came out FANTASTIC! We dipped the marsmallows the night before, and let the chocolate set, and then just put on the buckles in the morning!
Here is an idea for oreo turkeys also.

Notebook Cover