Celebrating over 50,000 pageviews with a giveaway!

THANK YOU, dear readers!  I'm so happy to celebrate over 50,000 pageviews on this little blog.  This blog is about things that matter, things of the heart and soul, so I can't tell you how much I appreciate you reading!

Let's celebrate with a giveaway!  The winner will choose any (one) item from {My Heritage Makers Shop}!  (You can even choose an item that's out of stock, if you prefer, and I'll make it.)  Or, if you prefer, you can choose from the {Holiday Nifty Gifty} Christmas gift-card kit ($49 value) or the {Border Maker System} (a $45 value) with two cartridges included.  You don't have to be local to win--shipping is on me!  That's what a giveaway is all about!

HERE'S HOW TO ENTER:

1. Leave a comment below telling me one reason you read here at LifeTales Books or tell me one of your favorite blog posts here.
2. Comments close on November 27, 2017.  A winner will be drawn at random. 
3. I will need to contact the winner via e-mail, so after you enter, e-mail me so that I have your e-mail address and can notify you if you win.  (Your e-mail address will not be shared and will only be used if you are the winner, of course!)  E-mail me at jenniferwise4heritagemakers@gmail.com.  

In looking back over more than 300 posts as we celebrate this little milestone, I want to share again the most popular blog post to date:  {Why Your Family Needs Its Stories}.  I hope, as I do with all my blog posts, that you will be inspired after reading it.  

Thank you for being here, dear readers!  Here's to 50,000 more visits!

12 (Days of) Christmas gift ideas - part 2

How fun are those ideas I posted last week?!  I love them!  Today we're continuing our 12 (Days of) Christmas gift ideas.  Whether you need 12 Christmas ideas or 2, there are some really unique gift ideas here that you're going to love!

UPDATE:  The platform used to create these fun items was retired in 2023, so until I have time to redesign all these fun ideas myself, I now have two GREAT alternative options for the 12 Days ideas below:

1. The Click & Give (or Click, Craft, & Give) ideas at this Christmas in July post.
2. Create similar items yourself with your own personal touch, following this video tutorial.

Day 7:  Single-Serve Cake Recipes
This is another fun idea (like Day 4 from last week) for a sweet treat to be eaten later.  This playing card deck has instructions for 10 different kinds of single-serve cakes using boxed cake mix and a few simple ingredients.

Once you receive the playing card deck, you can take one of each recipe, punch a hole in the corner, and tie together with ribbon.  Give with a box of cake mix if you like!  One playing card deck makes enough for 5 of 10 recipes plus instructions.  A playing card deck is about $17.  (TEMPLATE 85477)

I have to tell you, I LOVE this gift idea, so I decided to give this as gifts to girlfriends this year.  I used this template and switched out the backgrounds and digital art for something I liked better.  (I LOVE that about Heritage Makers!  And all the digital art is included!!!)  I changed the fonts, too.  These photos of MY Quick Cakes gives you a better idea of what this gift will look like after you order then assemble them.

They come in a plastic case.

Deal out the cards!  :D  (Put one of each recipe in each pile.)

 

The backs of all the cards will say "Quick Cakes," but the fronts are all different.  I put the "Helpful Hints" card as the front by turning it over.  (You'll see that better in the next picture.) Punch holes in the corners and put a ring or ribbon (or both) through the holes.

(See?  Here's the little bundle opened.  So the front card shows Quick Cakes on the front and Helpful Hints on the back.)

Now I've flipped a few more "pages."  You can see all the cards say "Quick Cakes" on the back, with different recipes on the front.  

 

I think these are SO ADORABLE.

Update 2024:  Since the program I used to make these Quick Cakes mini-recipe cards changed and no longer offers the capability for creative designs like this--or reordering of previously-completed projects--I have re-created these cards using 8.5x11 scrapbook pages with my favorite digital scrapbooking software.  Better still, you can click this link to order them directly!

the updated mini-recipe cards you can order at the link above

Cut them apart, punch holes in the corners, and connect with a ring
as show in the original design above.

Gift just the cards, or with a cake mix!

Day 8:  We WHISK you a Merry KISSmas
Have you seen this cute idea before?  You fill a whisk with Hershey Kisses--just separate the wires and put the chocolates inside.  We WHISK you a Merry KISSmas!  These tags are just the thing:

These are made from a 12x12 scrap page.  (TEMPLATE 99434)  You'll cut them out after you order them, then attach to a whisk.  Scrap pages are $4.28 each.  ***BE AWARE that this template includes three total scrap pages--one scrap page with instructions and two that look like this.  If you want just one page of these tags and no instructions page, you can open the project for editing, click "manage pages" at the upper right, then delete the pages you don't want.

