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Our small group has been going through a book on personal discipleship this year. We have been focusing on Scripture memory skills and sharpening your devotional life among other things. So, for Christmas this year I thought it would be fun to make each of the couples a set of journals.
Materials (his journal):
Moleskine kraft journal
graph paper
paper file tab (I made mine with the McGill file tab punch)
invitation envelope
adhesive (I used an adhesive dot roller)
paper cutter
I almost lost all my file tabs when this chubby little hand found me.
Every time there were craft supplies within reach somehow he knew and would crawl as fast as he could to get them. He is always helping me.
Okay, back to the journals. Cut a two inch strip of graph paper and attach using adhesive.
You could use any kind of paper on the front. I wanted to add something to the guys journals and Joel told me the graph paper wasn’t too girly. So, I went with graph paper and I really like how they turned out.
Use adhesive to attach the envelope and file tab to the inside of the front cover. Again, make this personal to whoever you are giving it to. We have been memorizing verses together in small group, so my file tab says “verses”. The envelope is for the guys to put their 3×5 memory verse cards in.
I had bought these monogram paperclips on clearance at Hobby Lobby awhile back. They worked perfect for this project. I wish I had more of them. (The paperclips are Spare Parts alpha clips.)
I put each guys initial on the paperclip and attached to the top of each journal.
Materials (her journal):
composition notebook
2 sheets of 12×12 scrapbook paper (mine is Amy Butler from Michaels)
ribbon (I used black grosgrain)
adhesive (I used Mod Podge and an adhesive dot roller)
6″x9″ envelope with clasp
paper file tab (again, I made mine with the McGill file tab punch)
letter stickers (American Crafts Thickers)
ink pad (optional)
paper cutter
I basically followed the steps from this tutorial to make the girls journals. I just changed it up a little to be a journal instead of a planner. I only used two pieces of scrapbook paper and left off the circle punch on the front and the tabs on the inside pages. I attached my scrapbook paper with Mod Podge hoping that it would last a little longer.
On the inside cover I attached an envelope, a strip of coordinating paper, and a file tab. Again, personalize the envelope for whoever you are giving it to…or for yourself. For this gift I added the envelope to hold memory verse cards.
At the last minute I decided to add a letter sticker on the bottom corner.
Tie the his and her journals together with twine and add a tag.
I know some of you do your best work at the last minute, so there you go. A diy project if you are still searching for the perfect gift. If you are all prepared for Christmas and just relaxing this week, you can bookmark this diy project for another time. Some of you had asked me to give you the links for the projects made on my craft weekend. I don’t have a link for the ornament tree, but Lindsay basically made it the same way Megan made her ornament wreath. Here are some of the other links:
Posted in: diy
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  • Amanda - Oh, those journals turned out so perfect! What lucky friends you have in your small group to get those!ReplyCancel

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  • AshleyAnn - Oh I love those…now I want to make a bunch of sets! I have a weak spot for graph paper!ReplyCancel

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  • Julie - I love how the guys’ journals turned out too. Very cute!ReplyCancel

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  • Heather at Blessed Little Nest - these are so cute and such a great gift idea! i love that you created ones for the guys, too.ReplyCancel

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  • Karina - Those are lovely. I am impressed that you got them done with Levi’s…erm…help.

    I just wanted to let you know I am thinking about you. You really have given Christmas a new meaning for me. Because of your love of Jesus, and because of sweet Cora.ReplyCancel

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  • meg duerksen - jess that is the best. i LOVE it.
    i want to make them too!ReplyCancel

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  • Amanda @ DAES of Our Lives - I love these! They are so beautiful – I am totally using this idea in the future for hand-crafted gifts!ReplyCancel

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  • nichole - how fantastic! These journals are great for all year round gifts or just encouragement gifts! I love them!ReplyCancel

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  • Mod Podge Amy - Those are so pretty – love the finishing touches you added. Plus that little guy is precious! Happy Holidays!ReplyCancel

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  • Nancy - You are so creative! I don’t have a bone of that in my body, but I think you do amazing work!!ReplyCancel

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  • Anonymous - Your little “helper” just cracks me up. What cutie! Those chubby little hands…ReplyCancel

