Quick and Easy Minnie Mouse Party Invitation: Tutorial

I recently made some Minnie Mouse themed invitations for a birthday party. I only needed a few so I decided to make them myself. They ended up being really quick and easy so I thought I would share how I made them.

First, here are the supplies I used:

White and Black Cardstock

Paper Trimmer (scissors work fine too)

1/8" Red Ribbon

7/8" Red and White Polka Dot Ribbon

Mickey Mouse Hole Punch (I found this at Hobby Lobby)

Craft Glue (I used a few different kinds, but all you really need is one)

Scissors (not pictured, but I'm sure you know what they look like)

I started by typing up the invitations in Word. I made a text box that was just under 4" x 6" and added my text. I also added a border so I would have a guide for where to cut. You can download a "Minnie Mouse" font, but I just inserted the image of the font directly into my text box.

After I printed the text, I cut them out using my paper trimmer just inside of the black line so I had a clean, white edge.

Next, I cut some black cardstock for the background to just under 4.5" x 6.5".

I used the extra scraps of black cardstock to punch out some Mickey silhouettes.

Next, I cut the ribbon. The polka dot ribbon was about 5" and the red ribbon was about 4 3/4".

I used a tape runner to put a little double sided tape on the back of the polka dot ribbon.

Then I secured the ribbon to the front of the text sheet.

I wrapped the ends of the ribbon around the white cardstock and glued it in place with some tacky glue. Then I added some glue to the edges of the white cardstock and centered it onto the black cardstock.

I tied the red ribbon in a bow and glued it in place with some hot glue. I used hot glue because it would hold the bow in place better, especially because it isn't flat.

Then I glued the little Minnie Mouse on the invitation and ta-da! Done! I think they turned out pretty cute!

Have you made party invitations before? How did it go?

Frugal Craft: Easter Wreath

Here is a really quick, easy, and inexpensive Easter Wreath I made. I think it turned out pretty cute and I love all the Spring colors!

Here are my supplies:

Wreath- $2.29 regular price at Michael's. I used a 50% off coupon and got it for $1.14. You can also make your own wreath from cardboard or foam board which would make it ever cheaper or free!

Easter Eggs- I got two packs of 42 and used all but two. The packs were $1.97 each at Walmart, so just under $4 total.

Ribbon- Free because I had it on hand. If you don't have any ribbon you can get it really inexpensively at any craft store and you will only need a little.

Glue gun and glue sticks which I always have on hand.

Grand Total- just over $5, but you could actually make it for even less!

I started by gluing the eggs to the wreath. I glued a ring of eggs to the inner edge of the wreath and then a ring right on top of the wreath.

Next, I glued eggs to the outer edge. At this point I decided to thread my ribbon through because there was a perfect little gap in the eggs.

Finally, I glued eggs in all the gaps around the wreath and done! It probably took me just under an hour to finish the project, which I thought was pretty good!

What kind of Easter Wreath did you make this year? Are you working on any last minute Easter crafts?

Easter Countdown

We just started our Easter Countdown! I found this "Easter Tree" at Hobby Lobby. I originally bought it for a recent Young Women lesson (here), then realized it would be perfect for our countdown. My kids love to have countdowns for holidays. Here is one we recently did for Valentine's Day.

I found these really cute sparkly eggs at Walmart. I love them!

Each night we read an Easter book for a bedtime story.

Then the kids get a surprise out of one of the eggs! They love it! 

I was going to add numbers to the countdown, but couldn't settle on a way to go about it. I will keep thinking about it and put that on my to-do list for next year!

Does your family have any fun traditions for Easter? Do your kids like to have countdowns for holidays? 

Nautical Themed Baby Shower Ideas

One of my friends is expecting a new baby boy next month! I helped with her baby showers and thought I would share some of the ideas I used.

For her first shower I was asked by the hostess to make a banner. The shower was a nautical theme, so this is the design I came up with.

I cut the shapes out with my Cricut.

I used 3-D glue dots to glue the shapes to the background and add a little interest to the banner (unfortunately you can't really tell in the picture, but I promise it looked good!)

I used some jute cord to string the letters together.

The other Young Women leaders and I hosted the second shower for our Mutual (Church) activity (You can learn more about the Young Women Program here). Without consulting with the hostess of the first shower, we ended up with the same nautical theme! Both showers were inspired by the nursery theme that the mom-to-be came up with.

This is the invitation that I made for the shower. I used picmonkey to design it. I recently discovered this site and am having fun designing things like handouts for YW and invitations with it.

We had Dirty Coke Zeros to drink. I printed off some free party circles here. I punched a hole in the top and the bottom and slid them onto the straws for a little something extra!

I tied peppermint LifeSavers around the silverware with some jute cord. I got the idea for it here.

