Large Photo Board

Temple Print Project

I have wanted a large picture of the temple to hang on my wall but they are so expensive. I couldn't justify spending $200+ on a picture. I try to be frugal. "Try" being the operative word. When it comes to crafts....not so much!

 I went searching for any ideas on how to make my own. I stumbled upon this post by Sugar Bee Crafts! She used a giant foam board but I wanted mine to be a little fancier! I found the solid Pine board 24"X72" at Lowe's. I've also seen them at Home Depot! The board is about $38 and it will make 2 giant pictures! I found my print of the temple on Cari Osborne Photography! She has multiple prints of many  different temples that are free to use for personal use. She will also sell you the copyright if you want to use them to sell. Beautiful photography!!! I printed my 20"X30" Print  at Costco for only $8.99. 

With my Print and board in hand I had my DH cut the board to 24"X34". He then used his router and gave it a fancy edge! YAY!

I stained the outer 4 inches with Minwax Ebony stain. Using Mod Podge I used a foam brush and painted a thin coat on the board. This is where it gets kinda tricky. Trying to place a giant print on a sticky board. If you can get help with this part it will help. Place your photo on your board making sure it is even with all sides. Use a plastic scrapper or clean foam roller and make sure your print is adhered to the board. 

I then used a photo texture cream that I found at Wood Creations and using a foam roller I rolled the cream over top of the photo. This will make your photo look and feel like a canvas print. It will also seal your photo. 

Once this was dry I placed a decorative boarder around the photo to hide the edge and make it look finished. I used a wood glue to adhere the boarder onto the board. I sprayed the wood with a clear coat to seal the wood and give it a shine. Trying not to get the clear coat on your photo.

I then used a heavy picture hanging kit to hang the photo on my wall. I love it!!

This is another project I did with a smaller sized piece of wood. I used Photoshop to add the Name and Date when we went through the temple. I didn't put a decorative boarder on this one. I used some sand paper and roughed up the edges of the photo for a distressed look. I also painted this board red, sanded the edges and stained over top to add to the distressed look.

Good luck with your project! You will love the finished project and the price!!

White Chicken Chili

A Family Favorite

 

This recipe is so simple and easy to make. It is one of my go to favorites when I don't have a lot of time or I want some good comfort food on a cold winter day!!!

Ingredients

4 Chicken breasts cooked and diced (I've also used a whole chicken cooked in a crock pot on high for 4 hours then shredded)

4 Cans of Chicken Broth (More if needed)

4- 15 ounce Cans of White Beans in seasoning (I love the S&W brand)

2 cans green chilies diced

6 Tbsp of Lime Juice

2 tsp Lemon Pepper

2 tsp Cumin

1 Onion diced

2-4 cloves Garlic minced

Toppings

Tortilla chips 

Shredded Cheese 

Sour Cream 

Cilantro

  

Saute Onion and garlic in a little oil until soft and a little brown. Open your cans and dump into large pot. Simmer for 15-30 minutes or until desired temperature.

We like to put some tortilla chips in the bowl then pour chili over top. Add a little shredded cheese, a dollop of sour cream and top it off with some cilantro! YUM!!! I promise you your family will beg for you to make this for them again!! This will feed approx. 12.

Christmas Countdown

I know we are way past Christmas but I just loved making these blocks. These cute blocks were so easy to make and you could make them into so many different projects. I found the 3.5"X3.5" wood blocks at Wood Creations for $2.00 each along with the cute scrapbook paper. 

I just love that store. They have so many cute things to make and you don't have to be crafty at all. They have everything for you right in one location. It's my all time favorite place to go and look at everything they come out with for every occasion/holiday. 

Materials needed

2 - 3.5"X3.5" wood blocks

1 - 6"X8"X2" wood base - this was an extra piece of wood I had laying around.

Scrapbook paper - If you want every side of your block to be different you'll need 6 two-sided print papers.

Craft Paint of choice & Paint brush

Mod Podge & sponge brush

Vinyl numbers and lettering

I lightly sanded each block then started painting the edges of the block the color I wanted to show through. Cut your paper slightly smaller than your block so that the paint color shows on your edges.  I think I cut mine to be 3" squares. I used Mod Podge to adhere the paper to the block.

 After letting it dry for about 10 minutes go over your edges with some sand paper. You could also use a Fluid Chalk inkpad to ink the edges.

I cut out the vinyl on my Cricut but if you don't have that ability, Wood Creations will cut anything you want out in vinyl for you. YAY!! 

I placed the vinyl on the blocks. On the first block put numbers 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. The second block put numbers 0, 1, 2, 6, 7, 8. If your wondering where the 9 is, you just turn your 6 upside down when you need a 9. 

