Picture chinese lantern

It's raining and miserable outside here! I had been hoping to get my hands dirty in the garden today, but I think I'll spend my day cooking and crafting (and, maybe it will clear up later for some gardening!)!

Here's a simple, little craft that's easy to do with very few resources - that's always a plus! And might take a bit more than a few minutes to do!

As a mum of young kids, I often felt like I spent more time collecting and setting up craft 'stuff' than they spent doing it!! But this craft is not like this! Set up in a couple of minutes and keep little crafters busy!

All you'll need is some paper (or light card), pencils, stapler and scissors!

Ready to get crafting?

Download the free printable below ... Colour ... Cut ... Staple

It's that easy!

Instructions are printed on the printable you can download here.

This colourful craft is based on Matthew 5:14-16, so it would be perfect for family worship, Bible class, or kids' programs at church!

12 Days of Christmas - Day 9 - Christmas House Lantern

I could imagine that as Mary and Joseph arrived in Bethlehem, there were lights shining from inside all the houses. And, when I think of a traditional, Victorian Christmas, I think of the soft glow of light shining out of those quaint little houses.

So, we couldn’t help but make a cute little house that can shine its Christmas glow!

Simply print off this printable here onto light card, cut out on the cutting line, join the sides and tabs with glue, then glue on the extra decoration!

Pop a little battery-operated tea-light candle inside so it can shine out the windows! You could maybe make a whole row of these little houses, or draw on your own details.

Being Brave

In our previous issue we take bit of a look at being brave. Bravery can come in various forms and might need to be used in any number of situations.

We have a wonderful article from one of the ministry partners at Brave Enough. Dannielle Synot shares with us about bravery in friendships. And, we have some stories about brave women, including one of the many brave women in the Bible - Rahab. To go along with the story we have a free printable playset you can create so you can re-tell the story!

Mini adventures for Spring

We live in a world where we all feel time-poor, and robbed of the precious times we would love to share with our kids. Amongst all the busy-ness of daily life, it can seem such a chore to do those fun, exciting and connecting activities we dream of - they always seem to have so much planning, organising and time.

In our current issue, we've encouraged young girls and their mums to take 'mini adventures' that are quick, simple, yet still give an opportunity to take time out together, creating memories and building relationship.

I still remember, as a child, going 'yowie hunting' with my mum, aunt and sisters, up in the Watagan Forest. Not only was it a wonderful time bonding with each other, but it grew our creativity, encouraged us to take note of all the things around us and created life-long memories! Something I've done with my kids, too, and they love it!

Here are some free printable cards you can print off and keep on hand, when you feel the urge to take a 'mini adventure' without stress and hassle - we've done the thinking for you already! All you need to do is grab a couple of things and you're all set to go!

Enjoy your memory events with each other! We'd love to hear some of the stories of your mini adventures you have!

Make a wooden spoon doll!

A wooden spoon doll is so easy to make and offers a chance to spend time together with mum (or grandma or a special aunt) – and she might even want to make one with you, too! Why not ask her about the special dolls she had growing up while you are making a wooden spoon doll? And afterwards, she might even bring one of her special dolls out for you to have a look (I think most mums, grandmas and aunts still have at least one doll tucked away in a cupboard - or at least a photo of them playing with one!).

Ask mum for a wooden spoon you can use - it may be one that is no longer good for cooking with, or a cheap one from a discount store (you can pick up wooden spoons in these types of shops for less than $1 each!).

You will also need:

• Sandpaper - fine grade
• Acrylic paint
• Paintbrush
• Jar of water for rinsing brushes
• Plate etc to mix paint on
• Newspaper to protect the table
• Pencil
• Fine tip marker in black and red
• Eraser
• Doily, hankie, serviette, fabric scraps etc for a dress
• Ribbon, lace, buttons
• Glue
• Needle and thread

Let's get started!

• Using some fine grade sandpaper, give the spoon a little rub to smooth the surface (that will make her nicer to play with). 
• Set up to do some painting: get a jar of water ready, something to mix paint on (an old plastic lid is good for this) and cover the table with newspaper.
• Mix some acrylic paint to make a skin colour - sometimes you can buy a skin coloured paint. Paint the front of the spoon, let it dry, then turn it over and paint the back of the spoon (that way you make sure you don't accidentally ruin her face because the paint hasn't quite dried properly!).

 

• When the paint is dry, you are now ready to make her face. To make it easier, you can download a face template here. 
• If you use the template, print it off, trace it onto greaseproof paper using a lead pencil, then place the greaseproof paper template face down onto the wooden spoon and trace over again. This should transfer the template to your wooden spoon.
• Otherwise, just use a pencil to mark out her face on your wooden spoon.

