December 2011 Visiting teaching message printable

Here is a printable I made up for you to take with you Visiting teaching if you like. The message is the Dec. 2011 Visiting teaching message. I have also given my own message on my other blog if you need some ideas of where to go from there. Be sure to add your own thoughts, but you are welcome to use mine as well. http://visitingteachingtips.blogspot.com To print this message from my blog, click on the image and save it to a file on your computer. Then print from your file. Simple huh? Enjoy! Katie G.

Christmas Card/message

I have just posted a wonderful Christmas message on my Visiting Teaching Tips handouts and Ideas blog. If you would like to have access to it, go to that blog by clicking on the title of this post. Need a reminder how to print from my blogs???? I posted it at the bottom of the post you will go to.
Enjoy!!! Katie G.

Candied Yams Recipe

Our ward's Young Men and Young Women's group are doing a food drive for food for Thanksgiving Dinner. I decided to provide Yams and all the ingredients to make "Candied Yams". Since many people don't have their own recipe, I thought I would create my own Recipe cards and thought I would share with you too. Enjoy! Katie

I'm thankful for.....

My daughter in law who lives in Wyoming, is such an amazing young woman, mother and wife to my son. She is so talented and uses her talents to teach and bless the lives of her children. She is always doing something fun and unique. She has a personal blog that she keeps updated where she shares through words and photos, what is going on in the lives of her family. We don't get to see them very often so her blog is such a blessing for us! I wanted to share with you an idea that she is recording on her blog.

She started at the first part of this month of November, having each family member share one thing that they are thankful for each day. By the time that Thanksgiving comes, I can only imagine the feelings in their hearts of the blessings that they are given. What a way to make their Thanksgiving alive in all of their hearts. I am listing day #6 of what they are thankful for, as an example.

#6
Tonight we are thankful for:
Dad: A steady job
Mom: Reliable vehicles
Max: Highway trucks...I don't know where he learned about highways, but he's slightly obsessed with them right now!
Matty: That we can play with each other.
Blyss: a new Dora crown.

Their children are under age 4, so the things that each of them are thankful for are mostly fun things. These kids are learning an attitude of Gratitude from their parents. What great dinnertime conversation. Every so often, my daughter in law will print off and bind into a photo book, the newest posts and photos on her blog, and to date she has quite a few books. Once while my husband and I were visiting them, she pulled down these priceless photo memories and read with her children about the things they did when they were younger. Can you imagine if she prints her thanksgiving list each year, just how many blessings that they will be able to count once they are older?

Thank you Jenna for your example of doing good things for your family. I thought I would pass on this to all of you, and maybe Jenna's idea will rub off on your family as well. Happy Thanksgiving! Katie G

P.S.One other thing... my little Granddaughter (my oldest daughters child) last year, just after we said the prayer on our own Thanksgiving feast, suggested we go around the room and have every person share something that they are thankful for. This little granddaughter was only 6 at the time, and I thought about how thankful I was that her parents, my daugther and son in law, had taught her about thankfulness and appreciation. It was a great experience and like the saying goes... "And a little child shall lead them".

Thanksgiving Dinner Invitation

Back by popular demand, my "Wanted Poster" invitation for Thanksgiving Dinner. I have been asked about it so much lately, that I just decided to put it back up this year, though I changed the date to 2011. It makes a fun invitation for your guests, and sets a fun tone for your Thanksgiving Day celebration. Be sure to comment and let me know how you like it??? Enjoy! Katie G.

Be sure to drop by both of my blogs to get some great ideas, tips, freebies, printables, and much more!
http://visitingteachingsuprise.blogspot.com http://visitingteachingtips.blogspot.com

Seed packet Gift/ template

I decided that instead of giving out thank you notes to the lovely friends of mine who remembered me on my birthday, I decided to design a template for a seed packed, and fill it up with seeds from my pretty yellow and orange flowers in my yard, and give it as a thank-you. They turned out darling and printed so very nicely. Very easy template, but be sure to score the lines around the packet where the folds go, as it looks so sharp and folds much nicer. I used glue runner tape as well. If I get a chance I will take a snapshot of the finished product before I give them out. On the back side, I left it plain so that you can add your own message, for a gift or in place of a thank you note, or for whatever reason you want to use it for. I also inserted it into a cellophane bag ( note card size ) and tied a yellow ribbon around it. VERY CUTE!!! Enjoy! Katie G.

Visiting Teaching October 2011 Mesasge and Idea

You have to go to this link http://visitingteachingtips.blogspot.com/2011/10/visiting-teaching-for-october-2011.html and read what I am going to be doing with the sisters I visit teach, this month. It is going to be a BLAST!!!! Actually a Blast from the Past too! YEAH!!! I love to have fun and that is what it will be. Can't wait for Monday because I get to be with the sisters I teach and have fun with them.
Go read my post!

