A Time for a Few of My Favorite Things...

My husband told me once, "you have such big emotions for things". Coming from a guy whose emotions are basically a flat line, I, of course, seem extremely feelings driven. And I think to an extent that is true; though, as I mature and grow in Christ I am trying to be more Spirit-led and less feelings-led. Sometimes I succeed and sometimes I don't and that's life! 

Photo Credit: Nutritious Skin

What is true is that I tend to either LOVE something or HATE something and I believe that is what he was mostly referring to. With so many new readers as of late I thought it would be fun to introduce myself by sharing with you some of my favorite things...because there are things that I. JUST. LOVE.  To make this fun though I have decided that as a thank you to my new and old readers for sticking by me even when I lack the time to write and interact with you as much as I would like I decided to have a giveaway! My sister-in-law recently began making soaps as as hobby and that hobby has turned into quite the business for her. She has taken her education as a Dietitian and has used that knowledge to create all natural, healthy for the body soaps that not only nourish the skin but are so pretty you hate to use them and so delicious looking you wish you could eat them! She and I are partnering up for this giveaway and we need your help! All you have to do to be entered to win one of these beautiful soaps is first, go to Facebook and like her page Nutritious Skin (click on the link) then head on over to my Facebook page, To Everything There is A Season (click on the link), and hit the "like" button . Then choose a post from EACH page to like or share and we will put your name in the drawing! For extra chances to win do one or all of the following:

-Become a follower of To Everything There is A Season blog

- Comment on a post at our Facebook pages

-Share one of your favorite things in the comment section of this blog

-Share with Nutritious Skin your favorite soap scent on their FB page

Now for the fun! Here are a few of my favorite things...

GOD      The Bible    Family   Friends   

Fall     Lobster    Games          Snow Storms             The Albert Camp

MADAWASAKA     Cowboy Boots     Skittles         Strong Coffee     JENA     Sunflowers

The Color Orange       Dresses           BEN      Planning & Organizing             Babies

Hosting & Attending Parties         Campfire's        Blogging           Meeting New People

NOAH

Encouraging Others         See's Chocolate           Sports Movies     Music  
 WILL  

Pig Roasts        Fresh Peas                  OWEN

Yankee Candles         Purses/Bags         Storage Bins/Baskets         The Mountains        

POUTINE      Riding Motorcycle     TESS     Camping          Christmas              Kettlecorn       Thanksgiving Dinner    Manicures           Flip Flops         Traveling        Laughing      

Shopping      Painting         Raspberry Almond Cake from The Beach Pea    AMAZON         

Coffee Crisp        The Story of Ruth        Sweaters         Most Things Rustic    EMMA   TAKING A WALK                                       Lavender         GABE

Jewelry        All-Dressed Chips         Taking Pictures              Catan       Albert Shuffle

Flower Gardens      Lilac            My Memere's Chicken          Hot Tubs         

Mr. Sketch Markers          Spending Time with Ben   Dancing   Chinese Food   

Front Porches  Lakes  Christmas Lights

Whether you are new here or have been around for awhile, I want to hear from you! What are a few

Photo Credit: Nutritious Skin

of your favorite things? Let me know in the comment section and then head on over to Facebook and start liking some pages so you can be entered to win a homemade soap! The more you participate the interact with us, the more chances you have to win! 

*Contest begins today and will end in 7 days. We will announce the winner of the soap on our Facebook pages.* 

                   

A Time for a Budget Friendly Make-Over

Over February vacation I began the task of giving our playroom a make-over. A funny thing has happened...my kids are growing up! For many years the finished room in our basement served us well as a place where all of the kids could play and I didn't worry about the mess...too much. Since the girls share two rooms and have plenty of room for their toys I decided to weed out the toys that the boys no longer play with and switch the room into more of a game room. I was working with a $500 budget so I had to be thrifty and search for bargains to make my money go as far as possible. This is one of those room make-overs that is ACTUALLY budget friendly. 

