crafting with grandma - Melted Snowman & I Spy Ornaments!

As I said yesterday, Christmas is just around the corner, so . . . I thought it would be fun to share another idea with you for an ornament which has to be one of the most fun ornaments I've ever made! It is a fun, simple ornament which you could involve your grandchildren in making - they could give them to teachers, coaches, neighbors . . . to anyone for whom they need to have a nice, little gift!

It is Peanut Butter Lovers' Month

I love peanut butter and think every month is a month to celebrate the tasty treat, but since November is apparently peanut butter lovers month, it is a great time to share a simple way to turn a favorite recipe into an even better recipe . . . peanut butter toll house cookies!

The Little Ginormous, Humongous, Hairy, One-Eyed Monster Boys Adventures!

    

Recently I shared how when my grands were young and at my house for a sleepover, we typically made up stories at bedtime. They almost always had monsters or dinosaurs in them. One night when my oldest grand was six, my middle grand was three, and my youngest grand was one, we were getting them into bed when my oldest grand said there was a monster under my middle grand's bed! This was not what my middle grand wanted to hear, so I said there could not be any monsters under the bed because the monsters were at their poppa's and grandma's house getting ready for bed on their sleepover. My grands found this idea very interesting, so of course, our bedtime story for the night had to have little, ginormous, humongous, hairy, one-eyed monsters getting ready for bed and being scared because they thought they saw, teeny, tiny, itty, bitty, not-so-hairy, two-eyed people under their beds! 

crafting with grandma - Christmas Heart Ornaments!

Christmas is just around the corner and I found an idea for a sweet smelling ornament which would make a fun project for you to make with your grandchildren! It just uses applesauce and cinnamon - the reason it is sweet smelling - and a little time to make dozens of heart ornaments! Just think of all the wonderful things you could do with these little hearts . . . 

Today is National Bittersweet Chocolate and Almonds Day 7

Mmmm! I do enjoy dark chocolate and almonds, so a day to celebrate these delightful treats sounds like a good idea to me! Especially since dark chocolate is good for you and almonds are good for you . . . combining the two has to mean this sweet treat is actually good for us . . . right??!!!

I thought it would be fun to share some almond fun facts with you on this delicious day - so I looked on-line for some info to share! Did you know . . .

illustrate My Own – Important Things Jesus Wants Me to Know - The Woman at the Well and - The Pharisee and the Tax Collector

 

Yesterday I shared with you two new books in the illustrate my own series, today I have two more new books to let you know about -Illustrate My Own – Important Things Jesus Wants Me to Know - The Woman at the Well and illustrate my own – Important Things Jesus Wants Me to Know - The Pharisee and the Tax Collector - both are sure to engage you and the children you love with familiar Bible accounts and help you learn the important things Jesus wants you to know!

crafting with grandma - Fun, Excellent & Inexpensive Gifts - Puzzle Candy Cane Ornaments!

If you have puzzles in your house, you likely have puzzles with missing pieces. If this is true for you - or if you have a friend or family member with a puzzle with missing pieces which they are willing to let you have . . . take a look at this great idea for making awesome, puzzle candy cane ornaments!

Bake Some Tasty Donuts!

Apparently yesterday was Donut Day - don't know how I missed it, but since baked donuts are delicious - and can be a lot of fun to make with the children you love, I thought I'd post about donuts today and share a tasty recipe, too! My grands enjoy baking, so I bought a set of silicone donut baking "pans", kept one, and sent the other two home with my grands so they are able to make some at home. 

illustrate my own - Important Things Jesus Wants Me to Know books - the good Samaritan & Martha & Mary

If you are looking for a fun idea for an activity you could work on with the children you love, check out my  illustrate my own - Important Things Jesus Wants Me to Know  books! In these books you all will  have the opportunity to learn something very important! God had John, one of Jesus’ disciples; write the book of John and in John 21:25 he said, “Jesus also did many other things. What if every one of them were written down? I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.” Think about that! Jesus said many things, and helped many people we don’t know about, so why did God include the account of the time when Jesus went to Martha's and Mary's home and why did Jesus tell about the Good Samaritan? Because He had something important He wanted us to know!

crafting with grandma - snowman clothespin ornaments

 

If you are looking for a fun idea to do with your grandchildren before or even after Christmas which even your youngest grandchildren will be able to do, check out this fun clothespin snowman.

It is Children's Book Week!

It is Children's Book Week - while I think every week, every day should be a day to engage children with books, I'm happy there is a week to focus on Children's Books! So, let's look at some of the benefits of reading books with children and then I'll share a couple children's books you might get for the children you love.

illustrate my own - Important Things Jesus Wants Me to Know - The Man with Leprosy & The Two Builders & The Lost Lamb Now Available!

I am happy to share with you the new illustrate my own - Important Things Jesus Wants Me to Know books with you - today I have three to share with you. In these books the children you love, and even your entire family, will have the opportunity to learn something very important! God had John, one of Jesus’ disciples; write the book of John and in John 21:25 he said, “Jesus also did many other things. What if every one of them were written down? I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.” Think about this! Jesus said many things, and helped many people we don’t know about, so why did God include the accounts of the time when Jesus healed the mane with leprosy, or tell about the two builders, or the lost lamb? Because He had something important He wanted us to know!

crafting with grandma - Fun, Excellent & Inexpensive Gifts - Easy Christmas Ornaments!

Well, it is November, and if you are like me, your Christmas tree will go up after Thanksgiving dinner, so, it is a great time to start making fun ornaments for your tree - and to give to others! It is reasonably safe to say by now I've established I LOVE Christmas! It is also reasonably safe to say you all likely know I enjoy making ornaments . . . and if there is a snowman involved I will be very happy! So, when I was browsing on Pinterest and saw some cute, easy ornaments with snowmen options, well . . . I had to share them with you!

crafting with grandma - Give Thanks Board! AND it is National Gratitude Month!

November is National Gratitude Month and Daysoftheyear.com says, "Being grateful can boost your mood and make you feel more connected to others.  When you focus on the good things in your life, you start to notice even more positives around you. National Gratitude Month encourages people to be thankful for the positive aspects of life, shift their attention from the negatives, and appreciate the good things around them. Studies show that grateful people tend to experience less stress, better sleep, and even fewer aches and pains. Expressing gratitude can foster a supportive environment, whether in personal relationships or workplaces​​."

So, how do we celebrate National Gratitude Month and what are the benefits for being a grateful person? Consider the following ideas . . .