Hugs & Kisses

My friend, Kristen is a new missionary mom.  In fact, her son just arrived in Finland a few days ago. She put together an awesome Valentine's Day package for him when he was in the MTC and was kind enough to 'share the love' with us other missionary moms.   She made this adorable 'Hugs & Kisses' printable to fit inside a regular snack size reclosable baggie filled with Hershey Hugs & Kisses...of course.  So cute!

One is missionary specific...
(click here to download)

...and one is for all the other people that you love!
(click here to download)

Here's Kristen's finished product...Isn't it adorable?!  I absolutely LOVE the doily on the outside of the box.  So cute!  I love the polka dot cookie canisters (to find out how to create your own, click here; don't want to send quite that many cookies?  Click here and scroll almost to the bottom of the post).  Kristen used wrapping paper instead of scrapbook paper on her canisters.  Lots cheaper especially if it's some that you already have laying around.

Check out the blog of this amazingly, talented mom at Birthday Blueprint (birthdayblueprint.blogspot.com). She has a million creative ideas! Thanks for sharing, Kristen!

God's Conversation Hearts

This idea came from Julia Bettencourt at Creative Ladies Ministry (www.juliabettencourt.com) via Pinterest, of course.  All I did was cutsie it up a bit with things that I already had, added some Valentine cards from the family and popped them in the post.  Quick, inexpensive and CUTE!  

Supplies:

cellophane bags

ribbon or tulle 

Conversation heart candy

(1 large bag = 3 cups of candy)

french fry boxes

coordinating paper

decorative elements, if desired

My cellophane bags were 3" x 11" and I think are designed for chocolate/caramel dipped pretzel rods. They were the perfect width for my french fry boxes so I just cut them down a bit after filling them.Each large bag of conversation hearts will do three boxes.  Put one cup of candy into each cellophane bag.  Allow a bit of head room so they don't all settle down to the bottom and make your box bulge. No one likes a bulgy bottom!

Tie with ribbon or tulle or jute or whatever you choose then cut off the excess cellophane.

Print out the free printable from Creative Ladies Ministry (www.juliabettencourt.com) by clicking here or on the image above.  Each copy will have six images (see above).  I printed mine onto pale pink paper, mounted it onto white card stock, then cut around the outside edge with decorative scissors.  Easy.  You could just attach these as a tag around your baggie of candy if you wanted to.  I had purchased these adorable French fry containers from Pick Your Plum* (www.pickyourplum.com) quite a while ago.  I buy a lot of containers for my missionaries through them...sometimes I get my inspiration for a package from the container.  Strange, I know.  I found the exact ones that you can purchase from ETSY by clicking here or you could Google 'French fry box template' (images) and there were about three million to choose from...or you could treat yourself to some French fries and then take apart the container to use as a pattern but you'll have to treat yourself to at least a medium size to get a box instead of a little sack.  Yeah...I'd go buy some fries if I were you.  Oh, the sacrifices we make for our missionaries!  They're worth it though, don't you think?

Attach the tag to your container using double sided tape.  You could use glue...but...it might not stay 'stuck' because the boxes are so slick. Embellish if desired.  I used a flower punch and coordinating paper with a 'pop' of bright yellow for the center.   If you 'crimp' each petal with your fingernail (see arrow at left) you can make your flower look three dimensional.  Cool huh?  Julia also has directions for a cute cover for the boxes of conversation hearts. You can see it by clicking here. Adorable!


You can fit two of these little treasures into the small Flat Rate box from the post office.  One for your missionary and one for their companion. Because these were so inexpensive to make AND mail, I called our local mission and asked for the names of some missionaries that don't receive mail and we're sending a package to them as well. Makes me smile and I hope it brightens their day!


And...just in case you want to 'man it up' a little...here's one that I did with red tulle and washi tape.  How did I make the bow?  Just tie a regular bow and then cut the loops and 'fluff'.  Even easier than the above tutorial.  Love it!

Every missionary loves letters from home, right?  I found this free Valentine Card download from MUFN Inc. (www.mufninc.blogspot.com) in coordinating colors - I just love it when things work out like that! You can find it by clicking here or on the image on the left.  We cut them apart and had the whole family write little 'love notes' on the back of the cards and included them in our care package.  Your missionary will love it!

