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Keeping a prayer journal has been extremely helpful in my own prayer life.  Writing out your prayers to God, word for word, can keep your mind on task and organized.  It can aid in keeping you from being distracted and if you are distracted (by the kids for example) when you come back to it, you can see where you left off.  I have found it helpful to use the acronym ACTS to keep my prayers organized (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication).  By writing out my prayers, I find that I pray longer than I did before I began writing them out.  My kids see me writing in my prayer journal and know exactly what I am doing.  I can do it any time of day– sometimes I’m sitting in the room next to them journaling my prayers while they play or watch tv. 

Keeping a gratitude journal isn’t a new concept but it’s a very helpful way to get your heart focused on Christ and all the graces he blesses you with each day.  Just start out by listing all the little things you take for granted each day.  The blue sky, the smell after rain, clean sheets, matching socks, the list is endless.  Write down the cute things your children do, the silly things they say, the way your heart swells with love for them.  As you continue to add to your list you’ll find that God really is present and active in your life.  Your heart will change and your faith will grow.  As time goes on you’ll be able to see the blessings in the hard things of life; the way God is using the pains of life to change you.  Write them down whenever they come to mind, keep writing them down and make it a lifelong practice.

Lastly, journaling can also be used for artistic or creative expression.  I often use my journaling to write out poems or psalms written to God as an act of worship.  Collaging is a favorite at our house and I’ve collaged in my journal by cutting out pictures from magazines expressing the beauty of God’s creation.  I’ve also collaged a gratitude list.  An art journal is really just adding artistic expression to any kind of journal.  It could be a prayer journal, a thought journal, a gratitude journal–any kind of journal that you add illustrations or embellishment to in an artistic way.  There are a number of different mediums that can be used in the pages of a journal including but not limited to: sewing buttons or rick rack, drawing, collaging, painting, stamping, and using different kinds of papers.  The outside cover of the journal can be embellished as well.  Using any kind of creativity in journaling can be therapeutic as well as plain fun.

It seems as though the act of writing has gone the way of cassette’s and records, yet I still hold out hope that we will one day recover the simple joy of jotting one’s thoughts down on real paper.  For those who still know what pen and paper look like, consider putting them to good use by journaling.  Whether it’s pouring out your heart to God, penning a letter that you never send, or using your creative side to make a gratitude collage, journaling can benefit the soul in countless ways.

Candy cane rings can be made from simple sugar cookies. Cut them out like you would a doughnut where you use two circle cookie cutters or a doughnut maker. These will create a doughnut -shaped cookie with little effort. When the cookies have been baked and are cool, decorate the cookies using white and red icing. To complete it, tie a red string licorice around the ring and use that as the hanger for your cookie ornament.

Another option for making candy cane rings would be to make the two batches of sugar cookie dough. One would have no color added while the other would have red food coloring added. Make ropes out of the cookie dough and then twirl them around each other. Be sure the ends are stuck together well or the cookie might fall off the tree. Bake them and then finish them off the same way as the one above.

Purchase a few Styrofoam cones and make a mini Christmas tree to hang on your tree. Break toothpicks in half. You’ll also need spice or gumdrops and ribbon in ten inch lengths. Poke one end of the toothpick into the gumdrop then into the Styrofoam cone. Cover the entire surface of the cone. Tie the ribbon around the candy-covered cone and then hang it from your tree.

Another simple edible Christmas tree ornament you can make is chocolate-covered pretzels. To add interest you can dip some of them in white chocolate and some in dark chocolate. Thread pieces of ribbon through the pretzel and then place them on the tree. Another option would be to thread the pretzels on long pieces of ribbon to create a garland for the tree.

Long ago families used edible Christmas tree ornaments. Store-bought ornaments were a luxury most people couldn’t afford. If you’re concerned about spending too much on decorations for your home, consider using some of these ideas to create edible ornaments for your tree.

If you’ve never made paper mache here’s a simple recipe:

• One part flour
• Two parts water

The ‘part’ can be anything – a cup, an empty soup can or glass jar. The point is to use twice as much water as flour so you have slurry which is slightly runny. If the mixture is too runny you can add a little bit of flour to get it to the right consistency. Add a little bit of water at a time to thin it down.