Love, Katie G.

LDS General Conference

I loved the announcement from President Monson that the Provo Tabernacle that had recently burnd down other than the exterrior, would be rebuilt and would become a second temple in Provo, Utah. I don't know about you but when that was said, both my husband and I started crying. It was a great expereince! I found this darling vintage postcard that was of the Provo Tabernacle in days gone by.... enjoy! Katie

Relief Society Conference Broadcast (watch it live!)

I went to LDS.org to see when the R.S. Broadcast would be rebroadcast, and it appears that it can be streamed live from SLC Mountain Standard time. I thought I would pass this on to you, but I am sure that it will be rebroadcast but I could not find out the time for this. Oh and my screen on both my blogs isn't large enough to get the entire picture so go to LDS.org and watch it from there. Here is the link: http://lds.org/general-conference/watch?lang=eng

Visiting Teaching Message September 2011

Here is a little handout that I created for you to take with you Visiting Teaching. It contains some of the quotes from the lesson. Enjoy! Katie G.

.........Visiting Teaching surprise!: August 2011 Visiting Teaching message printable

.........Visiting Teaching surprise!: August 2011 Visiting Teaching message printable

August 2011 Visiting Teaching message printable

Click on the image and you will be able to read it better. This is the handout that I made for Visiting Teaching for August 2011. I just about didn't get one done as I have been busier than a little bee this month and last month. Even if you have already gone out and done your Visiting Teaching, you can still use this for your sisters now, or for another month. It is a door hanger. Make sure to sign add your phone number at the bottom before you leave it hanging on their door nob or you can just hand it to them so that they have your phone number so they can reach you when they need a "Helping Hand".

One thing about this too is that many people won't ask for help, so be proactive and really let your sister know that you would love to be of service to them, so that they won't hesitate to call if they need you.

Enjoy!

Visiting Teaching Message June 2011- Strengthening Families through temporal self reliance

June 2010 Visiting teaching lesson focus on self reliance.  In my Visiting teaching tips, handouts and Ideas blog, I shared some stories about my own family and how they became self reliant in raising their families.  If you would like to read my personal stories, click on the title of this message and you will be whisked away to my other blog, where I will share my stories with you. 

One of my stories included my own experience of learning to bottle, or can fruits with my Mom  and my sisters.  I too passed on this wonderful talent to my own daughters and we get together every year to can.  So I went looking for some cute things that you can use for yourself, or give to your sister you teach to encourage their own self reliance.  I found some darling canning jar lid stickers that you can print out for yourself on sticker paper, or label paper.  Here are the cute things I found and the links to find them on the Internet.

1.  Round jar top labels can be found here:

 http://blog.worldlabel.com/2011/round-labels-in-a-vintage-style-design.html

2.  Cute vintage labels for bottles or whatever can be found here:

http://blog.worldlabel.com/2011/bottle-labels-for-your-apothecary-products.html

More really pretty vintage labels can also be found here and you know how much I love Vintage things...

http://blog.worldlabel.com/2009/free-fillable-suzee-que-vintage-labels.html

And I even located a few more cute labels here:

More really pretty vintage labels can also be found here and you know how much I love Vintage things... http://poppytalk.blogspot.com/2009/03/free-downloadable-stickers.html 

  

And one more cute one made by Poppytalkhandmade is found here:

http://poppytalk.blogspot.com/2009/02/free-downloadable-labels-from-us.html

Any of these can be customized to suit whatever you are canning.   This would be a cute way to encourage self reliance and learning how to can fruit.  Another idea would be to invite your sisters to come can or bottle with you at your house, and use some of these cute labels to adorn your handiwork!  Enjoy!  Katie G.

LDS Bling Quotes

This past week, I helped a friend create a blog that she needed for a book that she is writing.  She needs advice from LDS parents all over the world.  I thought I would just tell you about it in a post on my blog because I have readership from all over the world.  Click on the title of this post and it will take you directly to her blog.   She needs you to send her an email sharing your advice on how to raise righteous children. Make sure you tell her that Katie G sent you. By the way, do you love the header I created?  She wanted it blingy and blingy it is. Now go send your advice to my friend Mary.  Enjoy, Katie G.

New Ward, new ideas "It's the caring that counts!"

