Treasure Chest crafts and activities Archives - Page 7 of 7

Count your Blessings Box and Book

February 26, 2014 by Monica McConkey 1 Comment

I’ve been thinking about some activities to put in place, in time for Lent this year.

Lent is 40 Days long (plus Sundays) and in addition to different sacrifices we can make this year, we would like to add something thoughtful and happy to our daily routine.

Filed Under: family traditions, Lent, Treasure Chest crafts and activities

Feetprinting for St Peter and St Paul!

June 27, 2013 by Monica McConkey 5 Comments

June 29 is the Feast of St. Peter and St. Paul!

St. Peter is the patron saint of foot trouble.

Years ago…I took a 4’x4′ canvas and let my kids make footprints with paint. Actually…it was 1999!

I only had two kids then…they were 31/2 and 1…and they had really cute feet.

Filed Under: Saints, Treasure Chest crafts and activities

my funny kid quotes: from calendar to Quotebook!

June 25, 2013 by Monica McConkey 1 Comment

Up here in Canada…we are just finishing school and our summer is just getting started! I hope to use a more relaxed schedule to highlight our family activities and traditions showcased in the Ordinary Time section of A Treasure Chest of Traditions for Catholic Families. These posts will become part of the Family Fun section on this site and will also include our “At-Home” Birthday Parties posts (and printables) and other traditions and routines that are not specifically Catholic, but bring our family together in some way. My Dad wrote down the funny things that my brother and I said when we were little…and I have done the same for my five kids. I do have a little hardcover journal book for each kid, but I find it most convenient to write the funny quotes on my Mom’s Fridge Calendar…as they happen, because even though I think I’ll remember who said what and when, I have learned that the details get blurry. It’s amazing how their antics can blend together! The fridge calendar is easy to access and it already captures our family events, milestones, trips, medical appointments and phone numbers…so I find calendars useful for reference, years to come! Every once in a while, I transpose the little dated moments into cute little dollar store books: one for each child. I have recorded first words, dates the teeth came in or out and monumental “firsts” including Sacraments. Just ask me…(and I can look it up!)…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”, who was my only kid to fall asleep on the toilet and who made the biggest mess… necessitating more than a couple impromptu baths in the sink.

Anyone want to share any favorite moments or quotes from their family? Share in the comments!

Build a Family Journal of Firsts & Family Events or create your own Kid Quotebooks!

You’ll find these and other ways to fill your Family Treasure Chest in

Filed Under: family traditions, Treasure Chest crafts and activities

Sneak a Peek at our Office, while we’re at IHM!

June 20, 2013 by Monica McConkey Leave a Comment

Welcome to Equipping Catholic Families! We are currently attending the Immaculate Heart of Mary Conference in Fredericksburg, VA.

We hope that you will subscribe to Equipping Catholic Families and “like” our facebook page for quick and easy access to FREE craft and activity tutorials and our newest FREE Catholic Printables!

Filed Under: Arma Dei Shoppe, Catholic Crafts, Catholic Link-Ups, Catholic Resources, converted 2 Catholic, Hand in Hand with Jesus Faith Journal, Printables, Saints, Treasure Chest crafts and activities

Description of A Treasure Chest of Traditions for Catholic Families

June 1, 2011 by Monica McConkey Leave a Comment

A Treasure Chest of Traditions for Catholic Families is a 304 page book offering ideas for activities, crafts and recipes to help families celebrate the various Seasons and Feast Days of the year. With fun-filled activities, we can build our own family traditions while passing on the richness of our Catholic Faith. Guided by the Liturgical Calendar, the book journeys through the Seasons of Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter and the 2 spans of Ordinary Time. The months of the secular calendar are woven in, providing the context for Feasts and monthly Devotions. Saints are introduced as their Feast Days occur, offering details and legends about their lives and providing suggestions for family activities surrounding them. Various sections within Ordinary Time suggest that this time can be anything but ordinary! A section entitled “Extraordinary Events in Ordinary Time” offers activities surrounding special events in family life (births, moving, Sacraments and “firsts”).
A section entitled “Everyday in Ordinary Time” offers ideas for installing other family rituals to bring the family together and integrate the Catholic Faith into daily living.
The summer months bring “Cathletics” to Ordinary Time, offering activities to pass on basic catechism, while another section introduces simple prayers for children.

Suggested activities are intended to prompt families to actively practice their Faith, delving into Church celebrations and allowing these festivities to spill back into home life.Check out ordering information for

Filed Under: Treasure Chest crafts and activities

Monthly Devotions: February is the month of the HOLY FAMILY

February 3, 2011 by Monica McConkey Leave a Comment

Isn’t it interesting that although Christmas is over and we are approaching Lent, the Monthly Devotion for February is the Holy Family?

Just when we put our nativities away, we have an excuse to reflect again on the Holy Family as a model for our own family life. We remember life with a small baby, a toddler, a child, a tween, a teen and a young adult.

Filed Under: Treasure Chest crafts and activities

Perpetual Calendar

January 31, 2011 by Monica McConkey Leave a Comment

OK, so we’re a little late for the launch of the new calendar year, but this can really start anytime and be used year after year. We created a template with 12 year old daughter Kelly’s awesome Kelly Comics and added family birthdates, First Sacrament dates, family Patron Saints’ dates and over time we continue to add any monumental firsts and family events and the dates that our loved ones have passed away. Email Monica@ArmaDei.com for a chance to win your own perpetual calendar, just by answering a couple questions about what you would like to see in this new family-culture-building product. Just write “calendar contest” in the subject line. Thanks!

This is a new version of a custom calendar we made for our extended family a few years ago. You can create one like this too, with your own collage of family pictures. Once you format one and record your key family dates, you can get copies made for a treasured gift for your whole extended family!

Filed Under: Treasure Chest crafts and activities

Kids QuoteBook

January 30, 2011 by Monica McConkey 3 Comments

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.

Filed Under: DIY Crafts, family traditions, Treasure Chest crafts and activities