Thursday, January 30, 2014

Artful Friday~ DIY Paper Lantern: Light up a Winter Night With a Doctor Who "Torch!"


Welcome, friends, to another Artful Friday!
As you know, we're super -Whovian here, having concocted
cakes (Tardis and Dalek)
and sonic screwdriver goodies for birthday parties!
My son even made hos own Raggedy Doctor!
He is always creating something and recently 
 made this paper lantern easily and with craft supplies that 
we had on hand.
If you're candle crazy as we are, and especially love  lighting up and
bringing a special glow to a 
frigid  winter evening, 
then you won't even need to 
purchase the little votive to  place inside!

Here is the finished product:
He ( natch) decorated his lantern with 
Whovian charm, but of course, 
your kids will go with whatever they're crazy about at the moment.
(We love you anyway, even if you choose not to
 go the DW route for your lantern!)
You know how the Brits suavely 
 call a flashlight and a lantern  a "torch?"
Well, that's what he's calling it ~!
 The TARDIS and a Silence on this side


An Ood and a DALEK over here.

The easy how -to? Here we go:
What you need:
Paper ( construction or card stock)
scissors
crayons or colored pencils
ruler ( to measure and to  draw straight lines for cutting
votive candle   ~ battery operated, obviously

How to make the lantern:
1.  Hold the paper horizontally  and draw a lines one inch  from  the top and the  bottom edges across the paper.  (This will become the top and bottom of the lantern itself.)



2.  Draw lines 1/4 " in distance vertically across the paper.
You might like to start drawing the lines 1" in from the left and the right edges.  This  will be the "margin" that you will tape or glue together. 

( BTW, I  did not take pictures of each step of my son's creation, but these shots are  a little "guidance" to get you going.)

3.  Draw a design of your own in between the  1" margins of the paper.

4. Cut on each of these 1/4 inch spaced  lines, but stop at the top and bottom edges of the lantern.

5. Fold your paper in half lengthwise so that you now  have a long skinny piece of paper (with lines cut across it!)

6. Fold in 1/2 again so that you now have one square piece of paper.

7. Unfold and tape or glue the edges of the wide side of the paper together. (  in that "margin" that you made)


The lantern will  now "stand" on its own, beveling out a bit at the middle, 
boasting your child's lovely design!

You can add the votive candle for a beautiful glow 
which will light up a porch, an end table, a kitchen counter
 or any place you'd like!!

Enjoy!!
I'd LOVE to see pictures of your lantern!
Please come back and share!
For my previous "Artful Friday" posts, 
you might like to click below.....
They're all here if you'd like to dust off something from the archives:

 ( knitting, winter crafts, the theater and piano)



Thank you for spending some of your precious time today
here at my home on the web! 

Have you signed up to receive my posts in your email inbox?
   If not, just click here to 
quickly and easily  so we can be in touch regularly!
You might wish to follow on Facebook as well.....


If you are shopping at  amazon and Target
why not consider clicking through my link
In this way, I will receive a small commission on the purchase.....
at no cost to you.
THANK YOU!

Until next time,

~Chris


BTW, I'm offering photo services and customized
photo packages for your blog or business!
< Subscribers receive a deep discount! > 



Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Are YOU One of 21 Winners in the Catholic Bloggers' Birthday Giveaway? Announcement~

WINNERS

Congratulations to the Winners ~~~!
We have selected 21 winners to each
 receive one of the 21 awesome prizes!
We have emailed the winners…
(actually Monica  of Equipping Catholic Families
did all the work!!)
so if one of these names looks like yours…
check your inbox (and maybe your spam folder)!
We need you to reply as soon as possible with the information requested in the email so that we can allocate the prizes, 
with special consideration to your first and second choice of prize!
Thanks to all who entered!!
And again a huge shout out to my friend Monica,
who managed this herculean effort!!

Please come back again tomorrow  for my review and giveaway 
of Crystal's new book,  Intentional Marriage!!


