Quick Travel first aid kit

How was your weekend? I spent the weekend biking with the family and Birthday parties! Needless to say it is hard to complete a bunch of crafts with weekends jam packed! But today I thought I would share a quick fun First aid kit. I am the most accident prone person, I can cut myself by looking at something sharp!! So a first aid kit is something that should never be to far away from me!

I was shopping at Roberts and they had these fun little bead holders for $1.99 (plus a 40%off coupon). The inside is meant for different beads But it actually makes the perfect first aid kit!

 

Simply fill with first aid stuff (band aides, Neosporin, gauze, cotton balls, safety pin, Tums, Tylenol) And add to your purse, diaper bag, car, or perfect size for kids backpacks (just don't add the Tylenol I would hate for them to get in trouble!). I wrote on mine but Vinyl would also be cute. These would also make great little gifts for neighbors and friends.Also would be great for those graduate going off to college! You know when you left home a first aid kit was the last thing on your list!! Our be fun for a group activity.

Happy Monday!

Personalized Graffiti Pots

I help with my church's Achievement Days program and we have the 10-11 year old girls. Yesterday I decided to let them make Mothers day gifts and I had to keep it simple we only have an hour!

Items Needed:

• Terra cotta Pots
• Sharpies
• clear coat
• flowers (you could even make flower pens for teachers!)

I simply told the girls to add all the fun words that reminded them of their moms. Grandmas would love them too!  Didn't they come out cute. It will easily work for any age. I also think these would make excellent Teacher appreciation gifts. Add a flower pen with some words like “Thanks for helping me Grow/bloom!”

So what are some of your fun ideas for Mother’s Day? Do you prefer homemade or bought?

Homemade Canvas

Canvas art is huge right now. If you have gone to the craft stores you will know that a blank canvas is quite expensive. I wanted to make a few things with them but i just couldn't get myself to spend that much on something so simple. My husband said he would help me make our own. I have a cute project i want to do with a canvas so i thought i would show you how my husband and i saved money and make our own.

I bought a 1x2 inch wood slat from the hardware store for $1.50

I cut them in 2’ strips and since i don’t have the tools to cut it at a 45 degree angle i just squared them up.

I used a staple gun to hold the wood together. I stapled them on the front and sides. 

I wanted a smooth material that is a little heavier so i used a white “blackout” material. The last time i bought this i got like 4 yards but this time Kori was at the fabric store and saw a scrap piece and grabbed it for me. Even though i only used half of what she bought i still paid $5 so its a little more but It is so worth it if you plan to paint or draw on it. I laid out the material and made sure i had enough to fold over on each side. I did Iron out the material before i stapled it down. This is the last chance you will get.

I have tried the corners a few different ways and this is my favorite it requires no cutting and has clean folds. I just hold the top and the side at the same time and bring them over to the top to staple them together.

 

There is only 2 small creases but you should only see 1 when its hanging on the wall.

 

Well this is my finished 2’x2’ blank canvas. I bought 1 more wood slat and made 2 and spent just over $8

Stay tuned cause i have a fun project planned for this canvas.

-Tara

Toy Tin Game

Have you seen these Magnetic toy games before? I have debated on buying them for Miss A but the price always gets me, I just have a hard time paying so much for something I know I can make 1/2 as good!!

Well I got to looking around the house and came to locate this old knife holder and then as I was grocery shopping I hit the Valentine clearance and got this little heart for .50 cents (plus a treat inside!). I was pretty excited I grabbed some local magnets that were taking up space on my fridge and some stickers. I painted inside the tins to look like a nice little background,   While the paint dried I stuck my stickers to the magnets and then cut each of them out.

After I cut out all my pieces I put a layer of modge podge on them to make sure they stayed put with play. All that was left was to add my animals to their new home
I cant wait to try these out at church!
~Enjoy, Kori

Self Binding Blanket

Another sewing tutorial!!! Well I didn't get any hate mail or confused readers out there so I thought I would give you another super easy tutorial, I even tried it out on my non-sewing friend and she understood me (or pretended well;)!  A few years ago Tara & I were at a local fabric shop we were both pregnant and asked the lady how she made this cute baby blanket. Well she explained it to us and I HAD to race home and try it before it slipped from my brain! That was many, many, self binding blankets ago.
Items Needed:

• Fabric: 1 30” piece (this will be your front make it the fun pattern) and 1 40” piece (this will make up your back side and your edged on the front)
• Sewing Machine
• pins
• thread

To start off you need your 30” & 40” to be squared. TO do this fold them over into a triangle and then cut off the excess. After you have your 2 squares you will need to find the center of each side on both pieces to do that simply fold them in half and I put a pin to remember, do this for all 8 sides.  Next you are going to match up your pins. Take your fabric and face it so the print is face to face then take the 2 pins and match them up and pin them just like that.Now you are going to sew each side I placed the edges of the first side and made sure it was smooth from the middle (where the pins are, at the bottom of the picture) and sewed a straight line. Do this for all 4 sides and remember to stop at each corner and re-straighten it you will have a bunny ear looking piece on each corner and that is totally normal! When you get to the last side leave a spot so that you can flip it right side out!Next up it is time for the corners, the hard part! To do this you will take the hem on 2 sides at the corner and match them up to make another triangle. Them simple place them on the sewing machine like the picture and sew a straight line.  Then before you cut off your excess material on the corner I like to turn the blanket right side out just to make sure I didn't mess up!! (Yes I have MANY times!)All that is left is my least favorite part stitch up the opening! TADA At this stage you can either leave it as is or you can add a decorative stitch. I added a little x pattern on the inside. Did we all survive another sewing time with me? If not we love hearing from you so please let me know. Oh and we CANT Wait for Tomorrow its going to be fun!!!

