3 Winks Design
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Contact Us
  • Printables
  • Where I Party
    • Places Featured
  • Contests
    • Writing Challenge
  • From Cover to Reel
    • Show Notes

A Family Tree gift That is Sure to Please

11/28/2022

1 Comment

 
This post contains affiliate links. We will be compensated for purchases you make at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!
Picture
       A little over a year ago, I had this idea to do an activity for our women's group at church entitled "Gather."  One of the things our church emphasizes is the importance of family and family ties back through our ancestors.  We truly know that Families are Forever.  Knowing who you are and where you come from is a priceless gift that can give you a sense of comfort and belonging.  I find it remarkable to see in today's world how many people do DNA tests to find their relatives, and how many TV shows there are about searching for one's roots.  It all attests to me the importance of family being a part of our beings. 
       For this activity, I found some amazing family trees that are free to have printed from familyhistorydaily.com  I encourage you to search this site for a ton of family history ideas from research to family trees to other ways to display your family history.   These family trees are free to download and have printed.  I sent mine to Staples and had them printed for about $1  a piece!  They came out beautifully and make a very inexpensive gift just as is!  But, if you want to spruce them up a bit, I have a couple of ideas for you.  
Picture
     We happened to have some left over bead board at our house from a past project.  My family tree print is 11 x 17 inches, so I had my good husband cut out a piece for me to make a backer frame for my tree.  I decided that if someone is still doing research to find all of the names to fill in on their charts, this type of frame is perfect because it can be displayed and gradually filled in as they do more research.  
  • You could easily use another type of board, whatever works for you. 
  • I used black spray paint in a satin finish to spray the board.
  • Use E6000 glue to attach loose bulldog clips to hold the tree on the board. 
  • I used wooden letters and painted them silver to say "Gather" at the top of the board.  You could also say other things, such as your family name, or "Family", or "Blessed."  Whatever works for you.  You can also use vinyl instead of wood.  
     Then, just clip on the family tree, and you're  all done!  
​
Picture
     For this beautiful black and white choice, I also printed it in the 11 x 17 size.  I went to Hobby Lobby and purchased the black frame, complete with mat in a 13 x19 size, the mat has an 11 x 17 opening.  
Using black alphabet stickers, I stuck the word "Gather" all over the mat in both upper and lower case letters.  I love how it came out.  
Picture
      As I mentioned, I came up with this idea a year ago, but then Covid hit our family so the activity was postponed.  We finally were able to do it this year!  Other parts of the activity included:
  • A short family history lesson from a resource person showing us how to do family history on our phones in just 5 minutes per day.
  • A potluck of favorite family meals
  • A craft that preserved an old family recipe written in a grandmother's handwriting to display in your kitchen. 
      The thought just occurred to me that framing an old recipe in my mom's handwriting might be a nice addition to this family tree gift!  I'll have to mull this over!  In the meantime, I hope there is someone that you know that would love an awesome family tree.  It is a heartfelt gift that doesn't break the budget! 
​
​Other Family Themed Gifts:

Love Grows Free Printable
Heritage Recipes
A Special Gift for Grandkids
Grandparent Adventure Books and/or Poster
1 Comment

My 4 Favorite advent calendars for 2022

11/20/2022

2 Comments

 
This post contains affiliate links. We will be compensated for purchases you make at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!
2022 advent calendars
    This has been a very hectic couple of years for our family and as you may have noticed, the blog posts have been going up a little farther apart than normal.  But, one of my favorite blog posts to write around this time of the year is when I find advent calendars that are awesome! 
     When my kids were little, they usually had about 2 or 3 advent calendars to count down until Christmas with.  From the felt tree advent that they took turns adding the ornaments to, to the chocolate calendars that were necessary or it wouldn't have been Christmas without them, we have loved our advent calendars!  I have found 4 calendars this year that I want to share with you.  I hope you get a kick out of them! 
​
The 2022 Advent Calendar FAMILY GAMES by The Purple Cow. 24 OF THE BEST EVER FAMILY GAMES IN ONE BOX .  What a great way to have fun with your family all month long.  Our family loves to play games together during the holidays and this calendar is a great way to get started with a game to play everyday! ​
The  2022 Advent Calendar SHOCKING SCIENCE by The Purple Cow.  I picked this calendar for Alicia who loves science!  No reason why you can't get some S.T.E.M. activity in as you count down to Christmas! 
Timoo Nativity Advent Calendar 2022 .  Because I am striving hard to keep Christ in Christmas this year more than ever, I am choosing this nativity advent.  It is accompanied by a story to teach children about the birth of the Savior.  The kids will love moving the pieces around throughout the season. 
​LEGO Harry Potter 2022 Advent Calendar.  I don't know why Harry Potter seems Christmassy.  I mean there are Christmas scenes in most of the books, plus snow and the book is "magical."  So, for all of you Potter Heads out there who can't get enough Potter, this is for you! Lego also puts out Star Wars and Marvel Advent calendars as well! 
Here is a list of the past Advent Calendars we have shared! 
  • Our 2021 Advent Calendar Suggestions
  • Our Favorite Free Printable Advent Calendars or 2019
  • The Best Printable Advent Calendars of 2017
  • DIY Advent Calendar
2 Comments

