The Baptism Program

Since I wasn't able to make my invitation with Boo in her Baptism Dress I wanted it to at least be on her program.  Myself and the oldest took pictures the Sunday before her baptism.  A kind friend edited the pictures for me (since we all now know how I can't manage Photoshop).  I searched for invitation ideas, but couldn't find one that included everything I needed.  So I made my own.  I designed it with my daughter's name at the top and the date of the baptism at the bottom.  A 4x6 photo fit perfectly in between.  I ordered these from Costco and included a black border around it.  I attached the photo with photo corners so that friends and family could remove the picture and keep it if they chose to.  You could print the photo right on the invitation, but I wanted family to be able to keep the photo and not necessarily have to keep the program.

On the inside left is the first song we sang in the program: "When I Am Baptized."  Type in the song your child chooses here.  On the right is the program outline.  I included titles - either Brother/Sister/Bishop or family relation: Grandpa/Father/etc.  I wanted to include the witnesses and who was performing the baptism and confirmation.  I also learned that both a member of the primary presidency and bishopric take a moment to welcome the child & say a few things. (If this is for a convert there wouldn't be a Primary Welcome).  On the back is the closing song.  There is also a little note stating where the template came from.  Please leave the web address on it (you can change wording/font size, just make sure the blog address is correct).

If you choose to download, please become a follower first (on the right).  I'm happy to share my creations with my followers.  If you would like to leave a comment too that would totally make my day!

Download the editable program here.  (Be kind and leave the source of the template on the bottom of the back of the program). 

To see more posts about the baptism click here or on the baptism link under labels on the right.

The Baptism Invitations

I searched the net for free baptism subway art and I found the above art on Poppy Seed Projects, here.  I decided that it would make a great invitation.  I tried out Photoshop to make the invitation. I won't tell you how many HOURS it took me to do as much as I did.  Then I had a warning from Costco that it isn't a good resolution.  I gave up, took my chances, and they printed just fine.  I really wanted to get a picture of her in her dress, but as always I didn't have time to squeeze it in.  I used one of the pictures taken about a month before she turned eight.
I put the subway art on one side and the picture inside the frame.  On the other side I wrote up the invitation.  I erased her name and other personal information in the picture above, but kept an E on there to see the fun font and color I used.  I used her full name and it took up two lines. I searched online to find some ideas for wording.  If you click on the picture above it should enlarge for you to read (if not and your interested leave a comment and I'll add it).
I printed them online at Costco.com.  They are 6 x 7 1/2 so the picture is about 4x6.  Nice and large if the family wants to trim off the words and just keep the photo (after all the subway art is too cute). The smallest amount you can order is 50 for $14.99 which was too many, but they are the size I wanted and it still costs less for more than if I ordered at another place.  They also come with some heavy envelopes lined with silver.  I was very pleased with how they turned out.  The only thing I would do different is have her in her beautiful dress.

To see more posts about the baptism click here.

LDS Baptism Kit Kats

I found this cute idea for a Kit Kat wrapper here on Sugardoodle and instantly loved it!  The three letters of Kat spell out the covenants that are made at baptism.  On the back is the 4th Article of Faith.  Perfect!  My only problem was it was black and white and the font was just plain.  So changed the colors to match our color theme and I changed up the font.  I did one girl friendly and one boy friendly.  
You can use this idea for a talk and give it to the child being baptized as a reminder.  You can have a basket of them as favors to those who attend.  We chose to give one to the kids that came to the baptism.  It was a great way for them to remember the talk on baptism.  Most of the kids (all but two) hadn't been baptized yet.  My little girl was baptized the day before Easter so they had these Kit Kats in yellow wrappers in the Easter aisle.  It matched the colors so much better than the red wrapper.

Please be kind and become a follower if you decide to download or if you like what you see.  If you have even more time, leave a comment.  Knowing people use my creations (recreations) makes taking the time to take pictures and create posts worth it.  Thanks for visiting!

Download the Kit Kat Wrapper Here

My apologies to anyone who tried to open this and was unable.  I forgot to change the link from private to share.  Not long after I finished this post (I was working on the second baptism post) we lost power.  Turned out we lost power for 52 + hours.  We are going to spend this summer re-evaluating our emergency preparedness and 72 hours kits.  This includes purchasing and learning how to use a generator!  We, of course, are also in the middle of a heat wave 114 degree weather & no power does not equal fun!  If something doesn't work, let me know!

To see more posts about the baptism click here. 

It Has Been Awhile

I have been incredibly busy and I had to put the blog on the back burner for a bit.  I have so much for you.  I still have teacher appreciation things to post from April (plus I skipped some important things like Valentines Day).  My delay actually started from one of those posts.  I spent days typing a post and all the sudden it disappeared when I tried to post the final version.  I have no idea where it went.  Since I worked on it for days it had been saved several times, but it didn't even revert back to the last save and  95% of it was gone.  I was frustrated and had lots going on so I threw in the towel for a bit.  Some events that have kept me busy (and a sneak peak at some things to come):

The Oldest was selected to join the National Junior Honors Society:

Then she had a birthday and officially became a teenager:

Can you tell what she is into?  The family did great finding her gifts!

There was the surprise party we had to whip up a present for:

End of school year gifts to make:

The boy moving on from Elementary to Middle School:

 

 Above is the 5th grade run around the school they do on the last day.

They painted the rocks out front and all 5th graders left their hand print.

 Last day of school for the kids:

(I had one more day of work/school than they did.)

Father's Day:

Gymnastics:

Baseball:

and then baseball playoffs:

 If you don't do baseball you wouldn't realize that each game take 3 1/2 - 4 hours out of your day.  And it usually consumes 2 days (nights) a week.  Add a day of practice for a few hours.

Girls Camp

Planning a 'Stache Bash (aka birthday party):

And then having the party.

