The sisters bring women’s gift items regularly throughout the year, such as soaps, lotions, bath things and so on. We have made items such as rubber stamped note pads, bookmarks and bath salts which we use along with the items collected and once a year we fill gift baskets using excelsior, cellophane, and ribbon. We have also included scrolls with the Proclamation to the Family and tied with ribbon.
There are many ideas of things to include such as pamphlets about the city or area where you live. We make about 25 baskets and store them in the R.S. cupboard. At a baptism of a new sister, the Pres. welcomes the new sister and presents a basket. We also made cards out of used cards cutting out the pretty pictures and have a welcome written on the back also stating that this is a gift from the women of our ward. We have also made these cards up on the computer with appropriate pictures etc. We use a hole punch and attach to the ribbon on the gift basket.

The gift baskets are also given to new sisters that move in and to Young Women entering R.S. We have been doing this for a couple of years and it has been a huge success and really makes any of our newcomers feel so welcomed and loved!

-: Linda Pearce

I’m also a military wife (Army) and wondered if you had ever used some of these HFPE class ideas with your military groups. I am active in our Family Readiness Groups. I am currently planning a meeting based on general etiquette as well as military etiquette and traditions. I’m doing this as a back to school theme where everyone will come dressed as they did in high school, foods served will be typical of cafeteria meals and there will be classes and a quiz on etiquette (can be used for any subject, though, such as budgeting, consumer math, literary, etc.).
I also have plans for one centering around tea time traditions– the art of taking time for reflecting on God and sharing beautiful works of music, art, poetry (literary works) and traditions with your fellow sisters and your children. Another idea that I want to do is a spring planting theme with a lesson on blooming where you are planted as well as basics of gardening.

~Mrs. Danielle Hamilton

We recently became a new ward and had pretty much zero budget and did not know everyone. What we did for enrichment night is have a “baby Shower” theme because our ward was the new kid in the stake. The sisters brought labeled gifts for the auxiliary closets. For instance the primary received scissors, glue, markers, crayons etc. The Relief Society received paper products for enrichment night, dishtowels, etc. Then all the sisters played get-to-know you games and had baby shower cake, punch and nuts. It was helpful to our poor ward and a great way to get to know the sisters, not to mention a lot of fun!

-Anonymous

Distressing furniture is popular, fun and easy to do–just pick up an old dresser, night stand, or whatever you have lying around. You could also try finding something at a second hand store. Simply paint it the color you want, and grab some sand paper and just start sanding the edges. You can change the whole look of your furniture and it feels like you’ve bought something brand new for only a fraction of the cost!

-Melinda Walker