Military Leave Gift?

[michellesmunchkins]

Hello Ladies,

I have a dcd who is leaving for the military this weekend. I would like to make something with his daughter that he can have with him/take with him etc. I want something unique and different...any ideas?? Thanks in advance for any suggestions! I have brain dead today and cannot think of something that would work.

[Inspired by Reggio]

What about a 'fingerprint' key chain ~ it is small and portable?

[michellesmunchkins]

Oh I like that idea. Is there a certain way to make them? I was on pinterest all naptime today trying to figure something out lol Would you just buy a clear keychain and put the fingerprint in, or would you do something like the shrinky stuff that michaels sells? Sorry craft time is NOT my forte lol

[Inspired by Reggio]

We've done two different kinds

One with shrinky dink that is the 'whole hand' than shrunk to keychain size

http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn214/totallyawake/June12109_zpsf7aeac7 2.jpg

The other was with the 'magic clay' stuff from Michael's that air dries 'hard'

http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn214/totallyawake/KidsandRenos054-1_zpsd1a0cdc0.jpg

[Inspired by Reggio]

If it is for a dad going into the Military ~ like actually going to do a tour somewhere like Afganastan and you are wanting this to be something he could take with him I would opt for the 'black mat style beads' and perhaps instead of a key chain make the 'loop' out of black threading of some kind more like a 'bookmark' style or if you want the key chain loop maybe black leather cording for jewellery making something MATTE verses the shiny colored beads or silver key chain .... you do not want anything that would 'reflect light' on night vision goggles that could give away a position ~ they have very strict guidelines about what they can have on their person and in their camps and so forth.

[michellesmunchkins]

Love it! Thank you so much

[michellesmunchkins]

Oh never even thought about his restrictions. I believe he is leaving for training but I don't like to pry into too much detail so we will go with the black beads and loop idea just in case.

[Momof4]

How old is the little girl michelle? Can she do a little bit of sewing with you? One of my friends makes little felt hearts and she stuffs them with some batting so they are puffy. Then you give them to your loved one and tell them they are carrying your love in their pocket. That should be something the Dad would be allowed to carry in a pocket.

[michellesmunchkins]

She is 18 months. I love that idea too :) I can't imagine leaving my little one so I just want him to have something he can look at each day.

[mom-in-alberta]

What a beautiful idea, Michelle... And I was going to suggest the same thing Reggio!
Ugh, I must have some raging hormones or something right now, because this post has me bawling my eyes out.

[michellesmunchkins]

Thanks mom-in-alberta! I almost cry each time mom drops her off and talks about him leaving them, so sad :( This is the least I can do for them

[Inspired by Reggio]

I agree ladies ... the gift our Military families give to our country is truly amazing leaving their families and loved ones for months at a time to go and put their very life on the line in very scary and traumatic environments in attempts to protecting the rights and lives of others who are being oppressed in other countries .... the things my man has seen around the world, the treatment of women and children, the violence even though he no longer serves he carries that around in his head all the time one thing to see it on the news another thing to see it first hand and be powerless to stop if because you have 'orders' not to engage and what not :(

I am grateful that I met my man at the end of his active tours of duty due because the worry about him being gone so long would have done me in ~ they almost sent him back to Afghanistan in 2007 for one last tour and just the idea had me frozen and fortunately, if you can use that word, due to something going on in my health at the time he was able to get compassionate leave to stay back until we knew for sure what I was dealing with ~ and he retired the following year!

[Wonderwiper]

Could you make something with a small picture of her? Maybe a passport size, sewn into that little stuffed heart idea? Whatever you end up making....it will be greatly treasured by Dad!

[Inspired by Reggio]

Hand another idea while surfing my pinterest account for rainy day inspiration just now

Sort of building on the shrink dink hand print key chain and the pocket heart idea from Momof4 ... since turns out that dcg is really wee to help sew the felt heart you could make a 'long distance pocket hug' with two of her hands on shrinky dinky so those are from her and literally a piece of her and than measure a length of black jewellery cord for her 'arms' and create something like this only 'mini size' hands that would fit in his pocket and not get crumpled ... than whenever he misses her he'd have a little hug in the pocket?

http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn214/totallyawake/long-distance-hug-400x433_zpsb78c2a18. jpg

[Inspired by Reggio]

You can also supposedly print a photo directly onto shrink dink paper to make 'charms' for bracelets so you could build on Wonderwiper's idea and make a 'photo charm' to go with the hand hugs?

I have never done this but the instructions are here ...
http://www.shrinkydinks.com/freepatterns/index.php?id=holiday-keepsake-ornament-1