a new week

I was in a drugstore the other day and a lady was saying “I’ve spent so long in here, and I’ll probably get home, sort out my meds in their case for the week and still not have everything I need.”  I thought about that for longer than I probably should have – this is what we have to look forward to?!  There are always parts of the season we’re in we can wish weren’t there:  I wish it weren't so cold, I wish I got more sleep, I wish it was the weekend, I wish things weren't so tight, I wish I didn’t hurt, you name it…  Spend some time in a nursing home and you’ll start to wonder why we are wishing time away.  It’s true that having something to look forward to may help us get through a difficult season.  But, a very wise lady who deals with chronic pain once told me “I just don’t want to complain because I may look back on these as the good ole' days.”  


Not that everything in our day is the way we would write the story.  There may be chapters that are harder than others, that we just want to skim.  But, you know the feeling you get when you realized you raced to the end of a good book, and it's over?  I don't want that feeling in this life.  I want to pause.  Muse.  Cherish the journey.  Because this is not the end!  Our hope is not in this life.  But in the Author of life who will one day make right every wrong.  There is so much to love right here.  Celebrate the blessings He has given you!  Today.

dance parties

Sunday afternoon strolls

nightly bonding over 3D tic-tac-toe

rainy days with a book

after-school bike-rides in the basement

 lunch dates with littles

boys singing, and air guitar

little toes

more dance parties {their faves: "One day" and "Who let the dogs out"}

little wills

his smile

{I realize that's alot of pics of our boys, but I posted gift ideas all last week and didn't want to leave out these moments.}

Happy Monday!

A new week, a blank page, a second chance,

to live for what truly matters.

  

“I don't want to drive up to the pearly gates in a shiny sports car, wearing beautifully, tailored clothes, my hair expertly coiffed, and with long, perfectly manicured fingernails. I want to drive up in a station wagon that has mud on the wheels from taking kids to scout camp. I want to be there with a smudge of peanut butter on my shirt from making sandwiches for a sick neighbors' children. I want to be there with a little dirt under my fingernails from helping to weed someone's garden. I want to be there with children's sticky kisses on my cheeks and the tears of a friend on my shoulder. I want the Lord to know I was really here and that I really lived.”  

- Marjorie Pay Hinckley

made with care ~ for the rest

I've been known to be back in a bedroom sewing a pillow or two on Christmas morning, as the family is waiting on me to read the Nativity story...  
My husband has come home before to find me buried under a table of handmade Christmas cards, trying to make it to the post office before it closes at 2 pm on Christmas Eve...  
That, friends, is handmade gifting gone bad.  
Awhile back, a friend put in a request that I post some handmade gift ideas, hence this little mini-series.  These are the kinds of posts I would rather scrap and discuss over a hot beverage of your choice.  I just don't want to come across like I have it all together, or that these are the best ideas out there.  But, it's what I got.  And, I'm happy to share.  

~ soy candles ~

Someone once asked me if I could make candles.  I couldn't.  So, I had to learn.  I don't know why, but I do that sort of thing...  I bought a pan from goodwill, soy wax from hobby lobby, and some essential oils {I chose grapefruit-clove}.  I can't find the exact directions I followed, but these look close, except I didn't use a double broiler.

I have just been putting the wax into baby food jars, but after a friend made me this, you can know I am on the hunt for vintage tins.  Isn't this the coolest?

~ cookbook ~

I snuck into my mom's recipes one year, and put together a "tastes of home"  cookbook with our family's favorite recipes.  I also included stories from our childhood.  It turned out to be pretty meaningful to them.  (Maybe because it was actually made and wrapped before Christmas day :)

~ hanging rack with vintage door knobs ~

I have always wanted to make one of these to hang our towels on.  Instead, we made two and gave one as a gift.

~ cloth napkins ~

You can even make them out of fabric you already have, like an old dress shirt as explained here.

~ washcloths ~

I don't know how to read patterns; so my knitting is pretty limited.  Plus, I really only knit in the car, and I get bored doing a big project.  So, I knit washcloths now.  Which means, they make it to gift ideas.

~ laptop sleeve ~

Sometimes I don't even know what I'm knitting.  I just knit.  Then, I start piecing things together and realize it makes the perfect size sleeve for my laptop.  Okay, this has only happened once.  But I still love it.  And, it cost me nada.  I made the yarn from cutting up old t-shirts.  I'm so embarrassed writing this right now, 'cuz who has time to cut up old t-shirts?!?  Certainly not me!  I don't have time to watch this youtube clip that tells you how to do so either...

