Homemade pavement chalk By Kate on August 2, 2010 Making pavement chalk is really easy, lots of fun and the end result provides you with a brilliant excuse to get outside. To make your chalk will need: ♥ Plaster of Paris (one cup) ♥ Water (one cup) ♥ Powdered tempera paint ♥ Disposable container ♥ Greaseproof paper ♥ Toilet rolls ♥ Masking tape 1) Get your toilet roll and tape one end with masking tape to seal it off. 2) Pour the water into your disposable container then sprinkle the plaster on top (generally its a 1:1 ratio but check the instructions on the packet). 3) Stand each tube, taped side down, on a level surface. 4) Once the plaster has set you can remove the toilet roll and greaseproof paper. TIPS: If the toilet roll tube is a little chunky for your taste then you can split the tube, overlap, then tape to reduce the diameter. WARNINGS: Remember not to pour Plaster of Paris down the plughole!
Kaleidoscope Rice It’s about this time of year where I really start to hit a wall when it comes to entertaining a toddler in the house. When the temps dip below 20 degrees, we can’t stay outside in the snow for extended periods of time, so it’s up to me to come up with a whole host of projects that’ll engage him (and, well, engage me, too). I’ve committed to coming up with more new ways to engage my toddler in sensory play (activities that simulate toddlers’ senses including touch, smell, taste, sight, and hearing). This DIY kaleidoscope rice is the perfect project to engage kids in exploring colors with their hands. RELATED: 29 Indoor Games Your Kids Will Absolutely Love Supplies: 8 cups uncooked riceFood colorsWhite vinegarZiploc baggies Instructions: Step 1: Add 1 cup rice to a bag. Step 2: In a small bowl combine 1-2 tablespoons vinegar along with one of the food colors. Step 3: Add the vinegar mixture to the rice and seal the bag. Step 4: Squish the vinegar mixture all over the rice.
Playhouse closet | Sawdust & Paper Scraps You might know that I was a finalist in “Not Just A Housewife’s” Best DIY Project of 2011 Contest last week. There were some great projects in the finalists, including one submitted by BJ of Joy2Journey! The funny thing is that THIS post was set to publish before either of us knew that we were COMPETITORS! She won the prize, and I don’t hold a grudge, so I’ve decided NOT to kick her out of the guest post spot. Teehee. I would never! Anyhoo, BJ had a space under the stairs and wanted to create a playhouse, she didn’t have a recessed area like I did for my Closet Playhouse, and built her playhouse facade right on the wall. Now, without further ado, let me introduce you to BJ, and let her tell you about her amazing project! Hi, I am so excited to share my latest project with you! I am not afraid to tackle “new spaces” so I took the jigsaw to my wall and started cutting! No worries, I know my limitations, trust me!) to this … I laid down carpeting with pad. “Joy” Thanks BJ! [/box]
Felt Aquarium Magnets When I was in the third grade my class took a field trip to Point Reyes, California to look at the tide pools. I was fascinated by them, each pool was like a small secret world. There were orange and purple sea stars, tiny little fish, and flower-like sea anemones. When I stuck my finger in an anemone's mouth it's sticky petal-like tentacles would close around it, thinking it was food (this probably isn't a nice thing to do to an anemone, but it certainly made an impression on me). My love for the ocean and all of its creatures has only grown in the subsequent years. I did some snorkeling in Hawaii and saw fish of every size, shape and color though the crystal clear water. When we decided to make a set of felt-covered magnets I knew I wanted to make an underwater scene. This underwater world makes a great gift for a child, or even an adult, who loves the ocean. Materials To make 20 magnets: Tips for all Magnets Clownfish Finished size: 1 1/2-inches wide Cut out the pieces. Sea Anemone
water party: sponge ball tutorial Wednesday, March 23, 2011 Whether you call it a Water Party, an Under the Sea Party, or a Splash Party, we’ve got you covered. This party is now available for purchase in our shop. Photos by Nicole Hill Gerulat. Handmade Watercolors by Michelle Vackar of Hi Mamma With all of the daily activities of running your business it can be difficult at times to relax, decompress and enjoy life. Some people will find their escape in cooking, walking, yoga, reading a good book …really the list can go on and on because we each enjoy different forms of relaxation. Back in my mid-to late twenties, I was working at an advertising/public relations agency and putting in an average of 50-60 hour work weeks. I was not married, no children and my career was my life, but one thing was missing: a time where I pampered myself, doing something that I enjoyed. So I was rather quite excited to take the class, although I must admit, at first, it seemed a little odd to be leaving work at 6 p.m. to go take a watercolor class, when I was so much in the habit of working late or taking work home to do. Today, one of my most favorite forms of relaxation is doing art/craft projects with my daughters. Instructions
Free Skirt Patterns Free Skirt Patterns Posted on | January 6, 2013 | 17 Comments Five years ago, it was hard to find even one free skirt pattern on the internet. Nowadays, dozens of free skirt patterns abound. For beginners, try a simple elastic waistband skirt or a pillowcase skirt. Here are some free skirt patterns that I especially like. Recycled Skirts A-Line Skirts Peasant Skirts Maternity Skirts Mini Skirts Quick Skirts Other Skirts Read More : Sewing or Home Category: SewingTags: Clothing , Sewing , Skirts Comments 17 Responses to “Free Skirt Patterns” Vera Woodbridge February 3rd, 2010 @ 4:21 pm I would like a pattern for a circular skirt, please Many thanks Jayla February 14th, 2010 @ 3:50 am Thank you so much for this! Leave a Reply Categories diy {fingerprint jewelry} Have you seen those personalized fingerprint necklaces? I think they are stunning and as a mom I love the concept of a piece of jewelry with my child's fingerprint on it. These beautiful sterling silver pendants usually come with a pretty price tag of about $100-$200 so I began to think if there could be an easy way to make these lovely pendants diy style. I came up with an idea, tried it out and was quite pleased with the results. I think this is something every mom would love and this just happens to be Mother's Day weekend so if you're looking for a great last minute gift, you're in luck! Here is how to make your own... Supplies: -oven bake clay -metallic spray paint -clear acrylic coating spray clear gloss polyurethane (Varathane, gloss-indoor) **see update below -necklace chain -jump ring and a clasp -needle and pen (not pictured) Take a small piece of clay, roll it into a ball with your hands and then use a pen as a mini rolling pin to flatten it out a bit. Voila!
