How good are you?

My daughter is 5...and I thought it was time for chores to start. While flipping around my Family Fun magazine there was an article about a mom with 5 children and she started a marble jar system.  While reading I thought I could do that...so I did! We are on day 4 and its going really well. She gets excited to add the marbles when she completes a task and if she loses one (perhaps a small rolling of the eyes) she is starting to understand why.  With out further ado...the Marble Jar.

First I found a old frame and painted it a burnt red color and inserted the list of items and the worth.

Painted a mason jar with an A and polka dots:

The lid I padded with a piece of craft foam and covered with a fun fabric.

And finally the duo wait for the tink of a marble to fall.

Happy weekend!

T.

Linking up at:

Whoo Whoo is knocking at the door?

WE ARE!

They do not officially have names but we shall call them Purple and Orange..so original!  I love owls, that is a fact they are so fun looking and you can really make them look like anything. I saw some stuffed owls on the blog world and etsy.  My kids are really not stuffed animal children, but these are actually funtional!

First; they have a loop on their heads to hang, I hung ours on the kids bedroom doors.  Pink=Livy Orange=PJ.  Like so...

Second; on the back they have a little pocket (made out of canvas so that they are sturdy) either for a note, small toy, or candy.  The possiblities are endless for these little guys.  They are made out of felt. Again, left over from the table top tent (will it ever end-my husband asks daily!)

They hold about a 4x6 index card folded in half.

I love these I might make more for my friends children, its soo nice to see them excited when there is a small somthing for them. Somedays it just says 'I love you'.  And that will just start anyones day right...right?

So I wonder whoo whoo will be knocking at your door?

Happy Monday

T.

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White walls, bright lights...its an ART GALLERY

All over the blog world you see very cool projects for creating an Art Gallery for your kids. Well I loved the idea.  I was digging in my box of decorations for something different for my kitchen table and came across this sign I no longer use...AHHH its perfect! So here we go!

BEFORE: (cute but just not really used anymore)

I painted the outside fram a brownish color (I was originally going to do white-but after 4 coats trying to cover the blue...I moved on)

Then I popped thehears off the inside part of the sign.

I used some fun patterned fabric and Modge Podge and covered the words.

Can you believe how strong and stiff MP makes things! Its an amazing little product.

I then cut my letters using my Cricket and MP those on as well.

The clothespin I covered with corrdinating paper with MP and hot glued them onto the frame.

Here it is hanging on the wall. I like it, I think it came out well!  I hung it low to the ground so that the kids could put up what they wanted to.

AFTER:

Check out this link for another one in the blog world:

http://servingpinklemonade.blogspot.com/2010/02/art-gallery-revisited.html

Have a great day!

T.

PS, I linked up to the following this week:

http://thegirlcreative.blogspot.com/2010/04/just-something-i-whipped-up.html

Birthday Gift Bag

Hello, this past weekend I attended a birthday party for my childhood friends little girl.  I have to admit one thing right now...I dispies buying wrapping paper and bags...its such a waste! Seriously, they rip it to shreds and then we just put it in the garbage. I need to find a better way for wrapping things...so I made a flannel lined goodie bag (aka drawstring bag).

The overall measurements are 8x8 inches.  I used a pretty yellow fabric and lime green accents (the initial and the ribbon).

I filled the bag with a gift card to a famous T store and a couple LPS that she likes. I figured after her birthday she could keep her favorite LPS in there.  (And in case you didn't know what LPS is, they are Littlest Pet Shops)

After cutting the fabric and sewing together I cut  the M out and ironed it on to the bag.

Flannel lined (those are the LPS-aren't they cute (they are really like bobble head animals))

All filled and ready to be given away!

Enjoy-M!

T.

 

http://thegirlcreative.blogspot.com/

 

Tea for Two

This is a story about B my friend,  we  have been besties for about 7 years, we didn't grow up together however we both married boys (I mean MEN) from our current small town in NY and as the saying goes "once you marry a valley boy you never leave", yep that is true.  I am very lucky that her husband didn't move away and that we didnt either!

So the funny story goes her MIL only has organic fruity tea...we are both tea drinkers but good old Earl Gray or Breakfast Blend.  Nothing fancy for us!  Since we are 'normal' tea drinkers (not to offend those who drink other kinds) she started to carry a baggie with her with tea bags and sugar, she was ready to go.  She takes that baggie everywhere. 

I recieved this sewing calender (find it here) for Christmas and one of the days was a tea wallet holder! Could you believe it, guess who instantly came to mind...you guessed it B! She NEEDED one.  I had to make it in a sunny yellow (her fav.)  And so I did.  The directions were super easy! I just loved the way it came out-I hope she loved it and will enjoy it.

Tea Wallet (christyscreations.com-Sewing Calendar 2010)
Supplies:
Fabric (four 5-7" pcs)
Interfacing (one 5x7" pc)

Step 1: Attached interfacing to the wrong side of one of the fabric pcs.
Step 2: Fold two other rectangles (will be the pockets) in half legthise and iron.
Step 3: Topstitch the folded edge of your pocket fabrics.
Step 4: Measure 1" up from the bottom of the right side of your interior fabric and pin the bottom of your first pocket into place.

Step 5: Sew along the bottom of your first pocket.

Step 6: Line your second pocket up with the bottom of your interior fabric and pin.

Step 7: Sew along the bottom of your second packet

Step 8: With an erasable fabric pencil mark the center of your pockets and interior fabric. If you've cut your fabric exact this will be 3.5"

Step 9: Sew this line.

Step 10. Place ribbon on either sides to create the ties (in the original they used a button) this should be between the two main layers.