You’ll also need a good supply of newspaper. Tear the newspaper in thin strips, about an inch wide and five inches long. Set those aside until you’re ready to use them.

There are a couple of ways to make Christmas ornaments using paper mache. You can purchase small balloons and blow them up to use as the base. You can also use Styrofoam balls or shapes. Bases can also be made from twisted wire and crumpled newspaper. Balloons and Styrofoam are the easier methods.

Blow a small balloon up to the size you want the ornament to be. Smear a very thin layer of petroleum jelly on the surface to make removal easier. If you’re using the Styrofoam shapes this step won’t be necessary.

Dip the strips, one at a time, into the flour and water paste. Run the paper through your fingers to remove any excess paste and then smooth it onto the base until it’s totally covered. Alternate the direction the strips are running as you apply at least six layers of strips. Set the ornament aside to dry for 24 or more hours. Repeat this process for the number ornaments you want to make.

When the paper mache is dry, pop the balloon and pull it out from the center if one was used. Now you can begin painting the Christmas ornament using acrylic paints. Allow the paint to dry thoroughly before spraying with an art sealer. If you don’t have the sealer, you can use cheap hair spray to seal the project.

If you’d like to skip the painting step of this project, you can use colored tissue paper instead of newspaper. To make an ornament which looks like a stained glass window, apply layers of tissue paper over a wire frame. When the paper mache is dry, go over the wire with black marker to indicate the lead.

Apply a hanger to the ornament by hot gluing one to the ornament or carefully poking two holes through it to run the wire hanger through. You can paint a very thin layer of craft glue over the ornament and roll it in glitter to give it more of a Christmassy look.

Once you know how to make Christmas paper mache ornaments and are pleased with the results, you will be able to cheaply change the look of your Christmas tree each year. You can also make these ornaments as presents. Christmas is coming soon – are you ready to make your new ornaments?

• Two 3-inch terracotta pots
• Acrylic paint (gold, silver, red, white or green are good choices)
• Soft-bristled paintbrush
• Heavy cord
• Large wooden beads
• Water-based polyurethane

Start out by washing and drying the pots. This will ensure there isn’t any loose clay or dirt on them. Paint the terracotta pots in Christmas colors. They don’t have to be the same base color. You can also paint holly leaves, candy canes, elves or other Christmas images on the pots. Allow them to dry completely before assembly.

Heavy cord is the best choice for this craft because you want something that will be sturdy. It may have to stay together during some strong winds, so make sure it’s heavy but not too big to fit through the hole in the bottom of the pot.

Tie a knot in one end of the cord. Make sure the knot is tight. Then string a large bead onto the cord. Tie a knot a little higher on the cord and then string another bead onto it. Next you’ll put the cord through the drainage hole in the pot. Put a third bead onto the string and tie a knot. This will hide the drainage hole. Create a loop to hang the bell and then cut off the remaining cord.

If you’d like, you can layer two terracotta pots. Complete the project to the part where you’d put the third bead on the cord. Instead, tie the knot directly over the pot. Move a couple of inches up the cord and tie another knot and finish the project as before. By doing this you’ll have the clacker (bead hanging down), a knot to hold the pot in place, and then another knot to hold the second pot in place. Complete it with the final bead on top to cover the drainage hole.

Except for cutting the cord to the correct length, this is a project children can make without Mom or Dad watching too closely. When they learn how to make terracotta Christmas bells, they may decide to learn about other crafts using terracotta pots. Encourage their creativity and you may not have to buy Christmas presents this year.

An ‘Acorny’ Family

Gather up a bunch of acorns from your yard or a nearby park. Try to pick up only the acorns with the tops still on them. You can also purchase wooden acorns from a craft store. If the tops come off while you’re transporting the acorns, use a little bit of craft glue to put the tops back on.

Find enough acorns for each person in your family for this first craft. You’ll also need to have some acrylic paints, paint brushes, a sharp pencil and possibly six or more inches of heavyweight thread.

