Easy DIY Disney Vacation Memory Making Project: Customized Mouse Ears Autograph / Journal Notebook

Our family is trying to create the lowest cost, budget trip to Disneyland this spring while still maintaining the qualities that will keep it a cherished experience. There are many things we know we can skimp on that won't stop it from being the best vacation ever- but some things just can't be skipped. No matter what your age {my kiddos range from 10-25 years old.} there are certain parts of a trip to Disneyland that are the must see-do-experiences that keep it forever in your hearts.

I do believe my eldest girly-girl, the most princessy, nostalgic girl I know, will not find Disneyland the happiest place on earth, unless we are engaging with the Princesses and other characters. Undoubtedly she is UBER excited to assist her little brother in meeting the characters for the first time. Unfortunately, over the years I have tossed one too many autograph books in the trash. Somehow those "must-have" treasures lose their appeal once the next trip is scheduled. Now, that just seems terribly wasteful to me. So, what could we do that would still allow for those magical moments of meeting the characters but would also hold it's value over time? Hmm, why not a combination of Autograph  & Journal? This would allow us to  retain the memories, laughter and the blunder bumps along the way as well as provide places to get autographs as well. BONUS! Not something so easily tossed in the garbage later. 

As I was dreaming up this concept one of my favorite internet-based publishing companies just happened to be having a special going on. Shutterfly was offering 50% off their custom notebooks. SUH-WEET! I immediately got to work.

First I would need to create some ears... 

Link to download Mouse Ears

Then add an "autograph" graphic banner...

Link to download: Mouse Ears Autograph

{Feel free to use either of the graphics above to make your own}

To finish it off I would add each child's name, as if embroidered on the back of the hat( I know it is usually gold thread but for the visual effect I preferred white), onto the Mickey Ears. I saved each of the named ear designs as individual jpegs and then uploaded them to shutterfly, along with my favorite pictures of my kiddos. 

VOILA! 

Once I found the notebook design I wanted to use, their I heart you design on Shutterfly, I simply placed the photos and I was ready to place my order. 

On our many team excursions to Africa we have realized the value of journaling. When trips are so packed full of new experiences, those what you are sure are "unforgettable moments" find ways to seep out of the brain. Not to mention, those notable blubbers, embarrassing moments or rantings that are sure to take place when you have any kind of agenda at all. With this in mind our clan tries to take note of these whenever we can. (Most likely for future blackmailing - haha.)

Young kiddos could even color their own portraits of their favorite characters next to the autographs. Later you could go back and glue in those fabulous character photos. These journals really allow for a lot of creativity. 

I would love to hear any other ideas you have for these little treasures. Or of course any saving tips you have for our upcoming vaca.

~Simply Sublime

Exposing yourself to the WORLD will open your Eyes & Heart

I felt a little creative tonight - as I sat here unable to sleep...once again. So I made this little graphic up. I ran into the quote by Saint Augustine and somehow it stuck with me.

As I wrapped my brain around the quote I started thinking about how the more we expose ourselves to different people & cultures the more we open our eyes, hearts and minds to the bigger picture. Many times we form our opinions on what we know, which is basically what was right and wrong in our family growing up. Many times we don't even have a good understanding behind why we were told something was the way to do it.

Let's visit an example: As a child you were told to always carry the gravy boat with one hand on the handle and one underneath the base. The reason you were taught this was because the family heirloom china boat had a hairline fracture in the handle so your Mom didn't want too much pressure put on it in case it would break. This was never explained to you though - so in your mind the "RIGHT" way to carry a gravy boat at all times is to have one hand under the base and one on the handle.

This may seem like a silly, very simplistic example. It's true - it is. The point is we carry this into all kinds of areas in our lives. Our family, friends, community, media and our culture form our opinions in ALL kinds of areas. Half the time I don't think we even realize we have an opinion, it just comes so naturally. And - it can come across so stinking judgmental while being based on something irrelevant to the situation.

I think the more we learn about others &  the why behind the choices - The more we get to know the hearts of people who are different than us -  The more grace we have for others differences.

Sometimes as adults... growing can be painful - but sometimes it can be REALLY fun. I have LOVED having my eyes opened wide to new ways of doing life. I realize not all can travel to far away lands - but I think we all know in today's world there is A LOT of different cultures within a pretty close proximity of us.