Step 11: Sew the pcs together leaving a 2-3" hole in the bottom of your wallet (right sides facing each other)

Step 12: Turn wallent right side out.

Step 13: Iron

Step 14: Top stitch around the wallet very close to the edge and closing the opening.

Step 15: Insert tea bags, close, tie bow and Ta Da you have a lovely tea wallet.

So go ahead make a Tea Wallet and enjoy a cup of hot tea with your bestie!

(sorry the picture quality is so bad we were in the middle of Eddie Bauer trying on silly hats and I took it with my cell!)

T.

Linking up at:

Linking up

Happy Monday, I am linking up at Skip to My Lou's "Made by you Monday's". Check out these great links!

Sweet Calendar Girl

Happy Sunny Friday! Can you believe it, Spring is here (ok, so they are calling for some snow next week...but I am holding out!).  I have my windows open, fresh breeze coming in, kids playing with sidewalk chalk and their swing set! Yes!

The project I did this week stems from a few things. One I live in a raised ranch and I am finally getting around to decorating the entrance way-its only been 3 years- I started with a large display of different sized and shaped black letter D's on the wall.  And now thanks to Mr. Weatherman I am going to paint this small green corner table I have black this weekend, yes things are shaping up nicely.  But, I need something to put on the table.  (I am trying to avoid spending a lot of money due to our vacation this year).  I went to Michaels bought a dollar unfinished picture frame, painted it black. And that was the start!  Then I made different pictures/sayings for each month of the year with my scrapbook paper! I am an avid scrapbooker, I have just lost my way.  I have a TON of stuff, why not use it for...something. That is just what I did. Check out the pictures below. Its the same frame just swap out the picture. The best part...the little table has a small drawer just big enough to store the extras in! Yeah! Cute and functional!

The months are:

Janurary: Snow

February: Valentine's Day

March: St. Patricks Day

April: Easter

May: Spring

June: Flowers

July: 4th

August: Summer

September: Fall tree

October: Halloween

November: Thanksgiving

December: Christmas

There you have a calendar of sorts! (and if you go away signing calendar girl-sorry-I have been!) I have many projects in the works-happy weekend everyon!

T.

An Embellishment (headband) for A

Fun, exciting, embellished headbands are all the rage!  And lets face it have A LOT of felt left over from the felt house project. I would love to be able to wear them, but lets face it I am not really a stylish lady...pretty ordinary.  And I like it!  However, I can live via Alyvia...so she has recieved her very first embellished headband!  Yeah! I think that I was way more excited that she was.  Maybe with time that will change, lets hope so since I had so much fun making this!

Supplies: 12" by 1/2" strips of felt for the big "roll" and then shorten for the smaller ones, hot glue, and a headband.  ~I used one that was not her favorite, I asked first, just incase~

Step 1:

Cute the felt into long small strips-enough for all the "rolls" you want to make.

Step 2: Bend over the edge and hot glue to hold to start the roll, and just roll, pull tight, roll, pull tight...you get the idea there. Once you come to the end add a dab of hot glue to hold the end secure.

Step 3: Pick the color you would like for the back of the head band and glue the rolls together and to the backing.

Step 4: Very tricky=cut out around the rolls to make one large "unit".

Step 5: Place a line of glue along the back of the felt piece and stick the head band on and hold it until its dry. 

Step 6:  Cut a small thin piece of felt to cover the headband piece.

Step 7: Place on your model and admire!

You can find a world of information about headbands on so many blogs, I have a few favorite ones, which I will find tomorrow and link them up!

T.

Sewing Machine here I come!

Happy Monday everyone!

This weekend I have cut, Cut, and CUT many projects out.  I am getting ready for a sewing fest!  I trimmed out Alyvia's spring dress, cut some cute felt food, a present for B (she doesn't what it is yet), measured out some plans for a surprise for Alyvia, prepared/drew out some "toys" for the beach traveling (I know its months away but I am a planner)....I have been busy my poor little hands are tired from all that measuring and scissor use!  Getting ready I made myself a little pin cushion. I will not tell a lie I previously had my pins in a recycled box and everytime I went to get one, yep, I stabbed myself. I said NO MORE.  I have a lot of baby food jars left, I have given some away, used some for lunches, but have many left, what a perfect storage container for them and the top, well I can make the perfect little cushion for them...so I did! This was so easy!

Supplies: clean baby food jar, a piece of felt cut into a circle (about 8"), hot glue, fun ribbon

Next cut a circle pc of felt, weave a needle with floss on it and then... pull tight to make your 'ball' and stuff!

Place on top of the baby food and hot glue, pick some super cute ribbon and hot glue around the top of the lid, be very careful NOT to glue the top on.

Finished Project-Pins on top

and store them inside!

Have a great day, will post a few other things soon!

T.

Warm and Cozy

Yesterday I went to breakfast and shopping with a good friend, we have not chatted in a while it was very nice to catch up.  We are going to plan a trip to NYC together with some other friends, since I have never been. 

Friday we had a snow day, it was nice to stay warm and cozy with the family for an extra day.  While home and the kids napped I looked up simple projects I could complete.  I found this really cool scarf on Martha Stewart.com called the "No Knit Scarf"...I could do that.  Here is the link: http://www.marthastewart.com/photogallery/yarn-crafts  Off to Joann's I went, I got a big fluffy pile of cream colored yarn.  Last night with my hubby at the CU basketball game and the kids in bed I went to work.  It was really easy! I am really happy with it, I am sure there are things that I would change if I did it again, but for a first time-go me!

The supplies (doesnt the yarn look warm!)

I taped it to my mat to keep it steady and tight.

All done, very cool!

Happy Sunday,

T.