Handprint Quilt

Posted on March 23, 2020 by Aunt Mo

An Idea to be Treasured

Image result for handprint png

I had never heard of a handprint quilt until one of my piano students asked me to add my handprint to her quilt. I love this idea and feel some regret for not creating a quilt for my own children when they were growing up.

My student’s quilt will include handprints from people that have made a difference in her life. I considered being asked to add my handprint an honor and it meant so much to me.

To collect my handprint, Kit and her Mom brought a large ink pad to my house which we used to make my print.

My print was added to my student’s book of handprints and will eventually be part of her quilt of memories.

For many of you, the thought of creating a handprint quilt may seem overwhelming and way out of reach, but I found a resource that can help with that. The quit pictured below is from an Etsy shop called PrettyCraftybyLinda. After collecting all of your handprints, Linda will create your quilt for around $300.00, depending on the size of course.

Custom made handprint quilt image 0

Making a handprint quilt could be a really wonderful part of your family reunion. You could collect the handprints at one reunion and auction the quilt off at the next reunion. A quilt full of grandchildren’s handprints would be a wonderful anniversary gift for grandma and grandpa. There are so many options, but what it really comes down to is a quilt full of memories to be treasured.

Log Slice Ice Breaker Craft

Posted on December 17, 2019 by Aunt Mo

Many families gather together during the holiday season for their traditional Christmas parties. To get the party started , I like to have a simple craft or activity that can be done as everyone arrives and these log slice ornaments are just the thing. They’re a fun ice breaker that keeps your guests busy and requires little supervision and they’re pretty inexpensive.

With just a few supplies, you can whip up LOTS of them. Wood slice ornaments are perfect for hanging on your Christmas tree, attaching to gifts, or giving to friends and family. If you don’t have access to tree logs you can purchase pre sliced packages at the craft store. The ones I found cost under $2.00 for a package of 4, but the least expensive option is to cut your own.

After cutting your wood slices, don’t forget to drill a small hole at the top so that you can hang it on your tree or tie to a package.

Purchase chalkboard paint at your favorite craft store. Paint the center of the wood slice.

It doesn’t take long for the paint to dry but if you’re really pressed for time, have a hand held hair dryer to speed up the process. After the paint dries, draw a simple picture or write your favorite Christmas word with chalk. And don’t forget some cute Christmas string for hanging on the tree.

If you don’t want the mess of painting your ornaments and you have a die cutting machine, you can cut a variety of shapes and words and family members can apply those onto their wood slices. You could add a layer of decoupage on top so it will last longer.

Jelly Bean Bracelets Ice Breaker

Posted on October 8, 2019 by Aunt Mo

Ice breakers for all kids

Whether planning a family reunion or party, I always like to provide an activity that gives family members an activity to do while waiting for the organized activities to begin. For instance, in the Caveman reunion, reunion goers decorated dinosaur sugar cookies. This is a great way to get family members reconnect with each other and shouldn’t require hands on attention from the reunion planner.

Here are fun idea that fit the bill-

Jelly Bean Bracelets

What could be better then jewelry you can eat?

Purchase lots of bags of Jelly beans (Try buying these at after Easter sales), sewing needles, Jewelry cord that is stretchy and scissors.

Cut the jewelry cord about 7″ long. Tie knots about 1 inch from the bottom of the cord. Thread the cord through the sewing needle. Tip- be sure the the cord you use will fit through the eye of the needle.

Push the needle through the center of each jelly bean to thread them, then push them down to the bottom of the cord. Continue to add jelly beans, about 15- 20 depending on your wrist size, until the bracelet is long enough. When your bracelet is long enough, tie the two ends together securely using several knots.

Tip: If the needle gets sticky give it a quick cleaning with baby wipes to clean off your needle.

Working on this project will kids talking and help them get reacquainted. I think you’ll be surprised at the fun color combination your family will come up with. Have I mentioned that this is a fun idea for your Easter celebration?

Shrink, Shrank, Shrunk

Posted on April 2, 2018 by Aunt Mo

ShRink Art for Your Family Reunion

I’ve been a Shrinky Dink fan for probably 30 years or better, way before they had the fancy kits they have now. When I first started making Shrinky DInks we called them Shrink Art and we used either plain sheets of plastic or clean or clear #6 plastic we got from the bakery.