Day 9:  Gift Labels from Santa
Who do you know who would be excited to receive gift labels signed by Santa?

This would be a gift to parents, of course, who would have fun using them for their own gift-giving!  Labels come in a set of 54 for around $3.  (TEMPLATE 71825)

Day 10:  Candle Wraps
Wrap a Christmas-scented candle and thank someone for their hospitality.  These are made from a 12x12 scrap page.  Cut out from the scrap page and tie around a candle with ribbon. 

UPDATE 2024:  Here are the candle wraps I made using Artisan.  I love them.  They're a little smaller (i.e. cheaper) than the original ones shown above because I decided to make them on an 8x8 scrap page instead of 12x12.  

I think they still look good with a 22 oz. candle (shown below), but this size gives you an option to downsize the candle, if you prefer, to the 18 oz.

As promised, here's the link to the project itself so you can just order it without having to create anything yourself.  Woo-hoo! 

Day 11:  "Be Merry" Gingerbread Table Runner
This adorable table runner is made from a playing card deck!  Just order the deck, then punch holes with a mini hole punch and tie with ribbon.  The "Be Merry" message will stand up accordion-style.

And it stores flat, too!  

Day 12:  Christmas Subway Print
Made from a simple 11x14 print, this subway art poster highlights all the joys of Christmas and can be displayed year after year.  Personalize with the recipient's name or leave blank.  

 

Or choose this one from Luke 2 

Did you find something you loved?  Whether or not you are looking for 12 gifts or 1, I hope you found something unique and fun.  Happy gift-giving!

Family-Themed Gift Ideas for Kids

A common dilemma these days is figuring out what to give that will be useful and meaningful after the Christmas tree is put away.  Most kids today need connections more than things, but thinking of a gift idea to foster family connections can be challenging.  I’d like to share with you some great gift ideas that will do just that.  Let’s start with the kids!

I know many families like to give experiences and activities as gifts–like movie theater tickets or museum passes.  One year we gave our kids their own swimming suits wrapped in gift boxes!  Underneath the swimming suits were notes telling them we were going to spend the next day at Great Wolf Lodge.  (I have to say–  the looks on their faces when opening their own swimming suits was priceless!)

Experiences and activities can certainly vary in price, so picking something both interesting and affordable is a must.  Just be sure whatever you choose is something special (as opposed to something you already normally do) and something you can do together.  Here are a few experiences and activities you can give as gifts to your kids or grandkids:

• children’s museum passes (annual or just a day)
• {Shadow Puppet Theater Kit} by The Gifty Girl
• vacation ({family vacations make great family connections and stories})
• staycation
• day out with Dad or Mom
• movie at the theater (or even a movie day at home–here are some {great family Christmas movies})
• water park
• amusement park
• {Family STEAM Challenge Kit} by The Gifty Girl
• kids arcade (think Chuck E. Cheese)
• a “you choose” day (kids choose the meals and the activities all day)
• special trip to visit family members (cousins, grandparents)
• Heather at Raising Memories has more {non-toy gift ideas here}.

I suggest you make these experiences extra special by taking photos and then printing them out in an album or {book} with your memories included.  When kids can look back on memories and connections, it strengthens their sense of belonging.  Giving them a tangible keepsake or “souvenir” of the event can be meaningful for years.

I love this idea by Camille at Chicken Scratch n Sniff to choose 12 activities and make them into a Family Fun Packet you can give for Christmas.  See what I mean at her {link here}.

To focus outward instead of inward at Christmastime, this {12-Day Nativity book} includes activities, crafts, service projects, and recipes as your family talks about the symbolism behind each figure in a nativity set.

I think my all-time favorite gift for a kiddo is a personalized book.  I made this "Guess Who Loves Me" book for my nephew.  Each of the pages on the right side of the book had descriptions of the people who love him, and then he could guess who it was.  When he turned over the page, he could see a picture of the person who loves him.  It was especially meaningful because he doesn’t have grandparents or cousins or aunts/uncles who live nearby.

You could create "I’m a VIP" books, "You Are Loved" books, "10 reasons I love you" books, or anything you feel would make the child in your life feel important and loved.

