Tuesday, December 1, 2009

42 weeks of pregnancy prayers

Those precious weeks of pregnancy can be full of so many emotions! For me, I was already dreaming about being a mom, yet so fearful about it at the same time. I found it helpful to focus my weeks on praying for different aspects of my developing baby. 

Each week of the prayer cards, a different developing part is highlighted. For example, the week the heart starts to beat, we pray that our little one's heart will come to know and love Jesus above all else.  And the week the tongue starts to develop?  We are praying for pure speech and encouraging words to flow through it as our baby grows into an adult.  

Purchase the download links one time and you can print as many copies of the cards as you'd like.  Gift them to all your pregnant friends and keep one for yourself to pray along with them!  Or use them during your own pregnancy to focus your prayers on that little one.  Please do not forward or share the download links with anyone.  Thank you.

38 cards in 12 designs.  Bible Verses in NIV.


Reviews:
"These cards do not just focus on praying for a 'healthy baby', but really zone in on the spiritual aspects of the baby's life.  Wonderful."

"What a great resource to use in preparation for the arrival of your precious gift!  Not only will it help to connect you with the Father's love for your sweet baby, but it will also help you bond with your baby as you pray for them.  What a blessing children are! It is never too soon to start praying for them!"

"As an expectant mother, you always wonder what parts of your baby's development you should be praying for each week.  These prayer cards are the perfect guide for any expectant mother and would make a great gift for a new mom.  Even better, they are great for veteran moms, too."

Price: $8
                








31 days of prayer for your husband



Before my wedding day, I was given this document compiled and written by Nancy Leigh Demoss.  It proved to be invaluable in praying for Neil, my husband, every day.  There were 31 prayer descriptions and verses to go along with them.  I loved them.

But, I didn't love the format they came in.  It was simply printed out on a Word Document and stuck in the front of my Bible.  I wanted something I could look at daily.  Something appealing to the eye that I wouldn't mind displaying in my home.  

Using Photoshop and some digital scrap booking elements, I went to work and emerged with 31 photo-sized scrapbook pages. 


These can easily be printed at your local CVS or Walgreens just like you would print family photos.  You can make them any size, although I recommend 4x6 (like a regular photo).

Once they are printed, you can display them in a photo album, frames, or flip book.  {My homemade flip book tutorial can be found here}.

These photo prayer cards make excellent gifts for new brides!  Or maybe someone celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary?  Maybe make them for your Bible Study group.  Or your daughter.  The list is endless.
Best of all?  This pack is FREE!  That's right - free.  All I ask is that you become a follower of the Better Life Blog, like our Facebook page, or subscribe to the Better Life Prayer Card newsletter.  Once you've done one of the above, email me at betterlifebags@gmail.com and I'll send you the top secret download links!

Thanks for joining me in praying for our husbands!

Thursday, January 1, 2009

Fabric Choices

Here are all the delicious fabric options you can choose from to customize your own bag!


{Click on the pictures to make them larger}

Upcycled Shirts to Baby Bibs

This was a guest post originally posted at A Little Tipsy.

Hi all you Tipsy readers!
I'm so excited to be posting over here today!
Michelle, I hope you're getting lots of snuggle time with that little one of yours.

Let me introduce myself.
My name is Rebecca and I blog over at Better Life Bags... the blog.

Come visit me to find lots of tutorials like...




When I'm not crafting, I also run a small business creating custom diaper bags, hand bags, and accessories called Better Life Bags.

I donate 10% of every purchase to low income entrepreneurs in developing countries - which is why we are called "Better Life Bags... making lives better one purse at a time!"

The fun part is that YOU get to pick your own fabrics for the bag you want!
I hope you'll come check things out.

Anyway...
Today I have a great tutorial for you to try out.

When my son was born, I had the biggest distaste for baby bibs.
I hated how "babyish" they looked, yet I knew how functional they were for drool, food, etc...

So, I came up with an alternative.
Bibs made out of upcycled shirts!

So much better.

You can make these with either:
adult graphic tees

or toddler button down shirts
{You can use an adult men's shirt, you just won't be able to fit the cute pocket on the bib.}


Here's how:
1. Download the bib pattern here and here.

2. Cut out the pieces.

3. Trace the pieces backwards onto separate sheets of paper.

4. Cut out the second pattern pieces except leave a small tab on the side of the bib piece and the bottom of the strap piece (shown below).


5. Tape together your bib pattern piece.

6. Cut your t-shirt down the side seams and lay it open on the table.

Do the same if you're using a toddler shirt.  I usually look for 3T or 4T at the thrift store.

7. Place your pattern piece over the graphic you want to capture.
{You will have to fudge with the strap pieces.  It seems that neck holes on adult tees are too big, so the strap ends up a little thinner than the pattern piece.  This is upcycling afterall!}

With the toddler shirt, be sure cut around the collar.
Also, cut at least 3/4" above and below any buttons so you don't have to worry about sewing over them to finish the bib later.


8. Cut your bib out.
{Just do your best to shape the straps}


9. Now, use your shirt as the pattern piece to cut out the back of your bib.
Lay your bib upside down on top of the fabric you choose for the bib back, pin, and cut.
I use the super soft minky chenille you can find at fabric stores.
SO SOFT!

10. Keeping the right sides together of your two pieces, sew with a 1/4" seam allowance all the way around.
Leave a small opening on the side of the bib to turn it inside out.

11. Turn your bib inside out and press out the seams.
Fold the opening in and pin it shut.

12. Sew around the entire bib with a 1/4" seam allowance.
This is where you need to be careful of buttons getting in the way.

13. Cut a small strip of velcro and place it on the shirt side of one strap.

14. Sew around the edges of the velcro.

15. Place the other half of the velcro on top of the one you just sewed.

16. Overlap your straps and peel off the second piece of velcro (keeping it in place on the second strap of the bib).  Sew this piece of velcro on like you did the first.

17. You're done!

These make such great baby gifts!
Please use this tutorial for personal use only.  Do not sell these bibs.
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