In case you don’t know what I’m talking about, Shrink Art is made with thin plastic sheets that shrink down about 45% when you put them in the oven. Not only does the material shrink, but whatever artwork you draw/print on them will also shrink with it. So, you can draw and color a design in it’s large form where it is easy to see and work with and then shrink it down so it is more the size of a charm or an ornament.

I love to use shrink art for family reunions and parties. They make great dog tags, charms, pins and beads. Our Oz inspired family reunion includes a template to be used with Shrink Art. We had so much fun making the dog tags and our family loved wearing them during the reunion.

To make Shrink Art,preheat your oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit

Trace your design on the plastic using a permanent marker such as a Sharpie marker. You can draw your own design or trace a clip art picture you found on the internet or use a coloring page.

Color your picture with permanent markers or colored pencils. If your plastic has a rough side, color on that side.

Cut out your picture and if you will be putting it on a string or chain punch a hole in it. You will not be able to make any holes or cuts once your picture has baked as it will be too thick.

Line a cookie sheet or tray with foil or baking paper. Arrange your pictures,color side up on the tray.

Bake in the oven for 3- 5 minutes. Keep your eye on them as they bake (that’s half the fun). At first your pictures will curl up but don’t panic, they will flatten out again. Once they flatten out bake for a few more seconds then remove from the oven. If they aren’t quite flat you can flatten them by pressing them a little more with a hot pad or wooden spoon.

When cooled remove them from the pan and you’re ready to use and enjoy your Shrink Art.

The Shrinky Dinks brand makes some fun pre-printed designs that you can purchase if you want to try out the process before striking out on your own. You can purchase the pre- printed Shrinky Dink designs or sheets of plain Shrinky Dink plastic by following the link below.

What is a Reunion Theme Package?

Posted on March 8, 2018 by Aunt Mo

At Familyreunionhelper.com we sell reunion theme packages. What’s a theme package you ask? Most of our digital downloads include 45 or more pages of invitations, name tags, water bottle labels, games,activities, templates and printables that compliment the theme you have chosen.

The following is an example of a name tag from our Heritage Reunion.

This cute invitation is from our Circus reunion. Just print it off and then fill in the blanks with your personalized reunion information.

Our Caveman reunion invitation is sure to get the kids excited about attending all the prehistoric fun.

Water bottle labels are a wonderful way to address your reunion theme and if everyone writes their name on the label, bottles don’t get mixed up or lost as easily.

Our theme packages also include pages and pages or games and activities that go along with the theme you’ve chosen. You can spend hours searching the web for your ideas but these have been tried and tested and we know they work. Here’s a page from our Superhero reunion.

Our reunion theme packages include tons of extras like these certificates from our Medieval Reunion and printable signs from our “No Place Like Home”, Oz inspired reunion.

Each of our reunion theme packages includes printable games and puzzles that go along with your theme. Like this Valentine’s game that is part of our “Home for the Holidays” reunion.

Our reunion themes also include food ideas that compliment your theme. Check out this recipe for “Parrot” (tastes a lot like chicken”)- it serves 100.

Barbeque Captain’s “Parrot”

Serves 100.

2 1/2 cups chicken stock
2 ounces dehydrated onions
7 pounds 3 ounces catsup
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 pound 8 ounces brown sugar, packed
48 pounds chicken, cut-up

For barbecue sauce: Simmer chicken stock and onions over medium heat for 5 minutes. Add catsup, garlic powder, and brown sugar. Simmer 15-20 minutes, stirring frequently. Set aside.

Rinse chicken in cold water. Drain well. Arrange 25 pieces of chicken on each sheet pan (18 x 26 x 1 inch). Brush 3/4 to 1 quart of barbecue sauce over chicken in each pan. Bake uncovered until tender, checking frequently. Cook in conventional oven at 425 degrees F for 45 minutes.

Many of our themes have printable food tents like our Western Reunion food tent featured here.

