Family Message Center

At a past MOPS meeting we watched a video that was a great tool about how to look at how your family functions now and how you would like it to function. One of our MOPS moms wrote up a post about having a family message center to help with your family dynamic!

How can a family message center help you to grow a more purposeful family?

In the video they briefly talked about practical applications but did not give many ideas. Remember the framed photo of her sons to remind them of sibling loyalty? Enter - the family message center. I feel like this project is a perfect practical application to growing a more purposeful family.

After you spend all that time working through all of those questions (from the worksheet) this is a place where you can put it all out there on the wall for everyone to see every day to remind you all of “where you are driving.” Following this, I hope to give you some ideas on how to set up a family message center in your home and some things to consider when doing so. This has been a project I have wanted to do for a while in my own home and have done a bit of research on the topic. I would also love to hear some of your own ideas through comments to this blog post.

A big way to grow a more purposeful family is to become intentional with how you spend your time both as a family and individually. A family calendar is a good way to get everyone’s commitments in one place so you can quickly and easily make decisions about what you want to make a priority and where you can give things up. Think about the question what unites you as a family? Want to make family dinners a definite 5 nights a week? Family movie/game night? Time spent volunteering? Put it on the calendar so everyone knows and you can all hold each other accountable. And what isolates you from each other? Busy schedules? Having it all in one place will let you see where you can minimize, give things up, or reschedule so you can have more quality time together.

The other good question to consider when thinking about your family message center is what are your family’s core values? Think about the “choosing your route” part of the worksheet with the “we will” “we won’t” statements. The family message center can be a great place to put your “family rules” or “words to live by” as a daily reminder of your family destination.

Building a Family Message Center in Your Home

Ok you did your homework now its time to think about putting together your family message center. What will you include? Here is a list of ideas to get you started.

• Family rules/values list (There are some great examples on pinterest with each rule tied to a scripture.)
• Verses to live by (scripture)
• A menu
• A calendar
• Chores/routines
• Words of affirmation to family members (like the “I love you because” frame)
• A place to hang stuff such as sunglasses and keys
• A place for mail and/or sorting it
• A place for coupons
• A place for kids school papers
• Family pictures

Now comes the how to. The best place for getting inspiration is pinterest but I will do my best to put some of it into words ;) This is my favorite part (and probably the reason I still have not done this because I just can’t decide) because you can be creative and think outside the box. Again I think the easiest way is to put it in list form to give you some ideas.

• Cork-boards – You can buy one already framed but that’s not very fun. They also sell this stuff in rolls, square tiles and circles (for under house plants). Buy an old ornate frame at a thrift store and give it a face lift with a fresh coat of paint! (This technique can also be applied to many of the following ideas too!) Find a piece of fabric you love and use it to cover a cork-board. Or use craft paint and a stencil to fancy it up a bit. (This is a menu board made by our blogger, made out of a cork-board. Just one idea!)

• Magnet boards – Again get creative and save $$ by using something not meant as just a magnet board. You can buy sheet metal at Home Depot and have it cut to fit a frame you upcycled. (Take a magnet with
you to the store to make sure what you are buying is magnetic). Dollar store cookie sheets are great if you want a small one maybe for each member of the family. Wanna go big? I have an auto oil drip pan I got for
$10 at Wal Mart in my daughter's art center. Definitely a good value! Dress it up using the above methods or another is Mod- Podge it!

• Chalkboards – Again, be creative! You can use the awesome chalk board spray paint to spray just about any hard surface. Spray your magnet board and have it do double duty!

• Dry erase – My favorite, with endless possibilities is the simple picture frame with pretty scrapbook paper (or fabric) in it. Another great pinterest idea is using paint chips to make a dry erase calendar.

Tips and things to keep in mind when creating your family message center

1. Keep it simple! It can be easy to get overwhelmed with all the possible things you can include in this area of your home. Remember, you are doing this with the goal of growing a more purposeful family, so be intentional in what you include. Only include what you see as being the most meaningful to YOUR family. If you incorporate too much it will turn into a cluttered space that becomes part of the background. Your goal is to have the family interacting with it every day!

