Free Printable SVG Patterns for Advent Wreaths and Calendars

I love many things about Advent! Prayer, fasting, almsgiving are important. As a homeschool mom, I also made a lot of crafts with kids in preparation for Christmas. Are you making a homemade advent wreath or advent calendar? Want free printable stencils to help? Whether you make crafts with a paper die cutting machine like Cricut or make patterns free hand, you'll want these free printable SVG (scalable vector graphics) patterns.  Free Printable SVG Patterns for Scrapbooking and Cricut Machines

Free Printable Advent Cards and Invitations

If you're like me, you get invited to a lot of celebrations. There are secular ones--graduation, retirement, birthdays--and religious ones--holidays, first communion, baptism, weddings. I love giving gifts, but costs add up. So I use free printable greeting cards to save money. Going to a Catholic or Christian special event? Here are printable cards. Throwing a party? Here are invitations. You'll find printable holiday, wedding, bridal and baby shower and birthday cards, too.  Free Printable First Holy Communion Cards and Invitations

Free Printable Advent, Christmas, Catholic, Bible Coloring Pages

Catholics celebrate several religious days, referred to as Holy Days. Based on the Bible, these days center around an event in the life of Jesus or His Blessed Mother, the Virgin Mary. Holy Days are All Saints Day (Nov. 1), Feast of the Immaculate Conception (Dec. 8), Christmas (preceded by the holy season of Advent), Solemnity of Mary (Jan 1), Ash Wednesday (movable feast which kicks of the holy season of Lent and leads up to Easter), Ascension Thursday (movable feast) and the Assumption of Mary (August 15).


Our tradition is rich in Biblical teaching, prayer, sacraments and tradition. Our liturgical calendar is full of other specials days. We also commemorate the lives of saints. To help children learn about Catholic faith, here are free printable coloring pages for Bible stories, holidays and holy days, Lent, Advent, life of Jesus, Catholic saints, feast days, rosary and stations of the cross.  Free Printable Catholic Saints and Christian Bible Coloring Pages

Free Advent O Antiphons Activities, Prayers, Printables

The O Antiphons (names for Jesus) begin the last week of Advent on December 17. Sorry I'm a day late with this. Each day a different title for Jesus is the focus. These ancient messianic titles are referenced in the Old Testament of the Bible. They can be found in the hymn "O Come Emmanuel." The titles are Emmanuel God with Us, Wisdom, Dayspring, Lord and Ruler, King of Kings, Root of Jesse, Key of David. These seven titles are listed in Latin and English. Advent tradition of praying the O Antiphons (names for Jesus) began in medieval times. Orthodox and some protestant churches pray them too. Here are printable prayer guides and coloring sheets to help children learn and pray the O Antiphons.   Advent O Antiphons Activities, Prayers, Printables

Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe Activities

December 12 marks the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe in the Catholic liturgical calendar. The Blessed Mother, Mary Mother of God, appeared to Juan Diego, an Aztec farmer at Tepeyac Hill in Mexico in 1531.

Following her apparition, millions converted to Christianity. We honor her as the Patroness of the Americas. The story of the Virgen de Guadalupe is one that appeals to many. Conversion has been thrust upon people by acts of imperialism (such irony). Tyranny, violence, holy wars (which should be called unholy wars) are anathema to the gospel.   Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe Blessings to You

Free Christmas Clipart and GIFs

I just wanted to share a cool website with free holiday clipart. There's a lot of secular Christmas clipart and .gif images (moving ones). And some religious Advent themed clipart. Not as much as I'd like, but I think there may be some I haven't found. Anyway, hope it helps for your Christmas card-making or decorating. Free Christmas Clipart and GIFs - News - Bubblews

Free Printable Pilgrim Crafts for Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving in the US celebrates the survival of the pilgrims who came on the Mayflower. We wrongly refer them as pilgrims. A pilgrim is a religious adherent who journeys (makes a pilgrimage) to particular shrine or holy place. San Juan Compostela in Spain, Glastonbury Abbey were two common medieval pilgrimage sites for Catholics. Muslims make pilgrimages to Mecca and Medina. A Jew might travel to Jerusalem.

The American "pilgrims" were actually Puritans who came to the New World seeking religious freedom. We remember the difficulties they faced and the help they received from local native American Indians. We celebrate their survival at Thanksgiving. Here are free printable pilgrim crafts.  Free Printable Pilgrim Crafts for Thanksgiving

Free Printable Advent Calendar Activities

Advent is a penitential season that starts four weeks before Christmas in Catholic and Orthodox-christian churches. As in lent (before Easter) we pray, fast and give alms to prepare our hearts for the "coming" (advent) of Christ (from the Latin "adveniat regnum"--coming of Christ's kingdom.) The first Sunday of Advent in 2013 is December 1. Here are printable advent calendars for families. Photo is free advent calendar from The Toymaker. Great site. Free Printable Advent Calendar Crafts for Kids

Free Printable Advent Calendars, Religious and Secular

Advent is a penitential season that starts four weeks before Christmas in Catholic and Orthodox-christian churches. As in lent (before Easter) we pray, fast and give alms to prepare our hearts for the "coming" (advent) of Christ (from the Latin "adveniat regnum"--coming of Christ's kingdom.) The first Sunday of Advent in 2013 is December 1. Here are free printable advent calendars (secular and religious)  Free Printable Advent Calendar Crafts for Kids

Direct and Fair Trade Shopping

Raise your hand if you, like me, have more generosity than money? I see the ads, hear of missions at church, read the email requests. I don't doubt the legitimacy. I just can't help everywhere. We're living very frugally already and give quite a lot. So I love donation sites that offer non-cash ways to give. Here's my favorite.  Free Donation Sites and Fair Trade Shopping