Easy 3-step lace painted bottle

This is actually bit of a sneak-peak into our next issue! I wanted to do these as a prop for an upcoming photo shoot for our first issue for 2017. The weather has been super hot here, but today it was a little cooler, so my young PA (my little miss!) and I got outside this afternoon and had fun making a bunch of these! In fact, she made more of them than I did! We loved being able to be outside doing something crafty together.

 In just 3 simple steps, you can have these decorating your room, window, even trees!

1 Hang an empty, clean bottle outside - we hung ours from the swing set! (we just used a glass soft drink bottle)

2 Tape a strip of lace around the bottle. The bigger the holes in the lace, the more paint will end up on your bottle.

3 Spray paint over the lace - not too close, and thin layers at a time so you don't end up with thick paint that wants to drip. We just used a plain white gloss spray paint.

When the paint is dry (which on a day like today, didn't take long!), carefully remove the lace.

If you need to pack them up for storage at all, wrap them up in white tissue paper or an old cloth, as the paint can scratch off.

When you get your next issue, you'll be able to play 'I spy' and see if you can find where we used them!

Getting ready to go back to school!

I don't know about other mums, but as a teacher, I think I probably start thinking about going back to school before the previous year even finishes! But for kids, it doesn't usually start until about now! The back-to-school advertising starts and we all begin to think of what we need to get ready for school to return. There's the stationery, the uniform, lunch boxes, school shoes ... the list can seem unending! But what about the things that will help you truly see the year through and your precious girl grow. Here's a back-to-school checklist with a twist.

STATIONERY
While you're thinking of all your stationery needs, consider how you will use them. Use your words to bring joy to others, lift them up, and be a light in your corner of the world. You might even want to consider making some little cards or notepaper to keep in stock.

GRATITUDE
An attitude of gratitude will get you through many experiences that could easily get you down. You might be worried about school starting, how your friends will treat you, or how you'll like your new teacher for the year. Every day, think of something you can be thankful for - even if it is just that the sun is out or you are breathing! Once you start an attitude of gratitude, it will become easier and easier to find the good in your life (and in others!).

DIARY
Oh, yes - where would you be without a diary! I know I can't get by without something to help me keep organised - be it with deadlines, to-do lists or activities. And you'll certainly do better at school with one! But, what would it be like, to plan into your 'schedule' ways to be kind, generous and positive to those around you? It might be a random act of kindness, or a way to give of your time or talents, or a positive activity to do with your friends.

BREAKFAST
You've heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day - it gives you energy for your day's activities, gets your brain firing and helps you to concentrate. A positive attitude from the start of the day will keep your outlook positive for the rest of the day. I well remember getting up grumpy as a child, and my mum telling me to go back to bed and get out of bed on the right side! So true - being positive from the very start will not only impact me, but everyone I come in contact with. It doesn't mean my day will always be great, but it certainly changes the way I handle it!

LUNCHBOX
Every year we do this - make sure everyone has the right lunchbox for their needs, containers for snacks, water bottles ... But there's more to it than just having the right gear - as a mum, I want to make sure my kids have what they need to eat healthy while they are at school. And as kids grow up, they have more say in their food choices (maybe they even share food with their friends). Healthy food choices are a great habit to develop now - and keep up energy levels and health through the stress of a school year. Lunches should include some slow release foods like sandwiches or rice cakes, something fresh like salad or fruit and have little or no added sugar and high energy snacks like potato chips or lollies.

UNIFORM
Almost inevitably, kids will have outgrown their uniform from the year before. Want something they won't outgrow? Develop a sense of pride in wearing a uniform neatly and smartly, respect for their school and school leaders in wearing a uniform as required, and a habit of looking after clothing with putting uniforms in the wash and hanging up when they're clean (and maybe even knowing where their shoes are each day!). While all of that is great for girls to value, it's also important that those who are special in their lives, help them to realise that it is their inner beauty that makes a difference. Encourage them to wear a smile, wear shoes that lead others in a positive way, and adorn themselves with love and joy.

