DOAgAte NecklAces

Agates are semi-precious, brightly colored stones usually found near volcanic rocks. Use a beautiful agate slice and jewelry findings to create a stunning, but inexpensive, statement piece.

supplies Needed:

• Jewelry pliers

• Agate stone (An assortment of predrilled agate stones are available on Amazon.com for just over $1.)

• Chain (We suggest using a 24-inch chain.)

• Jump rings

• Gold metallic nail polish

iNstructioNs:

1. To make a more polished and glamorous pendant, paint the rough edges around your agate with gold me-tallic nail polish.

2. Once dry, open a jump ring that fits through the pre-drilled hole and secure it with the pliers. Have a variety of size of jump rings on hand, since the stone is natural, the sizing could vary.

3. Attach a second jump ring to the first. Snake the chain through the second jump ring to complete your necklace.

DOlAveNder BAth sAlts

After washing all the tiny fingers, toes and heads of hair in your house, use these scented, stress-relieving bath salts for yourself.

supplies Needed:

• 2 cups Epsom salts

• 1/2 cup baking soda

• 1/4 cup sea salt (optional)

• 30 drops of lavender essential oils

• 1 drop of blue food coloring (optional)

• 2 drops of red food coloring (optional)

• Bowl and mixing spoon

• Embellishments for jar (optional)

iNstructioNs:

1. Mix all ingredients together in a medium-sized bowl.

2. Store in an air-tight jar and use 1/4 cup per bath.

3. Decorate the top of the jar with pretty paper, a flower or maybe even both!

DOiNitiAl Art

Decorate your home with cut-out initials. Make them fancy by decorating them with paper, glitter or string to highlight your signature style or your child’s.

supplies:

• Cardboard or cereal boxes, four pieces

• Scissors

• Letter template (found online or just go free-hand)

• Pen or pencil

• Newspaper or scrap paper, torn into 2-inch square pieces

• Painter’s sponge applicator

• White glue, i.e. Modge Podge

• Decorative paper, fabric, string, or glitter

• Spray Paint

iNstructioNs:

1. Print the template and cut it out.

2. Using the template, trace the letter onto four cardboard pieces.

3. Cut out the letters. Each letter should be four layers thick.

4. Using the template, trace the letter onto the back of your decorative paper or fabric.

5. Cut the letter out of the decorative paper or fabric.*

6. Stack up and align the cardboard letters.

7. Glue letters together to make one strong letter by gluing the front and back of the two in the middle.

8. Let it dry.

9. Apply the glue to the torn pieces of newspaper and wrap them around the letter, especially the edges.

10. Let it dry.

11. Spray all sides and edges with the spray paint.

12. Let it dry.

13. Using the glue and painter’s sponge applicator, coat the front of the letter. Do not let it dry.

14. Line up the decorative paper or fabric, so that the front is covered. If using fabric, wrap it around all the edges until they are covered.

15. Apply another coat of glue over the decorative paper. If using fabric, just glue the overlapped edges on the back of the letter.

16. Let dry overnight.

TIP: *If using fabric, cut outside the template to have some excess on all sides to wrap around the edges of the letter.

ALTErNATIvE: After step 7, apply glue to letter and wrap letter with thick twine. Embellish with flowers, ribbon or charms.

DOetched or pAiNted glAss

Make decorative candle hurricanes, glass vases, platters, plates or cups using stickers and glass-etching medium. (Keep in mind, glass-etching medium requires a well-ventilated space, gloves and access to water to wash it off.)

OPTIONAL: Use paint instead of the glass-etching medium.

supplies Needed:

• Clean glasses

• Glass-etching medium (Armour Etch is the most popular brand.)

• Brushes

• Masking tape

• Stencils or stickers

• Paper towels

• Scissors, X-Acto knife or other cutting devices

• Pen

• Paper

• Gloves (Medical gloves work best.)

iNstructioNs:

1. Make sure your glass is completely clean.

2. Decide on a design and tape it off or use a stencil or sticker.

3. Make sure to secure the edges tightly so none of the me-dium bleeds underneath the tape or sticker.

4. Heavily apply the etching medium. Be sure to wear gloves and not get any on your skin. Do this in a well-venti-lated location. Let stand 2-3 minutes.

