Pinterest Crafts

I have been wanting to do a post on the crafts I have made since I discovered Pinterest last year. If you have never heard of Pinterest you should check it out. It is a great website for finding crafts, recipes, gift ideas, and much much more. I LOVE IT!! You can check out my Pinterest boards - http://pinterest.com/hoofa/

The following pictures are the ones I did - the link that I have posted is the link to the pin on pinterest that gave me the idea to do that craft!!

BOO SIGN

I got the idea for the next craft from a pin for a Thanksgiving banner, but I wanted to make a Halloween one. I thought it turned out cute. Now this year I want to find something to make to go on top of my book shelf, I'm thinking maybe these Pumpkin Terra Cotta Pots.

SPOOKY BANNER

We don't have a fireplace mantle in our home, so I have always just hung our stockings on the wall with thumbtacks (pretty tacky, huh?). So, I had my husband help me make this cute sign to hang our stockings on. I loved it!!

STOCKINGS HOLDER

CHRISTMAS CARD HOLDER

I came up with this one, but I am going to change the letters to white when I get it out again this next Valentine's Day!!

BE MINE MANNER

I should have used black letters, since you can't really see the green ones!!

WEEKLY CALENDAR

Birthday Banner that I decided to make

I came up up with this net idea after I saw something similar in a magazine. These were made by just using the frame and glass, and gluing the glass to the frame, and then adding a picture hanger hook on the frame. I forgot to take a picture of the ones I made for my mom for Christmas - but I put the letters on scrapbook paper instead and used it as you would a typical picture frame - either hang up or set on a table.

December Family Home Evenings

This month for FHE, we are going to do a Christmas related lesson/game every week -
Week one - Christmas Memory Game

Week two - start by using this lesson - The Symbols of Christmas, then use the treasure hunt from another lesson on the symbols of Christmas -

Week three- My Gifts to Jesus

The following are a few games that we could use as an activity for after a lesson during the month:

Don't Eat...
Pin the Nose on Rudolph

Simple Primary Talk: Our Christmas Story Tree

Our Christmas Story Tree

by Jan Pinborough

 

It’s time to peek inside our box of ornaments to see

Which ones we’ll choose to decorate our Christmas story tree.

Let’s hang a cane of peppermint upon the nearest bough

To tell of shepherds watching lambs, as Jesus watches now.

 

The angel on the highest branch still sings the joyful song

Of peace on earth, goodwill to men, of pardon for our wrongs.

We’ll set a star of silver here among the twinkling lights,

Like one that shone on Bethlehem that sacred, starry night.

 

And there beneath the tree we’ll place a package wrapped in red,

Reminding of our Lord’s great gifts—His love, the blood He shed.

Our Christmas tree is ever green; its needles never fall.

Our Savior dear was born to bring eternal life to all.

Our Savior dear was born to bring eternal life to all.

Our 2010 Ward Christmas Program

I know it is way past Christmas, but I wanted to put the program that we did for our ward Christmas party last year on here, so I can delete it off of my computer. 

Finding Christ in Christmas

  Person: Inn keeper   Symbol: Christmas tree  Theme: “Come unto Me” 
Decor: slide show picture of the Savior w/ outstretched arms inviting us to come unto Him 

I am an innkeeper who did not have room in my inn for Mary, Joseph, and their heavenly child.  I turned them away. My message for you today is to make room for Christ in your life. Christ has continually urged us to, “Come unto Him”, and I hope that we will listen to His request.  I want to share some scriptures with you.  They are in Matt. 11:28-30.  These are some of Christ’s teachings while He was here on earth.

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” 

I hope that each of you will think of how you can make room for Christ in your life now and always.  

The Savior clearly wants all of us to come to Him so that we can be like Him and return to live with our Father in Heaven. The purpose of our Heavenly Father’s plan is to, “Bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man,” as it says in Moses 1:39.   As you see the beautiful Christmas trees all around you this season, I hope that you remember that it is a symbol of Christ’s never ending love for you.  It is evergreen just as Christ has endless love for us, and just as he is endlessly beaconing for us to come unto Him. Its branches also point toward heaven to remind us to continually look toward heaven in all we do.

You have now begun your journey of “Finding Christ in Christmas”.  At the end of our program, each child will be given a Christmas tree so that they can remember the message I have shared with all of you tonight.

 
I’d like to play a song for you, please listen to the message of this song, and dwell on how you can actively let Christ into your life.

