We held New Beginnings for the Young Women last night. I made a Power Point presentation about the Young Women program and peppered it with pictures of our girls and a movie from Youth.lds.org. I like using photos and video at youth activities. We spotlighted each new blushing girl who will enter Young Women when they turn 12 this year. We love them already.

Our invitations were made by the Mia Maids and their leader. The little eggs are beads and the nest is some twine glued to paper.

Our gifts were made by the Laurels and a couple of leaders:

We decorated the tables in white cloths, blue fabric overlays, silver ornaments, tiny nests and battery-operated white Christmas lights.

Last night we placed small silver ornaments in the nests (not candies) and it was lovely. The centerpieces were low cost because we used Christmas decorations and objects from our homes. Each table was a little bit different.

Youth.lds.org has downloadable t-shirt and poster designs for the yearly theme. It’s been so helpful this month as we’ve introduced the youth theme for 2012:

Arise and Shine Forth

that thy light may be a standard for the nations.

D&C 115:5

Here are the headbands I made for the young men and young women for our kickoff activity early in January. I downloaded the design and printed on an iron-on transfer which I applied to muslin strips. The young men wore theirs on their foreheads or around their burly biceps.

Most young women wore them as headbands. These took about an hour to make 30. I didn’t sew the fabric; I just tore it into strips.

If you need a pick-me-up, here is a lovely video.