Happy preparing for school to return! And all the best for a great school year!

Getting ready for 2017!

We're getting all ready for a new year! After much frustration getting images the right size, LOOK! We've updated our blog! I'm loving it's fresh, summery feel.

I think, and if you were to ask the girls they'd agree - the photo shoot for this photo was the best one we've done! It's been such a privilege to see these girls grow into young women over the years, and what a blessing they've been to our magazine.

Be sure to sign up to have updates go straight to your email so you can keep your finger on the pulse here at AMELIA. We have insights into our plans for 2017 as well as an annual, prayerful dedication for AMELIA with our staff and regular contributors.

12 Days of Christmas - Day 10 - Pomander of Spice

Do you have a house full of lanterns glowing their Christmas lights?! Hope you had fun making them. Did you decorate them with pencils or textas?

Today, I have something that I used to make with my mother to hang in the cupboard to keep the moths away and help the clothes to smell nice. They make a great little present, too! You could make them tag-team style – sometimes little fingers get sore!

Here’s how simple it is: tie ribbon around the orange and make a loop for it to hang from. Pin it in place. Poke the cloves into the skin of the orange – all over! You might find you need to pierce the skin with a skewer first.

Some people preserve these with more spices and orris root powder, but as a kid, we never did. Although it won't last for years, it will still be nice and fragrant for a couple of months! I wonder how long Mary kept the presents that the wise men gave Jesus?

These could make a quick and lovely gift, or place them in a bowl on the table to fill the room with its sweet scent! A bit like you, with all the Christmas joy you are bringing to your little corner of the world, sweetening with a beautiful aroma!

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.

12 Days of Christmas - Day 8 - Spicey Wise Men Gift

Seeing the star, the wise men, who had studied the prophecies, set out to find the newborn King. Among their belongings and supplies were gifts to give the King. These were gifts given to those of royal birth. Can you remember what they were? Gold, frankincense and myrrh. Some believe these gifts had special significance: gold for His kingship, frankincense for His priestly role and myrrh for His embalming when He died. The wise men must have been so excited to finally find the King they had searched for. Have you found The King? Are you excited about it? Don’t you want to share that joy with someone else?

We all know what gold is! Frankincense and myrrh are both resins from trees. You might not be able to give these as a gift to someone else, but you can give them a gift of spices!

Put together in a jar:

2 sticks of cinnamon

1 Tablespoon of whole cloves

A few star anise

2 whole nutmeg

Some dried ginger

1 Tablespoon cardamom pods

Spices need to be heated to release their aroma, so to fill your house with the smell of Christmas, place the contents of the jar into a saucepan, cover with water and heat to a simmer.

This would make a great gift – simple and easy!

‘… they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.’ Matthew 2:9-11

12 Days of Christmas - Day 7 - Gingerbread Man Ornament

Gift-giving doesn’t need to be expensive or something large. I think some of the nicest gives are the ones that are hand-made. Here’s a simple little one that would be easy to make a number of at one time. Great for friends, teachers, Sabbath School leaders or to decorate your Christmas tree with.

Make a batch of your favourite gingerbread recipe and cut out little gingerbread men.

While they’re baking in the oven, get a clear, plastic ornament (you can find some in craft stores, or we picked this one up in the after-Christmas sales last year!). If you have one like ours, carefully cut almost completely around it with a stanley knife (only an adult should do this) – leaving a bit connected to act as a hinge. Glue some string or ribbon to tie it closed with, and then decorate the cut edge on one side.

Use the recipe below to make some royal icing. Place the royal icing in a piping bag, and decorate the gingerbread man – give him a face, some hands and feet, even some buttons!

Once the icing is dry, place a large amount of it in the bottom of the ornament and stand the gingerbread man in it. You may need to hold him there (or prop him up) until the icing is nearly set.

And there you have it! A little gingerbread man gift! And as you give this gift, think of how the wise men brought their gifts to baby Jesus.

Tomorrow, you'll need some whole spices like cinnamon, cloves, star anise, and a jar!