FREE Printable - Ginghams Paper Dolls to Print

 

I had The Ginghams paper dolls when I was  girl and I loved them. They were my favorite paper dolls. I think I still have them stashed away somewhere. 

I found these printables of them for free on the internet. Maybe some little girl you know will enjoy them. They would make a cute gift or distraction for a sick or rainy day. :-) The instructions for printing them are at the page.

Make-Ahead Healthy Cake Mixes Tutorial

Here is another tutorial from Mary's Nest. This one is for cake mixed you can store in your pantry or freezer. I would personally put mine in the freezer since we don't make cakes all that often and I can't tolerate foods that have gone even a little rancid. Also, I recommend using the usual canning lids and rings if you store yours in canning jars. I have not found the white plastic lids designed for use on canning jars to be a good, air tight seal. 

Here is the link to recipes on her page. This is where she gives the instructions on how to make the cakes later, so you will need this to print out the instructions to go with the mixes. I recommend keeping them with the mixes, as she does. Mixes Recipes and Instructions.

I am curious to see if her recipes can be used with gluten-free 1-for-1 flours. I may try a couple of them out in single cake proportions. But, then again, I may not. My life is full of good intentions that never quite make it to real life. blah. :-)

Also, as she mentions, these mixes could make nice gifts for people who bake desserts. This could be in keeping with the post from November 14th on changing your gift giving this holiday season - and, hey, why not all of next year?

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Fewer Gifts Could Actually Be Good - A Different Perspective on the Threatened "Gift Shortages"

Well, the talking heads have been threatening Americans with less availability of gifts this year for the holiday season. I'm not sure if this is a legitimate thing or just another way to fan the flames of fear, capitalism, and compulsive buying. I guess some areas are being affected more than others.

Those who have been reading my blog for awhile may remember that a few years back I did a "Holiday Challenge" to Christians that observe Christmas encouraging them to make the holiday more about the birth of Jesus Christ and glorifying Him since that is the claimed reason for it. In short, to act upon the claims and celebrate in a way that makes Him the center and object entirely instead of bowing to the idol of consumption and worldly pleasure.

Colossians 3:5-7 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.

This seemed like a good opportunity to repost a couple of the challenges specifically and the series in general.

The 6 part series can be found here: Running In Vain? A Holiday Challenge

The two parts that I want to especially emphasize, though are these:

Spend Less, Don't Buy Stuff, Plan Ahead 

This one is to help you think about simplifying your gift giving - ideas for homemade gifts, ways to cut back, etc. Spending and giving less in order to take the focus off of getting and stuff. This would be a great year to begin this if you haven't already. 

Simplify Your Holiday Activities

This could help reduce spending and also, as you reduce the spending and giving, this could give you the time to focus on some more intentional together times and ministry.

As I was writing this I also thought about all the people who have lost loved ones in 2020 and 2021 and it seemed like I should encourage you to think about them as well, so here is the challenge that deals with that. 

Seeing With Compassion

Quote: "Making your celebration quieter and less intense, less cluttered with the myriad of holiday junk that China has put at our disposal, will give more opportunity to notice people and to focus on their real needs. If this is done with the mind of Christ it will result in compassion and conscious acts of kindness and love. In short, Christ-like behavior will follow."

John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. 

How about if you stop hoping the ships get unloaded and that the stuff gets delivered in time and think about ways that you can do more with less - more that will glorify the Lord Jesus and show people what His love looks like with shoes on. :-)

Cheap, Pretty, and Good - Gift Wrapping Ideas

 

Although gift bags are all the fashion these days and are great for reusing, some of us still like wrapped gifts upon occasion. :-) But wrapping paper can be expensive. Here are some ideas for making do or using less expensive methods.

Here are some ideas from "Sister in the Mid-West" at Simple Inspirations:

Cheap and Creative Gift Wrapping Paper

Among a number of good ideas, she shows an example of writing on paper to decorate it for gift warp. The image above is an example of this that I made some years back. I used my colored Sharpie markers to write "I love you!" in different colors on plain white tissue paper. This was for my husband for our anniversary one year. :-) As she points out in her blog post, you can save paper from packages and reuse paper grocery bags for this as well.

You could also make the wrapping part of the gift. 

Here are some suggestions:

Wrap a gift for a sewist or crafter in fabric for her to keep.

