In response to my post, Sentimental Journeys with Your Crafts, Anitra shared, in the comments, her family art and crafts project, making photo CD coasters.
We made coasters from old family photos and Cds. I still smile when I see mine-happy memories!
At her Coffee Pot People blog, Anitra describes the process she and family members used, for making these coasters.  The materials are inexpensive and may be some you already have around the house.  It’s a great way to use those old CD’s you no longer want that seem to accumulate. 
This is a great project for family members of all ages, …read more

This is Family Reunion Theme week at my Blisstree Parenting posts.  We just came from an annual reunion in my husband’s family, and I’m pondering new ways to incorporate some of the memorabilia into arts and crafts…that other family members can copy, that will add to the family history album I’ve compiled, that will be something unique.
Some ideas:

Make shadowboxes with memorabilia from past and present family members
Create a CD or slide show of family pictures and documents.  Several family members said they’d like the photos I have in the family history album on a CD.
Make a quilt hanging using some family …read more

I went Wordy Wednesday for my Food/Nutrition post and I think I’m going to do the same here. Wordy Wednesday is the wordy bloggers answer to Wordless Wednesday.
Today, I’ve got my daughter, Sarah, eating a cupcake at my sister-in-law’s 30th birthday this past weekend.  She’s got pink sparkles on her face and her hair is wet from the pool.  She obviously had a blast.

Sarah is 11 and she is going into the 6th grade in about a month. She’s my youngest - she’s quite a bit younger than her next oldest sibling, Bay, who is turning 17 in a couple of weeks.
The …read more

Creating family history quilts takes many forms.  These have become popular for preserving memories, pictures, fabric and memorabilia.
Reproducing family photos on fabric, generally with the computer and printer nowadays, although some people still like to make sun prints and similar applications.
Gathering fabrics used in clothing worn by family members, either from many or just one person.  Among these are t-shirts that appeal to a particular family member.
Using designs that connect with a person’s interest, hobby or occupation.  My daughter made a quilt for her young son with blocks of different trucks during his truck stage.
Tracing each family member’s hand and …read more

I have saved a number of my mother’s dresses, some dating back to her early marriage days (she and Father were married in 1934).  I recall her wearing two of them when I was a youngster.  Others are more recent, dresses worn before she was struck with Alzheimer’s.
The dresses carry memories of her and the occasions when she wore them.  I even have photos of Mother in several of them.
What should I do with them? I don’t have a place to display them, so have them stored away.

Have some preserved?  I did have this done with her wedding dress, but …read more

Here are some more artsy links to keep you creating this week:
Christmas shopping for fiber-aholics with Tangled Thread from Tangled Thread.
Green crafts – A new hand made book from recycled wood & paper fom Tottie Talks Crafts.
Artist Profile: Theda Sandiford from Layers Upon Layers.
Spice Up Plain Pens with Wrapping Paper or Magazines from Junk Creation.
We Want More Ornament Ideas! from The Artful Crafter.
Write a Thankful Poem from Quilting & Patchwork.
And I’ve shared yesterday’s Freaky Friday idea. Perhaps you could ask for permission to copy family photos and put together a visual display of your history as a different Christmas …read more

I read an entry on Gen Between about Identifying Old Family Photos today, which struck a cord within me. If you plan to use photographs at all in your journal, make sure you take the time to do two things. One; be certain to use acid free products so your photos will survive over time. Two; be sure to identify everyone in the photos. Read How to Make Your Journal Last for some helpful links.
Take some time to read Elizabeth’s, entry, though. There are some excellent links to help you identify old photos where no one has left …read more