As Promised. . . .

. . .here are 2 projects I used the shrinky plastic for.

First:

NO MORE EXCUSES!
Remember these little PJ bags I made for the boys to help organize their room? Well, they worked like a charm for about a month or so. Since then, I keep finding them piled in a heap behind their door, usually with dirty clothes inside. When asked why they weren't using them, the boys said that they couldn't tell whose was whose and it took too much time looking inside to figure it out. So. . . here are their custom made tags. No more excuses!
Second:
WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?!
I have been teaching ballet for so long that many of my classes I can teach off the top of my head. Others, I have lesson plans for that I keep in big 3-ring binders and use year after year. I hate lugging the binders around, so lately I have been just pulling one page from the binder and taking just that one page with me. The problem--the one page usually gets stuffed in my bag and badly wrinkled, if not completely ruined. So I bought a clipboard from the dollar store and got busy painting and gluing on scrapbook paper. Now when I get home from teaching, I bring the clipboard in, switch out my lesson plans for the next class and I'm all ready to go. So here's the new and improved clipboard complete with shrinky tags. Cute, huh?

Well. Last night I was getting ready to put the final coat of clear sealer on it when I find this.

Someone has put 2 lovely X's on the back of my clipboard in ink pen. So now I have to seek out the criminal responsible for defacing my property. My first instinct was that my little 3-year-old graffitti arstist was the culprit (she draws on EVERYTHING). I would expect it from a 3-year-old. I would even expect it from my 6-year-olds. Kids often do things "just cuz" without thinking and without respect for someone else's stuff. So you can imagine my surprise when I discovered my 31-year-old husband was the guilty party. Seriously! What were you thinking? Apparently he was talking on the phone and felt the urge to doodle--totally understandable! But WHY my clipboard?*@#$ I guess the stack of junk mail right next to the clipboard just wasn't good enough. AHHHH! You know if it were one of my kids, I would probably just leave it there as a mark of their childhood. 10 years from now I would look at it and smile and think "Remember when. . ." But somehow it's not nearly as cute when it's your husband. All I can think is, "How can I cover this up?"

Don't worry. The criminal was punished accordingly. The boys put him in the time-out corner and Rylee took care of the spanking and lecture. And his restraining order, issued by the Honorable Judge Heather, dictates that he is no longer allowed within 10 feet of any and all craft projects.

Glove Animals

I was at the dollar store the other day when I found these really soft chenille-like gloves. I immediately thought of this idea I had seen several months ago.




I made a puppy for Rylee--it turned out pretty funny looking, but she loves the thing! Drags it around everywhere with her. Kids are so easy to please! The "collar" is a "Girl Power" bracelet Jason brought home from a lady he works with.

Pin Cushion

One thing I love about crafting is re-purposing things you have lying around your house. So when I saw this super easy pincushion made out of a tuna can, I had to make one.

It reminds me of a cupcake and the pins are the sprinkles. And nothing is permanent, so I can switch out the fabric when I get bored!

Coasters

I have been meaning to make some of these for long time, but when I was in the Dollar Store a few weeks back and saw a package of 4 cork squares for a dollar, I figured it was a sign. I traced a circle onto the cork and then cut it with a pair of kitchen scissors and lightly sanded the edges. I used fusible web to adhere cloth napkins on top for a super easy (and cheap) project.

More Bows and a Budding Crafter

I found these cute little pom-poms and had to do something with them, and of course my ribbon obsession continues.

While making more hair goodies for Rylee (like she needs any more) she sat on the counter with me and wanted to "make a project" too. So I spread out an assortment of supplies and this little bracelet is what she came up with.

My little budding crafter! Of course, she didn't actually do any of the work--she just instructed me on exactly what she wanted me to do. The little princess is good at giving orders.

Rainy Day Fun

Our Monsoon rains have returned which means the kids were cooped up in the house for awhile today. This was my solution. I saw directions on THIS site and figured we'd try it. Only instead of newspaper, I used my husbands' old ESPN magazines--2 birds with one stone! The kids loved it and wanted to make one for each of them, but I ran out of staples after the first one--maybe tomorrow. But at least it kept them occupied for awhile.

Tooth Bears

My boys are both 6 which means they are starting to get loose teeth. In fact, Weston lost his first tooth today. Growing up we had tooth bears shaped like Care Bears with a little pocket in front to put the teeth in so they wouldn't get lost under our pillows while we waited for the Tooth Fairy to come. I think my mom made them for us. My boys are crazy sleepers, so I decided this was probably a good idea for them too. Here is what I came up with. Super easy and simple made out of a few sheets of craft felt and a little fiber-fill. My niece is staying with us and made the little tooth cut-out on the front of the pockets. Thanks Elizabeth!

Organization. . .Crafty Style

We all have those space, right? Those spaces where no matter how hard you try to keep them nice and clean, they wind up looking like a tornado went blowing through your house. While I have more than one of these spaces, I decided I HAD to tackle this part of my kitchen counter. This is where all the mail gets dropped, notes from school get put, miscellaneous phone numbers we have written on scrap pieces of paper. . .you get the idea.

BEFORE



I saw THIS idea awhile back and decided to try it out in the form of a mail sorter. I covered paint cans and lids with scrapbook paper, and after going to all that work, I decided if I layed them on their sides like in the example, you would hardly be able to see the pretty paper. That and I didn't want it to stick out from the wall that much. So I got an old shelf we had lying around the garage and used Locktite (my new favorite adhesive) to adhere the cans and lids. Then my hubby hung it for me. Isn't being organized wonderful??



AFTER

Two of my Loves

This craft involves 2 of my loves. . .ribbons and books!! I thought it would be a fun idea to include a handmade bookmark next time I give some a book as a gift.

Check out these easy bookmarks


I need to go back and use the fray stop stuff on the fat one. . .it is fraying pretty bad.

Lanterns

I have discovered Costplus World Market and LOVE it!! On my most recent trip, I bought some of their big Chinese lanterns. I stole THIS idea that my good friend used at her daughter's birthday party, and hung them over Rylee's bed. She loves them! But keeps asking when they will light up. The outlet is nowhere nearby and me and my detestation of visible cords. . .it might be awhile.