• This may mean that you decide to include things here that are only important to the entire family and find other spaces for things for individual family members. For example you could set up another space for just the kids stuff at their level so they can be held responsible for taking care of it.

2. Make it personal. Think about what might motivate each family member to go to or look at this each day. Make it beautiful using pretty papers, fabrics or paint techniques. Use personal touches like family photos and/ or family member names where appropriate. If there is a part you want your little ones to be in the routine of using make sure it is at his or her level.

3. Make it user friendly. The easier it is to use the more likely your family will be to use it!

4. Make it modular so this message center can grow with your family. Make it easy to change things in and out.

• Utilize an over-sized magnetic board so you have space for magnetic pencil cups, hooks and the like. This way these things are not permanently screwed into your wall and can easily be moved around and changed.

• Using peg boards and even a wooden pallet are two other great ways to keep it modular. Hooks and such can be added and moved very easily to keep everything organized and easily accessible. Think keys, sunglasses, coats, hats, scarves, bags etc. I love the pallet idea so family members of all sizes can hang their own coats!

• Clip boards are a great way to be able to easily change out family pics, meal plans, school lunch calendars etc. Hang a few with cup hooks and then the papers can be switched out as often as needed. Again these can be decorated with some Mod Podge and scrapbook paper or fabric.

• A ribbon memo board can be made easily and rather cheaply (Here is one TUTORIAL) and can hold all sorts of things. But beware, these boards can quickly get cluttered.

5. Short on space? Use the space inside cabinet doors. Break it up, put the family message center in the kitchen or living area and a grab and go station by the door. Or, rather than putting it all on the wall you can make a home management binder that sits on the counter. (see pinterest)

I love you Because...

As part of our Valentines Day spa day at MOPS we did a cute, fun and very cheap craft. It has been amazing for our family and I wanted to share it here!

All you do to make this craft: 

1. Print out some lines and the words "I love you because..."

2. Cut it to the size of the frame that you have on hand

3. Frame it!

There are several ways to do this with your family.

1. You could just keep this between husband and wife and write notes back and forth to each other (ie. keep this on your beside table with a dry erase marker and encourage encouraging words between spouses!)

2. You could do this as a family (which is what we have chosen to do). We leave this on our kitchen table and then write on it to one member of the family at a time. Now, my daughter is 8 years old she she is able to write, but even if the child wants to write and can't you can write for them. My 4 year old son said "I love Daddy because he is my best friend." My husband is going to treasure that for the rest of his life.

The person you wrote about then has their own turn to write about someone else. We talk about it during dinner a lot of the times leading to great dinner-time discussion.

However you choose to use a project like this, just know you are building encouraging words and LOVE within your family!

MOPS recap. and Mod-Podge plate craft!

Sorry I am a bit late with the recap, but better late than never, huh?

Our last meeting sported a smaller group.....unfortunately there is a lot of sickness going around. BOO! Take those vitamins!

We did a great craft , that will be wonderful this Christmas season! We made plates like this using just 3 things: Clear glass plates (bought from the dollar store), mod-podge, and festive fabric!

We can use to plates for a number of things. Here are some ideas:

1. Use this plate for gifts for neighbors or teachers etc. at Christmas! Add some baked goodies and you have a BEAUTIFUL display!

2. Make a whole set of them for your table for Christmas or Thanksgiving, to coordinate with your decor.

3. Make mis-matched plates to change up the decor some!

4. Make a set of plates and give the entire set as a gift

5. Use just one plate as the "special person" plate. Any night where a person in your family need to be celebrated (ie. birthdays, promotion at work, potty training success, a down day where they need encouragement, you caught them in the act of being nice etc.) just put the plate at their dinner seat!

6. Smaller plates would make EXCELLENT candle plates! 

*Please be aware that although these plates are beautiful, they can not be submerged in water or in the dishwasher. In order to clean them, simply wipe down the front.

