Spoonful of Imagination

Add it to a Family for Something Beautiful

Handmade Gift Guide

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DIY_Handmade_giftsWhat is the most special gift you have ever received?

Was it something you had been wanting for a long time?

Was it a surprise that you weren’t expecting?

When I think of the gifts that have meant the most to me, it is gifts that show thought and effort. I love personal gifts that are a reflection of a time spent thinking of what I like, need, or enjoy. Sometimes these are bought gifts. For example, my sister-in-law bought me an appointment for a new hair-do this week, and I was so thrilled. She knew I had been wanting blue in my hair for a while. So thoughtful!

girl_Blue_hairA lot of my most special gifts are ones people have made me. I can think of the T-shirt quilt my mom made me as a high school graduation present using all of my favorite childhood shirts. I think of the stamp, business cards, and organizer book Matt made me for me first little craft company years ago. Handmade gifts can be some of the best. They show time and effort and can’t help but make you feel special.

I have rounded up some of my favorite crafts all in this one post. I think this collection of crafts would make great gifts are additions to gifts and stocking stuffers this holiday season. Christmas is a week away, and you have a weekend to get some stuff done. Imagine the joy you could bring someone in your life with one of these handmade gifts.

Ruffled Fabric Bag

ruffled bagRuffled Apron

DIY_ApronBurlap Flower

a flower for youDecorative Front Porch Hello Pot

decorate flower potsSet of Greeting Cards

DIY_homemade_greating_cardsYarn Picture Frame

DIY_yarn_frame1Textured Rug Pillow

transform_rug_into_pillowDecorative Stepping Stool

diy foot stoolLittle Girl Hair Bows

the sofest headband for newbornsSunburst Stick Mirror

DIY_sunburst_mirrorsChevron Heart Pillow

DIY_easy_pillowsMost of these crafts have a base item that I started with, and I simply embellished it. They are all possible to do relatively quickly. Just follow the tutorial steps in each of their links and switch out the colors, fabrics, etc to make it personal to your individual.

handmade_giftsI am busily trying to finish up a few gifts of my own. We have a week till Christmas! Let’s imagine the joy we can bring to someone by taking the time to create something especially for them.

Special Reminder: Coming in January, I will have packaged crafts for you to receive on your door step. This special membership will eliminate the hassle of having to find the supplies while providing the joy of a fun, seasonal craft to make as a gift or for your home. For more information, watch this video.

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Toddler Picture Books

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Welcome back to week #2 of it’s All About the Kids link up!  Thank you so much for joining me, and I hope you link up a fun kid related post this week.

There were some great link ups last week!  I loved the post from Dollie on how to Use Puzzles to Teach Geography and the post from Heather on how to have A Snow Day with shaving creme!  Both amazing ideas and fun activities to do with your kids.

The link up that I randomly picked to feature today was The Blessings Jar from Heather at Upside Down Homeschooling.

blessings-jar1Heather is going to keep a jar and write blessings on little of slips of paper as they come in through the year to stick in the jar.  I love this idea, and we will definitely be doing it in our home as well.  Thank you so much Heather for inspiring us to look and appreciate the GOOD things that happen!  Please thank her for this great idea by stopping by her blog to say hi!

Today, I am sharing a toddler picture book I made for my nieces for Christmas.

toddler book

My sweet niece, Charleigh, lives 14 hours away so we only get to see her a handful of times during the year.  She is almost 18 months old, and I want her to know us.  We send pictures and Facetime, but for Christmas I wanted to add a personal touch to her present.  I thought of this cute little book.  I simply got a few pictures developed and ran them through my laminator at home.  I ended up going back and laminating them twice, so the pages are extra thick and protected from little girl drool.  Once I had the pages laminated, I punched a hole in the top of each page and stuck them all on a keyring, so they can be flipped easily.

