Crafts – Page 3

Finger Knitting

January 15, 2012 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Crafts

Sparkles took up knitting last year, thanks to Rose. Sweetie didn’t have an interest at the time. I desired for her to learn something in the way of knitting or crocheting. This was the perfect opportunity, a Little Flowers lesson in patience.
Sweetie took to finger knitting. It’s just her pace – fast craft with instant gratification.
She knitted a 49 in scarf in 30 min. Now she is begging for more.

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Finger Knitted Scarf

Supplies:

yarn*
scissors

Directions:

prepare yarn (18 yards was enough for a 49 in scarf)
follow the directions in this video (it’s the best video tutorial that I’ve seen)

Cost:

18 yards of yarn for 49 in scarf
1 skin of 300 yards – $10.99

Cost per scarf – $1.52

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*My yarn supply is low and purchasing more is not an option. So, I have been making my own yarn—t-shirt yarn. I’ve raided my give-away piles for old shirts. I followed this tutorial to cut my shirts for t-shirt yarn. Be certain to give all family members fair warning. This is so fun that one can tend to go a lil’ crazy and no shirt will be let untouched. Dad has stashed away his favorites in fear that I might shred them.

Resourceful

January 13, 2012 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Crafts, Frugal Living, Gifts, New Year, Simplicity

Dad and I have made a pact, we will not be buying anything this year. In other words, no shopping. We will only purchase whole, clean food and personal necessities. It’s a call that has been on our heart for sometime now but we I have resisted. We are now cooperating with His grace and moving forward.
We are very limited with our financial resources and are facing some more difficult times. All of which, have been answers to prayers. The Good Lord is making it easy for us to know His will.
We have nothing to fear. We are not going without and trust in His providence. All of our needs are being met, praise God.

Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? ~ Matthew 6:25-26

We pray that we grow to be better stewards of our blessings (monetary, physical, spiritual,–all things).

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Let the day’s own trouble be sufficient for the day.

~ Matthew 6:33-34

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No shopping doesn’t mean no crafting or gift giving. The kids and I will use what we have on hand. Here are a few of our latest creations. I did purchase some prints of the photos that I had taken.

Sweetie is my focus group when it comes to all things Little Flowers. I usually have her do a trial run of the LF craft for the month. This gives me a good idea of the level of difficulty for the craft and about how long the craft will take. This month’s craft has to do with knitting.

I took family photographs for Christmas gifts. I used the photos to create photo canvases. I printed enlargements at Costco and applied them to my stash of canvases. (The canvases have been sitting in the bag for almost six years now. I had intended to create personalized paintings.)

Rose and I made personalized trinkets for Dad’s co-workers and her girlfriends. The pictures below don’t do these creations justice. They’re simple, fun and absolutely darling.

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I hope to use up all my craft supplies this year. I’ll be sharing my creations at the weekly Stash Bash and Pinning it Down.

Curtain Aprons

January 9, 2012 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Crafts, Gifts, Little Flowers

I held my fourth Little Flowers meeting in early December. The girls made a simple Curtain Apron for their craft. It was a lovely craft edition for the meeting since St. Martha is a patron saint of homemakers. The apron was intended to be gifted for Christmas.

Curtain Apron

this is an up-cycle craft

Supplies:

valance style curtain (I purchased 18 valances from my local thrift store to create aprons for 36 girls)
ribbon (I used a min of 1.5 yards of ribbon for ea. apron)
scissors
safety pin

Approximate cost of ea. apron (if items need to be purchased) – $2

Approximate cost of ea. apron (if items are on hand) – FREE

Directions:

cut the valance vertically at a place that will yield enough coverage for your desired homemaker.
optional: hem the cut side of the valance.
cut ribbon to the desired length. long enough to tie around the waist of the intended homemaker.
attached safety pin to the end of the ribbon.
thread the ribbon, safety pin first, into the top portion of the valance that was indented for a curtain rod.
remove the safety pin and prepare the Curtain Apron for presentation.

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creating aprons

preparing creations for presentation/wrapping

finalizing packages

Morning Offering Pillow Case

November 15, 2011 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Crafts, Little Flowers, Morning Offering

Here is a simple and quick craft that I had my Little Flowers group complete for the virtue of self-control. My hope was that they exercise self-control by saying their Morning Offering daily, upon rising. The Morning Offering Pillow Case is to serve as a reminder to the girls.
It would also make a great gift on any occasion.
Supplies:

Pillow case
Iron-on transfer paper
Printer
Iron
Iron board
Scissors
Image to print

I found the beautiful images at Holy Reflections. You may click on the image to print.

Mary with Child Jesus - Morning Offering Pillow Case Image

Child making an offering to Jesus - Morning Offering Pillow Case image

Immaculate Heart of Mary & Sacred Heart of Jesus - Morning Offering Pillow Case image

Immaculate Heart of Mary & Sacred Heart of Jesus with blue - Morning Offering Pillow Case image

St. Therese's Morning Offering - Morning Offering Pillow Case image

Directions:

Print the image (be sure to print the mirror image if the image is not already set)
Trim the image
Apply the image to your desired item. Be sure to follow the directions of your transfer paper.

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Equipping Catholic Families – Unique Handmade Gifts Linky

Friendship Bracelet Giveaway

August 6, 2011 by Lena {JOYfilledfamily} Filed Under: Crafts, Giveaway, Summer

We wrapped up our summer list with an impromptu activity, friendship bracelets. The girls create these colorful wrist candies on a regular basis but I’ve never joined in. They were beyond thrilled when I announced that I would join the fun.

We made family bracelets, bracelets for friends we even joined a friendship bracelet swap. We knotted and knotted. Rose mastered some new designs. I dabbled with new designs and mastered none. Sweetie was in charge of organizing and cutting the floss. Sparkles cranked the bracelets out. In fact, we had to limit her production. It was a blast.
We still have a few more designs to try and some orders to fill. I look forward to letting this activity run it’s course. ALL FOR!

FRIENDSHIP BRACELET GIVEAWAY

Sparkles asked if she could host a giveaway. She would like to send a young girl one of her creations.
To enter: a young girl must first answer these questions.

Who came to Mary with wonderful news?

Name the mystery of the Rosary that goes with this answer.

Submit your answer into the comment box along with your (blog) name and age.
Sparkles will draw a name out of hat on Thursday, August 11 – the traditional feast of St. Philomena.

St. Philomena is a patron saint of children~Children of Mary.

We will announce the winner on Friday, August 12 – the traditional feast of St. Clare of Assisi.

St. Clare of Assisi is a patron saint of embroiderers and needle workers. (I’m sure friendship bracelets is covered in there somewhere.)

St. Philomena and St. Clare of Assisi ~ pray for our young girls

UPDATE 8.12: Thanks for participating. Sparkles was so excited to host her first giveaway and decided to give you each a bracelet. Please email me (JOYfilledfamily{at}gamil{dot}com) your contact info and wrist size. Sparkles will send you one of her creations as soon as I receive your info.

I hope to use up all my craft supplies this year. I’ll be sharing my creations at the weekly Stash Bash and Pinning it Down.

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