One Robin Road

garden stakes

2011-12-21T16:10:00.001-08:00

I have the kids home for two weeks added to the dark grey weather equals serious wall climbing. We also had a series of very, VERY expensive household emergencies this last month. So I devised this inexpensive way to add a little winter color and entertain the kids.

I bought a multi-pack of sculpy with a 40% off coupon for the bodies and used take-out chopsticks for the stakes. I think you could also bake salt dough, paint and seal it, but this was more colorful and rewarding for the kids.

I'm really excited with what the kids came up with and they want to give them to their father for Christmas.

refashion boys shoes to girls boots

2011-05-10T17:25:00.001-07:00

I saved these shoes that my son out grew after two wearings.
I tried to get my daughter to wear them. She wouldn't. So I replaced the laces with elastic and made a covering from felted wool sweaters. I hot glued the covers to the old shoe and voila, boots.

Super cute and fun.

Sensory Play

2011-04-27T15:19:00.000-07:00

My 3 year old was bored today. I decided to let her have some sensory play and created this toy out of things around the house. It is modeled after a sensory table I saw in my son's preschool long ago.
You will need a sweater box, a handful of small toys, 5 lbs of rice or dried beans or dried corn and a large blanket.
Place the blanket flat on the floor of the play space. Put box in the middle of the blanket. Place the small toys at bottom of the box. Pour the rice over top of toys.
Let the child find the toys and then otherwise enjoy the feel of the rice. My daughter got some of her pretend kitchen toys and poured rice from one bowl to another for about an hour. Then she got inside the box, squishing the rice between her toes and declared she was "at the beach" and making sand "cassies" (castles).
I didn't think of the blanket until I tried to clean up the rice explosion. Would have been nice to be able to pull the corners up on the blanket and pour the rice back into the box. I thought I would just sweep it up and dump it in, but all the dirt comes up too... Yuck.

Its been about 5 hours. I've tried to put the rice away 3 times. Each time a child started playing so nicely with it that I leave it out. Right now my 8 year old is playing with it. I think it brings back good memories of preschool.

water bottle decorating

2011-04-20T12:28:00.000-07:00

For our final project for the eco-craft class we individualized water bottles. I bought some aluminum water bottles and cut out stencils of each student's name and various images.

turned out to be a very messy project.

Each child was excited to have a water bottle they made themselves.

recycled streamers

2011-04-15T14:00:00.000-07:00

A simple craft to do with all recycled items. I used tee-shirts cut into strips, disposable chopsticks and some wire left over from a garden project.
The eco craft class loved it.

I envisioned the project with one long streamer that they would decorate with rubber stamps.
But they each did a specifically unique streamer. One person used several long contrasting colors, another did a dozen short ones, and another one of each in medium length (about the same length as child's height)

Much fun and I left time for them to play with them.

logo hiding

2011-04-12T16:03:00.000-07:00

Ever have a great piece of clothing but hate the logo on it?
Or just not like logos.
I doctored up this great mid weight jacket with a matching iron on to change the look from corporate wear to casual wear.

First I covered the dark lettering with white out.

Then tried to match the color of the background with some fabric paint.

I designed a bird sitting on a branch and cut it out of fabric that matched the accent color for a new look.

recycled t-shirt basket

2011-02-10T10:47:00.000-08:00

This week we made baskets out of old T-shirts cut into strips woven around a cardboard frame. I used cereal and cookie boxes for the frames. which made them a little flimsy. Some of the children complained that the cardboard bent too easily. Next time I will use something firmer.

We ended up with a little extra time. So I pulled out a bag of biodegradable packing peanuts and a clean sponge. I asked them to make animals to put in the baskets. They had a competition on who could make the longest snake instead.

Chinese New Year rabbit lantern

2011-01-27T15:20:00.001-08:00

I thought the eco craft class could celebrate Chinese New Year with these cute little lanterns. We started with clean empty baby food jars and pasted little rabbit paper cuts on them. Then decoupaged tissue paper over the bottle. We wrapped wire around the mouth of the jar and threaded the wire through a chopstick with a hole drilled in the end.
A lovely lantern that could hold a real tea light candle without burning the holders hand. I supplied battery powered candles though.

The class had fun testing them out in a cupboard in the classroom.

recycled on the go cup

2011-01-22T12:13:00.001-08:00

Ever on the go and forget containers for the kids snacks? Happens to me all the time. I knot handkerchiefs, cup napkins... but they always spill. Especially in the car. So I adapted this origami technique for a sturdy little cup. I use whatever clean-ish paper is around. It works with squares or rectangles.

Fold paper in half diagonally.

Fold the two corners in so they overlap.

Fold the front top corner down. (can fold back corner back, but I find this easier to pass around)

Open cup

Fold bottom corners in for a standing base.

Fill with snack.

Potato Prints

2011-01-20T10:18:00.000-08:00

I must say, I was a little disappointed with this one. I spent a week planning/designing these prints and 2 hours carving them. But then I decided to use a new paint (formulated for silk screening but the label said could be used for printing) because the Scribbles that I usually use gets all hard and scratchy. I also carved the potatoes the day before the class and stored them in lemon water over night since I didn't have time to carve them just before the class. The potatoes cupped overnight so it was very difficult to print with them and it had not occurred to be to bring a large carving knife to school with me. So I couldn't fix them.

I am really happy with the stamp designs. They are mix and match animals. The children tried to play with them, but the stamps were so hard to use we all ended up frustrated. So much for my big WOW first project of the quarter.
I think I will try to fix the prints today and stamp up some cards or something before the potatoes go in the compost heap. oh well. At least I am happy with the designs. I may enlarge them and make mix and match iron-ons or something.

Packing Peanut Play

2010-11-21T12:57:00.000-08:00

What to do with all those biodegradable packing peanuts? I hate throwing anything out... So I had a huge box of these in the basement. Now they are all gone...

No Gluing!

Dampen on a moist sponge the end you want to stick.

Then stick it!

Word of warning: they do dissolve with too much moisture.

My son enjoyed the goopy mess when he discovered this and began melting them on purpose.

Only works with the biodegradable packing peanuts.

Grocery Bag Kites

2010-07-18T22:07:00.000-07:00

I have not been feeling very creative lately. Craziness of Summer. But my son has been desperate to do a craft. So one day he wouldn't wait for me any longer and recreated a project we did a year or so ago. The last time, he taped his bag into a little wad and dragged it around. This time we tied string to the handles, punched holes in the bottom to tied streamers made from cut up bags. One of them is 3 bags connected. I was going to make a dragon out of it, but didn't have enough time.

They make great wind socks too.

Pictures are on a hot windless day. We got some height on them. My son prefers flying kites when there is no wind. He likes the challenge of getting them up and is bored when we keep them up in the sky.

Hula Hoop

2010-06-14T15:07:00.000-07:00

Hula Hoop, the best exercise. tighten the core, stay flexible and have fun!

Easy to make with left over irrigation hose. I followed this great tutorial, but my hose was 1/2 inch which was a little floppy, so I doubled it up. The electrical tape is really expensive (about $5 a roll), but the Hoops didn't have the same appeal without. My son and his friend loved choosing their own colors.

My son had never used a hula hoop before. But by the second day he could do 50 nonstop loops. I'm lucky if I make 3.

reusing old t-shirts

2010-05-27T10:02:00.000-07:00

This week we cut up old t-shirts and wove them into scarves. The project took much longer than the allotted hour. The children took home their cardboard looms to finish.

It turned out to be another project better suited for the older kids. I also didn't have sharp enough scissors to cut fabric. So they all got frustrated cutting strips. At one point half my class was running around the room with t-shirt streamers behind them.

vinegar bottle bird house

2010-05-20T13:27:00.000-07:00

I was vinegar bottles to make a raft. But when the project I had planned turned out to need 72 hours to cure, I quickly changed to this one.

It was easy to cobble together from items I had around the house. A plastic bottle, stiff wire, used disposable chopstick, an exacto blade and various sharpies. The kids had a lot of fun making them and the individual style shown through. Some took 15 minutes to complete and some weren't done at the end of the hour long class.

fish printing

2010-05-11T11:28:00.000-07:00

The first time I did this project with children was for my son's 3rd birthday. We had 3 children over and I was so amazed at how different each turned out. There is real expression involved.

It is the easiest project. And kids these days never get to play with dead things so there was the inevitable fish fight.

All you need is a dead fish, fabric paint and a blank T-shirt. Though it turned out to be the most expensive of my eco class projects so far. The fabric paint is so pricey and the kids love squirting most of the bottle on. (In one of the pictures below the fish has about $5 worth of paint on it - deep breath)

I usually get a few small frozen tilapia because they are only a couple dollars each. But there seemed to be a shortage. I went to several stores and struck out. So I bought a milk fish (that unfortunately had already had it's scales removed) and some salmon heads. My last stop, at an Asian grocery that I had never been to before, had bags of small frozen river fish.

The fish heads were the most interesting (and the kids had the most fun with them also - putting "make-up" on them and such) One ended up looking like a nuclear hazard sign and another like a butterfly.

I love seeing how they differ. And one boy even wore his t-shirt to school the next day.

mother's day gifts

2010-05-06T13:49:00.000-07:00

This week we made little lockets for mother's day. It was a perfect project for 3rd grade and above. The Kindergarten and 1st graders had some trouble with it. I think it was a little too detailed for them.
We also made some envelopes from an old catalogue, the idea was to seal them in before the mom's came to pick up. Unfortunately we ran over time and all the mom's heard lots of yelling "don't look!" when they came to pick up.
I hope they like them.

planting shoes

2010-04-26T21:20:00.000-07:00

The Eco craft class is moving along. We planted old shoes this week. I really loved the old work boots one student brought in. I chose flowers to celebrate May Day.

Upcycled Flower Bed

2010-04-13T16:02:00.000-07:00

This is inspired by a flower bed I saw up at Hovander Homestead's children's garden in Ferndale, WA. They added a rustic headboard and foot board to a regular raised bed.

I had so much fun thinking of how great it would look filled with flowers that it really stuck in my mind.

