Today's Tip: Look in the washing machine!

   For about a week, we could not find our older boys' shoes.  We have a shelf in the laundry room that is to store shoes, but somehow the boys are just too busy to use it.  Just like most parents do, we searched the house high and low and having found no shoes, decided an ultimatum would be best.  Daddy said, "For now on if your shoes aren't in there cubby, no TV."  Then mommy convinced that they had literally evaporated into thin air and no one else seemed to care said, "I am not giving anyone any lunch until you find your shoes."  Still no shoes!!!  So I began organizing all the other shoes back on the rack and noticed that one of my husband's large work boots was also missing.  Thinking to myself, if daddy also is misplacing his shoes, perhaps there is another culprit, I peered into the washing machine.  Calling the whole family over to see the mystery solved, here is what I saw inside.

Graycen's little 18 month figure barely reaches high enough to touch the top of the washer, so I can only imagine that this feat took lots of determination on his part, especially for daddy's work boot.  There was also an entire pack of baby wipes removed from their package one by one and thrown inside.  So today's tip is if you can't find something anywhere and you happen to have a munchkin like mine, check the washing machine!

Nickie Hoffer

Close To My Heart Independent Consultant

6325 Bayberry Ave., Manheim, PA 17545
717-665-0544

Fall Festivities

My son has a passion for creating things.  He voiced a strong desire to have a haunted house this year and create all these intense items.  We don't want to make such a huge deal out of Halloween, so we came up with a compromise.  We made some items together and decorated the house for a Fall Costume party for our couple's bible study.  Here is what we came up with.  Sorry for the late post, but if you have paid attention to any of my other posts, you would know I have my hands full right now.

 We made three sets of these scary eyes with frames, glow in the dark glitter, black glitter and glue.  I found the template here on Martha Stewart's site.

I love these creepy critters as well.  The same site above gives a template to cut out, but Martha sells them pre-cut at Michael's for $5.99.  No party would be complete without bats and spiders galore, so we had them too.  We had a glow in the dark hunt, where I hid creatures around the house and the children ran around with flashlights trying to find them. Lastly we made glitter pumpkins.  The hardest thing was accepting that when 17 kids do it, it may not look as nice as when Martha did it.  Here's a photo of all the children! Thanks for looking!

Nickie Hoffer

Close To My Heart Independent Consultant

6325 Bayberry Ave., Manheim, PA 17545
717-665-0544

Today's Tip- Tying That Perfect Bow

    OK, so I am sure most of you have heard or seen the forking techniques to get a perfect bow.  If not, here is one I have bookmarked: Let's Fork by Stampin with Di
    I found when I use this technique, I am always left wishing my bow was bigger, but essentially you need a bigger fork for a bigger bow.  Where do you find a bigger fork?  Now for those of you who can just tie a beautiful bow, this tip is not for you.
    I found if you follow the steps without the fork, you can get a bigger bow and the same beautiful technique.  Let's see if you are following me.
Step 1 Fold the ribbon in half.

Step 2 Bring the piece in the back around front and across the front piece.  Remember you are pretending there is a large fork there as a border for that back piece to cross over.

Step 3 Now you take the other piece and bring it straight up over the center of the loop you have made.

Step 4 You flip it over and tie a knot and voila.  Keep in mind during all of these steps you would keep the ribbon in her hand.  I had to put it on the table to try to get a photo of each step.

Now you are probably thinking that isn't much bigger than a fork would make it and you are right, but below is the same technique used with a thicker ribbon.  There was no way I could find a fork in my drawer big enough for this bow, which is how this tip actually came about.

So for the bow challenged ladies out there, like me.  Try making bows with the fork first so you get the hang of it and then use this technique to get even bigger and better bows.  Good Luck!

Nickie Hoffer

Close To My Heart Independent Consultant

6325 Bayberry Ave., Manheim, PA 17545
717-665-0544

Wonderful Wonderland Cards!!!