My ward was once again divided and this was the 4th time in 4 years.  Yes, this area that I live is definately growing.  With this divisions came changes.  We have a new Relief Society President and she recently attenede General Relief Society training in which she had the opportunity to visit with Sister Julie Beck.  As she listended to Sister Becks admonitions and message, our this new president picked out the message and brought it home to our ward.  With this inspiration from Sister Beck our Relief Society Visiting teaching is making a few changes and these have come via some points made in Sister Becks message to the Presidencies from all over the world. 

So, I am going to post this letter that was sent via our R.S. email list to all the sisters of the ward....I have received permission from our R.S. President to share this new way of reporting our Visiting teaching with you. 

Dear Sisters,

We appreciate everyone who made it to Sunday’s lesson where Juleen introduced “It’s the Caring that Counts” Visiting Teaching Program.  For those of you that were unable to join us, we want to briefly review the program.

Instead of just reporting if the sister’s visit was a phone call, letter or personal visit, we are asking that you answer these three questions on each of the sisters you visit:

A.      Are there any needs or concerns that she has?  If so, how are you helping to resolve the issue(s)?

B.      Have you seen her in Sacrament Meeting?

C.      Is there any good news she has to share?

Attached is the sheet we would like you to complete that addresses these three questions. By completing and returning (via email or handed directly to your supervisor)the attached document, we will be able to better track the needs of each sister and ensure we are giving them the support they need.  If you have problems saving and emailing this document back, you are welcome to answer the questions in the body of your email and send the information that way.  If you feel an issue one of your sisters is dealing with is particularly sensitive, please feel free to contact President Jackson directly. 

The opportunity we have to serve the sisters in our ward through visiting teaching is an important calling and plays a critical role in ensuring that everyone’s spiritual and temporal needs are being met.  As a visiting teacher, you are on the front line, and the Relief Society Presidency depends on your watchful care to identify and meet the needs of each sister. We are confident that as all visiting teachers put forth some additional effort to document and address the needs of the sisters in their stewardship, that our entire ward will be strengthened.  We appreciate your dedication, diligence, and, most importantly, the caring that you provide your sisters.  

  This is the attachment actually it looks better than this as it is on a printed page with g raphics, but I dont' know how to convert a PDF to a JPEG, and this blogger won't accept PDF's so here is the simple version of what is on the attachment  These questions are what Visiting Teachers are to find out about their sisters and then report them to their supervisor each month:

Here is the link that will take you to this sheet:  https://www.dropbox.com/gallery/57771560/1/Caring%20that%20Counts%20Visiting%20Teaching%20report?h=7912d7

How I connect with the sisters I

visit. ..

VISITING TE.ACHERS:

SUPERVISOR: MONTH:

SISTER

# 1:

A) Are there any needs ar concerns that she has? If so, how are you helping to resolve

the issue(s)?

B) Have you seen her in Sacrament Meeting?

C)

Is there any good news she has to share?

SISTER #2

:

A) Are there any needs or concerns that she has? If so, how are you helping to resolve

the issue(s)?

B) Have you seen her in Sacrament Meeting?

C)

Is there any good news she has to share?

SISTER #3

:

A) Are there any needs or concerns that she has? If so, how are you helping to resolve

the issue(s)?

B) Have you seen her in Sacrament Meeting?

C) Is there any good news she has to share?

IT'S THE. CARING THAT COUNTSI

Visiting Teaching Message April 2011

The message can be found on page 7 in your Ensign, or at this link http://lds.org/library/display/0,4945,2044-1-5252-1,00.html

I am pretty late at getting my Visiting teaching done this month, but just in case you are as well, I thought I would share what I just created for the handout. Remember that I can't put everything on the handout, so I just selected certain things that stuck out in my mind the most from this message.  There is certainly plenty of more wonderful things that you could share, so be inspired, and make this message come from your heart and inspiration.  The handout is just an added plus!  

If you are wondering about Rebecca Swain Williams.... whose photo is on the handout, go to page 38 of your Ensign and read about her.  I say all the time that I am grateful that I was not born in the early days of the church or even in an earlier era of history, because I can't imagine that I could survive those times.  I wonder if these early pioneer women of the church, look down on us from their Heavenly state, and say.... " I am glad that I wasn't born in the latter days like ......?"

Enjoy and go out and do your teaching!  Katie G.

ktgauger@gmail.com

 

Cute Easter Ideas

I have been so swamped with so many other things to create my own ideas for Easter, so I have found some cute ones that I wanted to pass on to you.  Darling ideas, and the links to them. 

This is the link to this darling "Carrot" filled template.  Easy to create!  http://emilyburnette.blogspot.com/   How cute would this be to take as a little Easter Visiting Teaching gift?  I think I am going to use this template for my visiting teaching.  My sisters and I are going to lunch at Olive Garden to get to know each other better.  Over lunch I will give the lesson, and then this will be a fun and cute take home for them to enjoy.  I want my sisters to feel loved.  I wrote Emily who is the author of the website that this idea was founded, and I found out she is LDS too.  Isn't it fun to find sisters throughout the world with the same goals, and efforts to serve others.  Thanks Emily!

