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?

Object Lesson: A Change of Heart

I can't take credit for this really great object lesson idea. I saw the idea here, but I had to share because it goes so well with March's theme of the Atonement.

I froze some small hearts inside ice cubes then sealed the ice cubes inside plastic bags to prevent water from getting everywhere. I gave each girl an ice cube and I told them to use their hands to melt it until they got to what was inside. After some time, the cold of the ice started to cause some pain, but the girls continued on until they found the heart inside.

Once all the girls had melted the ice cube we talked about how repentance requires us to have a change of heart. We need to have a change of heart so that we no longer have the desire to continue to sin. We must align our will with our Heavenly Father's. Like trying to melt the ice cube, this can sometimes be a long and painful process, but the Lord will help us through it and in the end we will have joy because we are doing what our Heavenly Father wants us to do. 

I then shared this scripture with the girls:

And it came to pass that when Ammon arose he also administered unto them, and also did all the servants of Lamoni; and they did all declare unto the people the selfsame thing—that their hearts had been changed; that they had no more desire to do evil. 

-Alma 19:33

I think this was such a great object lesson to teach the girls the process and importance of having a change of heart when we repent.

When we had our lesson on forgiveness, the subject of having a change of heart came up again. This great quote from President Uchtdorf shows how we must have a change of heart when we forgive others:

Forgiving ourselves and others is not easy. In fact, for most of us it requires a major change in our attitude and way of thinking—even a change of heart. But there is good news. This “mighty change” of heart is exactly what the gospel of Jesus Christ is designed to bring into our lives.

How is it done? Through the love of God.

Lay your burden at the Savior’s feet. Let go of judgment. Allow Christ’s Atonement to change and heal your heart. Love one another. Forgive one another.

- Dieter F. Uchtdorf

(source)

You could definitely use this object lesson when you teach about repentance OR forgiveness!

Do you use object lessons when you teach? What has been a really good object lesson you have used recently?

Repentance Is Like Soap

Here is a quick handout I made for our Young Women lesson on repentance last year.

 I used the following quote that I found on Sugardoodle here.

Soap is a practical household necessity.

Soap is cleansing.

For physical cleanliness, soap must be applied frequently.

Repentance is a practical principle of the gospel.

Repentance is cleansing.

Spiritual cleanliness requires constant repentance.

 I gave the girls the handouts with cute little rose-shaped soap petals I found at Dollar Tree. Quick, easy, and cute!

Do you teach the Youth this month? How will you teach about repentance?

Frugal Craft: Shamrock Wreath

I love doing crafts, but sometimes they can be pricey. I am always trying to figure out ways that I can craft frugally. I think it makes the craft even more fun when you can make it super inexpensively. Who doesn't love something that is cute AND cheap!?!

I made this cute shamrock wreath for St. Patrick's Day. I think it is adorable and the best part is that you can make it for about $5 or less!

Here are my supplies:

Wreath- $2.29 regular price at Michael's (less if you use a coupon!) You can also make your own wreath from cardboard or foam board which would make it even cheaper or free!

Foam Shamrocks- $1 per pack at Dollar Tree. I used two packs.

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- leaving the extra for another fun future craft!

Yarn- this is totally optional. I had it for another project so I used it to wrap the wreath, but you get really good coverage from the shamrocks so it isn't even really necessary. I used very little yarn, probably less than $1's worth.

So, I spent about $5 on supplies, but you could definitely make it for much less!

FYI- I may or may not have seen a wreath VERY similar to this selling for $35!!! Make this and you could save yourself at least $30!

I wrapped the wreath with yarn and then hot glued the shamrocks on. Add some ribbon to hang it and you are done! The yarn took some time, but the gluing only took about 10 minutes- super quick and easy!

Don't you love how it sparkles?

Do you like to make inexpensive crafts? What have you made lately?

The Atonement Can Help Us During Our Trials

Here's a handout I used for the Young Women when we talked about how the Atonement can help us during our trials (see more here).

I made a little tag that said the following:

When your trials seem like they are too much to "BEAR" turn to your Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the enabling power of the Atonement and you will find "PIECE" and "JOY" during adversity.

I filled little treat bags with some Gummy Bears, Reese's Pieces, and Almond Joys and attached the tags. I thought it turned out cute and it is always fun to be able to incorporate a treat!

How are your lessons going this month? How will you teach the Youth about how the Atonement can help us during our trials?

Grudges: Let Them Go!

Another quick handout I used last year for our lesson on forgiveness.

I wrote the following at the top of each handout, attached a balloon, and added a quote by President Uchtdorf:

Don't hold on to grudges- filling them with time, energy, and hot air.

Let them go!

Nevertheless, we must let go of our grievances. Part of the purpose of mortality is to learn how to let go of such things. That is the Lord's way.

-President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

(source)

We talked about how holding on to grudges can hurt us. Even though it may be difficult, through the power of the Atonement we can find peace and the change of heart required to forgive those who have wronged us. 

I asked the girls to think of a grudge they were holding on to and someone they needed to forgive as they blew up their balloon. I then told them to, "let it go," as they released their balloon. Of course this is easier said than done, but we talked about how it was a start and that they could pray to their Heavenly Father for help in forgiving others.

Letting go of grudges can be difficult. How will you encourage your class to let them go?

Forgive Yourself!

I just wanted to share a quick little handout I made last year for our lesson on forgiveness.

I used this quote by President Uchtdorf and attached a small mirror (found at JoAnn's) to it:

When the Lord requires that we forgive all men, that includes forgiving ourselves. Sometimes, of all the people in the world, the one who is the hardest to forgive—as well as perhaps the one who is most in need of our forgiveness—is the person looking back at us in the mirror. 

– President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

(source)

I think this is a great reminder for everyone- forgive others AND yourself!

Are you teaching the Youth this month? What ideas are you using to teach about forgiveness?