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

Gratefulness: Family DIY Activities that Encourage a Heart of Thankfulness

DIY Pallet Project: Infarrantly Creative

Well, hello there again precious peeps! I am oh.so.happy to announce we have happily skipped right on past the doorbell-candy-begging-day and have arrived to the warm cozy season of GRATEFULNESS. I for one could not be happier to see Halloween pass us by. I love the carefree dress up of it all - at the same time the dark side of it is something that is becoming inescapable. So let it BE GONE!

And here we are... finding ourselves seven steps into the month of NOVEMBER already. 

Today's inspiration came to me in a very roundabout way. A friend of mine, who lives in Africa with her littles, was looking for some kid friendly Thanksgiving crafts that would use simple {easy to find in Africa} materials. Not the easiest of feats by any means. I was already bored, confined to my cozie blankie with several sore throat lozenges stuffed down my throat..did I mention BORED???... and who doesn't want to be the perfect craft finding hero for someone living in Africa anyway? So a-hunting I would go...

Simply Vintage Girl

WOWZA - was I blown away by the amount of GRATEFUL ideas for families out there. There are some seriously talented and thoughtful Mama's out there doing some fabulous footwork for you to have a quick, pain-free start. So, as much as I want to show some of the nugget-size, simple, cute crafts I found -  I believe these heart-sized concepts on these links will leave you truly inspired for a larger impact this November and beyond. You can always fill in the down time with cutie pie crafts you find on pinterest.

I LOVE the Thankful Tree by Vintage Girl in the photo above. I can think of several different options for the tree and the adornments. How delightful to have an endless opportunity to keep on adding throughout the month, along with the daily reminder of our blessings. Not to mention it is cute to boot! 

UpsideDown Homeschooling

I am really excited about this printable keepsake journal - it is a prompter of the heart and mind for the kids as well as a keepsake to treasure for decades. There are two options: one for younger primary and one for the olders. It is on sale for $1.99! Check it out over at Upside Down Homeschooling. 

A Grateful Chalk Board for families to write their own items on by the creativemama.com

I love this one for SO MANY Reasons. Mainly because it looks soft and cozy like a beautiful fall season full of gratefulness. It makes me want to snuggle up in the basket with the heart pillows or pull each one out and hug it while wrapping my little pea brain all around the gratitude focus on that one sweet little heart. 

 I also love picturing the precious hands of my family sewing each treasured heart of gratefulness. LOVE IT!!! Like really love - will probably do.... and can use my Aunt's vintage fabrics, Africa fabric scraps we have brought back with us and other scraps we have saved from other projects throughout the years... YES - THIS is a MUST DO!

The Thanks Giving Tree by Ann Voskamp: Simply ADORABLE!

The Thanks Giving Tree:A Holy Experience

These Free Printables are over at A Holy Experience by Ann Voskamp of One Thousand Gifts. There is an easy download to make these ADORABLE leaves full of wisdom, love and gratefulness with a journal area to add your family's precious additions.

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Inspired by Familia

21 Days of Gratitude is already up and running over at Inspired by Familia, heading into it's second week...but.... it is never too late to start being inspired with gratefulness, is it? So why not head on over and check it out. She has several designs of graphics and a great challenge to join in on. 

I love the idea of being prompted to find gratefulness  in a specific area. It can be so easy to find things to appreciate in the direction our eyes naturally focus on. These "prompts" allow us to look into areas that would typically slide right by unnoticed. This is a terrific way to help our children's vision of gratefulness to expand to areas they may not naturally think of. What a wonderful way to help them grow and develop in gratefulness.

These are only about half of the inspiring ideas I found. Yes, half. Now to pick the one I really think will impact our kiddos the most this year. I am thinking the basket of fabric hearts or the Thankfulness Tree. Hmmm.... I really like the journal too. Would three be too much? Hee hee.

I hope that these projects and/or concepts have encouraged you in some small way. I believe that the more we teach our children to look for things to be grateful for, the more they will be generous with their hearts & their lives.  

I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers - Eph. 1:16

-Simply Sublime