Training Happy Hearts: Crafts

Showing posts with label Crafts. Show all posts

Sunday, December 10, 2023

Make a Super Simple Advent Wreath

How has your second week of Advent been?

If I am being honest, it has been a hard week in many ways here. Yet amidst the challenges, there have been blessings, and I am grateful for all the ways that light shines in the darkness.

The light of Christ has been seen working in and through others, the hope and strength of the Eucharist has been found at daily Mass, and literal light has shined when my children and I have made time to sit around our Advent wreath to pray and read.

I have yet to snap a photo of those times this year, but I did take some snapshots of the making of our wreath, which I thought I would share here in case you'd like ideas for an easy way to put together an Advent wreath.

Gather Supplies

Typically, I have our Advent wreath ready to go before Advent or on the first day of Advent, but this year, I was definitely behind, only had our Advent Chain and Christmas Novena card ready as Advent began, and so spent time on the second day of Advent getting our wreath ready.

First, I stopped at a local Dollar Tree for a gold charger plate, some ribbon, and some florist foam.

After that, I stopped into our church offices to purchase some Advent candles. (If they were out of these, I would have just picked up white candles at Dollar Tree and put purple ribbons on three and a pink on on another.)

Then, later in the day - okay, maybe as darkness began to fall - the kids and I went for a walk to gather greenery.

Make a Walk in the Woods an Advent Wreath Tradition

Some years ago, we started a tradition of walking in the woods on or before the first day of Advent to find a branch to hang our Jesse tree ornaments on. Last year, that walk morphed into one for finding Advent wreath greens, too.

We are blessed to have holly trees along many local trails. We also collect any sort of evergreen we think might last throughout Advent in our wreath.

Assemble the Wreath

Because I was not been able to find a circular floral foam when I stopped by Dollar Tree, I went with two blocks of foam, one of which my kids and I opted to cut to make a cross shape, which we thought was apropos as it reminded us of the cross Jesus died for us on, linking the Advent, Christmas, Lent, and Easter seasons for us.

Then, we put the candles into the cross and surrounded them with greenery, popped a few ribbons in, and, as a result, ended up with a more circular Advent wreath.

We were delighted with how it came out - simple, traditional, and ready for us to pray a blessing and use as we prepare our hearts and home for the coming of Christ this Advent season.

Pre-Made Advent Wreaths Can Work, Too

Of course, if you're not up for a walk in the woods and making your own Advent wreath, you can always purchase a pre-made, reusable one.

For years, our family went that route.

Some years we used a reusable wreath with regular Advent candles...

... and some years we popped in roll-your-own beeswax ones.

In fact, it was only a few years ago that we decided to start pairing a family walk at the start of Advent with making an annual fresh-cut greenery wreath.

Any which way we've done our Advent wreath, we find that every year the light of the candles on our Advent wreath captures and focuses us especially when we've made regular time to gather, pray, and read by our Advent wreath.

No matter how your Advent has been going, I encourage you to put together a wreath of some kind to help you and yours wait in joyful anticipation while giving thanks for and recognizing the light of Christ in this world.

I'd love to see a photo of your Advent wreath this year. Feel free to post one on our Facebook page.

May your Advent continue with hope and peace as you embrace moments that shine!

Sunday, May 5, 2019

31 Way to Celebrate Our Lady in May

Happy May - the Month of Mary!

{Some links which follow are affiliate ones.}

I pray that it's unfolding as a lovely month dedicated to Our Lady.

Whether you are looking to honor Mama Mary through prayer, reflection, crafting, or learning endeavors, I pray one of these 31 ideas will help enrich your experience this month.

Prayer and Pious Practices

1. Begin your day with an Act of Consecration.

Start your day off with a gesture of prayer by praying a consecration to Jesus through the Immaculate Heart of Mary:

O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary,I offer you my prayers, works, joys, and suffering of this day in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world. I offer them for all the intentions of Your Sacred Heart: the salvation of souls, reparation for sins, the reunion of all Christians; I offer them for the intentions of our Bishops and of all Apostles of Prayer and in particular for those recommended by our Holy Father this month.