5 Books about the nativity

11/9/2022

2 Comments

 
This post contains affiliate links. We will be compensated for purchases you make at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!
​

Books About the Nativity
      Many families have a Christmas tradition of reading a different Christmas Book to their children every night until Christmas Eve.  I love that and I know that one year I actually wrapped up 24 Christmas books, many of the loved ones that we already owned, and let the kids open one each night for us to read aloud.  Even if the book was one they had read many times before, it was always fun to see which book would be the surprise story each night.  Of course, after we read it, that book would be available for the kids to reread on their own throughout the rest of the season.  It was surprising how many Christmas books we actually owned!  

      While I love Santa and the tree and all of the fun trappings of Christmas as much as the next person, I have always felt that it is important to make sure that  the Savior is the focus of Christmas and I made sure that many of the books we read were about the Birth of Jesus.  He is the Reason for the Season after all! 
​
      So, I've put together a list of some great books that center on the Nativity.  They would all be a great way to round out your Christmas Advent Reading this coming December.       
Books About the Nativity

The Berenstain Bears Books are always so sweet when they explain all things good and moral.  This should be in every family library. 

I love that this beautiful board book is in both alphabetical order and chronological order, and that each page has a scripture reference. 

This sweet picture book tells the story of the nativity through the donkey's eyes.  Written in rhyming verse, the sweet rhythm and illustrations will capture  every child's attention. 
     
​This is a child's version of a book that not only a picture book, but is full of ideas to help families create traditions that will help them make their Christmas more Christ centered. 

Available in hard cover, or as a board book, this is the story of a camel who travels with the wise men and learns wonderful lessons along the way. 

     We have recommended other Christmas books in the past if you are still searching for a few more: 
  • 24 Christmas Books to Read With Your Kids
  • 13 Christmas Books to Love This Year
  • Literature and Cookies
2 Comments

Raisin-Craisin Bread pudding

11/9/2022

0 Comments

 
This post contains affiliate links.  If you make a purchase after clicking them, we will be compensated, but there is no additional cost to you.  All opinions expressed are our own.  Thank you for your support.
​

raisin craisin bread pudding
    A few things led me to this recipe.   First-It is Fall!  Our weather has cooled down and to me, that means it is baking weather!  Second-My husband and I are suddenly empty nesters again and we were left with more milk than we could use, so I needed to find recipes that called for milk!  Third-I had a variety of bread heels and odds and ends in my bread box that were perfect for Bread Pudding! 
​
     Bread Pudding is such an old fashioned comfort food, and I don't always think to bake it.  But, when all of those elements came together, it was like a perfect storm! A deliciously perfect baking storm! And, since today is a bit rainy, (something we love in Phoenix), a dish of warm bread pudding tastes even better.  
​

Read More
0 Comments
<<Previous
    Picture
    Creators of Hot Cocoa Bombs!  (copyrighted)
    Subscribe to Our Email!
    Picture

    Author

    Helen Reynolds: Mother of six children , grandmother to eleven!  I love to cook, craft and create things and I especially love doing that with my family, So, when my lawyer daughter, Lindsey, my artist daughter, Madalynn, and I came up with the idea of Hot Cocoa Bombs, this blog was born.  Then, one more daughter, with her technical and science skills, plus creativity has joined in to round us out!  Read more about us here!
        

    Picture
    Click this link and visit 3WinksDesignShop on Etsy. Find our Hot Cocoa Bomb Idea Book, our For the Love of PIe e-book and more of our creations!
    gluten free gifts
    Shop Party Favors @ Beau-coup.com


    Weebly - Websites, eCommerce &amp; Marketing in one place.

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Contact Us
  • Printables
  • Where I Party
    • Places Featured
  • Contests
    • Writing Challenge
  • From Cover to Reel
    • Show Notes