5. Wash glass and remove tape or sticker.

OPTIONAL - Use paint instead of etching medium:

6. Follow instructions 1-3. Instead of applying glass-etching medium, use a sponge brush to apply paint and allow it to dry thoroughly before removing the tape or stickers.

7. If painting glass, make sure to use glass paint and hand wash in the future for durability.

DOorigAmi stArs

Master the art paper folding. Pick out your favorite paper and make these beautiful origami stars.

supplies:

• Four strips of paper. 1 ½ by 18 inches in size

• Scissors

• A copy written how-to instructions

iNstructioNs:

• visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyDGaniEzTY and follow our easy, step-by-stepinstructional video on how to expertly fold these paper stars.

• For written instructions, visit craftideas.info/html/ger-man_star_instructions.html.

DOYou can turn this project into a two-meeting activity or a fun Mom’s Night Out craft.

supplies Needed:• Cardboard

• Packing tape

• Scissors

• ruler

• Pencil

• Concrete mix

• Water

• Empty gallon-sized jug

• Paint stick

iNstructioNs:

1. With your ruler and pencil, draw seven 5-inch triangles on your cardboard. Cut them out. Draw a 2-1/2-inch triangle and three 2-1/2-inch squares and also cut them out. Arrange the 5-inch triangles as per the diagram attached and tape them together. You want no gaps in your tape. This cardboard form needs to be leak proof! See the diagram at http://www.stu-diograyhouse.com/resources/ConcretePlanterPlans.pdf.

2. reinforce the exterior of the geometric shape with more tape as needed.

3. Use the small triangle and three squares to make a triangular cup. This is what will hold the opening for your plant in the concrete.

4. Using the gallon jug with the top cut off, mix small batches of concrete with a paint stick. Follow the instructions on the bag. Add small amounts of water at a time and mix until you reach the consistency of pudding. It is very easy to add too much! Once your consistency is good, pour the concrete mixture into the form, filling almost all the way to the top.

5. Push the triangular cup into the mix, weighing it down with dry concrete mix if needed. Let the planter dry for about 24 hours, then peel the cardboard off, pull out the triangular cup and proceed with planting your succulent.

plANt succuleNts

Using teacups, jars or vases from local thrift stores, plant succu-lents – the ultimate resilient plant. This activity allows plenty of time for discussion to continue. Make extras to give to MOPPETS workers or other volunteers.

supplies Needed:

• Potting Soil

• Sand

• Gravel

• Succulent (Available at any lawn and garden store or on Amazon.com.)

• Your choice of container

NOTE: Succulents are a hardy and beautiful plant that can be planted in almost any container. The key to their success is in the soil. They need a soil mix that drains well. You can make your own with a 60/40 mixture of potting soil and sand.

iNstructioNs:

1. Place about an inch of gravel in the bottom of your container.

2. Add the soil mix.

3. Add the succulent.

4. Top with a bit more gravel as decoration.

NOTE: Do not water for a couple of days, allowing the roots to heal from handling. You only need to water a succulent when the soil is absolutely dry, or risk rotting from too much moisture.

BoNus ideA: coNcrete plANter

DOglitter mAgNets

Who doesn’t love glitter? Add all the glitter that you want to the back of a glass, flat-backed marble, add a magnet and proceed to decorate your fridge door!

supplies:

• Clear, flat-backed glass marbles

• Strong magnets

• E6000 glue

• Glitter (Chunky glitter works best.)

• Newspaper

• Plastic bowls

iNstructioNs:

1. Line the workspace with newspaper for easy clean up.

2. Place the bowls on top of newspaper.

3. Fill each bowl with a different color of glitter.

4. Apply the E6000 glue to the back (flat side) of the glass marble.

5. Dip the marble into desired glitter.

6. Place it glitter side up onto the newspaper to dry for two hours.

7. After dry, apply a drop or two of the E6000 glue.

8. Place the magnet on the glue.

9. After dry, your magnet is ready to use.

TIP: Consider doing this at the beginning of your meeting to allow time for the glue to dry or make this a Mom’s Night Out activity!

DOphoto Booth

Set up a fun photo booth, provide props and allow moms to take individual and group pictures. (Note: If you do this activ-ity at the very beginning, you might be able to get photos printed at a 1-hour photo and have them ready by the end of the meeting.)