*What is Pick Your Plum?  It's like a way cool, deal of the day site.  Every day at 7 a.m. MST a new deal will be delivered to your email.  The deals will be available until the item is gone and sometimes they're gone super FAST!!  They have a little bit of everything from well...French fry containers to maxi skirts (just bought two last week, thank you very much).  You really should check them out.  Way fun. Way inexpensive.  Way cool.  Promise.

Cheesecake! It's a tradition

Matt and I share a birthday.  He was the best birthday present ever and I have always loved sharing our birthdays.  Mom's and Dad's tend to get a little passed over when it comes to celebrating their birthdays at least that's what happens at our house.  However, ever since Matthew was born we ALWAYS have a cake, we ALWAYS go out to lunch (well, except for that one year when he was 16 and a bunch of GIRLS took him to lunch.  Lame.), and we ALWAYS go do something as a family. Can you see why I love sharing my birthday?

Matt's favorite cake is a Dulce de Leche Cheesecake.  I found a couple of places online that will deliver cheesecakes and decided upon Gourmet Gift Baskets at gourmetgiftbaskets.com.  Their customer reviews were all good and their price point was the best that I had found.  Lucky for me Matt was just transferred last Monday and he and his companion are now living with a member family.  With the help of the local bishop's wife in his new Seattle ward, I was able to track down the family and their address and I had the cheesecake mailed directly to them because FedEx does not like to deliver to apartments.  It was pricey...but...it's tradition, and it's his birthday...and my baby's a missionary...what'cha gonna do?

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!

It's raining in Seattle...AGAIN!!

It's raining in Seattle again.  I know.  Shocking, isn't it?  We're making the best of it though and sending Matt an umbrella for his birthday.  He already has one but he doesn't have one quite like this one.  I am so excited!   (wink!  Thanks, Pinterest and The Seasonal Home!)

Supplies:          umbrella                                               tape

                        curly ribbon                                          scissors

                        $$$  (in a variety of denominations)

Cut ribbon into strands measuring two feet in length.

Curl each piece of ribbon with scissors.

(Don't know how?  Click here.)

Tape one end of the curled ribbon to one end of each bill.

Side note:  Jeff came in and took all of the bills...brought them back a few minutes later IRONED!!!  ...and they call ME anal!  They do look nicer though...I think I'll keep him.

Open the umbrella and tie each ribbon onto the umbrella supports inside.  Just tie an overhand knot...like when you start to tie your shoe (That is called an overhand knot, isn't it?  It's been awhile since Cubs...) 

Anything more than a single knot is going to be a pain for your missionary to untie and I want mine to be able to use the umbrella should he need another one.  Don't tie the end of the ribbon to the support.  Tie it somewhere in the middle so you have a curly streamer to hang down next to the bill. It'll look like there's a PARTY goin' on under there!

Can you believe there's 25 individual bills tied under there?  Doesn't look like that many...

Close your umbrella part way.  Tuck all of the bills and streamers inside.  I found it easier to put my half-closed umbrella on the floor, tuck everything in and then push it closed.

Not wanting Matt to just toss the umbrella aside until the next rainy Seattle day, I tied a ribbon around it with a card attached that said, "OPEN ME!!"  Think he'll get the hint?  I had a 'Happy Birthday' printable from I Heart Nap Time that I had downloaded a while ago.  I just re-sized it to the size I wanted it to be and printed the 'open me' message on the back. 

Don't you just love it?  It's free and comes in a 16x20 print.

You can get information on the 'Happy Birthday' printable by clicking on the image above

or by visiting iheartnaptime.net

Thanks Eileen from The Seasonal Home for the awesome idea!

Consecrated Oil Vial

Matt mentioned that he would like a new Consecrated Oil Vial for his birthday.  We bought him one as soon as he was ordained an Elder but somehow the top and the bottom became...separated?  All that was hanging from his shoulder bag one day was the top and the key chain fob.  My husband doesn't like how he can never tell how much is left in his vial so I thought I should probably start looking around to see what's out there.  Well, there's lots out there!  Here's the one that I like:

I like how it's classic i.e. pretty.  I especially like that it has an internal glass reservoir; which will solve Jeff's problem of never knowing how much oil is left AND it also has a rubber O-ring seal to prevent leakage along with a key chain.  It even comes with a small bottle of extra-virgin olive oil.  Make sure to consecrate it!