Simple Beauty in a Picture~ Guest Post

Today's post was written by my younger sister Stephanie, who is very giving and a little sassy, happens to be my favorite coffee barista, and is the photographer extraordinaire behind Steph Zimmerman Photography. I'm so excited to share her thoughts with you today as part of my Why Make Beautiful Things Series!

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Beauty can be found in a simple photograph.  A photo not only captures a moment, but it is a constant reminder of the emotion that you felt in that moment.  The way your husband gazed at you on your wedding day. The photograph of that unforgettable family vacation.  A sweet moment captured of your little one.  It deserves to be preserved not on a CD, but on paper, to be shared with generations to come.

I've never received the compliment, "that photo looks great on that CD in your drawer!" Never.  Not once.  And I know that I never will.  I have, however, had guests in my home exclaim over the beauty of the family photos that are hanging on my walls.  One display in particular has received the most love.

This is a giant window frame that we displayed at our wedding.  I've never wanted to change out the photographs (after I added images from our own wedding to it).  The top row has photographs of our grandparents, the next row has photographs of our parents on their wedding days along with baby pictures of Steven and I, and the last row is of photographs from our wedding day. (Wedding photography credit to Seth Morris Photography)

I love it. Plain and simple.  All in one spot, we see the couples that have taught us about love and marriage, about being parents, about being faithful Christians, about life, about everything that matters.  There they are. Not on a CD that won't be able to be read by computers even in the near future. (Do you remember floppy discs? Me too, but when is the last time you used one?)  

On the other side of our living room I have a picture display rack (a thrift store steal).  I am so thankful that I found it, otherwise this wall would be held together by paint and putty only.  I constantly am changing these photos and this allows me to rearrange to my hearts content. New or used, its a great investment for your walls.

I have so many photos hung on our walls... they are what help to make our house a home. We're constantly surrounded by photographs of those we love and the memories we share with them.

The above frames hang in our bedroom.  The first image of Steven and I was taken shortly before our wedding ceremony. We were (and still are) so beyond happy to be with each other as husband and wife.  We were nervous, but didn't care because we were going to finally be wedded as one.  The last photo in that row is of my sisters and I line dancing at our wedding reception.  It makes me happy to remember in that moment, we were laughing hysterically at one another because we couldn't remember all of the steps. We struggled for a little bit, but eventually got it and danced to the rest of the song. Our wedding photographers nailed that moment perfectly.  The two photos in the middle were taken a few weeks after our first anniversary, and we had grown so much in those twelve short months.  I love them all. 

In our kitchen we have a couple of photos that I took of Steven and his dad during harvest two years ago.  Steven is a farmer, I come from a farm family, and we love agriculture.  The photos are anchored by a Zimmerman seed bag (random eBay find, no relation) and are the view from our kitchen table where we share meals together.

I've adorned my daughter's wall with images of us as a family and images of her as she grows.  I know she could care less right now. But I love them now. She will love them later.  And my grandchildren will probably love them even more.  

 Really... who wouldn't want a series of faces they they made as a baby? 

I have one canvas hung in our little hallway.  It is of Garden of the Gods in Colorado.  I think it is a lovely image; but to me, it's not just a pretty picture. I remember Steven and my brother-in-law, Luke, having a great conversation and enjoying one another on the balcony outside of the visitors' center.  Not all of your prints have to have people in them to remind you of your loved ones and those treasured memories.  

Having your pictures beautifully (or not so beautifully) organized on your computer is a lovely thing, but please print those photos.  With technology today, we take photos all the time but often never print them. We share photos on Facebook, in blogs, on Instgram, etc. and they are buried behind other posts the next day.  Be that person that prints the photos.  Hang them on the wall. Add them to an album.  Print them for your children. Print them for your grandchildren. Print them for you. Believe me, your family will love you for it.   We love to go through our family photos from previous generations.  It's a blessing to see those moments captured of our grandparents at a time when we did not know them.  It helps us to learn more about them and their time here on earth.  It helps us relate to them at a time they may have been the same age as we are now, in the same stage of life.  

