Category: LEARN - LDS Nest

BUSY GOOD LEARNING & YW CAMP CRAFTS

3/10/2015

There's busy good and there's busy bad. I consider learning to be one of the busy goods and I've been on a streak lately.

• I've learned how to do editable PDFs (still working on being quick at it) which many of you have asked about and will be very cool to add to some of my future downloads.

• I've learned some and continue to learn about surface design. They're a couple of fabric projects that I did months ago that I'm so excited about sharing with you. (I'll post soon)

• Being an artist as well, I'm learning how to take my hand drawings and make it into digital artwork. Then I can use it for so many things, some of which will make it here to LDS NEST. Plus I've gone a totally new creative direction with Shannon's Studio which has caused me to rework my brand and website. All the new things will be up in about a month. Sooner I hope.

• Plus I'm doing a little website housecleaning here too. (Which I would love to know what you like best about LDS NEST. Or maybe you'd like to see.)

• Then the best good busy news for us as a family is that our youngest son Wade got his mission call yesterday. We love Utah and lived there for 15 years. In fact, until about 5 years ago the St. George Mission used to be in the Provo Mission where we lived. (We moved to Missouri about 7 years ago.) Being born and raised in Provo Wade said it feels like coming home.

Wade K. Christensen Mission Annoucement, St. George Utah

Because of all my new learning I haven't finished anything for LDS NEST lately so I went back through my files and found a camp craft I haven't shared with you. It's a flower clip and the gift download is here. You'll find photo instructions and supplies list. We gave this to the YCLs and they taught it to the girls.

DIY Fabric Flower Craft with photo instructions

As I was looking through things I couldn't find another camp craft that I thought I posted. I'm sure I posted it but figured if I couldn't find it then maybe you wouldn't be able to either. So, I'm re-posting that too. That gift download is here.

DIY Felt Bird Craft with photo instructions

Well, that's just a little update of my good busy life. How's yours going?

Shannon Christensen for LDS NEST

MENTOR • How to make Service Message Youth Videos

10/9/2014

Back in July we had Youth Conference. In that post I mentioned that we did service videos but couldn't share them because they weren't edited yet. Well, now they are! Our Stake had a premiere night to show them to the youth. We did a red "carpet", awards, paparazzi, and dressed up. Here are photos from that night.

DIY How to Make Service Message Youth Videos & Premiere Night

DIY How to Make Service Message Youth Videos & Premiere Night

Here's how we did our backdrop.

RED CARPET • Red plastic table cloth on a roll
ROPE • Red cording by the yard, pvc pipe spray painted gold, mason jars filled with sand to hold them up
BACKDROP • (2) 4' x 8' masonite boards painted in chalkboard paint
ANGEL ICON • Cut a stencil, use yellow chalk to stencil the icon on

Here are the videos.

#LDSMakeYourMark #ShareGoodness

#LDSRealMen #ShareGoodness

#LDSTrueBeauty #ShareGoodness

#LDSMusicMovesMe #ShareGoodness

I was in charge of the overall project so I thought I'd share how we went about doing it incase you want to try. We did four for our stake but I would recommend doing one on a ward level.

1) Have a message that you want to share
2) Have some guidelines as adult leaders. These were some of ours
• to use the youth as much as possible, especially in the video
• have a point/message to it
• have the youth part of something bigger than they are
• done so it won't be lame :)
(don't have youth speak or act much, keep it simple)
3) Have some conceptual idea how you want it to video tape it. Copy other's ideas with variation. For example
• Make Your Mark was based on the video Flourish by
Dana Tanamachi-Williams
• True Beauty & Real Men were based on this video An
Experiment in Words (or 36 Smiles) from the Pleasant
Grove Utah Mount Mahogany Stake 4th Ward
• Get approval of the concept summaries
4) Make a committee
• Ours included Stake Youth (SYC youth), Stake YWYM Presidency
members, and Specialists
• Have youth go over video concepts and make changes, suggestions,
and/or other ideas
• Re-write concept summaries and get approval
5) Get Specialists. These had to be skill specific. Meaning they had to be
artistic, conceptual thinkers, or have video/editing skills. It would
have been nice to have all professionals but that's usually not the
case in the church for projects like this. This is a large project that
requires Approve and call specialists.
• Make Your Mark - construction crew (chalkboard), design,
videographer, video editor
• True Beauty - Materials, videographer, video editor
• Real Men - Props, videographer, video editor
• Music Moves Me - transportation, music, talent, videographer,
video editor
6) Meet together as a whole. There's a lot of moving parts/people here so the sooner you can meet all together the better. The truth is, this didn't happen for some groups until the morning of.
7) Video tape. We used a 3 hour block of Youth Conference to video tape. Every group (approx 220 total youth) worked at the same time. Before taping, we had a speaker for each group (except Music) talk about the topic for 15 minutes to set the tone and share the idea. Video tapping was a one shot deal so we had 2-3 videographers for each video.
8) Edit video. This is basically a one person job. This is where your conceptual idea has to have been communicated clearly since it's this person who will ultimately pick and choose what goes into the video. Some or parts of our videos didn't turn out the way the committee had intended. Communication is key but even then sometimes things just work out differently than planned. Stake YWYM leaders did an initial viewing with recommended changes.
9) Final Approval. Our Stake Presidency had final approval and recommendations before the youth viewed them.
10) Be realist, gracious, and thankful. Remember we all do this for free. Usually we don't actually know what we're doing. Being realist (for the planned and unplanned), gracious (accepting what people can/can't do), and thankful (that it came together at all) to all who help.

