Red Starfish, Hold On

In preparing for YW Camp, I want there to be meaning behind every thing we do - even in the crafts and activities.  Here is the first of those:
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MINI DEVOTIONAL/THOUGHT
The Red Starfish, Troy L. Love, Ensign, June 2004
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Main Thought:  “He loves you. Be of good cheer. Be like the starfish‍ and just hold on. He will take care of everything.”
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Note:  Please visit the link (above) for the full article, I simply took from it what inspired me.
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My companion and some of the other missionaries wanted to see the ocean after the activity, so I joined them. We stopped at a gigantic rock formation overlooking the sea. The sun was blocked behind darkening clouds. My heart felt as heavy as the gray sky above me, and I cried silently, “What am I doing wrong?”
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I began to share with my Father in Heaven the disappointments of the last few months. I felt my heart sinking further with every sentence. I gazed at the ocean waves, then bowed my head.
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As I looked down I noticed jagged black boulders near the bottom of the rock formation. The waves slammed against these rocks, swirled around with frigid bubbles, and then hurried back out to sea. As I watched, fascinated, my eyes spotted a small red starfish‍ hanging onto one of the rocks. Even though the cold water crashed against it with salty severity, the little starfish‍ did not move.
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photo credit: here
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Then I felt the Spirit whisper, “I love you. Be of good cheer. Be like the starfish and just hold on. I will take care of everything.” At last I felt hope. I knew the Lord loved me.  I understood that He has a plan and that I needed to exercise faith in Him.
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Elder Jeffrey R. Holland‍ has taught: “I know some of you do truly feel at sea, in the most frightening sense of that term. It is not without a recognition of life’s tempests but fully and directly because of them that I testify of God’s love and the Savior’s power to calm the storm. Christ‍ knows better than all others that the trials of life can be very deep and we are not shallow people if we struggle with them. But He rebukes faithlessness and He deplores pessimism. He expects us to believe!”
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I realized that day at the beach that despair is not from heaven. Whenever I think about that red starfish‍ holding on under difficult circumstances, I feel my load lighten—not because the pressures of life are alleviated, but because I know there is power in putting my trust in the Lord. If we hold on, we will find peace.
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HANDOUT idea
Bake up a batch of starfish shaped sugar cookies.  Place each starfish cookie into it's own clear cello bag. Tie 'em up jute and a tag like this one:
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Starfish Sugar Cookie
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CRAFT ideas - Starfish Inspired

DIY Starfish Cuff
This is the coolest thing I have come across!
I want one for myself.  :)
full tutorial, with photos, here, from DreamCreate
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Faux Sequin Starfish - Freezer Paper Stencil
This is adorable!
And such a great design.
tutorial and template here, from Ruffles and Stuff
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DIY Whimsical Starfish
I would like to give this one a try.
tutorial, with photos, here, from Miss Kopy Kat
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Starfish Headband with TWO Starfish Hippie Headwrap Mermaid Hair
DIY Starfish Headband
tutorial here, from Reese Kistel
purchase here, from Michelle Shepherd - also photo credit
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Starfish Nail Design
Girls always love a fun nail design.
I love the colors!
found here, from Reese Kistel
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DIY Starfish Hair Clip
tutorial here, from Tiny Tangerines
another tutorial here, from Shabby Beach Nest
purchase here, from Michelle Shepherd - also photo credit
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DIY Felt Starfish
This would also make a great bean bag to be used for seaside games.
tutorial with printable template here, from WoolHalla
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Hand Stamped Jewelry with Starfish Accent
The girls could stamp words that help them remember the message:
"Hold On", "Just Hold On", "Be of Good Cheer", Believe",
"Remember the Starfish", "Be the Starfish"  :)
idea found here, from SoSoBella