REALLY CUTE IDEAS OF THINGS HANDMADE!

Do you want some really cute ideas for some fun handmade crafts and things? Since I can't make them because I am still recovering from my Carpal Tunnel Surgery, I will give some great links for you to go to directly and see the fun projects and crafts for yourself! Enjoy! Katie G.

1. Scripture Covers http://diaryofacraftaholic.blogspot.com/2009/12/scripture-cover-tutorial.html
2. Valentine Fortune Cookies made out of felt http://deckthehalls-christmas.blogspot.com/2010/01/sending-fortune-cookie-to-you.html
3. Cute Valentine or anytime decorated box tutorial http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/gablebox/
4. Very cute ideas for all kinds of giving ( I love her ideas!!!) http://barbschram.blogspot.com/
5. Valentines Day darling ideas and gifts to make ( my favorite is the conversation hearts attached to a sand pile shovel that says..."I Dig You!" oooh, so cute!) http://deckthehalls-christmas.blogspot.com/search/label/Happy%20Valentines%20Day
6. Darling Star project http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/cg_display.asp?g=1&seed_id=22545
7. Melted Flowers tutorial http://seamseweasy.blogspot.com/2009/11/melted-flower-tutorial.html
8. A Variety of Cute free printable templates http://cuddlybuddly.com/freebies/free-templates/

SHOES FOR HAITI

Go to the following link to read about this worthwhile campaign to help the people of Haiti. http://www.localnews8.com/global/story.asp?s=11863818
Utah athletes to collect shoes for Haiti victims.... Associated Press - January 22, 2010 8:05 AM ET SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Athletes at the University of Utah are collecting gently used shoes for victims of the earthquake in Haiti.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shoes are needed in Haiti. Athletes at the U of U are collecting gently worn shoes to give to the victims of the earthquake in Haiti. This is late notice, but the shoe drive will be held today when the Utes host Georgia in gymnastics and at the men's basketball game against Air Force on Saturday. The donation bin will be at every Huntsman Center Entrance. Please forward on to all your friends and let's do something to help. Shoes of all sizes are needed! Read below for more information:

This shoe drive is something that everyone can do to help the earthquake victims in Haiti. If you or anyone you know are going to either the basketball game on Saturday (U of U vs.. Air Force) or the gymnastics event (Utes vs.. Georgia), you can take your gently worn shoes of all kinds and deposit them in the bins outside the Huntsman Center. Maybe even take this one step further, and call some friends for donations to be brought to your house, and then you take all the donations with you to these events. It is worth the trip, and will make you feel that you have done something to help out this great cause! Pass this on to your friends and let's get the word out in a hurry.... the drive is today and tomorrow (Friday, and Saturday)

ALSO: Sports Chalet stores nationwide is also collecting shoes in the "Soles4Souls" campaign. All Sports Chalet store locations will have a collection bin for gently used shoes to be sent directly to Haiti. The link for this is http://blogs.pe.com/moms/2010/01/sport-chalet-stores-collect-sh.html They will be collecting shoes until the January 30th, 2010. To find locations, go to www.sportchalet.com

There is a woman in Lehi, Utah named Jeannie, who will be collecting shoes in this area to be donated to this Soles4Souls campaign. She will be collecting shoes at the "Curves" location in Lehi, Utah until the morning of January 30th, 2010. She will then take all the donations up to the Salt Lake location of Sports Chalet to be added to those they have collected. ( Sports Chalet is located in Jordan Landing - 7682 S. Campus View Dr. West Jordan Utah and phone # is 801-282-0619) The Lehi Curves address is 785 East 200 South #12 and it is right next door to where the A Fresh Market (or old Albertsons foods).

Everyone has at least one pair of shoes they have either grown out of, or don't fit right, or you don't wear for one reason or another that you have had in your closet waiting for the right time to bring them out again, but that time has never happened. Maybe the right time is now, and certainly your shoes donation will be gratefully accepted! I have a favorite poem that says.... If you want to be happy, give something away. Also one of the greatest ways to cure depression or take away the blues is to give service. There are side benefits for sharing what you have with others.

Pass this on to others you know who you think might like to share in these compassionate service projects! When a disaster hits, many people sit around and feel sad about what has happened and though they would like to do something, they don't know what to do to help. This is a way that you can help and I urge you to participate in this worthwhile cause!