SMORES IN A JAR can be found at this site: http://rootsandwingsco.blogspot.com/2009/03/smores-in-jar-for-easter.html   At this site, she had many ideas that are great for Easter.  I love the cute marshamallow bunnies that are being made now in different colors anf flavors.  Of course I am a Peep lover, and would probably use peeps.

Now speaking of Peeps, if you go back into my archives you can find all kinds of great ideas to use Peeps with.  Click on this link  http://visitingteachingsurprise.blogspot.com/search/label/Easter  and it brings up all my Easter and Sprintime ideas. 

Now lookie what I found.... Templates to make Easter Baskets.  The first one is created by "Tracy" and she use to design for Digichick, but I can't find a link to her.  The second one can be found at http://kelleighratzlaff.com/headline/the-easter-basket-template-set-and-cutting-files/ She has a template and other darling baskets that she made including a Birthday basket. 

They can be made up so cute with the darling digital or other scrapbook papers that are available now.  I just suggest that you get one that is printed on cardstock so it will be more durable.  Wouldn't it be sad if you went to all that work to make such a cute basket, and it broke because the paper wasn't strong enough.  There is a solution if you find just the right print on paper..... if you use spray glue and glue it to a piece of cardstock, then it would be heavy enough to use for an Easter basket.  Here is one freebie template link http://guidinguk.freeservers.com/Easter-basket.html and another one that is pictured next comes from

http://jannekesmit.blogspot.com/2010/04/free-easter-basket-template.html  Jannie who is the designer at this site, encourages you to make up her template and then take a photo of how it turned out and send it to her.  That would be a nice way of saying Thank-you for using her template design for free.

I could go on and on with Easter ideas to give to the women you Visit Teach or to Friends, neighbors, your own children, parents, or whomever, but my time is gone and I need to clean my house, lest my husband return and say... "Did a tornado go through today?"  Just kidding, he is really patient with me as he knows my love for creating cute things, but I do need to stop now.  Hope you enjoy these ideas and if you have a cute one and would like to share.... please let me know.  My email is listed on the right column of this blog.  Happy Easter!  Katie G.

Warming Wrap Tutorial

I have been looking for a tutorial for a long time on how to make a warming wrap... you know one of those wonderful things filled with rice, grain, herbs or whatever.... that you put in the microwave to heat up and put on a part of you that is hurting.  Well I just happened on one.  It would make a great gift for your sister you Visit teach for when they are ill or recovering from a surgery. This one could be made in different fabrics, but it was obviously made for a man, to look a bit more masculine.  BUT... you could pick a cute fabric and make one that fits your personality.  If you click on the title of this post, it will take you to the tutorial in a flash!  Enjoy!  Katie G.

I realize this post is a bit random, but I have also been looking for a tutorial on how to make freezer paper stencils.  Family reunions are coming up in the Spring - Summer months and how fun would it be to have matching family shirts?  If you go to a store to buy them or have them printed, it is going to be pretty costly, but if you just buy a t shirt and then do your own stenciling, it would sure save a lot of money as well as you can be as original as you want with your design.  Her is the link to the video tutorial http://iammommahearmeroar.blogspot.com/2010/04/freezer-paper-stenciling-in-depth.html  This gal is LDS, as I could tell because she also has a freebie printable for the YW theme which is the 13th article of faith, and it is a framable image that she offers for free as well.  She is very talented and has great ideas.  enjoy!  Katie G

Somebodys having a Birthday? ( Plus more templates)

My daughter had a birthday yesterday, her husband a week ago and my grandson this very same month.  Now why didn't I think of this cute idea much earlier?  Well it is OK because next month my family has several other birthdays.  This isn't just for little children's birthdays, but can be a fun little thoughtful gift for you to make up for the women you Visit teach, for their birthdays.  I found a slice of cake box all stuffed with cute little gifts at this blog http://afrecklefacedgirl.blogspot.com/2009/06/cake-slice-boxes.html  Click on the image to make it larger.  See how they stuffed this piece of cake box with color coordinated things.  This one however is for kids. I was thinking that there are so many cute little things that you could stuff your box with like post it notes and cute floral mini pens from the $1 section at Target.  Kitchen gadgets, like bag clips, etc.  You could also fill it with goodies and treats, and one way to get them without paying allot of money is to buy a bunch of after holiday sales candy.  You can usually find this kind of candy for 50 % off the day after the holiday, and even more off days after that until it is all sold. 