I honestly wish I had a bigger house, a main reason being to have more wall space for more photographs.  The moments that are captured and printed on paper will always be treasured.  You won't always have (or in my case, fit) into the t-shirt you got on your 8th grade trip to Washington, D.C.  I do however, have the pictures (lacking in quality, as they may) of my friends and I touring the city and visiting the historical monuments. I was awkward and didn't know how to do my hair, but I still treasure those goofy photos.

As mom and photographer, I understand the importance of printing the photographs that I take. I hope that this little post has encouraged you to do the same for your friends and family.  Add some extra beauty to your home and life with beautiful photographs. Whether they are professional or a snapshot, please print them. I promise you won't regret it.  

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Steph's post is part of my Why Make Beautiful Things week.
-Read my thoughts on the seven reasons why making things beautiful matters here.
-Visit my Granny's Closet post to see pictures of the beautiful and fun vintage dresses (which used to belong to my Granny!) that I have been wearing this spring.
-Go read Emily's thoughts on hospitality, beauty, and home through the lens of being a military wife in her guest post Love is the Beauty of the Soul

-AND come back on Sunday, because I'll be hosting a special giveaway with seven beautiful items that I know you are going to love from Kayla Phillips Design, Steph Zimmerman Photography, and [un]common workbasket.  You don't want to miss it!

Love Is the Beauty of the Soul~ Guest Post

Today's post was written by my youngest sister Emily, who is lovely, talented, and generous, lives about 1000 miles too far away from me, and blogs too sporadically at The Only True Adventure. I'm so excited to share her thoughts with you today as part of my Why Make Beautiful Things series!

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Since love grows within you, so beauty grows. For love is the beauty of the soul. 

~St. Augustine

Beauty can be found everywhere, even in unexpected places.

I have found myself in many unexpected places over the course of the last couple of years. Marrying a military man will do that to the plans you have for your life.

Growing up on a farm, home was always a steady comfort. Farms can’t up and move one day to the next, and so I had the beautiful childhood most only dream of right in the same house that my parents brought me home to from the hospital. Fireflies in the summer, sledding in the winter. Familiar quirks of an over century-old farm house were wonderfully predicable (top stair on the 2^nd floor squeaks if you don’t want to wake dad up). Our house was always there to welcome me home when I returned.

When Luke and I got married, I knew that for the first time “home” was going to become a fluid term, and one that was certainly not on my terms. You know the old adage, “Home is where the heart is.” Well, we have our own – “Home is where the Army sends us.” Within the first ten months of marriage, I moved twice and Luke moved three times.  We have lived along the southwest edge of the Chattahoochee River in Georgia and now at the base of the Front Range Rockies in Colorado. Both very different, both beautiful in their own way.

For each new station, we have chosen to live on post in military quarters. Army housing is probably better than what you’d imagine it to be, but it’s a far cry from HGTV’s standards. White walls, tile floor, and a cookie-cutter layout make creativity a necessity if you don’t want to accidentally walk into your neighbor’s house and make yourself a cup of tea before you realize your mistake. For this reason, I have tried my best to make our house feel like “home,” even if it’s only home for a few short years. 

In bachelorhood, Luke had a bunk bed, hand-me-down desk, and a duffle bag worth of civilian clothes to his name. I’m pretty sure he thought I was crazy when I suggested that we needed more than a folding table for our dining room set, let alone hanging hand-painted creations on the walls. But with time and the patience that only newlyweds can hold for one another, we have arranged and rearranged, bought everything from couches to coffee cups, and drilled into drywall like we owned the place. Luke is actually more surprised when he comes home from a few weeks in the field if I haven’t moved furniture or hung something new. It’s an ever-developing process. 

Now, with my new home set up, I only had to sit back and wait for the friends to fill it. There have been times where that wait has been longer than others, but the friends I have made have always seemed to be worth the wait. I have met some amazing ladies and their families on this military adventure, who have taught me what true sacrifice, love, and compassion look like every day.

Before I became a military spouse, I always felt like home was where you could escape from the world (and spend the day in pajamas, of course). There are some days I still feel that way, but more and more, I am seeing how beautiful it is to open up your home to others.  When you bring someone into your home, it’s an invitation into your life, the sacred space you share with the ones you love most in the world. It is the literal doorway to new, intimate friendships. 