This weekend, while cleaning out the basement, I stubbed my foot 1/2 a dozen times on an old broken bed frame that was laying across the playroom . I complained with some colorful swearing to my husband, whose answer was to drag the bed out into the yard and say "let's make that raised bed from Hovander." So we did.

We dug the existing bed down to the ground (silly us, we put the bed up, before digging out the old one). Used scraps left over from making the fence to line the bed. Looks a little like a bed skirt. The scraps had been sitting in the yard for years waiting for that perfect project. We also sunk some of the left over scraps into the ground as stepping stones. We lined the whole bed with landscape fabric and filled it back in.

I emptied our worm bins and mixed that in. (Here is someone who hitched a ride over from the worm bins)

Now we are ready to plant.

reuser stilts

2010-04-07T13:47:00.000-07:00

I am making my first foray as an after school program teacher. Much fun. Here is my mock up for our first project. Using left over formula cans, paint and some grosgrain. I painted a semi-realistic grass scene on one and my son painted an "abstract" on his. His description, not mine.

bobby pin forms

2010-03-13T14:12:00.000-08:00

I just got these really great bobby pin forms. I hot glued my favorite button (taken off a hoodie where they were strangely placed). Now I have the simplest easy elegant hair accessory.
SO HAPPY.

Dino Garden

2010-02-23T13:44:00.000-08:00

A great project for spring break. It took us a couple hours gather and make this, with a lot of interesting conversation along the way.

My son and I took a shallow pan out to the back yard and gathered items for this garden. We mostly picked things up off the ground and didn't kill anything. Then we selected a planter bottom to use. we lined it with dirt, then arranged the stones and sticks, then the moss and plants. Then he ran and got his dinosaurs and made a big set up with tar pit and ocean. He named the dinos as he placed them and had the herbosaurs eating plants and the others hunting.
We then placed it in his bedroom. We will mist in once in a while to try to keep the moss alive.

Strawberry Tower

2010-02-21T21:00:00.000-08:00

My husband has been talking about a strawberry tower that he saw in a catalogue. He didn't save the catalogue to show me the tower, but he has been talking about making one himself. Today the sun was out, our daughter was napping and I decided to have a go at it. I used a rusty old tomato cage, a planter from my college days (aka really old) some landscape fabric, ten strawberry plants and a lot of dirt.
I curled the pointy ends of the cage under, rolled the fabric and placed it in the cage. Then my son and I started filling, and filling, and filling it with dirt. Then I punctured the fabric and fed the plants through. Next time I will secure the fabric to the cage (maybe use black fabric - this was the fabric we had in the garage) and thread the plants through before I fill with dirt. Was really messy this way.
It is a lot fugly now, but I think it will be luscious when it grows in.

spring planting

2010-02-15T15:00:00.000-08:00

Well, winter is over in the Pacific Northwest. This weekend we planted the peas and neatened the garden. Inside we planted starts.
My local farmer's market berry vendors take back and reuse the outer cardboard used for berry "flats", but they don't take back the inner berry containers. I can't bear to throw them out. So I end up with boxes of them in the basement. I am trying them out as containers for my starts. They should hold together long enough for the plants to grow and then I can gently break them apart and plant them outside. I reused garden trays and the berry cardboard for these starts. I am crossing my fingers for a good long growing season.

glass magnets

2010-01-10T10:12:00.000-08:00

A fun activity for the dreary winter days. We made these over the holiday break to give to the relatives. You can use decorative paper or my son and his friend really liked cutting out pictures of themselves. For a whole week my son proudly pointed to his face amid the other stuff on our metal front door.

Materials
-flat glass marbles - jumbo sized, clear. I had to order these online, but I once saw them at the dollar store, so if you have time check around. They are usually used in glass vases with flowers.
-decorative paper or photos. old wrapping paper works great. For the photos I printed a bunch on the proof sheet setting of my printer, I think it was 36 photos to a page. that got the faces to be a good size to fit in the marble.
-decoupage medium
-flat craft/paint brush
-hot glue gun and glue
-round magnets
-pencil
-scissors

Directions
Place marble flat side down on paper or photo and move around until desired view.
Trace the marble.

cut out inside pencil mark.

spread decoupage medium liberally on cut out paper/photo.
press paper/photo on flat side of marble.

move until fit nicely, smoothing edges up and around edges of marble.
let dry
apply decoupage medium to back side of paper/photo

let dry

apply a liberal dollop of hot glue in middle of flat side of marble
press round magnet in hot glue
let cool

We set up a sort of assembly line to make multiple magnets. We cut out multiple paper/photos, decoupaged them all at once. Then I handled the glue gun while my son planted the magnets. One hint is to be sure to put enough glue to come around the sides of the magnet, otherwise the magnet eventually falls off.

Recycled castle gift or goodie bag

2009-12-21T15:52:00.000-08:00

Here is a fun little gift bag I created. My son loves it so much that he took it off my craft table and ran off with it. He occasionally reappears swinging it by the top string. I think it is perfect for a small gift or make multiple for a goodie bag.

Materials:

4 empty toilet paper tubes

1 paper lunch sack

pen

scissors

hole punch

about 2 ft of ribbon

Directions:

cut top notches of paper tubes, be sure to have an even number of cuts
fold down every other tab

cut a vertical line 3/4 way up each tube
turn 1/4 turn and make parallel cut
draw castle walls, windows and drawbridge on bag

keep in mind about an inch out from the corner will be covered with the

cut 1 inch in from each corner where there is a natural horizontal fold in the bag

thread the paper tubes through the holes

fill bag

fold upper corners of bag down so the overlap

fold top corner down

punch 1 or 2 holes through overlap

1 hole - feed the middle of the ribbon through the hole then bring the ends through that loop creating a closure for the bag

2 holes - string each end of the ribbon through a hole and tie closed

paper beads

2009-12-15T09:39:00.000-08:00

My son wanted to make a necklace for his stuffed animal. He wanted to use my glass beads. I compromised and we made these lovely paper beads and strung them together for his stuffie.

Materials:
paper - magazines or newspaper ads work well
round chopstick
glue stick or white glue
paintbrush is using white glue
wax paper
scissors

Directions:
cut paper width way in about 3" lengths
use a length of wax paper as a place mat to keep from gluing paper to table
start rolling 1 corner or edge onto chopstick
spread glue on rest of paper. I used watered down white glue. that was too hard for my son so he used a glue stick.
continue rolling, be sure edges are well glued
slide paper tube off chopstick
repeat
let dry
when all tubes are dry, cut in 1/2" - 1" lengths
string together for necklace or garland

This would be a fun activity to do during winter break. Also could string together a garland to decorate the tree.

organic u-cut tree

2009-12-11T11:56:00.000-08:00

Braved the freezing cold to cut our tree this year. I was grateful that the ground was frozen instead of ankle deep mud. But my new daughter was confused and grumpy. I think this is her first experience with freezing weather. She would hold out her hands or a foot scream like she was being stung. So we picked the 3rd tree cut it down, strapped it to the top of the car and were on our way. Oh yeah we paid for it too. Last year we got a funky tree for a very good price. This year we got a normal noble.

We went back to the organic u-cut tree place we got our tree from last year

orange display

2009-12-08T11:29:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite things about winter are Satsuma Oranges. The fragrance sprayed when peeling reminds me of the wonder and joy I felt as a five year old pulling a satsuma from my stocking.

I fill my vase and by the end of the week it is empty and ready to be filled again.

See vintage post for how to...

recycled castle

2009-11-27T13:16:00.000-08:00

When I finished up this castle my son grabbed it and ran off to decorate it himself. He had been begging me for a week to make him a castle. So when I finally gathered all the supplies together today, he was bummed that the cardboard was too hard for him to cut. Once it was assembled he was thrilled.
(Sorry, my son and his friend won't let me have the castle to take a decent picture!)

Materials:

smallish cardboard box - I used 11"x14"

4 cardboard tubes - we don't use many paper towels in our house, so I used some wax paper and such. I had to cut them all to the same length.

scissors

exacto blade

pen or pencil

glue

tape

Directions:

With box closed, draw the top notches, windows and drawbridge door.

Using the exacto blade cut out the windows and the top of the drawbridge door. (Do not cut bottom of door - so the door will open out.)

Cut off the upper flaps of the box.

Remove all the tape on the body of the box. Leave the tape on the bottom. Glued boxes work the best.

With scissors, cut lengthwise along notches.

With exacto, score bottom edge of notch.

Fold notches in.

Take one of the removed lengthwise upper flap and cut two corners off along the same length.

Glue it along folded notches with notch underneath and cut corners at corners of the box. You can tape it in place to secure while glue dries.

Cut off remaining exposed folded notches.

Starting at the bottom of the cardboard tube, cut a lengthwise slit the height of the castle.

Cut a parallel line 1/4 turn away.

Cut notches on top, folding over or removing.

Repeat with other 3 tubes.

Slide the cut edges of the tubes over each corner of the castle.

Decorate as desired.

Sweater Boots - Upcycled

2009-11-10T14:45:00.000-08:00

I made these for my models to wear. They got more attention than the clothes. I got several offers to sell them is some wonderful boutiques. I considered becoming a cobbler but just don't have the time to source materials.

I hope you enjoy this simple easy way to upcycle your favorite scuffed shoes to become one of the hottest items this fall.

Material:

scuffed up old shoes (helps to have a clear division between top and bottom)

old sweater

hot glue gun with glue

ribbons or other trim (optional)

buttons or other accessory (optional)

Directions:

cut the sleeves off the sweater at the shoulder seam.

Embellish the cuff or body of sleeve as desired. I like to use buttons.

slide sleeve over shoe with armhole at heal and cap at toe to check angle of boot top. Should be about 40-45 degrees from floor.

pull toe forward or heal down until get desired angle.
Trim excess.

heat glue gun

glue toe between shoe and sleeve about 1" along bottom edge. Carefully press down. be sure to avoid hot glue on your fingers.

Glue 1" at heal. press down.

glue slowly 1-2" at a time until whole shoe is connected.

run a bead of glue around raw edge a couple of inches at a time. press ribbon over glue to hide raw edge.