Paint the bottom half of the acorn using a flesh-tone or light brown paint. While this is drying, paint the top or cap of the acorn your favorite color. You would then do the same thing with enough acorns for your family, making the cap of each acorn that family member’s favorite color.

When the acorn is dry you can paint a face on it using a detail paintbrush or a very sharp pencil dipped in the paint. Add other embellishments such as little bows for a girl’s hair or painted pearls for mom. You could even make acorn animals by gluing on pieces of paper for the ears. These are particularly cute for couples who don’t have children but have ‘fur babies.’

Allow the acorns to dry thoroughly and either set them in a bowl, near family pictures or glue string on them to hang them as ornaments. Another thing you can do is create an acorn person for each person who is attending Thanksgiving dinner. Glue their acorn on a folded piece of business card stock and write their name on the card so everyone knows where to sit.

Wreaths

If you have a wreath to place on your front door, tie acorns onto a piece of raffia. Next tie the raffia into a bow and glue that to the wreath. You can also hot glue the acorns in groups of three around the wreath. Then use other fall items like baby’s breath, silk leaves and berries to fill out the wreath.

Picture Frames

How many old picture frames do you have which you would like to update? Create autumn frames by gluing acorns onto the picture frame. To dress the picture frames up a little bit, dry brush gold or copper paint on the frame and acorns. Once the picture frame is completely dry, place the picture back into the frame and group them in one area as a photo display.

Acorns are normally in abundance in the fall and it really is a shame to throw them away. In the spirit of trying to recycle and reuse, these crafts will help you do just that. By making one or more of these acorn craft ideas you can use the acorns and decorate your home at the same time.

More Fall Activities for Kids

• Craft Planner Printable – For Mom!
• Thanksgiving Craft – Pilgrim Hats
• How to Make a Leaf Door Hanger
• How to Decorate a Fall Tree

Crocheting

Crocheting is a great place to start, particularly for younger children, because it uses a single needle. Children as young as four can be taught to crochet.

Required supplies include:

• Size J hook
• Favorite color worsted weight yarn.
• Beginner pattern.

Hooks come in a variety of materials from metal to plastic. Lighter weight hooks are often easier for small hands to use effectively. It’s easier to teach a child to crochet if you’re sitting side by side so a couch is ideal, just make sure the television is off or they won’t be paying attention. It is important to note whether your child is left handed or right handed as the pattern directions will vary.

Beginner patterns are usually blankets or placemats. Remember to start small, be prepared for frustration in the beginning and set a mental time limit or create a goal – for example, let’s start with a 4X4 square so they feel like they’ve accomplished something when they finish.

Before beginning any project it’s important to master a few knots, practice them, and make your yarn skein into a yarn ball.

Knitting

Like crochet, knitting is a great way to teach children focus, give them a sense of accomplishment, and is a great way for children to keep busy as an alternative to a television, computer or video game.

Knitting supplies:

• Size ten knitting needles
• Yarn, preferably wool
• A knitting pattern or project

Easy knitting patterns include a scarf, a potholder, or a hat. Begin like crocheting with your child sitting next to you somewhere comfortable. Sometimes it helps to have your child sitting in your lap so they can emulate your hand motions.

Like crochet needles it helps small hands if the needles are larger and if they are lightweight. Additionally, choose needles which have rounded tips rather than sharp pointed tips.

Patience is required when teaching knitting or crocheting. Knots can be difficult for small hands to master. If you become frustrated they will too. Knitting and crocheting are a fantastic way to bond with your child and to teach them the joy of crafting, the joy of creating something with their own two hands.

Supply list:

• Bling flourish (you want to copy)
• Pearl paint (Ranger’s liquid pearls, Tulips pearl fabric paint)
• Transparency
• Scanner/copier

Step 1: Scan/Copy Original Flourish
This step may require some experimenting on your part to get the desired result. I started out scanning with flourish still attached to original backing. Finally, I ended up copying and printing in one step.

Step 2: Place transparency on top of copied image.

Step 3: Begin Painting
Add dots of paint following copy as your guide. Keep paint bottle straight up for better “beads” of paint.

Continue adding paint.