The friendships I have made within this community are unlike any other. If military spouses know one thing, it’s the need to reach out to others. All of us have been new in town before, and have needed to build life from the ground up, including our homes and friendships. When our parents and siblings are often times far away, we quite literally become family to one another– we trade babysitting for coffee dates, bring over dinner for when the day has been too long, and have each other on speed dial for good or bad news alike. Most of these relationships started with a simple invitation into our homes - to coffee, dinner, or for a plate of brownies in a gesture of welcome.  

Having a beautiful home does not always mean filling your walls with DIY projects or the latest magazine trends. I’ve found there is a lot of beauty in having friendships where the sink full of dishes and baskets of laundry on the couch don’t hinder inviting people over. Never be afraid to bring someone into your “mess” – it’s your life! When I feel like my house is too messy for company, I always remind myself that if I dropped by to see a friend in her home, I wouldn’t care if the floors had been swept or not. I’m just happy she’s hosting me! Hospitality comes in many forms, and is always a true gift we can give to one another.

Creating a home that is warm and welcoming is an attitude of the heart. Our physical homes are merely the manifestations of the hospitality that first starts within us. Through my journey as a newlywed military wife, I have redefined what home means to me. From that experience, I know that the beauty of hospitality that I see in others and the beauty I want them to see in me should be rooted not in location, but in love.

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Emily's post is part of my Why Make Beautiful Things week.
-Read my thoughts on the seven reasons why making things beautiful matters here.
-Visit this post to see pictures of the beautiful and fun vintage dresses (which used to belong to my Granny!) that I have been wearing this spring.
-Friday, Steph will write about the importance of taking, printing, and displaying beautiful family photos.
-AND on Sunday, I'll be hosting a special giveaway with seven beautiful items that I know you are going to love from Kayla Phillips Design, Steph Zimmerman Photography, and [un]common workbasket.  You don't want to miss it!

Granny's Closet

When given a choice, I very nearly always pick old over new-- used, loved, and classic over shiny and trendy.  My apartment is filled with antiques and thrift store treasures.  The absolute best books I read as a child were those written by Laura Ingalls Wilder, and I still gravitate towards historical books, movies, and TV shows.

I routinely use vintage fabric or repurposed antique tablecloths, curtains, etc. to make new things like aprons and purses.  I don't blog about it much, but you can see one example in this post, or you can visit this page to see more.

Twice in the past two days two different people joked that maybe I was born in the wrong era.   I don't doubt God's providence, but it is fun to romanticize and look for the best of past decades.  I do think that sometimes in the simplicity of the past, we can look back and see the beauty that has endured over time.

So, it probably comes as no surprise that I am acquiring a vintage clothing collection. :)  My grandmother passed away earlier this year.  She was 92, and left a legacy of children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren.  As the family has worked to clean out her home and share belongings amongst her descendants, they found a stash of old clothing in the back of her closet, dresses and coats, many of which she had sewn herself.  My mom brought a bunch of them home, and awesomely, we discovered that many of them fit me!



Wearing vintage clothes isn't quite as simple as picking up something new off of the rack.  Here are a few things that I have learned:

1. Cleaning vintage clothing or fabric can be interesting.  Stains can be set in, and often times there is a strong, stale, old fabric smell that is hard to shake.  I washed the clothes on gentle settings with cold water.  Sometimes, I let them soak for a while, and I almost always ran them through the washing machine twice.  I also always air-dry everything.  This prevents further damage to possibly weak or stained fabric.

2. I also had to repair some of the clothing.  Sometimes a seam needed to be sewn where thread had rotted away, zippers needed reinforced, or buttons needed replaced.   I also tried to creatively cover up some...problems.  I tried to fix a white coat that was completely discolored by dyeing it tan, and unfortunately it didn't take the dye evenly.  However, I was able to fix this navy blue dress with some dye and a little bit of...white paint.  I literally painted some of the polka dots- but it worked!