• Use a fine-tipped marker to outline her hair and facial features (eyes, mouth, cheeks), rub out the pencil lines and then fill them in with paint or marker. The smaller sections will be easier to do with a marker.
• From your selection of doilies, hankies, fabric scraps and so on, decide on what her clothes will be made from. We made a dress out of an old doily and then a little 'apron' dress over the top out of the corner of a piece of embroidered linen.

• To make the dress, cut a circle out of the centre of the doily.
• Thread a needle with some thread and stitch a running stitch all around the edge of the circle.
• When you get back to where you started, place your wooden spoon doll inside the hole, draw up both ends (starting and finishing) of the thread, and tie a knot or bow to secure it.

• Repeat for the 'apron' dress or anything else you want to put over the top of her dress.
• Or, attach some ribbon or lace with a small stitch or some glue, wrap the lace/ribbon back around to the front and stitch or glue it in place. We stitched around the top of the 'apron' dress just so it could hold up to being transported to workshops and being played with!

• Finish off with pieces of lace or a button, either glued or stitched in place at the front.

Now, have fun playing with your brand new doll!

Extra tips:

• Create dolls that represent girls from different nationalities - start with a more local area
• Make a wooden spoon doll to ‘replace’ an old doll you have chosen to give to a charity
• Just for mums and 'big people': there is value in a young girl making a doll herself. The doll she makes might represent the feelings she has at the time, it might be a reflection of one of her role-models, and she is able to develop some drawing and fine motor skills at the same time!

Get organising your craft!

It's coming up close to holidays here. Do you have something special planned for your holidays? Our holidays, amongst other things, inevitably end up with some sort of major bedroom clean-up, and of course, some craft! Do your craft supplies need some organising? Here are some tips and a free printable to help you get ready to do lots of craft, hassle-free, during the holidays!

Grab mum and get her to give you a hand. Mum's are really good at giving advice on how to store things, what things to keep or throw out, or just to label containers. It's also a great chance to have some time just with mum. I'm sure it will make mum really happy to see you taking some responsibility with keeping your things tidy and organised! (there's a little card on the printable sheet, mum, that you can give your young girl as a thank you for her hard work!)

• Find or buy some boxes, recycled tin cans, pencil cases or trays that you could use to store your craft things in
• Make sure your bedroom is tidy to start with, because you will need some clear, tidy space to spread out on!
• Take out all of your craft things, and set up the storage boxes and containers on the floor so they are easy to get to, and have a rubbish bin or plastic bag close by to put rubbish in
• Print off the free printable, cut out the labels and attach them to the appropriate storage containers. You could laminate them or print on cardboard so they are more durable. Try attaching them with pegs, or sticky tape and ribbon, or even blu-tac (if you think you might change your mind!)

• Start sorting through your craft items - check that textas work (if they don't throw them out), if you have craft things that are too 'young' for you, are ruined, or you don't think you'll ever use them, throw them out or set them aside to give away to a friend or the local charity organisation
• As you sort, put things in the new storage containers
• When you've done that, find a place to put your storage containers. You might like them out on a desk or shelf so you can easily use them, or you might prefer to put them on shelves in a cupboard so you don't have too much clutter!

Well done! Stand back at look at all you've achieved! Give mum a great, big hug and thank her for helping you. Take a moment to be proud of yourself and give yourself a pat on the back! Now you can do craft to your heart's content (when you're allowed to, of course!) and know where everything is and it will be easy to use (but, remember to pack it away in its right place when you're finished)! 

Click here to download your free printable!

Be brave!

Did you know you have been called to be brave? courageous? strong? firm? They can be pretty hard to do, right? It can seem like a really big thing and that can be overwhelming.

My daughter has started a new school this year. Have you ever started at a new school? Was it hard to settle in? Don't get me wrong, she loves the school. But, it is difficult to make new friends. You can (and probably want to!) keep your friends from your old school but it is nice to have friends at the school you go to, as well. There is plenty of love in the world to share!

Well, her teacher from last year reminded her of a verse in the Bible that calls us to be brave. Not only does it all us to be brave, but loving and sensible, too. You know, anything is possible with God living in your heart. Wow!! Think of what you could do if you were bold, loving, and sensible! You could make a real difference in the world around you. And it would make a real difference in YOU as well.

Give it a try! Pray to God that He will help you to be BOLD, LOVING and SENSIBLE! You can print of this free printable poster and hang it in your room, the hallway (or even in the bathroom!) so that every time you see it, you will remember that God will help you to be brave! 

Click here to download your free printable!