Sending You S'more Love: S'mores in a Jar



Sometimes these packages just make me giggle.  I'm sure my missionaries just roll their eyes...and then chow down of course, because well, they're boys after all.  I sent this with the camping 'photo book' from our family camp out to years ago...and we just returned from this year's camp out...yup, I'm that far behind on posting.  Lame, I know.  Matt loved it though and said they were super yummy.  Don't know what the 'photo book' is?  Click here for that post...  On to s'mores, 'cause who doesn't love a good s'more?!

 

Materials Needed:

half-pint jars

mini marshmallows

graham crackers

chocolate candy bar or chocolate chips

 



Recipe:

1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs

1/4 cup melted butter

1 1/2 cups mini marshmallows

milk chocolate candy bar

(roughly chopped)

or use chocolate chips

 

Mix melted butter and graham cracker crumbs until well combined.  Add 2 Tbs. of crumb mixture to the bottom of each jar.  Add chocolate pieces to cover crumb mixture.  Add mini marshmallows for the third layer.  Repeat all three layers ending with marshmallows.  Secure lid. (Yield: 5 half-pint jars)



 

Click here to download the jar topper and recipe card.

 

 

Make sure to line your box and wrap each jar in bubble wrap.  I also included some red tissue paper and brown shredded paper - Matt said they got there just fine.  Top it all off with the instruction card. 

 

Don't forget to write a note on the back of the topper

if you're not including a letter or card...Why?

 

I didn't used to do this.  I would send letters or I would send packages.  Not usually both at the same time.  I should clarify a bit:  I send letters but to help them get more mail I didn't usually include a letter in with the package.  The letter was always separate.  In Matt's mission (and I think most missions that are stateside) all mail had to go through the mission home.  I don't like it but I understand the reasons why so I'm ok with it.  Letters would receive an address sticker and be forwarded immediately to the missionaries.  Packages would stay in the office until the Zone Leaders came in weekly to pick up supplies or when the senior missionaries or mission president went to the area where they were.  Here's the problem:  When Matt arrived in his first area whoever typed the address into the computer typed it in wrong.  For 30 days...his first 30 days in the field, Matt didn't receive one single stitch of mail.  Nothing.  Nada.  Zilch...and we had NO IDEA until we started getting letters back 'return to sender'.  Why does it take two days to receive a letter but 3+ weeks to get it back when it's not deliverable!  It's a mystery...but Matt thought we just weren't writing.  Just makes me tear up writing about it.  He did receive one package.  His 'greenie' package and on that one package, I had taken the time to write a note on the back of the package topper.  He needed that.  He needed that boost.  He needed to know, right then, that we hadn't forgotten about him.  From the moment I read that in his letter, I decided that I would always write a note in each package because you just never know when that might be the only mail they receive.

 

Here's the cover for our campout 'photo book'...

May I just mention that I am loving Photoshop?

Yeah.  We're best friends

 

 

Pretty simple, I know...humor me.



DIY - Chalk Board Letters

This is another way fun and super inexpensive creative letter idea.  I went to the local thrift store - I'm from Utah so for us that's Deseret Industries aka 'the DI' or 'the D & I' as my kids called it when they were little.  I'm sure that there are other thrift stores around but the D & I is pretty prevalent around these parts.  I picked up three picture frames.  The prices ranged from $1-$5.  Not bad.

Supplies:

frames (with glass)

Chalkboard spray paint

spray paint in different fun colors

chalkboard markers or chalk

Look for frames with some character.  Wood will work better than metals because the paint will stick better.  Size doesn't matter though a larger frame will allow you to write more. 

1) Clean the frames.

2)  Take the frames apart - remove the backing and the glass.  Usually there are just some clips on the back that you can either move aside or bend which allow you to add a photo. 

3) Clean the glass.

4)  Spray the glass with chalkboard spray paint and allow to dry thoroughly.  I picked some up from the local hardware store for less than $5.  I thought that the spray would go on smoother and not leave brush marks but if you have chalkboard paint, by all means, use what you have.

