Kiddo Craft...Sort of. ;)

I invited a few friends over with the FULL intention of letting the kids do this craft. I was going to visit and oversee the glue-gun usage...that was all. UNTIL my friend starting pulling out all these MMM goodies I have stashed in my office. Add to that the really INCREDIBLE buttons we just got into the shop...we couldn't resist.

We started with the SUPER cute felt MMM just started selling. We each picked a piece and measured on the "wrong" side of the felt- or the side you don't want showing at the very end. We measured 5 1/2 inches by 7 inches - marked the felt with a ball point pin .

I marked mine in a couple places so that I could "connect-the-dots" I used a piece of paper to trace straight measurement lines onto my felt. I cut it out with REGULAR scissors first.

Then I used pinking shears to cut around the outside. You could omit this part, or only do the inside (the opening) part or just the outside edges...whatever!

We folded the felt so that the two shorter sides met up in the center. I put a {little} dab of glue on each of the inside corners of the felt so that it would hold while I sewed. I hate when multiple parts move around when you are trying to complete something.

We all just did a basic stitch. We used some BAKER'S TWINE I had lying around- it was my friend's idea. She's pretty clever.

She mentioned to make sure you start on the inside of the edge when you start so that you don't have the knot on the outside....and to end the same way.

After we sew the ends, we began embellishing! We let the kids tell us what ideas they had for their holders.

Did you spy buttons, ric rac (both BIG and SMALL), baker's twine, buttons...colored, shapes and hearts, lace tape, AND ribbon?  WHEW! It was a FUN, FAST craft and I think we may make some more- after we buy a new glue gun.  Did you know that a glue gun struggles to work properly after a four year-old pulls a half-melted stick out the wrong end? Yeah. I didn't either.

Check out the TULLE feature over at MMMblog!

A Little Something For The Birds...

It's getting to be THAT time of summer. When mom just wants school to start and the kids have exhausted just about every creative thought about what to do for the day. This activity was earlier in the summer. We still had lots to do and more ideas to conquer.

 We started with left-over soda bottles that I had been keeping for just such an activity. We gathered our acrylic paints, some plates {for said paints}, some brushes and some sticks. Sticks. So simple, yet such a main staple of our play repertoire.

We cut holes into the bottles (I did the cutting and no was was willing to help with the picture-taking.) with a stake knife and make 'x' cuts to stick the sticks through- they should go in one side and all the way through to the other side- to give additional balance, I suppose.

After my traditional, "if you get it on your clothes it won't come out", we commenced painting. The paint adhered rather well and we had not one drop on our clothing. ;)

When they finished, we had a lovely assortment of painted plastic re-purposed bottles.

We used 22-guage metal wire to wrap around the tops of the bottles and around the balconey rungs. They've lasted the rest of the summer....

This is right outside our kitchen - we have face the table to look directly out over these cute bird feeders. We may have to head to the library now so that we can identify our little friends!

Pottery Barn Kids Inspired

Morena really outdid herself on this one:

I love to ogle the Pottery Barn Kids catalog when it shows up in my mailbox, but I can't bring myself to spend *that* much on some of their pieces.  I wanted to turn our breakfast nook into a family workspace where we could do homework and craft together, but I didn't want to spend a lot on it.  By turning to PBK for inspiration and then shopping my house I was able to come up with a room I am very happy with!

 This was an old poster frame that was on it's way to Goodwill.  I found a dry erase board (24 by 36 inches) at Hobby Lobby that fit inside it.  I found the shelf/hook unit at Michael's.  I used Colonial Red spray paint on both pieces to make them match, then hung them together so they look like one cohesive piece.  That cute Come In sign is from Mindy Mae's Market.

 This was an old frame I used to hate.  Amazing what spray paint can do!  I had the calendar made with our family's picture at Vistaprint for free.  One piece of wall art finished for almost nothing!

 I spray painted this frame as well and used my Silhouette cutter to make the subway art (this clip art was purchased from the silhouette store).  I then used transfer tape to apply the vinyl directly to the glass.

 For the art corner, I spray painted some wood pieces from Michael's and cut them to frame an old magnet board I had purchased at IKEA years ago.  The magnets were made using old milk bottle caps purchased at a flea market.

  A picture of the magnet board in progress.

Would you believe I only used one can of spray paint to paint everything? Yeah, its true!

 The caddies were labeled as "CD Holders" at Michaels.  They were also spray painted, and then I added the craft buckets which I already had.  The kids love having easy access to their supplies!

And here is the room in action.  I love that we have a place where we can work and craft together, and have everything we need in easy reach!  I also love the fact that I was able to upcycle so many items I already had.  Instead of buying new things, I was able to give new purpose to things I thought I no longer needed.

Isn't it total fab?! Love that Morena! Be sure to check out her blog for more tutorials! xoxo

 

I hope this inspires you to shop your house for your next project!  I hope you'll visit my corner again, or  follow my blog!  Comments and suggestions are appreciated!