Personalized Box Frame

This is my favorite project of the day!!  I was just about to throw away the box of a frame (another sweet score from the Thrift Store!), but I just knew I could do something with it.  Then it clicked -- A HA! -- another frame!

Materials:
-Frame box
-Another piece of cardboard
-Fabric of your choice
-Small clothespin(s)
-Hot glue gun
-Magnets (optional)

1. Gather your materials, heat up your glue gun and get ready for fun!
2. Measure the length and height inside the frame box, cut the cardboard to fit, and cut your fabric to be an inch longer and wider.
3. Position your fabric as you would like it and glue the edges down in back.  You can cut the corners off to prevent it from being bulky.
4. Place the fabric-covered cardboard inside the box and decide where to put the clothespin (you can put more than one in, of course).
5. Hot glue the clothespin(s) in place and adhere the magnets to the back of the box.
6. Clip your current favorite picture in the clothespin and hang up to admire!!

You know what I love about this creation??  Not only are you re-purposing things that would otherwise end up in the trash or recycling bin, but you also have an easy-access frame you can change out as often as you like.  Plus, I love having this fabric somewhere I get to enjoy it every day. :)

Family Fun Fund Bank

My Muse for this creation... an AFN commercial! Wish I could find it online to show you... its so silly, lol!

Remember the Ally Cat pillow I made for my friend's daughter?  Well today I made them another gift. 

Since my friend's husband is deployed right now, I thought it would be nice for them to have another thing to look forward to when he comes home.  So here is their Family Fun Fund piggy bank!  The kids can fill up the bank with change and when their daddy comes home they use the money to do something fun!

Materials:
-Clean baby formula container (you could also use an oatmeal container so the like)
-Fancy paper (I used an old gift bag I got at the Thrift Store for $0.25!)
-Ribbon
-Letter stickers (my QuicKuts came in handy again, pardon the pun)
-Glue
-Razor knife or sharp scissors

1. Measure the height and length of your container and cut the appropriate size from your paper.
2. Carefully glue the paper in place on your container.
3. Glue the ribbon along the top and bottom to cover any gaps... and make it prettier.
4. Make sure you have the right amount of letters to spell what you want (you could also make a special piggy bank for a child and spell their whole name, or if your little one is saving up for something special you could spell out "Puppy Fund," "Bike Fund" or "Family Vacation Fund").
5. Stick or glue your letters in place.
6. Using the razor knife or scissors, carefully cut a slit in the lid for the money to fit through.
7. Glue any decorations or letters to the lid.
8. Make sure all the glue is dry, and give to your loved one to start saving!

Memory Book Cover

This memory book was a sweet score from the Thrift Store... $3 for a brand-spankin'-new book!?  Niiice!

My mom is going to use it to keep the countless little scraps of paper bursting out of her address book.  We couldn't have her using some boring old maroon-colored book, now could we?  Nope!  So I grabbed my supplies and got to work making it pretty for her.

Materials:
-Memory/Notebook with a blank cover
-Scrapbook stickers
-Fancy paper
-Letter stencil (I borrowed one of my son's foam letter puzzle pieces!)
-Glitter glue pen
-Glue (I used a hot glue gun)

1. Trace out your letter onto your fancy paper.
2. Lay all your items on the cover and decide on the design you like best.
3. Apply glue to the back of your decorations and carefully put in place.
4. Trace your letter with glitter glue pen.
5. Make sure all glue is dry before adding your pictures, letters, recipes, memories, dreams and secrets to the book!

See?  Easy-peasy! ;)

Toddler Transition Sign

My Muse for this creation!

"This personalized sign smoothes your tot's transition from day to night and night to day. When she rises, help her turn the board to the "awake" side and greet the morning sun. Come evening, flip it over, so your little sleepyhead knows it's time to head for bed under the watchful eye of the moon."

I added some song lyrics to each side to add to the fun.  When we flip the sign, we ("we" being "I" for now) sing the songs.  

This is a tradition I already love!

 

Halloween Door Sign

This is just a simple sign I made for our front door.  The "H" and two ghosts are from a scrap piece of fabric, the letters are made with my QuicKuts tool, and everything else is construction paper and markers!

I put self-adhesive magnets on two small clothespins and since our from door is magnetic, it worked perfectly!

Halloween Votives

Finally!!  A use for the 20+ glass jars I have saved up!  

To make these fun and festive votive candles you will need:

-clean baby food jars

-tissue paper

-a glue stick (or regular glue and a paint brush)

-markers

-glitter glue pens

-tea light candles

1. Cut the tissue paper into small pieces.

2. Apply the glue to the back of the tissue pieces (if using regular glue and a brush, apply a coat of glue to the jar, then the tissue paper, then another layer of glue on top, if needed)

3. Using your markers, draw your desired images on top of the tissue paper.

4. Apply a decorative line of glitter glue on top of the jar

5. Place a candle inside, turn off the lights and enjoy!

Easy-peasy! ;)

My Bloggin' Buddy & His Art

My baby boy hanging out with me while I post some blogs.  So lovey!