5)  Spray paint the frames.

6)  After everything is dry, reassemble your frames.

There you have it!

I had the kids use chalkboard markers because I thought the writing would show up better in the photos. They were a little pricey I thought - $12 for a pack of five markers but they've lasted a long time.  I found them at the craft store. I used a spray bottle with water and a towel for easy cleanup which made the chalkboards nice and black again ready for the next persons letter.  Don't use a paper towel for the cleanup.  Your chalkboard will shred it to pieces.  Nasty mess.

(Click here for a photo book idea)

Happy Birthday Photo Book

I picked up some 4x6 photo albums at WalMart a while back for $1.  That's the regular price so this little project is sure to NOT break the bank which will keep my cute hubby happy and still allow me to keep my missionary happy with packages.

You'll want to change the album covers that it comes with.  Just open up the front and back covers and slip the old one out and use it for a template for your new covers.  I was doing this for Matt's birthday and I wanted to make it coordinate with the rest of his package (see here and here and here and here) so I used the free printable that I had already downloaded from Kiki at I Heart Naptime for my new cover.  Simply open a new document and cut and paste it in from your file.  Re-size to make it fit the dimensions of your photo album.

I wanted to add some kind of title for the front cover so using Photoshop I designed a missionary name badge.  Took gobs and gobs of time to figure out what fonts to use that were somewhat close.  It looked incredible and I was so excited...until...I accidentally stumbled upon a site from the church that said we're not supposed to do/create anything that mimics the church logo.  Darn.  It looked awesome...so...back to Photoshop...delete, delete, delete...using the same style of font I just inserted his name, his mission and his birth date because, after-all it's for his birthday.  Hope I've changed this up enough that it doesn't look too official but still looks 'missionary-ish.' (see top photo) Gosh. Following the rules is tough sometimes.  Did I mention that it looked amazing? (murmur, murmur, murmur...)

When the family was at our New Year's Game Day I snapped photos of each family holding some birthday props.  This would be way cute with some dress up hats or boas or some mustaches on sticks.  CUTE!!  Man!  I just may have to do this again...   

(My brother looks thrilled, doesn't he?  I'm sure he's thinking..."Sheesh!  Another project?!"  

I think he's learned that it's easier to just humor me.)

Then using some chalkboards that I had made when Mason was out (see here for that fun idea), each person wrote a personal message to Matt with their birthday wishes.  

(my cute niece who will leave for Bolivia in March 2014)

Place them all inside your photo album and ta-da!!!  Done.  Your missionary will love it!  AND another perk? This will fit nicely inside a small Flat Rate box from the USPS with just enough room for a few treats.  Easy peasy and way inexpensive.  Have fun!

Make a Photo Book!

Every year my kids look forward to the Bouwhuis Family Camp Out.  We've been holding it for years and years and it is one of the traditions that my kids want to make sure we keep on doing when they have kids.  I have ten siblings and we all take turns planning the event though everyone is more than willing to pitch in and help with the planning.  The planner gets to plan the where, the when and the food.  

I wanted Matt to feel like he was included and missed so I took lots of photos and had them developed into 3x5 size.  I took a pack of  3x5 index cards and some pens and markers to the camp out and had everyone write messages to Matt then included them randomly in with the photos.

Make a punch template using a spare 3x5 index card.  Use this template as a guide so that all your holes are lined up and your stack will be neat and tidy...yup, my OCD is always kicking in...OR your could take the entire stack to the copy shop and have them drill the holes.

Make a cover and a back for your Photo Book. 

Print it out onto heavy card stock and laminate it for durability.  

Add some large rings to the top and ta-daa....you're done!

The whole thing will fit into a small Flat Rate box with just enough room for a little treat...

Almond Joy's for my fellow coconut lover.  

There's only two of us in the family.  

Sad for them.  

Good for US.

We never have to share!

(insert evil, maniacal laugh here)