Here is a pattern or template for this cute cake box that I found online at:  http://www.ruthannzaroff.com/mirkwooddesigns/images/cakebox.gif  All you have to do to create a cute cake box like the one that is pictured above is to buy a piece of printed card stock scrapbook paper (8.5 x 11) and print the template on the side opposite of the print.  Cut out and score, and fold into your darling cake box.  If you want your stuffing's to match, be sure to buy them first and then take them with you when you buy your piece of card stock to match.  Very cute idea.. huh? 

NOTE FROM KATIE:  If you really want to customize this piece of cake template, then go online to any of the hundreds of Digital Scrapbook stores that have so many cute papers for sale, or even offered as freebies.  You will certainly find some cute prints for your piece of cake box there.  You can also find many other cute templates for printing online, and then create them using the your digital paper selections so everything matches.  People ask me how I do it to make things match and look so cute. This is how you do it, print them yourself and even make a cute tag or mini card in a coordinated print as well.    Enjoy! Katie G

TEMPLATES, TEMPLATES, TEMPLATES!!!!!

Since I am in the template mode, I thought I would share with you some other cute templates of things you can print and create for upcoming gift ideas... Easter, Mothers day, etc....  In my searching for ideas I found a very cute site that has some really cute ideas.  It is called Waltzing Mouse Stamps.  This first one I found is a darling paper printable Easter basket template.  It can be found here:  http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0034/2892/files/Mini_Square_Basket.pdf?1279558175 and at that same website, there are many other cute freebie templates like this cute Mothers Day card template that can be found here: http://www.waltzingmousestamps.com/products/freebie-watering-can-card  If you go to this link at Waltzing Mouse Stamps, it will show you all the other cute freebie downloadable templates for other cute Easter baskets and other holiday designs.  I love the Halloween witch, but since it isn't Halloween time, I won't post the image, but you should really go look at these.  DARLING!!!! They also have other templates and ideas that they charge for and one that you should really look at is their slice of cake template.  It combines many slices of cake to build one round big cake and their template has a lid and a bottom.  It is soooooo CUTE!!! The digichick site http://www.thedigichick.com/shop/Piece-Of-Cake-Template-Set.html also has cute ideas for printing cake templates, however their template isn't much different than the one that I have posted above.

Here is another really cute idea to make for a Relief Society Birthday Party or whatever you choose. and it comes from Martha Stewart at http://www.marthastewartweddings.com/article/lace-cupcake-towers  They show it here as a Wedding cupcake cake tower, but you could do it for any other kind of project by simply using the template and printing the image out on digital or scrapbook paper you buy in the store.  This idea for the lace wrap around edge, was created by finding a pretty lace and color copying and enlarging it. Now how creative is that????    SOOOO cute!

Even easier and simpler for one person would be printing a cupcake wrap, and printing the template on scrapbook paper and wrapping it around the base of the cupcake.  This would be a great little gift for your Visiting Teaching Sisters birthdays, and since you will have to bake up more cupcakes to get one to take with you to your Sister, your family will be very happy too because they too will get cupcakes for dessert.  Here are several pre designed templates for the cupcake wrap arounds that I found on the internet at this site: http://foodartparty.blogspot.com/2009/07/more-free-cupcake-wrappers.html  While you are at this blog, be sure to look at the way she decorates her sugar cookies.  Absolutely fabulos!  Also she lists freebie links to all different kinds of cupcake wrap printables for Valentines Day, Lego Parties, Ninja, Princess, Bird, Butterfly, Deer, Easter, Bohemian, Chandelier, black and white, Springtime, Superbowl, 4th of July and on and on!

I found this actual blank template here: http://imagesbyheatherm.wordpress.com/2010/10/06/printable-cupcake-wrapper-templates/

It is a ping that you can download the template and print from your computer.  It has two different kinds of cupcake wraps, one plain edge andthe other is scalloped edge.  NOW if you need some cute printable cupcake invitations...... well of course you can go here:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/honeybooart/sets/72157621961287600/  Be sure while you are there to go through the other cute printables that they have on that site.  VERY CUTE!!!  And if that wasn't enough make sure to check out this site:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/cutepaper/3795147666/in/pool-75055462@N00/

I have to be done now, as each darling idea leads me to the next and I could spend all day doing this, but I need to get some housework done today as well so.. Bye for now!  Love, Katie G.

What do I use to design?