Wrap bridal shower gifts or a gift for a home maker in kitchen or tea towels.

Wrap a baby shower gift in a light weight fleece blanket.

Wrap a summer birthday gift in a beach towel.

Wrap a house warming gift in a fleece throw or table cloth.

Wrap a set of bed sheets in one of the pillow cases or an extra pillow case.

Wrap various home gifts in a pillow case.

Wrap a kid's birthday gift in a specialty pillow case.

Wrap books in a lap throw (for cozy reading). :-)

These gifts can be held closed with safety pins, ribbon, or low-tack tape that won't ruin the fabrics.

Repurpose jeans or other trousers to make gift bags too.

I have made gift bags using old jeans. I used ones that had the hem still intact, but you could use trimmed ratty ones as well. If the jeans are worn too much around the bottom edge try cutting off the hem and washing them to give a frayed edge to work with. Do this before cutting off the legs for the bags. The hem end will be the top edge of the bag.

To make the bags I just cut the bottoms of the legs off below the knee at whatever length I wanted. I turned the pant legs wrong side out and then sewed them shut along the cut edge. Be sure to use a stout needle size for this. Also, it may be difficult to get the machine to sew through the thickest side seam on the jeans. To avoid breaking a needle I used the wheel on the side and gently worked it by hand so that the needle went through slowly and firmly. You could also sew these up by hand if you don't have a sewing machine. Add decorations as you like. In the one in the photo I added a ribbon on one side to tie the bag shut and some "yo-yos" just to pretty it up a bit. You could also paint them with fabric paint.

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While I was looking for another photo I found this one of that white tissue gift wrap that I wrote on years ago. :-) 

Also, this basket came to me from my mother and she received it as a gift. The lady who gave it to her spray painted it blue, as I recall, to make it fresh. This is another way you can repurpose or re-gift a basket. A little paint can make something look quite new. 

Planning NOT to Buy Too Much

1 Timothy 6:6-8 But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 

This is an interesting video that explains what is called "the Diderot Effect." This is the odd tendency that people have that leads to chain purchase. By that I mean, you buy something and then need something else to go with it, and something else to go with that, and so forth till you've made a whole string of purchases based on that first purchase. The first purchase may actually be needed, but often the following purchases are not. At the end, Becker suggests that instead of trying to impress people with things, you should try to impress them with how you live. I understand why he says that, but in the biblical worldview that isn't what Christians should be trying to do either. We should be living to glorify God. Keeping the excessive and unnecessary consumption and purchase of things under control is one way that we can glorify God. Learning to be content with what God has given us is one way to achieve that.

It seemed especially appropriate to post this now as so many people are focusing on buying at this time of year. Please consider your purchases prayerfully. Truthfully, folks, using Jesus' birth as an excuse to fill your homes (or "stockings") with junk is at the very least tacky. At worst it is dishonoring to the name that you claim to honor. Don't let yourself be caught up in the covetousness and hyper-consumerism of the season.  [For further reading: Spend Less, Don't Buy Stuff, Plan Ahead]

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Sew Happy Wednesday - Two Quick and Easy Quilt Tutorials

These tutorials are not as in depth as some, but the information is enough to make the quilts if you already have some quilting skills. :-)

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Short Thoughts - Courageous vs. Gorgeous

Sometime back I was looking for a mug to send to a lady who happens to have lupus. I have known someone personally who has lupus and I know it's a tough illness to deal with. Many days are an uphill battle all day. There is pain and suffering and medications that make life hard at times, and there is depression from the constant struggle. The spiritual battle must be immense.

I was browsing on Amazon looking for something to send this lady when I misread a mug that said "Hello, Gorgeous."  I thought it read, "Hello, Courageous." When I realized my mistake I wondered, "Well, why not courageous?" I would rather be more courageous than gorgeous.

Why is it that women seem to need to be told they're beautiful or "sexy" so much? Why not remind a lady who has a hard fight every day of her life that she is courageous? Because, you know she has to be or she wouldn't have made it this far. Why don't we encourage attitudes and actions of real value instead of vain things like beauty and external attributes? Physical strength, beauty, attractiveness - they are all so temporary.

God put this in His word for our learning and use: Proverbs 31:30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. 

True strength and courage come from the Lord.

Proverbs 14:26 In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge. 

Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 

Beauty and external charms all perish along the road of life at some point. It is the hidden man that is renewed day by day and it is the adornments of that inner man that are of value in the sight of God.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Truehearted, wholehearted, faithful and loyal,
King of our lives, by Thy grace we will be;
Under the standard exalted and royal,
Strong in Thy strength we will battle for Thee.
-- Frances R. Havergal

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Painting by Childe Hassam

Mug Exchange Reveal Spring 2018

In April I participated in the Tea Cup and Mug Exchange at The Enchanting Rose, an event Stephanie hosts twice a year to encourage making new friends.This year my gifts came from Cheryl who lives in Michigan. This was a happy "coincidence" because Michigan happens to be my home state. :-) She does not have a blog or web page for me to link to - which is fine!

These are the things she sent me (from left to right).
Back row: Tea Lover's Devotional book, The Twelve Teas of Inspiration book (both books contain recipes too), and a lovely card. (Pink is my favorite color and I always like sparkles on a card.)
Second row: magnet, zip pouch, mug, mint tea, and a fancy little note pad.
Front: tea bag holder and a ceramic tea spoon that matches the mug.

I have used the mug so far for vegetable broth and for cold cereal. (Yes, I eat cold cereal out of a mug sometimes. :-)  )

Strange to say, the little tan pouch actually became the star of the collection quite unexpectedly. It dawned on me at some point that it might possibly fit my travel sized paints. I went and collected the pouch from where it was and half hopefully tried it. It is a perfect fit - as if it were made for it! I could even tuck a paper towel into the inside pocket. With a water brush (which contains water in its special chamber), and a watercolor journal or pad of some sort, I can now easily carry along this paint either for plein air painting (a fancy French term for painting outside), or for traveling. I am really delighted with this! :-)  [In case you can't read it, the pouch says "Faith" on the metal tag and the ribbon on the zipper handle.]

Thank you so much, Cheryl, for you thoughtfulness, and for the gifts that you sent.

Previously, due to my shopping constraints, I have sent packages for the exchange through Amazon.com  This time I actually put the package together myself but, sorry to say, I completely forgot about taking a photo of the things I sent. The lady whose name I received was Roseann at "This Autoimmune Life."  She has posted pictures of the things I sent HERE. It was fun that she also lives in Texas, and another happy "coincidence" is that she has another friend named Mary Stephens! :-)

Thanks again to Stephanie for hosting this fun exchange. Visit her post to see what the various ladies received and sent.

Due to the fact that the Teacup and Mug Exchange has grown so much, and that there have been difficulties out of her control that have bothered some people, Stephanie is dropping the exchange at this time. I am sorry to hear it, but I understand. I have marveled at her dedication to make this all work. I hadn't really thought about the problematic aspects, aside from ladies not sending packages they promised to send, but I realize that there are probably a lot of things that can go wrong and so spoil things for some people and make Stephanie sad or unhappy as well. So, I just want to thank Stephanie again and tell her that her efforts are really appreciated by many of us, and I, for one, completely support her decision. It's been a great run. :-)

Tea Cup and Mug Exchange at The Enchanting Rose

My blogging friend, Stephanie, is again hosting a tea cup and mug exchange at her blog, a twice-yearly event. If you are interested in participating, here is the link:

12th Tea Cup and Mug Exchange Sign-up

I have participated twice now. You can see my posts about it here:

Mug Exchange Reveal - Nov. 2016

Mug Exchange Reveal - April 2017

Sew Happy Friday - Tutorial for Cute Felt-Backed Coasters

Image property of sew4hom.com

These coaster would be a fun way to add some color to a room, or they would make great gifts. One might even fit into a card to be mailed. (Check to see if it needs extra postage.)

They also look pretty easy to make. If you have scraps of felt and some stray quilting patches, these would come together quite quickly. This is also a good way to practice top-stitching if it's something you struggle with. These coasters are not a big project and can be used for awhile and then discarded. This is much better place to learn a new skill than on a garment or a big project. :-) The tutorial is at sew4home.com

Link: Felt and Fabric Coasters

My Neighbor's Roses - A Poem and A Lesson

My Neighbor's Roses

The roses red upon my neighbor’s vine
Are owned by him, but they are also mine.
His was the cost, and his the labor, too,
But mine as well as his the joy, their loveliness to view.

They bloom for me and are for me as fair
As for the man who gives them all his care.
Thus I am rich, because a good man grew
A rose-clad vine for all his neighbor’s view.

