April's craft night

Place: Stake Center Gym

Date: April 5th

Time: 7:00 PM

Cost: $6-set, $3-just wood

Money due by March 31st

Please don't feel like you're limited to this specific project. If you'd rather make blocks that say home, or family or even names for your kids that's fine, feel free to get creative! I'll be able to cut the letters for you that night. I'll only have these papers on hand though, so if you want different colors you'll need to get those yourself. If you need more than six blocks please email or call me and I can let you know what the price difference will be. All money is due by March 31st. The sign up sheets will go around one more time this Sunday so if you miss it please call or email me. 

We want everyone to feel included, so even if you don't want to craft please come and enjoy visiting with friends! If you'd like to bring a treat to share please feel free :)

email: nmeakin84@gmail.com
phone: 801-645-1657

Christmas Countdown Blocks Instructions

Christmas Countdown Blocks

Prepare your blocks:

1.      Sand each of your blocks until smooth. You can round the corners if you prefer.

2.      Paint each of the blocks with as many coats as needed to get the color you desire. Allow to dry completely.

3.      If you want a distressed edge you need to do that now. Once the mod podge is on you won’t be able to. You distress your blocks by sanding some of the paint off the corners and edges roughly.

Mod podge the paper squares:

1.        *optional* Before you begin applying the paper you can choose to ink the edges to give them a more dimensional look. If you’ve never done this before practice on some scrap paper before you try it on your paper squares.

2.      Paint a coat of mod podge on one side and allow it to dry for a few seconds to make it tacky. Smooth the paper square on by rubbing from the center to the edges. Make sure you remove any air bubbles and the paper is completely adhered or it will cause rippling in the paper later. Do this for each side, one at a time, until all the paper squares have been applied.

Mod podge the numbers:

1.        Apply the numbers in the same way.

·        Block #1 should have the numbers 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.

·        Block #2 should have the numbers 0, 1, 2, 6, 7, 8. The 6 will double as a 9.

2.      I would suggest that you set out the numbers for one block at a time. It’s really easy to get them mixed up, and really hard to get them back off!

Finishing up:

1.        Apply the ‘Christmas Countdown’ to your base the same way you did the paper squares. Even though you’re only putting paper on the front I would suggest you mod podge the whole block. It will give it a shiny finish and it won’t look even if you don’t do the whole thing.

4.     After everything is applied, and thoroughly dry, apply one or two more coats of mod podge to seal it. You need to allow these to dry at least overnight before stacking them or they may stick together.

October Craft Club

Here's an example of what we are doing in October. I borrowed these pictures from this blog http://gv7supersaturday.blogspot.com/ since I haven't been able to get the sample finished. Let's all pray for Nicole to get up and around again soon because she is WAY more organized than I am! The cost is $8/set. I will have a sign up sheet going around next week or you can email me at nmeakin84@gmail.com. I don't have an exact date yet, but it will be either October 5th or 6th at 7pm.

Homemade Playdough

This is actually Melissa Whitley posting this recipe. However, I use this recipe from my mom to make playdough that all the kids in my sunbeam class love to play with. It's an easy recipe that literally takes minutes to make. The playdough will last a long time, especially if you put it in the fridge between uses! :)

Homemade Playdough

1 cup flour
1 tablespoon oil
1 cup water (food color added)
1/2 cup salt
2 teaspoons cream of tarter

*Heat over medium heat until mixture sticks together and forms a ball. It's ready to play with!

(Note: Cream of tarter is not absolutely necessary - it is a preservative, so it lasts longer when you use it.)

Enjoy! :)

Craft Fair for Francis

Hi Ladies! Most of you know that my sister Francis was diagnosed with a brain tumor last October and had brain surgery in November 2009. She is doing amazing now but of course has gigantic medical bills that will just keep growing. :( This is the type of tumor that she will have to watch for to grow back her whole life and she has a lot of physical therapy to do. So, we are having a craft fair to benefit her! 100% of the proceeds will go towards her medical bills! Here are the details......

Starting this Thursday, April 15th we will have 140 items for sale on this website:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/haleyuns

Items range from $3 and up! Here are just a few items we have: Jewelry, tons of crocheted items, scrabble tile necklaces, I-spy childrens bags, hair clips for little girls, appliqued onesies, blankets, travel holders for your curling iron/flat iron, scarfs and a whole lot more!

Please forward this info to your family and friends through your blog, email, facebook, carrier pidgeon, whatever! :) Spread the word!

Thanks,

Lois Hale

**On a side note, a sincere, heartfelt thank you to everyone who has prayed for my sister and our entire family. We really have felt your prayers and are so grateful for them**

If anyone is interested..... The semi-annual Highland Shores garage sale is April 17th. To get there go north on I-35E to FM407 exit. Go West on 407 to Highland Village Rd. Turn right and go to the light. Turn left into the Highland Shores neighborhood and look for balloons.

Margie

Easter Story Cookies

Here's the recipe for the cookies we shared in our Easter Eggs at the Primary Activity. It's our family's favorite tradition for now ; )

Ingredients:
1 cup whole pecans
1 tsp vinegar
3 egg whites
pinch of salt
1 cup sugar
1 zipper baggie
1 wooden spoon
masking tape
Bible

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 300 F.
2. Place pecans in a zipper baggie and let children beat them with a wooden spoon to break them into small pieces (leave in bag until the last--used as last ingredient).
**Explain that after Jesus' arrest, he was beaten by Roman soldiers. READ John 19:1-3.
3. Let each child smell the vinegar. Pour 1 tsp vinegar into the mixing bowl.
**Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross he was given vinegar to drink. READ John 19:28-30.
4. Add egg whites to vinegar.
**Tell the children that eggs represent life.
**Explai that Jesus gave his life so that we could be resurrected and have eternal life. READ John 10:10-11.
5. Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl.
**Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers during the crucifixion. READ Luke 23:27.
Ask your children if any of the ingredients used to this point seem very appetizing.
6. Add 1 cup of sugar.
**Explain that the sweetest part of the Easter story is that Jesus died because he loves us, He wants us to know and belong to him and be able to return to the Father. READ Psalm 34:8. Read John 3:16.
7. Beat with mixer on high speed for 12-15 minutes, until stiff peaks are formed.
**Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. READ Isaiah 1:18.
8. Fold in the broken nuts. Drop the dough by teaspoons onto a cookie sheet covered with wax paper.
**Explain that each mound of dough represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid. Read Matthew 27:57-60.
9. Put the cookie sheet into the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and help them seal the oven door.
**Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. Read Matthew 27:65-66.
10. Go to bed! Or proceed with the events of the night and leave the cookies in the oven until morning.
**Explain that the children might feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus followers despaired when the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20,22.
11. Before the children are up the next morning, remove the tape and open the oven door. After the children awaken, gather them in the kitchen and give everyone a cookie. Tell them to notice how the surface is cracked and to take a bite. The cookies will be hollow.
**Explain that on the first Easter Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. When they understood what it meant, they rejoiced! Read John 11:25-26.