Equipping Catholic Families

Catholic Reviews

November 19, 2012 by Monica McConkey Leave a Comment

Books

A Treasure Chest of Traditions for Catholic Families
Review by Letters, Numbers and Books, oh my!
Review by Happy Little Homemaker on Catholicmom.com

Hand in Hand with Jesus
Review by Karen’s Adventures in Mommyland
Review by Catholic Homeschool Support

Filed Under: Reviews

Inventive Advent Calendar

November 19, 2012 by Monica McConkey 8 Comments

Only TWO weeks until Advent begins! Are you ready? Last Advent, I wanted to make my own custom Advent Calendar. The problem was that I decided to recycle yogurt containers to create the little pockets inside the box….but it took me well into Advent to collect the 20 that I wanted to use! I never ended up posting my final Advent Calendar…and this will be the first Advent that we use it! It ended up being kind of an ambitious project…and took me back to Architecture school, with my Xacto knife and cardboard model making. I decided to add some variety (and to save space and yogurt containers!), I would make some of the compartments drawers instead of doors, using dollar store matchboxes for my hardware.

A paper chain link from the Advent & Lent Quest Cathletics Craft Kit!

can fit in one of these little drawers, or you could add your own Advent messages or challenges. I added the shelves as added structure for the box. I cut the doors and drawer holes carefully with my craft knife. The matchboxes friction-fit into the holes, but are reinforced with glue around the seam, on the inside of the cardboard box. The yogurt containers were easily glue-gunned in place and make nice clean plastic pockets.

I decorated the door panels with Catholic Artworks Advent Clipart (they’ve got a sale on right now!) tying the Jesse Tree into our Advent Calendar. See other Homemade Advent Calendars from the Equipping Catholic Families post from last year!

Filed Under: Advent and Christmas

I’m a Guest Poster!

November 16, 2012 by Monica McConkey Leave a Comment

What NO Mom Wants to Hear
posted at CatholicMom.com

Real Life Catholic Love Story
posted at Written by the Finger of God

Creating Success Around the World: Monica’s interview at Suzy’s Artsy Craftsy Sitcom by Suzy and Tom Selleck

DIY I Spy with a Scanner

Filed Under: link-up, Catholic Bloggers Network

Reviews are In!

November 16, 2012 by Monica McConkey Leave a Comment

Books

A Treasure Chest of Traditions for Catholic Families

Review by Letters, Numbers and Books, oh my!
Review by Happy Little Homemaker on Catholicmom.com

Hand in Hand with Jesus

Review by Karen’s Adventures in Mommyland
Review by Catholic Homeschool Support

Filed Under: Arma Dei Shoppe, Catholic Crafts, Printables, Reviews

Happy Saint Token Tutorial

November 15, 2012 by Monica McConkey 14 Comments

Another craft with Happy Saints! I keep finding new ways to use them in activities for the kids.
What a vast collection over at Happy Saints!
Make sure to find the new Happy Saints Year of Faith Banner!
I can’t wait to print and display mine!

Filed Under: converted 2 Catholic, DIY Crafts, Saints

NEW! Advent and Lent Quest… for the Year of Faith and MORE!

November 12, 2012 by Monica McConkey 5 Comments

Are you ready for Advent? We have expanded our popular Advent & Lent Quest Cathletics Craft Kit …actually we have expanded it 3x! There are now THREE different themed paper chain links included in ONE kit! Season with the Saints includes 48 + a do-it-yourself template for you to add any of your family patron saints if we didn’t already include them! Each link is packed with information about the saint…years of life, patronage, feast day, vocation highlights and a special quote or prayer. Saints include St Therese, St Pio, St Anthony, St Jude, Bl John Paul, St Nicholas, St Benedict, St Peter + 40 more!

Imagine if your family learned specific details about a new saint every day this Advent!