I know from this that others plant for me,
And what they own, my joy may also be.
So why be selfish, when so much that’s fine
Is grown for you, upon your neighbor’s vine?

by Abraham L. Gruber

When my family lived in Arizona we had a fenced yard enclosed by a chain link fence. In quite a bit of the fence there were wooden slats woven through the openings to give more privacy inside the yard. I loved growing flowers and shrubs at that time and I planted a lot of things in our yard. Among many other things, I planted hollyhocks and climbing roses along the fence.

Continue Reading.

Painting: "The Crimson Rambler" by Philip Hale

Sew Happy Friday - A Quick and Easy Potholder Tutorial

This is a quick, neat, and easy way to make a potholder (hot mat) for you kitchen or dining table. These would make nice housewarming gifts, among other things. For the batting you can use 100% cotton batting (wadding), heatproof batting, or a 100% cotton washcloth (without rounded corners). Do not use synthetic batting as it may melt with heat. This would be a great way to use up scraps or leftover 10" squares.

Enjoy! :-)

Cheap, Pretty, and Good - Tea Cup Candles

Do you have some cute or pretty tea cups you inherited that aren't worth all that much and you don't know what to do with them? Let's face it, some tea cups are pretty, but they aren't necessarily worth much, and if you don't use them or you have too many, they can become clutter. This tutorial shows how to make them into pretty candles so that they can actually serve a useful purpose and add ambiance to your home as well.

DIY Vintage Tea Cup Candles

Photograph property of Rhiannon Bosse.


I know, someone will probably object to this, saying that tea cups ought not to be "ruined" this way. Well, there are a lot of china tea cups floating around second hand stores because someone didn't have any use for them and donated them. If someone can find a use for their grandmother's tea cups as candles, why not? And, the tea cups don't necessarily have to be ruined by this usage either. Oh, another thought - these would make cute gifts too, and if you don't have tea cups, you could probably find some at the second hand shops I mentioned. :-)

Also, note that these candles could be useful during a power outage since they are easy to carry.

NOTE: Do not use plastic or melamine tea cups for this project!

Sew Happy Friday - Tutorial for Burp Cloths

Here is a tutorial at the Strangers & Pilgrims on Earth blog for making easy burp cloths for babies. These are really easy to make and would make a fun gift done in pretty or cute flannel fabrics (as shown). Please leave a comment for JES if you like the idea. :-)

Easy to Sew Baby Gift Burp Cloths

P.S. These aren't just for moms. Anyone who helps burp the baby can use these. :-)

The Autumn Tea Cup and Mug Exchange

Photo property of Stephanie Dunsdon at The Enchanting Rose.

The September Tea Cup and Mug Exchange starts today over at Stephanie's web site, The Enchanting Rose. If you want to sign up, go on over and look over the rules and sign up. It is a very enjoyable exchange to participate in. I will be sitting this one out because of some extra busy-ness this Fall, but I would normally have enjoyed it. I hope some of you will if you can.

Please know that it is not for the U.S. only, so you can participate if you live in another country. Also, it is not necessary to have a blog in order to participate.

Click Here to Sign Up.

Colossians 3:17  And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

Sew Happy Friday - Gift Bag Using Fabric Strips

Here's a tutorial for making a gift bag with 2 1/2" strips of fabric. You can use leftover strips from a jelly roll (pre-cut), or you can use ones that you cut yourself.




As some of my readers know, we don't celebrate Christmas, but this gift bag could be used in a lot of different ways. It would make a great bag for carrying small hand projects when traveling or visiting. It could be used as a "pajama pillow" for kids to store their p.j.s or nightgowns neatly during the day. It could be useful as gift bag for any occasion. (I think it would be nice with a scarf in it for a lady - Mother's Day, graduation, gifts for bride's maids, bridal shower, birthday, etc.)

One thing I want to note here: Vanessa used a Frixion pen for drawing the lines on the outside ("pretty side") surface of her bag. A friend and I have both found that sometimes Frixion pens will take out the color of the fabric when they are ironed to remove the ink. Although the disappearing ink which becomes invisible when touched with a hot iron has it's uses in sewing and quilting, we recommend that you only use it in areas where it will be hidden inside from view (like when she marks the corners on the inside). The pens are handy and you certainly can go ahead and use it the way that Vanessa does, but just know you may see faded lines when you iron it. However, if you are careful to sew directly on those lines they will be less visible, or perhaps not show at all.