Create meaningful, heirloom-quality books following these directions.

I hope you’ve found a special idea that will be just right for the kid(s) in your life.  Finding something wonderful takes the stress out of gift-giving.  Kids have an innate desire to connect with those who love them, and showering them with meaningful gifts that give them happy memories as they grow their relationships is a perfect way to do it.

NOTE:  I am a FOREVER affiliate, called an Ambassador, because I love FOREVER so much!  This means I'm here to help you with questions and have a great FOREVER experience.  I also make a commission from any purchases at my website.

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This post was originally published at www.livegrowgive.org on November 10, 2017, by Jennifer Wise.  More #familyhistoryfriday posts can be found by clicking the hashtag below next to Labels.

silhouette nativity blocks: a tutorial (#tbt)

Today's #tbt is a tutorial showing you how to make these darling Silhouette Nativity Blocks.

Like last week's blocks, this DIY project makes a unique gift, too.

This set costs about $8 (not including shipping for the scrapbook page/s). 

The step-by-step tutorial to make this sweet nativity set can be found right here:  http://lifetalesbooks.blogspot.com/2013/09/silhouette-nativity-blocks-tutorial.html

12 (Days of) Christmas gift ideas - part 1

UPDATE:  The platform used to create these fun items was retired in 2023, so until I have time to redesign all these fun ideas myself, I now have two GREAT alternative options for the 12 Days ideas below:

1. The Click & Give (or Click, Craft, & Give) ideas at this Christmas in July post.
2. Create similar items yourself with your own personal touch, following this video tutorial.

I have always wanted to do a really cool Twelve Days of Christmas for someone, but I usually think about it on December 15.  So today I have 12 gift ideas for you that you can use as Twelve Days of Christmas gifts, or just choose your favorites as December 25th Christmas gifts.

All these impressive gift ideas I'm about to show you come from Heritage Makers digital personal publishing.  They're high-quality, gorgeous, and you can personalize anything--from adding your photo and name to changing the overall style if you prefer.  Keep in mind that because these need to be published at Heritage Makers and then shipped, you should allow 7-14 days for delivery.

DAY 1:  Countdown to Christmas
These darling metal prints have a finish that allows you to use a dry erase marker on them!  Some clever person came up with this cute idea to countdown to Christmas.

Choose a Santa style

 

or a Nativity style

 

I copied over these metal prints to 11x14 prints.  Then I just added a frame since the glass is writable with a dry erase marker.

 

  

Day 2:  Let Us Take Care of the Dishes
This is a simple business card (it's 2-sided, so you'll need to click the link to see the greeting and personalization)!  I think this would make a fantastic gift at busy Christmastime.  You just attach this card to a package of paper plates!

If you're giving this to a lot of recipients, the business cards are the way to go because they come in a pack of 50 for about $10.  

Day 3:  Eat, Drink, and Be Merry
This card can be personalized with your name (and even the name of the recipient, if you like), then cut out and placed around the neck of a bottle of juice, sparkling beverage, soda, etc.

Day 4:  A Little Extra Dough
One of my favorite Christmas neighbor gifts is frozen cookie dough.  As the recipient, it's nice to not be getting so many treats at once and be able to have some in January instead if I want!   This sticker can go on the outside of a ziploc bag or plastic container with frozen dough inside--cookies, bread, rolls, etc.

Day 5:  We WASH You a Merry Christmas
This gift idea is practically ready to go--just cut out the circles, punch a hole, and tie to a yummy-smelling hand soap.

Update 2023:  Here are the ones I made this year using Artisan (Forever's digital scrapbooking software).  I think they turned out so cute!

As promised, here's the link to order them.  (They aren't personalized with a name like they are here, though, so don't worry.)

Day 6:  Holiday Time Potpourri
I love the smells of Christmas!  Potpourri is such a fun gift--easy to give, and lovely to receive.  Simply combine dried orange slices (or several drops of orange essential oil), two cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, and whole nutmeg in a 2-inch wide resealable plastic bag.

Then cut apart these tags made from a double-sided scrap page.  (Simmering directions on the back.)  

I know we're only halfway through our 12 ideas.  Did you find something you loved?  Whether or not you are looking for 12 gifts or 1, I hope you found something unique and fun. 

Next week I'll show six more clever gift ideas for Christmas gift-giving.  See you then!

