Ministry Kickoff Night and Wisdom Theme

Our Tablescapes for our Wisdom Night Kickoff.  We had 31 tables . . .

For those of you who read my blog regularly, you know that my hubby and I co-lead a marriage ministry, Thrive, at our church, Compass Bible Church.  I posted recently that I was doing a "school" theme for the night, since our year's theme is the "Wisdom books" of the Bible--Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon.

We had our first meeting this week in a bigger, fellowship-hall type of room our church acquired for growing ministries like ours, which was good, as we had about 275 people attending.  We meet every Thursday evening.  I can't wait to see what God does in lives and marriages this year!

As you look at the pics, you can see why I can't be a full time, daily blogger/crafter.  It would be impossible.  I'm a wife and mommy and ministry leader at church first.  Blogging and selling scripture signs are my awesome part time hobbies, and I am thankful to God for the blessing they are and the amazing, supportive readers and customers God brings me!

Excited for Thrive and all the couples coming this year!

Our color theme was yellow, apple red and black.  I had some red frames, so I wrote on black cardstock in chalk and made fake "chalkboard" verses for the entry table. . .

My hubby (standing) running a game with our co-leaders in the ministry, the Gilmores (Scott is sitting).

The church provides family dinners for everyone before the study starts, and the kids go to AWANA and Kid's Club (Sunday School classes) while we meet for our study.

Entering Thrive

Here is a messy view of the tables--Pinterest copied pencil vases with flowers, polka dot ribbon and matching polka dot wrapping paper, table "runners", and stacked Bibles.

Another fun family enjoying dinner and a shot of the centerpieces

Welcome table

Lindsey (shown here) and her husband (not shown) are our activities leads.  She helped me decorate for the night.

We start with worship

My hubby emceeing the night

Thrive's overseeing pastor, Mike Elliott, our church's Men's and Family Pastor

Playing a "wisdom trivia game" to see which small group wins and gets the cushy conference room for their small group breakout sessions.

That's me handing out ice cream for dessert.  I'm always near the treats!

Our AV/Tech team running all the video, sound and power point in the back

I used my Silhouette to cut out "Wisdom" and attached them to paper fans.

We can't wait to dig into the wisdom books and start applying more of God's Word into our marriages and lives.  Join me in praying for this amazing ministry and the work God is doing!

Fabric Headband Tutorial

I know school has started because the germs have started making rounds.  Vapo Rub, Robitussin, Sudafed, Advil and Kleenex surround me.  I am in the midst of a chest cold that has really slowed me down. 

Yesterday I started to feel a little better in the afternoon.  It was naptime for the kids and hubby was watching his MSU game.  My Bruins didn't play for a couple more hours, so I decided to craft a fabric flower headband with my burst of energy and rare little pocket of free time.

I had a packet of circular, elastic, work-out headbands from the grocery store, including a white band.  These hold my sleek, straight hair better than a normal headband.  I dug into my fabric pile and found some oatmeal fabric scraps that were soft and fluffy.  Perfect!

I found a mason jar and used the inner lid as my circle template.  I traced one on white felt for the bottom of my flower, and then I traced about 9 or 10 large circles on the oatmeal fabric and about 8-10 small circles (I used a water bottle) to be filler petals to add volume. 

The process and tutorial for these flowers and folding the circular petals is found on my earlier post here.  As you can see, my flower headband is using more petals than my tutorial link, and, because of that, it looks fuller and thicker.  I did not use any cardboard in my base like I did in the tutorial for the flower pins because I wanted the felt base of the flower headband to mold to the shape of the head and not look rigid.   

I always start adding petals on the base edge first and work my way to the center of the flower.  I just keep hot gluing the folds until it looks full and pretty. 

This can be worn in a hipster, forehead manner or as a normal headband style.  I was feeling adventurous and, despite my not so hipster age, I went for a more hippie look.  I paired it with a flowy, chiffon blouse over skinny jeans and went out for a casual family dinner feeling very fun and almost forgetting I was sick.

Have a healthy, blessed week, everyone!

First Days of School and My First Morning Alone

My kids both started school today.  It was a day of firsts--first day of Micah going to school at all (he is in preschool 2 days a week), Carter starting first grade, and my first morning alone due to school schedules in 7 years.  I always think of "lasts" when "firsts" hit.  There is a great poem about "lasts" out there by Karen Kingsbury called, "Let Me Hold You Longer. . ."  Get tissues.  For real--go grab some if you have littles who started school this week. 

I am ready to hand my kids to God's will and to teach them independence.  I'm not trying to keep them from growing, but I sure do want to cherish every first and last along the way.  They are a treasured blessing from God.

Let Me Hold You Longera poem by Karen Kingsbury

Long ago you came to me, a miracle of firsts;
First smiles and teeth and baby steps, a sunbeam on the burst.
But one day you will move away and leave to me your past
And I will be left thinking of a lifetime of your lasts.