If sweater was felted this step is optional.

Sometimes the ridge of the shoe is large enough to tuck the raw edge away, also making this step optional.

repeat with other shoe.

clothes swap

2009-11-06T21:42:00.000-08:00

I attended a clothes swap organized by my sister. She has them a couple of times a year. It was a great way to swap out the clothes you don't wear with different ones. This was the first one I managed to attend. It was fabulous. It was like a trunk sale, without having to pay for anything! I even got some really great shoes and a pair of boots. I have never been able to find boots that fit me. So I was pretty ecstatic.
The low down on a clothes swap. Each gal brings her treasured clothes that she doesn't wear anymore. Then sorts the clothes in stations by type, pant, skirt, dress, fancy, tops, sweaters... THEN DIG IN. We had an area to keep selected clothes (and the ones worn to the party since we were all running around in our undies). This is very important. I did overhear someone say she had to find a pant that fit because hers went home with someone else. Leftovers are donated.
The organizers also made a party of it and provided food and mimosas! You can do potluck also.
I was so impressed by how much fun being frugal and sustainable can be.

salvaging jeans

2009-11-03T09:46:00.000-08:00

Have you ever splurged on something and it shrunk in the wash?

I have this pair of $200 jeans (I got them at a going out of business sale for 30% off) They are organic and made in the USA. So I splurged. They shrank. Been sitting on my shelf for almost a year, making me sad. Never worn.

Then a friend cleaned out her space and gave me a bunch of vintage remnants. SCORE! One from around the sixties inspired me. I thought it would look really retro cool on these jeans. So I spliced them in. OOOhhh bad idea. I now had $200 clown pants... So I sadly set them aside.

After a few days I decided to paint them. I put a wash of navy blue fabric paint to tone it down. I am pretty happy with the finished product. I think I brought it back to retro cool.

fall leaf stockpile

2009-11-01T21:33:00.000-08:00

I spent a lovely afternoon with my son gathering fall leaves. It was a little late, many leaves were rotten already, but we had fun sifting through them. His favorite were the bright red maple leaves. He said they looked like starfish.
We then pressed them in a book for later use.
Thinking leaf printing, collages or decoupage. Will be fun to have this many stockpiled for the winter crafts.
My son wanted this post to be named "I collected 600 leaves"

Last minute harvest festival - pumpkin bean bag toss

2009-10-27T13:08:00.000-07:00

Last week I learned that my son's school is not allowing costumes for Halloween. I was so upset, I offered to plan a harvest festival for his class. So this week I am scrounging around to put together a party for 20 first graders!

Here is my first activity - pumpkin bean bag toss

Materials:

old coffee or formula can - clean with sharp opening taped over

pretty scrap paper - size of can label

sheet of printable fabric

computer with clip art

8 1/2" x 11" scrap fabric

sewing machine with thread

2 cups dry beans

Directions:

Tape or glue pretty paper over can label. Can will be target.

Print 6 - 2 1/2" clip arts of pumpkins (I image searched on line) on printable fabric be sure to leave at least 1/2" between images. the more space the better, for seam allowance.

Trim images leaving the most amount of extra fabric as possible.

lay on scrap fabric face sides together.

cut around printed fabric.

sew together with 1/8" seam allowance. Leaving a 1 1/2" opening. be sure to back stitch at start and finish.

turn right side out.

stuff with dried beans. I used some garbanzos that had been in my cupboard for years.

turn opening edges in and stitch shut.

Now you have a bean bag toss game. I am thinking of dividing the bean bags, making another can and having two games going.

Other activities:

face painting - we have several nontoxic face painting sets. I am thinking of printing out stencils so a parent can easily make images on faces for those kids who don't want to draw on their own. Otherwise I will bring a mirror and let kids draw their own. after all it washes off.

The old stand in, Bobbing for apples - a big tub of water and 20 apples, what could be simpler?

Roll the Gourd - our farmer's market is the day before the party. I plan on getting a nice round and bumpy gourd or squash. then we place a target on the floor and have the children try to roll the gourd into the target.

Guess the monster parts-have a bowl with various slimy or textureous foods in them representing monster parts inside a box with front covered with craft paper strips. Have children reach in and guess what is inside.

Hopefully these plus a snack with use up the hour allotted for the party.

nice dream

2009-10-04T20:15:00.000-07:00

I dreamt last night that I overthrew a corrupt monarch. All I did was challenge him. Because he got defensive instead of confidently laughing it off, the people/guards sided with me and took him away.

My first order of things was to be sure all the people were fairly compensated for their work. I was starting to survey the people and compare to the ledger when my daughter woke up.

End to that lovely dream.

Speaking of lovely dreams, here are some pictures from the fashion show. It was fun. Though I got more attention for the boots than the clothes...

sustainable fashion show

2009-09-18T12:11:00.000-07:00

I have been busy preparing for the Sustainable Ballard Festival fashion show. I got an invitation last week and the show is next week! Making Upcycled jeans skirts and repurposed t-shirt dresses among other things. I am thinking of making sweater shoes from repurposed sweater arms and thriftstore shoes. If they work out I will post instructions later. Wondering if I have time to make jewelry...
If you are in the Seattle area and a size mediumish woman and want to model in the fashion show I would love to hear from you!

Mason Bee house

2009-09-12T09:15:00.000-07:00

I saw this in a magazine while waiting at the dentist. I thought it looked really easy and since my neighbor has an out of control bamboo patch along our boarder it would also be free. We just pulled a 2” round stalk that was growing under our siding. It went under a cement path, up our foundation and under the siding.
Mason bees are great pollinators and don’t sting. I placed this home in our plum tree.

Materials:
2 stalks of bamboo (6-8 feet)
Clippers or sharp saw
Twine (I used some twill tape)

Directions:
Cut the bamboo into segments. The magazine said every 6 inches. But I cut it just above the joint so the bee would have somewhere to nestle. So the segments are different lengths. I also used clippers when I should have used a saw on the larger parts. So mine is a little raggedy.
Bundle the bamboo together, wrapping the twine two times around before tying off.
Place bundle in crotch of a tree, somewhere it is protected.

Fruit fly trap

2009-09-09T09:10:00.000-07:00

I accidentally left the rind of a melon on the counter over night. We must have had 100 fruit flies on it the next morning. I tried to carry it outside with all the flies, but they just scatter. So I made this fly trap and my son and I watched and counted the carnage…

Materials:
Used, clean food tub
Plastic wrap
Rubber band
Cider vinegar
Toothpick

Directions:
Pour ½ inch or more cider vinegar in bottom of the container
Cover with plastic wrap
Secure plastic wrap with rubber band
Poke a few holes in the center of the plastic wrap
Set on counter and leave alone

The flies like the cider smell. They can get into the trap but not out. They eventually tire and drown. Clean out as needed by emptying washing and repeating. You can reuse the plastic wrap.

Melon Balling

2009-09-06T17:28:00.001-07:00

Rainy Sunday holiday weekend… What to do?…
Here is great (time consuming) activity. I have fond memories of sitting balling melon and chatting with the Nanny as she made dinner. I think my son will have fond memories also (minus the Nanny). We chatted and took turns trying to make the roundest ball.

Materials:
Ripe Melon
Spoon
Melon baller
Knife
Large bowl

Directions:
Cut melon in half
Remove seeds
Place baller against melon flesh and twist handle
Gently tap utensil against rim of bowl to release
Repeat

keeping cool

2009-08-03T21:57:00.000-07:00

Unseasonally hot weather has me eating my son's reuse popsicles. I make them for myself with organic concord grape juice (naturally sweet but not too sweet frozen) and no stick. I leave a cup out while I eat and then take a metal spoon and mash it up. Depending on how long i left it out, sometime it is like sorbet other times a nice cool slurpy. My daughter loves begging tastes of it too. Though sometimes her tastes take most.

Up-cycled Jeanskirt

2009-07-28T11:25:00.000-07:00

Up-cycle that great pair of jeans that never fit right. I have a stack of jeans that I can’t bear to throw away. Most of them shrank the first time I washed them (including that $200 organic pair…) The others are from my larger days. Here is a great stylish way to wear them again.

Materials:
Old jeans
Scissors
Matching thread (match the existing topstitch or the jean color)
Sewing machine
Seam ripper

Directions:

Cut leg at ½ the inseam or higher (depending on length you want the skirt). Remember to leave at least 1 ¼” for hem. Also keep in mind too small pants will sit higher on the waist than the pants did.

Carefully open inseam.

Open rise (crotch seam) ½ way up in back and to 1” below zipper in front.
Open inseam of cut off piece also.
Lay open overlap rise and pin cut off piece between legs, one in front and one in back.
Try skirt on to be sure you can sit and walk. Move legs farther apart if you can not.
Stitch in place.
Turn up and up and secure hem.

Berry picking bucket

2009-07-16T10:52:00.000-07:00

The berries are in at the farmer’s market! That means its u-pick time. This recycled bucket is perfect for picking berries. I sling it over my wrist so I can hold branches with one hand and pick with the other. Fill it part way and then dump into the over sized container provided by the berry patch. Simple, efficient and easy

Materials:
Clean takeout food container
Ribbon (I use ribbon from presents I have received)

Directions:
Wrap ribbon around top of food container
Tie tightlyCut length for handle
Tie each end to other ribbon

Can also stitch ends down for stiffer ribbon

Thank you cards

2009-07-09T21:46:00.000-07:00

I finally got my thank you cards done. They should be quick and easy but I tried to sandwich them in 1 hour naptime along with my other chores and work. So they ended up taking several weeks.
One week to select and print photo. One week to cut paper. One week to glue… Really 5 minutes at a time.
Now all I have to do is write a quick note in each and send them off!

Materials:
8 ½” x 11” cardstock
2 – 4x6 photos
Paper grocery sack
Scissors
Glue stick

Directions:
Card:
Slice ¾” off one end of each photo (measure 4” x 5 ¼”)
Cut cardstock in half lengthwise
Fold in half widthwise (measure 4 ¼” x 5 ½”)
Glue photo in bottom corner of cardstock along folded edge

Envelope:
Slice open grocery bag along seams.
Follow this link for envelope. Only use grocery sack with blank side out.