All Star Games:

and champions:

That is the summary of my busy life.  I promise to blog soon and share my ideas and my printables.  Today was the first day it really felt like summer (we go to school late into June - more than half way in fact).  I have lots of cleaning to do and a stack of books just begging to be read, but I will blog too.  Promise.

Baptism Wrap-Up

I'm doing this backwards from what I usually do, but many others do it this way.  I'm going to show you a summary of my daughter's Baptism and then I'll dissect it and let you know what I did, how It did it, and provide you with any printables I made.  
First, If you are not of the LDS faith (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) then I want to mention that a person may choose to be baptized at the age of 8 or later.  We believe that age 8 they are old enough to know right from wrong and to be accountable for their decisions.  For more information you can go here. With that being said, my baby turned eight in January and she made the decision to be baptized.  We decided to wait until spring break for this special event because we had time off school to spend with the family that was traveling to attend. 
First are the invitations.  I wanted to get her picture taken in her dress, but things were crazy busy and it didn't happen for the invitations.  I ended up using the picture taken over Christmas break:

I deleted personal info, but left an E to see the font/color used for her name

The programs and picture display outside the room she was baptized in:

I wish I had better pictures of the refreshments and room, but I was busy playing mom and host so here is what I was able to get my tween to take.
We chose the bright colors of blue, yellow, purple, pink, and green. I used candy melts to tie in the color to the food.  We had pretzel rods dipped in chocolate, cake balls on a stick with a cupcake topper.  The cupcake toppers had her monogram & date of baptism, Congratulations, and 8 is great:

We had five round tables set up and used plastic tablecloths in the mentioned colors.  We made tissue paper flowers for the centerpieces.  I also printed the same things mentioned above on clear labels and put them on clear cups.

It was lots of fun and turned out beautifully.  I may have gotten myself in trouble though.  Word of advice: don't make it look too nice when most of the bishopric and a counselor of the Relief Society presidency are there.  Now they think I can actually pull this off more than once. 
I added more posts.  You can click on links throughout this post or click on baptism under labels on the right.  These will have printables for you.

And what I forgot the Baptism Kit Kat Wrappers:

Linking up with:

Bloom

Post-it Holder

I saw this idea floating around the blog world/pinterest: a cute post-it note holder.  I decided it was a simple and low cost gift for Teacher Appreciation week.  I purchased the clear plastic frames from Walmart (they are at Dollar tree too, but they are actually cheaper at Walmart).  I ended up buying 3.5x5 frames and two 4x6 frames (because they were out of the smaller size, but they cost the same).  I sent my daughter to pick out paper and she came back with the assortment you will see.  I was extra excited because I had coordinating sticker ribbon that went with this paper.  Next time I make them I will probably use bright colored paper, ribbon, and post-its. 

If you buy your frames Walmart don't forget to remove the plastic coating that protects the frame (the ones Dollar Tree didn't have it - another reason to buy from Walmart).  Just cut your scrapbook paper to fit inside the frame.  You can get fancy and use two colors, but I just used one print because the post-its cover most of it up.  Add some ribbon across the top and accessorize it.  I added flowers, tags, and some bling.  You could add the teacher's name or initial.

These just have yellow post-its.  The middle is a 4x6 frame.  My youngest found some heart post-its and wanted to use them for her teacher.  I obliged and we we added some post-it flags to the top.  The colors aren't as pretty as the yellow or green post-its, but it works(this is also the reason why I want to try bright coordinating colors next time):

I also had purchased some apple post-it holders at the beginning of the year.  I used these for the elementary school teachers and put their name on it with white stickers:

I tied it up with a cute tag found at Tip Junkie.  I also put the tag on the back of the plastic frames.

 

Seeds of Knowledge {Teacher Thank You}

 

As you may be able to tell from this years posts and last years, I try to give a present a day during teacher appreciation week.  The Middle School Teachers and Specialist usually have something a little smaller than the Elementary Teacher's gift (and home room in middle school).  While trying to plan out the week I found a cute idea at Tatortots and Jello.  I love how they printed right on the brown paper bag.  I've got to remember this for future use!

I made the cute tags and attached them to a package of seeds for the specialists (don't forget your librarian, art, music, PE, computer, and paraprofessionals) and my daughter's middle school teachers.  For my kids' elementary teachers we took it up a step and added gardening gloves and pots.  I chose not to decorate the pots because I wanted to make sure it is something they would use.

Here is what I did.  First I cut a brown paper bag from the grocery store into 8 1/2 x 11 pieces.  I printed my tags below onto it.

I then trimmed them down.  I had the packets of seeds downstairs when I started cutting so I made them a little short.  I recommend measuring the packages before cutting so they are the same size.

To add the distressed look crumble up the paper.  The Tatortots and Jello said to iron it, but I iron only when absolutely necessary.  Instead I stuck them under a few books and went to bed (turns out a few minutes works too when I realized then next morning that I had forgotten one).

Then I stapled the tag right to the front of the seeds.  I chose to add ribbon in my kids' school colors. Just cut the ribbon, hold under the stapler when stapling, then tie around the staple.

Then I wanted to add to the distressed look so I brought out the chocolate ink pad.  At first I just went over the edges then I lightly rubbed it across the front trying to only get the ink on the creases.

If you choose to use the ink then I recommend doing it before you staple it onto the seeds.  I really like how it turned out.  The seeds were just over $1 a package and everything else I had on hand!

You can make your own tag, but if you prefer everything as easy as possible then download the I made below.  Just print on 8 1/2 x 11 paper (in my case I cut it out of a brown paper bag).

Download it HERE
 If you decide to download, please take the time follow my blog or to leave a comment.  Knowing people use it makes taking the time to take pictures and create posts worth it.  Thanks for visiting!