Song: Inn keeper by Michael McClean

People: Shepherds   Symbol: candy cane  Theme: Christ is the good Shepherd 
Decor: slide show picture of the feeding of the five thousand,  

Shepherd 1: We are the Shepherds to whom the angel of the Lord proclaimed, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.” We are here to testify to you that our Savior was the good shepherd.  We would like to read to you a scene from the Savior’s life.

Shepherd 2:  It is found in Mark 6:34-44 (The miracle of the loaves & fishes).  

34 “And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.
35 And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed: 
36 Send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat. 
37 He answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat.  And they say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat?
38 He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? Go and see.  And when they knew, they say, Five, And two fishes. 

Shepherd 1: 
39 And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass.
40 And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties. 
41 And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them, to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all. 
42 And they did all eat, and were filled.
43 And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes. 
44 And they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men. 

Shepherd 2: This was one of the many miracles that the Savior performed while He was here on earth. It is interesting that He says that the people there were as sheep without a shepherd, and then He started to teach them.  He was the good shepherd.  He saw when His followers were both spiritually, and physically hungry, and He fed them, just as we would do for our sheep.  He also leads His people as we lead our sheep to safety and rest, and those that followed His council will never be lost and will find rest in Him.
 
Shepherd 1:  We hope that during this Christmas Season, and always that you will remember that our Savior was the good shepherd, and just as St. John 6:35 says, “…he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.”  -- We will give each of the children a symbol of Christmas to add to your Christmas trees. It is a candy cane, which is in the shape of a shepherd’s crook. We hope that you remember that our Savior is the Shepherd of us all, and would not leave even one of us behind. 

**Everyone will sing: While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks** 

People: Wise Men   Symbol: star  Theme: Follow the teachings of Christ & His servants 
Decor: slide show of the Sermon on the Mount 

Wise Man 1: We are the wise men that followed the star to find and worship the Savior of the world.  We have sought him out by diligent study, and we hope that each of you will do the same. We want to remind each of you of some of the teachings of our Savior from the Sermon on the Mount.  They are found in Matt 5: 38-48.
 
Wise Man 2: 
38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. 
40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. 
41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. 

Wise Man 3: 
43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 
45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 
46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? Do not even the publicans the same?
47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? Do not even the publicans so? 
48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. 

Wise Man 3: The Savior taught us many things, and these are just a small portion of His words.  He has instructed his prophets to write his words so that we in these latter days may use them as our own guiding star to find Him.
 
Wise Man 1 : We have a star for each of the children to put on top of their Christmas tree. We want to remind you of the star as a symbol of our guiding light to Christ. And give you this promise as found in Daniel12:3, “And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.” We give you this promise in hope that you will be wise and seek out the Savior. 

**Song:  “With Wondering Awe**

Person: Joseph   Symbol: bow   Theme: Jesus served others 
Decor: slide show picture of Jesus washing His disciples feet,  

I am Joseph, whom Jesus looked to as an earthly father.  I was by Mary’s side the first time we looked upon our heavenly child, and throughout most of His life here on earth.  I am here to testify that Jesus is our Lord, and as such, he was the greatest servant of men. I want to share with you the story of Jesus washing the twelve disciple’s feet. The story can be found in St. John 13:4-17.
 
4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. 
5 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.
6 Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? 
7 Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. 
8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet.  Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.
9 Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. 
10 Jesus saith to him, He that is washed, needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. 
11 For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.
12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? 
13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. 
14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.
15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. 

I want to remind each of you of the bow as a symbol of Christmas. During this season and always may we serve each other as Christ served us, that we may all be tied together in bonds of goodwill one toward another, that we may become united as one. Please remember as the scripture says in Mosiah 2:17 “…that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.”--I have a bow for each of the children to put on their Christmas trees.  

**Song:  When Joseph went to Bethlehem **

  

 Person: Mary   Symbol: Red  Theme: Jesus loved everyone 
Decor: slide show picture of Jesus w/ the little children,  

I am Mary the mother of Jesus whom the angel said was highly favored of the Lord. I was so amazed and struck with awe that I was to be the mother of the redeemer. I know that my son was sent to this earth to redeem all mankind, and to give them what no one else could give, His life, and His example. Greatest of all was his example of love for others.  He especially loved the little children.  In Mark 10:13-16 we read about when Jesus blessed the little children.
 
13 And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. 
14 But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
15 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. 
16 And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.” 

I hope that you always remember how precious your little children are, and that you also remember that we each are children of God. He wants each of us to come unto him just as he bid the children to come to him, because He loves us.
 
