Ranger School Craft Challenge

When Zac left for Ranger School, I had no idea how I was going to occupy my time. I had a part time job, two fur babies and a whole lot of free time. We talked about all of the things I COULD do to fill my time, like working out, trying to make friends, or trying new recipes. And although I ended up doing all of those things, at the time the only idea we came up with that I thought I would stick to was a craft challenge.

The challenge was simple. For every week Zac was away, I had to complete at least one project and blog about it. In the end, he was gone for 13 weeks and I completed over 13 projects. There were a couple weeks I didn’t blog about my project because I didn’t want Zac to see it online before he saw it in person.

This challenge started as a way for me to fill time, but by the end of the 13 weeks, I had to find time to complete each project. I stepped out of my comfort zones and made friends, started going to the gym, and trying new things. When it was all said and done, this challenge jumpstarted my own “Ranger School” journey. I have changed and grown so much since the day I dropped Zac off. I did so much more than just wait for him to come home.

Well here it is! All the projects I completed in 13 weeks!

Ranger School Craft Challenge

Week One: Patriotic 4th of July Wreath

Week Two: Travel Globe

Week Three: Open When Letters & Batman Care Package

Week Four: Office Chair Makeover

Week Five: Rolodex Makeover

Week Six: Keepsake Treasure Box Makeover

Week Seven: Anniversary Care Package

Week Eight: Paper Anniversary Gift 

Week Nine: Olaf Painting

Week Ten: Hawaii Care Package

Week Eleven: Ribbon and Lace American Flag

Week Twelve: Anniversary Date Wall Hanging

Week Thirteen: Belle Dress & Beast Sign

I am so glad I decided to do this. Not only did it give me something to do, it gave me something to talk to people about on the Ranger School Support groups. It made reaching out to make friends a little bit easier. And once I made those friends I found myself stepping out of my comfort zone and trying new foods, going to the gym, and eventually jump starting a new lifestyle. This challenge helped get me out of a funk that came from being in a new place by myself and now I feel completely at home. And completing a weekly craft or project has almost become a habit of mine now. I have several other projects in the works and I can’t wait to share them with you!

Disney Themed Ranger School Homecoming

Anyone who knows us, knows that my husband and I love Beauty and the Beast. Sure, it was kinda my thing that morphed into our thing. But Zac grew to love it so much that Tale As Old As time was our wedding song, that he happily walked around Disney World wearing Beauty and the Beast Tank tops, and that we decorated our living room with a painting of the Beauty and the Beast stained glass window. Like a lot of things in our lives, it went from “my movie” to “our movie”.

While Zac was in Ranger School, I made him a book using pictures from the movie to try to make him laugh. The book suggested that Zac was the Beast, obviously, and that Ranger School was Gaston. There were pictures of Gaston attacking the Beast, pictures of Belle giving the Beast a stern “talking to”, and of course, pictures of the Beast defeating Gaston. This book was going to be given to Zac when he was on his bus ride back to Georgia from Florida, so I thought I would keep the Beauty and the Beast theme going when I went to pick him up.

First I made my version of a Disney Bound Belle dress. (I didn’t end up getting many pictures of just the dress on the day of because I was so excited to see Zac. But I did take one while I was working on my outfit.)

To make this Disney Bound, I found a plain, strapless yellow dress. It was not an easy thing to do at the end of summer. Most stores were transitioning to Fall clothing styles, so most yellows were mustardy tones that just wouldn’t cut it for me. Luckily, I had my crew of amazing friends helping me look. We found a ton of different styles of yellow dresses at Forever 21. I found a lot of really cute ones, that were actually way cuter than the one I bought. But I knew this particular dress would be perfect for what I wanted to do to it. Next, I went on the hunt for yellow tulle and buttons. Surprisingly, Hobby Lobby didn’t have ANY yellow tulle. They actually had every color BUT yellow. I did snag the rose and a red flower for my hair from Hobby Lobby though, so it didn’t end up being a wasted trip. Next I hit up JoAnn’s Fabric. I have had a lot of success with them lately, so I wasn’t too surprised when I found exactly what I needed. I did have to paint my buttons yellow, but that was a simple fix. I attached the tulle and buttons to my dress by hand, and ended up securing the buttons with hot glue so they would lay flat if I moved. My last added touch was finding red shoes. I found a really cute pair at Charlotte Ruse. Unfortunately, I have baby feet and they didn’t have my size. I ended up finding mine at Rue 21. There shoe sizes are a little strange so the closest I could get to “my size” was a S/M so they are a little bit big, but they got the job done.

