How to make a favor box using toilet paper roll tutorial

I made for the kids for last Thanksgiving because is easy. I had all the supplies at home.

You will need:
- toilet paper roll;
- pattern paper; (it can be scrapbook paper, digital paper or gift wrap paper)
- tacky glue; ( I never use hot glue because it is dangerous around kids, messy and the smell makes me sick when I'm pregnant :)
- scissors;
- ribbon;
- hole punch;
- tags (opcional)

Cut and cover each toilet paper with  the pattern paper. I add a fabric ribbon right on top to where the patterned papers joined so it looks a little more profissional

I glued the ribbon on both sides inside using...

 Clothespin as my second pair of hands!

Glue one of the side - it will be the end of you box.

The other side - so on the top of you box - make a hole for the tag and ribbon.

Voila!  I wrapped some M&M on tissue paper and put inside of the toilet paper favor box and of course the kids wanted to have dessert before turkey:)

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Royal-themed party for kids - real party

It was really hard to find a Royal themed party design for a child. All the parties ideas for kids that I have seen was more for suitable for an adult than a child. (Honestly, mason jars for kids??)

So I decided to design something more child friendly. I wanted something with crown, lion (but not Lion the King) so we added a couple of things from Chronicles of Narnia.

The welcome sign is my family crest, I just wrote welcome. On the center you can see the invitation I made myself with our initials on the lions shield . The scroll letterhead I got at Walmart (it was a blessing) and I made a wax seal out of paper for our family and glued on the invitation - it looked real!

The orange lion was in the favor bags and they are crayons - I got on this really nice shop on Etsy AlohaNaturalsMaui.

The goblets were from the dollar store and I added some gemstone found at Michael's. The cake push pops holder are tissue boxes with flower foam inside, covered with tissue paper and decorated with streamer crepe and a tag.

 

Some jello boats - always a hit among the kids. The cake did not turn out as I expected, I would have liked to have had a crown made out of chocolate sticks but I did not find them at any store and shipping was a little bit too much so I use some TJ cookies and edible paper.

The backdrop: I made a very easy version the some tutorials a have found online. I have seen some made out ribbon -way expensive- or some people sewing the streamer crepe paper!

To make this backdrop I just cut strips of streamer crepe paper of different sizes and colors (3 strips of 50 inches; 3 strips of 40 inches and I went decreasing 10 inches as needed to cover the back of the dessert table).   I held the strips of crepe paper on a ribbon with tape. I put the backdrop 3 weeks before to make sure it would hold in a place and no problem!  (click on the pictures to see a bigger image)

Surely you can throw a really nice party much less expensive than we see online just replacing some materials and get it all done much faster using your creativity - spending the extra time with you kids!

All those printables will be soon at our shop! 

 

 

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Free printable - Epiphany gift tags + easy DIY gifts ideas!

In a lot of countries, there is no exchange gifts on Christmas, but on Epiphany. I think today is a great day to give something to our neighbors, friends, teachers, mail carriers, gardener etc.

This gift tag says, " The wise still seek Him" - and it has been added to our subscriber bonus page!

Here some easy ideas of where to put them:

Mary's candle

 

Candle in a jar

 

 

Tea cup candle

 

 

Cookie in a jar

 

 

Candle holder - you will need dry split peas, black beans and seashells

 

 
Cake pops



What a nice way to wrap cookies! You can find these mini bowls at Bed Bath and Beyond.



Cake balls in a jar
 I made something like that last year to give to some families at a CO-OP.




Have a Happy Epiphany!




 

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How to make a mini rosary bag

 

I found this tutorial at craftpassion. It is a zip itself coin purse and it is so easy and pratical that I think would be a perfect mini-bag to our rosaries or even as gift this Christmas.

 

Here is a beautiful Toile fabric with Nativity print that could be a perfect pattern:

 

 

Etsy Shop - Cambridge Road

 

And this one too:

 

 

Etsy Shop Vintage Touch Too

 

If you make it, I would love to see it!

 

 

 

 

 

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Veni, Veni Emmanuel - Banner Advent calendar - Free Printable

 

Last year, I made this Advent calendar for the a CO-OP where I taught. The parents really enjoyed opening the envelopes each day in which were daily prayers, deeds, or reflections to prepare the children for Christmas.

 

 This calendar starts on the first day of Advent (not on December 1st), the card for which day says Veni,Veni Emmanuel and images of Joseph and Mary going to Bethelem.

 

Choose deeds suitable for your own family, put the cards inside each envelope, glue the design on the envelopes, hang the calendar as a banner, and open the envelopes as a family everyday.

To get the free printable go HERE
(google docs has terrible resolution; you need to click on dowload in order to see the real image)

 

We wait to celebrate Christmas on Christmas, so if you would like to keep the Christmas songs for the Christmas season (from December 24 until the feast of the Baptism of the Lord) but want to get in the spirit of Advent, too, I found that the Vatican website has music for the Advent season! You can listen to it  HERE.

Have a blessed Advent!

 

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Lovely Thanksgiving decoration ideas + free printable

Do not forget to add a picture of Jesus!
source: here

 

 

 

A simple cross and a true Thanksgiving!
Source: here

 

 

 

 

This would be a nice buffet or mantel display. I would have pictures of our family and saints!
Source: here

 

 

 

 

 

Maybe FALL-ing in love with God?  (Get it?)

 

 

A Thanksgiving tree is a good activity for kids.



You can get the template of this 3-D tree here:jumpstart



Here is a thankful tree for the whole family! You could use blank tags from our printable kit

The above is a placemat with the Holy Trinity for the kids' table. Just click on the image and print as many you want!

Have a blessed Thanksgiving and thank you!

 

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Word World party decoration!

Here some pictures of the birthday party that I designed for my 4 years old son. We all love word world and I just could not find anything nice.

I kept my son's favorites caracheteres and label cvc words around the house so he and his friends could read the words.

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How to make a paper rosette decoration

I made these from tissue paper that I had leftover from gifts but you can make it from any paper you would like it.

First, decide how large you want your rosette to be and get 3 papers of the same size. Next, fold each piece top to bottom accordion-style (use 1-inch intervals)

Secure the middle with yarn (I had it on hand but again you can use something else).

Cut each end into a U or V shape.

Next, use tube glue or double-sided tape to attach the 3 sheets.

You can use a ribbon to tie the center of the sheets together and do not forget to leave a enough ribbon ifyou want to string them from the roof.

Fan out the rosette-accordion shape out on both sides  and you have easy, simple and attractive decoration!

  

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Simple and pretty First Holy Communion decoration for girls!



This decoration will be nice for a baptism too!

For more beautiful pictures go to livesmilecelebrate

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