3. Wear it!  The best fashion advice I've ever received is to find what you like and wear it with confidence.  There was clothing that I could have taken but it wasn't my style and I knew that I wouldn't be comfortable in.  I wear a lot of skirts and dresses, and the dresses I have usually fall into the 1950's high waist, full skirt variety.  Going through the clothes from my Granny's, I picked out things that I liked and knew that I would wear. 

4. And finally, accessories.  Sometimes, you can take vintage clothes and wear them with a modern twist.  Other times it is really fun to match up the clothes with retro accents like these fabulous shoes that I got here or an antique clutch purse.  Like dress up, only better. :)

So, I've worn these dresses to work, and to church, and to a wedding.  I love them, love that they help me remember my granny, and love the story they tell.

Would you like to see more of the clothing :)?  I am not a huge fan of having my picture taken, but I did want to have some photos of these dresses.  And I have a sister who is an awesome photographer.  She has been insisting that I get updated headshots.  And my brother-in-law and my friend Kayla wanted to practice some of their photography skills with someone who would stand still and pose as long as they needed.  So the four of us met up in downtown Peoria and took some very fun pictures.

And, for the record, this was my view for the afternoon:

Me, vintage dresses, an antique suitcase, downtown city, and three photographers.  It's no wonder we got some funny looks!

Want to see more of the pictures? You can see Steph's post and the rest of the photos here.

What do you think of vintage clothes?  Any favorite tips for pulling off styles from another era?

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This post is part of my Why Make Beautiful Things week.  You can read my original post here.
-Wednesday, come back for Emily's story about the beauty of homemaking and hospitality in military family life.
-Friday, Steph will write about the importance of taking, printing, and displaying beautiful family photos.
-AND on Sunday, I'll be hosting a special giveaway with seven beautiful items that I know you are going to love from Kayla Phillips Design, Steph Zimmerman Photography, and [un]common workbasket.  You don't want to miss it!

Why Make Beautiful Things

Beauty has been on my heart these past several months.  Why is something beautiful?  What meaning does beauty carry?  How do we bring beauty into the world as well as receive it?  

Especially as women, I feel that we yearn to bear beauty in our daily lives.  I'm not talking about being an airbrushed model on the cover of a magazine, but more an attitude of the soul that radiates outward.  That beauty manifests itself in characteristics like genuine kindness, empathy, and hospitality, but it also can be seen visually.  We set tables with flowers, candles and our best china for a celebration.  We take the time to put on a dress, lipstick, and fancy shoes.  We use our skills to make and present the perfect gift for a friend.

For Christians, beauty means something more.  Its depth starts on the surface and goes far below to reach an understanding that is far beyond us.  The beauty of virtue, the action of self-sacrifice, and the love of Another shows a greater truth.  That beauty is evident in music and the written word, in cathedral spires reaching the clouds and paintings of the Gospel stories.  

So why make beautiful things?   Why should we take the time to decorate a home, to pursue and appreciate art of all kinds, to dress with meaning, to create well-designed media, to use our talents to make everything around us better, more beautiful?


You may have noticed this quote over in my blog sidebar.  It is way down at the bottom, but has been there for several years:
"Not all are called to be artists in the specific sense of the term. Yet, as Genesis has it, all men and women are entrusted with the task of crafting their own life: in a certain sense, they are to make of it a work of art, a masterpiece." -St. John Paul II
I am not an artist. I do however feel the responsibility of creating a masterpiece with the life that God has given me, to both pursue and give beauty everyday.  It can manifest itself in many ways, but it is becoming increasingly more important in a world where beauty, true beauty, is under attack.  That quote is from JP2's Letter to Artists, which I encourage you to read.  You also can watch this video tribute. 

We all are called to bear beauty.  Here are a few thoughts about what that beauty is and why it matters:


1. Beauty is hospitable.
Making something beautiful is an act of hospitality.  In a home or place of work, taking the time to add art, to creatively arrange furniture, to create a place of rest can speak volumes to the people who are invited in.  Regardless of square footage or simplicity, making a place beautiful shows that you value the people who are welcomed, that they matter, and that you are willing to take time for them. The nature of hospitality welcomes, and beauty welcomes as well.