Next I needed to make a sign. I knew showing up dressed as a Disney Princess could be potentially ridiculous, so I needed my sign to tie everything together. I decided to make it say “I’m here for my Beast.” Just to make sure there could be no doubt in anyones mind, I decided to draw the Beast on the sign too. I chose to draw him in his cape and angry so he’d be more masculine. I outlined everything and drew in stained glass throughout the outline.

Zac’s face when he saw me was exactly what I expected. A big ole’ smile and a goofy laugh. I know I could have shown up in sweat pants and he wouldn’t have cared but I was glad I did something silly. It gave me something to do and made him laugh before I even made it to him. And hey, now I can dress like Belle when ever I want to. I am NOT mad about that! 🙂

Hawaiian Themed Care Package

My husband and I are lucky enough to be to be able to say that our first duty Station is Schofield Barracks, HI. Knowing that we are moving to Hawaii when this Ranger School journey is over, has made all the difference for me. It gives me something to plan and look forward to. Honestly its not something I feel like I need to explain; WE. ARE. PUMPED. So it was really a no brainer when I had to pick another care package theme.

Supplies:

• Priority Mail Box
• Card Stock
• Letter Stickers
• Decorative Stickers
• Glue or Mod Podge
• Scissors
• Hawaiian Leis
• Packing Tape

Directions:

1. Construct your box using the packing tape.
2. Use your card stock to cover every surface of the inside of your box. Some people leave the inner walls of the box uncovered. I prefer to cover it all so it looks uniform and complete.
3. Using stickers write out: “Almost Time To Get Lei’d” on the top and bottom flap. I wanted to make the word Lei’d really large, so I cut it out of card stock myself. You should be able to find big letters at Hobby Lobby or Michael’s, I am just picky.
4. Cut the lei’s and be careful not to lose any of the flowers, Tape around the inside of the box. You may want to tape in several places.
5. Use decorative stickers to decorate the other two flaps.
6. I added a Hawaiian bucket list to one flap that included all of the things we had talked about doing together when we got there. I hoped that might lift his spirits.

Remember, you know your solider better than anyone. Add as many personal touches as you can. Have fun with your package and she/he will see the love you put into it. I know my husband is going to crack up when he sees this.

** This care package was featured on the Creative Care Packages Instagram page.

Anniversary Care Package

I some how forgot to post my last care package! I decided to make an Anniversary themed care package since he was supposed to receive the package only a few days before our first anniversary. I thought it would be fitting since I would have to use paper to decorate it. It turns out they held the package and he still hasn’t gotten to open it yet. But I know he is going to love it when he finally gets to open it! I used a lot of personal touches, like clips from our “thank you” cards, and pictures from the photo booth. Hobby Lobby has a large selection of wedding stickers. If you don’t want to spend the money on the stickers, you can always draw on the paper. I just like the extra touch the stickers give, and scrap booking supplies go on sale at Hobby Lobby all the time. Don’t forget to take your 40% coupon!

Supplies:

• Priority Mail Box
• Card Stock
• Letter Stickers
• Decorative Stickers
• Glue or Mod Podge
• Scissors
• Photographs
• Packing Tape

Directions:

1. Use the packing tape to construct your box. Make sure its taped up extremely well if you are shipping to Swamps Phase of Ranger school. They have a serious ant problem.
2. I chose card stock in the colors of our wedding, pink and navy blue. But you can choose any colors your solider will love. Glue or Mod Podge the card stock on the inside surfaces of your box.
3. Use the stickers and photographs to decorate the box in a personal way your Solider will love!