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  • Wanting What I Have - What a PRECIOUS, PRECIOUS, PRECIOUS idea!!!ReplyCancel

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  • Todd and Courtney - I need you to come to my house to do all of the crafty ideas I think about 🙂ReplyCancel

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  • The Mershawn's - These journals are so great. I have the planner;)… Thanks for the new ideas! Of course, now I want to make them. And…by the way…that card table playhouse is…AWESOME. I want one…guess I’ll be busy after Christmas.ReplyCancel

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  • Townsend Crew - This is completely off topic, but I think I see some red hair on that little Levi…
    coming from a redhead, I’m pretty jazzed!
    I’ll have to keep my eye on that cute crown of his!
    … and I LOVE the journals! Great gifts!ReplyCancel

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  • Dana - What book have you been studying in your small group? My husband and I teach our Young Married Class at our church. Sounds like something that would be helpful!ReplyCancel

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  • Krystal - OMgoodness! I love this idea! I have a friend who has birthday soon, maybe I can whip her out a prayer journal! Thanks for sharing! Love these ideas!

    And by the way, I LOVE your christmas card! So cute! I could squeeze mr. Levi!ReplyCancel

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This is the third year our small group has had an ugly Christmas sweater contest.
This year I think Mitch and Emilie definitely won the prize for most creative.
Next year Joel and I are going to have to step it up a notch.
They made Mitch’s Christmas sweater.
Nothing says Christmas like a red cardinal, right?
Complete with bird poop on the shoulder.
Nice.
Emilie even made her boots.
Who knew that red spray paint and tinsel would make such festive boots?
We always have a white elephant gift exchange too.
Someone brought this gift wrapped up like a burrito.
Everyone was scared to pick it.
It was one of the last gifts and it ended up having a Chipotle gift card in it.
If only we would have known.
 A few people in our group didn’t wear their Christmas sweaters.
But we will give them a break because of this sweet girl…
and this sweet little girl too.
They have both been a little busy lately.
We have two newborns in our group and two more on the way.
You know where to come if you need a baby fix.
And the night wouldn’t have been complete without a whipped cream fight.
I’m pretty sure Joel started it.
Poor Abby is such a good sport.
Joel and I feel so blessed to be able to spend time with these couples every week.
You never know what to expect at a small group Christmas party.
So fun.
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  • nichole - yay for small groups! What a great party:)ReplyCancel

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  • mel @ the larson lingo - so fun! Love the sweaters! We have had an ugly sweater party every year for the past 3 years as well! I look forward to it every year. I just posted about ours yesterday..I was rocking a Nativity Scene Sweater. Awesomeness 🙂ReplyCancel

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  • GabbyRM - Fun!ReplyCancel

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  • Kristin - That’s so hilarious about the sweater! How fun!!!ReplyCancel

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  • The Moffats - your best year (and Joel’s too!) without a doubt is 2009. hope you still have those rockin sweaters. id say you are definitely in need of stepping it up next year. sorry to say, Jess, but you might have been rocking the ugly christmas-jean-shirt-teacher category this year :)love and hugs to you both.ReplyCancel

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  • Julie - who has the two more on the way?? 🙂ReplyCancel

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  • SECPumpkin - How fun! I’ve always wanted to do one of those parties. I know this is a weird question, but would you mind showing me some more pictures of your shelf in your living room. We are looking at maybe doing something like that and I was looking from some inspiration ideas. Do ya’ll have a tv on it? We maybe want to put a tv in the middle of ours.ReplyCancel

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  • Tricia - Lol! What fun! I husband’s cousin and her husband throw an Ugly Christmas Sweater Party every year. If only we lived close enough to attend. Sadly, they live in Chicago, and we live in Upstate NY. Maybe we should start one of our own. 🙂

    Merry Christmas to your sweet family.

