Last Minute Halloween Gift Tags

Happy Halloween!!

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.

Organization- Be Prepared!

I believe that part of being organized is being prepared.  Both for our Physical needs and for our Spiritual needs.  Starting next Tuesday, I am going to start posting a way to prepare for physical needs, with food storage tips, 72 hour kit ideas, etc.  I am also going to be focusing on one item a week in the "Pursuit of Excellence" booklet.  This is a booklet for Relief Society Sisters to help them set personal goals.
These goals can be used for both men and women.  They are very personal goals, so you will need to decide what goals you would like to work on and what pace you need to accomplish these goals.  I will be posting what goals I will be working on and some ideas of how to accomplish them.  Isn't it a wonderful thing that we can constantly work on improving our selves.  There is no limit. If we use our Heavenly Father's guidance just think how much more we can improve.  Make sure you set, record and evaluate your goals.  If you would like to share them in the comments below, please do so!

"When performance is measured, performance improves. When performance is measured and reported, the rate of improvement accelerates" (see Thomas S. Monson, in Conference Report, Oct. 1970, 107).

Family Home Evening: Faith In God Book - Serving Others

One of the requirements in the Faith In God book under the Serving Others Category is to "Write a letter to a teacher, your parents, or our grandparents telling them what you appreciate and respect about them." This also fulfills one of the requirements for the Religious Square Knot patch in cub scouts.

This is an easy one that can easily be completed as part of a Family Home Evening.  Here is how ours is planned to go:

Family Home Evening on Appreciation and Respect

Welcome everyone to Family Night

Sing: "Grandmother " pg 200  Children's Songbook

Have a member of the family member say the prayer

Discuss any family business

Scripture: Mosiah 4:15

Lesson:

Play the Video: "Unselfish Service"

Explain that one of the best ways we can express our appreciation and respect is to serve those we love and have done so much for us.

Have each family member think of someone they are grateful for. Then ask them to write a note to that person telling them what you appreciate and respect about them. Then have them give that note to the person.

Bear testimonies on the expressing appreciation and respect

Close with a Family Prayer.

My thoughts:  I want my children to be able to notice the things that others do for them and to be grateful for those things.  It seems like sometimes we get caught up even as adults, in all the things we don't have or want, that is what brings unhappiness.  When we are constantly not happy because we want something bigger and better, we will not be happy, until we stop and take inventory of everything we have and are blessed with in our lives.  For me when I am content and grateful I am so much happier and more at peace.  I think that it is an important quality to teach my children.  Yes, it needs to be taught and constantly reinforced.  Having children express to others what they appreciate and respect in them is a great way to teach this.  Also, pointing out to them all that they have and helping them in their prayers to express gratitude to Heavenly Father.  Another way is teaching them to have good manners.  To recognize when someone does something nice for them, to express appreciation and say thank you.  SERVE...service brings happiness and shows appreciation.

Primary October Week 4 Sharing Time: My Testimony in Strenthened when I share The Gospel

Start class out by having a clear jar full of clean clear water.  Explain that it represents the beginning of someones testimony.  Show them the food coloring.  Explain that this represents the strengthening of the testimony.  Explain that each time we share the gospel with others our testimony is strengthened, just like every time a drop of food coloring is put into the water the color gets darker and stronger. (this idea comes from the 2013 Primary Sharing Time Outline)

What is the Gospel?
" ...the gospel includes all the doctrines, principles, laws, ordinances, and covenants necessary for us to be exalted in the celestial kingdom." (http://www.lds.org/topics/gospel)

How can we share the Gospel?
Ask children for ways they can share the gospel.  Each time a child says a way then add a drop of food coloring to the water.  Pointing out how stronger the color gets each time.

What is a Testimony?
"A testimony is a spiritual witness given by the Holy Ghost." (http://www.lds.org/topics/testimony)

Tell the story of this young girl: “A 

young girl was afraid to bear her testimony because 

she felt unsure of her feelings. But she knew it was 

important, so one day she bravely stood and bore 

her testimony, listing five things she believed in. 

When she was through, she had a good feeling 

and knew that her testimony had grown stronger.”

Explain that we can all have a testimony of these five fundamental things that we can build our testimony on.

Have the following pictures around the room. (Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, Joseph Smith, Book of Mormon, President Monson)

Cover each square on the above printable with a piece of paper.  Have a child come and remove one.  Have them read it or you read it if they need help.  Then have them go and find the picture that matches it.  You could go into explaining in larger detail, your testimony on that particular thing. Add a drop of food coloring into the jar.  Continue until all squares are uncovered and all pictures have been matched. Add a drop of food coloring each time.

Bear your testimony and  challenge each child to find ways throughout the week to share the gospel and strengthen their testimonies.

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.

Getting Organized- Bathroom Hygiene Checklist

As I have visited the bathrooms my boys use the most it has become apparent that I need to help them with their bathroom hygiene and etiquette.  What are the struggles.... THE SINK.  I don't know how but they manage to get toothpaste everywhere.  They are excellent with putting the seat down, which is a plus! The other struggle is just keeping it straightened.  They use wash clothes and don't put them in the dirty clothes.  Hand towels some how end up soaking wet, and I have these mysterious white spots that keep ending up on my tile.  I am assuming they are coming from not thoroughly rinsed and dried hands.  So, my solution is a checklist.  Hopefully it will help to be a reminder of what to do!