The last time that I held a bottle to your baby lips
The last time that I lifted you and held you on my hip,
The last night when you woke up crying,
Needing to be walked,
When last you crawled up with your blanket
Wanting to be rocked.

The last time when you ran to me still small enough to hold
The last time when you said you'd marry me when you grew old.

Precious simple moments and bright flashes from your past
Would I have held on longer if I'd known they were your last?
Our last adventure to the park, your final midday nap
The last time when you wore your favorite faded baseball cap.

Your last few hours of kindergarten, last days of first grade,
Your last at bat in Little League, last colored picture made.
I never said goodbye to all your yesterdays long past
So what about tomorrow? Will I recognize your lasts?

The last time that you catch a frog in that old backyard pond
The last that you ran barefoot across our fresh-cut lawn
Silly, scattered moments and bright flashes from your past
I keep on taking pictures, never quite sure of your last.

The last time that I comb your hair or stop a pillow fight,
The last time that I tuck you in and pray with you at night.
The last time when we cuddled with a book just me and you,
The last time you jump in our bed and sleep between us two.

The last piano lesson, the last vacation to the lake
Your last few weeks of middle school, last soccer goal you make.
I look ahead and dream of days that haven't come to pass
But as I do I sometimes miss today's sweet precious lasts.

The last time that I help you with a math or spelling test
The last time when I shout that "Yes! Your room is still a mess!"
The last time that you need me for a ride from here to there
The last time that you spend the night with your old tattered bear.

My life keeps moving faster, stealing precious days that pass
I want to hold on longer, want to recognize your lasts.
The last thing that you need my help with, details of a dance,
And the last time that you asked me for advice about romance.

The last time that you talked to me about your hopes and dreams
The last time that you wear a jersey for your high school team.
I've watched you grow and barely noticed seasons as they pass
If I could freeze the hands of time, I'd hold onto your lasts.

For come some bright fall morning, you'll be going far away
College life will beckon in a brilliant sort of way
One last hug, one last goodbye, one quick and hurried kiss,
One last time to understand just how much you'll be missed.

I'll watch you leave and think how fast our time together passed
So let me hold on longer, God, to every precious last.

Silhouette Projects I've Made

Lately, I've had a lot of people asking me what machine I use for my cutting and design projects.  I use the Silhouette Cameo.  I didn't have any Cricut experience or history, and as I was looking for a machine, the Cameo was being introduced.  I love that it is all on my computer, and I don't have to buy cartridges.  It can cut vinyl, paper, fabric . . . I can print designs off the machine and then program the machine to cut around the printed designs.  It is fabulous.  Here are a few project ideas and examples . . . 

I make scripture signs as an Etsy business.  The Silhouette cuts my vinyl die cuts which give me a template for my paint.

My "Give Thanks" leaf wall mobile.  The boys put an item or person for which they were thankful each day.  The Silhouette cut my leaves and my font.

Scalloped signs for the fall wedding shower. . .

Leaf tags on each caramel apple we gave as a favor at our fall wedding shower.  They said, "Thank you for coming to celebrate Katie being the 'apple' of Jon's eye!"  The leaves were cut off my Silhouette.  I also had leaf garlands around the party.

A better view of my popcorn bar sign

A better view of the apple tags

I made Christmas signs for our wall using my Silhouette

I made hanging JOY signs using Silhouette cut letters

I love making banners.  Here are some of my Christmas samples.

I made a fancy "Hot Chocolate" banner for my sister in law's hot chocolate bar at her wedding.

Our Christmas mantle--Silhoutte cut banner

For teacher appreciation week, I made summer trays for my son's teachers.  Here is a sample.  It simply requires Silhouette vinyl and a fun plastic tray.

Here is a Valentine's banner that I made using Silhouette heart shapes and font

We served airplane lunches at my son's airplane birthday party.  Here is a print and cut label from the Silhouette.

I made our teacher appreciation posters for my son's class in a superhero theme.  Each student signed under their superhero.

Another scripture sign example.

I got inventive and made airplane "ticket" invitations to my son's airplane party.  This is all from the Silhouette.

I put bulletin boards in our playroom and used Silhouette cut vinyl to label each with my sons' names.

I made a 4th of July hostess sign gift.

My son's held Silhouette cut letters to create this fun sign for Father's Day.

Cupcake toppers for my son's birthday party using the Silhouette print and cut.

Both Teacher Appreciation Posters here

"Flying" airplanes beneath cloud balloons.

Print and cut from the Silhouette--airplane "thank you" tags for our airplane party favors.

Airplanes print and cut to be cupcake toppers.

