Helping our Children Focus on Christ, With Artwork in their Rooms: Plus Let Art Be Your Voice Giveaway!!

 Helping our Children Focus on Christ, With Pictures of Christ in their Rooms: Plus Let Art Be Your Voice Giveaway!!

This post is sponsored, all thoughts are 100% my own, I was given the picture. See full disclosure.

I have to be completely honest with you, home decorating or interior design is not my strong point. I'm not really one to follow the fads and you could say, I just decorate with what I have and how I like it. It's kind of an eclectic style. That being said, my intentions were to decorate my kids rooms with a theme and when they were really little, like babies, that is what I did. 

How Decorating Our Homes With Pictures of Christ, Brings More Peace Into The Home

This post is sponsored, all thoughts are 100% my own, I was given the picture. See full disclosure.

 I was recently, asked to choose a picture that depicts motherhood to me. The picture I chose was, Come and See. The reason I choose it, was because, as a mom of three teenage boys, I want the Savior to be their focus. In the picture the Savior is standing with an outstretched hand beckoning to come unto Him. I want my children to come unto Christ in all that they do. I want them to know of the love that their Savior has for them personally. That He is always their with an outstretched arm to welcome them in an lift them up.

DIGITAL WATERCOLOR FLORAL WREATH PRINTABLE DOWNLOADS WITH INSPIRATIONAL QUOTES

Two Floral Wreath Prints With Inspirational Quotes,

I've taken up a new hobby of creating digital watercolor wreaths. I love making them and putting them with inspirational quotes!! 

Everyday for my Come, Follow Me Individual study I look up articles about the topics we've discussed as a family.  From those articles I find quotes that stand out to me, that I can share with others. I find that this helps me feel the spirit and internalize the doctrine and principles we are learning. 

Sunshine Basket: For Those Who are Grieving

Items to put into a Sunshine Basket: For Those Who are Grieving

Last year, my littlest two kiddos had classmates/friends who lost their mother. It was such a sad thing, a bunch of us mom's got together and put some baskets together for them. Something that could give them comfort and let them know that their classmates and friends were thinking of them.

Day 12 of the 12 Days of Halloween Fun: Halloween Wrap UP (Crafts, Treats and Fun)!

Happy Halloween!!! Here is a wrap up of all the fun Halloween ideas posted the past 12 days as well as some new ones. Click the link to go to the full post for each:

Day 8 of the 12 Days of Halloween Fun: Bat Burlap Wreath

Luckily I was given some burlap and I purchased the green wire wreath frame on clearance for under 2 dollars. So this little wreath project was an inexpensive one. I wanted to make a wreath that I could change out the look for each season.  See below how I accomplished it...

Day 5 of the 12 Days of Halloween Fun: Gauze/Cheesecloth Ghost

A few years back my mom gave me this roll of gauze like material. It is about 12 inches in width and I am not sure how much is on the roll. This stuff is amazing!! I have used it to make mummies and ghosts. If you can't find a large roll of gauze, then I am sure some cheesecloth would work.

For Day 5 of 12 Days of Halloween Fun I chose to resurrect one of my previous posts: Gauze/Cheesecloth Ghost

For a tutorial on how to make these fun ghosts CLICK HERE!

Day 4 of the 12 Days of Halloween Fun: DIY Halloween Craft- Paper Haunted House

Day 4 of the 12 Days of Halloween Fun: Paper Haunted House

Day 1 of The 12 Days of Halloween FuN: DIY Halloween Craft- 2x4 Mummies

The thought came to me, wouldn't it be fun to have 12 days of Halloween? The idea is that each day, I will post a Halloween craft or idea. I love looking for ideas during the holidays of fun gifts to give, fun ways to decorate, fun activities to do, and yummy food to eat.  More ideas = More inspiration, right!

So, Welcome to day 1 of my 12 Days of Halloween Fun!!

This first craft is one I first created a few years back. I made some more again last year for my kids teachers. It is a fun easy craft, one I love making!!

These adorable little mummies make a fun decoration for any shelf in your home. They also make a fabulous gift for a friend, neighbor or teacher! Wouldn't they be fun for a Young Women or Activity day group to make? Or to give as a Visiting Teacher Gift?

For the tutorial of how to make these mummies, click the link: 2X4 Halloween Mummies

Leave a comment and let me know what your favorite Halloween Craft is...