To start I needed to paint the walls. I know a dark color seems like an odd choice for a basement room that has minimal day-light but I wanted a color that would hide the marks and scratches; my kids can be really rough on walls! The carpet in this room is the carpet that was there when we bought the house and is a dark blue color so I needed something that would coordinate well with it. Grey is what I landed on and the pictures really don't do the color justice. I love the way it turned out! The doors and shelf also had to be painted so I chose a very light gray that is almost white. 

*The shelf holds board games, Nerf guns & Star Wars gear. I also bought bins to
store a few of the toys we did keep like Lincoln Logs and Rescue Heros.

The only seating we have had in the room is a futon, which we use when we have people staying over. To update it I purchased a new futon cover. I wanted more seating but because we do have to fold out the futon at times I didn't want seating that was bulky and hard to move. Bean bag chairs were the obvious choice and the kids love them! I do have a small wooden chair that I am in the process of painting to match the room and for what the kids do down here, it makes for plenty of seating.

Who doesn't love a chalk board wall?! The wall you see in the picture is a removable wall, because the furnace is behind it and it allows us access to it when it needs servicing. I was nervous about using chalkboard paint because I wasn't sure if it was easy to work with our not. It's actually not hard to use at all; in fact, the boys each had a section and painted it themselves. It turned out really great. I hung a bucket off of the beam (a bucket I already had) to put the chalk in. In front of the chalkboard are two 4-in-1 table top games that were given to the kids last Christmas. The table is just a folding table we already owned and eventually Ben is going to make a table on wheels, which will also have storage underneath for the ones we are not using. In the foreground of this picture you also see a black chest. I painted it and inside we store the kids costumes and all the accessories to the game tables. On top, we took the chess board/backgammon table that came with the game tables and drilled it to the top of the chest. Now there is a chess board always out (my boys LOVE chess) and the pieces are stored inside the chest.

I wanted some sort of sport game for the boys to do inside but was nervous to spend money on something that was poorly made and would break after a week. My boys play hard and things get broken! I found this basketball hoop on Amazon and we love it. It's meant to fit over a door but it didn't work on our doors so Ben took the hooks off and just drilled it into the beam. That's one of the perks of living in a post and beam house! The rim is metal and has springs so you can be rough on it and it's not going to break. It also came with a small basketball that, surprisingly, bounces really well on the carpet. The boys have spent hours playing with this already.

Then there were the accessories that I wanted to get. On top of the bookcase in the picture to the right

is a very small CD player. It's the perfect size and the sound quality is great! I didn't want to spend a lot of money because they all have CD players in their bedrooms. I also didn't want anything big and bulky because the space is small. Above the bookcase I purchased a frame and plan to put a picture of each of the kids in it, I just haven't had the time yet. I also had to purchase curtains for the two small windows. I ordered two valances and they work perfectly! One thing I did but didn't have to was replace all the light switch and outlet plates. The last things I bought was a DVD player and two wooden signs. One has "Family Rules" on it and the other is one that I have been wanting for a long time. My grandfather used to sing "You are my Sunshine" to me all the time when I was little. Every time I hear this song it reminds me of him!

We are all so pleased with the way the room turned out. I will break down what I purchased for the remodel and (if possible) will include a link to where I got the items. Anything you see in the room, but do not see it listed with a price, is an item we already owned.

*Paint: $160
*Bean Bag chairs: $60
  LINK
*Futon Cover: $30
  LINK
*Basketball Hoop: $20
  LINK
*CD Player: $38
  LINK
 *DVD player: $30
   LINK
 *Wooden Signs: $25
   LINK   
*Bins: $35
  LINK 
*Clock: $9
  LINK
*Light switch/outlet plates: $16
  LINK
*Picture Frame: $18
  LINK  **The day I purchased this free shipping was offered**
*Valance X 2: $22
  LINK

TOTAL: $463.00

So there you have it! This is how we remodeled our basement room for under $500. I loved the challenge of finding just the right items I wanted for this space and searching for the right price so I could stay within my budget. I know I could have gotten some of these things cheaper or even free if I had had the time to go to different thrift stores or ask around. Since this is money that was gifted to us, I felt less guilty splurging a little!

Since there are still plenty of rooms left in our house in need of a make-over, feel free to share your budget-friendly tips. I'm sure I'm going to need them!
                           