~Enjoy, Kori

Trash 2 Treasure - Valentines Tray

A couple of days after Kori came up with the Trash 2 Treasure month I was thinking of all the things I throw away that can have double use. This was one of them. If you have kids and you love to go to movies I'm sure you know what this is. My son loves to go see movies with us and so we buy him a kids popcorn try. I normally throw them away but I saved it and turned it into a valentine tray.

I took the kids popcorn tray and painted them the colors i wanted

After the paint dried I covered them in scrapbook paper and filled them with some fun little treats. Nothing to big just a couple of cookies, a red soda and a lil book showing "my valentines" how much I love them. Now I'm only showing you the first page of the book since you wont be able to see the other pages anyways. It was a simple and fast valentine that you can make with a few things you normally would throw away. Why not save some money while you tell someone you love them.

This is not a Trash 2 Treasure valentine but i wanted to show you what i left in my fridge for my hubby to find when he wakes up.

If you like this last idea you dont have to wait for Valentines to tell the people you love how you feel. Something as simple as a soda in the fridge can be appreciated any time of the year. I know my husband loves the little things i surprise him with way more then a huge present.

We hope everyone has a HAPPY VALENTINES! XOXO

-Tara

Happy Napping

  Pillow Pets, I know they are all the craze now days with kids and I am sure you have seen them here and there (if not what cave are you hiding in and can we join you!!).  Well if you have seen them you probably have looked at the price tag…$20 Bucks! Ouch, so not in my budget for a pillow with a head! Here is a picture, just to make sure we are on the same page! So that got me thinking, why not make one. I will give you a warning, I am NOT a great sewer by any means (My husband had to teach me how to thread my machine!) and I make my own patterns (I am totally not qualified to read patterns!). But I love my machine and have a good time attempting to share my little skills! SO if your in for an adventure… here we go!
Items Needed:

• Large Stuffed animal
• Fabric (for the pillow)
• Sewing Machine
• Strong stomach, it is hard to cut those little guys up ;)

First of all you need a large stuff animal. If you are like me and do not own any the the thrift stores are calling your name! I picked up these two bears for $3.00 buck (Score!) I started with my piece for my pillow, Mine was 21x17 it looked good to me!Next up is the part that if you have a squeamish stomach or love for the stuffed animals turn away! You are going to cut that poor little guy right up the middle. All I could think of as I was doing this was the cute little voices in Toy Story and I felt like Sid for a minute! I had to keep assuring myself I was giving her a new home and life!                   Once you have all the stuffing pulled out (makes it much easier to sew.) You are going to cut off the arms and legs and tail. Then start by pinning the head to the pillow inside.
    
I wanted my head to be stuffed with the pet so I sewed around the inside of the head to the pillow.
After the head is sewn on I sewed down both sides of the top. Then come the fun part of pinning. Place your feet(if you want them) where you would like them and pin all the sides. All that is left is to sew around the pillow. Remember to leave a place so you can flip her right side out. Here is a picture of what it looked like before I sewed all the sides all the bear part that is showing is what will be on the inside All sewn and ready for her cream filling or stuffing! I would like to introduce you to Patty the Pet Pillow! I added a bow because Miss A needed a girl pillow pet! For a little boy you could add a cute baseball cap or tie! I added a few Velcro dots to her inside belly and now she is ready to go to Miss A for a happy little nap!! So what do you think about my 1st sewing tutorial? Did I pass? If I missed any step or you have questions please ask! We love hearing from all of you! How great would these be for last minute Valentine Presents or Friend Birthday, for under $4.00 I was able to make Patty!
~Enjoy, Kori

We are sharing our skills at these fun PARTIES

Beef Bouquet

I wanted to share what I think is the cutest spin on a typical Valentines gift.
I came up with this Beef Bouquet three years ago while my husband and I were still dating. I wanted something extra special for him since Valentines is in all reality a girls holiday. My husband absolutely loved his gift so I thought I would make it again this year.

When I made this 3 years ago I had the florist make me a bouquet with the filler, wrapping and ribbon just minus the flowers then at my house I just stuffed in 12 pieces of jerky one by one. If you put it in a bundle or in a vase this is still the easiest way. If you want to try this and plan on using a vase a tip would be to glue or tape a skewer stick to the back of the jerky to give you some height. We added some ribbon to the vase to look like a tie rather then a typical bow.
I sure hope you enjoy my little manly twist on a valentines bouquet
-Tara