Gift Ideas for the Whole Family

It’s the most wonderful time of the year!  Have you started thinking about gift-giving?  Whether you’re like me and started thinking about Christmas gift-giving on Halloween or you’re still weeks away from giving it a thought, I can help.  I love sharing gift ideas in November because I’m convinced it makes for a happier December.  

And, of course, these make great gifts any time of the year!

As you might guess, since this is #familyhistoryfriday, all the gift ideas here are family-related.  Today I’ll share gift ideas for the whole family, and in coming weeks I’ll share ideas for kids, teenagers, and adults.  Since they’re all family-related, though, ideas you’ll see in all of November’s #familyhistoryfriday posts can easily be gifts for the whole family, too.

FAMILY HISTORY AND GENEALOGY IDEAS

Whether you are new at learning your family history or an experienced genealogist, here are some great ideas for the whole family to get to know their ancestors and see how they’re all connected.

• You can create a pedigree chart on a wall canvas. 
• Create{a life story book}–yourself or a parent, grandparent or ancestor (These make wonderful gifts because they connect generations!)
• I have to say, I adore this idea.  These are {blankets made from a family tree fan chart}!!  Roots Gifts makes these, and there are several styles and colors to choose from.
• {Family Tree Prints} (pictured below) is a great option for creating your own family tree chart to save as a high-resolution JPEG file for printing.  They have suggestions for printing {here}, or you can do what I’m doing with a wrapped canvas (pictured below).
• These are nice family tree charts you can fill in by hand:  {family history tree chart} and {branches-themed genealogy chart poster}
• {300 Questions to Ask Your Parents} (book)
• {15-generation single pedigree chart} (I have one of these–they are so neat!)

Read about my experience making this special canvas {right here}.

Thanks to Aleah Ingram of LDS Bookstore for many of these ideas.

FAMILY MEMBERS AWAY FROM HOME

For family members spending holidays away from home, heart-warming gifts are especially appreciated.  Think about turning your family traditions into something you can mail.  Last year, my son stayed at college for Thanksgiving (because his break was so short, and he was coming home for a month the following week anyway).  We made him a box of “Thanksgiving dinner.”  We sent instant mashed potatoes, sticks of turkey jerky, apple pie cookies, a package of biscuit mix, etc.  I’m sure he’d be the first to tell you that it wasn’t a real Thanksgiving dinner, but he loved the box because he knew we were thinking about and loving him from far away.

Here are a few other ideas for great gifts to send family members who are away from home:

• send {a fold-able Christmas tree} (a poster, really–so cool)
• a {recipe book of favorite family recipes}
• {quote bundles from The Gifty Girl} have “thoughts of the day” to brighten the day
• a photo blanket like this one

Update 2023:  My daughter not only graduated from college, but did it impressively, so we wanted to give her a vacation as a gift!  She chose Ireland, and I had no idea how much *I* would love it!  It's the most beautiful place.  When we got home, I just had to make her a plush blanket with pictures from our trip.  It turned out so beautifully!

Note: There are many awesome blanket templates in Design & Print, 
Forever's free software, but I created this using Artisan, Forever's 
digital scrapbooking software so I could use my own font for Ireland. 

This is the preview of my blanket before printing.

AROUND THE HOUSE

Did you have a special event in your family this year?  Do you live far away from cousins or grandparents?  Home decor is a simple way to showcase special photos or keep faraway family members close.  From gallery-wrapped canvases to metal prints and posters, creating your own home decor with family photos is a beautiful, meaningful gift.  Make photo gifts (like the blanket above and the canvas below) by following the steps here.

Other gift ideas for the whole family that they can see or use every day include:

• {mousepads, coasters, mugs, water bottles, ornaments}
• a playing card deck with family photos (shown above--contact me for more information)
• {family calendars} -- these are cool because you can tear off the bottom calendar portion and then you're left with a 12x12 scrapbook page to save!

MORE IDEAS TO COME

I’ve done a lot of looking and asking around to find some great family-oriented gift ideas to share with you this month on #familyhistoryfriday.  (Here’s one for history buffs:  {a book and CD of the Nativity story experienced by those in the ancient Americas})  I’m looking forward to sharing many family-oriented gifts, things (and experiences) that create connections and family interaction.  Next week’s post will have ideas for kids.  See you then.

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This post was originally published at www.livegrowgive.org on November 3, 2017, by Jennifer Wise.  More #familyhistoryfriday posts can be found below by clicking the hashtag next to Labels.