"Since love grows within you, so beauty grows. For love is the beauty of the soul." - St. Augustine

2. Beauty brings joy in a world that often is dark.
We are not fooling ourselves about the darkness of the world.  Evil is present and has its clutches on society, on our souls.  Beauty can speak the truth in small glimmers.  It can show hope which draws us out of darkness and brings us into the fullness of joy.  The presence of beauty can crack through even the hardest of hearts.

"In things of beauty, he contemplated the One who is supremely beautiful, and, led by the footprints he found in creatures, he followed the Beloved everywhere." ~St. Bonaventure

3. Beauty is universal.
I don't need words of a certain language or background knowledge or cultural experience to appreciate beauty.  Paintings, sculptures, sonnets, stained glass windows, symphonies- we all can see and appreciate the beauty that comes from these creations.  One step further takes us into beauty not created by human hands- that of the oceans and mountains, the sunsets and starry skies, flowers and smile of a child- this beauty is universally understood and universally known by all people.  There are few things that are universal in this world, and beauty is one of them.

"A thing of beauty is a joy forever.  Its loveliness increases; it never passes into nothingness." ~John Keats

4. Beauty turns us outward.
A desire for beauty, when genuine, cannot be about ourselves.  Beauty is about someone else.  Anything that we create and consider beautiful is wasted if not shared.  A song is meant to be sung, a garden should be walked in, and a painting needs to be hung and admired.  True beauty is meant to be shared, and that turns us outward, making us consider the lives and needs of others.

"Begin with the beautiful, which leads you to the good, which leads you to the truth."  ~Fr. Robert Barron 


5. Beauty helps us understand mystery.
When you try to create something, you first start with an idea in your mind.  A perfect lattice crust pie, an intricate stone sculpture, a lovely photograph capturing a moment in time- all of these begin with a vision.  However, if we are honest, anything we create falls short of that vision.  Perfection is not to be reached here on earth.   But that vision can be seen in the creation.  There is a layer of mystery that goes beyond the physical when we look at something beautiful.  That mystery, even if we can't articulate it, is embedded in our hearts and helps us know that we can't quite grasp all there is to have and to know.

"You are altogether beautiful, my love.  There is no flaw in you." ~Song of Solomon 4:7

6. Beauty points to Someone greater.
True beauty is bigger than us.  It is awe inspiring.  It can make us feel small.  The wonder that is produced through something beautiful is supposed to point us to Someone greater.  If the minds of human architects can dream up and build a fantastic cathedral, how much more can the mind of God create?  In the presence of beauty, our hearts open up, and our response should be to let God in.  

“It is Jesus that you seek when you dream of happiness; He is waiting for you when nothing else you find satisfies you; He is the beauty to which you are so attracted; it is He who provoked you with that thirst for fullness that will not let you settle for compromise; it is He who urges you to shed the masks of a false life; it is He who reads in your heart your most genuine choices, the choices that others try to stifle."  ~St. John Paul II

"They looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces will never be ashamed." ~Psalm 34:5

7. Beauty is a taste of eternity.
All the beautiful things of this earth tell me that beauty matters, and it matters because it teaches us about God.  His plan for us is a beautiful one, a plan of love and redemption, of forgiveness and eternity.  He wanted us to see a taste of this beauty here so that we would desire true Beauty forever.  That Truth and Goodness and Beauty can only be found in Him.  It is what we were created for.

"Beauty overwhelms us, enchants us, fascinates us, and calls us." ~Fr. Andrew Greely


"One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the Lord And to meditate in His temple." ~Psalm 27:4
 

Stay tuned this week for more beautiful things including:
-On Monday, I'll have a post on the vintage clothing of my grandmother's that I have been wearing this spring.
-On Wednesday, my sister Emily will be sharing thoughts on the beauty and hospitality that she has found in her two years as military wife. 
-On Friday, my sister Steph will have a post about why taking family photos (and printing them) is a beautiful way to honor your family.

-AND on Sunday, I'll be hosting a special giveaway with seven beautiful items that I know you are going to love from Kayla Phillips Design, Steph Zimmerman Photography, and [un]common workbasket.  You don't want to miss it!