    With love and prayers,
    xo*triciaReplyCancel

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  • Ashley - I see four couples.
    If two have had babies recently & the other two are expecting . . .
    Are congrats in order???ReplyCancel

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  • k and c's mom - HA! I’m an elementary teacher and I have a HUGE collection that I pull out each year. Much to the horror of my now-adult children. They just don’t make them like they used to…:)
    LOVED the pics. Thanks for sharing.ReplyCancel

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  • Kendall Smith - Oooh…your Christmas sweaters were WAAAY more festive than the ones we found!!! Looks like fun!ReplyCancel

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  • Mindy M. Harris - that looks wonderful. i wish we were in one.
    i think shawn would get along with the bird poo guy; he seems artsy (sneakers).ReplyCancel

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  • Nancy - Cute!! What a great idea!
    Merry Christmas!ReplyCancel

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  • Holly - Ack! Some of those jerseys are truly horrible! I don’t know which one is my (un)favourite! 😛ReplyCancel

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  • Beki - TheRustedChain - That Christmas denim “teacher” shirt you’re wearing = awesome.ReplyCancel

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  • Tamara - What a fun tradition, I love what Emilie did with her boots!ReplyCancel

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The day after Thanksgiving we went to pick out our Christmas tree. When Joel and I first got married I had to beg him to get a real tree. He always had an artificial one growing up. I had grown up cutting down a real tree every year. It was just part of Christmas to me. I’ll have to tell you sometime about our first trip to the Christmas tree farm as a married couple. Let’s just say it didn’t end very well. And ever since then we have settled for buying a tree from the local Boy Scouts. It works for us. Maybe someday we will attempt cutting down our own tree again.
This year Levi helped us pick out our tree.
Last year we were too sad to even put up a tree,
so it was fun doing this as a family again…this time with Levi.
Joel and I have different tree picking philosophies.
I always like to take my time and find the “perfect” tree.
Joel likes to pick a tree fast…
the faster you find it the more perfect it is.
But it was late and cold, so we went with Joel’s tree picking method this year.
I only changed my mind once (in case you don’t know me…that is a miracle).
When we got home and put it up it turned out to be the perfect tree too.
We were both happy. 🙂
 I think a whole week went by before we actually decorated our tree. 
And for some reason Levi wasn’t loving decorating the tree with us.
I thought he would love the lights,
but he was very upset with us for standing on a chair without him.
He didn’t like to be left on the floor alone.
Silly boy.
We managed to get all the lights on and then decided that I would put the ornaments on by myself when Levi was sleeping. I have always liked to have a “pretty” tree. In the past I have always come up with different color schemes and themes for our tree. I don’t always put up all of our ornaments even. But for some reason this year I decided I wanted to keep it simple and use all of our ornaments that we had collected or had been given to us. I am so glad I did. As I dug through the ornament containers I was so surprised to find some ornaments that belonged to Cora. I forgot that we even had them.
This year our tree is full of ornaments that have significance and meaning.
In a way it tells a story of our family.
I love it.
I think this is my favorite Christmas tree ever.
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  • Selina - It’s beautiful Jess.ReplyCancel

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  • The Moffats - I love the tree, Jess. So special to have the ornaments that were Cora’s. Just seeing that sled is bittersweet. It’s all so beautiful…and little Levi is his darling self…even if he was a tad bit grumpy 🙂ReplyCancel

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  • Lauren - Your tree is just precious!!! 🙂ReplyCancel

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  • Anonymous - I love it, it’s beautiful! Cora’s ornaments brought a tear to my eye. I agree, your tree is perfect! I like your big M ornament!

    Praying extra for you this holiday season 😉

    Krista
    aka babykatesmomReplyCancel

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  • bridge - I started reading your blog last month and I love your posts. Even the ones from way back. Levi’s pictures are a bonus.

    I’m from the Philippines so we don’t have real pine trees here. From what I read, the real Christmas trees smell really good. Anyway, it’s a beautiful tree. I wish you and your family a wonderful Christmas, Jess!ReplyCancel

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  • Wanting What I Have - What a beautiful tree and what a beautiful life! You constantly point me to Jesus. Thank you. Praying for you during this season!ReplyCancel

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  • Amanda - it’s beautiful Jess – I love that you just decided to put them all up! That sled make me so sad. But I can’t wait to see Levi on it.