Stepping Stones

2009-06-30T14:22:00.000-07:00

I am a little late with this one. These are the stones we made for Father’s Day. We usually make them for Mother’s Day but this year we were too busy adjusting to our new daughter. They are a lot of fun and can use up items that would otherwise go to the dump, like broken pottery, bottle tops and the bubble blowing sticks. We also sometime put leaves in them for a fossil like effect.

I started doing this project with my son when he was 2 years old. We make a couple every year. I try to get him to do a hand print every year so he can compare them later. I hope to cover the whole front yard and maybe a path around the north end of the house someday.

Materials:
Moulds – you can buy some or use plastic serving plates or other found items, just be sure you can twist them slightly to pop out the finished stepping stone
Cement – enough to fill your moulds 1 ½ to 2 inches thick. I found the 25lb. box made 4 stepping stones
Water
Bucket - exclusively use for cement
Old paint stirrer
Stuff to decorate top – flat marbles, tiles, thrift store or broken china, tiny dinosaurs, old party favors, toy meal toys…
Hammer

Directions:
Place tiles or china in a bag. Child can use hammer to lightly tap until cracked into about 1 inch pieces.
Adult mix the cement with water in the bucket as manufacture recommended.
Pour into mould
Spread out evenly with paint stirrer
Child can arrange decorations on top and gently press in. Be careful with sharp edges. When my son was young we used mostly flat marbles and store bought mosaic tiles. Last year, we had him were garden gloves. This year we used a plastic fork for him to stir the box of broken pottery to pick his perfect item.
Be sure the item is at least halfway submerged but not touching the bottom of the mould. If items fall out later you can glue them back with cement adhesive if desired.
Leave room for a hand print. Cover cement with single layer of plastic (to keep cement off little hands and out of eyes and mouth). A produce bag cut open works nicely. Press hand until clear depression appears. Remove hand. Remove plastic.
Decorate around between fingers and around hand print if desired.

Leave stones flat overnight to dry (some cements dry in hours – follow manufacture recommendations – ranges from 2 hours to 2 days to dry)
When completely dry, turn stone over. Gently flex mould until stone pops out.
For walking path, bury stone so only surface shows.

Banana toast dippers

2009-06-16T13:30:00.000-07:00

I was surprised by how well my son ate these. He has extremely sensitive taste buds and usually won’t eat something the first time he tries it. But these he gobbled down. It's also a fun play date activity that gets busy (picky) boys to eat before they melt down.

Materials:
1 large ripe banana
Two heaping scoops of Organic whole vanilla yogurt
2 eggs
Two tablespoons of water
Sprinkle of cinnamon
6 slices whole grain bread
Olive oil for frying

(can substitute the yogurt and water for ¼ cup whole milk and a dash of vanilla)

Various dipping items like syrup, honey, jam, applesauce, yogurt, whip cream…

Directions:
Blend yogurt and banana in food processor until smooth
Pour into large shallow bowl
Add eggs water and cinnamon
Whisk until well blended
Dip both sides of bread in egg mixture
Fry in well oiled pan over medium heat until both sides are browned and egg is thoroughly cooked
Slice ¾” widthwise strips

Serve with fresh fruit and various dipping items.

My son loved trying combinations and kept eating and asking us to try his inventions.
Sorry, he ate it so fast I didn’t get any pictures.

Up-cycled cereal box - box

2009-06-05T15:12:00.000-07:00

I am still playing with this box I saw on craftstylish. I thought it would be a great birthday party booty bag. I could have the children decorate the boxes at the beginning of the party. While the children were doing something else, I could put them together with a surprise inside for each child.

My prototype is made from a cereal box. We recycle a couple in a week in our house. I thought it would be nice to up-cycle them instead. My next birthday party isn’t until October (though he is already planning it!) I think I will have time to make enough…

I used the pattern provided on craftsylish and sized it up on a copy machine. I sized the top up 25% and the bottom %20 so they would fit together. I got one box from a medium/large sized cereal box.

Upcycled (catalogue/cereal box) box

2009-05-29T17:01:00.000-07:00

I was inspired by this box I saw on craftstylish. I wanted to make it out of items from around the house that would otherwise just get recycled. My bottom is slightly different and I used an origami box for the top.

You could also make it paper bags or any paper instead of catalogue paper and draw designs on. I was thinking of making one out of my son’s artwork, but I am afraid he will think I ruined it, so I think he would have to be consulted first.

Materials:
Catalogue – I used Anthropologie – always inspiring
Empty food box
Scissors
Glue stick

Directions:
Cut 4 – 2”x3” rectangles, 1- 2” square, 1 – 2 ¼” square from empty cardboard food box
Cut 1 – 6 1/2” square and 1 – 8 1/8” square from catalogue pages

Bottom:
Fold each side of 8 1/8” square at 3” from edge
Glue 2” square in center, line up with folds
Glue 2x3 centered in folds, lined up with edge of paper – should be small gap from 2” square.
Cut corners from fold to fold of 8 1/8” square
Fold triangle in half
Now have bottom of box

Top:
Start with 6 ½” square
Fold corners to meet at center
Fold new sides to meet at center
Open fold other sides
Open sides
Open two opposite corners
Fold sides again
Fold over flaps to meet at center
Insert 2 ¼” square
Now you have top

Recycled magazine envelope

2009-05-21T14:12:00.000-07:00

I am working on thank you cards for all the lovely people who have given my daughter welcome home gifts. I design them digitally and print them out, 2 to an 8 ½ x 11 sheet. I can never find envelopes to fit that size. So I developed these. If you stitch them within 3/8” from the edge the card and a 4x6 picture fits nicely. If you glue them, a 5x7 fits.
If you place the template diagonally it gives a very nice deco look.

You can make them from plain paper bags and have your child illustrate each one.

You can also size them larger and reuse paper grocery bags for shipping.

Materials:
Template
Magazine
Thread and sewing machine or glue stick

Directions:
Trace template on magazine page
Cut out
Fold 1, 2 and then 3
Sew decorative stitch along each side, securing flaps
Place items inside envelope
Fold 4
Stitch closed

Use shipping label if mailing

Painted glass stones

2009-05-15T15:02:00.000-07:00

I may not feel inspired or creative but my son sure does. During a play date, he pulled out the supplies for these, and they each sat down and painted some. The last time we made these we put them in potted plants outside for a little extra color in the winter garden.

Materials:
Glass marbles – clear and flat, the largest size is easiest for little hands
Often available at tile stores, I have also found them at the dollar store, they are often used in clear flower vases
Acrylic craft paint- watch out, when it dries it is permanent
A small amount goes a long way.
Small head paint brushes – we used ones with a head about the size of a tooth pick. We didn’t have enough for everyone, so I used a much thicker one and it was very difficult.
Newspaper – to cover working surface and mix colors on

Directions:
Cover work surface with newspaper
Paint underside (flat side) of marble
Can use newspaper to mix colors on
Let dry
Turn over and display

New Fort

2009-05-08T13:35:00.000-07:00

We constructed a fort over the bed so I could read to my son before bed and not disturb my daughter. It works to keep the light in but our voices wake her up… My son loves sleeping in the fort and it stays so nice and warm that he doesn’t need covers.

Materials:
Queen flat sheet
2 curtain clips
Giant pile of stuffed animals

Directions:
Clip curtain clips on short end of sheet.
Hang from wall or curtain rod.
Spread sheet across bed
Pile stuffed animals as high as possible and roll sheet under to secure.

Note: be careful to put as much height as possible. One morning I found my son wrapped up in the sheet, still attached to the wall and had a panic attack. Since I piled the animals up tall I haven’t had that problem again.

I also think you could attach elastic around the thin end and loop it under the mattress for more security.

Uninspired

2009-05-06T12:35:00.000-07:00

I am still lacking in sleep and find myself uninspired to craft.

Here is a free pattern for the Elephant stuffed animal I mentioned earlier. I have not sewn it up yet, but it should be really cute.

Directions here except no seperate tail.

Free pattern – car seat pillow

2009-04-28T14:11:00.000-07:00

Nap time. Yesterday I decided to try to get caught up with the dishes during nap. She woke up before I finished. Today I decided to blog instead...

Car seat pillow
Every one of our drivers in China had these on their seats. I seem to remember them being plentiful in Japan when I was there a couple of decades ago. We were lucky enough to get one in the passenger seats in one of our vans. It was so comfortable that I ran out and bought some for my car.
Here's how to make a simple one. You can appliqué or embellish as desired.

Materials:
½ yard fleece
Batting/stuffing of your choice
Contrast fabric for appliqué (optional)
11 ½” length of 1 1/8”width elastic

Directions:
Print out pattern. Cut fabric on fold or print two and tape together.
Cut out fabric. If cutting on fold be sure to just fold over amount needed. Don’t cut in middle.
Appliqué on front side (optional)
Fold strip in half lengthwise face together.
Stitch lengthwise edge ¼ inch seam allowance.
Turn right side out.
Thread elastic through and secure at ends.
Place body face side together with strip centered between.
Stitch around body leaving 3” opening at bottom flat edge.
Be sure to back stitch at opening.
Turn right side out.
Stuff until plump and firm
Hand stitch opening closed.

free pattern recycled sweater pig

2009-04-24T10:09:00.000-07:00

Several people have asked for the pattern for my recycled sweater animals.
Here is the recycled sweater pig. Quarter inch seam allowance, print full page 8 1/2"x11" paper.
Directions can be found here

I will up load the elephant soon. I didn’t get a chance to sew it up. I don’t think I will get a chance soon. My daughter is too stressed out to sleep. Means I don’t get to sleep either. We are celebrating four hours of continuous sleep last night! Longest stretch since we’ve gotten to the US.

China trip was amazing, informative and magical.

I am looking for the owl’s pattern. Not sure if I made one or just freehanded it. Feels like a lifetime ago. The paper pattern wasn’t with the pig like it should be. I am so disorganized right now, I’m not sure where to even look for it.