Please respond by 9pm on January 28, 2014.
drumroll please…
A. Faber
M. Koralewski
M. Natores
C. Weitzel
B.M. Harrell
E. Brana
L. Jasmin
A. Durocher
M. Reyna
M. Oberle
R. Longwell
M. Roy
C. Sconochini
A. Good
D. Harre
T.D. Masters
S. Patterson
A.D. Hilker
Ryan
J.J. Ramirez
A. O’Donoughue

Friends, as always,  thank you for stopping over and 
spending some of your precious time here at my home on the web!
Don't forget to subscribe to Campfires and Cleats
 by scrolling to the subscribe button at the  top left sidebar.
I'd love to stay in touch regularly.

Until next time,

~Chris

Sunday, January 26, 2014

Project Snapshot ~ 1/27/14



Welcome!
I'm joining Pam today at Everyday Snapshots for her weekly linky!
Project Snapshot is a place within our blogs to capture and record a moment
 of the past week, big or small,
 with or without words,
which we do not want to forget..........
In time, these will compile into many memories to 
be shared and reflected upon.

My snapshot this week:
Representing the quiet beauty of winter.
Sadly last week's snow, beautiful as it was, negated our trip to D.C. for
The March for Life, cancelling our parish bus and pretty much
everything else planned, bitterly disappointing
many many people, including 
two boys right here.

One other aside?
My younger son said, as he saw me snapping this shot:
"Mom, looks like we have it all together....
all set and decorated for Valentine's Day,
everything organized."

Um, yup. It does look that way....( ! )
But of course, one step into my house and you'll see 
the tree and stockings are still up.
<sigh>
Priorities, you know?
I mean it's not that I'm disorganized!
Right?!
Lastly, amAZING news friends!
My home on the web 
 was nominated for a Sheenazing Award 
in three categories over 
at  Bonnie's A Knotted Life.!!
The awards are so named in honor of Ven Fulton Sheen's 
unique use of media to spread 
The Word!
To say I'm  honored is an understatement!

Voting runs from Jan 23rd to Jan 27th.
Go, enjoy perusing the list of nominees and discover some
amAZING ( ! ) blogs!

And thank you, Bonnie, for generously hosting!

I'm honored by your vote, friends,
if you are so inclined to click next to my blog in these areas:
**Best Underappreciated Blog
**Best Lifestyle Blog
**Best Link up Ever (for Memoir Monday)
Friends, as always,  thank you for stopping over and 
spending some of your precious time here at my home on the web!

Don't forget to subscribe to Campfires and Cleats
 by scrolling to the subscribe button at the  top left sidebar.
I'd love to stay in touch regularly.


Until next time,

~Chris

Thanks to 
Shabby Blogs for the cute post dividers!




Saturday, January 25, 2014

Sunday Snippets: The March, Chesterton, Doctor Who Cool, Sheenazing and a Huge Catholic Bloggers' Giveaway 1/26/14

Welcome!
Sunday again and time for the carnival of posts linky
featuring Catholic - related pieces and/or
"cute Catholic kids."
Please visit  RAnn of
who hosts the linky 
to say "HI!" 
and for more Sunday Snippets!
Here we go!

















(It ends Monday; so please come over and enter!)


Thanks again, RAnn, for hosting!!
 

Lastly, a privilege~~~
I was nominated for a Sheenazing Award at  Bonnie's A Knotted Life. 
(in 3 categories!?)
To say I'm  honored is an understatement!
To be named alongside so many amAZING blogs?
Just unreal......

 Thank you! 
Voting is underway until Monday the 27th~~
If you have a minute, can you please click over and vote
Campfires and Cleats??
I'm honored by your support.
*Best Under Appreciated Blog ( ! ) 
**Best Link up for Memoir Monday
*** Best Lifestyle Blog
While you're at Bonnie's
enjoy discovering awesome blogs!!
 
Don't forget to subscribe to Campfires and Cleats
 by scrolling to the subscribe button at the  top left sidebar.
I'd love to stay in touch regularly.