On one of the 2" sides of the base I adhered a piece of scrapbook paper and then the vinyl "days till Christmas". 

I then put a light coat of Mod Podge over top to seal everything in. This will go on white but I promise it dries clear.

Now you could use these blocks to countdown pretty much any day you are excited about. You could also Mod Podge pictures to all the sides for a cute photo block. There are so many uses for these cute blocks but I loved the Count down to Christmas. The total project cost less than $10 to make. 

Mission Letters

My second oldest son, Elder Kelten Thomas, is currently serving a LDS mission in Houston, Texas.
Isn't he a cute missionary?

 I made this for him to keep in his room while on his mission and hopefully he will bring it home with him to have as a memento! I found the letters at Wood Creations. I used craft paint and scrapbook paper in his favorite colors. I used my Cricut to cut out the vinyl to represent his mission! I used Mod Podge to adhere the scrapbook paper to the wood and then Mod Podged over top after placing the vinyl lettering to seal it all in. He loved it!

My testimony scrapbook page

I wanted a way for my young women to remember their testimony, the way it is right now. I want them to be able to look at it years from now and see how much it has grown. A testimony is like a seed; if planted, nourished and given the things it needs it will bloom into something wonderful.
Psalms 19:7 "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple."

It starts with a seed and that seed is faith.
Alma 32:21 "Faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things, therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true."

I started with a 12X12 sheet of cardstock. I found this cute paper pack at JoAnn's and I absolutely love it. We have used it to make many crafts with the young women this last year.

I took two coordinating papers and cut one 7"X6" and the other one 6"X6". I used a punch to round one corner on each. I then cut a white piece of cardstock 5"X6". The photo is a 4X6. I used my Cricut to cut out the year, faith and the frame. I used my computer to type "my testimony", and "I am a daughter of God who loves me." I also used my computer to print out the scripture from Alma 32:21. 

I placed them on the page layering the paper and attaching "my testimony" with a silver brad. 

This will be something the young women will be able to cherish for years to come. They can display them in their rooms and reflect on how their testimony is growing....just like the seed!

I found this idea on Pinterest. Here is the link http://www.pebblesinmypocket.com/2009/09/my-testimony-kit.html . It used to be available in a kit to purchase but is no longer available. 

Come unto Christ bookmarks

I absolutely love the youth theme "Come unto Christ" this year and there are a million people making wonderful items for youth and leaders to use. YAY!! I found this image on Pinterest from a wonderful blogger at All things Bright and Beautiful! She has put together some wonderful images that you can use for free!! Yes I said FREE!!! 

Thank you Courtney!

 

I used one of the images she created to make some very cute book marks for my Young Women. 

I printed the front and back of the book mark image and taped
it to a piece of card stock!

I punched a hole in the top center and used a
brad to attach a piece of ribbon to the top.

They turned out super cute! 

What a great way for the youth to keep track of where they are reading in their scriptures!

Come unto Christ wooden blocks

The theme this year for the youth of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints is "Come unto Christ and be perfected in Him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness" Moroni 10:32. As a Young Women leader, we decided to make these for our young women for Christmas. Our girls absolutely loved them and it reminds them of their commitment to Come unto Christ.
These would make a cute, cheap, easy craft for Girls Camp or other Young Women activity. 

I bought a 12 foot long 2"X6" board and had my wonderful Husband cut them each 7" long. The final measurements of the piece of wood is about 5 1/2" X 7" X 2".

I sanded the piece of wood and applied some wood stain. The finish I used is called Ebony. 

You then need a 4"X6" picture of Christ which I had printed at Costco for $0.13 each and Mod Podge. I like the glossy look so I use glossy Mod Podge. Put a thin coat of Mod Podge on the back of your photo and center on the wood. Press down and make sure you don't have any bubbles under the photo. I like to use small scrapper to make sure it is sealed nicely to the wood. I let this dry for a few minutes then take a piece of sandpaper and sand around the edges of the picture. This gives it a worn look and I think, a finished look. Apply a thin layer of Mod Podge over top of your photo and let dry. it will look white at first but I promise it dries clear! I finished the project with a finale that I bought at Wood Creations for $0.79. You can also find these at Walmart in their craft section but they are much smaller and just didn't look right to me. I've heard that you can buy them at Lowes too but I could not find them at my local Lowes. I hot glued the finale on top in the center then tied a cute ribbon around the finale to finish it off! 

I searched for the picture of Christ on Google then used 

Photoshop elements to edit the photo and add Come unto Christ!

You can make this project for around $1.25 each. 

So cute and easy to do!!

Here are the pictures I used if you would like to use them.