2 t-shirt dress

2009-04-03T09:41:00.000-07:00

I really want a simple t-dress for easy traveling. We don’t have any funds to purchase such thing. Here is a great way to up-cycle two t-shirts into a cute dress. I used alternative apparel’s organic T’s. They are a little thin but I think a slip will fix that.

Materials:
1 medium t-shirt (ladies)
1 large t-shirt (unisex)
½” width elastic – 2 - 6” lengths
Fabric paint
Bubble wand

Directions:
Cut Medium -T-shirt at 16 ½” from highest point of shoulder.
Fold 1 ½” under at hem
Place newspaper between front and back
Paint – press bubble wand in small amount of paint
Press painted bubble wand at hem of T-shirt
Repeat as desired
Let dry
Iron as hot as material will allow setting paint
While paint dries, cut body out of Large T-shirt – top width to match width of medium t-shirt hem – or can put darts 3-4” from CF and CB to match width but be sure no larger than 1” darts
Cut pockets out of Large T-shirt sleeves using hem as top of pocket.
Run elastic through hem of sleeve (top of pocket bag)
Secure ends
Stitch 1” inverted pleat at center bottom of pocket bag
Turn edges under and topstitch or zigzag onto body at desired (I put mine too low I recommend about 4 inches from top of body – mine are almost 6”)
Sew side seams of Large T-shirt
With 1 ½” hem turned up inside Medium T-shirt, slide Large T-shirt inside to match
Pin to secure
Zigzag through all 3 layers

Well that’s it for me. I am off to China to get my daughter! I will try to resume in 3 weeks, but who knows…

Egg carton dragon

2009-03-31T10:47:00.000-07:00

I set down with my son to make an adorable egg carton caterpillar that I found a great tutorial for. He was not happy. “Why would I want to make a caterpillar?” So I asked what he wanted to make. “T-Rex”
I said, “How about a Dragon?”
So I played around with some random materials I found in the house and here is what I came up with. My son thinks it looks more like a lion. I think if you painted it red it would look like a Chinese New Year dragon.
I also included pictures of what my son came up with.
I had to stop making mine, because he needed someone to “fight” his dragon.
Neither really survived the battle.

Materials:
1 or 2 empty egg cartons
1 or 2 pipe cleaners
Scissors
5 or 6 Cotton balls
2 googly eyes
Paint

Directions:
Cut empty egg carton down the lengthwise center to get 2 bodies.
Legs come from another egg carton high part between the eggs. Set with cups nestled inside.
Head is held on with pipe cleaner twisted through holes punched in carton. Tongue is end of that pipe cleaner sticking out.
Head is cup with corner cut off and reattached with 1” strips of pipe cleaner through hole and bent to secure. Secured part of another cup to back of head and glued ears on that.
Whiskers is pipe cleaner pressed through holes.
Hair is cotton balls carefully unrolled stripped and glued on.

Pencil caddy

2009-03-28T10:37:00.000-07:00

Quick and easy and useful craft

Materials:
Small paper shopping bag with handles
12 empty toilet paper rolls
Stapler and staples
Stickers/ pens/ crayons etc. to decorate

Directions:
Cut folded paper bag 4 ½ inches from top.
Cut 4 ½” inches from bottom.
Should have cut out about 1 ½” from middle
Decorate top half as desired
Open both halves
Place handled half over other half
Keep cardboard stabilizer on bottom
Staple top to bottom
Place toilet paper rolls inside, hole side up/down
Place pencils inside
Place on table, carry around with you or hand on wall
Can tape rolls to inside if need more stability

African stone game (Mancala)

2009-03-24T14:53:00.000-07:00

I believe this game was originally played with small stones and shallow holes dug into sun baked earth. But here is a recycled indoor version. Great craft to reuse your old egg cartons

Materials:
Empty egg carton
Scissors
Pipe cleaner or yarn w/needle
Awl
48 large dried beans
Tape
Stapler/staples

Directions:
Cut lid and flap from egg carton
Cut 2-3 inch off each end of lid
Fold in sides of cut off piece of lid
Staple down with ends of staples on outside
Tape over sharp ends of staple
Repeat with other cut off section of lid.
Poke 2 holes in center of back edge of each altered lid
Poke 2 holes in short end of egg carton
Thread 1” piece of pipe cleaner or 5” section of yarn through holes
Tie or fold to secure

To play (2 players):
Place 4 beans in each egg cup
Players face each other with game board between the two players. Your collection cup (the larger compartment on the end) is to your right and opponent to the left.
Youngest player goes first.
Player removes beans from one egg cup on their side of the board. Place 1 bean in each egg cup starting at the right of that cup, including your collection cup. Continue around the board. Do not place one in your opponent’s collection cup.
If your last bean lands on your side, you collect all the beans in the cup opposite (on opponent’s side) of the last bean.
If the last bean goes in your collection cup take another turn.
Next player selects an egg cup on his side and continues depositing beans going counter clockwise.
Game is over when one side of board is empty.
Count tokens in collection cup. Object is to collect the most tokens.

Great at building counting and strategic skills

Puff eyes

2009-03-20T20:38:00.001-07:00

I think in all the hub-bub of getting ready for the next child, that I have been neglecting my son. The other day he became adamant that he needed the “foam things that we glue”. When pressed for more description he said, “You know the ones that I used to use way back when I was three”.
In utter frustration, I dug up an old bag of foam packing peanuts and handed them to him. “No” he screamed, “the round white foam things.” So I pull out every craft item I have in the house, handing him anything white, round and foam…

Turns out he meant cotton balls.

Once we found that out, he sat right down and made this adorable little thing. I don’t know what it is. I think he was frustrated with me, because he said it was a gift for Dad and wouldn’t tell me what it was.

So this is a self guided craft since I haven’t been crafting much with him lately. I think he misses it. I will have to try to do more with him.

Materials:
Cotton balls
Glitter glue
Piece of paper
Foam sticker

Directions:
Glue stack of cotton balls together
Glue onto paper
Glue sticker on top
Dollop two “eyes” on sticker

I do love what he came up with. I think the eyes are so expressive and creative. Reminds me of the little worm creature in “spirited away”

Baby Hip Carrier

2009-03-17T17:46:00.000-07:00

I am still preparing for our new daughter’s arrival. I really wanted to get an Ellaroo hip carrier. I imagine happily carrying our new daughter around, on the left side so our left brains connect and we get the maximum bonding experience… But at $90 plus shipping, the Ellaroo is a little steep for me.
So I decided to make one myself.
I spent maybe an hour wandering around in my piles of fabric. Designing and redesigning the carrier. Though half my basement is piled floor to ceiling with fabric, I just didn’t have the perfect one. So I settled with a black pre-quilt. Guess you can’t go wrong with black. The fabric is water resistant which I think will come in handy later. I am pretty happy with how it ended up. But with no toddler to try it out, I don’t know if I need to tweak it. Maybe my neighbors will let me borrow theirs...
I am going to add a one handed buckle to the shoulder strap later. (Didn’t have one in the basement)

Materials:
1 yard of 60” width pre-quilted fabric
2” wide one hand release buckle
Sewing machine
Matching thread

Pattern:
Waist straps: 2 - 30”x5” (this fits up to 42” waist - add more length if needed)
Shoulder strap: 1 - 35”x10”
Front strap: 1 - 20”x5”
Body: 2 - 16”x18”

Directions:
Fold body in half vertically. Shave off top corner starting about ½ way up.
Fold straps in half lengthwise with right sides together, sew 3/8” seam allowance. Leave one side open.
Turn straps right side out.
Topstitch ¼” on stitched edges.
Place one body face side up on table. Pin open sides of straps to seam allowance with bulk of strap inside the body. Fold end of strap so doesn’t get caught in seam.
Pin other body piece over right side down.
Sew around outside of bodies, leaving a 10” opening at the bottom.
Turn carrier right side out.
Topstitch ¼” around body.
Thread shoulder strap through buckle and stitch down. Buckle should gather fabric to create a cup for shoulder to rest in.
Thread front strap through other end of buckle. Knot end of fabric around strap to secure.

To wear:
Tie straps around waist.
Place child in carrier with legs around your waist.
Pull up body of carrier and secure under one arm and around the outside of the other shoulder.
Gently test to see if child is secure. Adjust straps as needed to secure child.

I made a second carrier with Harmony Organic fabric. It came out beautifully. Next time I will interface the straps. I did interface the body. The straps feel a little flimsy, but the carrier folds up to a wonderfully small size.

Hip Mama Diaper Bag

2009-03-14T13:58:00.000-07:00

So what do you do when your husband of nearly 20 years thinks the product of the first time you follow a tutorial is the best thing you have ever created?

I have to agree the bag is beautiful. I followed a mingled yarn’s tutorial but made the bag smaller (2” shorter and 2” narrower, same depth). It took me a whole day (most of my projects only take an hour or two).

But the creative me is still a little sad…

Kindergarten art

2009-03-11T15:50:00.000-07:00

My son did the greatest art project at school last week. He liked it so much he reproduced it this morning before going to school.
It’s fun and adaptable to all skill ranges. It’s great for practicing the small motor skills important to learning good penmanship.

Materials:
Large gray piece of paper
Dark marker
Crayons or pencils in many colors

Directions:
Instruct child to draw lines, squiggly and straight, all over the grey sheet with the dark marker.
Hand child crayons.
Then instruct child to cover all of the gray

My son loves red. So we get shades of red. But some of the girls in his class filled in each shape with a different color, ending with a Picasso like or stained glass affect.

Something different

2009-03-09T16:06:00.000-07:00

I have been preparing to bring our new daughter home from china. Among the flurry of other things, I have been working on her life book. I made the images in flash, no they aren’t animated, but I find it easier to draw in that program. I seem to enjoy the malleability of computer art. I am very excited about this book. I decided to share it with other families. I call it “my first year home”.

