felt Christmas tree

A felt Christmas tree for the kids is about as easy as it gets.  Nothing involved but scissors.  I've seen these on Pinterest, and though this isn't as fancy as some of them, the kids love to play with it and not my real tree.

What you need:  at least 2 yards of green felt and enough felt for the ornaments & lights.  I found at Michael's a prepackaged large piece of felt.  It was a little pricey but use the 40% off coupon and it it fine.  I also picked up felt sheets in yellow, red, blue, purple & white.

Fold the green felt in half longways & cut out a tree shape (well half of it anyway).  Then use something round to trace circles on the other colors of felt.  I cheated with my star.  I have a Creative Memories shape set and traced it.  I do not remember what I used for the shape of the lights.  I may have found a small wood oval and traced it.

 

I use four 3M small Picture Hanging Strips to attach it to the wall.  The tree can be removed from the strips, just do it slowly to not mess up the felt too much.  Felt sticks to felt (remember flannelgraphs from Sunday School???) and can be rearranged however many times your kids feel the need.  Mine has been redecorated at least 4 times this morning that I know of.  You can get fancy with the shapes, but I didn't see the need.

 

This is a great afternoon project and the kids love it!

 

"School" Book

Little Princess is 4.  She has decided that she is being homeschooled right now, but when she turns 5 she will go to school on the bus with the other kids.  Glad she's decided her future already.

Anyway, she is always wanting to do "school".  She has this book that Grandma got her.  She will do the entire thing, bring it to me to erase, and then does it again.  She also has this book that she will do the same thing to.  And then we go through 10 to 20 pages of plain white paper a day where she draws or "write letters" to various people.  She is getting better about giving people arms and only two legs, but sometimes we have no bodies.

I decided that she needed a book that teaches her a bit more.  I have a lamintor thanks to Grandma and Pinterest is my friend.  So this is what I did this afternoon.

 

 http://www.handwritingworksheets.com/  will let you enter in any text and create a practice sheet.

 

http://www.kidslearningstation.com/ has a lot of free printable worksheets.  My only complaint is that you have to print/save them individually, and by multiple clicks.  You can save/print all the "word recognition" sheets.

 

www.supermommoments.com/2012/08/kindergarten-readiness/  has a Kindergarten Readiness pack.  I used a few of those sheets in the book.  Obviously, the scissor practice sheet was just printed and not laminated.

These two pages were from the same as the previous picture.

 

www.kidslearningstation.com has worksheets for numbers 1 through 20.  You right the number and the word form of each.  Then I found a table of 1-100 over at www.heidisongs.com.  It is missing the 5's and 10's, but it will give a good idea of the numbers.  She can almost count to 100, she just gets confused on the upper ones.

 

To help with the counting I made a sheet of 100 hearts in Word.  What better for a 4 year old girl to count, right? 

 

I really couldn't find (yet) a good worksheet for learning days/months.  She knows the names of the days (thanks to LeapFrog) but I'd like to find/make a good calendar sheet.  Any suggestions?

 

Lastly, she loves connect-the-dots.  I found through multiple clicks, and not sure where I started, www.dotstodots.net.  They are pretty cheesy and I only printed a few.  But it will get her started.

 

Sorry for the lighting glare.  Couldn't get around it very well and still be able to see the pictures.  I'm all ears for suggestions of more/better sheets.  I was thinking of doing the 30-day trial over at abcmouse.com.  Anyone use it before?

MOPS Name Drawing Bowl

I had fun with this project.  Not only did I learn that Modge Podge was not water proof!  But I got to paint with Modge Podge.

This was our MOPS's name drawing bowl last year.  We had a game theme.  I had covered the bowl with copies of Chance and Community Chest cards using Modge Podge.  A friend let me in on the secret (or not really secret) that Modge Podge is NOT water proof.  Who knew such a thing!?!  I guess it the bottle says "waterbased sealer, glue & finish" that should be a clue.

I soaked the bowl in the sink for a few minutes.  The the glue and paper peeled right off!  It was actually a little fun to stand there and peel it.

After the bowl dried, I mixed a few drops of blue food coloring in a about of cup of Modge Podge.   Inspiration from here.  I used a 1" foam brush and painted the inside of the bowl with the mixture.  This picture was when the first coat was about half way dried.

Finished project!  I did three coats of "paint", letting it dry completely between coats.  I didn't worry about the lines from the build up.  I thought it went with our "Plunge" theme very well.  Gave it more of a watery look.  I painted the inside since the bowl would be handled quite a bit.  I didn't want anyone with wet hands to get blue hands.

I topped it off with a few rows of twine to get it more of a beach feel.  I used tacky glue to attach the twine with hopes that it will be removable to accommodate next year's theme.

Daddy's car shirt

This was hubby's Father's Day present.  I found the template here and personalized it to fit our family.

The first thing the kids said was, "There's Chick-fil-a!"  Yep, those are my kids.

I used fabric markers at the suggestion of the original designer.  She used fabric paint & a brush.  I can't imagine the time it took to make it that way!