DIY Halloween Craft: Foam Pumpkin Topiary

I have had these foam pumpkins spray painted an off white color, since last year. You know one of those projects you start and then can't find the time to finish.  With fall here, I decided it was about time to finish the project.  Here is how I took this ordinary orange foam dollar store pumpkin and turned it into a fun poka-dot topiary.

2x4 Heart Picture Holder: A Great Gift For Valentine's Day.

This is a very simple craft that even the kids could help with.  Cut your block of wood 5-6 inches long.  Lightly sand the edges.  The one above, I was in a hurry so I did not sand it at all (it just gives it a rustic feel).  Now, paint the back and all of the edges and about 1/2 inch onto the front in a color that coordinates with your scrapbook paper.  After the paint dries, cut a piece of scrapbook paper to the size of the block.  I did mine a little smaller than the block.  Then mod podge the scrapbook paper onto the front of the wood.  Next, cut out your heart.  I just did the good old fold the paper in-half and cut out half of the heart on the fold.  Then I cut a smaller heart out of the middle.  Then you crumple the paper up, un-crumple it, and give it a distressed look using ink.  Apply mod podge onto the back of the heart & put it in the center of the block. I let it have kind of a bubbly look by not letting the whole thing be glued down flat.  Next, you will distress the edges of the scrap paper with sand paper or emery board, then ink them.  Next step is to poke a hole in the top of the block. To do this use a ruler to find the middle and mark with a pencil.  Now, you will either need to drill the hole with a very fine drill bit, or you can do what I did and put a push pin in an pull it back out.  For the holders for the pictures you will need to cut some wire and twist it with some small pliers.  Then you will insert the straight end into the hole you poked into the top of the block.  If it does not fit securely then add some glue.  Spray the entire thing with clear coat.  Lastly tie a bow out of ribbon or a strip of fabric and hot glue it onto the block, close to the wire.  Secure a picture in the wire holder and there you go a simple easy gift to give to your special someone.  These also work great as teacher gifts or gifts to grandparents.

If you have any questions about this project, please leave me a comment below. Or you can email me at lifesjourneytoperfection@gmail.com.

Christmas Craft- Cozy Snowmen (made from socks)

Every year my husbands family has a Christmas Eve party.  Each year we all give each family a little gift.  These Cozy Snowmen were what I did last year.  They are also what I made for my kids teachers.

It was a pretty easy process to make these cute snow people.  You begin with a tube sock.  Cut off the foot portion, so all you are left with is the tube.  Turn the sock inside out, secure one end with an elastic or sew shut, this will be the bottom.  Turn sock so the right side is out. Now, it is time to fill it with rice.  Fill it pretty full of rice.  Then, secure the top with an elastic.  Now, get your decorative sock.  You will need to cut two sections out of this sock.  To do this, first cut the heal portion off.  Then figure out how big you would like the sweater portion and the hat portion to be.  Then make the cut.  Put the sweater onto the tube sock body.  Tie some string or jute around the top portion.  This gives the body and head a little form.  Next, place the hat onto the head.  I hot glue mine down on each side.  Tie some jute or string at the top.  Now it is time to embellish.  I used mismatched black buttons for the eyes.  I used a glue gun to glue all of my embellishments on.  The nose I used some orange pipe cleaner. The buttons on the sweater were buttons or decorative push pins.  On the hats I crocheted some flowers and either placed a bush pin, small jewel or button in the middle. 

My kids each got to choose which snowman went to which person.  They especially liked picking out their teachers.  If I was little bit more patient I could have probably had them help me make their teachers.  

Thanksgiving Turkey Wood Crafts

I made these turkeys years ago and love putting them up every Thanksgiving.  I am frequently asked how I come up with some of my ideas.  On this one in particular I had a black and white clip art of a turkey, I blew it up to the size I would want to make the wood turkey.  I then decided how I wanted to layer it.  I also, before hand made some modifications, such as adding a hat to the pilgrim turkey and having the Indian turkey without a hat. My husband cut out these pieces for me (With most of my first crafts he always cut out my wood, he has this fear that I am going to injure myself.  I don't know why he fears that.  I was one of they few girls in high school who took wood shop class, so I feel I am capable).  My husband added the little platforms so the turkey would be able to stand. I loved painting it and giving each of them some character.  I do not have a pattern right now since I did these so long ago.  So, here is a tip: Look through your coloring books and clip art to find some ideas of what you would like to create into a craft.