A canvas sign made by using Silhouette Vinyl as a die cut for me to paint

I made print and cut tags that said "Happy Trails to You!" on trail mix filled mason jars for my western themed tea table.  Each namecard was a Silhouette cut sherriff star (in front of mason jar).

This post was not endorsed by Silhouette.  I am just letting readers and friends know what I use for all my projects!  For full disclosure, I also might enter my Silhouette projects into a contest to try to win a free Silhouette--future giveaway!?

Fall Family Activity Ideas

Our family in fall, 2009

Fall is my favorite season.  Even though it is coupled with school starting, I love the promise of crisp weather, football games, apples and baked goods, pumpkins, crafting afternoons and Starbuck's flavored coffees.  Now that I have kids, I have enjoyed introducing them to the fun aspects of fall, and I thought I'd share some ideas with you too!

Pumpkin Math--
I used to do this with my third grade students, but now that my son is in first grade, I can start doing this with him too.  Buy your harvest pumpkin and create a chart where you estimate the circumference of the pumpkin, the weight of the pumpkin, and the number of seeds you think might be inside.
After you all make your guesses/estimates, measure the circumference, weigh the pumpkin and carve the pumpkin--counting the seeds inside.  You can have a small prize for the winner of pumpkin math.

Family Pumpkin Decorating Contest--
We don't always carve our pumpkins.  Last year we did a black glitter monogram on our pumpkin.  If you have older kids, you can have each person decorate their pumpkin (you can even have a theme) by carving/painting/glittering/etc. and then hold a contest.  All the family pumpkins on the porch can begin a fun family tradition.  If you have younger kids, you can draw a pumpkin on paper and have them decorate the paper.  Have a coloring/decorating contest and put all the "entries" on the fridge or family bulletin board.

Pumpkins don't have to be carved to be festive and fun!

Neighborhood Fall Scavenger Hunt--
When I had just a young toddler, I would break up the day with neighborhood walks.  We would walk SLOWLY, so we started noticing all the lawn decorations, leaves, door wreaths and pumpkins.  Each day we would look forward to seeing all the fall decor markers at each house.  We would even see who could find the prettiest fall leaf each day.
If your kids are older, make a list of things you have to find on a neighborhood walk or run.  Make a list with wreaths, pumpkins (whole or carved), a black cat, a lawn scarecrow, leaves of various colors, corn husks, and any other decor that might be in your neighborhood.  See who can find the most items on the list!

Make Leaf Garlands--
Real or die cut leaves can make a pretty garland to decorate the border of your door or the banister of your stairway.  Plus, it is a craft that even my two boys would do with me.

Pumpkin Patches--
My boys count down to pumpkin patches all year long.  We have a free, community patch that has rides (those cost money), animals and tons of pumpkins.  When my oldest was very small, he just wanted to come sit on hay bales, look at the giant pumpkins, and feed the animals.  Now he wants to go on rides, but it is still tons of fun to take pictures on the hay bales and see who can find the largest, ugliest, or most perfect pumpkin.
A regional park near us also has a pumpkin patch, including a hay maze.  There is nothing more perfect than little boys running and giggling through a hay maze.  We love it.

Cooking with Apples--
Apple Cider is SO easy.  Have  a cooking and bonding time where you measure cinnamon, nutmeg and brown sugar into some apple juice.  It will make your house smell so good on a chilly day.
Apple Sauce is also very easy to make, and it is a favorite of kids.  Again, your house will smell delicious.
I also like to dip caramel apples with the kids and make them a special treat.  Who doesn't like caramel apples?

Thanksgiving Tree--
We buy the trees from Oriental Trading Company, but you can make your own.  Have a brown trunk and branches on your wall or door and have each family member add leaves each day that tell for what things they are thankful.  By the time you get to Thanksgiving, you have a beautiful, full tree covered in autumn leaves and notes of gratitude.

Here is the Thanks vertical garland we used last year instead of our traditional thanks tree.  You can read my tutorial here.

Our traditional tree on the inside of our front door. . .

Apple Picking--
Even in Southern California, we have apple orchards somewhat nearby.  A lot of the bigger apple picking places have gold panning and mine tours as well.  What screams fall more than apple picking?  Take a day to pick apples, eat warm apple pie from a bakery and do a photo tour around a historical town.  We love Julian, in Southern California. 

Watch a football game AT the stadium--
Whether you go to a college game or just your local high school game, take a fall night with your family to go watch a football game.  I love the sound of the marching band drums, the chants of the cheerleaders, the clap of the players hitting one another, and the cheers from the crowd.  I have such great memories of going to high school games to watch my oldest sister cheer.  It inspired me to be a cheerleader when I was in high school and to still love chilly, fall nights at a football game.  Take a Friday night and try it together!

Whatever activities you do, make family traditions that you can look forward to doing together, year after year.  Children love to know there are traditions in your family that you will do again and again.  Fall is a perfect season to make this happen!