First Communion/Long Distance Gift Idea

My nephew/godson had his First Communion a couple of weeks ago.

I really wish I could have been there...

I wanted to send him something fun.
And light weight - mailing packages is expensive!


So, we bought balloons, went to the bank for $1 bills, and typed up Bible verses for children.

We tried a few different techniques to get the items into the balloon.
By the end, we found the best method for us - rolling the quote and the money together...VERY tightly, put it in the balloon, and then blow it up.

Our plan for cheap shipping semi-backfired.
Went to the post office on Wednesday and if we wanted it to arrive in time for Sunday, the shipping was $35. 
We decided to go with the other option - it would arrive late and cost $8 instead...much better.

My sister reported that he loved it.

I'm thinking she would tell me that either way, but he does look pretty happy here :)


Here are the Bible verses...in case anyone is interested:

“If you believe, you will get anything you ask for in prayer.” Matthew 21:22

“In all the work you are doing, work the best you can.  Work like you are working for the Lord, not for people.” Colossians 3:23

“Be kind and loving to each other.  Forgive each other the same as God forgave you in Christ.” Ephesians 4:32

“I can do all things through Christ, because he gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13

“Don’t worry about anything.  But pray and ask God for everything you need.  And when you pray, always give thanks.  And God’s peace will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.  That peace which God gives is so great that we cannot understand it.” Philippians 4:6-7

“Lord, you give true peace to people who depend on you, to people who trust you.” Isaiah 26:3

“My dear brothers and sisters, always be more willing to listen than to speak.  Don’t become angry easily.  A person’s anger does not help him live right like God wants.” James 1:19-20

“Without faith, a person cannot please God.  Any person who comes to God must believe that God is real.  And any person who comes to God must believe that God rewards those people who truly want to find him.” Hebrews 11:6

“He must become more and more important.  And I must become less important.”  John 3:30

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and wish all your soul and with all your might.” Deuteronomy 6:5

“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” Colossians 3:2

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.  His love endures forever.” Psalm 136:1

“Do to others as you would have them do to you.”  Luke 6:31

“Children, obey your parents in all things.  This pleases the Lord.”  Colossians 3:20

“Be careful.  Continue strong in the faith.  Have courage and be strong.  Do everything in love.”  1 Corinthians 16:13-14

Gift Idea - Chalkboard Vase

Our friends were kind enough to have us over for Thanksgiving dinner.

After the invite, I kept trying to think of a gift as a thank you.

The hostess LOVES things with chalkboard paint.

I have this thing for reusing wine bottles.

The solution = paint an empty wine bottle with chalkboard paint,

(I searched for chalkboard spray paint and it was nowhere to be found in our area, so I used regular chalkboard paint & put 3 coats on)

write a message on it,

put a 'Happy Thanksgiving" tag on it,

(I found cute Thanksgiving tags here, and printed the one I wanted on cardstock)

and then we picked up some fresh flowers for the vase.

I like how you can switch it up and write/draw whatever you would like on the vase.

 

Wine Bottle Vase

In the previous post, you may have noticed the empty wine bottle I was using as a vase in the background.

I have always thought of it to be temporary - I thought it needed more.

So, yesterday, I went outside and spray painted it.

Spray painting things gets addicting - such a quick, fun, and easy solution...and I had that leftover gray spray paint from the 'Love' wall art we had just finished.

Anyways, I wanted to try something new...so, I put rubberbands around the bottle before I spray painted it.

And the result:

I used primer spray paint because it was the only gray paint they had at our local hardware store...it worked great and I only had to do one coat.

I am on a project roll - my mind is racing, trying to think of what I should do next!