This video project was out of a lot of youth and leader's comfort zones. It's hard to say how things you've never done will turn out. The uncertainty adds anxiety. Hopefully these steps will help keep the stress level low. This is a project that I would do again.

I think this is a new face for service. It's not the traditional shovels and rags but a lot of work nonetheless. Which translated into 15,000 Facebook views for about the first week. Not bad for a bunch of mostly amateurs.

One last thing - CELEBRATE at a Premiere Night.

MORALIST • Recapping General Conference

10/6/2014

We posted a General Conference FHE last conference here. Here it is as a reminder. Included is a memory game that can use this conference's talks. It can be used anytime, maybe even become a family tradition. Maybe even include root beer floats. Yay! Click on the images for the download.

FHE General Conference RECAP lesson • LDSNEST.com

FHE General Conference Bottle Cap Memory Game • LDSNEST.com

Even if you don't have bottle caps we've got you covered. Included are paper caps. Just
Print • Cut • Write • Play

FHE General Conference Bottle Cap Memory Game • LDSNEST.com

FHE General Conference Bottle Cap Memory Game • LDSNEST.com

FHE General Conference Bottle Cap Memory Game • LDSNEST.com

Go to the link here.

How do you recap conference with your family?

MORALIST • Giving Praise Notes & Compliments

8/26/2014

Reading an article this month in BYU Magazine made me think of this little kit I did for some of my fam. It's the Compliment Kit and it's been downloaded over 4000 times between the 2 files. It seems we all want to write random compliments. They call them "praise notes" in this article. Call them whatever you like just write them. That's the important thing. Read this if you need more convincing.

BYU Magazine

Compliment Kits

BYU Magazine Noting the Praiseworthy • Praise Notes & Compliments

BYU Magazine Article • Noting the Praiseworthy

MESSENGERS • Service Message Videos for Youth Conference

7/20/2014

Here are a couple of photos from our Stake's Youth Conference the last couple of days. This first one is of Wade (son and brother) and his t-shirt design. He did it himself and you can read more about it here. Love this kid.

Wade Christensen Youth Conference T-shirt Design

Wade and his Youth Conference T-shirt Design

Second is a photo from one of our service projects. I don't know about your stake but our youth are super fast at service projects and we often have a hard time finding something that will fit our 3 hour time frame that involves our 200 youth. (If you have any good ideas, share them with us below.) This year our stake decided to broaden our service project vision. We did the filming for 4 Service Message Videos at youth conference. One of the videos involves this 24' x 8' chalkboard near our stake center and Kansas City Temple.

Liberty Missouri Stake Youth Conference Service Message Video Preview Shot #ldsmakeyourmark #ldsmusicmovesme #ldstruebeauty #ldsrealmen

Liberty Missouri Stake Youth Conference Service Message Video Preview Shot #ldsmakeyourmark

I think this video (#ldsmakeyourmark) had about 75 youth with scriptures that inspired them and their testimonies. The other videos involve music (#ldsmakeyourmark), beauty (#ldstruebeauty) and manhood (#ldsrealmen). I'm not going to say much more about it. Except I'm very excited about them (though there was a lot of uncertainty in the project until we did it) and to share them with you. You'll have to watch for the videos in September.

What do you think of our Service Message Videos idea?

PS You might even see one of Alisha's boys - my grandson - in one of them.

MORALIST • fhe PRIESTHOOD POWER LESSON

7/11/2014

There's a lot of talk about women, priesthood, and excommunication lately. Plenty of commentary on it as well. Some of it good, some not so much. Since the recent issues deal with Latter-day Saints directly we at LDS NEST had to think about what to say. Or not say in the discussion.