Mug Exchange Reveal

This week is the big "reveal" of the mug and tea cup exchange gifts over at The Enchanting Rose. Stephanie did a fantastic job of hosting this blogland event in March and now we're supposed to share the gifts we received either on our blogs or at her page. You can see the other mug and tea cup reveals here: 10th Tea Cup and Mug Exchange Reveal.

So, here is the gift I received from Angela, the lady who received my name - and very nice gift it is too!

I received a mug with a pretty cardinal on it - my favorite bird. Also there was a journal, two kinds of herb tea, two crocheted hot pads with a matching thing to hang them on, some honey spoons, a rolling pin shaped recipe card holder, and a lovely apron! It was a very nice surprise to have the apron in addition to the mug! So appropriate and thoughtful. :-) There was also a cute card with a letter, which was nice as well.

I would have to say that cardinals are probably my favorite bird. I love their brilliant color, but they also have a number of fond memories connected with various people I knew in the past and know now, including my own dear husband. This mug is pretty large, which is another plus. Great for hot cocoa. I have used it several times already. :-)

The beautiful white apron has both embroidery and Battenberg style lace on it. I doubt that I will use it for cooking, it's too pretty to spoil that way. But, it would look very nice in our dining room on the pantry door where I already have a small collection of special aprons. It also matches the valances in the dining room nicely.

Altogether it was a very nice package. :-) I appreciate Angela's efforts.

Even the cat got something enjoyable out of it! hehe

Here is what I sent to the lady whose name I received (copied from Stephanie's page.)

Mug Exchange Reveal

Philippians 4:4  Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.

This autumn I decided to participate in the tea cup and mug exchange hosted by Stephanie at The Enchanting Rose. Since I don't use tea cups or collect them, I opted for a mug since we do use those regularly. Today was the day Stephanie selected for the big reveal of what we received. A warm "Thanks!" to Stephanie for going to all the work of putting these exchanges together. I *think* she does two a year, but there is at least one. :-)

The lady I was to send a mug to was Cheryl at Homespun Devotions. I don't have a photo of my gift to her because I sent it through Amazon, but here is a link to her post. We have enjoyed getting to know each other. :-)

The lady from whom I received a mug was Anne at Phamily Blog.  She sent me the items pictured here.

There was this neat mug, more in a minute on that, plus the mint tea blend. She also enclosed the tea pot shaped white tea bag holder (or spoon rest if you prefer), some silicone tea holders for steeping loose teas, some honey sticks, a two year planner, a grocery tote bag that fits into a strawberry shaped pocket, and a nice letter. :-) It was nice getting to know her too.

This mug is special because it not only has a lid to keep your drink hot, but there is also a strainer inside which you can use for loose teas and herbs. Once the tea is brewed you remove the strainer with the tea leaves or herbs to leave clear tea. Or, if you are using a tea bag, you can just remove it and use the mug without the strainer. Pretty clever, huh?

Anyway, I appreciate Anne's gift and the thought she put into it. :-)  Thanks, Anne!

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Some of my readers may be wondering where the monthly challenge is for November.  I'll try to post that on Friday if possible.  I am sick right now and I don't know what it is so I'm not sure how long it might take to recover or if I'm coming down with a cold on top of whatever else is going on.  Is that confusing? My brain is muddled tonight so I wouldn't be surprised if it was.

Monthly Challenge - June 2016

So, this month we are back to the monthly challenges!  Yay!

Since we were focusing on improving ourselves and our lives in April, this month we'll go back to reaching out to others.

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Give a gift to someone who has no reason to expect a gift from you.

And/Or

Send a greeting card to someone who needs encouragement.

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Acts 20:35  I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

The gift may be as big or as small, as fancy or as ordinary as you wish.  It may be of any value - even a bouquet of wildflowers which cost you nothing but a little effort. :-)  It could be the gift of your time.

Ephesians 4:32  And be ye kind one to another...

The greeting card is pretty self-explanatory.

And that's it for this time.  Quite simple really. :-)

Enjoy!

Sew Happy Friday–Mini Charm Bookmark Tutorial from Shabby Fabrics

 

Here’s a great little tutorial by Jennifer Bosworth from Shabby Fabrics on how to make bookmarks with mini charms (2 1/2” squares, also called Moda candy).