Blessing Others During Holidays

A close up of jars of homemade mustang grape jelly

As I flipped the calendar over to November last week, I felt it….pressure. Pressure to make the next 8 weeks amazing. Pressure to find just the right gift for everyone on my Christmas list. Pressure to make sure that all my I’s are dotted and my T’s are crossed for all of the events that … Read more

DIY Monogrammed Coffee Mugs

A collection of white and blue mugs, including some monogrammed coffee cups, is arranged on a table adorned with a festive poinsettia tablecloth. Some white mugs showcase large letters in various colors.

If you’ve been hanging around our little spot on the internet for very long, you’ve probably guessed that I love all things old, vintage and thrifted. I love giving new life to someone else’s cast off items. Monogrammed coffee cups are just the craft to give new life to all those lovely .50 cups at your … Read more

Homemade Decoupaged Christmas Ornaments

several decoupaged Christmas ornaments

The beauty of decoupage is that you can quickly and cheaply turn old things into new things with just paper and glue. Decoupaged Christmas ornaments are a great example. You can always find old Christmas ball ornaments at garage sale and thrift stores and give them new life. To make decoupaged Christmas ornaments you just … Read more

Gift Wrapping Ideas

A jar of homemade apple butter with a metal lid boasts a green label reading "Homemade Apple Butter." It is elegantly gift-wrapped with floral-patterned paper, tied with twine, and topped off with a charming paper flower embellishment—a perfect addition to your gift wrapping ideas.

I’m going to let you in on a little secret, althought I love making gifts, I’m not always the best at wrapping them so that they look pretty. I try but it’s just a gene that has missed me. So, I’m super excited to have Angel from Angel Navy Wife here to show us some … Read more

Painting on Fabric

A person is leaning over a table, using a pen to trace or cut out the stenciled letters "KAMP" from a piece of paper. Surrounding items include scissors, a cutting mat, and a mug.

No, that’s not the new name of our home. Although it probably fits right now. This is the week of the drama performance for Gabriel and Benjamin. Which means they have practice for 3 or more hours each day except Wednesday. Their play is called Kamp Kaos. So far, I haven’t seen any of the … Read more

heart crayons

Heart-shaped, multicolored heart crayons scattered on a wooden surface, next to small envelopes adorned with heart stickers.

One of the fun things about being part of a home school co-op is the social aspect. Our co-op is more than just classes, we’ve tried very hard to have a co-op where friendships are built. One way of doing that is by socializing together. We meet on Thursdays and this year Valentine’s Day falls … Read more

DIY Marshmallow Shooters

A structure made from white PVC pipes with red and green paint patterns, assembled on a wooden surface. The design features right-angle joints and straight sections forming an abstract shape.

Last weekend we were invited to a birthday party of  twins who were turning 4 years old. Esther has loved her marshmallow gun and she thought they would make a great gift. Instead of making them, I asked Gabriel if I could give them a couple of the ones he had left over from making … Read more

Printing on Fabric {the cheap way}

Blue shirt with a sewn-on fabric name tag. The tag reads "Gabriel Schneider, Troop 137," with some information obscured by marker.

Our family has been a Boy Scout family for 12 years and you would think that we would have all kinds of  Scouting t-shirts laying around. And we do, but not always in the size that is needed. Gabriel is going to be working on staff at a National Youth Leadership Training camp over spring … Read more

creative messes

There’s something about this life we’ve chosen, something that we can’t get away from and I just have to be okay with. What is that something? you ask messes I walk in the door from grocery shopping and this is what I find…   the beginnings of wood working right on my living room floor… … Read more

the gift making begins

A framed silhouette

This post contains affiliate links; you can learn more on our disclosure page. The dance company that Phoebe is involved in has a big sister/little sister program. They pair the junior company members with with senior company members so that each girl has someone specific to go to when she has questions or needs help. It also helps the older girls to reach out to … Read more

DIY Heat Therapy Pad

homemade rice heat therapy pad

Welcome to this week’s link up of Handmade Christmas gifts. All the categories will be open for links through Nov. 31st so make sure to go back through and see what everyone is linking up. Also, feel free to link up items as you complete them.   The hardest people for me to make gifts … Read more

Fingerprint Art Bookmarks

Three handmade bookmarks rest on a wooden floor, each showcasing vibrant fingerprint art: one with swirling orange butterflies, another with a bouquet of purple and orange flowers, and the last adorned with pink butterflies. A note reads, "For My Favorite Bookworm.

  When my older children were little their Grandpa gave them a finger print art book. They are way beyond finger print art but Esther thought it was so “beautiful” when I showed it to her. (disclaimer: that was the only link I could find to the book. I’m guessing it’s out of print, I know … Read more

making bath fizzies

A young girl with flour-covered hands plays with a measuring cup in a bowl of flour on a kitchen table. She's wearing a turquoise sleeveless shirt, and there are colorful ribbons on the wall in the background.

In the spirit of “keeping it real” I thought I’d share a fun, but failed, craft we did the other night. It all started when we were planning out a co-op class for our younger elementary students. We’re learning about Valentine’s Day this month and thought these bath fizzies would make a fun craft. Apparently … Read more

Silhouettes {a tutorial for a fun and inexpensive Christmas gift}

silhouette of a young girl

This post contains affiliate links; you can read more on our disclosure page.  A couple of years ago, Josiah made silhouettes for Christmas gifts for Carl and I, grandparents, aunts and uncles. It was such a fun gift! I’ve always loved silhouettes. One of the classes I help teach at our homeschool co-op is for … Read more

button snake for preschoolers

A blue fabric pouch labeled "button snake" lies beside assorted colorful felt pieces with a white button attached to a green ribbon. The felt pieces have buttonholes for threading onto the button snake.

I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that we were putting together fun activities for Esther to do when no one is available to play with her. I’ve used alot of the same stuff I used with my older children, but Crystal from Money Saving Mom has been posting some things she has either made for or … Read more