If you'd like to learn more about fuller Consecration to Mary, the Rooted Mom offers a succinct and helpful Consecration 101. (She also sells a variety of Marian-themed products.)

2. Make a Consecration to Mary with your children.

Source: Amazon

If you have little ones, the book Consecration to Mary for Little Ones by Kimberly Fries from My Little Nazareth is wonderful!

I have read through it myself and will be beginning a consecration with my children on May 13 - the Monday of the 4th week of Easter -with it. If you'd like to do the same, now is the time to purchase this lovely book which I will be doing a full review of soon.

3. Add the Regina Caeli and the Angelus to your day.

This prayer is traditionally prayed at 9:00 a.m., noon, and 6:00 p.m. in order to sanctify our morning, afternoon, and evening hours through the sweet and holy presence of Mary.

The wonderfully helpful site Crusaders for Christ offers free printable handwriting sheets with the Angelus and Look to Him and Be Radiant with Joy has a super cute mini-book for each prayer.

4. Sing Prayers to Mary with Little Ones

Source: Amazon

The Bible often speaks about lifting our voices in song and prayer.

If you and your little ones like to do this, may I recommend Joyful Noises by Jennifer Sharpe of Hearts True Devotion? In it, Jennifer has included two super sweet prayers to Our Lady that children can easily learn and sing.

I am a grown up and I've even begun singing them myself sometimes.

(I'll have a full review of this book coming, soon, too!)

5. Gain a fuller understanding of the Hail Mary.

Burning Hearts offers a wonderful line-by-line reflection on the Hail Mary.

You can also find lovely free copywork to for the prayer at Crusaders for Christ.

6. Begin a Devotion of the Three Hail Mary's

Source: Training Happy Hearts

To pray the Devotion of the Three Hail Mary's, we pray one Hail Mary in honor of each person of the Holy Trinity and ask our Our Lady to intercede for us with specific graces needed to live each and every day.

You can find our more about the devotion and how to introduce it here.

7. Wear the Miraculous Medal

If you do not already do so, consider wearing the Miraculous Medal. Amy from Prayer, Wine, Chocolate shares 5 reasons to do so.

Source: Training Happy Hearts

If you're just introducing the Miraculous Medal to your children, you might also like to borrow ideas from a Miraculous Medal gathering I enjoyed with friends.

8. Pray the Memorare.

The Memorare is a wonderful prayer to learn and pray whenever you have a particular need.

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly to thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother; to thee do I come; before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.

You can find free copywork of this one at Crusaders for Christ, too!

9. Wear the Brown Scapular.

If you don't already, you might consider wearing the Brown Scapular.

Source: Training Happy Hearts

If teaching your children about it, perhaps you might glean ideas from our July liturgical shelf and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel snack time.

Source: Training Happy Hearts

10. Pray the Rosary

It almost goes without saying when speaking of Our Lady and prayer, that we can refocus ourselves on praying the Rosary.

Source: Training Happy Hearts

Gracewatch Media's Illuminated Rosary (reviewed here), can be a beautiful tool to help families do just that.

Source: Training Happy Hearts

Joining the Children's Rosary Prayer Movement is a worthwhile idea, too.

And, of course, there are oodles of ideas and resources for introducing, re-introducing, and making a holy habit of praying the rosary. Many of ours can be found here.

You might also start slowly with Elizabeth Clare's Rosary in a Month challenge.

Reflection Time

11. Imitate Mary.

Source: Amazon

In St. Louis de Montfort's classic True Devotion to Mary, he gives us a list of 10 principle virtues of Mary that we might imitate to help in our holiness. They are:

deep humility
lively faith
blind obedience
unceasing prayer
constant self-denial
surpassing purity
ardent love
heroic patience
angelic kindness
heavenly wisdom

Being so very human, I have a hard time with many of these virtues. Perhaps you do, too. So, perhaps, pick just one at a time to work on.

Source: Amazon

Or, start simpler by reading the children's book Just Like Mary - a favorite of mine - with your children and see how it moves you all towards imitating Our Lady.