Rainbow Crayons These handmade Rainbow Crayons are a fabulous and easy craft to make for your kids that they will absolutely love! This is also a creative and fun way to reuse all your broken crayon pieces that collect at the bottom of the bin. This DIY is so easy—it only takes minutes—and the result is very beautiful. The clunky shape is perfect for toddler hands, making it easy for your little to draw and to stack the stubby crayons. Try this indoor activity with you little ones. Materials: 4 clean tin cans 4 empty Rx pill bottles or film canisters (my local pharmacist gave me a few empty pill bottles for free) old and broken crayons in 4 different colors Instructions: Step 1: Choose one color to start. Step 2: Place the broken crayon pieces (making sure they are all the same color) in a clean tin can. Step 3: Boil some water in a medium saucepan. Step 4: Once the water is boiling, gently place the tin boiling water so the bottom part of the tin can is immersed.
Safety Pin Bracelet My daughter came to me one day and said she saw these really cool bracelets made from safety pins and beads. As luck would have it, I had just seen one as well so I promised to make her one. She wanted one made with smaller pins than the one she had seen, so I bought 3/4″ safety pins for mine. Notes: Make sure you do the needle nose plyer step, don’t skip it. I was walking through WalMart and felt something poking me. Safety Pin Braceletprintable version 3/4″ safety pins Elastic beading cord Seed beads White craft glue Toothpick Open a safety pin and thread as many seed beads on as you can, leaving enough room to close the pin. Cut two pieces of elastic beading cord, about 12″ long each. Thread one of the cords through the head of a pin, then the other cord through the bottom of the pin. When you have enough pins to create your bracelet, remove the knot from the tied end. Tie the top cords together and the bottom cords together.
Kids in the Kitchen: Slime! September is in full swing and we thought we’d celebrate by doing Back-to-School week! My oldest kiddo just started pre-school and Kate is now the mother to an official kindergartner. This week we’re going to have *five* posts. Hear that? Do you guys remember this?? I was so obsessed with that stuff and I totally remember the commercials. If you’ve ventured into science fun like this before then you already know that 97% of home projects require the same 2 ingredients. Start by dissolving a teaspoon of Borax in one cup of water and set it aside. Now pour the Elmer’s glue in a separate bowl. Add some water to that glue and then stir in some food coloring. Once that’s all stirred up, just pour your Borax mix into the bowl. See? It will be wet and soft at first but you just have to keep kneading it. I have to say I actually prefer the white glue. Older kids can help measure and stir and younger ones can stand and protest that they don’t get to. This is their favorite part. food coloring
Felted Mobile One of the last handmade touches for the baby's nursery that I finally finished this week was a felt mobile, and I love how it turned out! Felting is one of my favorite art forms, and over the years I've created many kinds of things by agitating, hot, wet wool (kinky, I know) and shaping it into different things. This time, I used wool (which I buy pre-dyed and ready to work with from here) and felted around a wooden embroidery hoop. I got out a basin, added a bit of dish soap and some really hot water, then shaped the dry wool around the hoop. Using my hands, I gently wet the wool and agitated it, rubbing it around to make the fibers stick together. I also let Soren play too, though not with really hot water. Kids love this! Once the fibers started to felt together, I wrapped some more wool around the hoop then I wrapped some mesh around it to hold it in place and continued to rub the hoop. Soren and I made some of the beads, but I also used some that I had bought for another project.
guest post {Marie Darby…diy photo lampshades PINTEREST UPDATE: This is a post from 2010. I do not take custom orders, only the tutorial is available. The lamps have held up wonderfully. As many of you requested, Marie is sharing a little tutorial here on how she made her lampshades. Marie is happy to do custom orders for those that prefer buying over making! * LAMPSHADE – Hobby Lobby carries self-adhesive shades & nightlights, Target has some smaller lamps for $19 that would be perfect for this project, I’ve found some lamps & shades on Craigslist. * GLUE – I used a hot glue gun for the first lamp. * VELLUM – I buy this in packs of 20 (I think) in the scrapbooking section of Hobby Lobby. * CRAFT KNIFE OR SCISSORS, PENCIL & RULER – to trim the vellum, I used a ruler and pencil to mark the cut lines & then used a craft knife and self-healing mat to cut the vellum. * PHOTOS – I used a free program called Picasa to make the photo collage (I believe this program is made by Google, check their page of programs if you are interested).