Personally, I always have plenty to say. Very opinionated in fact. But, I have a little motto -

Just because you can, doesn't mean you should

Having lots of opinions I've realized that it's likely not all of them are good. So, I like to think about things a little before I venture opening my mouth. What should LDS NEST share? What's the message out of recent events? What discussions really help people? How does one help people stay on spiritual track? My thinking lead me to the scriptures and Alma sums it up for me.

Alma 31:5 And now, as the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was just—yea, it had had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which had happened unto them—therefore Alma thought it was expedient that they should try the virtue of the word of God.

I feel for the families who are struggling with these issues and I think of my own. Any one of us can, and often does, error. But what keeps bringing us back around is the word of God. Plain and simple.

So... Do we read it? Do we know it? Do we teach it?

FHE Lesson Priesthood Power • LDS NEST

Click Image Above for Free Download of FHE Ring Thing

In answer to how we should approach current events I came to the conclusion that the best use of my time and effort for my family and LDS NEST would be to make sure we share pure doctrine (Something that is "more powerful on minds than anything else".) With that idea we had a FHE lesson about the Priesthood - Priesthood Power. I thought I'd share what I came up with, with you.

FHE Lesson Priesthood Power • LDS NEST

Ring Thing Lesson Click Above for Download Page (the Lesson Outline is on Etsy)

I read through Elder Oaks recent talk, Keys and Authority of the Priesthood, other talks and scripture. The information can be tricky to understand and I wanted it to be clear to my kids so I summarized it all out in a way that made sense to me. It made sense to them. Maybe it will make sense to you too. There is a free download Ring Thing here.

FHE Lesson Priesthood Power • LDS NEST

Click Image Above to Purchase the Files for Wrappers & FHE Outline from our Etsy Shop

Besides the Ring Thing Lesson there is a Lesson Outline to go with it and Power Bar wrappers. It's just a little added bonus for fun that you can purchase here (it includes all the Priesthood Power handouts.) Next on my mind to teach my kids about is Apostasy. What do you think about the subject?

MORALIST • Compliment Kit Craft Remix

7/10/2014

We've been having a terrible time with our download site (ge.tt). It's a free service so we can't complain much but it's frustrating. For you and us. It's been down on and off for the past month and many of you have tried to download our nestibles and haven't been able to. Some of you have emailed us to ask for files and we try to get back to all of you. (Sorry if we've missed someone.)

The nice thing about the download mess is that we get to meet some of you, Nesties, through email. One such person is Janelle J. She emailed about some files and said she was doing them for YW. She had a great idea that we have to share.

Compliment Kit DIY Download • LDSNEST

Compliment Kit Link

If you've been around LDS NEST you know about our Compliment Kits. The first file had over 3000 downloads and the new one put up a couple of weeks ago has a few hundred. A few of you like it.

Janelle liked it and did the Compliment Kits with her YW. But, the fabric covering was going to be trickier than she wanted to do so she came up with an alternative. Duct Tape Covered Tins. Genius easy. I asked for a photo and her's turned out so cute that I asked if I could share it with you. She kindly said yes.

If you're looking for a craft remix, a different way to cover your tins, besides fabric this is one way to go. I'm going to try it for my next ones.

Thanks Janelle!!

Compliment Kits by Janelle J.

Photo Janelle J.

Do you have any photos of your Compliment Kits you want to share? Share them on our Facebook page.

MANUFACTURER • Candy Bar Wrapper YW Thank You Gift

7/2/2014

Candy Bar Wrapper Thank You • DIY Download

Click on Image Above for Download Page

Our YW Camp and 4th Year Adventure are done for the year. (On to Youth Conference!) Camp always requires so many people's effort. And it's all volunteer as you know. Our Stake likes to show a little love and appreciation even for the smallest of services. This is a little Thank You Gift that we gave out this year. It was super fast and super easy. (Think of me, my paper cutter and double-sided tape standing at the back of my car.)

“It has been said that when Heavenly Father wishes to bless us, he often sends that blessing through the service of another—a friend, a parent, a Church leader, a teacher. Expressing appreciation to these agents of the Lord’s love accomplishes two important things:
it reminds us of the kind and thoughtful service they have given us, and
it knits our hearts together.”

Carolyn Wright, The Thankful Heart, March 1994

Candy Bar Wrapper Thank You • DIY Download

Click on Image Above for Download Page

I've changed up the version above to be camp generic for your use. Download here if you need a little YW Camp help. Share some of the thank you gifts you've given (or received) for service.