Remember, no one knows your Solider like you do! Don’t be afraid to be cheesy, mushy, or just plain funny. You are supplying smiles and happy thoughts where they don’t come often! I can’t wait to see what you come up with! Happy Crafting!

Mountains Care Packages

While my husband has been in Ranger School, I have had the amazing opportunity to meet so many strong women. We have bonded over so much these past few weeks, and I am so thankful to have these ladies by my side through all of this.

I have gotten a lot of praise and attention for the things I have been doing for my husband. But the thing is, I do almost everything either with, or in coordination with, these ladies. We all help each other come up with ideas and create things together. I don’t deserve all of this attention. These amazing girls do. It is true that I LOVE being creative and making things, and Zac being in Ranger School is a great excuse for me to do all of these things. But I would not have been able to do all I have done without the help and support of these awesome women.

And even more than that, these ladies have made the BEST care packages ever!

But don’t take my word for it, check them out!

Roxanne made a Parks and Recreation themed care package for her husband. Watching the show is something that helped get her and her husband through the long distance part of their relationship and they both love it a lot. I spent the entire time she was making her box, cracking up at her clever execution of hilarious moments from the show. I loved it so much, I actually went home and started watching Parks, just so I could laugh about it some more. She also did something I would have never thought to do. Instead of gluing paper to her box, she used printed contact paper. Because it is basically a large sticker, she could cut it to the exact size and stick it on. Such a good idea. Props girl!

Karen did a love letter themed care package. Her and I actually made ours together a couple weeks ago, and she went through a few awesome ideas before landing on this super cute one. I love how she made an entire flap into an envelope. She also included a few “Happy Birthday” touches so she could wish her man well on his big day, even though she couldn’t be there. Her package is so romantic and personal to her and her “honey bunny”. She was very proud of herself, as she should be. It turned out amazing! 

Kelly used what she called a “Freedom Theme”. She used very patriotic prints of paper to decorate her box. It looked great before she even started putting personal touches onto it. But her idea to personalize it is what truly made it awesome. She printed pictures of places her and her husband want to travel to when he completes Ranger School and a few pictures of the two of them on previous vacations. Such a sweet idea that will surely give her husband an added boost of motivation! Sara made an adorable, personal box for her super lucky boyfriend. She included a small calendar with a heart on the date of his graduation (fingers crossed). This is such a cute way to help him keep his eyes on the prize. She also included a To-Do List for after he graduates. I adore the idea of giving the guys something to look forward to. And of course he covered her box in adorable pictures of the two of them, (and one of her with her new car!) He is definitely going to love opening this care package!Because she is so amazing and thoughtful, Joy made not one, but two care packages! The first package is for her husband. For this package she went with a simple but very elegant theme. She used adorable scrapbook paper coupled with pictures and memories that her and her husband hold dear, to make her care package extra special. And as an added touch, she included homemade cookies. It doesn’t get any better than that!

She made a second box for a close friend of her and her husband, who is also in Ranger School. I find it so amazing that she took the time to make him a care package as well. As Karen always says, the army is a family and they’re all “ours”! She used military themed paper and motivational sayings to decorate this package. Although it is simple, it will mean the world to a guy who probably isn’t expecting one!

I am so glad I got to witness all of the love that went into these boxes. So much time and effort was spent on boxes that will be ripped open and thrown away in only 15 minutes. The support these women have for their Rangers is simply beautiful and I consider myself lucky to get to see it first hand almost everyday.

So thank you for all of the compliments and praise for the things I do for Zac. It really does mean a lot to me that people notice all that I do. But keep in mind that there are so many amazing wives and girlfriends who do above and beyond for their men each and everyday. I have learned so much from their shared experiences and stories. I would be completely lost without them. These ladies have become my family and deserve all the praise and attention in the world because they have changed my life for the better. And they have done it with strength and grace. I am so thankful for each and every one of them!

**All the pictures in this post were taken by maker of each box. 

Batman Care Package

Everyone who knows my husband and I, knows how much we love Batman. So when a fellow army wife asked if I would have a “care package making day” with her, I knew I had to do something Batman related. I know I will make many, many more care packages in my life time, but I think this turned out pretty well for my first attempt.