I have had so many people ask me what I use to design what I design.  I am almost embarrassed to tell you because the main program I have used is so user friendly and has been around for so many years.  I started some 20+ years ago on The Print Shop by Brodderbund.  It has had many version changes and I am not on the most recent verion of Print shop Professional.  It does everything I have ever needed however the most recent version of Print Shop Pro doesn't have the fine cropping capability, so for that and other things I also use Photoshop Elements.  Photoshop Elements has most of the things I would ever use for my scrapbooking though since I am self taught, I have to figure out how to use the different tools and capabilities that it has. 

My son who is a master Graphic Designer came over a couple weeks ago and started to show me what Photoshop Elements could do, and I was so amazed.  I need him to sit down and teach me some lessons.  I have a lot more to learn but what I do is through using a combination of the two programs, and I love it.

I have recently had a reader post that they use another program called PhotoScape, and I looked at it and it looks pretty user friendly as well.  You can download a free version of it though I don't know if there is a time limit they give to try it out.  You would have to go look at it and see for yourself.

I am pretty sure that there are many other graphic design programs out there, and if my readers would post a comment about other programs they use, then I would be able to share that will all of you.

I have people asking me to teach them how to do this, and I just get tired thinking about it because it isn't just a sit down, and teach you everything in one lesson.  It takes a long time to learn it all.  I suggest that you could sign up for lessons somewhere or there may be tutorials on line, so google it and learn how to.  Don't be afraid to try to figure things out all by yourself, because you can do it, and that is how I did it.  I must admit I have had a lot of years learning, but I am still learning, and love it. 

READERS:  Please tell us what programs you use to design your projects with.  Please comment below, and if you want a reply you will need to include your email. 

Best regards, Katie G.

Spanish, Portuguese, or other languages.....I need your input.

I have had several request lately for me to translate my handouts and freebies into Spanish.  I don't speak Spanish so it isn't easy for me to accomplish this.  I would, however love to have anyone of any language be able to use my handouts, so I have thought about a way that I could possibly accomplish this.  I will need your imput to to know if this will work for you. 

My idea is that when I design something like the book mark to the left, for example, I will do my creative thing and make something cute, and type in the message, scripture or whatever, in English and post it on my blog.  Then I will also post a page of the same designed bookmark, without the message, leaving it blank for you to save to your computer and type in or insert however you can, the translation in whatever language you need to share with the sister you Visit teach, friends or whomever. 

So, I designed this bookmark for you to try to put your own message on, just to see if you can do it.  It is a cute Springy and Easter looking print from Shabby Princess, and you can see what you can do with it.  This time I didn't include a scripture but I am sure you can come up with one about Springtime, the Resurrection, Jesus Christ's atonement, new life, or whatever else you think of.  I know that not everyone will have the ability to do this on the computer but you could still print up the message, and type on it, or hand write the message. 

Please let me know if this will work for you and how you accomplished it.  I need feedback or I simply won't make the extra effort it will take to do this, as all of this takes allot of time.  You can either click on the "comment" button below this post and comment there, or email me directly on my blog email which is posted at the top right column of this blog.  If you just comment, please be sure to provide me your email address if you want me to reply because by default, no return email is listed.

Thanks for your help!

Katie G.

My time out update

UPDATE:  My surgery went well and I am beginning to feel much better.  I  hope to be back into the swing of things, very soon, so keep checking back.  I actually posted a couple of things today.  Thanks for your concern and prayers on my behalf.
Sincerely,
Katie G.

March 2011 visiting teaching message

Click on the title to be directed to the Message page.

Mothers day early (2 printables)

I designed a book insert, or bookmark if that is what you would like to call it to go with the lesson on A grateful heart.... BUT... I thought it would be really cute for Mothers Day too.  The little kids on the bookmark are the early years "Campbell Soup Kids".  I think they are so very cute.  Anyway.... here it is...

I am asked all the time what program I use to create my printables and such. I am almost embarassed to say because it is one that I have used for years, though it has changed and improved. Nope, I don't use photoshop... though I do use Photoshop Elements to do some things, but I am not very good at Elements, so I use Print Shop Professional for mostly all of my graphic design.  It is limited so that is why I use Photoshop Elements and that does the rest of what the other program doesn't. 

I have a son who is amazing on Graphic Design and knows all the programs that there could ever be.  I had him sit down with me for a few minutes and asked him to show me how to do a few things using Elements.  I am a visual learner, so when he showed me what to do, I felt so empowered.  Elements really has most of all the things I would ever use for my designing, I think, and it is a fraction of the cost of Adobe Photoshop.  So... I think I will just continue to use my Print Shop Pro and keep learning more on Elements.  It is a fun hobby for me and I certainly enjoy creating!  Katie G.