During this Christmas season I hope that when you see the color red that you remember that it’s symbolic of the great love Jesus has for us. And to remember that as John 3:16-17 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  I have a red ornament for each of the children to add to their trees.  

 **Song:  Mary’s Lullaby ** 

 Person: Baby Jesus (a doll)   Symbol: gifts    Theme: Jesus was the Greatest Gift we have ever received
Decor: Baby Jesus in a manger w/ hay, wrapped in swaddling clothes, He will be surrounded by beautifully wrapped presents, & have a light shining on Him, slide show picture of the Nativity 

Reading of Luke Ch. 2:1-16 – Missionaries will read this.

After primary will sing “Away in a Manager” 

Closing Prayer:

Put Christ back into Christmas

As I was preparing my sharing time for tomorrow, I ran across this poem at Sugardoodle.net

Put Christ back into Christmas

'Twas many, many a year ago when Christ first came to earth

And each year December rolls around when we celebrate His birth.
He came to earth, then died for us, to save us from our sins;
So let us, as we celebrate, allow His Spirit in.
For as we become so busy with our special preparations,
We tend to lose the sight of the real reason for celebrations.

Let's hold on to the miracle of our loving Savior's birth
And bring back to our memory the reason He came to earth.
So instead of being commercialized, with gifts to outdo all,
Let's give the gift of "ourselves", whether it be big or small.
Let us not so dwell upon the gifts that money can buy
But let us give a "heart gift", and His Spirit will stand us by.


As we go about our preparations in the next few weeks ahead
Let us hold deep within our hearts the greatest miracle instead
Of whose gift is the greatest, the best that money can buy;
Let us count our blessings and then let each one try
To bless those lives around us, and bring the Spirit in
Put "Christ" back into Christmas : Let The Miracle Begin.

Sharing time: Jesus' Birth

Thought that I would post my sharing time lesson that I will do tomorrow. 

Bring a baby doll to Primary. Show the doll to the children and ask, "How many of you have little brothers and sisters, like this baby doll? They're so very small and need help to do things." After the children have a chance to reply, say, "Did you know that Jesus Christ was once a baby, a long time ago.  Show a picture of Jesus Christ as a baby (gospel art picture book) to the children


Bring a Nativity set to Primary. On the bottom of each piece, tape a slip of paper with a number on it corresponding to the questions below. (1- 13). Before Primary begins, hide the pieces around the room.

Have them all close their eyes and listen as you read the words to the song, "Picture a Christmas" (pg. 50). When they open their eyes, ask them if the nativity looks kind of like what they pictured. It will be pretty bare as most of the pieces will be hidden throughout the room. Call on one child at a time to find a piece of your nativity and fill the manger. As they find each piece ask the following questions:

1. Mary-
Who told Mary that she would have a baby? - (The angel, Gabriel) Luke 1:26–33

2. Joseph –
What was Joseph told to do after the visit of the Wise Men, and why? (He was told to flee to Egypt because Herod would try to kill Jesus. ) Matt. 2:13

3. Jesus -
Why did Mary and Joseph name the baby “Jesus”? (An angel of the Lord told Joseph in a dream that “thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.) Matt. 1:18–21

4. Manger-
Why did Mary lay baby Jesus in a manger? (Because there was no room for them in the inn) Luke 2:7

5. Shepherd –
What happened to the shepherds who were watching their flocks near Bethlehem? (An angel of the Lord came and declared the glad tidings.) Luke 2:8–10

6. Shepherd –
Where did the shepherds go after the angels left? (Bethlehem) Luke 2:15–17

7. Angel-
Who joined the angel in praising God? (a multitude of the heavenly host praising God) Luke 2:13–14

8. Angel –
What did the multitude of heavenly hosts say to the shepherds? (“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”)Luke 2:13–14

9. Wise man –
How did the Wise Men know that Jesus had been born? (They had “seen his cstar in the east”) Matt. 2:1–2

10. Wise man –
What gifts did the Wise Men bring Jesus? (Gold, frankincense, and myrrh.) Matt. 2:11

11. Wise man –
Whom did the Wise Men visit before going to Bethlehem and finding Jesus? (King Herod.) Matt. 2:1–3

12. Camel –
Why didn’t the Wise Men return to King Herod to tell him where Jesus was? (They were warned in a dream to not return.) Matt. 2:12

13. Donkey -
What city were Mary and Joseph traveling to when it was time for Baby Jesus to be born? (Bethlehem.) Luke 2:4–6 and Why did Joseph and Mary go to Bethlehem before Jesus was born? (to be taxed) Luke 2:3–6

If there is time have them color this manger scene

Christmas Sharing Time: 12 days before Advent Calendar

From the time of Adam, righteous men looked forward to the birth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. The prophets taught that Jesus Christ would come to save all of Heavenly Father’s children from death. They also taught that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, men could be forgiven of their sins and return to Heavenly Father. Many of the prophets knew of the birth of the Savior, Jesus Christ, long before it happened.

