Toddler Christmas Dress

Although I have done this in readiness for Christmas, you can use other fabric for this and make a dress that can be worn at any time of the year. You could even use a long sleeve and thicker skirt fabric for a winter weight dress.

What you’ll need: Girls t-shirt, 50cm fabric, 12inch of 1inch wide elastic, scissors, tape measure, iron, needle, button, pins, interfacing 2inch x 12inch, thread as well as a sewing machine. I used an overlocker (serger) as well but a zig zag stitch on a sewing machine will achieve the same result.

What to do:

I’ve made two sizes for my daughters. Size 0 and 2. For the purpose of the instructions I will write size 0 measurements first and size 2 in brackets eg. 10 inch (12inch).

Reduce length of t-shirt by 4 inch (5inch). Overlock cut edge.

Cut four pieces of fabric and 1 piece of interfacing 2x10inch (2x12inch) for waistband. Iron interfacing to the wrong side of one piece. Sew two pieces right sides together at short sides and attach elastic to seams at the same time. Join the two remaining pieces (one with interfacing) in same way, seams along short ends. Overlock seams.

Place the two pieces right sides together so that the 1x10 inch (1x12inch) elastic and the interfacing will be on opposite sides of the t-shirt. The interfacing will be at the back, the interfacing at the front. Pin the cut edge of the t-shirt in between these two pieces.

Sew. Fold down and press.

Cut two pieces 16x9inch (18x11inch) for skirt. Pin right sides together and sew side seams. Overlock seams.

Sew a gathering stitch along top edge. Attach right side, matching seams, to right side of outside waistband. Sew.

Using iron, fold over edge of inside waistband. Pin to stitched edge from Step 5. Turn dress right side out and sew. Sew another line of stitches along top of waistband.

Hem skirt ¼ inch.

Cut circle with a diameter of 3inch (5 inch). Hand sew a running stitch along edge and gather.

Use a button to cover gathering and attach to dress at the same time and voila! One dress complete!

If you keep the cut offs from the t-shirt you can use them to make a coordinating headband with another material flower and button from step 8!

Saint sketches

True to my word, I have been designing some more toddler friendly saint pictures. Here are a few:

Above: Saints Mary MacKillop, John Vianney, Therese of Lisieux and Michael the Archangel.

Above: Saints Monica, Augustine and Anthony of Padua.

Above: Saint Catherine of Siene, Blessed Mother Teresa, Saints Gianna Molla and Ignatius of Loyola.

Above: Saints Joan of Arc, Francis of Assissi, Teresa of Avila and Faustina Kowalska

 Above: Saints Kateri Tekakawitha and Patrick.

Above: Saints Maximilan Kolbe, Maria Goretti, Thomas Aquinas and Cecelia.

If there's any more you'd like to see let me know!

David and Goliath

This is a very quick activity and loads of fun to play with.

What you'll need:
1 toilet roll
1 cling wrap roll cut in half
coloured paper - plain and patterned
card
2 pipe cleaners
glue
scissors
masking tape
string
pen or texta

Instructions: Using skin coloured paper cut two strips about 5cm wide and long enough to wrap around your toilet roll and clingwrap roll (this will be the faces). Use another coloured paper cut into a wider strip to cover the rest of the rolls, this will be their clothes. We used blue for David, then cut another piece the same height but a shorter width to look as though David has a coat on. We used grey for Goliath so it would look like armour. Cut another strip of paper to cover half of Goliath's body and cut a fringe along the bottom and glue on about halfway up the cling wrap roll. Using brown paper cut a beard and hair for Goliath and some hair for David. In order to do this cut your strip of brown paper in the same way (and measurements) as you did for the skin coloured paper and cut out room for a face. For Goliath you can cut a beard out afterwards and glue on over the top. Using a pen or texta add details on the faces.
Using scissors punch holes in either side of both rolls and thread through the pipe cleaners for arms. Use masking tape to secure pipe cleaner on inside of roll. On some card draw a Y shape like this:

then cut out and attach string to make slingshot. Using the same card draw a sword and shield shape like this:

then cut out. We added a G on the shield but you can decorate it however you like.

Secure slingshot to David and sword and shield to Goliath using glue and bending pipe cleaner arms around firmly.

Detail of David and Goliath's faces:

Enjoy!