Family Home Evening- Using the Faith In God Book: Learning & Living The Gospel

The Faith in God program is a program for children 8-11 years old in the LDS church.  There are three main categories: Learning And Living The Gospel, Serving Others, and Developing Talents.  Each year the child should pass off at least two activities in each category along with continuing with their basic requirements and memorizing and understanding the Articles of Faith.  There are so many ways to use these activities and requirements in Family Home Evenings.  For the next few months I will be picking some of these activities to use in Family Home Evening outlines.

This month I have choose to do the activity in Learning and Living the Gospel.  My son will be helping with this family night so he can full fill this requirement.  The topic is:

Joseph Smith's First Vision: Discuss how Heavenly Father answers our sincere prayers.

Welcome everyone to Family Night

Sing: "The Sacred Grove" pg 87  Children's Songbook

Have a member of the family member say the prayer

Discuss any family business

Scripture: Joseph Smith History 1:14 & 17 

Lesson:

Play the Video: "The Message of the Restoration" 

After, the video discuss what the boy Joseph Smith did after reading the scripture found in James 1:5 " If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."

- He Prayed: He asked Heavenly Father which church at that time was right, which he should join.

-Heavenly Father Answered his prayer: He said that they were all wrong and she should join none.

Just like Joseph Smith prayed to Heavenly Father and inquired of him.  We can too.  We can seek guidance and help from our Father in Heaven.

Just like Heavenly Father Answered Joseph Smith's prayer, he will answer our prayers also.

Print and cut out the free printable.  Mix up the pieces in each category.  Have a family member choose a person card.  Read the scripture or article about that person.  Then have a family member decide what question was asked of Heavenly Father and how Heavenly Father answered that prayer.

Bear testimonies on the First Vision and how Heavenly Father Answers our prayers.

(for November 2011 Ensign article, "Stand in Holy Places" click here)

(Faith in God Girls booklet, here. Faith in God Boys Booklet, here)

Close with a Family Prayer.

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.  

Family Home Evening- My Gospel Standards: I Will Live Now to Be Worthy to go to the Temple and do my part to have an Eternal Family.

Welcome everyone to Family Night

Sing: "I Love to See the Temple" pg 95  Children's Songbook

Have a member of the family member say the prayer

Discuss any family business

Scripture: D& C 138:47-48 

Lesson:

Path to Temple Printable

Footsteps to the Path to the Temple & I will do my Part Puzzle Printable

Printout the printables above and cut everything on the second page out.

Tell your family that you are thinking of a place.  This place is one of the most important places here on earth. See if your family can guess this place. If they can't, continue with giving the clues.  Such as: we make sacred promise in this place.  Families are sealed together forever in this place, Work for the dead is done in this place, etc. Eventually, they hopefully will guess the temple.  Express how important receiving temple ordinances is.

  

Show your family the 1st printable the path to the temple.  Tell them that as a family you are going to discuss the steps and the things we can do now to be worthy to attend the temple.  Show your family the footsteps and have a family member choose one.  Put the foot step on the path and talk about that footstep and how it can prepare you for the temple.  Continue until all footsteps are on the straight path.  Explain that if we consistently do these things we will be ready and worthy to go the temple when the time comes.

Show this video: "Families can be together forever"

Explain that every family member has a part to do as member of the family, to have the family be eternal and happy.  Have the pieces of the puzzle all cut out.  As a family put the puzzle together.  When it is put together. Speak about each part of the puzzle and how it can help the family be eternal and happy.

Bear testimonies on living worthy to go the the temple and doing your part to have an eternal family.

Close with a Family Prayer.

Treat:

Cherry Crisp

In a 8x8 inch square baking dish sprayed with cooking spray, dump contents of one can of cherry pie filling and spread across the bottom.  In a bowl mix together: 1/2 cup oats, 1/2 cup flour, 2/3 cup brown sugar, 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon  and 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg. Then add 1/3 cup melted butter and mix well.  Sprinkle mixture on top of the cherries.  Place in and oven that has preheated to 350 degrees and bake for 30 minutes. Let cool slightly before serving.  Is delicious with some whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

October Primary Sharing Time Week# 2- Living the Gospel helps me to be a Missionary now.

Display the printable: "Living the gospel helps me be a missionary now".  Have the children repeat it with you.

Tell them the story found in the Primary 2 manual pg 52:
"One day two missionaries knocked on the door of a home. A woman named Mrs. James opened the door. The missionaries told her they were from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Mrs. James invited the missionaries in and told them she would like to learn more about the Church. This made the missionaries very happy.

Mrs. James told the missionaries that she used to live next door to a family that belonged to the Church. She said the children in that family were always very polite and kind. They played fairly with everyone and treated other people’s property with respect. Mrs. James said she would like to learn about a church that taught those children to be such nice neighbors."