A Time for Felt Pins/Magnets

You have all heard me admit time and time again that I am not a crafty/creative person. But I really enjoy doing crafts...especially the easy ones. Thankfully I have some really crafty people in my life and so I get great ideas from them. We did this craft at a recent Bible study and it was very easy. I thought they'd make great "just because" gifts for people whose day you want to brighten. 

You will need the following:
* Felt flowers (can find on amazon, joann fabrics, etc.)
* Small colorful buttons (use what you have on hand or you can get little bags cheap like the ones pictured at Walmart)
* Pin backs (I got mine on amazon but I'm sure any craft store carries them)
* Magnetic Buttons (Walmart)
* Hot glue gun

Once you have all your supplies the fun begins. I got everything except the buttons on Amazon because I don't have a lot of time for shopping so I take advantage of the free shipping and I don't have to leave the house...it's a win-win. The buttons I found at Walmart for $1.97 a bag because I didn't have a lot of colorful buttons on hand. First you will want to plan out your flower. You can use 2-3 different sizes/colors and hot glue one on top of the other to make a colorful flower. Then you choose a button to hot glue in the center of the flower. Now you can either make it a magnet or a pin. Once you decide hot glue the pin back or self adhesive magnet to the back of the flower and you are done! 
These aren't just for adults either. I made a pin for Jena and she loves it. I keep it on her jacket and it gives it a fun spring flair! Hope you enjoy making these for yourselves!

A Time for DIY Resurrection Eggs

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: ~John 11:25

With Easter just a few short days away I thought I would share with you how I made my own set of "resurrection eggs". This is the activity we will be doing with our Good News Club kids on Friday. Each of them will make their own set to take home and share with their friends and family. This is a fun, interactive way to share the Easter story with young and old alike.

To get started you will need an empty egg carton and 12 plastic easter eggs. Take a permanent marker and give each egg a number starting with 1 and finishing with 12. Next you need to decide which verses you will use to tell your story. There are different versions of resurrection eggs, each with small differences. I will give you the list of verses that I used for each egg and which object I chose to put inside the egg to represent what the verse is speaking of. You can tweak your set however you see fit. I needed enough supplies to make 21 sets so some objects that others use were not going to work for me because it was either too costly or I couldn't find enough of that object, in the size needed to fit inside an easter egg.

Egg 1: Matt. 21: 8-9

This is talking about the triumphal entry. I could not find donkeys to place in the eggs so I instead put a large leaf in the egg to represent the palm branch. 

Egg 2: Matt. 26:14-16

This is talking about what was given  to Judas to betray Jesus. I used two real dimes to put inside the egg but you could use plastic silver play money too.

Egg 3: Matt. 26:26-28

This is talking about the last supper Jesus had with his disciples. I used a sponge and cut it into small squares to represent bread. It actually looks a lot like bread. I suppose you could use a cracker and just replace it every year. Some sets use small goblets but I couldn't find any. 

Egg 4: Matt. 36-38

This is talking about when Jesus was praying in the garden before he was arrested. I put a small fake flower in the egg to represent the garden. Some sets use praying hands but I was not able to find that either.

Egg 5: Matt. 27:2

This is talking about Jesus being bound and handed over to Pilot. I used twine to represent this (about a 6" piece). 

Egg 6: Matt 26:75

This is talking about Peter's denial of Christ three times before the rooster crowed. I used a computer image of a rooster. I cut them into small squares.

Egg 7: Matt. 27:26

This is talking about Jesus being beaten. I used leather string to represent the whip. 

Egg 8: Matt 27:28-30

This is talking about Jesus being mocked by the soldiers. Most sets use a crown of thorns for this egg but I could not find anything that would work so I cut up a red t-shirt and put strips of red fabric in the egg to represent the scarlet robe they put on him. 

Egg 9: John 19: 17-18

This is talking about the cross Jesus was nailed to when he was crucified. I used a small wooden cross to put in the egg but many sets use a cross made from nails. 

Egg 10: John 19:32-34

This is talking about Jesus' side being pierced. I could not find small spears like most sets use so I used a toothpick to represent the spear. I had to cut them in half to make it fit in the egg.