Sincerely,
Katie G.

For some cute and simple gift giving ideas using canning jars and seeds from your garden go to:

http://visitingteachingsurprisedocuments.blogspot.com/2009/09/cute-and-simple-gift-ideas-to-take-with.html

Sourdough Bread - Good things are worth sharing!

Don't you just love to go to a nice resturaunt and once seated, they bring out a fresh mini loaf of sourdough bread and butter to enjoy?  I don't kow about you, but I absolutely love sourdough bread and quite by accident, when I was searching for a recipe for Amish Friendship Bread Starter, I found a great blog that I really like.  It is called "My Sisters Kitchen" and you can find it at http://mysisterskitchen.wordpress.com
Anyway, as I was looking through this great blog, I came  upon a post about how to make a sour dough start and different bread variations. If you are interested in this too, go to ttp://mysisterskitchen.wordpress.com/2009/05/01/sourdough-bread/ and you can read if for yourself.  Also be sure to read the "COMMENTS" as they are great and have many more great ideas.  I bet you don't stop there, but read more and more from this fantastic blog!

Now how does this relate to Visiting Teaching?  How about making up some great sourdough bread loaves, and taking one to each of the sisters that you Visit Teach?  I can only imagine how much they would enjoy a fresh baked loaf of sourdough bread.  My own visiting teacher brought to me for Christmas, a fresh baked loaf of bread, and then brought another to me while I was healing from my surgery I had about a week ago.  What a wonderful and thoughtful treat, and homemade too! 

If you have variations of this recipe or one of your own that you would like to share, please feel free to comment, and know I love your comments!!!!

I am making my "Family Tree Magnet Board"

While I am trying to recouperate from my surgery, I have been thinking of ways to make my resting time spent, more useful. I have been thinking about a project that I have almost all the necessary items for, but have never completed it. It is something that will be a family treasure or heirloom one day, but I have to make it first. LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT IT...

Back in about September of 2009, my daughter and I went to Swiss Days that is a huge boutique and Celebration held in Midway, Utah, a little town boardering Heber City and just outside of Park City, Utah. This is what I feel is the biggest and best boutiques held in Utah and I try to go to it every year.

One of the best finds of booths that really struck my fancy was the "Stories by Me" booth. This is the link to their website http://www.storiesbyme.com and their blog http://www.storiesbymeblog.blogspot.com/

This project will be a good one for Ward Relief Societies as they come up with monthly activities and things that can enrich the lives of the women, with something useful, fun and with a good focus which is family history.  The top photo is temporary and from the site of Stories by me, but I will replace it with my finnished project and how I did it.  They also have other darling ideas and projects using family photos, that will help create memories and fun.  I plan also on making the puzzle blocks using the faces of my grandchildren to make the puzzles.  It will be lots of fun! You should also check out their darling calendar that can be used monthly with pictures of the birthdays in the family.  Such cute ideas and worth while  projects to do!!!!!

Simple, Thoughtful and easy!!!

Recouperating from my surgery, I was reminded of a nice gift that my husband gave me once, just to pamper me. He had purchased a heatable and scented heating bag, that fit around my shoulders. I just put it in the microwace for a couple of minutes and then put it on my shoulders, or on my head to help with a headache or wherever I needed some quick warmth. I loved it and use it over and over. I was thinking that it could be used for the sisters that you Visit teach, to add a touch of "Warmth" to their lives during these cold winter months.

I searched the internet for directions to make one, and found it at http://tipnut.com/make-your-own-microwave-heating-pad/  and other directions and photo at http://commoncentsliving.blogspot.com/2007/10/rice-bags-multi-purpose-accessory.html
I would find some cute fabric to make it out of and a great place to find some is at Hobbie Lobby if you have one close to you and always get 30% off their already low priced darling fabrics.... or go online to to fabrics.com at http://www.fabric.com/ and look up some of the darling Michael Miller prints, as shown above. You won't need much fabric to make one, but take advantage of their free shipping policy if you buy $35 or more, or double up with others who want to order too and make it worth the order. (there are all kinds of online fabric stores to choose from)

Anyway follow the directions and make a thoughtful little gift or when you know she is ill you could take it to her then to let her know that you are thinking of her and sending "warm wishes" her way. Great idea huh? I think ao! Love, Katie G