Free Printable Baptism Greeting Cards and Christening Greeting Cards

Many faiths celebrate the sacrament of baptism, be it infant or adult. Infant baptism is also called christening in some denominations. Baptism and christenings are usually followed by a celebration. To keep party planning costs down, use free printable invitations. To keep gift giving costs down, use free printable baptism and confirmation cards.

  Hoover Web Design (click here) has ten free printable baptism invitations that can be customized and used as baptism cards also. You can also choose from four free printable infant christening cards and invitations.

  HP (click here) free printable greeting cards, invitations plus announcements for baby shower or birth of baby. Use for baptism and confirmation cards and invitations by changed text. Hewlett-Packard also has free printable crafts and gifts that can be personalized with pictures. Scroll through.

  Free-Printable-Party-Invitations-Online (click here) has several basic baby themed free printable invitations and cards, suitable for baptism and christening.

  Blue Mountain (click here) has free baptism and new baby congratulations e-cards.

  For more free printable greeting cards, visit my blog at www.freeprintablecards4u.blogspot.com. For more party planning tips, including free printable activities, visit me at www.diypartyplanner.blogspot.com. For more Catholic and religious activities, visit me at www.catholicactivities.blogspot.com.

Cheap, Homemade, Father's Day Gift Crafts Any-Age Kid Can Make

 We homeschooled four kids in a mobile home living on one income. I'm a DIY, frugalista, recycle mama. I'm also a special needs Montessori teacher. My mantra is "hands-on, child-centered." With that in mind, here are cheap, homemade, kid-friendly Father's Day crafts the whole family can help make. Cheap, Homemade, Father's Day Gift Crafts Any-Age Kid Can Make 

Easy, Cheap Graduation Open House Recipes for Budget Parties

Oh, oh! You put off planning that graduation open house until the last minute. Or maybe you've been thinking about it for months and can't decide what to serve? Maybe you just need some quick, easy recipes for your graduation open house buffet. Here are 25+ easy recipes to for a festive (cheap) open house spred. These can be used for wedding receptions, bridal showers, baby showers, first Communion receptions and other celebrations. 20+ Graduation Open House Food Recipes

Give the Gift of Hygiene, Personal Care Products

Got stinky kids? Well, puberty is the time for it. Hormones in overdrive make the sweat glands work extra hard, too. And many schools don't have time for facilities for kids to shower after gym class. So they can get pretty ripe by the end of the day. Give the gift of hygiene. Here are a few personal care products we found that help with body odor. Tips and Products to Help Kids Maintain Hygiene 

Give the Gift of Life--Drive Safely

Michigan's weather is redefining itself yet gain. From 2 degrees and -25 wind chill, we're at 32 degrees--freezing point. I told my daughter who quipped, "if that's freezing, what have we been having all winter?" Good question. 32 is the point at which water freezes. So anything slightly above, below or just at and we get a nasty "wintry mix." AKA, half-freezing rainy snow that melts and refreezes back and forth as temps ping-pong. It was this kind of weather that caused me to get in an accident last year. So please, give the gift of life. Put the phone down. Drive safely! Read on  Rising Temperatures Mean Wintry Mix, Bad Roads

Bargains, More Importantly Blessings at Fair Trade Christmas Sale

I helped with our fair trade/direct trade Christmas sale at church Saturday. We didn't have nearly the traffic we had last year, but weather was treacherous and cold. I'm hoping that's the reason. And not that people prefer junk stuff produced by slave labor in exploited countries. Sorry, I get ranty about fair trade. And I admit, it's not easy. That's why I felt so good about this sale.   Bargains and Blessings at Our Fair Trade Christmas Sale

Pack Samaritans Purse Operation Christmas Child Shoe Box Now

I'm putting together my Operation Christmas Child shoebox for Samaritan's Purse. Since 1993, these gift boxes have been shipped around the world to kids in need. We've been participating for about that long. Here's how I'm saving $11 packing it in person. But packing a box online works great for homebound and elderly.Packing Samaritans Purse Operation Christmas Child Shoe box

Time to Think Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child

Back to School sales are a great time to stock up on stocking stuffers for Christmas. They're great sources for cheap gifts for holiday toy donations. Looking for a good children's charity try Operation Christmas Child from Samaritans Purse. This group collects shoeboxes of Christmas presents for needy kids. To participate, fill shoeboxes with toys, school supplies, articles of clothing, personal care products, candy, books. The website lists suggestions and what to avoid (breakables, liquids, war toys). Print a shipping label from website and indicate age and gender the box is for. Include $7 donation for shipping (a pretty fair deal considering weight and goods shipped). Boxes are due Nov. 18-25 and drop-off locations listed on the website.  Best Childrens Charities for Holiday Toy Drives Operation Christmas Child

Inexpensive Mother's Day Gifts Under $10

Mother's Day, the second Sunday of May, often finds loved ones long on love, but short on cash. How can you honor your mother and show her that you care when the pennies already being pinched? Here are dozens of great gift ideas for mom under $10. Moms usually say that it's the thought that counts and you will show mom that you really did choose a thoughtful gift, both by it's quality and frugality. Mothers young and old will enjoy these gifts:  Cheap Mother's Day Gifts Under $10

Lenten and Easter Almsgiving Activity

As Catholic homeschoolers education focused around the liturgical year in our family. Holy Week is the pinnacle of the church year. We practice lenten virtues of prayer, fasting and almsgiving, in solidarity with our Lord and in preparation for our Easter celebration. In our homeschool career, we explored many avenues of sacrifice and service. One simple activity became very meaningful. We are fortunate to live near several mission-type sites which provide immediate care and help to those in need. Our church twins with a parish in Haiti. Many Staples outlets gather school supplies. Using these resources we made lenten care kits.Lenten and Easter Activity 

Wishlists for shelters, missions, food banks

Winter is particularly hard on the homeless and those in need. In Detroit, cold temperatures send many to shelters and missions. Agency resources get depleted more quickly during the holidays. Here are wish lists of needed items at Metro Detroit nonprofit organizations.  Read more

Best Toys and Gifts for Toy Drives and Toys for Tots

Best Toys to Donate for Toys for Tots and Giving Tree Childrens Christmas Gift Drive
One of my favorite parts of Christmas is choosing gifts for the Marines Toys for Tots drive and church missions Giving Tree childrens gifts. Sometimes it's difficult to know what kind of gift to choose. Here are some considerations to help.
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Best Inexpensive Confirmation Gifts

Gift-Giving Guides: Best Religious Confirmation Gifts for Teens
Several Christian denominations celebrate the sacrament of Confirmation. The confirmand is confirmed by the Holy Spirit. It is customary to give gifts as a token of remembrance. Here are reasonably priced gift suggestions.
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Best Gifts for Children's Charities and Overseas Missions

Top 10 Gift Ideas for Children's' Charities
Issues to consider in charitable gift-giving. Gift suggestions that work well for anonymous giving. Best gifts for children overseas and local Christmas giving trees. View more »