This book is for all women

Choosing beauty, by Gina Loehr $24.95

This book stems from the author’s realisation, one Ash Wednesday morning, that she was addicted to her makeup. In this book, Loehr outlines a basis for reflection, and plan of action through which women can be their most beautiful.

We will never reach the fullness of our physical beauty until we have reached the fullness of our spiritual beauty – food for thought, and the central premise of this book.

Through real life examples and friendly explanations of the teachings of the Catholic Church, Loehr exposes the myths of beauty and appearance and instead, explains what real beauty is, and how we can achieve it.

‘Choosing beauty’ helps girls and women work through issues like gossiping,  insecurities about appearance, and gives them practical tips for leading a virtuous life. Loehr explains: ‘whenever you choose virtue, you are also choosing beauty.’

It certainly encourages you to take stock of your life, assess your spiritual warts and wrinkles, as well as providing example of ‘beautiful’ women to inspire you.

This book is also versatile and can be used individually, or as a text for group discussion, as a resource for youth ministers trying to encourage inner beauty in the young women they work with, and it’s also a great book for mothers and daughters to work through together.

At times, the questions for discussion were confronting, Loehr encourages the reader to think, and break free from our slavery to social vanity. Through this book, teenage girls and women of all ages, can reclaim their ‘feminine genius’ and encourage others to do the same.

I highly recommend this book to all women over the age of 13 and especially for any female who has ever felt insecure about the way they look – this book will change the way you see yourself!

Get a copy here.

The Assumption of Mary

This is a really simple activity you can make without needing many materials at all.

You will need:
Coloured paper - green, blue and white
Cardboard (thin card like cereal boxes)
White pencil
Glue
Scissors
Craft or stanley knife

Instructions: Cut your card to A4 size and glue blue sheet of A4 paper on top. Rip a strip of green paper and glue to bottom of blue paper to form the land. Rip or cut out white paper to make clouds and glue on, then using your white pencil draw on lines to form a light coming from Heaven to represent God's assuming of Mary into Heaven. Then mark out a line running through the middle of your work like this:

And cut with your knife.
Next print out the template of Mary:

Colour and then using a strip of card about 3cm wide and 20cm long fold and attach to the back of Mary so that it looks like this:

Now you can simply push this through the slit on your background and you are right to go. For little hands clipping a peg onto the cardboard makes it easier to control Mary as she travels up and down your work.
Enjoy!

Saint Amelia and Blessed Yvette

A couple more dolls made as a present for a couple of cousins. Saint Amelia is on the left and Blessed Yvette is on the right.

The dolls are based on the original sketches below:

And also included a bookmark with details of the lives of each, their feastday and of what they are now the patron:

Saints for kids

My husband and I decided that we would give all of our children saints names as their Christian names, which many people do. But we wanted our children to really look to that saint as some one to emulate and when it comes to some saints it's hard to get information about them, let alone a picture.

Not being one that is daunted by a challenge I ended up finding information for Saints Jerome, Madeleine Sophie Barat and Georgia. However when it came to Saint Georgia I was unable to find a picture so based on her life story and the time in which she lived I ended up designing an image that was very kid-friendly for my own 2 year old Georgia. And of course, once you design one for one child...

So here are the pictures:

Which I transfered onto t-shirts:

And then converted to handmade dolls for the kids to play with:

Email me if you would like to see a design for your child's patron saint or favourite Biblical figure!

Saint George the Knight

I have been thinking a lot lately about how susceptible our young children are to branding and mass marketing. My kids were watching 'Mike the Knight' on ABC2 the other day and I thought,why not give them a role model like Saint George to emulate rather than Mike? So here's my offering, a helmet and shield so my kids can pretend to be Saint George and defeat dragons (which have always been a visual metaphor for Satan in artworks depicting Saint George).

What you'll need:An old cap
Cardboard (old cereal boxes are perfect)
Elastic (about 20cm)
Stapler
Coloured paper
scissors
Craft glue
Feather
Pipe cleaner

Instructions: Helmet: Adjust cap to fit your child's head. Cut out templates (below).Colour helmet template and using craft glue (and some pegs to hold it in place until it dries) glue helmet template to the back of your cap. Wind a pipe cleaner around top button of cap and use to attach feather. Use craft glue for extra hold.
Shield: Cut our template. Affix elastic to back of shield using stapler (I also covered the staples with masking tape).