Egg 11: Matt 27:59-60

This is talking about Jesus being laid in a tomb made out of rock. I used fake rocks (used for flower arrangements, etc.) and put one in each egg. I would have used real rocks but ours are currently all under snow. 

Egg 12: Matt. 28:2-6

This is talking about the resurrection of Christ. This egg is empty to represent the empty tomb. 

Once you have all the verses printed out and all your objects ready to place inside the eggs here is what you want to do. Print out your verses with the reference, label the verses 1-12 so you know which verse goes in which egg, identify which object is in the corresponding egg and what it represents. I typed out the full verse for this so when you are telling the story the verses are right there for you. Here is an example of what one strip of paper looks like:

#4 Flower represents Jesus praying in the garden before he was arrested. Matt 26: 36-38

 “Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.”

Once it's printed you will cut each verse into strips and place the strip of paper in it's corresponding egg along with the object. You can paint your egg carton and decorate it if you want but you don't have to. We won't have time to do that part at Good News Club but I will encourage the kids to do so at home. 

This was a little time consuming because of all the steps and planning that goes into it but so worth it. You can buy these sets for about $10-15 but I was able to make each one for just under $1 because the majority of the items I had here at home. The only things I had to buy were the plastic eggs, one bunch of artificial flowers that had 25 buds on it (I paid $0.69 for it) and a branch of leaves that had more leaves than I needed on it for the same price. I love the idea of these sets and what a great way it is to teach our kids how to learn the Easter story and also to retell it. 

A Time for Tile Coasters

Any of you on Pinterest have certainly seen this project! But I thought I would share this super easy craft for those of you who aren't on Pinterest. The first time I made these coasters was during one of our ladies Bible studies and I liked it so much I made several sets this Christmas for teacher gifts. I have gotten so many positive remarks. Here's what you will need:

Ceramic Tiles (find at any home improvement store. I got mine at Lowe's for $0.15 each!)

Scrapbook paper cut into squares (not quite the same size as the tile)

Modge Podge and a brush to brush it on

Krylon Clear Glaze

Felt pads or felt cut up into squares for the back of the tiles

First you want to wash and dry the tiles. Then choose the scrapbook paper you want. I made the coasters in sets of 4. Some I chose 2 different patterns and some I used 4 different coordinating patterns. This is the fun and creative part!

Apply felt pads or squares to the back of your tiles. I prefer the pads and put one on each corner of the tile.

Next put modge podge on the back of the scrapbook paper and lay on the tile (line it up so it's straight). I gently press down on the paper to make sure it adheres well. Also try to get rid of any air bubbles there may be.

Now use the modge podge and over the entire top of the tile and top of scrapbook paper. You want to use enough to get a good hold but not too much so that it doesn't want to dry. 

Wait 15 mins for the tiles to dry then take them outside or in a well ventilated room and place them on a piece of plastic or tarp. Anything that will protect the surface they are on. Now you want to spray a couple coats of the clear glaze. I put one coat, then another about 1/2 hr. later. Let the tiles dry for 24hrs. to make sure they are dry. 

That's it!! It's so super easy and makes a great, inexpensive gift!! 

A Time for Question Two: How do you find time for each other?

Why the rain? Ben asked me to
go out with him in the rain
 and proposed in the rain!

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast,it is not proud. 

