So in our church we have something called visiting teaching.  This is where at least once a month each woman is visited by another woman to make sure things are going well, and to share a little message.  I decided to do something fun with this month's message.  So, here it is!

You are welcome to use it.  

Hope you all have a wonderful day!

Don't forget to visit teach!

I love beautiful art in people's homes, I just have a hard time spending money on it.  So I decided to make some of my own out of some favorite scriptures.  They were way fun to make

You can print them and share them to your heart's content:

My daughter was reading scriptures recently and this one really helped her.

This has always been one of my favorites, it reminds us of our importance to our Heavenly Father

DIY Earring Holder

So I have a goal this year of doing homemade gifts for all of the kids this year.  Definitely good for the budget, plus maybe they will mean a little more to the kids...now to find the extra time...

My oldest daughter is turning 12 this year, and gets to get her ears pierced - she is SOOOOO excited, she's been talking about it for months.  So I thought I'd make her an earring holder (otherwise they will probably be lost within a week.

So I found a frame that we weren't using.  Yay free!  They are only $2 at Ikea, so if you had to go and buy one it wouldn't exactly break the bank.

Then I took a sharpie and decorated around the edges, just whatever designs were fun.

Then I went to Joann's and got some plastic crossstitch canvas.  It was less than $1. I was thinking I'd need to decorate it some way, but they had it in colors, so that made it easy! Cute huh?

I decided I wanted some cloth flowers on it, so I gathered up some small strips of cloth 2"x15" for the small flowers, and 2"x18" for the bigger flower.

These were really easy to make.

1. You fold it in half lengthwise, and then again, making sure the raw edges are a little shorter so they don't show up when you're rolling the flower up.  I ironed it so that it would stay.

2. Then you start at one end and roll to make a little bud.  Use a little glue all along the way so that it stays.  I couldn't find any kind of glue besides super glue (you'd think I would have glue in the house with all my kids), but the super glue worked great, especially gluing the flowers to the frame.  I just have to figure out how to use that stuff without getting it all over my fingers!

3. After you have a nice sized bud, you fold the strip out  over and over as you roll, to create the apperance of petals, all the time gluing along the way.

4. glue the flowers to the frame, and you're done, cute, right?

One present down - a whole heap to go! :)

Homemade Valentines

You don’t have to spend a lot of money on someone to make them feel special.  The thoughtful, homemade gifts can be the best. 
We like to give out love coupons. To be redeemed by you, like…

• Good for one long walk together
• Good for a 30 minute back rub
• Here are some other good ideas!

Here's a website with some great coupons!
http://www.allfreeprintables.com/coupons/index.shtml
Happy Valentines Day!!

Gifts on a budget

Ok, I know this is probably the last thing you’re thinking about right now since we just finished Christmas.  Now’s the time to start keeping your eyes open.  Gifts always mean more when you didn’t last minute have to go find something anyways.

I have a wish list, that the kids can write on anytime they think of something that they might want sometime – knowing that they might get something entirely different.

Then I keep my eyes peeled anytime I’m at the store for the things on the list, or other things, especially for sales.

I get them and keep them in my attic so that when birthdays and Christmas comes up, I’m ready.  Plus then I’m not spending tons in December, or any other time of the year, it is spread throughout the year and I get them at the best price.