2012 Memory Jar

A few days ago I decorated this jar to be our 2012 memories jar. The idea is to write down things that happen and things the kids do and say during the year and put them in the jar. Then next year on New Year's Eve take them out and read them together. Sometimes I think "I will never forget that" but then I do, so I wanted somewhere to write them down. I plan on keeping the jar and its memories and doing a new one each year, if it works well.

Happy New Year!

Ornaments for Primary

I have been trying to come up with something to give my primary class for Christmas this year. I've been thinking about it for weeks and nothing was working out. After searching for ideas again yesterday (Saturday) and not coming up with anything I about gave up. Then while lying in bed about to fall asleep I had this idea. That only gave me Sunday morning to make them (the only good thing about afternoon church), but I am glad I did it.

They are baby food jars turned into ornaments. I printed pictures of the nativity and mounted them on scrapbook paper and stuck them on one side, then printed out "My gift to Jesus" and mounted them and stuck them to the other side. Then I hot glued fabric and twine to the lids.

In class we talked about Christ's birth and then we talked about what we could give Jesus for his birthday. The kids had great answers. Some of them were "our love," "being a good example to others," "being kind to others," and "being good." Then we wrote on strips of red paper our gift or gifts and put them in the jars. And they took them home to hang on their trees.

snowmen jars

We're into the baby food stage again at our house. So, I have a ton of baby food jars that just beg to be crafted. Since it is close to that winter/Christmas time of year, what would be better than little snowmen jars?

I painted the lids black and the jars white. Then I added a construction paper cylinder to make the hat and drew faces on with sharpies.

Then I filled them with candies.

Then I made a few more.

And a few more.

Fun house/ spook alley

My husband and I got to help put together a funhouse/spook alley for our church Halloween party this year. It was for little kids (2-12), so nothing scary. We did so many things for it; we figure I spent 30+ hours working on things for it this week. Plus there's all the time my husband and the other people that helped put in. I drew all the pictures that we put up on the walls. I drew 53 panels that were each about 3' x6'. I made 10 hanging bats, 8 hanging ghosts, 20 glowing jars, and put together various other Halloween decorations. We had black lights, Halloween music, huge boxes to crawl through, etc. The pictures really don't do it justice. It looked so much better in person. My camera had a hard time with the dark rooms, but the pictures with the flash lose the effect. Anyway, it was SO MUCH FUN!


Room 1: Haunted wood

Room 2: Mad scientist lair

Room 3: Graveyard

V-Day jars

Last year I saw this really fun idea for Valentine's Day here. I kept it in mind until this year (it's amazing I could remember anything that long). I made ten of them. The best part about it is that I used some of my old baby food jars that have been taking up space since Landon was a baby. Only problem is, now Lena is filling up more space with empty baby food jars. I have so many empty baby food jars. If anyone is looking for some, let me know, you can have mine. Anyway, I just printed pictures of the kids, used a little scrapbook paper, stickers, ribbon and modpodge. Ta Da! Then I filled them with kiss and hugs candies. So sweet!

Baby Food Jars and Halloween

I saw a neat idea here for making jack-o-lanterns out of baby food jars. So I gave it a try. Mine didn't turn out quite as well as hers did, but hey, I think they are pretty cute anyway.

Here are mine:

I have a lot of baby food jars so I want to try this other idea that I saw here. She made her baby food jars into little festive treat jars for halloween, but you could really do it for any occassion. Like I said, I have a lot of baby food jars so if any of you ladies that live close want to come over with your kiddies sometime and try out the jack-o-lanterns or treat jars with me it could be fun. Plus then Landon would have someone to play with while I am crafting. :)