Year of Faith includes 48 + a do-it-yourself template for extra Catechism. Catechism facts include 7 Virtues, 7 Gifts of the Holy Spirit, 7 Sacraments, 4 Marks of the Church….and less commonly remembered…4 Fruits of Holy Communion, 4 Characteristics of the Church, 3 Graces of Marriage, 9 Mysteries of Faith + 40 more! These links include the Catechism or Bible reference wherever possible for more information! Imagine if your family learned a new Catechism teaching…every day this Advent! The activity is easily geared to various age groups…choosing as much or as little to read or memorize each day. Advent & Lent Quest Challenges are reformatted from our classic Advent & Lent Quest Cathletics Craft Kit, covering a range of prayer, Saint-centric, Bible and Catechism challenges for the whole family. 40 challenges are included + a do-it-yourself template to add your own. Challenges include: “List at least 3 things that God has arranged in your life…what blessings are you most grateful for?” “Read the Gospel and/or the readings for the next Sunday’s Mass. How can this reading help to refocus our Advent or Lenten Journey?” “How many times throughout this day can we make the sign of the cross with EXTRA reverence…remembering that we offer to God our mind, our will, and our entire body?” To purchase the Advent and Lent Quest (3 crafts in1)! Paper Version for $16 + shipping (email to order)

3 in 1 includes Season with the Saints, Year of Faith
and Advent & Lent Classic

PDF Downloadable: $13

Check out our other Cathletics Craft Kits…available by PDF Download at the Arma Dei Shoppe!

Filed Under: Advent and Christmas, Arma Dei Shoppe, Catholic Crafts, Printables

I Spy…ALL SAINTS in NOVEMBER!

November 8, 2012 by Monica McConkey 1 Comment

Which I Spy…November Saints do you like best?

I realize that my little wooden painted saints sometimes look like they are kissing…but it’s hard to keep them from moving around on the glass!

This technique of making photo-collages is really fun!

Filed Under: DIY Crafts, I Spy the Saints, Saints, wooden painted saints

Happy All Saints Day! A Summary of Saint Craft Links!

November 1, 2012 by Monica McConkey 2 Comments

Happy Saints Day! + November Saints Cele-Linky!

Have you seen our All Saints Day Resource Guide yet?

It’s also not too late to get these Saint-centric Downloads!

FREE Guess Who?! The Saints! Template
FREE Monthly Saint pages

Check out these SAINT Crafts!
What to do with Painted Wooden Saints!

TY Doll Makeovers to Saints:
Jesus, Mother Mary, St Patrick, St Joseph
Frozen Juice Lids: Dream Team of Saints
Guess Who?! The Saints!
I Spy…Saints Collage with a Scanner
I Spy…November: COMING SOON!

Filed Under: Printables, Saints, wooden painted saints

All Saints Resource with Link Up

October 21, 2012 by Monica McConkey 5 Comments

All Saints Day is coming!! In honor of All Saints Day on November 1st, I decided to post my CeleLINKY with the SAINTS: November a little early! Add your new ideas and please mention this link-up on your blog! Join the Cele-LINKY with the SAINTS: NOVEMBER below and pick up some fresh ideas! Please do us a favor and tell your subscribers about this Catholic Link-Up with the SAINTS by adding this link and/or posting a Cele-LINKY with the SAINTS button! It’s a continuous party of monthly link-ups for Saint celebrations, reflections and activities!

I have some fun ways to incorporate the Saints in classic board games including Checkers, Snakes & Laddersand Trouble!…and I have a few more Saint projects in the works…
coming SOON!

Filed Under: Catholic Link-Ups, Saints, wooden painted saints

Review: Sense of the Sacred Coloring Book and Prayer Companion and Giveaway!

October 19, 2012 by Monica McConkey 1 Comment

Sense of the Sacred coloring book and companion is an exquisite collection of drawings based on the statues and stained glass found in Catholic Churches, accompanied by Scriptural references to further articulate their significance. A Coloring Guide and Prayer Primer is also available with the same beautiful drawings in color, along with classic prayers from our Rich Tradition. Not only does the Sense of the Sacred Companion suggest a wonderful palette for coloring the pages of the coloring book, but the paperback, travel-friendly book offers a treasury of prayers to pass on to children, fostering reverence and awe for our Catholic Faith.Sneaky mom blogger…I really wanted to post this review today to get the word out about the Awesome Catholic Coloring Book Giveaway, so I managed to get the kids coloring before they went off to school this morning. I admit…I didn’t really expect alot of coloring to happen, given the usually rushed routine of the morning: I was just in it for the pictures!

My 6 year old (who incidentally was campaigning to stay home from school today!) got really excited about coloring and completed a whole page and ate her breakfast and had time to spare before they dashed off to the bus. She even read some prayers from the Companion Coloring Guide/Prayer book.

Filed Under: Reviews