Basic Supplies for Any Care Package:

• Priority Mail Box
• Card Stock
• Letter Stickers
• Decorative Stickers
• Paper Cutter (not pictured)
• Glue (not pictured)
• Scissors (not pictured)

After a fun night of crafting, this is what I came up with. I stuck with black and yellow since Zac is in Ranger School. I think it worked out well. I know it’s going to make him laugh and I can’t wait to hear what he thinks of it. And I definitely can’t wait to make more!

Ranger School Explained (in Simple Terms)

Today I dropped my husband off at Camp Rogers, Fort Benning, for Ranger School. This is a huge step for his career and we have been preparing for this day since we moved to Georgia, last November.

As the person who spends the most time with Zac, I am completely aware that when he explains his military career to his friends and family, he is usually not as informative as we all hoped he’d be. He loves to use words and acronyms that no one ever understands, so a lot of people he has talked to still have NO idea what Ranger School even is. As a result of this, I have had several people ask me all kinds of questions so I am going to do my best to explain Ranger School as I understand it, in the simplest terms I can, and hopefully answer any questions you may have!

RTAC (or Ranger Training Assessment Course)

Before I get into explaining Ranger, I will answer the questions I got about where Zac was the past two weeks.

RTAC, which is often referred to as “Pre-Ranger School” is a two week training that is designed to prepare students for Ranger School.  It is split into two week-long phases. The first phase involves a series of “tests” that will show how prepared the student is for Ranger School. Some (but not all) of these “tests” include a physical fitness test, land navigation, and obstacle course.

Once a student passes the first week, they move onto the second week. They must pass the phase one events to move onto the second week. From what Zac told me, the second week was much more laid back and geared toward teaching them techniques for success during Ranger School.

Ranger School

Alright, now for the fun stuff. A lot of people’s first question for me is “How long will be gone?” This is such a hard question to answer. To understand why, you first have to understand how his time is broken up. Ranger School has three main phases: Darby or Benning Phase, Mountain Phase, and Swamp Phase. Before he enters any of these phases he first has to get through RAP week or Ranger Assessment Phase.

RAP Week

The first week of Ranger School, Days 1-4, are called RAP Week. (Note: Zac is currently on Day 0, which is mostly In-Processing) This first week is one of the hardest parts of Ranger School as 57% of total failures happen during RAP Week and 28% of all Soldiers fail a RAP week event. RAP week events include a fitness test, land navigation and a 12 mile Foot march.

Darby Phase

Darby phase is 20 days long and involves a lot of ambush and recon training. This training is conducted in and around Camp Rogers and Camp Darby in Fort Benning.

Mountain Phase

Mountain Phase is 21 days long and will teach students military mountaineering techniques. This basically means they are being prepared for combat on mountains. This phase is conducted in Camp Merrill near Dahlonega, Georgia.

Swamp Phase (or Florida Phase)

Swamp Phase is designed to teach students how to survive and operate in a rainforest/swamp environment. This phase is conducted in Florida (which is why it is sometimes referred to as Florida Phase)

So, how long will he be there?

In a perfect world, he would get through all three phases in one try and he would be gone for about 2 months. But the reality of it is simple: Ranger School is hard. Not everyone passes everything. If they did, being a Ranger wouldn’t be a big deal, but it is. So here’s the break down.

If Zac gets through RAP Week, he is golden. RAP Week is basically make it or break it time. If you don’t pass, you’re finished.

Once he makes it to Darby he can be what is called “recycled”. This just means he would start back over at day one of that phase. So say he didn’t pass something he needed to pass in Darby, (or Mountains, or Swamp) they would send him back to Day 1 of that phase and he would try again.

That is why I can’t give anyone an answer on when he will be back. We have our fingers crossed that he will be one of the students graduating Aug 21st, but it is just too soon to know that.

So hopefully I have answered everyone’s questions! If not feel free to message me and I will do my best to answer them! Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers. Contact me if you would like to write him letters!