This book highlights some of the significant events in a newly adopted child’s life. It is inspired by “Parenting your internationally adopted child”, Patty Cogen (A book I wish was around when I was a child)

Titles of pages:
My first year home
History
1st photos
1st day home
The day we left my birth country
My new home
Firsts
Past nurturer’s day (day before mother’s day)
Mother’s day
Past nurturer’s day (day before father’s day)
Father’s day
Family birthdays
My birthday
Anniversary
1st day home
Handover
The day we left my birth country
My adoption day
My life changes
What I know about my life

Note: 3 page photo (my life changes) is my favorite. It documents the Big Change of this child’s life. Patty Cogen recommends photocopying these 3 parts in the child’s life arranged on one page a dozen times and leave them around the house to normalize the child’s history and help explain the big 4 questions. What happened to me? Who will take care of me? Did I make this change happen? Will everything change again?
I really wish I had something like this when I was young.

Saving packing paper for later projects

2009-03-07T08:56:00.000-08:00

I spent a little time today rolling packing paper that came in a package. I am imagining all the future projects I can use this paper for.

We can decorate it for wrapping paper.
Potato print on it
Conventional stamp on it
Fish or leaf print on it
Fold it into giant airplanes
Plain old draw or print on it
Make forts with it
The list goes on…
Here’s to the wonders of creative play.

cheezy playdate pretzel

2009-03-04T19:12:00.000-08:00

It seems like we have been having unending play dates. My son is on number 4 for this week. And it’s only Wednesday. He also enjoys epic play dates. Today’s is scheduled from 3:30 to 8, plus we had some much welcome drop in’s. Ever since I read Kingsolver’s local food book, I have wanted to try making pizza from scratch. But my son requested play date pretzels. So I did both. But I added cheese to the pretzels for extra protein and lowered the baking heat so the cheese wouldn’t burn. I think these would be really good dipped in the pizza sauce.

Materials:
1 cup warm water
1 package active dry yeast
1 tablespoon sugar
2 ¾ cups sifted organic whole wheat pastry flour
2 tablespoon soft butter
½ teaspoon salt
½ cup shredded cheese
Parchment paper

Directions:
In large bowl combine water, yeast and sugar
Let sit until dissolved
Add 1 ½ cup flour, butter and salt
Mix until combined
Add cheese
Stir in remaining flour
Kneed until dough loses stickiness
Add more flour if necessary
Transfer to greased bowl and let rise until at least 2 time size (at lease ½ hour)
Punch down and divide into 12 pieces.
Arrange into pleasing shapes
Place parchment paper on baking sheets
Place pretzels on parchment paper
Let rise until 2 times size (sometimes I skip this depending on how hungry they are)
Preheat oven to 425
Bake until crispy and browned, about 8-10 minutes.
Cool a few minute and serve.
Keep leftovers in airtight container for up to 1 week.

More recycled stuffed animals

2009-02-27T15:27:00.000-08:00

I haven’t had time to do much this week. Don’t really know where the week went. But poof it’s gone. So here are some stuffed animals I made to keep my piggy company. The little owl is super easy.
Here’s hoping for a more creative week next week.

Recycled sweater pot holder

2009-02-22T14:08:00.001-08:00

I whipped these up yesterday after burning my hands yet again with my 5 year old cotton pot holders. They are super easy and pretty sophisticated. I was going to appliqué some cute fabric on them, but ran out of time. You may have seen me stitching them together at the playground…

Don’t think any heat will make it through 2 layers of felted wool.

Materials:
Felted sweaters – old favorite or thrift store
Wool yarn
Tapestry needle

Directions:
Cut 2 - 8” squares or circles of felted wool.
Place wrong sides together and blanket stitch together.
Crotchet stitched the loop and secured by wrapping yarn through.

Meadowbrook Pond

2009-02-20T18:27:00.001-08:00

This week was Mid-winter break for my son’s school, so I didn’t have time to do anything creative… But here is a fun worksheet I just made for his class field trip. So if you are ever in the Meadowbrook pond area, check it out.
Meadowbrook Pond is located on 35th Avenue NE, between NE 107th and 110th Streets, across from the Meadowbrook Community Center.
It is a flood control and water quality project in the heart of northeast Seattle. This new park-like facility is built on the site of the former Lake City Sewage Treatment Plant, and was completed in March 1998 by Seattle Public Utilities.

Recycled sweater pig

2009-02-17T12:19:00.000-08:00

I saw something similar on another blog. I really wanted to make one. I spent hours looking for a pattern and finally decided to try making one myself.

I also want to try lengthening the nose and widening the ears to make an elephant.

Go to Two kitties to see how close I came.

It’s great, like a small pillow made from a felted recycled sweater.

Materials:
Felted sweater
Batting
Sewing machine
Matching thread
Had sewing needle

Directions:
Cut out pattern
Sew ears and tail first
Fold ear lengthwise and stitch across raw edge
Attach ears to body through small holes
Sew body together
Leave nose open
Turn right side out
Stuff through the nose
Be sure to disperse batting nicely
Hand stitch nostril detail
Hand stitch nose onto body

Recycled shipping paper fort

2009-02-14T21:12:00.000-08:00

I received a package in the mail the other day. My son ran over to open it. He usually swipes the bags of air and jumps on them to pop them. But this time there was 6 ft or so of brown paper crumpled up. His eyes lit up and he grabbed the tape dispenser and went to work.

Materials:
6 ft or so of packing paper
Plenty of tape
Creativity

Directions:
Tape paper together until it looks right!

When asked, my son first says it is a boat, then a fort, hideout, bag, or a place to keep candy. Wow and he thought it all up himself.

Reward Cards

2009-02-11T15:10:00.000-08:00

We have been preparing our son for life after his sister arrives. We have over used words like “patience” and “helpful”. He does understand that the littler one’s needs will be met before his and he is a little apprehensive about her arrival.

To help the transition and to remind us that even though he is older he still needs lots of nurturing. I devised these simple cards.

I have been looking for a way to cheer him up without buying things. I thought of these cards a month ago and mentioned them to him. He bugged me every day since to make them.

Materials:
Craft paper – cut into 4x6 pieces.
Paper
Computer with printer
Glue stick
Scissors

Directions:
Make a list with your child of things he loves to do with you
Type and Print list
Print out clip art images for each item (try key words like “mother”, “father” or “parent” for some really endearing images)
Cut out words and images (can have child help)
Paste onto cards (again child can help)

3 uses for cards:
Pick a card as a reward for good behavior
Pick one card a day as a way to stay connected
Wild card – child can pick a card when he is feeling sad of ignored

Baby leg warmers

2009-02-03T13:49:00.000-08:00

These days I have baby on the brain. Maybe it is the warmer weather and longer days. Or the green buds on dormant trees. Or maybe it is my fast approaching trip to china to adopt our daughter. Since I don’t know what size she will wear. (We have measurements from when she was 6months old. She will be one year old when we get her.) So I will bring frilly shirts that could act as dresses if they are too large. I have been told that babies should be covered at all times. So I devised this version of the infant leg warmer to wear under the dresses. I made these out of super soft, thin 1x1 organic rib. I hand painted simple designs to jazz them up. You can also use them as an adult wrist or ankle warmer.

Materials:
2 – 10”L x 11”W fabric pieces
4 – 5” L x 5.5”W super stretch knit
Fabric paint
Paint brushes
Iron
Ironing board
Matching thread
Surger of sewing machine

Directions:
Paint designs on larger pieces of fabric
Let dry
Iron, high heat, on back side of fabric to integrate paint
Move iron around to keep from burning fabric
Fold over 2 cuffs
Sew to top and bottom of one square, stretching the cuff as you go. If using a sewing machine use zig zag stitch.
With right sides together, sew length together to create tube.
Clip threads
Turn right side out
Repeat on remaining pieces
Wash before wearing to soften paint

Machine wash cold, gentle – tumble dry low

Recycled gift basket (Valentines)

2009-01-27T13:58:00.000-08:00

I made this basket yesterday to bring some cookies and Haw Flakes over to a friend yesterday for the Lunar New Year. I think it would work really well for Valentines with some heart cut outs or for Easter with some bunny cut outs.

Materials:
Small paper bag
1”x11” strip of paper
Stapler and staples
Paper/stencils/pens for decorations

Directions:
Fold bag to top is even with bottom
Fold again so new top is even with bottom
Smooth out wrinkles
Decorate as desired
Staple ends of paper to sides
Line with paper towel or colorful napkin if sweets are homemade or unpackaged
Fill with sweets to give away

Leaf Printing

2009-01-22T10:16:00.001-08:00

I saw some really great leaf prints on Etsy and got very excited about trying it. They can look really sophisticated and complex with very little work. I tried it out with my son on one of the many snow days this winter break. He loved it and has been proudly wearing the shirt he made.

Materials:
Fresh clean leaf – pressed in a book for a couple of days
Fabric paint – water based
Blank – t-shirt, tote, pillow, kitchen towel etc. – natural fibers work best. Wash and dry first to remove sizing
Foam paint brush
Shallow containers for paint – I use old baby food jars with lids, that way I can mix the paint and save it for later if I don’t use it all up
2 or more sheets of newspaper

Directions:
Place sheet of paper inside blank so it fits from side to side with no wrinkles. This keeps the paint from leaking through to the back. Lay the blank out on a work space, again be sure there are no wrinkles.
Lay a leaf, vein side up, on a half sheet of newsprint.
Brush with thin layer of paint.
Carefully place leaf on blank paint side down.
Cover leaf with clean piece of newspaper and gently press down so all parts of leaf make contact. Be sure not to move leaf while pressing down.
Carefully lift leaf.
Repeat as desired. Try mixing colors on leaf.
Let blank completely dry.
Turn inside out and press with iron. Iron should be as hot as fabric will allow. More iron around and be sure not to burn fabric.

Care: turn inside out, machine wash cold, gently tumble dry low.

Hanging Garden Art

2009-01-16T13:56:00.000-08:00

My son noticed something very similar at the Volunteer Park Conservatory gift shop. He really wanted to buy one, but they were pretty expensive and I thought we could make one ourselves. The materials were pretty hard to find and it took awhile for me to find them all. But once you have the materials, it takes only a few minutes to assemble.
When it spins it looks like the marble is climbing or descending.