Chalkboard Table: School Silent Auctions

Ah, school fundraising auctions.  They are a bonus for most schools and a necessity for private parochial schools.  Our parish-wide celebration (and fundraising) event this year was awesome, with a carnival, auction, dinner all rolled into one night and then additional activities the following two days.  And like most school auctions, there were lots of great donations, gift baskets, traditional items (like reserved front row seating at the Christmas Concert-always a top seller!), and class projects.

Class auction projects- Scouring pinterest will warrant you thousands of options for creating something with your students that will help raise money for a fundraiser.  I thought I'd share what we created because it was easy, unique, and went over well!

We made this chalkboard table.  Well, more correctly, we painted and decorated a second-hand coffee donated by a school mom.  The kids helped sand the table as time allowed when their work was finished.  I actually did the painting of the table, because 22 kids in a crowded classroom trying to paint one table just didn't sound like an experience that I needed to try.  I used regular chalkboard paint (not spray paint) and gave the table a solid two coats. 

I let it dry over the weekend, and then the following week, each student got to decorate the table.  This was easy to fit in over a few days- they would take turns when their homework was completed, during silent reading time, or during our homeroom time.  The students could decorate as they wished, but had to include a favorite Bible verse or inspiring quote/words.  After each decorated the table, I took a picture of their work, and then we wiped down the table with a damp cloth and the next student went to work. 

When everyone had a turn, I decorated it for the auction with the quote that has been on our classroom door all year (you can see it at the very end of this post) and is especially appropriate because our school mascot is the Saints.

Any teacher knows that to make money on a classroom auction project it needs to be:
1. unique (always good)
2. sentimental (most important)
3. something the kids want for themselves (bonus)
The parents are donating money to own a memory of their child and his classmates.  So I played up the sentimental card.  I took all of those photos of the art the students created on the chalkboard table, made a folder on my computer, and took the screen shot below.  Normally I post all of our classroom pictures on our class website, but this time I just emailed the parents this screen shot and a picture of the finished table.  The only person who would get to see/keep the inspirational quotes created by the students was the person who bought the table at the auction! :)

I printed all of the pictures, put them in a little photo album, and tied it to the table.  Many of the kids wanted to keep the book because it had something created by each of their classmates.

And also tied a new box of colored chalk so the new owner could decorate the table themselves.  The kids also had plenty of plans for where they wanted to keep the table when they owned it and what they would write and draw all over it!

Our little project was a success!  It's always good to find something inexpensive and creative that helps support our school and that the kids enjoy helping with.

So, what are your go-to classroom auction items?  I'd love to hear your favorite ideas!

Saint Trading Card Reward System

Sticker charts, prize boxes, classroom stores, teacher bucks, coupons... most elementary classrooms have a reward system of some kind in place to encourage and reinforce good behavior among students.

If you are looking for a fresh reward system that is uniquely Catholic for your school or CCD classroom, why not try Saint cards?  Those beautiful and special Saint cards can familiarize your students with their heavenly helpers, give them models of virtue, increase appreciation for the richness of our faith, and promote devotion to these prayer warriors.  The backs of the cards also often contain biographies of the Saints, Scripture verses, or prayers, which adds more educational value to the collection.

Interested?  Here's how I do it in my classroom:

The Set Up:

1. At the beginning of the year, I discuss virtue with my students, and we talk about how the Saints are models of heroic Christian virtue.  I challenge them to grow in virtue through our year together, and they all receive a binder ring with a card that says "name is growing in Saintly Virtue."  They get to attach their Saint cards to the ring, and we keep them on a chain of giant paper clips hanging in our classroom Faith Corner. 
2. The idea is that the students is being rewarded for showing virtue of some kind (we are working on what that means and how we live it out) and that the Saints are our models of virtue.  They get to choose a Saint to remind them to keep making good choices. This metal recipe box was our Saintly virtue box (I upgraded to a larger box this year, but don't have a pic...).  The Saints are organized with little tabs alphabetically.  I restock the box about once a month to keep the options fresh.  All of the Saint cards are pre punched in the upper left hand corner using a standard hole punch.  This makes putting them on the binder ring quick and easy.
   
