do!

You'll need the stamps, a piece of silverware, a hammer of some kind - I prefer a larger metal mallet type hammer (better to smash your fingers with), a magic marker, something to stamp onto (I used a small brass block that I found in the garage) and for safety you should wear gloves and safety glasses.

Instructions are below the photos and a much more detailed tutorial is on my blog post.

Oh, and I've had quite a few people asking on my blog about using them for weddings (stamping Mr. and Mrs. on forks or wedding dates, etc). Avery cute idea, BTW. I would say if you are expecting people to eat with them, I would skip the steps about using a magic marker, because that could be toxic. And you certainly don't want to start the marriage off on a bad note. If you still want to do the last step where you "color" them in a little, you could use liquid food coloring and wipe it into the letters a little.

Have fun stamping. Watch out for your thumbs and please wear you safety gear!

process...but it has come a long way.

When our little ones were toddlers and preschoolers we liked to come up with neat ways to teach them God's Word, about their world, and create fun ways to remember scriptures and Bible truths and stories. We wanted to paint pictures for them....

We did this in many ways....but our favorite has been our Bible Garden.

All throughout our English cottage garden we have peppered plants, herbs, flowers, trees, etc. that are referenced in scripture, and that grow in the Holy Land.

#SummerStyle

For the list of what grows in our Bible garden...and how you can start one, head on over to the blog:

start rooting the sod. The front part was ready for sod, but we are waiting to sod the back and underneath parts. Underneath we want to replace the wood blocks (placed by the playset installers) leveling the playset with concrete pavers. In the back we are grading down so the down hill slope continues to be more subtle yet enough for decent drainage. Then I will grade down an L piece where the slide comes out for additional play area and roomier slide landing. As for the empty part in the front with the sod? I'm thinking plastic kiddie swimming pool for this incoming hot summer. This area has me excited about other backyard improvements!

vine for support. I knew that Clematis climb by wrapping their wrists around small twigs, so other vines are wonderfully helpful for their successful climbing.

Here are some tips to get a Clematis started up your tree!:

-Choose a tree with rough bark, like a maple or oak. A smooth tree, like a cherry, with not get enough grip for your Clematis as it grows.

-Plant it on the shady side of the tree trunk and add compost. Mulch well. This enables you to give its roots the shade they need to start well.

-If you are not planting by another vine, then add a way for the Clematis to make it on to the tree bark. Use small bamboo canes, fishing line or twigs to make a scaffold for it to climb.

-Help the Clematis along by occasionally tucking its loose new growth into the rough bark of the maple.

It has turned out beautifully! I especially like the dreamy blue of Clematis 'Perle d'Azur' when viewed on the tree trunk against the blue sky. I hope yours does too!