~I Cor. 13:4



 This is sort of a follow-up to the blog post I did," answering question one". Another question we get asked a lot is how do we find the time to be alone and do things together. It's true that with little ones finding extra time for each other is challenging. And it's a challenge whether you have one or you have 10. Whether it's the challenge of being able to find child care, affording to go out, finding the time in your busy schedule or even the challenge of having your spouse gone for lengths of time like our military families face. It is hard for most couples to find time to be together.
For Ben and I our biggest challenge is child care. We do not have family near us that we can ask. Finding a babysitter who is able and willing to watch five young children is also not easy. The thought of watching 5  kids is overwhelming to most we have discovered. Thankfully we have one girl who comes from a large family and does a fantastic job handling the kids-when she's available. She has a job and a busy life so she's not always available. We are also blessed with some amazing friends who have offered to watch the kids from time to time so Ben and I can get out-for that I am very grateful! It is so important for couples to make time for each other. Sometimes, you just have to get the idea of a "perfect night" out of your head and get creative. It can be very disappointing when you have an idea in your mind of what you think would be the most fun or most romantic only to have those dreams squashed because of life's circumstances. I have learned to just go with the flow, and think outside the box! For those of you who find yourselves in similar situations as us, here are some ideas.
1. Date Night In! I know it doesn't sound as exciting but when babysitters are not readily available this is a great alternative. We usually splurge on what we'll eat that night (since we're saving money not using babysitter) but it can be as simple as grilled cheese and soup. We put the kids to bed early (I keep the younger ones up all day and skip naps so they are ready for bed early) and then we start our date. There have been times we've even gotten dressed up like we're going out. This has been, for us, an excellent alternative to going out. And most times, we enjoy it more than if we had gotten a babysitter and gone out. Get a movie to watch after the meal or plan to play a game you both like but never have time to play- purpose to do something together and make it fun!
2. Turn your room into Paradise! This idea I got from a blog post I had read a couple years ago. I don't know about you but we can barely get someone to watch the kids for a few hours let alone a whole week so we can go on vacation. The last time Ben and I had no kids for a whole week was when his parents had Noah, Owen and Gabe so I could deliver Will. Not exactly paradise. Last Valentine's Day I asked Ben what his idea of a romantic getaway would be. He said camping. I like camping, but it doesn't say "romance" to me. The difference between men and women I guess. But if that was his idea of paradise then I was going to make it happen. So I turned our basement playroom into a camp site. I set up our tent inside and got out our sleeping bags. I bought yankee candle air fresheners in Pine scent to make it smell "outdoorsy". I found recipes online that could be made on a campfire in cast iron. Our stove is propane so it's kinda like a campfire-kinda! I had flashlights and lanterns all powered up and a deck of cards & cribbage board. When I was all done all I could think was, "really? this is his idea of romantic?". But he loved it and was really appreciative of the thought and effort. And I had fun doing it for him.
3. Get creative in how you communicate. I never understood it when couples would say, "I haven't had time to talk to my spouse about that yet". When we had just the 2, maybe even 3, boys I felt like we always had time to talk. It hasn't been until maybe the past couple of years that I feel like we hardly have time to have a conversation. I mean sure, we talk about the day to day stuff like, "you'll have to get the kids at school today..." or "can you pick up some milk on your way home" but as far as a real conversation it's very challenging. I am usually fighting with the kids for his attention, and vice versa. Plus now that two are in school and they have more activities and with Ben and I having more responsibilities as of late, there isn't a lot of time for talking. And I think this affects me more than him-actually I KNOW it does! You can leave notes for each other around the house, in a place they won't expect it. Ben makes an effort to call me at least once a day to check in and see how I'm doing. This means the world to me! I saw this idea on Pinterest (seriously if you're not on it yet, you should be!) and fell in love with it. It's such a great idea. Here's the one I made:

It was so easy. Buy a frame (or use one you already have), get some scrapbook paper, write the words "I love you (or "U") because..." in your own handwriting, with a printer or with stickers like I did and embellish it if you want. Voila! Then get a dry or wet erase marker and write a message like this:

You write your message right on the glass and erase it when you want to write a new one. Take turns.I gave this to Ben recently because he's been working late every night, last night it was 9pm before I saw him. It's a fun way to remind each other what it is we love about each other...and it's quick! It was meant to be a Valentine's Day gift but he's traveling for 2 weeks for work starting on Sunday and won't be here for Valentine's Day. I think this is just the coolest idea for a gift because seriously, after 12 years of being together, I'm starting to run out of creative, thoughtful, romantic gift ideas!.
Those have been some fixes to some of the challenges we face and it has really helped us stay connected. If you have any ideas of your own that have worked for you, please share! 

A Time for Grippy Socks!