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. -1 John 4:7-8

-Simply Sublime

James: Mercy Triumphs Bible Verse Memory Pocket Book

If you have been following my posts you know that I LOVE my laminated memory work book that I made to go along with my James Bible Study by Beth Moore. I pack it with me everywhere I go. When I have a few minutes somewhere I whip it out and soak in a few more lines. 

Well after several friends requested I make them a book I decided to drop a few out in the market for those that it might bless. I have listed a few in my ETSY store. If you are local you can purchase one and I will deliver it to you to save you on shipping. The full description is in the listing. 

Visit my ETSY store

$20

                                      -Simply Sublime                    

Memorizing the Word, Transforming the MIND with James: Mercy Triumphs by Beth Moore

SCRIPTURE MEMORY BOOK

click to purchase in my etsy store

Feeling crafty? Below I have a HOW-TO create your own handcrafted version.

I LOVE a good Bible Study - in addition I LOVE to create systems, projects - to bring a concept to life.   Well in this new study I am participating in at our Church - Beth Moore's 

James: Mercy Triumphs 

there are several different levels you can choose to participate in. One option in the study is to memorize the entire book of James. Yes you read me right.... the ENTIRE book. Now we do have 5 months to accomplish this - so broken down enough this is VERY DO-able! The key would be to finding a system that works, a system that you will stick with. 

Many people have offered creative ideas about how to accomplish this. Sheet protectors with a chapter per page. Index cards. Use the first letter of each word to spur your memory. For the auditory learners say it out loud to yourself. All of these GREAT! 

Well I decided to take the ideas I knew would work for me and PRETTIFY them. Yeah - I made that word up. I like it though! Don't you? 

After a few minutes cutting and pasting scripture into my graphic program I decided to see if anyone else had  already accomplished this & had it to share out in cyberland. Sure enough I found this lovely blog by Laura @ Lauraboggess.com who created 3 x 5 cards. 

(you may need to scroll down her page a little to find this link - it is a hotlink that says "PDF" after some photos of her journal with the cards posted on the pages.)

On this blog Laura decided to spread verses out over 54 weeks but to keep it simple I decided I would memorize 2-3 of her weekly cards each week to fit them into my 5 month timeline. This made my task at hand SO MUCH easier. 

I printed out one copy of the cards and trimmed each one down to the size of the border. There are 54 cards total. Once they were all stacked up Week 1 to Week 54 I began trimming my craft paper to 3 1/2" x 5 1/2". 

As this was my first attempt I ended up making my pages one sided, one week card placed on the front of the page and the back of each page is blank. (for the current ones I am making for friends I decided to put the weekly cards on the front and back of each page to decrease the number of pages total = less materials)

Once I had enough craft paper cut I began using a wee bit of adhesive to tack the scripture cards onto the craft paper - just enough to hold it in place temporarily. After this phase was completed it was time to run them through my heat sealer. I LOVE ME SOME Laminated Pages!!!! Did I sound like Beth there? :) 

As with all laminated projects trimming with a small border of the protector left around the edges is important to keep the seal - also remember to round corners as they can be quite sharp. 

I have a Zutter Binder System for Wired binding projects and I always DELIGHT in the finished product when using it. Love the finished look. You could also one hole punch the corner and use a ring binder. or use two or three ring binders down the side to hold them together. 

As you can see this is my first book I made which is quite thick - the new ones are about half the thickness of this one. Which will make them so, so easy to pack around in your bag, everywhere you go.  Now here is what makes this SUBLIME.... are you ready?

This great tip came from my Mentor...With the laminated pages you can have whoever checks you use a DRY ERASE pen and highlight areas you need to improve on without interrupting you mid-way. How AWESOME is that? No really... 

and isn't this just the CUTEST?

If you don't have access to a heat sealer you can go to your local office supply store and they can laminate for you. They can even bind it. Now - this is just my idea of what will work for me. I love it SO MUCH I want to pack it in my bag, hold it, even HUG it!!! I know call me crazy. 

-Simply Sublime!

UPDATE: I have created a thinner, easier to pack around version and I have it for sale in my etsy store. So if you don't feel like making your own you are just one simple click away from being able to buy one or link here.