Preserving Childhood Projects

Remember the pictures on the fridge... 3-D log cabins ... volcanoes that really erupt.... milk carton bird feeders... and the myriad of other projects your children have made?  How do you preserve those memories without crowding your basement, attic, and garage with clutter?  Create an album of photographic memories for each child. 

Even if you aren't into scrapbooking, simply creating an album of photographs will be an important part of your children's memories.  However, decorating the pages with dates, quotes, and other enhancements will definitely increase their value as your children get older.  Or maybe you'd like to create a digital album of their projects!  Whatever you decide, you can take a picture of the project after a suitable amount of "real" appreciation time.  Then put the item in a designated place for a little more time in case the young person wants to see it again.  Then after a few more months have passed and other projects have come to the front of their memories, you can toss the project, knowing that you have preserved it for generations!

Here are some links to helpful websites: Mixbook, Smilebox, Scrapgirls, and Shabby Princess. However, if you surf the net, you'll find many, many more ideas for preserving childhood memories. 

Attention, teachers... You can also use this to preserve memories of each year's projects and students.  Remember to record names, dates, and comments.  You'll thank me when you retire!

Using Themes to Boost Fundraiser Sales

If you walk the aisles of a craft show or flea market, one stand blends with the next after a while.  Then you stumble upon one table that stands out from the rest like a Christmas tree in July.  But wait, that's what you see - a Christmas-themed craft table in the middle of everything else.  You stop, you buy a little something for Grandma, the salesperson thanks you, and you leave the affair happy with your purchase.

If you're on the other side of the table selling your crafts or cookies, you know that people tend to browse until something attracts their attention.  That's the power of the themed fund raiser.  It doesn't matter if you and your group hold a craft sale, a used book sale, or a car wash, the concept remains the same: Unique approaches attract attention.  Here are some ideas for themed fundraisers with possible projects for the funds:

• Toga car wash - Wash your chariot for $10.00 to support earthquake relief in Italy.
• Christmas rummage sale in July - Benefits purchase of items for Toys for Tots.  Decorate with Christmas trees, etc.  Wear read and green.
• Professor Pringle's used books sale - Benefits purchase of books for disadvantaged children.  Add bookmarks with your fundraising contact information for additional revenue.

Those are only three of the many ideas you can develop when you link your fundraiser to a theme that supports your cause.  For more theme ideas and tips for a successful fundraiser, look in my book, Helping Kids Help: Organizing Successful Charitable Projects.