Happy Valentine's Day!

   I've been out of sorts as of late and haven't done very many original crafts with the kids in a while.  We've been enjoying some time together reading, coloring, and helping mommy organize after a VERY chaotic couple of months.  We've begun crafting for Chunky's 1st birthday party and can't wait to share some of those ideas with you soon!

   In the mean time, here are a few ideas for those of you in the Valentine's spirit:

Go Pre-Packaged!
Check the seasonal departments of your favorite craft stores!  We recently found project kits for $1-$3 and they provided HOURS of entertainment for the Little Lady.

Keep It Simple!
Chunky Monkey is too little to really enjoy art projects so I will often put him in his highchair with a spoon or a truck and flour.  It keeps him busy long enough to do the dishes and that's a big deal, people.  It wipes up faster than you'd guess, too. Add some colored sprinkles to jazz it up for any holiday.

Dough!
There are HUNDREDS of dough keepsake projects on pinterest.  We made some candle holders and the Little Lady made "Love Bugs" with the scraps.

Biblical Conversation Hearts
Jesus can be anywhere, even in Valentine's Day, if you CHOOSE to put him there!  We made biblical conversation hearts last year.  They kept well and look great on our table again this year!

   I've included a few pictures below and dough recipe ideas can be found on my "Christmas Ornaments" post!

Cheers and Lots of Love,
Alyssa

Love Bugs - I spy a cute green one!

Flour!

We made some small hearts and painted them to use as fillers in my jars.  I also used a heart punch to make confetti out of colored card stock, as you can see!  Enjoy searching for your favorite biblical passages about love.  Think about God's love for us, the love we have for our children, and the love we have for our spouses.  You'll find a wonderful variety.  May the Lord bless your search and your study of His Word!

Biblical Conversation Hearts

More Winter Projects and Party Ideas

   This past weekend, it was our honor to celebrate my parents' 30th anniversary with one heck of a party!  Mom and dad rented a space and our incredible family and extended family PACKED that place with food, cocktails, dancing, and because we live in Packer country, a big screen TV to watch the game.  We may be out of the running this season but that didn't stop us from having a blast!

   When my mom asked if I would help out with the decorations several weeks ago, of course I jumped for joy.  You all know by now how I thrive on this stuff.   What I wasn't expecting was all the fun I'd have with my mom and sister.  It took some sweat but there were lots of laughs, good conversations, and I even found a new drink; have you ever heard of hard orange soda?  Oh. My. Yum.

   The moral of the story?  TIME.  Spend time with the people you love.  Build a life, make some memories. Don't sit around the living room, each on your own phones.  Talk.  Play cards. Make something together.  We are never promised another day, after all.  I was reminded over the course of this party and all the planning along the way, that I was blessed with some fantastic memories with my parents and you better believe I want that for my children.

   As I type this, I'm exited for my husband to come home from work tonight.  I'll be happy to put my phone away and listen to all he has to say about his day.  I'm looking forward to sharing a meal together with our children.  I'm looking forward to lots of evenings like that, in fact.  I'm curious to see what memories we will have on our 30th anniversary.  Heaven knows we have a wonderful example of a successful Christian marriage...  Thank you mom and dad. xoxo

   We made SO many things together but two particular projects stand out.  The first were jars, made from dough.  Each was decorated and had a name printed on them.  They served as both a place card and a party favor.  I think they added a little charm, personally.  I also made this family tree and hung our immediate family's jars there.  In the background, you'll also see a cross hanging at the highest point.  The idea was to symbolize that a marriage should be a marriage of three, with Christ at the center.  I wish I would have printed that on the cross though our immediate family all knew what it meant.  For the cinnamon salt dough recipe, please see my blog post, "Christmas Ornaments".

   I also enjoyed making these signs out of old scrap plywood, rope, and paint.  I used stencils for the lettering and once I got over trying to make them absolutely perfect, they were fun!  Actually, the little imperfections made them fit into our "rustic winter" theme.  Embrace the imperfections, people!

   I hope you enjoy these ideas and will consider using them for your next big celebration!

Cheers and Happy 30th Mom and Dad!
Alyssa

Mark 10:8-9 "The two will become one flesh." So they are no longer two; but one.  Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.