We’ve tried to think of everything we could to make your reunion planning easier and less stressful. Check out Family Reunion Helper.com today and choose the reunion theme package that best suites your family. You can be sure that each package is jammed packed of ideas, game, activities and printables to get your creative juices flowing. Click on our logo below and follow the link.

Beads! Family Reunion Activities

Posted on October 20, 2017 by Aunt Mo

This bead activity is perfect for your western themed family reunion.

Thanksgiving Day Arrowhead Necklace craft

I Love Beads! I really do. I use them for so many activities at family reunions.

Beach Family Reunion

The best thing I ever did with beads was to make a bead reward box for our family reunion in Lake Powell. Instructions and printables for the bead box are included in our Beach family reunion theme package. You can find it by clicking here- Beach Reunion

Western Family Reunion

More recently, I came across this fun, simple and inexpensive bead activity that would be perfect for your western themed family reunion.

To represent the Native American culture, make beaded arrowhead necklaces. You can limit the number of beads that can be put on each necklace or let them go wild. Pony beads are cheap and easy to come by at any craft store.

I thought the arrowheads would be hard to find or too expensive but felt pretty lucky when found a set of 50 Indian agate replica arrowheads at Amazon for under $10.00. Just click on the link below to purchase.

Arrowhead necklaces would also be a fun activity on Thanksgiving. Set up a table away from more traditional Thanksgiving activities and let your guests build their own creation.

Bead Geckos

Another fun bead activity for your reunion is bead geckos. Read our blog on Family Reunion Helper.com for detailed instructions. Bead Gecko Blog

Fun T-shirt Idea for Your Family Reunion

Posted on September 25, 2017 by Aunt Mo

A brand new idea for family reunion t-shirts!

One of my students wore this shirt to class one day and of course when I saw it I started thinking “family reunion”. If your family isn’t too big this could be a fun idea for your next family reunion.

Ask family members to draw a simple picture of themselves. The most difficult part of this
project will be getting the drawings returned to you. If you have enough time you may want to get the drawings at your family Christmas party and then you would have them for your summer reunion.

My “go to” t-shirt company is

http://www.cheaperthanshirt.com/

Kdee, their designer,( Kdeewood.au@gmail.com ) is so good to work with and can arrange your drawings on your shirt so they look great.

If you don’t have room on your shirt for people to draw their whole body you can just do “heads”.

Image result for stick figure head family

Thanks to Mrs.Rinker and her kindergarten kids for this fun new idea for family reunion t-shirts.

Pool Noodle Ponies For Your Western Reunion

Posted on October 30, 2016 by Aunt Mo

At our western themed family reunion we created our own pool noodle ponies. Everyone, no matter what their age, made a pony until we had a whole herd of them. DIY pool noodle ponies are a great activity for a multi day reunion. We had the whole first day to create our ponies and used them for fun activities on the second day.

For each pony you need one swimming noodle the skinnier ones work best and you can usually find them for $1.00 at dollar stores.

twine or yarn
felt (9 x 12 sheets work well)
large wiggly eyes
low temp glue gun and glue
scissors
Permanent markers
Decorations

For your ponies head, bend the end of your noodle over and use twine or yarn and tie tightly to hold in place. This will be the ponies bridle. Attach a longer piece of rope to make the reins. You may want to braid this part of the bridle or add bows etc.

For the mane of the pony make a slit, about 1/2-1 inch deep, into the pool noodle with a box cutter, pocket knife or one side of a pair of scissors. Cut felt so it is fringed on both edges then stuff the felt (center first) into the slit.

The felt will stay put without gluing.

Image result for pool noodle horses

Cut another strip of felt with points on both ends to make the ears. Put the ears under the bend of the head and pull upward.

Encourage pony creators to be creative. Provide permanent markers, stickers and jewels and see what they create. We have found that the more time you give them the more creative the ponies got. We even got a long necked giraffe (made from two pool noodles).

Finally, put together a rodeo or horse show for your horses to compete in. Give prizes for

Helpful hint- If you have a large crowd making ponies, write names on your trusty steeds. Although each is unique they may still be difficult to pick out of the crowd.

For more fun ideas for your western themed family reunion or party check out familyreunionhelper.com

Family Reunion Helper

Your number one source for family reunion organization

Category Archives: Family reunion crafts