    And I’m proud of you for picking a tree fast! We got one from the boy scouts too – it’s pretty good. But then I saw Dave’s parents tree that they got at Walmart without even looking much – and it is WAY better and cheaper. Darn.ReplyCancel

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  • Megan - The tree is beautiful! When we first got married we each got an ornament special to us and one for where we lived (Army family)and bought a ton of cheap colored balls for filler. Now 7 years and 2 kids later our tree is filled with tons of non matching but all totally special in their own way ornaments and I love it!

    and I love Levi’s left out of standing on the chair fit. My Timmy is the SAME way.ReplyCancel

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  • Rach - Perfect! I love how much meaning is in this tree. Happy Holidays!ReplyCancel

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  • Tami - Jess – I’ve been a momma for 14 Christmases this year and I’ve had fancy trees and color coordinated trees. The past two years, our trees are filled full of only special ornaments of the kids and from when Chris and I were first married. They have been my favorite trees ever. Now I get my fill of fancy trees from the pages of “Country Living” and “House Beautiful”. It’s cheaper that way 😉ReplyCancel

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  • Annie-Staten - It’s so beautiful! It brought tears to my eyes!ReplyCancel

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  • k and c's mom - I am so happy for you. You have come a long journey to get to this Christmas. The tree is beautiful, but so is your spirit and your faith.ReplyCancel

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  • Amanda @ DAES of Our Lives - I love your tree! I also love the shelving next to it – are they built ins? Or did y’all buy them somewhere?

    Happy Christmas!ReplyCancel

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  • Carrie - It is a beautiful tree!! I love trees full of family memories – they are the best!!ReplyCancel

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  • Taylor - I think ornaments are a perfect way to remember her each year at christmas time- you could make her baby shoes into an ornament or pieces from her mobile and when you get them out each year it will be so fun! love it!ReplyCancel

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  • Carisa - GREAT tree. I’m ready to stop cutting our own and get one like yours. And really, CUTE hat on the little guy 🙂ReplyCancel

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  • Lindsay - Oh! We always cut down a tree too. I grew up in Kansas and my favorite thing was going to Weston Red Barn Farm and the apple tree in the fall and then to the christmas tree farm at Christmastime.

    I also decorated our tree with all our special ornaments this year. IT is not matchy matchy, but it means so much to me.

    I love your tree!ReplyCancel

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  • Erin Tagle - Ahhhh!!!!!

    1.) I love, love, love that sweet lil’ boy of yours.

    2.) my tree is done the same way, decorated with special ornaments that were from travels, given to us, made, etc. I absolutely love putting them all on the tree, for all the same reasons …

    3.) I love that you have a tree this year and that this holiday season is much happier than the last.

    4.) have yourself a merry little Christmas. 🙂

    Erin
    http://www.erintagledesign.comReplyCancel

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  • Jane's In The Jungle - That’s the best way to do it! We have 3 trees now, one with all the older ornaments including some of mine when I was single, and then the kids have always gotten one special ornament each year and they are all jumbled together, it’s great!!ReplyCancel

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  • Jody - Very nice tree! I love that you included Cora’s ornaments. I have ornaments to honor & remember my dad (I can’t believe we buried him 11 years ago today…how time flies!). I love it when trees represent their families.

    And I can’t believe how much Levi has changed in just the last couple months. He’s going to be so much fun on Christmas Day! My niece is 16 months tomorrow so it will be exciting with her, too!ReplyCancel

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  • kati - it’s beautiful. sentiment always wins over theme for me! and it took us a week to get decorations on our tree, too. having a one-year-old around a tree is a little rowdy 🙂ReplyCancel

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  • Stef - I love it! And I love that you put Cora’s decorations up! What a special thing.
    Also, you decorate amazing. I love the decor and the shelves and curtains and everything! You have good taste 🙂ReplyCancel

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  • Kristi REDISKE - I love it-I am not really a fan of a perfect tree with all the same type of ornament-yours is the best. Loved the Christmas tree story-I have a fake tree and wish I could get a real one-maybe next year. Levi is just adorable-great pics of him. I also love it that you put the ornaments Cora had-what a blessing that you have those as part of your memory! God Bless you all and Merry Christmas.ReplyCancel

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  • Mindy M. Harris - your house looks like pottery barn! awesome!ReplyCancel

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  • Stephanie - Your tree is beautiful! I love trees that have ornaments that mean something special. I love that you put up Cora’s too. We hung Ella’s special ornaments this year and though it makes me sad that she’s not here, she’s always going to be a part of our family. Merry Christmas to you and your family!ReplyCancel

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  • Olivia - Oh, Cora’s sled is so sweet by your tree. I remember how happy she was when she sat in it at her first Christmas. It adds a wonderful story to your Christmas tree and decor!ReplyCancel

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  • ashley - I love your tree! I too always think about doing a theme, but then I would miss some of my special ornaments that my kids love that mean a lot to my family. I think it is best to put them all on. You are so right, it tells story or your family that way.

