This ended up being such a fun kid craft for both of my girls to do. Cati is always asking to do a craft and I have to admit I can be downright lazy pulling out all the supplies only to have her lose interest after 10 minutes. Now I try to have projects prepared in advance with everything ready to go in a Ziploc bag. 
We started out by making the flowers. I used leftover foam flowers from my flower mobile craft, colored craft sticks, newspaper for the leaves and center, and over sized buttons. This is how I intended for all of them to look and Ella actually helped me make this purple one.
This is Cati's and her abstract interpretation of a flower. So cute! Oh, my little Picasso.
I showed her how to make the flowers, she got the hang of it and did a FABULOUS job! Here is Cati gluing a button on one of the flowers. 
I struggled to figure out a way to make these into a garden. I decided to use the lid of a Stride Rite shoe box. After decoupaging it with newspaper to continue the newspaper theme, I set the stick stems in Play Doh to stand them up. Later, I finished the bottom off with multi-color crinkle paper.
I then used alphabet scrapbook letters to put things our family would like to pray for. This one is for Cati who will be going to preschool next year. We are choosing between a few and hope we find the right one.
Praying for those finances too. School costs money and we don't really have any! But God's provision has been amazing and on paper our budget should not work but it does! Other prayers are for our friend's son who is in the midst of a 4 year battle with Leukemia, a close friend who's father has an upcoming bone marrow transplant and her mom has been on my heart so much because she is taking it hard. And of course we are praying for the devastation in Haiti.
Obviously this project does not have to be a prayer garden. It could be a Family Garden or even a Valentine Garden with hearts instead of flowers. I think this would be a fun one to do again.
Hope you enjoy.
Oh and FYI...
This is my 100th post. Is it sad that this is uneventful for me? But let's celebrate anyway. Maybe I will get more excited. Everyone say YAAAAYYY!
OK. We celebrated. And I was right. Still anticlimactic for me.
Until the even more exciting 101st post...
great idea Jessica! your 100th post! that's exciting news! Celebrate with a cup of tea or a glass of wine!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely LOVE this. What a fantastic way of teaching your children without them realizing they are being taught. Bravo!
ReplyDeleteThis is a great craft idea! Thanks so much for sharing. We will be re-doing my daughters room into a garden theme and I am looking for creative yet affordable decorating ideas. I love how you combined prayer with this craft. Your girls are so sweet!
ReplyDeleteHey...I love this idea!! I post for Craft Gossip, and featured you there! HEre is the link:
ReplyDeleteKeep it up creative gal!!
http://lessonplans.craftgossip.com/flower-prayer-garden/2010/01/15
What an adorable craft Idea...A prayer garden...I think I will make one myself...and keep it in the Art and Soul Studio...The power of prayer is awsome...Deborah
ReplyDeleteOh-my. I love it!! Great job momma!
ReplyDeleteLove this idea!
ReplyDeleteAnd YAY, 100th post!!!
YAAAAYYY!
ReplyDeleteI love your garden. I believe we will grow one like it. Thank you, friend.
Cute, a great way to get your girls praying!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea. Talk about helping children to be aware--way to go. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI love this craft, and am SO gonna do something similar with Layla!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing ;)
YEAY for your 100th post, and I am so excited to have another blog to follow! Woohoo!
Oh my goodness, I was snooping around shabbyblogs looking for a new blog background, found the interview with you, and it was blog-love at first sight. My youngest brother is adopted and your story struck a HUGE chord in my heart...loving orphans...I surreptitiously read six of the eight posts about your girls during down time at work! I'm excited to see what the Lord has in store for you! (And let's be honest: finding a blog where you feel kinship is kind of a big deal. I'm just plain excited.)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your 100th post, by the way! :-)
This is amazingly cute...I may have to do this with my grade one class...I teach at a Christian School and this would be so fun to do. Thanks for sharing ...blessing.
ReplyDeleteso cute!! I just discovered your blog and love it :)
ReplyDeleteLove it, what a great idea I shall try this sometime in the near future!! My girls would love it!!!
ReplyDeleteHip Hip Hooray! Congrats on 100 posts. This is fabulous. You guys did such a great job!!
ReplyDeleteHugs, BFF
Jessica,
ReplyDeleteI just found your blog...after visiting Shabby Blogs like so many other commentors I've seen here. I just read your entire story straight through and well, just thanks for writing that all down. I have had a different type of infertility journey but so many of your words ring exactly true for me. I too have followed my Jesus through the shadowed valleys. We suffered two miscarriages before my son and a third miscarriage 9 months after he was born. I didn't suffer PPD like you, but my son had medical problems, never slept, and cried all the time. I spent his first year wondering why on earth something that I'd wanted SO badly was SO difficult. After our third miscarriage, we tried again but had secondary infertility. I had to have surgery then go on some meds. I'm now pregnant with my second child - due in May. God is so good. Thanks for sharing your faith journey!
Great idea! I posted your idea in my prayer crafts roundup: here's the link
ReplyDeletehttp://www.1010kids.com/2012/03/free-prayer-crafts-for-kids/
Thanks for a new way to teach kids about prayer :)
After 12 years, 6 surgeries, and lots of (at the time) experimental fertility meds, God took us on a walk we never envisioned either. It lead all the way to Mexico ... twice!
ReplyDeleteFast forward 23 years and you could meet our gorgeous, college grad daughter and by forwarding 20 years, you'd meet our incredibly handsome, college student son.
.....And we've never looked back! God is indeed very, very good.
DSP in NY