Meeting Idea: Invite a photographer to come in and give pointers on capturing your own story in pictures.

supplies:

• Fun fabric or plastic tablecloths

• String lights

• Lanterns, paper wheels or party poofs

• Great lighting (spot light or directional light)

• Camera (or phone or tablet)

• Tripod

• Optional props (hats, scarfs, feather boas, silly glasses)

iNstructioNs:

1. Create a backdrop that fits with the Starry Eyed theme or with a holiday theme.

2. Place camera on a tripod so it remains stable.

3. Invite moms to take pictures with a group or with just a friend or two.

4. You may need to designate a photographer, use a photo booth app or self-timer on the camera.

5. To print, use your own photo printer, get prints at a 1-hour photo location, or just email digital images to your moms!

OPTIONAL: Look for fun photo booth apps to use with phones or tablets.

DOFelt hANd WArmers

Here is a secret solution to chilly fingers: rice filled hand warm-ers. They’re perfect to stick in your coat pockets. (TIP: You can use the same idea to create foot warmers or a stress-relieving neck wrap.)

supplies:

• Felt

• Templates for hand warmers (anything small enough to fit into a pocket)

• Scissors

• Needle

• Thread

• rice

• Small funnel or paper funnel

• Notecards

• Pen

iNstructioNs:

1. Draw the templates on paper.

2. Cut out the templates.

3. Trace the template on the felt in two different spots.

4. Cut out both pieces of the felt.

5. Match up the two pieces of felt and begin stitching them together.

6. Tie the thread on the needle leaving extra, so it’s enough to tie in a double knot in step 12.

7. Leave a small area unstitched to add the filler.

8. If the pieces don’t match exactly, just trim them down after sewing the two pieces together.

9. Use a small funnel, or make a funnel out of a piece of scrap paper, then add the rice in a little bit at a time.

10. Use your finger to push the rice into all of the nooks and crannies inside the hand warmer.

11. Once it’s filled, go back and finish stitching the hand warmer closed, leaving two inches of extra thread.

12. Finish the stitch outside the felt by tying the thread into a double knot.

NOTE: Warm in the microwave for 30-60 seconds. They’ll keep your hands warm for 30 minutes.

DOspeed FrieNdiNg

Use this fast-paced question-and-answer game to learn more about the people around you. This works with any sized group, with people who know each other well or who don’t know each other at all – it also guarantees you will leave with a new friend.

AHEAD OF TIME:

Develop some questions to get women talking. Mix some simple questions with questions that will spark creative conversation. In order to keep things moving, print off a list of suggested question for each women to ask her partner each time. Here are some examples:

• What is your favorite smell in the whole world?

• If money weren’t an option, where would you travel?

• If calories didn’t count, what would you eat every day?

• What is something on your bucket list?

• What movie could you watch over and over?

• If you had an hour all to yourself, how would you spend it?

SET-UP:

• Form two lines of chairs facing each other, or women can stand in lines. There should be an equal number of women in each line.

• Provide copies of the suggested questions for each woman.

• Have a timer. The key is to keep it all moving!

GO!

Women line up facing each other. Each woman will now have a partner opposite her. Give each pair about five minutes to ask each other questions (or less if you have less time for the activity). After time is up, one line of women will shift down one person and have a new partner. Keep it moving so women talk to as many people as possible.

DOmeNtor mom pANel

Host a panel of Mentors to share their favorite adventures they have had with their kids. Let moms brainstorm and then commit to one adventure they will have with their kids that week.

Alternative: Provide a tutorial for moms on outdoor activities to have with their kids. Pass out a copied booklet of instructions on how to build a large teepee out of sticks, a list of things to spot on a hike or ideas for making bird feeders.

SAMPLE MENTOr MOM PANEL QUESTIONS:

• What is one adventure that you’ll never forget sharing with you kids?

• In what area of your own life could you be more adventurous?

• How do you instill a spirit of adventure in your children?

• Adventures don’t always have to be outdoors, what is one indoor adventure that your kids can’t get enough of?

• Discuss one adventure that you remember having with your own parents? What made it special?

• What techniques can you recommend for encouraging adventurous free play amongst your children?