I put a piece of cardboard in the shirt with the template on top.    I then used the fabric markers to trace the design.  I started with the roads & then did the buildings.  Change it to fit your lifestyle.  My kids loved that the places we go the regularly where on there.  Hubby said I needed a few more roads across his shoulder area. 

Have fun doing this!

4x4 tile coasters

One of our MOPS crafts this past year were 4"x4" tile coasters.  We used regular wall tiles, white felt, hot glue, scrapbook paper, Modge Podge & a clear acrylic sealer.  This is how I did the set this summer during our Summer Craft Day.

First you need to cut your felt to 4"x4".  The tiles are actually a little bigger than that.  I think (from the top of my head) they are 4.25"x 4.25".  By cutting the felt to 4"x4" you will allow the felt to not be seen from the top.  Hot glue your felt to the bottom of the tile.  I did a thin line of glue around the perimeter and then two thin lines through the middle.  I used the raised lines as guides.

I then chose a 12"x12" piece of paper and cut it to four 4"x4" squares.  You can do any pattern or size you want.  I recommend a thin paper and to cut it no bigger than 4"x4" to allow a little border to be able to seal the edges.  I have done a set with polka dots.  For my set I put a letter sticker in the bottom right corner.  I will be using these on the counter for our daily glasses. 

Apply a thin layer of Modge Podge using a foam brush.  You want a thin, even layer. Then place your paper in the orientation you desire.  I centered my paper on the tile and left a white border.  I used my fingers to make sure the paper was flat and any air bubbles were squished out.

Once you have your piece of paper flattened out, apply another THIN layer of Modge Podge to seal the paper down.

After the Modge Podge has dried completely, place your tiles on newspaper or cardboard and space them at least 1" apart.  Spray a thin, even layer of clear acrylic sealer and let them dry completely.  I've used both glossy & matt and it really is a personal preference.

Our 4 tiles sit on the kitchen counter near the sink.  Usually just mine & the hubby's water glasses are on them as the kiddos drink non-stop throughout the day.  They did come in handy when I had a house full of people and wanted to keep the kiddos cups in use.

Wall "art"

I did these a few years ago when we decorated our room, but I always get asked how I did them.  I cannot tell you how easy these were.

I used four 8x10 wood picture frames, one really large wood frame, a couple yards of fabric & a staple gun.  The 8x10 frames are from Dollar Tree.  The really large frame was found at Hobby Lobby on clearance for less than $4.  It was just the wood frame, no glass or backing.  Fabric from JoAnn's that was on sale.  I think if I remember right I did these for $10 or $12 total.

I stapled two of the 8x10 frames together & used twist ties to hold them together while I was stapling.  Then I stapled a piece of fabric to one side of the frame.  Pulled tightly on the fabric while stapling the opposite side. Then stapled the other two side while making sure the fabric was stretched tight.  Repeated same process for the other two frames.

They are hung up by resting on small nails.  Once in a while I take a lint brush to get the dust off.  And if I ever need to change my decor, it will only take a couple of yards of fabric.

My kitty says "Hi!"

Permanent Growth Chart

Our friends joke that we might as well be military the way we move.  Thankfully, as of right now, it looks like we'll stay put for a while.  But just in case a move does come, I wanted a growth chart that I could take with us. 

My inspirations came from these two sites:  One to buy and one to make.  (This time I remembered to take pictures as I went.)

You need a 1"x6"x6' piece of wood.  I'll recommend going ahead and buying the piece of wood that is in the shelving area of your home improvement store.  Those pieces tend to be straighter and have less blemishes.

I painted mine white using left over white satin finish paint that I had in the garage.  I also used a tape measure, a yard stick, brown paint, a small paint brush, a triangle & a pencil.

I decided that I wanted the top of my board to be the same height as the door frames.  I think it was 83", give or take.  I used the tape measure to find the height of the board and the foot increments.  I then used the yard stick to mark the inches, making a mark on the side of the board for the foot increments.  I used pencil so I could go back & erase my marks on the side.

I had triangles left over from my drafting days.  I used tape to mark the end of 1" and 2" to keep my increment lines the same length.  I used the 1" for the inches and the 2" for the feet.  I would recommend wiping off the triangle, or whatever edge you use, once every 12" or so to not smear paint.  Thankfully the brown paint I used wiped off the satin finish with a baby wipe pretty easily.

I then just free handed the numbers for the foot markers.  I kept them to about 2" tall.  If you wanted to be really fancy you could use a template.  I didn't.  Too much work. 

I decided to hang mine in the bathroom.  The floor is hard and I don't plan on replacing the tile any time soon.  The board hangs behind the door and isn't visible all the time.  I drilled a hole in the top about 2" in down from the top of the board, found a stud in the wall, and used a wood screw to hold it in place.  I then realized that it swayed a bit at the bottom, so I used another wood screw towards the bottom.  (Yes, now I will have two more holes to patch, but hopefully not for a while.) 