Halloween Carry Box

These are made out empty soy milk cartons, scrap Halloween fabric, orange construction and hot glue!

We will probably use one for Bobby to collect candy in, and the others for decoration, like some lollipop ghosts!

 

I Love You Curlicue Sign

My muse for this creation

This was a lot of fun to make.  Very relaxing, albeit time-consuming! I didn't cut up construction paper like the instructions said, but was fortunate enough to find long strips of ribbed, colored paper perfect for this project!  Red construction paper covers a rectangle cut from a used cereal box (I love to reuse!), decorative paper centered in the middle, and a construction paper heart lays the foundation for the whole thing.  The rest was just cutting, rolling and gluing!  A great activity to do while watching TV, or trying to keep quite while the baby naps.  I look forward to making more! :)

 

"Ally" Cat Pillow

This is a gift I made for the daughter of and oooolllddd friend I recently reconnected with on Facebook (gatta love that site!).  Her baby girl is named Allyson, and this Ally Cat is for her!

I made it out of a onesie that Bobby never fit into.  I just cut the sleeves and bottom off, hand embroidered her name and heart, sewed and stuffed it up!  I also put in a little squeaker where the mouth is, just to add some extra cuteness.  It is sooo soft and lovable. Hope she likes it! :)

Twinkle, Twinkle...

 

This was made with the intention of one day becoming a gift to a new baby.  Not sure who that little soul is yet, but I look forward to meeting him!

Easy-Peasy Popsicle Puzzles

I love making these puzzles!!  They are super easy, super fun, and little kids love them! I've sent several to my friends' children and look forward to my own son playing with some.  It is also a great way to reuse old greeting cards and postcards.

Materials:

• Popsicle sticks/tongue depressors
• old greeting cards, postcards or pictures
• glue
• sharp knife/razor knife

1. Place your desired image on several sticks to see exactly how many you will need.
2. Squeeze some glue on each stick, one at a time, and lay in place on the back of your card.  
3. Continue step 2 until you have covered the whole card, carefully placing each stick in line with the rest.
4. Place a heavy object, like a book, on top of the sticks to keep the flat and wait for it to dry.
5. Carefully cut off each piece by sliding the knife between the sticks.
6. Optional: Write numbers on the back of the sticks, different colors for each puzzle.  This will help you keep track and help your kids with their numbers!

Voila!  Easy-Peasy Popsicle Puzzles!

Birdy Notebook

 A recent trip to a local fabric store proved to be more fun that anticipated!  I found a box back behind a thousand bolts of fabric, and in it were pre-cut pieces of fabric going much cheaper than the main displays.  This was my favorite one I found, and I knew I wanted to use it for something I would see a lot.  So I got myself a $0.80 mini-notebook and covered it with my little birdies!

 

I just traces the notebook, adding some extra to wrap around the covers, and hot glued them in place.  

I then cut a couple pieces of card stock to place inside.  The little birdie inside is my fave.  

I'll probably add some wording above the bird next.  Maybe one of these quotes...

Intelligence without ambition is a bird without wings.
Salvador Dali

No bird soars too high if he soars with his own wings.
William Blake 

 

Homemade Finger Paint

This is an easy-peasy recipe for finger paint that is completely non-toxic, so you don't have to worry about icky chemicals on your little ones.  It is also safe if they decide to taste it, though they probably won't want to do it again! ;)

Cornstarch Finger Paint

1/2 cup corn starch

1/4 cup sugar

2 cups cold water

Food coloring

Mix the cornstarch and sugar together, then slowly stir in the water and mix well. Put the mixture in a pot and cook over medium heat, stirring frequently for about 5 minutes, or until a gel-like texture develops. Separate the mixture into several smaller containers and add a few drops of food coloring to each container.

I used regular food coloring, but you can also try your hand at making your own!  Here are some ideas I look forward to trying soon:

Red - Beet juice, cherry juice, raspberry juice, cranberry juice

Blue - blueberry juice

Yellow - dried turmeric

Green - Spinach water

I had so much fun making and playing with this finger paint... probably more than my son!  

I made the paint before he went down for a nap, thinking it wouldn't be too hot by the time he woke up.  Well, we ended up leaving the house shortly after the nap, which meant the paint was left in the bowls for several hours!  They were covered in plastic wrap, so when we got home it wasn't hard to "bring them back to life" by adding a bit of warm water.  Good to know so you can plan ahead!

The Finished Product!

 

I'm so proud! Ha ha!