Altered Children's Songbook - Part 2

My "next week" turned into "next month or two", but here is part 2 of the Altered Songbook tutorial:

As I play the piano in primary I've had a lot of people ask me how I can find songs so quickly. The trick is to add tabs to each section of your book. Now when the kids want to sing "Book of Mormon Stories" you know it's in "The Gospel" tab and can flip there quickly and thumb through the pages until...viola!

These self-adhesive index tabs can be bought at any office supply store and are very easy to attach. Just follow the instructions. Try your first one on a scrap paper to be sure you get it just right. Remember to line them up just right so that you can easily view all of the tabs.

After the tabs are attached you can either hand write or print the section names on the labels and insert them into the tab. I have tried both hand writing and printing. I prefer the hand written tabs in different color ink. The ink can even match the color of the section. (blue for "fun and activity")

Have fun with this and enjoy easily finding those primary songs!

lady m

Altered Children's Songbook - Part 1

For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart.

During Music Time in Primary it's sometimes hard to find that certain song and we don't always have "Scripture Power" on hand. So I am posting a few tutorials on not only making the Children's Songbook cuter, but also making it more functional. These altered songbooks also make great gifts!

The inside cover of the Children's Songbook is plain, after all it's just the inside cover. Every-time you open up the Songbook you should smile! So for the first tutorial we will be lining the inside cover of the Songbook. Pick out 2 pieces of your favorite scrapbook paper and lets alter that songbook!

Supplies:

• Hardbound Children's Songbook
• 2 12x12 pieces of your favorite scrapbook paper.
• Paper cutter and/or scissors
• Dry glue like a Xyron Cheetah or a permanent glue stick
• Emery board or sand paper

First cut your scrapbook paper to the dimensions shown above. You may want to cut ever so slightly larger to leave room for mistakes. The excess paper will come off when you sand the edges.


Slide the larger paper under the spiral bound part of the book. Match the edges of the paper to the edges of the book.


Close the book while holding the paper, making sure to crease the paper. Afterward take the paper out and lightly fold the paper back and forth on the two creases.


Apply your glue to the wrong side of the paper. If you're using a glue stick make sure to work quickly, it dries fast! Put the paper back in place, under the spiral of the book and line it up with the edges and creases of the book. Then take something that's not too sharp to rub the paper creases into the creases of the book. I used the handle of a butter knife. You could also use the eraser end of a pencil or an emery board. Rub those creases well. The paper will tear in some places which adds to the look of the book.



Now it's time to work on the back of the book with the other piece of paper. I decided it was easier to cut the tabs off the paper and apply them separately. Cut the tabs off then apply lots of glue to the backside and slide them in place under the plastic. Do the same at the top and the bottom. Make sure you apply lots of pressure to get that glue to stick!


Now apply glue to the rest of the paper and slide it under the plastic. Make sure it lines up with the edges of the book. We're almost done!


The final step is to sand down the edges with either an emery board or sand paper. The emery board is a little easier on the hands.


Make sure to sand all the edges, even the creases you've made.


And the lining of your Children's Songbook is finished! Next week I'll post a way to make finding those songs a lot easier.

lady m

The Gateway into His Kingdom

First the years, then the months, and now the days have gone by and I find myself questioning "Have I taught him enough? Does he know his worth? Have I prepared my son with the understanding, faith, and testimony needed preparatory to his baptism?" This is the gateway to the Kingdom of God, and my sweet dear boy has the understanding and faith that nurtures his testimony. He is ready for his baptism.

We cannot take lightly the law given to us to teach our children the doctrine of repentance; faith in Christ, the Son of the living God; and of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands when eight years old, which is the age of accountability appointed by God. We need to do a better job of teaching our children and our grandchildren to understand what it means to enter the kingdom of God, for we will be held accountable. (Robert D. Hales, “The Covenant of Baptism”)

As I've been helping my son plan his baptism program I came across a great idea of having coloring pages available for the children that attend. So I took the idea and came up with a cute mini coloring book to help keep the little ones entertained. The pictures came from past issues of the Friend Magazine and the new Nursery Manual.

Instructions:

Download the pdf then print it out on the front and back of the paper according to your printers instructions. Now fold it in half and you're done!

lady m

The Measure of Her Creation

Women are literal spirit daughters of Heavenly Parents. Our Divine Heritage provides us with natural tendencies to love and show kindness, compassion, and charity. These and many other gifts, including spiritual gifts, help us to fulfill our callings and mandates here on earth. Some of these divine mandates given to women of the covenant are to "help save souls, to lead the women of the world, to strengthen the homes of Zion, and to build the kingdom of God” Elder M. Russell Ballard

To help another human being reach one’s celestial potential is part of the divine mission of woman. As mother, teacher, or nurturing saint, she molds living clay to the shape of her hopes. In partnership with God, her divine mission is to help spirits live and souls be lifted. This is the measure of her creation. It is ennobling, edifying, and exalting.

A woman’s richest rewards will come as she rises to fulfill her destiny as a devoted daughter of God. To all faithful Saints He has promised thrones, kingdoms, principalities, glory, immortality, and eternal lives. That is the potential for women in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is exalting, everlasting, and divine. (Russell M. Nelson, “Woman—Of Infinite Worth,”)

lady m