Materials:
2-3feet Thick copper wire (I found it in the cut by yard electrical wire area of Ace. I bought 5 yards and made 3, but the larger one looks better and I think that used about half the wire.)
1-2 big glass marbles (I used 2” ones I bought off the internet. The ones we saw in the gift shop had a smaller one at the bottom and a larger one at top.)
Sturdy glass bottle or other firm form to wrap wire around (I used a wine bottle)
10”-20” Twine or string

Directions:
Twist wire around form as desired
Remove form and reshape wire as desired
Don’t work too much or wire becomes too hard to bend
Crimp hook or loop at top
Place marble inside and gently squeeze wire to keep in place
Tie twine ends together
Slip twine loop over top wire hook
Hang from tree and enjoy

Custom sewn slippers

2009-01-08T11:44:00.000-08:00

Save the socks!
I have worn through every pair of socks I own. I devised this version of a bootie to custom fit my hard to fit feet (short and wide). They fit so great, I don’t kick them off all over the house.
My son loved his so much he wore them to bed for a week.

Materials:
Paper
Pencil
Clear quilter’s ruler
Scissors
Fabric – amount depends on size of foot (Buy at least your foot length plus 1 inch) a fat quarter will be enough for most feet – I used bonded fleece for the bottom to reduce slipping
¼” elastic 10-18 inches depending on size of foot
Sewing machine
Thread - match or contrast fabric

Directions:
On large piece of paper, trace foot with sock on. (If you are doing your own feet, have someone else trace)
Measure from the floor over the top of highest part of foot (usually next to ankle) and back to floor again
Add ¼ inch around tracing of foot and cut out on outer line (if you are using bulky fabric add 3/8” to ½”) you now have the pattern for the sole
Fold sole in thirds lengthwise
Trace the toe to the second fold onto another paper
Slash and spread to meet measurement over the top plus 1” (1 ½” if bulky fabric)
Smooth out edges. Cut out on this new line. You now have the pattern piece for the toe box.
Measure remaining 1/3 of sole (heel area)
On a piece of paper, draw a line that length plus ½”.
Draw a parallel line centered 2” above and 1” longer than the other line.
Connect the lines. Now you have the heel pattern piece.
Pattern is made for ¼” seam allowance.
See- http://www.poopockets.com/free/footies/footies.htm - for great step by step sewing instructions
Cut 2 paired of each pattern piece. If using contrasting fabric pair or each. I recommend a fun woven on the outside with soft fleece inner. If you can find a less slippery fabric for bottom is safer. I used a bonded fleece with water proof side out for reduced slippage.

Happy New Year!

2009-01-02T10:52:00.000-08:00

My camera broke Christmas morning.
I will be back in about a week when the new one arrives.

Refrigerator clips

2008-12-28T15:27:00.000-08:00

A great way to recycle those annoying ugly advertising magnets
Use them to hang to do lists, coupons or grocery lists in easy access place

Materials:
Clothes pins
Advertising magnets or craft sheet magnet
Glue
Paint
Pencil
Scissors

Directions:
Paint clothes pins (you can leave them whole or pull the hinge off by twisting wooden end. If you take them apart re assemble when dry)
Let paint dry
Place clothes pin along edge of magnet
Draw a line outlining pin
Cut magnet inside pencil line
Glue printed side of magnet onto flat side of pin
Hold in place with another pin until dry
Place on refrigerator or other metal surface

decoupage tins

2008-12-23T12:56:00.000-08:00

Snow days have us spending a lot of time indoors. What a great time for crafts.

Every year I try to have my son make a gift for the extended family. It has to be something simple and fun since he has to do 5-10 of them depending on if we give one to each person or only one per household.
Last year we did a great pillow for each.

I don’t know about you, but I keep every box or tin that I come across. I never know when it will come in handy. With the snow this week, we haven’t been able to get out to the store, so these were made from things we have around the house.

Materials:
Tins (various sizes and shapes. Could also use glass bottles)
Paper
Pencil
Permanent pens (I tried it with water based and they run a bit – can be a nice look if you want. My son was horrified so we used sharpies)
Decoupage medium (You get it at craft stores. I happen to have a couple of jugs around but you can use white glue in a pinch, though it yellows with age.)
Stiff paint brush (don’t use a nice one, no mater how careful you are, some of the decoupage will dry on it making it stiff)

Directions:
Clean and dry tins
Trace lid tops on paper
Draw images on paper inside tracing
Cut out inside pencil line
Erase any pencil left over
Paint back of paper with decoupage medium
Stick onto tin
Let dry
Cover top of image with decoupage medium
Can swirl paintbrush to make nice patterns in decoupage
Let dry
Add another layer of decoupage if needed.

Wash paintbrush between uses. Do not let decoupage dry on paintbrush.
Can neaten up decoupage medium with wet cloth before it dries.

Orange centerpiece

2008-12-20T13:20:00.000-08:00

Beautiful practical decoration
Brings color into the house without any waste

Materials:
Glass vase or bowl
5-6 Satsuma oranges – washed with stickers removed

Directions:
Place oranges in vase or bowl
Display bright orange color, eat and refill

Ornament party

2008-12-16T16:05:00.000-08:00

I got to participate in an ornament making party at my sister’s house this weekend.
It was a lot of fun with 3 – 2 ½ year olds and my 6 year old. We made dough ornaments only we decided to pre-color the dough with food dye to cut out a step for the young ones. The finished color isn’t as vibrant. The favorite tool was a garlic press to make “hair”.

The other ornament we made was a glass ball hand prints.
I made these with my son a few years ago and it is fun to see them year after year. Although his favorite color is red and there is some “bloody handprint” aspect to them, so I suggest a different color.

Glass ball hand print

Materials:
Craft glass ball ornaments (I found mine at a craft store 4 balls for $2.50)
Tempura water based paint (we used a jell finger paint for the party)
Paintbrush
Ribbons (4 12” pieces)

Directions:
String ribbon through ornament metal wire and knot
Brush paint on child’s hand
Gently place hand onto ornament
Gently remove hand from ornament
Hand ornament to dry
Wash hand
If using small hands, can repeat with other hand on same ball
If doing multiple young children at once, have large pot of warm water nearby to rinse hands.

Dinosaur terrarium

2008-12-11T13:43:00.000-08:00

My son loved doing this “set up” after being assured that he could get his dinos back whenever he wanted them. Materials:
Used clear plastic takeout container (washed)
Dirt
Moss and other plants (I gathered mine out of my yard)
Assorted small plastic dinosaurs (could also use fairies or other favorite items)

Directions:
Place layer of dirt on bottom of container
Arrange moss and other plants
Arrange toys
Water so dirt is moist but not standing in water
Close top and enjoy

Will self water but may occasionally have to add more water.

Search for an organic Christmas tree

2008-12-02T09:45:00.001-08:00

I desperately wanted an organic tree this year. I started my search on Thanksgiving. Normally we get the tree the weekend before Christmas and my husband chops it up and puts it in the yard waste on Christmas day. Last year that was way too short. I barely felt we had Christmas at all.

After a quick search online, I came up with two possibilities, each about 40 miles from us. I knew there was no way I could drag my family all over the state on a wild goose chase. So I emailed the stands.

The one in Arlington had a beautiful website that made me want to go out there for the other stuff. Plus they are certified organic. They also replied to my email with in an hour even though it was 9pm. So I really wanted to get my tree from them. They only had living trees. That sounded really appealing. We could have it inside and then plant it to enjoy all year around, the best way to reuse a disposable item. But my husband wisely inquired how we would get a potted tree 40 miles home in our little wagon. I imagined strapping it to the rooftop upright driving along I-5 and emailed the other place.

They took a day to respond (must not have a computer out in the u-cut field). They clearly state that they were not certified, but they did not spray their trees. Good enough.

We headed out Sunday afternoon. It was a nice drive from Seattle to Fall City. We peered through the fog. The signage wasn’t clear, but the family who ran the stand was very friendly. They handed us a sharp saw and a mat to keep the mud off our knees, very thoughtful. I went straight to the discount trees. I excitedly noted that many were $20 or under, one with a huge ball of bird droppings was free. But I didn’t find the kind I like. My husband reminded me that I only like the nobles and pointed to where he thought he saw some. After almost 20 years together, sometime he does know me better than I do.

The regular trees price are marked with a colored tag, yellow - $30, red - $40 or blue - $60. The nobles were all blue tags. I went stomping through the farm wanting to look at each one and get the best one. My six year old son, prompted by his dad, stopped at every tenth tree and declared it perfect. But I kept dragging them through the mud in the search of the perfect one. And then I found it. It looked like a noble but it had a red tag. It was a little crooked, especially the top. But I knew it was too tall for our ceilings so I figured we would chop that off anyway. So as I wandered just a little further, my husband started sawing. So knew I had to come back. We were committed.

I got back to the tree just as my son was screaming for me to hold it up. His dad was almost through and it had started to lean over. So I grabbed it. It was heavier than I thought. Standing next to it, it must have been 9’ tall. Oops way to big. Last year we got a 5’er and it was great. I guess it’s true they look smaller in the forest.
While Dad paid and loaded the tree inside the car, one of the owners proudly showed my son a deer skeleton she had found in the field. She hypothesized that it could have been hit by a car and dragged itself into the field to die.

We stopped at a playground on the way back to the freeway.
When we got back into the car it was swarming with little flies. “Guess the tree really was organic”, Dad smirked. As we were merging onto the freeway, my son, stuffed between the branches, started to scream. My heart stopped. Dad was trying to drive and he calmly asked “what’s the matter?” It sounded like something was stinging him. He screamed “spider!” I looked back and a single baby spider, barely the size of a gnat hung from the ceiling inches from his face. I asked Dad to open the window and baby spider got to fly. Problem solved. Nice to know the tree is organic.

Dough ornaments

2008-12-02T09:43:00.000-08:00

To go along with the new tree, my son and I made dough ornaments. It was a first time for me. So I decided to make play dough and bake it a very long time.