Thanksgiving Craft: 2X4 Pumpkin Craft

This craft could be used in September, October and November as a decorations.  It is inexpensive an pretty easy to do.  Just cut your 2x4 to the desired length.  I made a few of them and they were all different lengths.  Lightly sand the wood.  Find a stick and cut it to the desired length.  Using a drill and a drill bit the same circumference as the stick drill a shallow hole into the top middle part of the block. With a foam brush lightly paint the whole block orange.  Just paint a thin layer it is also okay if the paint is not even.  I did not put a lot of pain on my brush.  Let paint dry then sand it.  There will be parts that are painted and parts that will be bare wood.  Now, get some red paint on the brush and lightly pain it on. I did not paint it every where and it was a thin layer.  After this layer dries, sand again.  Last layer is going to be wood stain.  Apply the stain to the whole block and wipe off.  Allow to dry.  Put some hot glue or wood glue into the hole at the top of the block and insert your stick.  Allow to dry.  Tie some raffia around the stick/stem.  Then tie a bow out of either fabric or ribbon and hot glue it on.  Embellish your block.  I used a some meshy wirey ribbon and a silk flower that I had distressed with ink.  Add a button in the middle of the flower.  Spray the whole thing with clear coat and your done!

***Remember to always wear protective eye wear and follow safety rules when using power tools***

Thanksgiving craft: Gratitude Bean Bag

For the next couple weeks I will be posting some Thanksgiving craft ideas.  After that I will be focusing on some Christmas Crafts, since there are so many!

The Craft I chose today is the Gratitude Bean Bag.  It actually has a couple purposes.  The first, is it is a cute decoration.  The second, is that is can be used for a little game or "Name What You Are Thankful For".

Here's What You Need to Make One:

Muslin about 4x6 inches (size may vary, just make sure front and back fabric are the same size)

Fabric for back 4x6 inches (size may vary)

dry beans

sewing maching

scissors

embroidery floss and needle

pencil

crayons or colored pencil

Here's How You Will Go About Making One:

One a piece of muslin either free hand a design or find a patter you would like.  The one I did I just free handed it on.  Next, using an embroidery needle and embroidery floss, do a primitive stitch on you design.  Now, fill in any areas you would like colored with a colored pencil or crayon.  Put wrong sides of fabric together stitch around the edge with a forth of an inch to half inch seam.  Leave a small opening so you can fill it with beans.  Fill it with beans about 3/4 full.  Now stitch opening shut.  Use scissors and cut fabric into almost the seam every 1/2 inch, giving it a little fringes look. Now, you have this cute Thanksgiving decoration.

To Play the  "Name What You Are Thankful For" game:

You will need to sit around the room as a family.  Gently toss the bean bag to a family member.  That family member then needs to name something they are grateful for.  Then they gently toss the bean bag to another family member, who then names something they are grateful for.  Continue until everyone in the family names at least one thing they are grateful for.

Halloween Craft Final one- Cute Fabric Pumpkin

I made some pumpkins like this last year for the kids teachers. I put a little bit more embellishments on theirs though.  This is supper easy, even if you aren't much of a sewer.

You'll need:

Fabric- the size of the fabric will determine the size of the pumpkin. Examples 20x20 inches would be a more round pumpkin, where 20x34 inches would be a tall pumpkin.  This would be a good size.  You could definitely go smaller.  The one above is smaller. 

Batting

Raffia

Stick

Hot Glue

Sewing machine or serger

Needle and thread

Scissors

Thick embroidery floss

Embellishments

What you'll do:

Fold fabric in half right sides together and sew along the raw edge.  Turn fabric out, so right side is on the outside.  Take a needle with some thick thread or embroidery floss and do a gather stitch along the bottom, closing it, knot it so it will not come undone.  Start stuffing the pumpkin with the batting. Stuff until full and then do a gather stitch at the top, closing it up again. Take two long pieces of string or thick embroidery floss. Lay on floor, place pumpkin on top in the middle.  Bring string up and tie in knot. This should be done tightly so some fabric puckers out, as above.  Do the same thing the opposite way so it crosses like an x at the top and bottom. Hot glue the stick into the top.  Tie the raffia in a bow around it.  You may add some more embellishments such as: scrap fabric, silk flowers a little sign saying "Pumpkin Patch", a spider, etc.