Shannon Christensen for LDS NEST

MORALIST • Ten Commandments Printable

6/1/2014

MORALIST: A woman who practices, preaches, or regulates morality and principles,
in the present for the future

We have a new Ten Commandments Printable over at our Etsy Shop. You might want to use it for a FHE discussion tomorrow or frame it for your home. Bookmark or Pin this for the Come Follow Me Lessons. September's topic: Commandments.

10 Commandment Printable @ Etsy LDS Nest

Click on Image Above for Link to Our Etsy Shop

MORALIST • FHE & YW Knowledge #7 Let's Go Get Our Emergency Kit

4/28/2014

Extreme weather storms are going through parts of the US right now causing disaster in its wake. It makes me think of this FHE lesson - Let's Go Get Our Emergency Kit we've done in the past. It has scriptures that tie into things needed in an emergency kit. I've included an outline for FHE too. It might be a useful FHE to do this month.

FHE & YW Knowledge #7• Let's Go Get Our Emergency Kit • LDSNEST.com

CLICK ON THE IMAGE ABOVE FOR DOWNLOAD PAGE

I've also included a YW Personal Progress Activity for Knowledge #7. It can be done on a mutual night and then the girls can go home and give the FHE lesson to their families as part of it.

FHE & YW Knowledge #7• Let's Go Get Our Emergency Kit • LDSNEST.com

CLICK ON THE IMAGE ABOVE TO DOWNLOAD PAGE

This doesn't stop the storms but it gives a sense of peace, especially for children. They don't feel so helpless. And even if everything including emergency kits or food storage are destroyed we can go to the Lord in confidence, asking for mercy, knowing we did all that we could. I hope none of us are effected and that we can serve those who are. Be safe.

Shannon Christensen for LDS NEST

Bittersweet Adversity • FHE Lesson & Faith #3

4/12/2014

Adversity is so tough. We all have our fair share, things tailored for our progress. Here is a FHE lesson, Bittersweet Adversity, about the necessity of it in our lives. It includes a lesson, object lesson as well as printable candy wrappers.

I serve in the Stake YW so I get to do lots of training and help ward YW presidencies. For those who are in YW I worked a tie in to Personal Progress Value Experience - Faith #3. This includes a YW Activity night outline. It could be something a class presidency might like to do.

LDS NEST Bittersweet Adversity Personal Progress Faith #3 & FHE Lesson

Bittersweet Adversity (Faith #3 & FHE Lesson) Download Click Image

LDS NEST Bittersweet Adversity FHE lesson & Personal Progress Faith #3

Bittersweet Adversity (Faith #3 & FHE Lesson) Download Click Image

Tell us what you think or how it turned out for your family.

Shannon Christensen

FHE Lesson • GENERAL CONFERENCE RECAP

4/6/2014

This FHE lesson might come in handy this Monday. Or for several FHEs this month. You can download the whole file here. Enjoy the rest of Conference today.

LDS NEST FHE Lesson • General Conference Recap

Click Image Above for Download Link

LDS NEST FHE General Conference Recap

Click Image Above for Download Link

FHE Planner • April

4/5/2014

Your FHE Planner for April. Conference talks would be great as topics. It'll be 5 minutes well spent.

LDS NEST FHE Planner April

FHE Planner • Click image for Download Page • Then click "download" button on the bottom left hand corner.

Celebrate Something!!

3/21/2014

Celebrate with Us.
Leave your email address for us HERE and like us on FB or Pinterest.
See the Eye Chart Fabric Print you can get HERE

Join our email group here

Happy birthday to lds nest!

3/17/2014

That's right...it's our birthday! Do you like our new birthday suit? (read "website"). We hope you love it, because we do!

If you haven't checked out our "influence" page yet, you should! We are going to be utilizing how we LOVE, LIVE, LEARN, and LEAD more in our posts. You can click on any of the images in the sidebar to see more posts about these particular areas. We are still working on tagging all of our old ones, but stay tuned for new ones!

We've also officially opened our Etsy shop! She looks a little naked right now, but we will be adding more and more products to help you love, live, learn, and lead your life! Take a look and use coupon code: BIRTHDAYSUIT to get 10% off your purchase!

If you haven't signed up for our email list yet, you totally should--you'll get free stuff and coupon codes that are exclusive to our list. Sign up is FREE! so click here and git 'er done!

Rate our birthday suit from one to five in the comments below--ONE is BOO and FIVE is FAB!

PS. Thanks for being our Nesties! We heart you :)