    By the way, I am really impressed that you are able to keep wrapped presents under the tree and that Levi hasn’t torn them apart! My son is a little older, 19 months, but we tried putting one present under the tree that arrived in the mail and in about five minutes he was already tearing it apart. I think he just wanted to shred paper, he wasn’t actually interested in the present. Levi must be such a well behaved little boy 🙂

    Praying for you extra hard this time of year.ReplyCancel

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  • Anonymous - I too pray extra hard this time of the year. The tree is such a terrific way to honor Cora AND LeviReplyCancel

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  • Courtney - 1) Love your pretty tree!
    2) Love how you are honoring and remembering your sweet baby girl with her adorable ornaments.
    3)LOVE YOUR HEART FOR THE LORD!
    4) Would someday love to see a little photo tour of your house (even if it is not all picked up!) as I need some style inspiration and love yours!ReplyCancel

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  • Julie B. - I like taking my time, walking around for a while to pick the “perfect” tree too. My husband always tells me that whatever tree we get, when put in our living room, will BE the perfect tree. And, he’s always right! 😉

    Levi is just so precious I can’t stand it. And I am now deeply coveting your built in’s -so very Pottery Barn-esque!! Gives me warm fuzzies:)ReplyCancel

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  • Anonymous - Your tree is beautiful. I like that each ornament has meaning and memories, too. Have a wonderful Christmas holiday and a New Year filled with joy, happiness, loving memories and make new wonderful memories. Mary from SLC Utah.ReplyCancel

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  • Nan - I love your tree. It’s beautiful. I’m like you (back before we got a fake tree). I love trees that have family ornaments on them. That’s how I have always liked it. The kids look forward to pulling out their ornaments from each year and remembering what year they got it and where we lived at the time, etc. We give them a new one each year. It’s always a mish-mash of ornaments from my whole childhood (not my husband’s because his family didn’t have that tradition but just did fancy trees) and now my kids’ ornaments and I love it.ReplyCancel

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Levi is napping away and I am busy trying to assemble his birthday invitations.
Talk about a busy time of year to have a birthday.
But the busyness isn’t going to keep us from celebrating.
Turning one is a big deal, right?

When I saw the One Year Old in a Flash birthday party
I knew I wanted to use that idea for Levi’s first birthday.
Levi’s party is going to be on a much smaller scale and boyish of course,
but I am sticking with that basic theme.
I have all sorts of decoration ideas running through my brain.
I’ll share more later.

I’d better get busy while I have a few spare minutes of quiet.
Between Christmas and Levi’s party I have plenty to do.
What are you crossing off your to-do list today?

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  • Amanda - I’m crossing off a nap on my to do list today. 🙂ReplyCancel

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  • Amber - Lots of hat making, it never ends lol.ReplyCancel

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  • Stef - SO cute!!ReplyCancel

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  • JESSICA - Girl, I hear ya…I have three children who have birthdays on November 11th, January 2nd, (like Levi!) and January 20th. The last two are one year & 18 days apart. Pile Thanksgiving & Christmas on top of that, and it’s never-ending. I wouldn’t trade it for anything, but you have to do things while they nap or you never finish.
    Love that idea by the way!! Can’t wait to see your spin on it.ReplyCancel

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  • Julie - Those look really, really cute! I’m so glad it looks like you figured it out. Have fun planning!ReplyCancel

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  • The Pepper. - Oh gosh, that is such a cute birthday theme!
    Adrienne barely napes for me (15-20 minutes max) so it’s extremely hard to accomplish anything in that time.
    But I have been working hard on more hair clips for our store I’m trying to open soon.