P.S. I made these M&M bag toppers up originaly for my sister for a need she had, and changed the words to fit for Mothers day.  Follow the directions that are printed and they would make cute little gifts to give to your sisters on Mothers Day or for a new little Mother who has just had a baby.  Maybe there is someone you see in church that could use one of these as well, and so there are lots of applications for this little idea.  Fill the bags with colored M&M's and print on colored paper.  Enjoy!

A Grateful Heart

I am working on a great lesson that is actually for Young Women, but would be a very good lesson for R.S.. FHE or other.  I am putting together a handout booklet that will be filled with stories, a game, ideas, scriptures and such, that I will be suggesting that the YW can do a FHE with their family.  Anyway... since it is just as applicable to R.S. as it is to Y.W. I will post it here too. 
Here is the front cover that I designed, the pages can be found on my YW Blog.  Just click on the title of this post and it will take you directly to that blog.   Enjoy!  Katie G.

FYI:  I do booklets for handouts because I find so many wonderful stories, scriptures, images, etc, that I just can't have it in my lessons due to time constraints.  So.. this is the way to keep on giving after your lesson is through.  

Speaking of a Grateful heart, I just want you to know that I am grateful for all of you who come and visit my blog and share such nice comments and questions with me.  It is uplifting to me to be a part of sharing the gospel in a different sort of a way, but in a way that provides service to others.  I love it and just thank my Heavenly Father for the talents and abilities that He gave to me before I was born that have developed to the extent that I use them today. I am grateful and acknowledge that all I am or ever hope to be will be are a direct response of my Heavenly Fathers love for me.    Sincerely, Katie G. 

Bookmark



Here is another bookmark that I created, actually for my daughter
but I  like to pass things on, so here you go to use as you like.  My
daughter wanted 10 per page, and that saves alot on ink if you are
doing the printing on your own home printer. 
Enjoy!  Katie G.



Printable Valentine Card

I needed to make some cute Valentine cards to go with the heart shaped bowls filled with candies for my husband's Home teaching families, so I thought I would share with your too.

Just print them of on 8.5 x 11 cardstock (in Color), cut and fold them in half.  You can buy the exact note card size envelop either at Walmart or Office Maxx or Depot, as that is where I buy mine. 

Happy Valentines Day and Enjoy!  Love, Katie G.

More Cute Valentine Ideas

I usually make up my own Valentines, because I can, so I try to come up with a Valentine that has a message that is specific for either the gift I am giving, or for the person.  Here is my little gift idea that i am giving to the ladies I Visit teach and I hope that none of them come look at this post before I get their Valentine to them.  Well.... if they do, then they will have something to look forward to..... do you think?

Click on the image and it will make it larger for you to see in better detail.  I love vintage so I took an old Vintage Valentine and added some other do dads, and turned it into a Valentine, that is color coded to match the little gift I am giving.

I went to Target and in their $1 section, I found some really cute black, red and white note pads that have a magnet on the back side.  They also had some really cute matching pens so I bought them and taped them to the front of the note pad.  I then found some matching pencils too, and did the same with them.  I bundled all of this up in a Valentine Cellophane bag and tied the top off with a red ribbon.  It turned out so very cute.  Now... Notice what the Valentine says right at the top..."PLEASE NOTE" ... get it?  Note pad and please note.  Pretty cleaver and very cute. 
These Valentines will print two per page and they are note card size.  Walmart sometimes carries the note card size envelop, but if they don't have any, then Office Max or Office Depot or any other office store should carry them, but unfortunately in bulk.  I do allot of card making so, I buy bulk most of the time. 

Sending a Package to someone in the mail for Valentines Day?  I made these up to send my Valentine Package to my son's family who lives in Wyoming.  These can also be used as gift tags too, for cookies or other goodies that you make up to give to someone for Valentines Day.  Enjoy!

I found a cute old Popcorn themed Valentine here:  http://vintageholidaycrafts.com/ that I used to create one of my own, to put on a box of microwave popcorn to give to my sons and sons-in-law as part of the Valentine packages I do for my children's families.  This Valentine (at the bottom) would be cute to use in many different ways.  Today at my local Target store, I found these darling large heart shaped bowls in pink or red, and I thought how cute it would be to pop some popcorn and fill up those bowls. (and to make it extra yummy, add a bag of Valentine M&M's) I would wrap the popcorn filled bowl in cellophane and tie the top with a beautiful bow, and of course I would attach this cute Valentine to tie in the Popcorn message.