12. Reflect on Mary's Great Love for the Holy Trinity.

Sara from To Jesus, Sincerely shares beautiful reflections ideal for Mama (Dada, Grammy, Grampy, or Anyone) alone-time.

13. Get real about motherhood reflecting on Mary.

A Beautiful, Camouflaged, Mess of Life offers a brief, yet powerful reflection about Our Lady as the ultimate example of motherhood and Everyday Ediths shares the Messiness of Mary's Motherhood.

14. Color while you listen.

Everything is Grace and Kennedy Adventures share some free, printable Marian coloring pages that can keep little hands content while you listen to stories and reflections about Mary.

Source: Amazon

I suggest Jesus and Mary and Leading Little Ones to Mary as read alouds for young ones this month. We have read both in my home more than once!

Source: Amazon

15. Keep reminders of Mary at hand.

Rosa Isabel and Susana of Mary with You design everyday-wear jewelry including Our Lady of Guadalupe, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, and Immaculate conception scapular bracelets and rosaries which can make a practical and lovely physical reminder to pray for the intercession of Our Lady.

Rose from Relics by Rose offers both classic and vintage jewelry, including some gorgeous Catholic Rosary bracelets. I would love to get ones for my daughter and myself. I bet you might like them, too.

16. Let a quote lead your meditations.

Ginny at Not So Formulaic has collected some wonderful Marian quotes for moms to reflect upon. They can also make good copywork.

Crafting and Learning

17. Plant a Mary Garden.

Source: Training Happy Hearts

Mary Gardens have a long history and whether you make a permanent one or an annual Mini-Mary Garden, you are sure to enjoy the experience.

18. Gift a Mary Garden Basket.

Source: Training Happy Hearts

Along the same lines, you can make a real or paper Mary Garden to share with others - a lovely gift and a way to evangelize.

For further ideas about Mary Gardens, including some plant ideas, see Burning Hearts. You can also get plant labels from Look to Him and Be Radiant with Joy.

19. Meditate while Embroidering

Happy Nest Home Goods has loads of lovely products for sale on her Etsy shop, including a beautiful Madonna & Child pattern that would be perfect for Charlotte Mason-inspired homeschoolers and others who like handicrafts.

20. Set Up a Marian Prayer Space

A rosary, a small statue or image of Mary, a vase of flowers can make a simple, yet effective Marian prayer space.

You might also decorate your space with Schroeder Stitchery's Marian embroidery hoops on Etsy or the Benedicta Boutique's beautiful Catholic Marian Wall Art.

21. Paint Marian Peg Dolls.

Painting peg dolls can lead you to learning and meditation - and the end product is perfect for your prayer space.

Source: Training Happy Hearts

Get ideas for Marian Apparition sets...

Source: Training Happy Hearts

...and monthly Marian dolls.

22. Focus copywork on Our Lady of Fatima.
Our Lady of Fatima's feast day is this month.

Source: Training Happy Hearts

Add some free related copywork to your learning time.

23. Create a service craft for Our Lady of Fatima's feast day.

Source: Training Happy Hearts

If you're looking for a craft to share with people in nursing homes, VA hospitals, or the like, you might like the one we did a couple years ago.

24. Make a Mini Rosary Abacus

Arma Dei: Equipping Catholic Families offers a clever tutorial for combining Marian devotion with math. Such a cute and practical idea.

25. Prepare for Apologetics

If your kids are at the stage where they are being questioned about what is up with we Catholics and Mary, this brief piece by Lord, Make Me a Saint can make a great jumping off point for apologetics. It succinctly offers Biblical verses for the Hail Mary, links to deeper resources, and sums things up!

26. Plan and Host a Marian Tea Party

A Marian Tea Party can bring together practical life skills, social skills, socialization, and so much more - all with a central theme of Mary.

Catholic Inspired provides some ideas and photographs to get you started, or you can browse the many liturgical tea, saint-teas, and liturgical meals and snacks we have enjoyed.

27. Plan a May Crowning

Source: Training Happy Hearts

Catholic Icing takes you through how to plan a May Crowning.

