Teacher Christmas gift

What are you getting (or making) for your kids' teachers? I used this Starbucks glass bottle to make a special container. I haven't decided what I'm putting in it yet though. I made a label approximately sized 1.75in. by 8.5in. to go around it with words about a teacher, and the teacher's name.

I designed a circle for the lid as well. I just sized this one down to fit.

I added a couple of bells and some "rope" and embellished it with ribbon as well. I basically just dug through my craft supply for stuff to put on it :).
My favorite part are these adorable cinnamon ornaments my son made. Here is the recipe for these. Really easy and a lot of fun to make AND decorate!

This could really be done with any glass bottle. I think I'll fill it with hot chocolate mix and marshmallows. I may stuff a little gift card in there too. Not sure yet. Suggestions are welcome!

I hope this gives you some inspiration to work with! I'd love to hear what you are doing for homemade gifts this year.

Christmas Coloring and Acivity Book

I created a Christmas coloring and acitivity book available for purchase here. I had a lot of fun making this. I used to teach, so this was fun tapping into that outlet for me. I love it! It has 13 pages, and after you purchase it for only $2, I'll send you the PDF file within 24 hours for you to print as many times as you wish! It would be great to give your Sunday School students, use for stocking stuffers, give to your neighbors, whoever!

You can bind it anyway you wish - staple it, punch holes in it and thread with string, yarn, ribbon, or use key rings. You can even use a heavy cardstock for the front and back to make it more durable. It will make a fun and meaningful activity to keep the little ones busy at Christmas. It would be great for all the kids at your family gathering too!

Here is a sample page:

Here is the cover (above). Head on over to my shop and order one! There is a dot-to-dot, picture puzzle, coloring pages, finish the scene's and more!

Chore Charts

So, I've been obsessing lately about the chore chart thing. Here's the deal. I am a perfectionist. Not necessarily in the way things have to LOOK perfect, but I have an issue with making things WORK perfectly. It's a huge problem I have, and I'm so trying to stop this! I've been praying about it a lot because seriously, nothing is perfect and I need to just get over it. I end up stressing out about the dumb stuff and have to remind myself daily, sometimes hourly, that it's not about that. I am working on the imperfection stuff. I am clearly not perfect, I just hate when stuff isn't efficient. Know what I mean? I don't want to change it 437 times, I just need it right the first time, ya know? THAT is what I'm working on....this is not my first chore chart I've made....Oh, dear, I need help! :) Ok, here are my thoughts on the chore chart.

I want to have something that my kids can physically look at and move around, and see when their chores are done, and what needs to be done next. I wasn't sure how or if I wanted to do rewards. I do think some things like computer time etc. in our house are "privileges". I think when they are a little older, I'll start to pay them for some chores, but not all. Some are expected to be done, but I'd also love for my kids to learn the value of a dollar!

At first, I made this. I printed the words/design onto magnet paper, cut them out, and put them in this framed magnetic thingy I had sitting around (don't ask me why - a project I never finished from something else). Then, I looked at it, and realized I had nowhere to put it on my walls! Duh! ZERO wall space left in my kitchen to put it....so back to the drawing board I was....

I went to my local craft store (Hobby Lobby) and found this ready-to-finish woden thing. It sits on a turn table so it spins all the way around. I painted it black. Kinsley has one side and Kaeden has the other.

Then, I printed some chores onto paper and mod podge'd them on to little wooden squares which I also found at the craft store. I didn't do very well - there are wrinkles all over it, but hey, it's NOT supposed to be perfect! :) I attached the chores to some craft sticks.
Now, the yellow things you see sticking up in there are going to be the "priveleges" or something like it. I don't really know yet.

Basically for right now, the chores need to be done before any priveleges happen, or we go anywhere etc. So, overall I think I've got something very good going, although my son doesn't seem to think so. I may have passed on my perfectionism to him as well...shoot! I'd love to hear your thoughts on this, or how you use chore charts at home!

sidewalk chalk paint

We had so much fun the other morning making some sidewalk chalk paint. It was super easy, and I got the idea here . You just take 1/4 cup of cold water, and 1/4 cup of cornstarch. Add food coloring and you've got some fun paint that dries like chalk on the sidewalk or driveway!

This little turkey (below) thought it would be really fun to paint herself. Which she did. Naughty!

Great summertime cheap fun!

Kids Sand Art

It has been a beautiful day here today! While we were outside playing, we did some sand art using sand from our sand table.

We used glue to create a picture or scene. My son made islands with a treasure :).

Then, we poured sand on top and moved it around shaking off the extras.

A fun, easy, and cheap outdoor activity.

Have a great Monday everyone!

Freeze Pop Holders

Who doesn't love a freeze pop? Every kid I know, including my husband, is obsessed with them! My kids could eat them every day from here on out and never think twice about it.

