Free Bead Charm Patterns

With the holidays fast approaching we have been hard at work crafting. Each big kid picked something to hand make. Some picked something that they were good at and some picked something they wanted to learn. 

Sam is great at origami so he made tiny origami jewelry and Christmas tree ornaments. 

Mirabel made no-sew scarves out of recycled t-shirts, click here for scarf craft ideas. 

More pictures coming soon!

Anthony learned how to make duct tape wallets and other fun stuff out of duct tape. He was the one who made the most Christmas $$$ at our first craft fair! 

Then I taught all the kids the art of beading and jewelry making. They started with making a simple pony bead gecko (click here for easy gecko pattern). Once they got the hang of the concept they then made lots of different patterns from Beadiecritters.com with glass seeds beads and 28g wire instead of pony beads and cord.

All the kids did an awesome job making jewelry. Even the boys, Anthony made the Jack Sparrow necklace and Sam made the gecko bracelet and panda earrings. Risa made the gecko and cow earrings and beaded all the necklaces that Mirabel and I made charms for. Mirabel and I made most of the charms for the earrings. Since some of the pony bead 2-D patterns were still a little too big even using tiny beads I tried to design my own 3-D patterns. I started with making miniture Disney Princesses. Since I think they turned out pretty cute I wanted to share the patterns I made for free here!

Snow White

Belle from Beauty and the Beast

Cinderella

Ariel from the Little Mermaid

Aurora from Sleeping Beauty

Mulan

Elsa and Anna from Frozen

Merida from Brave

Pictures coming soon...

Pocahontas

Pictures coming soon...

Tiana from Princess and the Frog

Pictures coming soon...

Rapunzel from Tangled

Pictures coming soon...

Jasmine from Aladdin

Pictures coming soon...

*BONUS* R2D2 and Yoda from Star Wars

Posted by Shannon

Joy in the Chaos

a Fun Photo Shoot by Emily Garrison

I cannot say enough good things to convince you that Emily Garrison was an absolute dream to work with! She was creative, fun and, oh, so patient! Bathing, preparing and dressing seven children for a photo shoot is a quite the feat itself but then add seven favorite animals also and well you can only imagine the chaos that could ensue.... ;)

But Emily....she managed to turn our chaos into beauty. Here is the photo shoot in its entirety.

 Ah, we made it safe, on time, nobody's outfit got peed on during the drive and all the animals are cooperating relatively well...

A lovely day for a walk....or a parade! 

Geez...I love this man!

And this crew is my heart! We didn't create this family....we were just willing to be God's canvas! The heart of God.

                     

Doesn't it just all look picture perfect? During the above photos Maggie somehow managed to step in every ant pile in the park while we walked to different photo spots. Each time a screaming panic ensued. Poor little lady! The sun was blaring, we were all getting frazzled and sweaty, at least two kids got stepped on by the horse and Mirabel got peed on by her goat....

 Life ain't always peachy but the chaos in this life doesn't ever have the right to steal our joy!

After a very full photo shoot our photographer surprised us with small whip cream pies. It was explained that we are to hold the pie....

taste the pie....

And smear some pie on the person closest to you's face.

But then free reign was given. Shove the pie, throw the pie, get messy....GO!

And as you can see Anthony was the primary target for such pie fighting goodness.

I just may be beginning to revel in my life of intense chaos yet even deeper joy!

                        

                       

                       

                       

Posted by Shannon
To God be the Glory