Any of you that have kids learning to walk or have ones that aren't so steady on their feet know the importance of owning socks that have grips underneath. I love the ankle socks that you see in the picture because they stay on the kids feet better than any other socks. The only problem is they don't make them with grips underneath. I saw this idea on Pinterest and thought it was genius. I can't believe I never thought to do this. Our whole downstairs has wood flooring and the kids tend to slip and fall a lot. 

I happen to have a lot of fabric paint on hand so I got to work. I started simple, with dots, to get used to using the fabric paint. I'm not artistic so there would be no "batman logo" like the link showed but I thought they came out pretty cute. And now I know Jena won't slip around when she's wearing these socks. 

A Time for Canning Jar Storage

Please don't notice the set up of this
cupboard too much. It's a work in progress
as I figure out what to do with it!

I have been using mason jars for several years now to store food. I just love the look of mason jars and they're a practical way to store food, especially bulk items, which we do buy a lot of things in bulk. 

One day when I was browsing on Pinterest I saw this idea for storing loose leaf tea. I loved that the cover was spray painted in chalkboard paint and she had written the name of each type of tea on the lid. I thought, this system could work really well for me since I already use canning jars in this way. The other reason why I wanted to spray paint the covers is because I wanted them black. 

The blog where this idea came from did not mention where she was able to find chalkboard paint that you paint on with a paintbrush and I couldn't find any. I have only ever seen it in spray paint form so that's what I used since I had it on hand anyway. I will say this is not the easiest, cleanest or most efficient way of doing it. One I laid out all the lids and bands I started spray painting them (in a well ventilated room, like a garage with the door open). It took several coats to get the bands fully covered. Once they were dry I was able to put the lids back on the jars and start labeling. What I like about this is if I decide to use the jar for something different once it's emptied,I only have to erase the label and write it on again. I am really pleased with the look and am happy I tried this. It's a cute idea for gift giving too!

A Time to make-over a trash can!

Before

I have been wanting to do this project for a couple of years now. The trash can to the left is the trash can we use in our house. It's big and that's what I like about it. What I don't like about it is how ugly it is. I have been wanting to paint it but was worried about ruining it, knowing that if I did ruin it I would be stuck with it because my husband had told me NOT TO PAINT IT! :) He jokes with the kids that someday he's going to wake up painted because I paint everything.

After

Once my dad finished painting the cabinets (pretty cool aren't they?) I was determined to paint the trash can. I am happy to tell you that I am thrilled with the results!


To do this project, here's what you'll need:
1 galvanized metal trash can 
1 can self etching primer
1 can Rust-Oleum spray paint (you choose the color)


1. In order to paint any galvanized or stainless steel metal you first need to prime it with self etching primer so that the paint will adhere to it. I wasn't able to find this at any of our local hardware stores so I ordered from amazon and was able to get free shipping! 
2. Next you'll need to choose your color. I chose Rust-Oleum Gloss Protective Enamel in Regal Red. 
3. Wash your can well and make sure it's completely dry before you spray the can.

This is what it will look like
after 2 coats of primer

4.  Follow the instructions on the can of your primer. You will want to spray your can in a well ventilated room, like a garage with the door open or outside. This stuff is incredibly strong! You will want to put on at least 2 thin coats of the primer before using the paint. You only need to let it dry about 10 minutes between coats. Let it dry 24-hrs after you are finished spraying the can with the primer.
5. Now you can start spraying your can with the paint. Again, you want to be in a well ventilated room and spray on several thin coats. It took me about 4 coats to get it completely covered. Let it dry a few minutes between coats of paint. When it is fully painted and you are satisfied let it dry a day or two before using it. 


If you are really artistic, which I am not, you can really have some fun painting a design on it if you want to really customize it.

I'm so happy with the results. Not only does it look ten times better in the kitchen but it also cleans better. I bought an extra can of the same color to have on hand in case I need to do any touch-ups. I'm not sure how it is going to hold up to the every day abuse it will take but I'm hoping for the best! 


***If you noticed none of my canning jars have covers in the picture above, that's because I'm working on a project that I can't wait to share!

A Time for Crayons

Ever wondered what to do with the broken pieces of crayons you have? I know with my kids they are always breaking crayons. After seeing this idea I knew I had to try making some of my own.