Read Isaiah 9:6 and discuss: Isaiah, a mighty prophet of the Old Testament, spoke of the Savior’s birth: “For unto us a child [Jesus Christ] is born, unto us a son [the Son of God] is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace”.

Read 1 Nephi 10:4 and discuss: Lehi, a prophet of the Book of Mormon, fled Jerusalem with his family. He wandered for many years in the wilderness, endured much affliction, and inherited from God a promised land. He prophesied, as his son Nephi recorded it, that “Six hundred years from the time that my father left Jerusalem, a prophet would the Lord God raise up among the Jews—even a Messiah, or, in other words, a Savior of the world”.

Read 1 Nephi 11: 20-21 and discuss: Nephi prayed to see and understand the vision his father, Lehi, had received. In answer to his prayer, an angel of the Lord showed him the birth, ministry, and crucifixion of the Savior, Jesus Christ. Nephi said, “I looked and beheld the virgin [Mary] again, bearing a child in her arms.
“And the angel said unto me: Behold the Lamb of God [Jesus Christ], yea, even the Son of the Eternal Father!”

Read Helaman 14:2 and discuss: Samuel the Lamanite, another prophet of the Book of Mormon, stood boldly upon the wall at Zarahemla. He had been sent by the Lord to call the wicked Nephites to repentance and to foretell the Savior’s birth. He cried with a loud voice, “For five years more cometh, and behold, then cometh the Son of God to redeem all those who shall believe on his name”.

Read Luke 2: 10-11 and discuss: When the Savior, Jesus Christ, was born, the prophecies were fulfilled. The time that all the holy prophets had waited for had finally come. An angel appeared to shepherds while they watched their flocks. The angel spoke to the shepherds, saying, “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”

Then have the children make an Advent chain with the days remaining until Christmas with the following scriptures written on each day:
Isaiah 7:14—Isaiah prophesies that a pure young woman will give birth to God’s son.
Matthew 1:18–23—Isaiah’s prophecy is fulfilled.
Isaiah 9:6—Isaiah prophesies that Jesus Christ will come as a baby; Jesus is described by several names.
Micah 5:2—Micah prophesies that Jesus will be born in Bethlehem.
Matthew 2:4–6—The scribes knew that Bethlehem was the prophesied birthplace of the Messiah.
1 Nephi 11:18–21—Nephi prophesies that the Son of God will be born to a virgin.
Luke 1:26–31—A virgin named Mary will be the mother of Jesus Christ.
Alma 7:9–10—Alma prophesies that Jesus will be born to Mary.
Luke 2:4–7—Jesus is born.
Helaman 14:1–6—Samuel the Lamanite prophesies of the signs at Jesus’ birth.
3 Nephi 1:4–21—On the night of Jesus’ birth, there was no darkness in America and a new star rose.
Matthew 2:2—A new star appeared in Israel.

Christmas Sharing Time: My Gifts to Jesus

Ask the children what are some things they are doing to get ready for Christmas?
Help them understand that things like gifts and parties are fun, but Christmas is really about the birth of Jesus Christ and the importance of focusing on him and his life.

Ask the children if they know what happened after Jesus was born?

The Wise Men brought gifts to Jesus. -- We give presents to each other at Christmas, but do we remember to give a present to the One whose birthday we celebrate? Talk about the kinds of gifts we might give to the Savior (reading the scriptures an extra five minutes each day, praying one more time daily, writing in our journals, bearing testimony to a friend, repenting of a sin or overcoming a shortcoming, forgiving an enemy, doing a kind deed, etc.).

When Christmas and the suspense of that happy day are over, and when the toys and games have lost their excitement, remember the gifts that will keep on giving happiness to those you love—gifts that only you can give. Our Heavenly Father set the example for such gifts for He “so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son. …”

Have children make “My Gifts to Jesus” necklaces to take home. Send home a little note and stickers with each child. (This activity is included on one of the Primary Partners Sharing Time Treasures C.D's)