Coasters

We just finished VBS and I wanted to give my helpers a little something for helping me out.  I had the nursery class and we had double what we were expecting and we had the smallest classroom (because we weren't expecting that many).  It was fun, but it was a challenge.

I made a set of 4 coasters for each of my helpers (I had 4).  So I made 16 coasters total.  I personalized them by using their last initial. 

Three of my helpers had a last name that started with a "B" and one started with a "M."

After making them, I tied each set up with sisal.

I then placed them in brown kraft paper bags.  ( I love brown kraft paper!!!!!!!!!)  Stuffed with gold metallic tissue paper, added tags that I stamped, then wrote their name on the front of the tag with a gold metallic pen.

On the back of the tag I wrote a little note in gold metallic ink.

For a tutorial on how to do these, click here.

Christmas Gifts

Can you believe that I forgot to take a picture of a Christmas gift I made? (O.k. I can too.)

I made my brother's 3 boys (a set of twins age 11 and a 4 yr. old) each a pillowcase out of flannel in camo, with safety orange trim with their names embroidered in safety orange also (you can find my inspiration here). I also used the scrap camo fabric and made them each a stocking ornament and put a little cash in it.

I hope to have a tutorial on the stocking ornament soon. (It's never too early to start making gifts for next year - I mean don't do like I do and start at Thanksgiving -or later - to make all your Christmas gifts.) I have been known to stay up in the wee hours of the morning to finish a project that I procrastinated on. (I mean I wouldn't do that on a regular basis or anything, that is just in extreme cases - you know, really it is, you believe me don't you? Forget it, I knew you wouldn't buy it.)

Hope you had a very Merry Christmas and I hope you have a Happy New Year!!!!!!!!

Personalized Beach Towels

These 2 towels are for my twin nephews' birthday (Memorial Day). They are blue towels with orange trim and I embroidered their names on them in orange (to bring out the trim). I used a different font on each towel.


This towel is for another nephew (his birthday is the end of June). It is orange with green trim (name embroidered in green).


This towel is green with pink trim and matching pink, embroidered name. This is for Champ's teacher (end of the year gift). I thought with summer break coming up it might be nice to have a new beach towel.


This towel is for Lee's teacher and it is yellow with blue trim and blue, embroidered name. I hope they enjoy their summer (just a few days left until summer break is here).

I need your help

What was your favorite baby shower gift? I have several showers to attend or baby gifts to give and I want to give something really useful and/or special. I want something memorable that the mother would really appreciate. Have any ideas? I also love to give handmade items.

Great Buys

I found this great idea from $5 Dinners but it was too late for this Christmas. So I started planning for next Christmas. I went to a few stores and got several of these soup mugs ($1 each) and Latte mugs ($0.75 each) on the clearance rack. Next year I will fill them with the recipe for 'Mug Cake' that I found on $5 Dinners and/or homemade hot chocolate mix. This will help tremendously on next year's Christmas budget. I have 4 children so there are several teachers that I have to buy for (2 school teachers and 8 church teachers - 2 per child, 1 Wed. night and 1 Sun. morning teacher). Also, I feel that food is something everyone could use (knick knacks are appreciated I am sure, but a person can only have so many). I wrote this down in my Holiday Control Journal along with the recipe so I will remember next year. If you have any great gift ideas, let me know.