This is our 4th 5-year-old Magic birthday party, inspired by my dad who likes to do magic. We wanted to have a craft for the kids to decorate and cool stuff to send them home with, including a real magic trick that our very own magician will teach them how to do! Consistent with our family tradition, Sigurd the Wizard (a.k.a. my dad) will perform his excellent magic show extravaganza, with the birthday girl as his assistant.
Cardboard Box to Puppet Theatre
May 11, 2011 by 4 Comments
Years ago, I cut two windows in a cardboard box and covered it with black fleece. I strung a simple curtain over one of the openings using some black cord and added some shiny trim.
This has been our finger puppet theatre for about 10 years…
Mother’s Day Rosary Spiritual Bouquet
May 6, 2011 by 3 Comments
We wanted to make a special present for Grandma and we wanted to celebrate the Month of Mary too!
We decided to make our own version of the Spiritual Bouquet of Prayer Petal Flowers.
Since Bridget can’t really read yet, we didn’t need the prayers written on the petals as they are in the
Craft Kit. I thought we would focus on the Joyful Mysteries and talk about all 5
as we pray one decade of the Rosary.
I printed out some of my favorite clipart from Nippert Artworks: all 20 Mysteries of the Rosary.
I used my new 2.5″ hole punch that I purchased for the Frozen Juice Lid crafts.
Bridget liked picking the petal colors.
I was happy that we found some postcards from a Church we visited in Australia and could include this beautiful image in the center of the Joyful Mysteries flower.
We tried to lay out the picture before we started gluing, but I don’t think we realized how much the petals need to overlap.
I think Grandma will like this flower for Mother’s Day…especially when she learns that we were offering our prayers for her as we said the one decade of the Rosary while we made the flower.
I’m linking to Catholic Icing’s First Friday Link-up
Blessed John Paul the Great, pray for us!
May 1, 2011 by 2 Comments
Blessed John Paul the Great, pray for us!
This is the Pope John Paul II TY doll made by my friend Lucia.
Pope John Paul II is very dear to our hearts!
We were inspired to continue with our family apostolate Arma Dei
by encouragement we received when
the Holy Father received our Treasure Chest book
at World Youth Day in Toronto in 2002.
Wooden Peg Passion Play
April 13, 2011 by 13 Comments
I just love the little wooden dolls that I see painted in various crafts…in fact I keep adding these ideas to my Try This At Home linky…kind of like my own little to do list of crafts for someday.
Papa John Paul 2: we love you!
April 2, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Today marks the 6th anniversary of the death of our beloved Holy Father, Pope John Paul II.
We eagerly look forward to his Beatification on the Feast of Divine Mercy Sunday, this May 1, 2011.
This is the Pope John Paul II TY doll made by my friend Lucia.
Pope John Paul II is very dear to our hearts!
We were inspired to continue with our family apostolate Arma Dei
by encouragement we received when
the Holy Father received our Treasure Chest book
at World Youth Day in Toronto in 2002.
Dream Team of Saints…from Frozen Juice Lids
April 1, 2011 by 13 Comments
Saving frozen juice lids, but don’t know WHY?
I have saved them off and on over the years,
expecting that someday I would do something great with them.
Here is my big chance…to remind my family of our
DREAM TEAM of SAINTS.
I created 3 templates of 12 Saint pictures, each image sized to fit within a 2.5″ diameter circle.
I hope to post the templates shortly! Please subscribe or comment below if you are interested in these templates…
so that I’ll remember to upload them!
I used a roll of clear adhesive from the dollar store to laminate the sheets on the image side, for durability and a more finished look…and after that, I cut out the circles and glued them in place on the outside surface of the lid, just inside the lipped edge.
I think the kids will really like these. They look great with the round metal frame, they make a great sound when they clang into each other, they stack well, the pictures are pretty and I made sure that I chose our favorite (and cool!) family saints.
A little glue and some string…and these little round pictures can be hung on the wall or as a Saint Mobile (mine are hanging from our dining room light fixture).
A little glue and a magnet…and we have Saint Fridge Magnets.
Jesus: a TY doll makeover
March 27, 2011 by 5 Comments
This is our newest addition to our TY doll Saints, because we wanted our other Saint dolls to be able to hang out with Jesus.
Since we had Mother Mary and St. Joseph in TY doll form, we were thinking about what it must have been like with Jesus at home, in those quiet years as a child, a teen and a young adult…before He began His Public Ministry.
Our Family in Cartoon
March 26, 2011 by 10 Comments
Our 12 year old daughter likes to draw in cartoon. We think she’s great! She has even illustrated our newest book
Hand in hand with Jesus.
This is our family in cartoon.
Shortly after Adam was born (2010), Kelly began drawing what she imagined Adam to do when we’re not looking. I just love the expressions and poses and the fabulous things that he’s doing!
Annunciation of the Lord: TY doll makeover
March 24, 2011 by 3 Comments
March 25 is the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord!
For a description of this important day, plus prayers, readings and great ways to celebrate,
check out this site. Also…check out these FREE resources to help teach about this great event, the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Angel Gabriel.