The banner was another free printable found here. It was cute and sooo easy just print, cut, and string together!

Along with pie, we had some other little refreshments. I tried to tie them all in with the theme. We had Chips Ahoy! cookies, LifeSavers candies, Sailor's Knots (pretzels), Fishing Bait (sour gummy worms), Sailing Rope (Red Vines), Swedish Fish, and Goldfish. I got a few of the refreshment ideas here and the rest I brainstormed myself. I printed off some free menu tents here and tied them around the jars as labels for the treats.

Here is a life preserver wreath I made to use as a decoration. I was inspired by this one found here. It was really easy to make: a Styrofoam wreath wrapped in navy and white yarn, a little thick jute cord, and some red and white striped ribbon!

I enjoy throwing parties and this was an especially fun one to put on! Will you be planning a baby shower soon? What is the theme for the event?

M&M: The Merciful Shall Obtain Mercy

UPDATE (3/5/2017) You can now view and download the file for the M&M tag. Scroll to the bottom of the post for the link!

Here is one last handout for our recent lesson on forgiveness. 

I asked each girl to share a time when she forgave someone. After she shared I gave her a pack of M&M's with a little tag that said:

"Blessed are the Merciful: for they shall obtain Mercy."

-Matthew 5:7

I reminded the girls that in order for us to be forgiven for our sins, we must also forgive.

I love it when candy fits so perfectly into the lesson!

If you are still working on a lesson for this month, here are some ideas that I have posted on the topic of The Atonement that you may be able to use this week. Or you can just file them away for next year!

What is the Atonement of Jesus Christ? (link to Come Follow Me)

An "Egg-stra" Special Gift

How Can Repentance Help Me Every Day? (link to Come Follow Me)

How Repentance Heals Us

Object Lesson: A Change Of Heart

Repentance Road Map

Repentance Is Like Soap

What is Grace? (link to Come Follow Me)

Grow In Grace

Why Do I Need to Forgive Others? (link to Come Follow Me)

"Fortunately" We Have Forgiveness

Object Lesson: A Change Of Heart

Grudges: Let Them Go!

Forgive Yourself!

How Can the Atonement Help Me During My Trials? (link to Come Follow Me)

The Atonement Can Help Us During Our Trials

UPDATE (3/5/2017) You can now view and download the file for the M&M tag here! Enjoy!

"Fortunately" We Have Forgiveness

For our recent lesson on forgiveness in Young Women I made this quick little handout to give to the girls.

The handout said:

We all make mistakes, but "Fortunately" we have forgiveness!

Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

- Isaiah 1:18

I gave each girl a fortune cookie and inside some of them were scriptures and quotes from talks on forgiveness that we used to learn more about the topic.

I thought it was a fun way to introduce the topic and it helped the girls be a little more engaged.

March is almost over! Have you taught about forgiveness this month?

Grow in Grace

In Young Women on Sunday we talked about grace. Grace isn't something that we discuss a lot in our Church, but it is really a very important part of the Gospel. Because the girls weren't too familiar with the concept, we spent a lot of time going over what the meaning of the word "grace" is. 

This is a great definition of grace:

Grace is divine help and strength that we receive through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Through grace, we are saved from sin and death. In addition, grace is an enabling power that strengthens us from day to day and helps us endure to the end. Effort is required on our part to receive the fulness of the Lord's grace.

(source)

During our lesson we focused primarily on how grace gives us strength to face challenges and trials in our day to day lives. We talked about how this aspect of grace is depicted in the parable of the vine and the branches in John 15:1-10.

As we read and discussed the parable, I used this Easter Egg Tree as a fun visual to help the girls better understand grace. We discussed that the vine is Jesus Christ and that the branches are the members of the Church. We can receive strength and nourishment from the vine. We talked about how the husbandman, our Heavenly Father, must "prune" us through challenges and trials. Although difficult at the time, this helps us to learn and grow and bring forth "much fruit" (good works). It is through this process that we "grow in grace" (2 Peter 3:18) through the help of Jesus.

(You can find a great talk that explains the parable of the vine and the branches and how it relates to grace here.)

I had each girl share how they have "grown in grace" or been given the strength to do something that they could not accomplish on their own.

After each girl shared her experience, I gave her a handout to remind her to "grow in grace":

Peter taught us to "grow in grace . . ." 

- 2 Peter 3:18

If we are "rooted" in Christ, His grace will give us strength to overcome trials and challenges, learn and grow in this life, and bring forth much "good fruit".

"I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing"

-John 15:5

The girls also got some "good fruit" in the form of Starburst Jelly Beans to remind them of what can be produced through grace.

Did you teach the Youth about grace this month? Did you find that they were not too familiar with the concept? How did you help them to better understand what grace is?