Directions:

1. Clean your clear, glass plate with windex and wipe free of all smudges and finger prints.

2.Cut a piece of fabric in a large square LARGER than the plate (you can also  use scrapbook paper for other looks!)

3. Using a sponge brush, brush a healthy amount of mod-podge over the entire plate. 

Before it starts to dry, put your fabric, print side DOWN (so the print will show through the front of the plate) over the plate. Beginning in the center of the plate, use your fingers to push out all the air bubbles. Every once in a while, turn it over and see how it looks from the other side. Once the air bubbles are free, use your sponge brush and paint another healthy layer of mod-podge over the fabric.

4. *Mod-Podge paints on white. As it dries, it will turn clear. When the mod-podge begins to turn clear it is time for another coat. It takes approximately 10 minutes for each coat to dry and the plate needs 3-4 coats to be complete.

5. After the 1st coat, it is time to trim the edges off the material so it fits on your plate. Use SHARP scissors or fabric scissors and cut along the edge, angling the scissors toward the plate. If you have any fabric hanging over the edge, it will run the risk of pulling off when it is dry. Cut it just a bit smaller than the plate itself. 

6. After 3-4 coats of mod-podge, your plate is done with the messy process. 

7. Give your plate at least 12 hours to dry fully before beginning the next step.
8. This step is OPTIONAL but gives the plate a real finished look. Taking paint markers, you can then paint around the edges with gold or silver. Allow to dry and now you are officially done!

I can not wait to do more of this craft for gifts this Christmas and Thanksgiving!

Guess what? I have another tip on how to use HOME-MADE mod-podge! If you are doing a lot of mod-podge crafts, it can be a bit pricey! BUT, when I discovered this, a whole new world opened up for me!

What you need:

White school glue (I like to stick with Elmer's!)
A jar with twice the volume of your glue
THAT'S IT!

Squeeze the glue into the jar. Fill the glue bottle with water. Seal and shake. Now squeeze the watery stuff into the jar. Seal and shake. It is now completely blended and works JUST as well as the stuff that you spend $8 for at the craft store. ENJOY ladies :)

Free Fall Printable

I LOVE quick, easy ways to decorate my home that take me literally 5 minutes. Do you love that too?

I have a fireplace mantle and I like to decorate it for the different seasons....and here are 2 easy, quick printables that will transform any area of your home into a fall theme, as we gear up for Thanksgiving.

The first one is a printable art piece. Just download it, print it out and stick a frame on it....and stick it anywhere. I am framing it with a $.25 frame I got this weekend at a garage sale and placing it above my mantle. Yay!

HERE is the link to this printable art.

The second is a free printable bunting that says "Give Thanks." It would also look great across a mantle, but if you do not have one, you can put it across some windows, a mirror, your cabinets, your kitchen table....possibilities are endless. I love the classy look to this one!

HERE is the link to download this free banner!

Enjoy ladies!

T-Shirt Scarf #2 (lnfinity strips)

This scarf tutorial was also on another blog so I am linking it HERE. 

The scarf we completed in MOPS is actually a combination of these 2 scarves. Another way to finish this off, is to take one more strip (from the hem or elsewhere) and wrap it tightly around the very top where all the strips are attached. It does not need to be braided as in the second picture.

1. Make sure and use fabric scissors NOT regular paper scissors, as it will be a much faster process.
2. When you pull the strips, roll them a bit with your fingers to make a "roll"
3. You can also take 3 strands that are already cut and braid the entire length. That braid can then be added to the scarf, creating some interest. Simply overlap the ends before wrapping it and when you wrap it with the long length of fabric, just wrap over the ends to secure it.
4. Try adding some embellishments such as old hair clips, ribbon roses, felt flowers, small beads, or whatever you have on hand. You can even add strips of fabric from another coordinating fabric to add some interest.

Enjoy making this scarf. It should take only about 15 minutes to complete!

Tshirt Scarf #1 (Ruffles, ruffles and more ruffles!)

This will double as a MOPS recap and a tutorial. I have decided to split this tutorial into 4 different post so they are easily accessible for future use.