These cards originated from Chris Green's workshop.  Check out her blog to see some great artwork.  I believe they may have been adapted by my friend, upline, and fellow consultant, Krista for our team meeting.  Check out her blog here.  I put my own spin on the final card, because I didn't feel like hand cutting the Christmas tree stamp image.  I love love love the die cut cards and envelopes (Z1686).  That item is one I never even noticed in the catalog, but now that I have played with them, I love them.  You can get your own set of 10 cards and envelopes today, by clicking here.  If you are interested in making these cards or purchasing the kit to make these cards, contact me today at livescraplove@gmail.com.

Nickie Hoffer

Close To My Heart Independent Consultant

6325 Bayberry Ave., Manheim, PA 17545
717-665-0544

Want over $400 worth of crafting materials for only $99? Contact me for details!

Daddy's Little Girl

   How I longed to be daddy's little girl.  I didn't know how much I was missing because he was never very present.  Now don't get me wrong, he made it to most birthdays, each Christmas, parent's night at school, graduation, and he walked me down the isle at my wedding.  But those moments just aren't the contributions that amount to much if they stand alone.  It's the day to day grind of life, living life together that would have made a difference.  These wonderings began after seeing Courageous in the movie theater last night.  I must confess I cried to 2 hours straight during this movie.  The message anda delivery were amazing.


   The following is the resolution from the movie Courageous.  Each father signed the resolution.  What I can proudly state is that where my earthly father missed the mark, my Heavenly Father did not.
I do solemnly resolve before God to take full responsibility for myself, my wife, and my children.
I WILL love them, protect them, serve them, and teach them the Word of God as the spiritual leader of my home.
I WILL be faithful to my wife, to love and honor her, and be willing to lay down my life for her as Jesus Christ did for me.
I WILL bless my children and teach them to love God with all of their hearts, all of their minds, and all of their strength.
I WILL train them to honor authority and live responsibly.
I WILL confront evil, pursue justice, and love mercy.
I WILL pray for others and treat them with kindness, respect, and compassion.
I WILL work diligently to provide for the needs of my family.
I WILL forgive those who have wronged me and reconcile with those I have wronged.
I WILL learn from my mistakes, repent of my sins, and walk with integrity as a man answerable to God.
I WILL seek to honor God, be faithful to His church, obey His Word, and do His will.
I WILL courageously work with the strength God provides to fulfill this resolution for the rest of my life and for His glory.
As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. – Joshua 24:15

I know I am not the only woman who came from a broken home and longed to be Daddy's Little Girl and I hope that if you identify with me, then you also know that your Heavenly Father can fill any emptiness that our Earthly fathers have left behind.
 

Mojo Monday Sketch #211

Here is the sketch for this week's Mojo Monday Challenge.  Feel free to play along by clicking here.

Here's what I came with.  I used the Believe paper pack, cranberry cardstock, white grosgrain ribbon, art philosophy cricut cartridge, liquid glass, and prisma glitter.  This was my first experience with prisma glitter and I think I might have went over board.  Live and Learn, I guess.

 

Nickie Hoffer

Close To My Heart Independent Consultant

6325 Bayberry Ave., Manheim, PA 17545
717-665-0544

Today's Tip: Consider Definitions When Journaling

The Journaling on this page reads: "Dislike: 1. [verb] to consider unpleasant or disagreeable  2. [noun] a feeling of aversion or antipathy (synonyms: disrelish, disgust, distaste, repugnance)
Graycen disliked all baby food from cereal to desserts.  He never swallowed one bite.  He went straight to table food. 7/5/10"  I forgot how much I loved using definitions as my journaling.  Most of the time, the definition can stand alone.  Like in the example of love, precious, hunger, etc.  So give it a try.  Also if you like this sketch, I got it from Practical Scrappers.  The supplies used are all CTMH except the Boy oh Boy title.
Supply List
Elemental Paper Pack X7141B
Colonial White Cardstock
Desert Sand Ink Z2118
Designer Wooden Buttons Z1387

Nickie Hoffer

Close To My Heart Independent Consultant

6325 Bayberry Ave., Manheim, PA 17545
717-665-0544

Want over $400 worth of crafting materials for only $99? Contact me for details!