   

The Earning:
You could use this reward system however it works best for your age of students and set up of a classroom.  My students can earn cards in a few ways:

1. Individually- Student earn and get to choose a card on their own through our classroom management system.  Things like outstanding behavior, demonstration of virtue, and extraordinary academic effort are denoted on our classroom behavior chart and students are able to choose a Saint card.
2. Class Behavior- My students can also earn cards as a group.  Part of my classroom management system includes a class jar that we collect clips in.  The class earn clips for outstanding behavior, receiving compliments from other adults, achieving a goal, etc.  When the class earns ten clips, they all earn the same Saint card.  I then pull out the next stack of Saint cards and they know what they are working towards earning with their next ten clips.
3. Gifts- Just like God's grace, sometimes we receive something that we don't necessarily deserve :). Throughout the year, I surprise all of the kids with special Saint cards just as gifts.  We mark days like the beginning and end of school, Christmas and Easter, and our school feast day with Saint cards freely given.

 

The Restocking:
Where do I get all the Saint cards?

1. Sometimes I buy them.  If there is a card I want for a special occasion or am just feeling like shopping for some unique additions, I will visit our local Catholic bookstore. I also will buy packs of popular Saints in bulk from places like this and this.  Yes, it is pricey initially, but the packs last me several years and the cards work out to cost pennies each.  
2. I get a lot of Catholic "junk" mail, and those mailings often contain prayer cards.  I also have a lovely group of church ladies who save me all the cards they receive in the mail as well.  All of those cards help add variety to what I buy in bulk. My principal has started saving them for us from the mail the school receives, too!  I'm always on the lookout for more people to share with us!
3. Occasionally, I will get a stack for free.  When visiting a church or shrine or other Catholic places, they often have holy cards available for visitors to take.  I often will tell them that I am a Catholic school teacher and ask if I can have 25 or 30 for my students, and they always say yes. :)
4. I also print or make my own Saint cards.  I have a stash of pdfs that I just print on colored cardstock on our school copier.  Cut, punch, file, and I have super cheap cards.  A lot of the pdfs that I have are from this site before they started charging for membership.  If you really want to start using this reward system, it might be worth it to become a member so you can use their files.  I also will occasionally design my own Saint cards, especially if we are studying the life of a particular Saint.  I also have made cards to give on the occasion of special events, like the retirement of Pope Benedict XVI and the election of Pope Francis.  These cards that I print myself are always the cards that I use for whole class behavior as mentioned above- it would be too expensive to use purchased cards for that purpose. 

Thanks to reader Denise for sharing some links to free prayer cards from Loyola Press here and here and here.

 

The Collecting:
Kids love to collect things, and if baseball cards or game character cards have worked, why not Saint cards?  My students have loved working towards adding to a collection as the school year went on.

1. The students will scope out the Saintly virtue box and often have a plan as to who they would like to collect next.  (This makes those random individual cards that I get in the mail all the more valuable!)
2. When we are working towards a classroom reward, the students always know what Saint card they will be earning.  We learn about that Saint and ask for their help as they strive to earn them for their collection.
   
3. A most favorite day is when we have our trading day at the end of the year.  Sometimes I have one just before Christmas and at the end of the year.  The students get all of their cards off of the chain and spread them out.  At this time, if they have ended up with duplicates of any cards, they can trade them in with me.  They also can walk around the room and barter with classmates to trade cards.  I love watching and listening to this process!  They get so excited, but are still so polite.  This year I heard things like: "I'll trade you my Sacred Heart of Jesus for that Image of Divine Mercy" "Nope, that St. John Paul II is staying here." "Whoa! St. Rose of Lima! Wanna trade for St. Agnes?"  They get to make up their own dream team.
4. And finally, the students get to take home their Saint card ring at the end of the year.  They have quite the collection of these holy cards, and I have heard from many former students that they have kept them (yay!) and have even added more to it.  I think it is an awesome keepsake, but more importantly a great resource for prayer and learning.

So there you have my classroom reward system!  I like it more and more each year, and hope that it continues to bear fruit in the lives of my students.  If you have any ideas or additional resources, I'd love to hear them!