Turn shield over and decorate.I chose a traditional sword design with 4 pictures which each represent something to do with Saint George. Crown: God's kindgom, Cross:Jesus, Sword: battle, soldier etc and a dragon: which represents our eternal struggle against sin and the devil.

I hope your kids have as much fun dressing up as Saint George as my kids do!

Girls night out

Girl’s night out: having fun with your daughter while raising a woman of God by Michaelann Martin with MariAnna Martin

Girls, have you ever considered going on dates with your mum? I daresay you haven’t, but after reading Girl’s night out: having fun with your daughter while raising a woman of God you might be convinced otherwise.

Reading through this series of ‘dates’ for mothers and their teenage daughters was an interesting surprise. In a busy world it’s often too hard to set aside time to spend with our family and recognising that challenge saw Michaelann, with daughter MariAnna, Martin create a schedule that not only saw them spend time together as mother and daughter but also helped them grow as women of God.

Girl’s night out: having fun with your daughter while raising a woman of God contains the material for ten dates with your mum and they cover different aspects of the unique vocation of womanhood including: beauty, modesty, purity, fashion, romantic relationships and individual vocations. And each of these topics is covered in a uniquely feminine setting like whilst having manicures, shopping at the mall and in fancy restaurants (and that date includes your dad).

Each date also focuses on a ‘supermodel’ but instead of a skinny and scantily clad woman sauntering down the catwalk, these characters really supernatural role models and include St Therese of Lisieux, St Rita and Mary, the mother of God.

I was really struck by the simple elegance of this unique idea. This is book a fantastic idea and a fantastic book! My daughters may only be 2 years and 8months old respectively, but when they're older, we’re definitely working through Girl’s night out: having fun with your daughter while raising a woman of God.

This one is a must for all daughters and their mothers. You will both enjoy the fun aspects of the dates, as well as coming to know each other better and deepen your prayer life and the understanding of your unique vocation as women.

Honestly, I can’t recommend this book highly enough!

You can obtain this book here.

Smart Martha

‘Smart Martha’s guide for busy mum’s’ Tami Kiser

This book is engaging and interesting reading – I was able to read it cover to cover in one sitting.

Basically this book is practical advice on incorporating more ‘Mary’ moments into the vocation of mother’s which is often more ‘Martha’-like (cf. Luke 10:38-42).

‘Smart Martha’s guide for busy mum’s’ contains tips and reflections from Kiser’s own experiences, and also incorporates simple suggestions to focus yourself and your family life on Christ. From organising chores so as to maximise quality family time, making dinner a real communion, setting limits on TV, game, movie and music content this book covers it all.

Kiser also details how to foster Christ-centered children through measured approaches to toys, media, technology and chores. She gives tips on how to put family ahead of chores and still have a clean house and well organised life.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, and am already trying to put it into practice within my own family. I highly recommend this book for all mothers, and mothers-to-be!

You can get this book from here.

Jonah and the whale

This craft activity is a lot of fun, even after you've finished making it! Jonah actually fits inside the whale.

What you'll need:
Tea bag box (that opens up and out on a long side)
Grey paper or card (otherwise white will be ok)
Toilet roll
Coloured paper
Pipe cleaner
Scissors
Glue
Grey and pink paint

Instructions:
Whale: Paint the tea bag box grey on the outside (if using white paper or card paint this grey on both sides). When dry, paint the inside of the box pink. The right side up for this craft is with the lid on top so that you can put Jonah inside without turning the whale upside down. Cut two two fins, stick to the sides and bend so that they sit out. Cut a tail shape and stick to back (I found it easier to cut out two shapes and stick them together from the curved end to about halfway. Then on the other end I stuck them to either side of the box at the back). Draw eyes and a blow hole on with a permanent marker.
Jonah: Glue a pink or skin coloured strip on paper around the top of the toilet roll for Jonah's face. Use another, wider and different coloured strip for Jonah's clothes. Make a hole on each side of toilet roll and thread through pipe cleaner. Using a brown strip of paper cut one long side into a fringe and glue to the very top of the toilet roll. Draw on a face.

Moses and the burning bush

Simple colourful craft activity that can be ready in a hurry.

What you'll need:
Template
Red, orange and yellow paint or cellophane
Glue

Instructions:
Print off template. Use cellophane or paint to decorate bush so that it looks as though it is on fire.

