Baby Doll Sleeping Bags

There were a lot of homemade gifts this Christmas season - all Pinterest inspired of course.

 

Here we have baby doll sleeping bags.  The original pinterest link required purchasing a pattern.  Since I can't read sewing patterns to begin with, I just made up my own version of how big a sleeping bag should be.

 

 

Large sleeping bag - measured Bree's largest doll from top to bottom and side to side then added a few extra inches to allow for seems (and mistakes).

 

I did the same thing for the medium and small sleeping bags.

 

It all worked out, there were no mistakes and Bree loves them.  Who needs a pattern anyways?

Beaded Ornaments

Pictures do not do this ornament justice.  Trust me, its beautiful.  We made these for Bree's preschool teachers this year.

 

2.5 inch styrofoam ball, red and green seed beads, red head pins, straight pins and clear faceted beads.

 

 

It'll take an evening or three to pin every single bead all the way around the styrofoam ball but its well worth it.  Stunning results.  Not to mention since both hands are busy its a great way to NOT spend the evening muching while watching tv.

Christmas Pizzas

Holiday themed pizzas are fun and easy.

 

The plan was to make candy cane pizzas, however, Bree had a better idea.  She wanted a 'J' for Jesus.  Its all about perspective I suppose.

 

Use your favorite pizza dough recipe or do the semi homemade thing and buy a bag of Martha White pizza dough crust mix and shape into whatever holiday shape you choose.

 

 

 Set out your families favorite pizza toppings, let them decorate their pizzas and bake.

 

 

Best tasting candy canes out there.

Hopscotch

Sshhhhhh...

 

My children are getting this for Christmas but I couldn't wait that long to share it with you.

 

Pinterest inspired Hopscotch

 

Made from 2 yards of material that I bought in October 2011 and felt given to me from a family member.

 

The pinterest link was from a stay at home mom who created her hopscotch mat using material and hot glue.

 

 

 

I turned it up a notch and sewed everything together. Hopefully it'll last a little longer.

 

The black line is meant to be a balance beam but the kids will use it however they want.

 

The dots didn't really have a purpose or a specific game.  I have faith they'll come up with a game or something creative to use them.

 

The white base material cost $3.68, the felt was free and the 2 packs of denim binding was $10.

 

$14.00 for a homemade Christmas gift for both children. 

Money well spent.

Pinterest Mess Free Lifesaver

 

Haven't decorated Christmas cookies yet? 

 

AWESOME!

 

Here's a Pinterest find that works and will save you from the finger licking frosting mess that is decorating cookies with children.

 

Walmart sells reuseable ketchup/mustand dispenser bottles for 97 cents each.

 

Buy them, fill them with frosting (I saved myself the trouble and just used canned Pillsbury) and let the children have at it.

 

 

I microwaved the bottles for about 10 seconds to make the squeezing a little easier.  Just be careful to not microwave it for too long or the frosting will become almost liquefied.  On a side note, that is how you empty the bottles when you're done.  Microwave for about 30 seconds and all frosting will pour out lickity-split.

 

This is definitely a kid tested, mother approved technique that we will use for any holiday or party scenario.

Christmas Crafts

Take one felt Christmas tree (that you might have stolen from your mother in law)...

 

 

Add one 5 year old and a few jars full of buttons...

 

... to create a masterpiece that will hopefully last for years to come.

 

 

We also took a white tree and adorned it with neon pinks, purples and greens to make an ultra girly hip happening, funky Christmas tree.  I just forgot to take a picture of it before Bree gifted it out to a favorite cousin.  Oops.

Happy Fall

 

Good thing I have kids to help me make examples of my Storytime crafts!

Pinterest Painting

I saw this painting on Pinterest. 

 

 

 

 Its whimsical. Its fun. I love it. I must do my own version of it.

 

 

And here's what I ended up with:

 

 

 

The sky is fine.  But the hills are too high forcing my tree to be short and stubby.  Its alright but not the masterpiece I had in my brain.  However I did have something else up there.  A genius idea of how to create the leaves on the trees.

 

BUTTONS!!

 

 

 

I'm still playing around with the idea of having "fallen" buttons around the base of the tree or towards the bottoms of the hills but for now its fine the way it is.  Bree has even asked if it can be hung in her room.  I guess its perfect the way it is after all.

 

Growth Chart

This project has been finished and in use for about 5 months now.

 

Choose a 6 foot board and stain it. 

 

Using the Cricut and vinyl, I cut out the numbers and lines.

 

 

 

To accommodate a potentially tall child, the growth chart is supposed to be mounted 6 inches off the ground - meaning it measures a person up to 6 foot 6 inches tall.

 

 

 

 

 

A lot of people mark their child's height on door frames or walls but what happens if you move?  Or want to paint?  Doing the growth chart on a board allows us to move it as redecorating demands it.  Plus being mounted in our kitchen reminds us a little more often to measure those fast growing weeds!!

 

Piggie Wiggly Caterpillars

Homemade summer-y greeting cards.

I'm not sure who had more fun.  The kids getting their feet painted on or me getting to turn there little piggies into something so cute!!

Alphabet Book - O is for Owls

I drew half a tree with a branch for some thumbprint owls to sit on.

FYI - For any local people, Scrapbook Korner in Archbold sells 6 or 7 washable ink pads for only $1.00 each!!  Definately a good deal for doing projects with little ones.

Alphabet Book - N is for Nest

I half traced, half drew a nest from a coloring sheet and let Bree color it in.  She actually took the time to color random areas yellow and brown.  I didn't think the picture looked complete so we added a handprint bluejay.

Alphabet Book - M is for Monsters

What I love about making these monsters is that there is no right or wrong way of creating them.  Paint random fingers.  Place the hand in any direction you wish.  Draw silly or scary faces.  Glue as many wiggly eyes on as you wish.  The possibilities are endless.

Happy Mothers Day

Her children arise and call her blessed 

Proverbs 31:28

The hard part is done.  Just waiting for Jim to put a white frame on it and get a plaque from Hit Trophey with the Proverbs verse.  Then it will be ready for my wall.

Alphabet Book - L is for Leprechaun

Alphabet Book - K is for Kite

Try as I might I could not come up with something that started with a K or had a K in it to do a hand/finger/footprint.  I'm open to suggestions.

Alphabet Book - J is for Jellybeans

Alphabet Book - I is for Ice Cream

Alphabet Book - H is for Heart

Alphabet Book - G is for Grapes

My camera flash is broken, sorry for the darkened photo

Happy Easter