We had a WONDERFUL, crafty and fun MOPS meeting. Each of us got to make at least 1 (but mostly 2) different scarves, alone with either 1 or 2 felt or ribbon flower embellishments! These 4 crafts are wonderful because they are 1. repurposing or 2. very cheap 3. very chic and 4. great gift ideas!

This first scarf is a ruffle scarf. Instead of reproducing this tutorial, I am simply going to link it HERE.

Here are some additional tips if you choose to make this scarf again for your own personal use, or for some gifts.

1. Use a T-shirt that is fairly plain, or has an all-over pattern. If you have a Tshirt that only has half a usable area, try using a second Tshirt in a similar, or contrasting color to make a unique scarf design!
2. T-shirts can be repurposed from your own closet, your husband's closet, or can be bought VERY cheaply at either a thrift store or a garage sale. Stock up and you will have lots of variety to use for gifts!
3. Use fabric scissors, NOT regular scissors to cut the spirals for this scarf. You will not go crazy this way! This scarf does not allow for much "error" in regards to shredded cutting lines. If you use sharp, fabric scissors, you will be MUCH happier with the result!
4. These scarves can be quite long, so watch some youtube videos on how to tie scarves. There are some adorable ideas!

Craft: Painted Tote Bags and Nametags

Our craft today was a painted tote bag that we can bring back and forth to MOPS to hold all of our MOPS supplies. I think they will be very handy! We also put names on our name tags.

*Reminder: All craft supplies are available for ANY mom who has registered and is a part of our group. If you have to miss a meeting, that does NOT mean you have to miss the craft! Supplies are available in the supply cabinet for you to either take home or do at a future meeting. Simply contact your DGL to get the supplies!

Name-tag

Every MOPS mom should have a name-tag so we can learn each other's name quickly. They will be kept in our buckets so we do not have to worry about misplacing them.



1. You will receive a name tag that looks like this. First add colored beads to it according to how many children you have (ie. I have 1 girl and 2 boys so 1 pink bead and 2 blue beads).

2. Tie an adjustable knot. Take the left side and tie a knot to the right side. Then take the right side above the knot and tie that to the left side with another knot. The allows it to adjust to fit your neck.

 

3. Using black puff paint, carefully write your name on the life preserver and allow to dry.

Painted Tote Bag:

The original tutorial for this project is found HERE

Things You'll Need:

Canvas bag

Fabric paint

Paper doily

Krylon Paper Finishes Adhesive spray

Paintbrush

Instructions:

1. Spray doily with paper spray adhesive and press down on the bag (not shown). (Using Krylon Paper Finishes Adhesive spray allows the doily to stick in place while you paint, but it easily pulls off without leaving a sticky mess behind after you paint.)

Go light on the adhesive used to stick the doily to the fabric.  Make no more than one pass over the doily.

2. Gently paint over the holes - I recommend paint for fabric, not crafts. I first used craft paint...fabric paint will be more durable.

Use good pressure to press the doily onto the fabric making sure all areas of the doily are stuck down to the fabric to prevent bleeding of the paint.

Use very little paint (almost a dry brush technique).  Squirt some paint on the plate and dip your sponge in.  Then tap some of the paint off on the plate before tapping on the doily to ensure even coverage and to prevent bleeding.  

Use an up and down tapping motion with good pressure to go over the doily stencil.  DO NOT RUB the sponge over the doily. It is better to go light on the paint and build the coverage you want by making a few passes over the stencil.

3. Peel back doily before paint dries. The doily might tear, just peel off the pieces. 

 Peel off doily immediately following applying the paint.  (If you used the above technique for applying the paint it will not be very wet and lightly touching it should not be a problem.) Slowly and carefully peel away the doily starting at the edges and working into the middle.
The more you reuse a doily the more risk of the paint bleeding through.  I used the same doily only twice before pitching it.

Let your piece dry for 72 hours before washing.  (There were no washing instructions for the paint but I would do it cold.)

 There is no need to heat set the paint if you use the same kind of fabric paint we used in MOPS.