a Treasure Chest in a Book: a Family Tradition

Build your own Family Culture and Traditions…and start during Ordinary Time!

Collect family artifacts and treasures: keep a collection of family documents, classic photos, newspaper articles, certificates, letters from the toothfairy or letters to Santa, programs from funeral Masses, graduations, wedding invitations, birthday invitations, letters of acceptance, report cards…even if they are photocopies of the real thing! This is what we created our Family Treasure Chest for! These and other family-centric activities, crafts and traditions  can be found in A Treasure Chest of Traditions for Catholic Families. Altered Collage Books:  a Treasure Chest in a Book! Years ago, I was fascinated by the books Griffin and Sabine: An Extraordinary Correspondence. “Thus begins the strange and intriguing correspondence of Griffin and Sabine.  It is a story that is partly a romance, partly a mystery, and completely a work of art.  Each page contains a new card or letter…the complete correspondence tells an extraordinary story in an extraordinary way.” The whole book is packed with stamped letters and postcards, with striking images and artwork. =&3=& Intrigued by the Griffin and Sabine books, I began my own altered collage books: one for each child, in a story book that reminded me of them! Click this link at www.littlebit.com for some resources to make your own altered collage books !

I decided to use “Enchantment in the Garden”, adding pictures from “The Fairy Tale Catalogue”.

I was enthused by the illustrations in the books.  In this one, I cut a window in one page, to show the illustration in the next.  I glued the pages together and added gesso to make it a little dream-like.

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Traditions to start in this Ordinary Time!

Build your own Family Culture and Traditions…and start during Ordinary Time!

(1) Collect family artifacts and treasures: keep a collection of family documents, classic photos, newspaper articles, certificates, letters from the toothfairy or letters to Santa, programs from funeral Masses, graduations, wedding invitations, birthday invitations, letters of acceptance, report cards…even if they are photocopies of the real thing!  This is what we created our Family Treasure Chest for! These and other family-centric activities, crafts and traditions can be found in A Treasure Chest of Traditions for Catholic Families. (2)  Create a a family journal with entries about family trips, occasions (check out this Faith Journal!) or give everyone a prompting question to reflect on, journal or draw about…share them and keep the collection together.  Try 150 Quick Questions to Get Your Kids Talking or a similar book. Some people use index cards or postcards like Design Sponge or a family guestbook for friends to write or draw in!

(3)  Create a Perpetual calendar. Record birthdays, Sacrament dates, dates of family firsts, family events and loved ones passing… in a month-by-month format.  Some people use index cards like this.
(You can show the current month in a frame for dry erase…but the dates are fun to look at year after year).  You can buy this Catholic Family Calendar in the Arma Dei Shoppe!

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Last Minute Gift: Catholic Family Calendar!

Last Minute Gift:  all you need is a printer for a treasured family gift for
Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles and Cousins!

The Build-Your-Own
Catholic Family Perpetual Calendar!
with Kelly Comics illustrations.

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Kelly Comics Family Calendar: easy Family Keepsake Gift for all your relatives!

The Kelly Comics Family Calendar is a PERPETUAL CALENDAR that you can print once, record your special family dates (birthdays, anniversaries, milestones and dates loved ones passed away).  You can make copies for family as gifts…and help everyone to celebrate and remember all the special family dates.  The best part is…this calendar is not linked to a specific year, so it can be proudly displayed, year after year!

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Last Minute Christmas Gift!

The Build-Your-Own Catholic Family Perpetual Calendar!
with Kelly Comics illustrations.

Each month has a complete path of dates to record your family birth dates, Sacrament dates. anniversaries and dates of when loved ones passed away.
The sticky notes and notepaper on the side already have key feast dates and monthly devotions recorded, with ample space to add your own favorite feast days and “family firsts”.

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Kids QuoteBook

Kids say and do the funniest things.  We think we’re going to remember who said what when, but as the kids get older, it’s amazing how their antics can blend together!  Writing down the funny things they say and do at the time is the best!  The fridge calendar can be just that handy place to record all the little gems that you’ll be glad you captured.  Every once in a while…I have transposed those little dated moments in cute little dollar store books:  one for each child.  I have recorded first words, dates the teeth came in or out and monumental “firsts”.  I know which kid said “to da-vity and beyon’!” (quoting Buzz Lightyear), who challenged potty training “mommy, your job is not my problem!” , who sang “ring around the rosary” and who was my only kid to fall asleep on the toilet…so far.

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