Explain that we never know who is watching us and how our actions will affect others.  That when we live the gospel, those things we believe in and know to be true, then we are being good examples.

Cut out the "My Gospel Standards" from the printable.  Lay them face down on the ground.  Tell the kids that you have some standards that we can live by every day that will help us be great missionaries right NOW.  Have the children toss a bean bag and try to land on one of the papers.  What ever paper they land on, read that gospel standard and ask the children what it means and what they can do to live it.  Continue until all gospel standards have been read and talked about.  

Ask the children to think of one of the "My Gospel Standards" that they can work on this week.  Challenge them to choose one each week to work on.

Bear your testimony that if we live the gospel every day that we will have a positive effect in other peoples lives. And we will make our Heavenly Father happy.

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!

Getting Organized- Grocery List and Weekly Menu Pintable

I am definitely a list person.  I'm not sure if it is my desire to be organized or I do it, because if I don't I am sure to forget something.  So, I came up with this little printable, to plan out the weekly meals and have a shopping list, so nothing is forgotten.

Family Home Evening- My Gospel Standards- I will seek good friends and treat others kindly.

Family Home Evening Outline for: I will seek good friends and treat others kindly.

Welcome everyone to Family Night

Sing: "I'm Trying to Be Like Jesus" pg 78  Children's Songbook

Have a member of the family member say the prayer

Discuss any family business

Scripture: Mosiah 4:15 "15 But ye will teach them to walk in the ways of truth and soberness; ye will teach them to love one another, and to serve one another."

Lesson:

Play to shot video "The Coat" found here.

Discuss what the little boy did in the movie.  Explain that when we show kindness for others we are also showing our love for Heavenly Father.

Talk something each family member can do specifically to show kindness to someone else.

Read: The "Friend" Section in the "For Strength of Youth Pamphlet".

Show everyone the the "Good Friend Printable" (see above).  Explain that when we choose good friends then they can help us make the right choices.  

Have each family member say a characteristic that they think would be found in a good friend.  Write each characteristic in marker around the "friends" on the printable.  Discuss each characteristic and why it would be important to have.  Then discuss how we need to also have these characteristics and be a good friend to others. (Some good friend characteristics could be: Loyal, Honest, Kind, Selfless, Good Listener, Good morals, virtuous, respectful) Challenge each family member to try to develop these characteristic so, they can also be good friends.

Bear testimonies on choosing good friends and treating others with kindness.

Close with a Family Prayer.

Treat:

Monkey Bread

Open two packages of the refrigerated biscuits (like Pillsbury that come in tubes).  Cut each biscuit into fourths.  Then roll in a mixture of cinnamon and white sugar (2T cinnamon and 1 cup white sugar).  Then place in a greased bread loaf pan. Continue with all biscuits. 

Then,

1/2 stick melted butter

1/8 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup white sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

Heat the 4 ingredients above in a sauce pan over medium heat until dissolved. Pour over bread. Then place in a 350 degree oven for 20 minutes.

Pull apart and enjoy!

Halloween Craft #6 - Halloween Treat Containers

I made these a few years back and they were a hit!  The best part is you get to use the stuff you already have.

What you need:

A clean metal nut can (I used the Diamond Nut cans, because they wash out well.  Make sure you dry them immediately after you wash them so they will not rust.) **You could also use any nut can that has not been opened and not put your own treat inside**

Scrapbook paper

Mod Podge & brush

Jute

Hot Glue gun

Embroidery Floss

What to do:

Measure from the top of the can to the bottom of the can.  This is how wide you will need to cut your scrapbook paper.  Now, measure around the can over lapping 1/2 an inch.  This is how long you will need to cut your scrap book paper. After you have cut your paper, secure one end to the can with some hot glue.  Then wrap the paper around the can securing the end with hot glue.  Your can should be wrapped in scrapbook paper now.  Next, take the lid and trace it onto some scrapbook paper.  I liked mixing the patterns on mine.  Doing a different pattern on the top then on the bottom.  Next, cut out the circle.  Put some mod podge on the top of the lid with a brush.  Put some mod podge on the back of the circle.  Now place the circle on top of the lid, smoothing out any bubbles, and forming the paper to the lid.  The outer edges of the lid will be exposed.  This will be covered up with the jute. Apply mod podge to the top of the scrapbook paper on the lid.  Once dried, wrap jute around the edge of the lid. Tie a knot. I also like to secure this with a little bit of hot glue.  Now time to embellish.  On mine I cut a rectangle out of some white card stock and distressed the edges with some ink. I then wrote a little message on it.  I also, drew some ghosts on card stock and cut them out and distressed them and added some features and writing.  Then I poked a small hole in it and secured it to the jute on the lid with some thick embroidery floss.  I made some yummy treats and placed them in the container. I actually used these to give to the ladies I visit, they loved them.

Let's Get Organized: Storing sheet sets

This is an organization tip that I have loved doing.  With your extra sheet sets, fold the fitted and flat sheets, then place them inside of the pillow case.  Fold the edges in and fold neatly.  I love this because everything you need is all together and it is folded so neatly that it is easy to store until needed.