I found an idea on a blog ( I can't recall where it was, so when I find it I'll be sure to link it here) that had the awesome idea of making freeze pop holders. My son was SO excited to make these with me. He loved how it really helped his hands stay warmer while eating his favorite treat.

I made some to share with his cousins as well. I just used two pieces of felt, and glued them together around the sides and bottom, leaving an opening at the top to slide in the freeze pop. I just measured it using the freeze pop itself. If you actually SEW you could sew these together, but I don't know how so I hot glue everything :).

These would make great party favors for the summer!

Custom Space Pillow

Here is a pillow I made for my outer space obsessed son. Pardon the wrinkles....he sat on it all day after I gave it to him! I used spoonflower to upload my design onto a fat quarter of fabric, and then my dearest mommy sewed this up for me.

Look closely and you can see just WHO is driving the rocket! This brought a huge smile to his face when he saw this!
Next time, I'm going to use this kind of insert for the pillow. It would be more fluffy and soft. If anyone wants to know more about how to do this, or wants me to make something similar for their little one, don't hesitate to ask! Have a great day you all - to infinity and beyond! :)

I just want to tell you all how thankful I am of your support. I didn't win that last contest, but I am so thankful for those of you who voted for me. I really appreciate it....now....what could that fabric design be used for? Hehe! Any ideas?

Here is the "Idea Book" I was telling you about earlier. It has really worked out nicely so far. I just uploaded some pictures of things to do when we are bored, or need some good ideas. Then I put labels on them, printed them, and put them in a binder (in page protectors).

My son made the cover. Nice huh? He's into space :).

I added a section in there for activities that I pulled out of our Highlights magazine. I love that magazine!!

Some of the ideas we put in the book (in case you can't see them) were:

Make a fort, color, use stickers, paint, make a sculpture, read a book, have computer time, go outside, go on a walk, call a friend, make a book, make some slime, the list goes on and on!

Bored Book

I'm in the process of making a "Bored Book" for these loooong winter days with a little four year old boy (and 14 month old girl) who can get stinking bored out of their minds! Idle hands are the devils playground... not sure where I heard that but I know I've heard it somewhere before. Anyway, here is a start to what I'm doing so you get an idea...

I'm making this in an 8.5 by 11 inch file so it will print right onto computer paper (or copy paper). I've got about three pages of these so far, so when we are done we can put each page in a sheet protector and fill a binder with them.

I just went around the house and took pictures of ideas of things to do. When I'm done making this book, I'll be sure to post the finished product. I'm hoping this will help with bored snow days stuck inside!

The picture above is what we started with.

Here is what we ended up with!

Have some old marshmallows? We were bored the other day, so we took some marshmallows from the cupboard and started constructing. My son Kaeden loved this so much! He had to stop every few seconds to eat one of those gross marshmallows, but hey, it could be worse right? We used:

*Marshmallows

*dried spaghetti noodles

*pipe cleaners

You could really use whatever you want. He made this "machine" and it was the perfect bordem buster for our afternoon so I thought I'd share in case any of you have some bored kids at home dying for something else to do :).

Today my son and I spent some time trying to figure out just how many things we could make from one empty egg carton. First we painted the entire thing, then got into the craft cupboard and got busy! We made a jellyfish, a spider, binoculars, a bird, and a caterpillar. It's fun to challenge yourself with limited supplies - like whatever you can find around the house.

TIP- when painting or crafting, use a cookie sheet to keep paints, playdough, supplies etc in one spot while the kids are working. Try to have them keep their projects on the sheet and it makes everything so much easier when you are working on a project (and cleaner too)!

How cute is this idea? If I had time this week, I would try it with my two kiddos....maybe I will. If I do I'll be sure to post pictures. How patriotic! I'd keep it out all year round at my house for sure.

Click http://seren-zipitydoda.blogspot.com/2009/06/little-red-white-blue-project.html to read more about this fun project at Serendipity's blog!

(Sorry I had to type out that entire address but my cursor isn't working and I can't highlight the one word I want to hyperlink.)

Pardon my camera - I'm getting a new one very soon. This one takes horrible pictures.
Above is a mat that I decoupaged with some scrapbook paper that I cut to create this design for my daughter's room. Now I just need a picture for it!

Here is a hairbow holder thingymajig....hmm, it's kind of busy with all those polka dots....maybe I'll fix that....

I hung these two canvases in my kitchen. The one on the top has prints of my 3 year old son's hands, and the one on the bottom is my 6 month old daughter's feet. I think they are pretty darn cute myself!

I just did this canvas last night. Trusting is something I'm learning to do more of these days!

So, I've been up to some artwork lately around here! I have some digital orders to fill, but I've recently gotten my real paintbrush back out to mess around a little. Every once in a while I just HAVE to paint something! It's therapy.

Check back soon cause I'm gonna have a giveway!