    Hope the rest of you’re party planning goes smoothly!
    I still have three months to plan Adrienne’s 1st bash and just don’t know what to do!!:)ReplyCancel

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  • Judy - I just organized my pantry. I have no idea why I felt the need to do that when there’s tons of Christmas stuff to do, but I saw a picture in Good HouseKeeping magazine that got me inspired, so I went for it!

    Love the invitations! Cute idea!ReplyCancel

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  • Nicole - Adorable! Yes, that first year is gone in a flash! Today, I’m just saving what is left of my voice, which leads me to meditate on the concept of choosing my words carefully, which is something I should contemplate more often. My Christmas list is going very well, so I hope to rest up! Merry Christmas & happy planning!ReplyCancel

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  • A Family of Love - Oh I love planning parties! Thanks for the link to that neat website!

    Have fun! Looks like some awesome invitations!!!ReplyCancel

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  • Erin Tagle - Awe! I saw those awhile back! Super cute! My list: unpacking our luggage from a trip to see family + wrapping Christmas gifts + planning our brunch menu … and here I am, looking at your lovely blog … 🙂ReplyCancel

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  • k and c's mom - Two more days in my second grade classroom with seven year olds who believe in Santa and have an idea that these grades don’t really count.
    Six more days until married daughter and son-in-law drive here (to Texas) for Christmas.
    Eleven more days until a full-blown Christmas meal at my house for what seems like multitudes.
    Zero gifts bought yet. But I’m at peace because I’m focusing on the nows.ReplyCancel

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  • Jane's In The Jungle - OK now I know I need to get my youngest’s party planned…since her b-day is 3 days after Christmas!!! Yikes!ReplyCancel

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  • Amanda @ DAES of Our Lives - Oh my goodness! Love the party idea! I can’t wait to see picture of Levi’s first birthday party!ReplyCancel

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  • Carla - Today I’m buying coal in case we get snowed in again. ANd putting up some Christmas decorations (though probably mainly digging them out of my 9mnt old boy’s mouth. My DD is 3 on Jan 2nd, we decided this year that we would just have a family party (she’s going through an antisocial phase, so its easier on everyone!!). I love your invitations, may have to pinch your idea in March 🙂ReplyCancel

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  • Krista Hutton - Ok, I LOVE the party theme….I love the invitations the most. I think I may have to do something like this for Kamdyn’s first birthday. Amazing. I’ve been having a hard time thinking she won’t have a very fun birthday because her’s is in winter….her brother always gets a pool party because his is in August. This could be a very fun inside party! Can I ask where you made the photo strips?ReplyCancel

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  • The Schilling's from Cimarron - I CAN’T BELIEVE HE IS ALMOST 1! 🙂 Kali’s birthday is the 31st…. she will be 15….. TIMES FLIES!

    TAKE CARE!

    AMIEReplyCancel

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  • Kendall Smith - You just might need a photobooth at that party. Call me if you do. (Seriously!)ReplyCancel

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  • megan @ homemade ginger - oh wow, that is the cutest idea for a birthday party. I can’t wait to see how it turns out. I may be copying this for when my daughter turns 1 this summer!

    I have a giveaway going on right now that you might be interested in!ReplyCancel

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  • meg duerksen - that will be SO CUTE!

    crossing off my list? crafts.
    and made my sick kid put address labels on all our christmas cards. 🙂ReplyCancel

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  • The Moffats - These look sooooo cute, Jess. Can’t wait to see it all put together. Hopefully you were able to figure out what was going on with the text??! I CAN NOT believe Levi is going to be a year old. How did that happen??!!! Love and hugs.ReplyCancel

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  • Anonymous - First birthdays are SUPER important! Especially this one.

    My list…you mean I am supposed to make a list….