Here's what you'll need:
Broken pieces of crayon
A silicon baker with shapes of your choice


Preheat your oven to 250*


First you need to decide what colors you want. If you use the darker crayons (black, purple, dark blue) it will melt and look black. If you want brighter colors keep out the darker ones. 

Next peel the paper off the crayons. This is a step the little ones can help you with. If you are having a hard time getting the paper off, soak the crayons in water first.

Now you will need to break the crayons into small pieces. My silicon baker was very small so I had to use a knife to chop the crayon to get pieces small enough to fit. I placed my silicone baker on an old metal cookie sheet to make moving it easier.

Once they are all cut up you can start filling your baker with the crayon pieces.I chose gingerbread men. Bake in the oven till the wax is melted. I had to leave mine in there for 20 mins. but you may need less time so keep an eye on it. Remove from oven and place in the freezer for 5-10 mins. or until it's set. Remove from freezer and pop the crayons out by inverting your silicone baker. 

How cute are these?! This will make a fun and adorable treat for our Good News Clubbers on Friday!

A Time to Make a Spoon Necklace

This spoon necklace was a craft we did at our Bible study a couple weeks ago. We have a very talented artist in our church and she taught us how to do this. The spoons had already been cut and bent for us, we just needed to do the remainder of the work.

If you want to try this at home, here's what you'll need:


Silver spoon
Hacksaw
Sand paper or rotary tool
Pliers
Acrylic Paint (various colors)
Thin paintbrushes
2-part Epoxy Resin
1 measuring tsp
Clear disposable plastic cup
Toothpick
A few cups of rice
8X8 or larger dish or container
Ribbon 
Embellishments (optional)


The first thing you do once you have selected your spoon is to cut of the handle using a hacksaw and leaving about 1 inch. Sand down the rough edge with a rotary tool (using wire attachment) or by hand with sandpaper. Next take a pair of pliers and bend the remainder of the handle to form a circle. You want the edge to touch the back of the spoon or get as close to it as you can. 


Using acrylic paint start by painting your spoon one solid color. This will take two coats. Let it dry completely in between coats of paint. We used a hairdryer to speed the process along and it took only a couple of minutes for it to dry. Now your spoon is ready for the art. Paint whatever you like. I love sunflowers so that's why I chose to do a sunflower. This is a delicate process so you want to use very little paint and a thin brush. Our teacher had some really nice gold embellishment's we could put on so I chose a dragonfly. If you choose to put embellishments on this is the time to do it...before the resin is poured on. Once you are finished your painting you want to let it dry. We did this project in two steps so I'm not exactly sure how long you would need to let the paint dry before adding the epoxy but I'd say a couple of hours to be on the safe side. 


While your spoon is drying take your tray or plate (we used a 9X11 plastic tupperware) and cover it with rice. You will use this to rest your spoon on once you have poured the resin into it.


Taking your 2-part epoxy resin you want to mix equal parts of each expoxy. We mixed 1 tsp. of the first kind with 1 tsp of the second kind (order does not matter) into the plastic cup. Take the toothpick and stir the mix gently for about 2 minutes. Very carefully pour the resin into the base of the spoon till it just meets the edge of the spoon. If you get any of the resin on the table or your hands wipe it immediately with nail polish remover. We covered the tables with newspaper to be on the safe side and I recommend you do the same. Hold your spoon and watch as air bubbles begin to rise to the surface. You want to gently blow on the spoon to pop them. Some of us had success with this process and others didn't. Joy mentioned that those who had more air bubbles than others most likely stirred the epoxy too fast when mixing. After about 5 minutes the bubbles should be done rising to the top. Then gently place the spoon onto the rice and cover the container. This is to avoid dust landing on the spoon before the resin has dried. Place the container in a place you know it won't be disturbed for 24-hrs. 

The next day check to make sure the resin is hardened. Take a piece of ribbon to put the spoon pendant on. You can use anything you like for the necklace part. 


This was a really neat project to do. I am not at all an artist but my sunflower didn't turn out half bad. If I can do it, then any of you can do it too!