I didn't mean to take such a long break...but boy have I needed it! Christmas came and went in a whirlwind...and then my poor sweet father got sick. He's all better now but it took a while for him to bounce back. I'm going to continue this little blogging break for another little bit...and then I'm hoping to get back, better than ever. But first I wanted to share this...
My father getting sick was an eye-opener for our family. I haven't mentioned it here before but my darling mother was diagnosed with dementia a few years ago. So far, it seems she mostly has trouble remembering people's names and the names of some things. First it was the names of people she rarely saw, then progressing to people closer to her. And when my father was sick and not eating, we realized she wasn't eating either. The only thing I think she could remember to fix was peanut butter crackers.
My father is completely dedicated to taking care of her. When we talk to them about the future and getting extra care, they insist that they are doing okay on their own. My mother prays to God everyday that her memory won't get any worse. Compared to others in similar circumstances, she actually is doing quite well. She even reminds my father to take his medicine. And she knows all about what bills to pay and when.
What makes me so sad though is to think of the parts of my mother's life that are forever gone...no more knitting, sewing or crafting of any kind. No more cooking or baking. Back when she was first diagnosed, and we were looking blindly into the future, I worried how could she be happy if, among the things she loses, she loses hold of the things that make her happy. It's still a question I worry about but what I've realized is that the roots of who she is are still there. She is still my sweet mother.
I never imagined that writing this post would be so hard but I suppose that's really why I've never mentioned it here. I'm in denial, for certain. This isn't a disease that ever improves, is it? Little bits, like crumbs from a cookie, are lost everyday. It hit me especially hard the other day when I called and said to her "This is Amy"...and there was a pause...an unspoken "who?" It's so silly because I knew she forgot others names. Somehow though, I just didn't think she'd forget mine.
What can I do? Denial isn't the way. I know that. But maybe the thing to do is to realize that we still have most of that sweet cookie and treasure her. I suppose the day will come when most of the crumbs have fallen away. Perhaps then I can try to rejoice that I can still remember and those memories can make her whole again. My sweet mother with her golden heart.
I'll join my mother's daily prayer. She doesn't ask that it be taken away...just that it not get any worse. See? Even in that, you can see how sweet her spirit is. So I do that...I pray that her memory stays as it is as long as God wills it.
Monday, January 27, 2014
Thursday, December 12, 2013
prayer journals
I wanted to show you how I made the prayer journals that I sold last month at the school craft fair. They were a big hit...and so easy to make.
The idea for them was sparked by a project over at Big Picture Classes using a cheap "brag book" type photo album ($1 from Walmart and Dollar Tree) to create a mini-book. Such a great idea...So you'll want to grab some of these $1 plastic photo albums. The ones at Walmart have fewer pages than the ones at Dollar Tree. Unfortunately Target sells these for twice the price.
Cut a bunch of paper to 4" x 6". The great thing is that there's no waste since regular scrapbook paper is 12" x 12"...just cut each sheet in half (6") and then cut those halves into 3 4" sections. Easy peazy.
Next find and lay out the prayers or inspirational messages you'd like to include. Print them out on paper. You can either set it up to print on larger paper, 4 up or so, and then cut to size. I found it easier to cut my paper into 3" x 5" cards which I then fed through the printer. You could also use index cards for this.
Another idea is to layout the pages at 4" x 6" and use digital scrapbooking elements to design the page. Or, you could create works of art for each page, scan them in and then print them out. It would take a while, sure, to make all that artwork...but then you'd have a wonderful gift you could reproduce for lots of people.
Slip out the covers included with the book and use those as a guide to cut 4 pieces of printed paper. (If you are using 2-sided printed paper, you can just make 2 cover sheets...one for the front one for the back) I like the look of making the front and back cover the same design. It makes it look more like a book. You can include a label if you'd like on the front cover. And the inside cover could include a message to your recipient, including ideas for how to use the journal.
Then, it's just assembling the book. I used 2-sided tape to secure the prayer card in the middle of one of the 4" x 6" papers and added the prayers to every right page. I put blank patterned papers on the left pages but you could put prayers there as well. My thought though is that you could tuck in prayer intentions on slips of paper...or write them directly on those blank printed papers, so that as you use the journal you can pray specifically for those people and situations. You can also add your own prayers...or change them out.
This next step is essential for transforming the book from cheap-plastic looking to something better. Simply add bookbinding tape along the spine. Instantly better.
I'm cranking these out! One of the ladies who bought a bunch at the craft fair called and wanted a few more, including one for her mother with specific prayers.
You can take this idea and make all sorts of journals! It would be a great gift for a teacher with a photo of each child and a little note. It would also make a great project for a child to do...a way to create a book easily.
Have fun with this idea!
Julie, the font is Carolyna Pro Black. I also love using Emily Lime, Itchy Handwriting, Jenna Sue, and Mrs. Blackfort. All these can be purchased at Myfonts.com...but first search fontsquirrel.com for free ones.
Monday, December 9, 2013
show toppers wonderment jar
It's a snow day here so Alfredo and I decided to do a little crafting. Well, mostly I crafted and Alfredo staged an epic dinosaur battle all around me. I made this adorable snow jar using a regular jar and Cosmo Cricket's super Show Toppers jar lid and mini mobile. Let me show you how I did it.
First, I used Claudine Hellmuth's paper doll set to make a fun version of our little family. It was super easy to do it in photoshop but if you don't have mad photoshop skills, you could just make the paper dolls the old-fashioned cut and paste way and then scan them in. Then, make them into Shinky Dinks by printing them onto Shrinky Dink Ink Jet plastic sheets! Shrinky Dinks will shrink to about 1/3 of the original print out size. One great thing about making Shrinky Dink paper dolls is that it's easier to cut out a paper doll that's 6" tall compared to one that's 2" tall.
To prepare the file, lighten the colors quite a bit. As the image shrinks, it becomes darker. If you skip this step, your Shrinky Dinks will be too dark.
There's nothing so fun as making Shrinky Dinks! It was most fun to make them using a toaster oven so Alfredo could easily watch them shrink. They roll and fold onto themselves as they shrink, doing somersaults. You really must make little Shrinky Dinks of yourself!
To make the snowy mound that we're standing on, I used a styrofoam ball, cut in half using a serrated kitchen knife.
I covered the styrofoam surface with a generous, gooey coat of Alene's Tacky Glue...
And then dumped clear glitter on top.
I inserted two toothpicks (trimmed to about 2") to the snow mound so that I'd have something to attach my little people to. And I left this to dry a bit.
Meanwhile, I used the mini mobile from Cosmo Cricket to make a sweet little chandelier. I used some crinkly wire but you can use any kind of thin wire you have on hand.
I began by twisting the end of the wire to one of the hooks. I cut a length about 18" long and began threading little beads on.
I used the tiny beads from this assortment, adding them randomly.
When I had enough beaded to make a little swag, I wrapped the wire around the next hook and continued around the entire mobile.
Then I added another layer, with less beads, above those swags.
I glued a large silver bead over each of the hooks to help keep the wires on...and I added some dangly bits attached in the center, like the heart bead. These dangling wires ended up being a bit too long so I wound them around a round toothpick to make them like springs, which made them shorter.
To assemble the jar, I glued the snowy mound into the bottom of the jar. I added extra glitter, which settled nicely all along the bottom of the snowy mound. Then I attached the chandelier to the hook inside the show stopper lid and screwed the lid onto the jar.
Can you even stand how adorable this is? You have got to make a little version of your family for your own little snow jar!
Enjoy! And hey! Show me what you make!
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