Two Big Projects!

I know I have been MIA for a while, but I have been very busy working on two big projects.  The one project just hit the half way mark!  I am now officially 20 weeks pregnant.  If you are like me, you will understand why I haven't gotten any projects done.  The first trimester really kills my motivation.  I am so sick and so tired that I literally do nothing, and now that I have a toddler, I learned how hard it is to be pregnant with your second child.  Way harder then the first :)  Oh, well.  I hit the second trimester and now I am working diligently to finish unfinished projects and start new ones that will be necessary to bring home my new baby Girl!

But on to the second project I have been spending all my time on...

My little boy just turned 2 years old and I wanted to do something awesome for his birthday present.  I have noticed that every time we visit one of my sisters houses, he goes directly to their little girls play kitchens and never leaves.  It is time for him to have his own kitchen!

Marshmallow Eggs

Making marshmallow eggs for Easter has been a family tradition since I was a child and that was years ago. I remember making them with my mom and now I am making them with my grandkids. While in AZ last week we made them with Carrie and Kimie’s kids. It was lots of fun and the kids loved it.

A Ladybug Birthday…

We’ve been busy at our house!  Our baby just turned ONE!  It is hard to see that first year pass by so quickly, but so much fun to look back and see just how much they have changed and grown.

For Miss P’s Birthday, we celebrated with a Ladybug theme.  I didn’t post instructions on anything, but feel free to email me and I will send any your way.  We started out with the outfit, there always has to be a Birthday outfit, and this was no exception.  I began by making the skirt, following these instructions, but altering them just a bit.   Then appliquéd a ladybug on a t-shirt I purchased at Target.  I will say though, Cherokee t-shirts are WONDERFUL to appliqué on!  Just soft, and easy to use.

Build & Grow Clinic

I find myself trying to come up with things to do with my daughter (who is 3), especially in the winter when it is so cold outside.  This past summer we were at Lowe’s a lot (put up a fence around our whole backyard) and it always seemed to be on Saturday mornings.  Lowe’s offers Build & Grow Clinics for kids on Saturday mornings at 10 am.  During the summer it seems like they are every weekend but during the winter they aren’t so check and see when they are offered.  This was a great activity.  First off, it is FREE!  It teaches your kids how to follow instructions, use tools, and they get to take home what they create.  I love that Lowe’s offers this for kids (and parents).  Nothing better then free activities for kids.  Check out what clinics are available at http://www.lowesbuildandgrow.com/.  After a few clinics, your kids will feel confident in helping with the big projects…Like replacing a fence!

Painting Snow

I’m sure everyone has heard of using spray bottles filled with colored water to paint pictures in the snow. We have done that but found it was hard for the toddlers to squeeze the trigger and make it spray, especially with gloves on. This year we tried a different and easier way for them.

Snow cones

What do you do when it snows over a foot and the power is out. You make Snow cones!

Luckily we live in the country and have clean air. Not that yucky stuff you can see, so after the first snow storm we start making snow cones. Now that all the kids have moved to the city. Grandma’s house is the only place with ‘clean’ snow so it has become a winter tradition at Grandmas.

No my cup doesn’t have a leak in it. I’m a messy pourer. That's why there is something under my cup.

GINGERBREAD HOUSES

It’s finally the Christmas season. I will admit I’m one of those that gets excited when the stores start putting Christmas out even though it isn't’ even Halloween. I bought Trudi some ornaments I found the first of Oct. They were perfect for her tree so I had to do it. Then every time I go to a store I go through the Christmas isles again and again. As I cleaned house on the Mon. before Thanksgiving I figured I might as well put fall away and Christmas out as I took things off to dust. I LOVE Christmas!!!!

One of our family traditions is making gingerbread houses. I am going to make them with the grandkids this year. But since they all live a ways apart we will be doing it multiple times. I’m so excited, it will be so much fun.

Make Your Own Kids Book

I love the cardboard picture books for my 1 year old.  We also have a few foam books that are very durable.  I have searched the web for ways to make my own sturdy books, but have only seen kits or blank cardboard books to buy then color or print onto.  One day while browsing the isles at my local craft store, I saw the 6 mm foam and thought I could make it into a book :)  Here is how I did it:

Topsy Turvy Pony Tails

When my daughters hair kept growing and getting thicker I was desperate for new ideas to help keep her hair out of her face and untangled.  After many different days of playing around (good thing she likes to watch movies), I created this hair style and it has become a favorite!  I get lots of compliments when her hair is done this way so I figured it was a good one to share.

Start with this (works best when wet)

Divide the hair into two like you are going to do pig tails

You will divide the first side into three sections, start with the top third and put it into a pony tail.  (I like the little plastic rubber bands that you can get at walmart for cheap.  They come out easy and don’t hurt.)

Split the ponytail in half and flip the hair through the top of the pony tail pulling it through.

This is what it will look like when you flip it.  Then pull it tight.

Put the second section into a pony tail including the tail of the first ponytail.

Flip the second section the same way as the first.

Put the third section into a pony tail and flip it like the other two.

Your finished product should look like this 
I then like to braid the end to keep the tangles out

Repeat on the other side and you have a cute hairstyle that will last all day and keep your little one’s hair free of tangles and out of their face!  
My cute model that was done with her mom taking pictures :D

Flower Embellished Shorts

I found these really cute little shorts on clearance for my niece one day only to find out that she already had the exact same pair.  A few days later I was flipping through one of my friend’s scrapbook magazines and found these really cute flowers that they had created out of ribbon, buttons and paper.  I decided to change them up a little and add them to the shorts for my niece. 

You will need 3 strips of ribbon per flower.  I used the thinner ribbons so the flowers didn’t overpower the shorts.  I cut mine in 2 ½” lengths for the big flower and 1 ¾” lengths for the little flower.  Twist the ribbon into a loop and pin to secure.

For the stem and leaves, draw them onto iron on paper for appliqués, I use Heat-n-Bond Lite. 

Then iron them onto the back of a scrap of green fabric. 

Once they cool, cut them out and determine placement on the shorts.  Once you have them in place, iron them on.  You will then want to sew them in place using a blanket stitch.  I shortened the lengths of my stitches just a little just because the appliqués are so little.

You will then need to start placing your ribbon petals. 

Sew the middle petal in first using a close zigzag.

Then place and sew on the remaining 2 petals. 

Finish the flower with a button for the middle and enjoy! 

For the smaller flower, I twisted the petals the opposite way because of the print on the ribbon and to change it up a little.

I’m thinking I might change these up again and add them to pillows.  Stay tuned.

I linked up to