Halloween Craft- Halloween Container (made from a baby food jar)

What you need:

Empty clean baby food jar

White spray paint

Cream craft paint

Black craft paint

White craft paint

Raffia

Clear sealant

paint brushes

pencil

black thin acid free craft pen

What to do:

Spray the entire outside of the jar with white spray paint

When dry, paint jar cream with craft paint

When dry, draw on spider web with the black craft pen. Then paint highlights with gray paint (mix black and white together to get desired gray color)

When dry paint on the spider with black paint.  Use gray for the mouth and dot eyes white.  Use craft pen to add black dots in eyes and other accents.

Spray with clear coat sealant.

Tie raffia in bow around the top.

Enjoy!  I filled mine with a bunch of spider rings.

I have also made many different designs on the front of these such as: a scarecrow, candy corn, witch, etc.

Halloween Craft #8: Gauze or Cheese Cloth Ghosts

Super fun and Easy Halloween Craft!

What You Need:

* Cheese Cloth or Gauze (the stuff I used looked a lot like gauze, they were large and used at a business for cleaning)

* Fabric Stiffener

* Cleaned out jam bottle (or jar small enough that your gauze or cheese cloth will float onto the work space a little)

*Styrofoam ball

* Sharpie marker or black paint & Brush

*Fabric Scraps

*Jute 

*Hot Glue

* Ink to antique

*optional Pink paint or ink for cheeks

What To Do:

Put the Styrofoam ball on top of the top of the lidless jar. Pour the fabric stiffener into a container (I just used an old cool whip container)  Put a piece of the gauze or cheese cloth into the solution. Make sure it is covered, squeeze out a little. Then layer it on top of the Styrofoam ball and jar. Continue with another piece until you get the look you desire.  With the stuff I used I  only  had to use two pieces.  Make sure it is how you want it to be along the bottom and everything. So it will be able to stand by itself.  Allow it to dry completely.  When dry add eyes and mouth either with a sharpie or black paint and a brush. Dry brush on some pink onto the cheeks.  With hot glue stagger some scraps of fabric. Tie a bow in the jute and hot glue on top of the fabric. Distress some of the edges of the ghost with some distressing ink and a beauty sponge.  

Halloween Craft #7: Toilet Paper Pumpkins

This has to be one of the easiest crafts!  Definitely one that the kiddos can do.

What you need:

A roll of toilet paper (this is going to be your form and batting for the pumpkin)

Fabric cut to a 17 x 17 inch square for the pumpkin body

fabric scraps/strips for the leaves

Raffia

Cinnamon sticks or a stick or dowel for the stem

Hot glue

What to do:

First cut your fabric into a square

Next place your toilet paper into the middle of the square and bring up the corners tucking them into the hole  in the top of the toilet paper roll.

Then lay your strips of fabric(mine are green) across the top. They make an x on top.

Now  place your stem on top of the green fabric and push inside of the hole. Secure with hot glue (this will need to be done by an adult).

Lastly Tie your raffia in a bow around your stem.  

Happy Pumpkin Day!

Halloween Craft #5- Halloween Luminaries from recycled jars

This is a craft I actually did with the 8-9 year old girls in activity days when I was their leader.  We made them for the table decorations from the Father and Daughter dinner we were having.  They are a great one to make with kids.

What is needed:

- A Clean jar (As you can see any size will work.  I've used baby food jars, Queso Jars, Spaghetti jars, jam jars, etc.)

-tissue paper (white for mummies and ghosts, orange for pumpkin and yellow, orange and white for candy corn.  Black for eyes)

- Ribbon, or jute to embellish with

-Mod podge

-Paint

-Paint brushes

What to do:

Cut your tissue paper into strips.  Brush on a layer of mod podge onto the out side of your jar.  Then start placing on the tissue paper.  The mummy you randomly place it on in all kids of directions.  The candy corn goes on horizontal and the pumpkin and ghost you put on horizontally.  Brush a thin layer of mod podge on top on the tissue paper once it is on the jar.  And add any eyes, mouths, etc.  Next you need to paint the top part of the jar, this is usually where the lid would close onto.  You could also use tissue paper here instead.  Finish off by adding jute or ribbon to the top.  Then place a candle in the jar.  We used tea light candles at the party. But for these ones I decorate with at home, I put an fake candle in.  It works just as good,  and there is no flame.