A couple of things I may do differently if I had to do another one of these.  First, I would use a paint pen to keep the line thickness more even.  I do not have a steady hand and my inch marks prove that well.  Secondly, but not really that big of a deal, I'd remember to drill the holes for the screws before I painted.  Third, I wouldn't do this while the kids were being quiet, a little too quiet.  I found them locked in one of their rooms with the telescope trying to watch a meteor shower.  I also learned that my husband is getting either a new drill or a new battery for his current drill for Father's Day, or sooner depending on which project I decide to do next.

Yes, the numbers go high and I don't really think my kids will be that tall, but my little brother is over 6 feet so you never know!

Cell Phone # Bracelets

I think this is Princess' favorite thing I have done yet.  So much so, when I first made it she wanted me to take her to the zoo so she could get lost.

And I changed the number on the bracelet.  Hopefully this isn't a real number.  If it is, I am sorry!!

You need a bag of beads.  I just used the round ones, but you could use different shapes as long as your kids don't mind.  The number beads were a little hard to track down.  The only place I found them was Hobby Lobby.  And when I bought them they were on sale, or I'd recommend using a 40% off coupon.  A bag is $3.99 for 200 beads.  You will also need a spool of Stretch Cord.  I used white.  Or clear.  I don't remember.

I started by letting Princess pick out colors she wanted.  I put a few on a larger-than-I-needed piece of cord, found a good pattern, and then trial-and-error tried it around her wrist.  I wanted it tight enough that I had to stretch it just a little to get it over her hand, but not so tight it left marks on her wrist.  I think I had to take 2 beads out of her original pattern.

I also made one for my little boy.  Just not as pink and purple.  I did have to make just a plain one, without the numbers, for Princess to wear whenever.

Reusable tote bag

I have seen this so many times.  You need a tote bag (about $3 - $4 at the craft stores), a doiley (I used a 12"), & fabric paint. You will also want a piece of cardboard or wax paper to slide into the bag to keep the paint from bleeding through.

The tutorial I used said to use scrapbook paper spray adhesive to get the doiley to sick to the bag. That stuff is about $12 a can.  I don't use it so I wasn't about to spend that kind of money.  Instead I used washable kids stick glue and just dabbed a few areas to hold it in place.

I off-centered the doiley in the corner leaving room for a letter.  I dipped a 1" foam brush in fabric paint (I used "soft", whatever that means).  I very carefully dabbed the paint onto the doiley making sure to get all the little holes, but not using a lot of paint to make sure it didn't run too much.

Since this bag was white, I printed a "K" at a very large font size.  I don't remember if I used 250 or 300 pt.  I slid the printed letter in the bag and then traced the letter with a small paintbrush.

Just let dry flat.  Princess loves this bag.  I just won't tell her that it was actually one I did for something else and didn't realize I had paint on my hand when I did the "K".

cell phone holder

This is something I did a few months back and I use it.  Everyday.  Who wouldn't?  Especially those of us that have kitties that like to chew on electrical cords.

Basically you cut up a baby shampoo or lotion bottle and ModgePodge fabric on to it.  Now my phone can charge, not take up space on the counter, and there aren't cords dangling everywhere to entice the kitties.

Here are the instructions:

http://www.makeit-loveit.com/2011/12/holder-for-charging-cell-phone-made-from-lotion-bottle.html  My change is that I wrapped the fabric over all of the edges, the front, & down into the holding area.  Just more color that way and less having to use an Exacto knife (you're welcome Mom!).

Balloon Flip Flops

I have seen the balloon decorated flip flops for a couple of years, but hadn't been able to shell out the $10 or more for them.  They are simple to do, but very time consuming.

You need at least 100 water balloons.  Dollar Tree sells packs of 100.  These flip flops are girl size 9/10 & have 58 balloons on each.  I was glad I bought 2 packs (so are the kids now that I have leftovers!).

Find a color pattern you like.  We did yellow, orange, blue, pink, purple & green.  Start on one side & tie the balloons in knots.  And keep going.  And going.

Total cost for these was $4.50 with a bunch of water balloons left over for this summer.

DVD Sketch Case

I saw this ( http://stacyvaughnblog.blogspot.com/2012/04/dvd-coloring-case.html?spref=fb ) at some point in the past week.  Thought it was an awesome idea.  Now that I have done it, I'm thinking it is cute, but not that practical.

You need a DVD case you don't mind cutting up, fabric,a piece of cardboard, glue, scrapbook paper & an exacto knife.

My issue with this project is that you really have to trim paper to fit the sketch pad area.  You can't just cut a piece of paper in half.  So that's really not helpful.  It is cute & I'll probably use it, but not sure if I would make it again.

(I can't figure out how to rotate the picture...  sorry!)

I'm thinking that I will end up putting sheets of stickers in the sketch pad side and keeping it in the car with me for when I need to keep the kiddos busy at the coffee shop.

My attempt

This will be my attempt to keep a crafting blog.  Mainly to keep my regular blog left for the kiddos & family stuff.  This won't be a constant thing, but I will try to post instructions on the things I'm doing.  Most of my inspiration is from Pinterest and most of what will be on here will be crafts from MOPS or things I do for the kiddos.

Have fun having a glimpse into my world.