This copy has multiple flourishes. You can copy “as is” or only use the ones you want.

Once you have finished making all your beads, let dry.

Step 4: Trim Around Flourish

The clear transparency will be barely visible on your finished project.

Finished card using handmade pearl flourish.

The flourish didn’t quite fit my card placement, so I cut it apart and placed around the sentiment how I wanted.

A few ideas:

• You can use any type of flourish or pattern. Just follow along lines, making dots of paint.
• Stamps-I have also seen rubberstamps of “dotted” flourishes. Stamp with watermark ink or a light ink and cover each stamped dot with a dot of paint.
• Find a digital image online you can print out and use for your pattern.

Think outside the box! You can use any shape, pattern or design you want. Simply follow along the design placing spaced dots of paint. Good luck and fun!

Crafting creates a sense of togetherness, shows your children that you enjoy focused time with them, and the results of the project can be appreciated and enjoyed by everyone. Here are a few family craft projects to consider doing as a family.

Some Project Ideas

Family Tree Projects: Family trees are an excellent way to connect with your heritage and to teach your children about where they come from. Family tree projects can be created by making a collage from copies of old family photos.

Depending on the age of your children you can also create a mural taking your ancestry back as far as you can. Smaller children will enjoy placing names or pictures on cut out green leaves and positioning them on a felt tree or a hand drawn tree.

Garden Crafts: Garden craft projects are exceptional because they not only allow your children to create something permanent they teach your children about growing and taking care of the planet.

Projects can be as simple as creating small seedling planters and painting or decorating the containers to creating elaborate yard art. Bird baths, luminaries, stepping stones, and wind chimes are all fun projects for the entire family.

Pinatas and other holiday crafts: Pinatas are a blast to make and even more fun to tear apart. Family members can join together to create a fun family decoration and party favor for an upcoming celebration or use the piñata as an excuse for a celebration!

Pinatas require a balloon, paper mache tools, paint and candy or party favors inside. Children can be involved in the entire process while parents oversee it or parents can join in and get arm deep in sticky paper mache – it’s fun! Of course letting it dry is the difficult part and a piñata usually takes several days to make. However the end result and the smile on your children’s faces as they dive for the goodies as they tumble out is more than worth it.

Family crafts are a great way to spend a rainy afternoon, a fantastic way to create a holiday tradition and always a superior way to connect as a family and give them memories and love.

Imagine having the ability to reach into your magic craft supply box and pull out a craft to keep your children busy and to entertain them when they’re seemingly incapable of entertaining themselves.

Here’s a list of the super handy craft supplies for those moments when having an activity is an absolute must!

• Tempera paint
• Glue – clear or white glue is best.
• Construction paper
• Tape (Lots and lots of tape)
• Crayons
• Markers
• Glitter and/or glitter glue.
• Hole punch
• Safe scissors
• Pipe cleaners
• Ruler
• Clay – the kind that doesn’t dry out is ideal.
• Cookie cutters
• Felt or foam sheets and shapes
• Paint brushes

It also helps to keep a folder full of easy to make crafts. That way all you have to do is pull out the craft instructions and supplies and an afternoon will pass quickly by.

Of course, all of those supplies can take up a ton of space. A plastic organizer, cart with drawers or even an organizer designed specifically for crafting are a great way to store supplies without having them take over the home.

On top of the staples of a good craft supply kit, there are a few around the home supplies families can begin collecting. It’s a great way to be environmentally conscious and to inspire your child’s imagination.

Collect and reuse:

• Bottle caps
• Buttons
• Cereal boxes
• Straws
• Egg Cartons
• Scraps of fabric
• Old magazines for collages
• Popsicle sticks
• Paper towel and toilet paper rolls
• Wrapping paper
• Bows and yarn
• Tin cans
• Newspaper
• Sponges

Rainy days, cold weather days, sick days and good ol hang around the house days are brightened when children are engaged and creating fabulous works of art. A well stocked craft supply kit will make it much easier to have those moments and to make it easy for children to avoid those two dreaded words.

Make sure you have plenty of space to store their artwork and don’t forget to leave room on you refrigerator!