Potpourri Gel Jars
2 cups Distilled Water
4 packages Un-flavored Gelatin
50 drops Essential Oil -- (for fragrance)
Food Coloring -- as desired
Heat one cup water in medium sized saucepan. Add gelatin, stirring to dissolve. Remove from heat and add remaining 1 cup of liquid as well as food coloring, and stir until dissolved. Put drops of essential oil into jars then add gelatin mixture. Place in fridge for approximately 2 hours. Remove, cover with plastic wrap or lid if you have one, and store at room temperature. To release the scent simply remove the lid... and when you are finished make sure you re-cover the jar so all the scent doesn't evaporate.
This recipe makes four gel jars/ aprox. 4 oz each. To decorate for gifts, tie ribbon or lace around the neck of the jar or add silk/dried flowers to the bow. It works very well to cut a circle of lace which can be reapplied after removing lid, by screwing the band on over the lace. This will allow the scent to be enjoyed as well as keeping the jar decorative while it is being used.
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Family Album
Purchase a small album, either a 5x7 or an 8x10 will do, depending on the number of photos you plan to use. Keep in mind that the larger the album is, the more photos and accessories you will need to fill it. Gather photos, mementos and items of interest to be placed in the book. Try interviewing a few family members to get some added info for the album.
Use the first page as an introduction to the family. Write a poem, a bit of history about the family or create a family tree. On the inside pages, dedicate a two page spread to each family member.
Remember that one of the most important aspects of scrapbooking is journaling. On one of the pages, include photos of the family member. On the adjoining page, list some information about the person. If you aren't a great writer or don't know many personal facts about that person, you could include their name and birthday, where they were born, the names of their children, etc. To make the album more personal, include some interesting facts about the person.
Some ideas are:
- Hobbies and Interests
- Favorite songs/movies/actors
- Nicknames
- College or High School attended
- Profession
- Clubs, Charities and Organizations
- Places they have lived or traveled
Front Page: Introduction or Family Tree
Inside: Use two-page spreads for each family member, one to include photos, the other to include journaling
Last Page: Write a summary about what life was like in your family during the time the album was created, or if you didn't create a family tree on the front page ...create one on the last page.
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