Until next time,

~Chris

Friday, January 24, 2014

7 QTs: The March, Once Upon a Time Awesomeness, Sheenazing Awards, Prayer Request & Giveaways: 1/24/14



Welcome!
Well, it's been quite a while since I've participated in Jen's QT linky
as I've been devoting  Friday blogging to my  Artful Friday series.
But this Friday sort of lends itself to a QT because of all the 
bits and pieces of things to share with you!

~ 1 ~
Can you please, please keep my nephew in your prayers?
Also, my brother and sister-in-law.
They could very much use them.
The efforts of you, my prayer warrior friends, are SO appreciated.
You're the best.
~~Thank you~~

~ 2 ~
The March for Life, this week?
If you're a regular reader, you know our parish bus was cancelled due to 
a major storm...20 inches of snow.
I wish I could report some amazing news and photos of the day.
We are soooo bitterly disappointed that we could
 not be there as voices for the unborn.
But let's all keep fighting the good fight, wherever we are!
A  post with some 
tangible tips on how to do just that?
Here ya go:


Last year's March and my post:




~ 3 ~

Am~ AZING new: ( ! ) 
I was nominated for a Sheenazing Award in 3 ( ! ) categories
at  Bonnie's A Knotted Life.!!
Isn't that wonderful!!??
The awards are so named in honor of Ven Fulton Sheen's 
unique use of media to spread  The Word!
And to say I'm  honored is an understatement!

Voting begins on Thursday  January 23rd~~
Go, enjoy perusing the list of nominees and discover some
amAZING ( ! ) blogs!

I'm honored by your vote in these categories:
*Best Underappreciated blog
*Best Link up Ever for Memoir Monday
*Best Lifestyle Blog
And thank you, Bonnie, for generously hosting!

~ 4 ~
Giveaway CB 14
Last week, the Catholic Bloggers' Network turned TWO and to celebrate, several of us
launched a huge giveaway. which
includes over $300 in prizes for 21 lucky winners!
We’ve  got  Catholic books, one of which,
God Moments II  includes a story penned by yours truly!
Catholic printables,
a handmade VEIL
and Tiny Saints
…as well as TWO Amazon Gift Cards!
The Giveaway ends January 27!

~ 5 ~
Anyone for Chestertonian wisdom??
Many of us have been enjoying and learning a tremendous amount at 
Sarah's for Weekends with Chesterton!
Please visit again tomorrow for lots more!
You'll be the richer for it!
I know I am.


~ 6 ~
And since this little ole blog usually  has a homeschooling focus...
let me give you a little insight into how swimmingly our academics
are moving along:
Algebra. Is. Going. To. Kill. Me.
Period.

~ 7 ~
<<  Spoiler Alert!! >>

REALLY DEARIE??
Can someone please,  PLEASE,
I beg of you, 
give Belle and Rumple a break??
PLEASE??

What????
You don't know what I'm talking about??
You don't watch Once Upon a Time??
What's wrong with you?
You have no excuse.
We don't even get cable and we've found a way.
Seriously, you must too!
We're all caught up now and can I say~~~~
waiting until
 mid March to continue the saga alongside the
ravaged and desperate souls of Storybrooke, Maine?
No easy feat.
So in the meantime,
my son and I found this awesome, epic and pretty darn cool
video of Rumple/Mr. Gold,
the suave Robert Carlyle.
My kids each LOVE LOVE acting in 
local community theater and he, by far,
is their latest acting "hero."

<< The following is a "Once Upon a Time" spoiler alert >>
One caveat...
viewer discretion advised....
Yeah, a little language......
and a few other scenes.
If your family is a OUaT family,
( I love you anyway, even if you're not!)
 they've likely seen this footage already.

Just take a sse preview this 
before watching with the littles.
Here ya go:
Enjoy~~~



Come on, you're hooked! 
(And if you get THAT pun, you're already a fan!)
Admit it!


Thank you SO much for the precious time that 
you spend here at my home on the web!
Don't forget to subscribe to Campfires and Cleats
 by scrolling to the subscribe button at the  top left sidebar.
I'd love to stay in touch regularly.

Until next time,

~Chris

Thanks to Shabby Blogs for the cute post dividers!