On my blog, http://visitingteachingsurprise.blogspot.com/search/label/popcorn I even have a Mother gooses or Koolaid popcorn recipe that would be great to use for the popcorn if you wanted to get alittle more creative than just having buttered popcorn. Kettle Corn is really good too and that is easy to make as well.  I found a very simple recipe for Kettle Corn on the Rachael Ray site.  http://www.rachaelraymag.com/Recipes/rachael-ray-magazine-recipe-index/appetizer-starter-recipes/Sweet---Salty-Kettle-Corn

I also found another site that did about what I did with this popcorn idea and here is their link http://keepingmycents.blogspot.com/2011/01/homemade-popcorn-valentine.html

Have fun and enjoy your Valentine giving!  Love, Katie

Very Cute Valentine Ideas

 

   Have been looking for some cute and original Valentine Ideas to do for my children.  I have found some really cute one that I wanted to provide links so that you too could see these fun things to do.  Here is the first one that I found.  It is soooo cute and would be cute even not hanging with a berry wreath behind it.  I have put this link below the image.  To see it closer, click on the image 
http://www.lilluna.com/2011/01/tutorial-tuesday-valentines-wreath.html  There is a complete tutorial of how this was made and it only cost $4! 

Now I found this next one in my search for really cute and creative things to do for Valentines at this site: http://tatertotsandjello.blogspot.com/2010/01/whimsical-valentine-wreath.html  I can't believe just by looking at the picture that it is made out of cupcake liners.  The tutorial on how to make it is on the blog, so be sure to go to it and have a look see!  My mind of course went wild with this one, because think about all the other holidays that you would like to have  a wreath up and you could buy the cupcake liners for St. Patricks Day ( which I have a hard time finding decorations that I actually like for that holiday) of for any other holiday or time of year!   SO CUTE!  Make sure to scroll down below the instructions, because displayed on that blog are a bunch of other cupcake wreaths!

When I find some ideas from blogs that I like, I usually find that their tastes are like mine, so I really enjoy looking at the other cute things they have created, and I make sure to save them to my favorites list so I can find them again when I need another project.  So.... I kept looking around on this same blog and found this other cute idea for Valentines Day....  They are playing cards made into Valentine Coupons.  Now how cute and cleaver is this?  She even has the printable coupon link on it so you can benefit from her work and ideas.  It is so very cute.  Here is the direct link to this project http://tatertotsandjello.blogspot.com/2010/02/valentine-project-playing-card-coupon.html  You will need to go look at other projects on this blog because she has so many other ones that are just darling!  So here is the link that will take you there http://tatertotsandjello.blogspot.com/search/label/crafts 

and as I scrolled down I came to these darling flowers made out of felt or leather, but I also thought you could buy some vinyl and make them too.  http://tatertotsandjello.blogspot.com/2010/11/1-leather-or-felt-flower-gift-idea-with.html is the direct link to the tutorial to make these but what a versatile project.  These could be given as a gift to someone or made for yourself to have a purse clip, a hair clip, a belt clip, a shoe clip or any other kind of clip that you came up with.   I absolutely love this site and the ideas that she has so cleverly come up with that are new and fresh.  You know, I have seen cute purses that have cute flowers and ruffles all over them, and you could make one using a plain purse or bag pattern and adorn your purse with these darling flowers.  We have a store in Utah that is called Home Fabrics, that have bolts and bolts of fabric that can be used for draperies, upholstering  furniture, and they also have large rolls of vinyl and leather for really cheap per yard.  I think this must be a seconds store, but looking at these darling flowers tutorial, my mind went wild about where I can go to get the materials to make something really cute like this. 

This image came from this blog http://ptskjohnson.blogspot.com/2010/09/jizdani-designer-bags-giveaway.html and gives sort of an idea of what you can do to decorate a purse with flowers.  The one on the image aren't the same ones as above, but you can find a pattern for those as well online.  Look how she has added a cute button to the center of the flower to make it even cuter!
Here is a link to a site that has all different kinds of free patterns for making purses that you can use.  There is even one that is made out of duct tape if you can imagine!!!!
http://pursepatterns.com/free_bag_patterns.html    Here is one that looks very simple to make, http://tinyhappy.typepad.com/tiny_happy/2006/06/shoulder_bag_tu.html and would be darling with flowers all over the front of it.  I would make the purse in a vinyl and then put darling fabric or vinyl flowers all over the front of it.  I found this purse at this site http://craftstew.com/sewing/free-purse-and-tote-bag-patterns and it has lots of other purse patterns too.  I think just alittle clutch purse with a zipper would be so cute decorated with these flowers.  Can you tell I like these flowers???

 
           One last thing... Don't forget to go to my own Valentine ideas on this site that I have created in the past years for ideas too.  (go to the Labels section on the right and at the bottom, click on "Valentines" ..They are still cute and current ideas and there are printable things that make it so much easier, that is if you own a printer.  Enjoy!  Katie G.