Valentine's Day Project: Snack Bags

These are also for the kids in Brooklyn's Toddler Class at daycare. They are packages of Teddy Grahams. I know toddlers don't give a rip about the packaging, but I just had to make them look more festive.





Thank God there are only 5 kids in the toddler room. I think as she progresses to the next classroom where there are 8 or more kids I may have to simplify. Or quit my full time job to make crafts. Darn....what a horrible idea. LOLOLOL!

Valentine's Day Project: Heart Bean Bags

I found this idea at Make and Takes. What a cute little site with lots of fun project ideas! Anyway, I made 5 of them...one for each of the kids in the Toddler Room at Brooklyn's daycare. I will ask the teachers to play hide-n-seek with the kids tomorrow using these bean bags as the toy to seek.

Here are the things I did differently:

1) I sewed my pieces together rather than using glue.
2) I used rice rather than beans, but 'rice bags' don't sound as fun.
3) I used fleece rather than felt.

Bead-Tastic!

I made these as embellishments for scrapbook layouts or cards. Lovin' the sparkly stuff!

More Fun Chipboard Monograms

That's what I'm calling the 8" chipboard letters that I've decorated only because I can't think of a better name for them.

Christmas Tag

Die: Sizzix Christmas tree
Paper: DCWV
Flowers: Prima

Christmas Gift Tag Set

I made these as a contest entry. I didn't win the top prize but I believe I was 1 of 20 honorable mention winners. Fine by me!





These were 90% made with my Cricut machine: the images, the ovals, even the envelopes. All were chalked or colored and covered with Ranger's glossy accents. The background was stamped with a music stamp (Hero Arts, I think) and the holly leaves were made with a punch and covered with Stickles.

F is for Fall

This was made with the idea that you could use it as home decor or as a (rather large 8") embellishment on a scrapbook page. I sold it to someone on ebay so I have no idea what they used it for.

Enjoy!



The background paper and flourish stamp is Stampin' Up.

Baby's Room - Wall Decor

Bought these raw wood letters from Joann's, painted with 2 or 3 coats of acrylic brown paint and decorated with stamps, rub-ons, ribbon, premade embellishments & stick on jewels. To make things extra secure, I used hot glue so nothing will fall into baby's crib.





Of course, if you do this you need to make sure you hang them high enough on the wall that even on baby's best day she could never pull them off and choke on any of the pieces her curious little hands might dig off. You probably already knew that but I wouldn't be any kind of mother if I didn't say it.

Baby's 1st Birthday Banner

This is not my original idea, but it was FUN to sort through pictures to make.

Baby Bootie Bouquet

I saw this in a book and thought it looked easy enough. It was. You just buy a pack of baby socks and roll them starting with the toe, then fold the cuff up a little bit. This secures the rose bud look and gives you something to put over the craft stick that will serve as the stem. A cinch.

Diaper Cake

Okay, so not everyone knows what a diaper cake is. I know this because I told a friend I was bringing one to a baby shower and she innocently asked "How many does it feed?"

This is the only one I've made. They take a bit of time and a crap ton of rubber bands, but once you get going it is pretty easy even for a first timer. I did cheat a little by using a huge bottle of baby wash in the center (meaning I had fewer diapers to roll & secure.)

I used larger sized diapers (size 2 & 3) since I figured the gal would get plenty of the smaller sizes from other guests.

Quick Hostess Gift

I made these last year for my sister since she hosted our family Christmas breakfast. The mop-n-glow technique couldn't possibly be easier and the results are quite stunning.

1. You pour a bit of the mop liquid into the bulb.
2. Cover opening of bulb with saran wrap (to prevent any spills - floor wax is STICKY!)
3. Shake bulb around so that the floor wax completely coats the inside surface of the bulb.
4. Pour out any excess liquid.
5. Pour glitter into bulb.
6. Cover opening with saran wrap again.
7. Shake bulb so that glitter is now covering all of the inside surface of the bulb.
8. Using ribbon of choice, make a bow for hanging bulb in tree.

Custom Baby-Safe Magnets

Okay, so you know how when you have a great idea you are like "Oh. My. Goodness. I am such a genius!!! I must share my genius with THE WORLD!!!!!"? Well today is that day for me.


I have been looking for magnetic toys for the baby. She creeps and crawls now so when we are cooking and cleaning, she likes to hang out in the kitchen and play with the fridge magnets. The only magnets we feel comfy having her play with are the big rubbery ones that spell out city names that you get while waiting in an airport during a layover on your way home from vacation and feel like you just haven't quite spent enough money. Yeah, you know the kind.


"Why not get those alphabet letters" you ask? I've looked into those already. No go. They are 1) made in China (blech!) 2) have tiny and, I'm quite sure, poorly adhered magnets on the back, and 3) not intended for babies anyway.

So strolling through Target today I found this $5 puzzle.





I also remember that I have 8.5x11 self-adhesive magnet sheets at home left over from another project. You are already doing the math.





I will cut the magnetic sheet using Spellbinder's dies, stick it to the back of each animal and vwah-lah! Instant (and safe) baby toy.

***UPDATED***

Okay, as I was typing this up I heard some clanking sounds in the kitchen. Apparently the puzzle pieces are made up of some type of balsa wood = not great for sticky back magnet sheets. I am going to glue the magnet sheet on with some fabri-tac glue or glossy accents. I'll report back if this works.

***UPDATED***
The extra glue worked! Yay!

Bathroom decor

Our bathroom is decorated with beachy typed items. I thought this picture of Brooklyn would work well framed in the bathroom. It's her first school picture. Well, daycare picture.

This canvas mat used to hold a beach photo print and was purchased together. We decided not to frame it because it would take up precious wall space.



I used Spellbinders dies to make the seashells. I love how the dies cut and emboss but to use the dies for stenciling in color...didn't work so well. Not for me anyway. My sand dollars are a mess but since it took me forever to finish all the pieces, they stay.



I dressed up the starfish with diamond stickles. Also added this to the chipboard letters, although I haven't yet mastered how to capture the sparkle of glitter in a photograph.

Awe, my first project entry.

I made this for my sister for her birthday....



Inspiration came from this.

The picture frame cost $1...and it's matted??? Get OUT! (Dollar Store)

The flowers and leaves are die cut (Sizzix dies run through the Cuttlebug.) I love using patterned paper for leaves & stems.

The centers are cardstock coated with diamond Stickles and covered with thick layers of Glossy Accents, then pierced to look like buttons.

"happiness" is stamped on the bottom of the mat (Stampin' Up.) Usually I'm a sloppy stamper but I had one chance to get this right and *WOOT!* it came out perfect. Yay me. And there's so much dimension

It's pretty simple but I think sis will love it. I know...no real spectacular or new techniques used to make this. I thought it was neat because it's my first paper-craft wall hanging. I have ideas to make another similar project for a friend's bathroom. Can't wait!