    Ugh!ReplyCancel

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  • The Anderson's - I found your blog through my friend’s blog “To bring Him glory” and I wanted to share a Christmas ornament tradition that would be fun to start so each ornament has a meaning. Each year, I get an ornament for each person in our family that represents them for the year. This year, my husband and I went on a two week vacation with our little guy so I got us a sand castle to remember our fun time away. My son’s way in to Toy Story so that is his ornament for the year. It’s neat to get the ornaments out each year and remember the years past.
    LeahReplyCancel

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 Two weeks ago I got to spend the weekend here
with eleven awesome girls.
It was such a good weekend.
Except for the horrible cold I had.
I could have lived without that.
But it was so worth going, even with a cold,
to spend the weekend crafting my heart out with my friends.
There were so many fun crafts being made.
Ornament tree.
Book wreath.
Christmas clothespins.
Chili spice mix.
Journals.
We didn’t even get a group picture of all eleven of us.
We were too busy crafting…
and crafting…
and crafting…
and crafting…
and crafting.
ALL weekend long.
We stayed up way too late talking,
ate a lot,
and even got to sleep in.
This was my little table.
Joel doesn’t understand how anyone could spend 
the entire weekend crafting.
But we did.
And it was so relaxing and fun.
I can’t wait to go back next year!
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  • Sadie - Sounds like an amazing weekend! You deserved it! I would love to have a weekend doing this!ReplyCancel

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  • Anonymous - I can’t believe I’m agreeing with Joel, but I’m with him on this one! Really, a whole weekend!? Someday, you are going to have to teach me! Give Levi a squeeze for me! AndiReplyCancel

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  • GabbyRM - That’s so awesome!ReplyCancel

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  • Chelsa - i think that’s great! (except the having a cold part is not great!). could you post the ornament tree tutorial?! i just made an ornament wreath and LOVE how it turned out… my inspiration was def. ornament trees that they have at the drive thru at our bank! lolReplyCancel

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  • Kristi REDISKE - That is cool-are there pictures of the final products and instructions on how to do them? Just wondering! Its sure fun to get together with girlfriends and talk and even accomplish something-pretty neat!ReplyCancel

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  • Jessica - I would love to learn how to make the ornament tree! Sounds like a fun weekend.ReplyCancel

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  • Katy - Oh, I am so envious of your craft weekend! I could definitely see myself crafting for an entire 2 days.. 🙂 Thanks for sharing your pictures, Jess!ReplyCancel

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  • Amber - Sounds so perfect and so fun! I remember you posting about this last year. I wish I had a group of girlfriends that were as crazy about crafting as me that I could do an annual weekend crafty getaway with.ReplyCancel

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  • twinklyspangle - That sounds like my absolute DREAM weekend, seriously, totally jealous!ReplyCancel

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  • Amanda @ DAES of Our Lives - How fun! Can you post instructions (or links to them)for some of the crafts y’all made? That would be fabulous!

    Also – what camera do you have?ReplyCancel

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  • Sarah - That’s amazing that even one person can be that crafty, never mind 11. Those journals look great especially.ReplyCancel

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  • Geo - I totally get the craft weekend, i think i would love it more if we were all given specific ‘crafts’ to do, as my imagination goes blank when i have to start from scratch.ReplyCancel

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  • Jody - Where do I find crafty friends like this so I can go on a craft weekend?? LOLReplyCancel

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  • meg duerksen - this makes me miss it.
    i should’ve gone.
    what is the matter with me?!!
    seriously.
    i am a total dork.
    i want to know who made what…..and what did you TALK about. 🙂ReplyCancel

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  • Lindsay - Ohhh! This is my dream. To someday be able to spend a weekend at a craft party. AMAZING.

    I can’t wait to see what you worked on!ReplyCancel

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  • Brie - Could you post tutorials for teh crafts. They sound and look amazing.ReplyCancel

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  • lil misses' mama - oh sigh…that would be my dream weekend!!ReplyCancel

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  • energycontractors - Seriously you had a nice weekend.. I miss these types of weekends. Lots of thing we can learn by these types of get together, friends meet in one place shares every thing, doing lots of thing together. Thank you for sharing your experience.ReplyCancel

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  • interlake - I hope you have enjoyed a lot in the weekend. The crafts are so beautiful…ReplyCancel

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  • Jane's In The Jungle - That weekend would be a like a dream come true!!!ReplyCancel

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  • Pamela - Oh, yes I’m sure you made some maple memories to remember on ho hum days. I love crafting with friends. Thanks for the reminder to make it happen more often.ReplyCancel

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  • Michelle - I have group of friends and we rotate houses monthly for craft night, but that place looks awesome fun.ReplyCancel

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