For A Moment Photography

Holiday Book Wreath

I made this in two hours.

I love the Holidays!  Today I got started on a really easy and fun craft.  I made this wreath out of pages from a book I bought at the Dollar Store.  I found this project after looking at a blog that lead me to another blog that lead me to yet another blog that lead me to this craft she got from another blog!  

I wasn't looking for a craft to do today I was just clicking on pages, click click click.  I found this and it reminded me of the candles at Pottery Barn I love so much.  They have such cozy ideas, I would love to design for that store...  But for now I'll just buy lil' things from PB here and there!

I'll post directions below.  I of course didn't follow the directions- I never can.  I bought a 12 inch wreath and I bought two 350 page books from the dollar store.  With a project like this it's pretty fool proof.  The project took me 2 hours start to finish.  I love that because what a great homemade gift that I will actually complete!  It would also be an easy craft to do with friends.  Unlike sewing where you can only talk for moments at a time.

I spend the two hours crafting and listening to the Dalai Lama's, The Art of Happiness.  I love that book!  I have to say it helped me too, the few times I burnt myself with the hot glue gun... The pain is going away (from the burns) and I'm super excited to take this gift to my friends house warming party! 

What you will need:

glue gun

glue sticks

book 

foam wreath

Optional: Brown inkpad by Color Box- you'l find that at a craft store.

Below is the video tutorial- my first one ever!  Enjoy.

 

Birthday Package Idea

Edit for photo below.  

"Ketchup is good on everything."

As a former scrap booker I had thought of doing a year book of Presley each year around her birthday.  I had also thought about doing something similar for clients that come to me for birthday photos.  I thought it would be a less time consuming (then a scrap book) and easily replicated one as well.

I have to say the book is now down to a photo (another project in limbo).  I still love the idea I just don't have the time to get it off the ground...  I took these pictures of Presley to day and decided to throw a quick collage together.  She just looked so beautiful!  I'm sure at a later date I can still put together a book.  I'm just not sure how long I'll remember all the details about her during that time, yikes! 

www.foramomentphotography.com

Kids Holiday Gift Idea Ranked #1

 

 

Not my photo.  It's a photo from their website.

We have been lucky enough to have great friends that have invited us on several Mexico vacations.  These friends have also introduced us to an organization in Mexico created to help abandoned kids...  Here in the states kids like these are able to have a government prepared to help them, Mexican kids are not so lucky  that is why an organization like, Hope for the Children is so important.

My idea for the Holiday gift is to have our children (biologically and students) become pen pals or at least send a Christmas/birthday card to these (less privileged) kids.  The website has listed their birthdate's (name age and sex) and a card from you may all they are getting this year.

I hope that becoming pen pals may help our kids become more aware of the different experiences of kids their age and hopefully have a positive impact on them.  It's also a great lesson for us as parents to remember that this years "must have gift" really isn't a "must have" .  We can have such an big impact on our kids (in the long run) by showing compassion and love to all (especially during this time)... 

A man made imaginary line should not dictate if a child is valued or deemed worthy of helping or not...  Send a card and a little hope.

www.foramomentphotography.com

Holiday gift idea #2

 

Still need a Holiday gift and not much time or money?  Check out Groupon.com.  It's a site that has daily deals around the country.  Today's Phoenix, AZ deal is a paint ball trip for the day for $20.  Normally $60(includes: 

• All-day pass includes equipment, air, and 500 paintballs
• Four fields: 2 desert, 2 grass
• 50 minutes outside of Phoenix

  There is one deal per city per day.  You can also buy a gift card for someone and let them check the daily deals for one that works for them.  It's also a great way to buy something for someone in another state without having to deal with shipping (post office trips stinks right now).

www.foramomentphotography.com

 

Holiday Gift Idea #3

 

I am a Mac/Apple junkie.  I love their products and can't get enough of them.  Santa came early and I got my iphone (I was a very good girl).  I am so excited to learn how to use the applications and now have the web, email and calendar at my finger tips (I've never had a smart phone before).  I really hope that the phone makes my life easier and frees me from my computer (but at the same time doesn't tie me to my phone- juggle)...

Apple products are great and user friendly (for all ages).  In this technology driven world you can't go wrong with Mac gift cards...  I don't know if this is a good Holiday gift idea for my blog....  I guess it's not new news, but hey a trusted favorite!

www.foramomentphotography.com

 

Almost Homemade Gift

 

So I'm a little behind, what's new.   However this gift idea is quick and almost homemade.  I wanted to get a little something for Presley's four teachers and I wanted it to be something more memorable then a gift card.  This is what I came up with "Ta Da Holiday Nuts", and the great thing about it is you can put your own twist on it and it was quick to make.  

Here is what you need:

1 cleaned out soup can

ribbon 

a gift tag

plastic wrap

string 

and nuts of some sort

The picture pretty much explains what the finished product will look like.  The gift took me less then 20 minutes to put together.  The nuts are a favorite treat of mine however you could use anything from, yogurt covered pretzels to granola clusters.  

I love that putting it in these soup can gives it a rusty homemade feel.  I originally had planned on having Presley color a piece of paper to wrap around but she was more excited to play to with the string (you guess it leading around her imaginary dog) then coloring...    

www.foramomentphotography.com

 

Holiday Gift Idea #5

 

I love this campaign!  Presley had all the kids red clothing line as a infant.  I love the clothes and the idea that I can buy something I like and support such a great cause.  I really try to be mindful in my consumption of goods (try is the key word).  I really don't want to be a person who looks away from all the unpleasant things going on in the world because it doesn't effect me.  I hope in my lifetime I can do a few things that help others less fortunate then myself out.  So please buy red this holiday season!

Anything on this list is a Holiday gift idea #5.  Or give the give of your support by following Join Red on facebook and twitter!

www.foramomentphotography.com

Holiday Gift idea #6

 

I've been so excited about this book coming out.  The Author Amanda Soule is an amazing Mom, Author and artist  (bookcover is a photo she took) who does everything (yes, she still does more), she is so great!  The book is a great gift for those Moms who love homemade goods.  Her abilities amaze me and help to keep me balanced on the side of simplicity.

www.foramomentphotography.com

 

Holiday Gift #7

 

As much as I can I try to buy organic, earth friendly products (most people know this about me).  There are a few times it's almost unavoidable to buy some plastic.  Part of the problem I have is they (plastic toys) really are not keepsake toys but they last FOREVER.  So more then anything else I end up having guilt that so much plastic is being put in our landfills, ok back to the toy.  

Presley had a friend that bought her this awesome toy, Magna-tiles (after his Mom double checked with me- so nice).  These little tiles have magnets in them and make them east to build castles, roads, garages, houses, cameras, tents and shoes (this is all the stuff Presley built).  It's been a great toy for her and for her older friends and cousins (2-6 yrs. old).  I love that she uses her imagination and they have reenforced her shapes and colors.  She will say to me, "I need one more triangle".  

www.foramomentphotography.com

Holiday gift #8

 

Living in downtown Tempe we spent a lot of time walking.  Going for a bike ride would be another fun activities for us to do too but until now I had not seen a child seat I liked.  The Ibert child seat is a great new seat.  The child can face the same direction as you, you can talk to the child and they sit up high not down low near car exhaust.  I should mention this seat fits on both mountain bikes and cruiser bikes.

I think this is a great Holiday gift for several reasons.  It's a great way to spent sometime together as a family and a great way to exercise with your kids.

www.foramomentphotography.com