DOApple crisp

A warm apple crisp can transport you back to the comfort and joy of family get-togethers at grandma’s house, or a walk outside on a chilly day. It is called comfort food for a reason! Have each woman make an apple crisp for a family dessert or a small individual size to share with her husband or a friend.

APPLE CrISP rECIPE

Servings 8

INGrEDIENTS:

• 8 apples, peeled

• 1-1/2 cups brown sugar

• 1 cup flour

• 1 cup oats

• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

• 1 teaspoon nutmeg

• 1/2 cup cold butter

DIrECTIONS:

1. Heat oven to 375°F.

2. Lightly grease pan.

3. Cut fruit into slices (removing seeds) and layer in bottom of pan.

4. Mix dry ingredients in a medium-sized bowl and then cut in butter with a pastry cutter (cut until crumbly).

5. Sprinkle mixture over fruit.

6. Bake for 30-35 minutes.

7. Top should be browned.

8. Serve with ice cream or whipped cream.

DOcupcAke stANd

Combine candle sticks and thrift store plates together to make a beautiful stand for cupcakes, cookies or candies. Perfect for the middle of your brunch table or to fill with goodies and deliver to a friend.

There are several different methods to create these beauti-ful display pieces. Choose the one that works best with your available time and group’s skill level.

supplies:

• Plastic or ceramic plates, new or from the thrift store (You can also use round or square cake pans or glass candle plates.)

• 2 candlesticks (glass, brass, anything from the thrift store – they don’t have to match)

• Liquid Silicone

• Spray paint (optional)

iNstructioNs:

1. Add a few drops of silicone to the top of the candlestick and center the plate on top. Let dry.

2. It may be pretty just as it is, depending on the plates and candlesticks you used, or you can find a well-ventilated spot and spray paint the stand. (If you use spray paint, don’t put food directly on the painted surface. Put a doily or decorative plate between the paint and the food.)

TIPS: For a simple cake stand, use one candlestick with one plate on top. You can add a plate on the bottom of the candlestick for two tiers. For a three-tiered stand, use three plates and two candlesticks.

DOthumBtAck Art

Start with a canvas, simple patterns and lots of pretty thumbtacks. Add a little elbow grease and create a one-of-a-kind art piece.

supplies:

• Inexpensive frames

• Foam board (look for different colors)

• Metal thumb tacks (Get more than you think you need! You can find these at the dollar store.)

• Pencil

• X-Acto knife

iNstructioNs:

1. Cut foam board to fit in the frame. (You may have to remove glass to allow foam board to fit.)

2. Draw design onto foam board. (Use words, single letters, or simple shapes.)

3. Push thumbtacks into foam board following the design or fill in the design.

DOstArrY lANterN

This beautiful starry lantern brightens up a room by projecting spots of light onto dark walls, resembling stars in a night sky. It is inexpensive, pretty and so easy to make, but it creates an ethereal atmosphere.

supplies:

• Smooth sided glass jar with canning lid

• Scissors

• Dark colored paper

• Printed images of constellations (http://hollyrocksjewelry.blogspot.com/2014/04/diy-constellation-luminaries.html)

• Pencil

• Pins

• Tape

• Bakers twine

• Small clothes pin

• Gold paint (optional)

• Battery operated tea light or LED puck light

• Printed tag (use a meme from the Starry Eyed theme resources)

iNstructioNs:

1. Measure and cut paper to fit jar and lid

2. Copy constellations images onto paper and prick holes with pin. (May need to use pencil to widen holes if pin does not create large enough hole)

3. Insert paper into jar and tape to secure it in place

4. Cut circle of paper to fit lid and prick with pin holes

5. Drop light into jar and secure lid with paper

6. Wrap bakers twine around edge

7. Secure tag to twine with clothes pin (paint if desired)

DOhomemAde lip BAlm

Made with all-natural ingredients, this lip balm is sure to give you a kissable pout. Finding cutetins to store your lip balm is easy at any craft store.

supplies:

• Beeswax pellets

• Coconutoil

• Vanillaextract

• Disposablecontainertomeltingredients

• Smallstoragecontainers(foundatcraftstoresandAmazon)

• Optional:essentialoils

iNstructioNs:

Melt ½ cup of beeswax and 3 Tbsp oil in microwave in 30 second intervals. Add ¼ tsp extract.

OPTIONAL: Add essential oil. Pour into small containers and allow to cool.