I loved it so much, I made my niece, Natalie, one as well.  Even though we get to see her quite often, she loves her book because it is people that love her and she loves too.  My brother and sister in law took it out to dinner with them the other night and helped pass the time while they were waiting for their food.  How smart is that!?

photo gifts

homemade toddler book

personalized gift for toddlers

If you read my DIY Ruffle Fabric Bag and Christmas Wrap Up Post, you got to see a few other Christmas presents I made this year.  Did you make anything you gave away this holiday season?

Now, I am so excited to party it up with you all again!  Please link up your newest All About the Kids post!

Spoonful of Imagination




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My Wedding Review

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I love weddings.  I love the joining of two lives to become one and the celebration and party that comes with it!  We were so honored to be such a part of last weekend’s family wedding.

We got to the wedding at Spring Lake Events, and the boys were literally so excited they could have walked down the aisle right then.  I had to hold these cuties back for about an hour and half.

They did not mind because the venue was so gorgeous and right out of a boy’s dream.  There were fields, a lake, and rocks.  What more could a kid want!?  My task was to keep them somewhat clean. 🙂  Hence, Reagan was NOT in her flower girl dress.

I let the boys run and release some of that energy!

How cute is that sign they ran too!?!

The running worked and wore them out a bit.  So, we gathered their goodies and got ready to go down the aisle.

I just LOVED how J held his pillow in every position but the literal way it is supposed to be held for a ring bearer.  Take note of this in the pictures 🙂

Those Tic-Tacs helped keep Reagan in the wagon.  They were like a puzzle for a while until she realized how she could dump them out and get more at a time out.

One thing I just love about having three young kids is the numerous amazing pictures we get.  Although it is rare to get all three smiling AND looking at the camera at the same time, there are so many amazing “other shots” gotten in attempts of  that ONE shot.  For example, I can’t decide which of the following three I like best.

They are so similar, but I like each one for a different reason.

Jennifer looked stunning!  One of my favorite pictures/moments is watching the groom’s face when he sees his bride for the first time.  Seth’s face was priceless!  Simply smitten with love and pride all over it.  They are going to be one amazing married couple.

The kids did an amazing job walking down the aisle!  They looked so cute and got lots of smiles.  I was so proud of them!  I keep watching the video of them going down the aisle and it makes me giggle every time!

I didn’t hear most of the ceremony because my kiddos were wanting to play musical chairs and were needing to be reminded “whisper”, “no talking”, and “here’s another piece of candy”.  Bribery. For me to still get teary eyed at the parts that I did catch, shows how beautiful the ceremony was!

At one point, I might have had to chase down this run-away flower girl.  She looked so stunning and innocent, I had to capture the moment!

The wedding party was gorgeous!  I loved the pink dresses Jennifer picked out, and the groomsmen even had on pink socks with their suits!  There were so many personal, unique things to this wedding that added to the overall special and beautiful feel it created.

My gorgeous little niece, Natalie, still doesn’t know what to do with her loud cousins.  Reagan loves to “pat” her.

Here are a few pictures of the gorgeous decor items that were made up by the venue and couple…

I loved all of it.  I am no professional photographer, but it was all so gorgeous I busted out my little point and shoot whenever I could.  I know so much work went into planning this wedding.

I adore Jennifer and had talks with her before she was even engaged about her wedding.  I am SO SO thankful this day came and it was so beautiful!  She dreamed about it for a long time and deserves the best!  All those little “ideas” and moments of hours and hours of work came together to create one incredible day.

She had personal drink buckets, TWO photo books used for guest books (you know those take FOREVER to make!), lots of cute signs, a photo booth with props, her initialed necklace for the reception…and so so much more.  It was gorgeous!

One of my favorite parts of the whole thing was watching these cousins interact.  They I(‘m pretty sure) adore each other in a sweet, innocent way.

Reagan giggles at anything Nolan does, and Nolan seems to always find Reagan.  Such sweet friends!

How gorgeous was their cake!?!  Ombre pink flowers!

We love you Seth and Jennifer and will be here for you always!  We believe in you both and wish you nothing but the best!  May God continue to richly bless you both!!

Thank you so much for checking out my wedding review!  I hope you are having a great week!