Moses and the jelly Nile

This is a very simple and edible way to learn about Moses.

What you'll need:
Blue jelly
Marshmallows
Jelly babies

Instructions:
Put previously set blue jelly into a bowl. Use a fork to stir it so it breaks up a bit. Cut a marshmallow in half and put a jelly baby onto the sticky side. Put the marshmallow into the jelly. Enjoy!

Joseph's collage coat

A bit of advanced preparation makes this activity run much smoother!

What you'll need:
Template
Cardboard
Scissors
Glue
Coloured paper, sequins, wool scraps etc
Masking tape

Instructions:
Print out template. Cut out and stick Joseph and stand onto cardboard for strength. Colour in Joseph. Fold stand in half and cut both black lines and lines of base of Joseph. Join stand to Joseph and use masking tape to strengthen if necessary. Decorate coat with coloured paper, sequins or wool scraps and use masking tape to stick onto Joseph.

Noah's rainbow

This is a simple craft activity that is only limited by your imagination.

What you'll need:
Paper
Pencil
Coloured pencils, crayons, paints, sequins or buttons
Glue
Cotton wool or hobby fill

Instructions:
Draw a rainbow and clouds to cover your paper. Get your kids to decorate using whatever supplies you have on hand. Some great suggestions are: gluing coloured buttons or sequins on in coloured tiers with cotton wool or hobby fill for clouds. Simple pencil or crayon colouring is also effective, especially if you use coloured paper.

Noah's paper plate ark

This activity requires a little bit of patience and a stapler!

What you'll need:
2 paper plates
Stapler
Scissors
Coloured pencils, textas or paints to decorate

Instructions:
Cut your paper plates in half. Staple two halves together around border with the bottom of the plates facing out. This will be the main part of the ark. Cut the remaining halves in half again parallel to cut edge from first step. Join the two topmost curves so that they form an oval shape with a split running up the middle for your ark to sit in (this is the water). Using remaining pieces, shape the top part of the ark by cutting two rectangles and using remaining curves to form a roof. Join all pieces together by securing ark into base and stapling top part to the boat. Decorate.

Apple and snake sponge painting

A thrifty craft activity that takes no time at all to do!

What you'll need:

Clean dishwashing sponges

Permanant marker

Scissors

Paper

Green and red paints

Instructions:

Draw a snake shape and an apple shape onto your dishwashing sponges. Cut out. Then after reading/describing the fall of Adam and Eve help your children to sponge paint the snake and the apple onto their paper. When you finish you can write on the page, something like: 'The snake tricked Eve into eating the apple. She gave some to Adam and God was very cross.' Depending on the age of your children you can make this statement more complex.

Creation collage

This is a simple activity that teaches children about creation.

What you'll need:
Scrapbook (or paper)
Pictures of natural objects
Photo of your child
Scissors
Glue

Instructions:
After reading/describing God's creation of the world encourage your children to make a collage of the things that God created, including a picture of themselves. Somewhere on the collage write: 'God made all of these things...and God made me!'

Special scrapbook

Our 4 and 2 year olds loved making a special scrapbook in which they could keep a record of their Bible craft activities.

What you'll need:
Scrapbook
Coloured paper
(you can also use sequins, stickers or whatever you have on hand)
Clear contact
Scissors
Glue

Instructions:
Cover scrapbook front and back covers and let your children decorate with their bits and bobs. When finished and the glue is dry, cover with clear contact. On first page inside you can get them to decorate a title page and write: '(Name)'s special book about God'. We also divided our scrapbook so that the front is for Old Testament activities and the back for New Testament.

Thrifty craft supplies

Any good 'useful box' of craft supplies is accumulated over time and for the most part the items used in our craft activities are readily available and might already be lying around the place at your house.

Collect: boxes of all shapes and sizes, toilet rolls, ice block sticks, beads, buttons, old magazines and newspapers, wool or string, plastic spoons, paper plates, plastic drinking straws, wooden pegs, googly eyes, glitter, cotton wool, material scraps, ribbons, coloured paper.

You'll also need: paints, pencils, scissors, glue, pipe cleaners, sticky tape, masking tape, permanent markers.
We also use garbage bags as our drop cloths and covers so the mess of our activities is easily cleaned up afterwards.

Start collecting today, you'll be amazed at how quickly your craft supplies grow!