Craftiness Revisited

Now that my older daughter has come back from her Chrysalis weekend, I can reveal some of the surprises I made for her and her friends. (Cause my daddy likes to see this stuff even though he never leaves me a comment! It's like not signing my yearbook, Da!) Chrysalis is a youth retreat and for the teens, it's a bit like being invited to a huge surprise party thrown just for them. Wouldn't we all love that? Chrysalis is called so because in theory, the teens arrive as 'caterpillars', change ('Chrysalis') over the weekend and when the weekend is over they are encouraged to Fly with Christ.

Two of her good friends also went, so I made them a little somethin', somethin' too. I know I probably picked up The Crud while on a surprise errand there, but it was worth it to see her face so lit up with joy. Even though she's been sick too, she can't stop talking about her time on the weekend and how she can't wait to get more friends to go.

One of the little traditions is personalized place mats for meals. Usually some of the retreat team members make some, a friend or teacher might make one and the family makes a couple. Just one of the details over the weekend that lets them continuously know they are loved. I had these laminated so they'll last for a while.

Another small surprise I made for her was an altered canvas. She's already put it on her bedroom wall which means it passed muster.

I also made some more simple canvases for her friends as little presents. She also got a little handmade ring from me, but I didn't get the chance to photograph that and some other little surprises that shall remain a secret lest some of her friends stumble upon these photos. Don't want to let any big stuff be spoiled!