~ t-shirt scarf ~

{Source: julieannart.com}

~ no knit scarf ~

{Source: martha stewart}

~ peppermint lip balm ~

{Source: Soule Mama}

~ apron in a jar ~

{Source: pleasant-home.com}

~ chalkboard-painted mug ~

{Source: 26.media.tumblr.com}

~ burlap and letter in an old frame ~

{Source: loveoffamilyandhome.blogspot.com}

~ bookmark ~

{Source: pinterest}

~ tile coasters ~

{Source: apartmenttherapy.com}

~ doily-print bowl ~

{Source: creaturecomfortsblog.com}

I hope these ideas will inspire some of your very own.  Like, the chalkboard-painted mug reminded me of seeing glasses with squares of chalkboard paint on them to identify those glass it was.  Which made me think of the 69 cent mugs we got from Ikea.  Which made me wonder if dry erase markers would work on them.  And they do!  Next coffee gathering at our house, you can know we will be drinking from these.

I also have learned guys are hard to make for.  Unless you know of a DiY tutorial for a power-tool, they may be better off buying for.

~~~~~~~~~~

While it's fun to create a gift for someone special, I never want to forget why we do this.  Christmas is a celebration of the most remarkable gift of all ~ our Savior born into this world that we. may. have. life!  New life!  Life everlasting!  Life in and through Him!  I think sometimes we settle for celebrating the festivities rather than the honored guest.  It's like we are so enamored by the glittering tinsel and twinkling lights that we miss the King being in our presence!

The thought of making a gift for someone may stress you out as much as me having to push a cart through a crowded store on Christmas Eve.  I get that.   So whether you buy your gifts at the mall or make them all, my hope is that every heart prepare Him room.  That we don't chase after stuff to fulfill a longing only He can.  That our days would sing long and loud...

What can I say? 

What can I do? 

But offer this heart, O God, 

Completely to You. 

So I'll stand with arms high and heart abandoned, 

In awe of the One who gave it all. 

I'll stand. My soul, Lord, to You surrendered. 

All I am is Yours!

made with care ~ for the kiddo

When I recall what I got for Christmas as a kid, one gift stands out.  "Barbie dream house" was on my wish-list, and I can still remember the unveiling of a dollhouse my parents had made for me.  Complete with custom wallpaper, carpet, stairs, shingles, you name it.  My mom had made furniture out of cardboard and fabric.  It even had teeny-tiny little hand-towels.  I would spend hours in front of that thing.  Just last weekend, Jude was moving the furniture and dolls around.  There is still just something so special to think of all the time and thought that went into that gift.

Which brings us to handmade gifts, part deux.  

.: made with care :.

~ for the kiddo ~

...including, but not limited to...

This week, I decided to revisit these bags I made for the boys last year.  They were a huge hit, but I used cheap felt.  So while they are still being used, they look pretty rough.  I'm going to try out a wool-blend felt this time.  This is truly simple sewing - no hemming whatsoever.  Just sew raw edges together.

 I made them big enough to hold a regular-sized notebook.  

Then we filled each of their bags with items unique to their interests.

It has been the perfect bag for car-trips.

Just enough stuff to keep them busy, without taking up too much room.

Some other handmade bag ideas, 

'cuz every boy needs a place for his treasures:

 {made from the pocket of a pair of shorts being thrown away}

Speaking of bandanas...

Source:  bandana dress

Source:  bandana apron

ashleyannphotography.com has some great ideas for DiY projects,

like who knew you could turn a bed sheet into a Star Wars' costume?!?

This project involved a $3 t-shirt, a squirt gun, bleach and rubber gloves 

(NOT optional).  I have seen others make designs rather than letters.  

Endless possibilities here.

A friend sent me a link to these superhero towels selling for $40.

They only cost $5 to make!

If, instead, you have a princess...

Source: etsy

I saw this idea on pinterest, using an old t-shirt.  So, I made one.  

{Sorry, Jude.}

There's always capes for your little superheroes!

 (looks like someone has picked up a few of my Kristen Wiig moves :)

Inspiration for the non-sew-er:

Source: pinterest {animals superglued to jar lids and spray painted}

Source: pinterest {fort kit; including sheets, rope, clamps, flashlight, glow sticks}

Source: homemade crayons

Source: candy cane playdoh

Source: doctor or veterinary kit

If you still haven't found anything that excites you to make a kid a gift, here's 30 more ideas.  Happy dreaming, crafting and surprising!  

~~~~~~~~~~

While it's fun to create a gift for someone special, I never want to forget why we do this.  Christmas is a celebration of the most remarkable gift of all ~ our Savior born into this world that we. may. have. life!  New life!  Life everlasting!  Life in and through Him!  I think sometimes we settle for celebrating the festivities rather than the honored guest.  It's like we miss the King being in our presence because we are enamored by the glittering tinsel and twinkling lights.  

The thought of making a gift for someone may stress you out as much as me having to push a cart through a crowded store on Christmas Eve.  I get that.   So whether you buy your gifts at the mall or make them all, my hope is that every heart prepare Him room.  That we don't chase after stuff to fulfill a longing only He can.  That our days would sing long and loud...

What can I say? 

What can I do? 

But offer this heart, O God, 

Completely to You. 

So I'll stand with arms high and heart abandoned, 

In awe of the One who gave it all. 

I'll stand. My soul, Lord, to You surrendered. 

All I am is Yours!