Materials:
1 cup salt
2 cups flour
1 cup boiling water
2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Parchment paper (keeps bottoms from burning)
Cookie sheets
Oven
Paint – water based is fine
ribbon
Ornament hooks

Directions:
Place dry ingredients in a bowl
Add water and oil
Stir until blended
Knead until smooth
Form ornaments
Place on parchment paper on cookie sheet
Bake at 250 degrees until hard (1-2 hours depending on thickness)
Let cool
Paint or otherwise decorate
Tie with ribbon or glue ornament hooks if desired (I made candy canes so they don’t need hooks)
Let dry
Hang on tree

Will keep in dry place year after year

A-symmetrical Shibori scarf

2008-11-28T10:33:00.000-08:00

A great way to use up that left over strip of fabric. Whenever I make a garment, I am left with a long strip of fabric. With this scarf I left the irregularity as part of the charm of the scarf. It can be an elegant, low-active-time, artistic gift.

Materials:
Strip of loose woven wool (about 60” or longer, can use full width of fabric – will shrink dramatically)
18-24 buttons – assorted sizes
Thread – strong coat weight
Washing machine
Dryer

Directions:
Wrap buttons in wool spacing variously or in straight line at about 3” intervals

Wrap thread around shank 3 times, pull tight and knot.
Wash whole thing 2-3 times in hot water

Dry high heat
Clip threads and remove buttons
Trim edges of fabric
No need to finish edges, wool threads knit together in hot water and won’t unravel

Dry clean only. Water will remove shaping.

Reuse popsicles

2008-11-25T14:11:00.000-08:00

My son loves to open a juice box, take one sip and declare himself full, never to touch another sip. It drives me insane. What am I supposed to do with the remaining 7.75 oz.? I often stare enviously at his friends who finish the whole box.
I came up with this way to get him to eat the leftovers…

Organic frozen juice cups

Materials:
Opened juice box
2 small paper cups (we had some left over from his 3rd birthday party)
2 popsicle sticks (I have been methodically saving them all summer to mark the seeds in the garden.)
2 squares plastic wrap or waxed paper
2 rubber bands
4 pieces tape
Freezer

Directions:
Squeeze remaining juice into cups
Cover top of cup with plastic wrap or waxed paper
Secure with rubber band
Poke small hole in middle
Place stick through hole
Touch to bottom then raise ½ inch and secure with tape
Place upright in freezer over night

To remove from cup:
Remove plastic wrap, band and tape
Run lower outside of cup under running water
Do not get water inside cup
Gently giggle stick until whole thing pops out
May microwave up to 20 seconds if rock hard

Reuse all materials:
I keep open juice boxes in refrigerator and refill cups as they get eaten.

Tank top bag

2008-11-21T10:17:00.000-08:00

A great way to give new life to old clothes or keep that adorable out grown outfit

Materials:
Tank top (woven or stiffer fabric works best)
6” x 20” piece of stiff canvas
Sewing machine
Scissors
Thread
2 – 8” to 10” sticks or pieces of bamboo (my neighbors grow bamboo along our property line. I just clip any sticking under the fence or out of the foundation…)

Directions:
Cut tank at shoulder seam
Fold over edges to leave 1” loop and stitch down
Cut base of tank at each side seam 2 ½” horizontally and 3” vertically
Using ½” seam allowance, sew together hem of tank
Open up corners and sew horizontal cut to vertical cut
Be sure to backstitch for strength
Turn right side out
Place canvas over inside bottom and stitch down to reinforce
Place sticks in each loop for handles

Now you are ready to carry or embellish

Fresh Sprouts

2008-11-17T19:03:00.000-08:00

My son will only eat veggies he has picked from the garden. He won’t even eat veggies from the farmer’s market. I think he really enjoys watching his food grow and then harvesting it.
So as the winter comes closer and the garden is sparse, I worry. I wonder how I will get him through the winter.
Then I bought him some new underwear. Underwear is something I have to buy new, but only after he held up his favorite pair and counted “1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 … holes”. Then I realized it had been 2 years since I last got him new underwear. They must have grown with him.
The underwear came in this beautiful plastic clamshell.

Voila, inspiration for growing winter vegetables.

Materials:
2-3 tsp sprouting seeds – I used red clover because I had 5 lbs. leftover from last winter’s cover crop.
1 clear plastic clamshell
Water
Fine mesh sieve – I used one made for tea leaves.
Paper towel

Directions:
Place seeds in fine mesh sieve
Rinse until water runs clear
Cover bottom of clamshell with paper towel
Place seeds in shell
Be sure paper towel is damp but not soaked
Close clamshell
Place on window sill
If you have nice sills (I don’t) place a towel or plate under to protect
Wait 3-10 days to sprout
Enjoy fresh homegrown sprouts
Note: to have fresh sprouts all the time, wait a week and plant new clamshell. Then you can alternate and have a set growing while you are eating and then replant that one…

Elementary school Holiday Bazaar

2008-11-13T14:38:00.000-08:00

My son’s school is having a holiday bazaar. They will be selling donated stuff from 50 cents to $2. I think the goal is to enable the kids to buy gifts for all their family using their own allowance or money they earned themselves. The school gets the proceeds and it’s a win-win situation.
Ever since the announcement came home, I have been racking my brain to think of something simple yet fun to make. Something I wouldn’t mind getting as a present…
I live in a precipitous area. When it rains, I put my scarf over my head. My neck gets wet.
I came up with these fleece hooded scarves. They are so much fun to make. They take very little sewing. They use about ½ yard of 60” width fabric.

Materials:
½ yard double sided fleece
Scissors (rotary blade and mat if you have one)
Thread
Sewing machine
Large paper and ruler (optional – can draw directly on fabric) I used paper I got in a shipping package. You know the stuff they use instead of the awful peanuts.
Nice oversized hood with single seam down the middle

Directions:
Fold hood in half
Trace
Straighten line from mid-head to back neck
Draw line perpendicular to that line
Draw another line 6” above that line ending at front hood
6” parallel lines mark scarf
Now have rough shape for ½ of hooded scarf.
Fold fleece along grain line (selvage to selvage)
Place right angle of paper pattern on edge.
Cut the scarf to full width of the fabric.
Be sure not to cut center back neck fold.
Cut with a rotary blade and cutting mat if you have one, otherwise cut as carefully as possible with scissors. Try to get a smooth edge.
With sewing machine on zigzag mode, overlap center hood seam about ¼” and sew from center back neck to front of hood. Be sure to back stitch to secure.
Carefully clip all threads, excess seam allowance and selvages.

If you don’t want to do all the pattern work, for $5 plus $3 shipping I will make/send you a copy of my pattern.

Story telling

2008-11-09T20:40:00.000-08:00

My son loved story day at his preschool. Where they got to write stories and then the teacher would read them to the whole class. He misses it a lot. So I fixed up this book for him to write his own stories in.
I used red paper for his. Red is his favorite color.

Materials:
1 – 8 ½” x 11 piece of paper
Exacto blade
Glue, pens, stickers…

Directions:
Fold paper in half lengthwise
Open
Fold in half widthwise
Then fold in quarters widthwise
Open
Back fold creases.
Open
Slice center along crease line from fold to fold
Pop middle up and fold into 4 page book.

Have fun helping or watching child decorate book

Sunday afternoon playdate bread

2008-11-09T20:17:00.000-08:00

My son had a play date over lunch time. Dilemma - what to feed two picky eaters. I remembered something we did in preschool. Pretzels. This recipe is simplified version of pretzels. I don’t boil them so I guess they are just rolls. I served them with strawberry preserve and sometimes my son sprinkles them with sugar crystals.
Normally, I have my son help me measure, pour and mix the dough, but I was worried about two boys in my small kitchen. So today, I pre-mixed the dough, let it rise and then called them over to shape the dough. The dough was a little sticky, so I had them shape it directly on the cooking pan.
I baked them, let them cool and sure enough, the boys each ate two. Served with a yogurt smoothie, cheese and apple slices, they were able to play another 1 ½ hours with no fights!

Materials:
1 cup warm water
1 package active dry yeast
1 tablespoon sugar
2 ¾ cups sifted organic whole wheat pastry flour
2 tablespoon soft butter
½ teaspoon salt

Directions:
In large bowl combine water, yeast and sugar
Let sit until dissolved
Add 1 ½ cup flour, butter and salt
Mix at least 3 minutes
Stir in remaining flour
Kneed until dough loses stickiness
Transfer to greased bowl and let rise until at least 2 time size.
Punch down and divide into 12 pieces.
Arrange into pleasing shapes (see my son’s shark image)
Place on greased baking sheets
Let rise until 2 times size (sometimes I skip this depending on how hungry they are)
Preheat oven to 475
Bake until crispy and browned, about 8-10 minutes.
Cool a few minute and serve.
Keep leftovers in airtight container for up to 1 week.

Vine Scarf

2008-11-06T16:02:00.000-08:00

I made this scarf from soft fleece leftover from my days in the apparel industry. These pieces were literally taken out of the pre-trash pile that was destined for the landfill

Materials:
2 - 6” x 60” piece of contrasting fleece or felted wool
Straight pins
Matching thread
Sewing machine with walking foot

Directions:
Pin fleece together about every five inches along the length.
Draw image on one side to follow with machine or freehand it.
Sew design on.
Cut away one side
Flip
Cut away remaining double side
Be careful not to cut all the way through both sides.
Clip away excess along edges.
Cut away all extra threads.

Rubber boot planter

2008-11-04T14:03:00.000-08:00

Simple – free project

Materials:

Used child sized boot (I have never been able to throw away my son’s adorable boots, so I have dozens sitting under my work table).

Gravel or small rocks (I used old fish tank gravel that we had sitting on our back porch).

Potting soil (or dirt from the ground)

Rockery plants (I plucked some hens and chicks from our rockery)

Directions:

If boot has not cracked yet (unlikely since they seem to crack within 30 days of purchase) drill hole in bottom to release water.

Add gravel to bottom of boot, filling foot area.

Add potting soil to top of boot.

Gently insert plants.

Water

Set outside in garden.

Enjoy whimsical garden art.