We've done them ourselves with friends a number of times, and elaborate or simple, they are always a wonderful experience.

28. Get Cooking with Mary.

Catholic Cuisine has loads of ideas for the Month of Mary.

29. Let free printable guide the way.

Real Life at Home offers a host of free printables (and some paid ones) to keep you focused on Mary all month long and Catholic Toolbox has oodles more ideas and printables for fun and learning.

30. Enjoy coloring a Marian Quote.

Life, Love, & Sacred Art offers many free printables. Among them is a lovely quote to color and meditate on.

31. Have a Poet-tea.

Use the catalog of May poems found on the University of Dayton website over a tea time to celebrate Our Lady.

I'd love to hear, which, if any of these ideas spark observances of this Month Dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary in your home.

Mary, Our Mother, pray for us.

Wednesday, March 21, 2018

Make Fun Fuse Bead Designs Without an Iron or Glue {A Review}

Are you looking for fuse beads that you don't need to use an iron on to make stick together? Super Beads by Zirrly are it! All it takes to use them is water, wait time, and what comes in the package!

We received a Mega Pack of Super Beads for review and have been having fun with them.

My daughter (10) said she wanted to describe them for this review. She said:

"I think Super Beads are great for passing time. They are also good if you want to improve your fine motor skills and make designs. You can make multiple types of stuff.

In the kit we got, you had your boards and your beads, a water bottle, and you also got pixelated pictures that go underneath your board.

You place the beads on the colors that show on the picture to make a design. You have to make sure the line on the beads is facing up. That's pretty easy, but not when the electricity has gone out. (We did some by candlelight.)

After all your beads are on the board, you press the design down nice and tight, and, then, the cool thing about Super Beads is that, instead of ironing them, all you have to do is spray them with water and wait about an hour (or more!) and, then, use a special little tool that is included to remove them from the board. It is sometimes hard to remove them, but not too hard.

Once you peel your designs off, you can set them out throughout your house or play with them.

Oo, if you touch the beads, you have to wash your hands, and wet hands stick to the beads. Use dry hands!

We made two elephants with our friends, a turtle, an apple, and I also made a little sign.

We still have lots of beads. I am going to use them more, and I think crafty people would like these.

When I asked her sons for their input, my twelve year old said:

"I enjoyed making the apple with my friend, and we sent it home with him. The things we kept, I don't play with. It takes a very, very long time to make things, and, then, I never even play with them. So, they are not very worth it to me, but if you like that kind of stuff, then, they'd be good.

They take a lot of patience and use fine motor skills."

My other son, at seven, said:

"They are beads that stick with water. I like using them to make signs. Sometimes they pop off the boards, and you have to use one particular side of the beads, so you have to be patient. It takes over an hour for it all to be done. It is worth it depending on what type of person you are. If you need to practice fine motor skills, it is good. If you are crafty, it is good. If you want to pass time, it is good."

As you can see, the consensus around here , then, seems to be that:

The beads are not hard to use, but take patience.
You get a fine motor skills working with the beads.
Crafty kids like these beads.
The beads are fun to share with friends.
You can easily pass time with these beads.

We have used our Super Beads on multiple occasions so far, including during an Art-Music, and Poetry club meet up when the children made designs while listening to poetry read aloud and classical music playing, at a playdate when then kids wanted to make signs for a "town" they are making, and during a power outage when the children chose to pass time using the beads by candlelight.

We inadvertantly discovered that the beads make a great sensory fun tool for littles, too.

Our young friend (who knows not to put small things in his mouth - which would be a caution for other young friends) had fun playing and pouring with the beads when he wasn't placing them into designs the other children.

The Mega Pack comes with:

4500 Super Beads (including limited oranges and blacks and plenty of whites)
5 X 4 Assorted Design Templates (which means you have repeat designs, not 20 different ones)
2 Spray Bottles (which are used to wet - but not soak - designs so they can fuse together)
4 Boards (which connect together for larger design patterns)
1 Design Tool (for removing your designs fro the boards once they dry)
Instructions